all about me activities by Jean Warren

ALL ABOUT ME

ME ART

MIRROR PAINTING

	Have the child sit in front of a mirror.
	Then using finger paint, have the child draw on the mirror the face that he sees.
	After basic head is drawn, encourage child to add hats, bows, etc. just for fun.

NAME PICTURE

	On a large sheet of paper, draw the child’s name in large fat letters.
	Give the paper to the child along with some marking pens.
	Encourage the child to decorate the letters of her name.
Variation: Just make a large capital of the first letter of the child’s name.

BODY ART

	Take the child outside to a large patio or concrete area.
	Have the child lie on his back, while you draw around his shape using a piece of chalk.
	Then let the child use sidewalk chalk to fill in facial features and clothes on their shape.
Variation: Have the child lie on a large sheet of paper and draw around their shape with a black pen. Have child fill in facial features and clothes using marking pens, chalk or crayons.

PAPER PLATE FACES

	Give your children small hand mirrors and encourage them to examine their reflections, noting such things as hair colors and styles, eyebrow and eye colors, skin color and nose and mouth shapes.
	Set out paper plates, crayons, various colored construction paper scraps and yarn pieces, plus scissors and glue.
	Then let the children use the materials to create self-portraits, help them with scissors if necessary.

PAPER KID SHAPES

	Cut large kid shapes (similar to gingerbread kid shapes) out of posterboard.
	Invite the children to check their reflections in a full-length mirror.
	Set out materials, such as those listed above for the Paper Plate Faces.
	Let the children decorate their shapes to create self-portraits.
	Use the portraits to create a room display, if desired.
Variation:
	Have children lie on the floor on top of a large sheet of butcher paper.
	Draw around each child.
	Give the drawings to each child along with some crayons.
	Have children draw on clothing and facial features.
	These are great to line up along a hallway.

HAND PRINTS

	Set out pans or plates of paint and some paper.
	Have children one at a time press their hands into the paint and make impressions on the paper.
	When dry, attach the following poem to each painting and let your children take them home. Here are my hands, so tiny and small, For you to hang upon the wall. For you to watch, as the years go by, How fast they grow, my hands and I. Author Unknown

FINGER PRINT FUN

	Set out washable inkpads in dark colors plus some white paper.
	Show your children how to press their fingers and thumbs on the pads, then press them onto the paper to make prints of their fingers.
Extension: Give your children some fine point marking pens and let them turn their prints into flowers, bugs, or animals.

ME GAMES

EXPRESSION CARDS

	Make expression cards using small index cards and a marking pen.
	Draw sets of 6-8 types of expressions.
	Examples: 2 happy faces; 2 mad faces; 2 sad faces; 2 surprised faces, 2 sleepy faces; 2 frowns; etc.
	Mix up the cards, then give the cards to your child and have her find the sets of impressions.

HOW DO I MOVE?

	Let your children think of different ways they move their bodies.
	Then tell them that your will play a moving game with them.
	Name a way for the children to move their bodies, such as hopping, jumping, crawling, tip-toeing, walking backward, dancing slowly, spinning quickly.
	Have the children move their bodies that way.
	Repeat with other movement words.
Variation: Let your children take turns naming a way for everyone to move.

FELT BOARD FACE
You will need a felt board for this activity.

	Cut out one or more large felt circles for heads.
	Then using felt scraps, cut out various eyes, curved mouths, noses, hair pieces, and ears.
	Recite the following rhyme, while your children take turns creating faces on the felt board. This is the circle that is my head. This is the mouth where words are said. These are my eyes with which I see. This is my nose that’s a part of me. This is the hair that grows on my head. These are my ears on the side of my head. My happy smile is here to stay. I’m glad to be in school today. Author Unknown

MIRROR, MIRROR ON THE WALL

	Sit with a child in front of a mirror.
	Have the child point to his body parts, as you recite the following rhyme. Two little eyes that open and close, Two little ears and one little nose. Two little cheeks and one little chin, Two little lips with teeth within. Author Unknown

SHOE MATCHING

	Have each of your children take off one shoe.
	Place the shoes in the middle of the room.
	When you clap your hands, have the children go to the pile and find their matching shoe.

DID YOU EVER SEE A LASSIE?
Use the old time favorite children’s song to play a game with your children.

	Have children stand in a circle.
	Choose one child to stand in the center of the circle.
	The child chooses an action and tells the group; such as; Hop on one foot.
	Then everyone sings the following song and mimics the action of the child in the center. Did You Every See A Lassie (Laddie)? Tune: “Did You Ever See a Lassie” Did you ever see a lassie, a lassie, a lassie, Did you ever see a lassie, hop on one foot? She hopes and hops, until she drops, Did you ever see a lassie, hop on one foot?

ME LANGUAGE

FIVE THINGS ABOUT ME

	Invite one of your children to join you at a table.
	Have the child place one hand on a sheet of construction paper and trace around it.
	Then ask the child to think of five special things about his or herself.
	Example: The child could say, “I have blue eyes”, “I can stand on one foot”, etc.
	Write each thing the child says on one of the fingers on the hand print.
	Later, let each child hold up their hand prints, while you or they tell what is written on each finger.

I LOOK IN THE MIRROR

	Let your children take turns standing in front of a full-length mirror and acting out the following rhyme. I look in the mirror and what do I see? Two little eyes blinking at me.
	Have children continue with additional lines such as; I see my head nodding at me, or I see my hands waving at me, etc.

PHOTO STICK PUPPETS
You will need Xerox copies of face photos of each child for this activity.

	Cut out two inch heavy paper circles for each puppet.
	Lay a circle over the top of each photo copy and draw a circle around the paper circle.
	Cut out the photo heads and give them to the corresponding children.
	Set out large (or small) craft sticks and some glue.
	Have your children glue their photo onto a heavy paper circle and then glue a craft stick onto the back of the circle for a stick handle.
	Let your children use these stick puppets to act out mini-plays or problem situations within your group.

WHO AM I?

	Using a tape recorder, record each child as he answers questions describing himself.
	Do not let the child mention who (he/she) is.
	Now have your children sit in a circle and listen to the different child descriptions and try to identify who each child is by their description.

ALL ABOUT ME BOOKS
Here are a sampling of some favorites for introducing young children to the concept of self-awareness.

	Just Me – Marie H. Ets
	A Friend Is Someone Who Likes Me – Joan Anglund
	The Important Book – Margaret Wise Brown
	Peter’s Chair – Ezra Jack Keats
	Are You My Mother – P.D. Eastman

ME SCIENCE

FINGER PRINTS

	When doing finger print paintings, stop and have your children examine their own prints and those of other children (or yourself).
	Set out some small magnifying glasses for your children to use.
	Explain to your children that everyone’s finger prints are unique and different from one another.

BABY CLOTHES

	Ask parents to send in an article of baby clothing for each child, or just bring in a few items yourself.
	Sit with your children in a circle and pass around the clothing.
	Explain that each of them wore clothing like this when they were small.
	Have them compare the clothing to what they wear now or even try putting the clothes on.
	Do they still fit?

PHOTO ALBUMS

	Encourage parents to make a small photo album for their child showing pictures of when they were a baby, then a toddler and so on.
	Have children bring the albums to school to share with your class.

FEELINGS PUPPETS

	Give each of your children two paper circles, one with a happy face drawin on it and one with a sad face.
	Let the children decorate the faces with crayons, if they wish.
	Let the children turn the faces into puppets by attaching craft stick handles.
	Then, ask the children to hold up their “happy” or “sad” puppet depending on the statements you make. Such as, “I lost my favorite toy” or “Today is my birthday”.
MEASURING CHARTS Make height and weight wall charts and use them to record each child’s height and weight. Measure again several times during the year to track how your children are growing.

ME SNACKS

MY OWN VEGGIE DIPPERS

	In separate containers, set out a variety of veggies, such as the following: celery sticks, cucumber rounds, yellow bell pepper strips, cherry tomatoes, and broccoli florets.
	Also set out two kinds of dips.
	Then let your children choose the veggies and the dip they want to create their own veggie snack.

MY OWN TRAIL MIX

	In separate containers, set out a variety of cereals, pretzels, and small crackers.
	Place spoons or small scoops in each container.
	Give each of your children a small zip-lock bag and let them spoon small portions of whatever crunchies they prefer for their own trail mix.

PAN CAKE FACES

	One at a time, let your children watch you make pancakes faces.
	You could use blue berries, or chocolate chips to make eyes and mouths.

MUFFIN FACES

	Toast a muffin for each child.
	Let the children spread cream cheese or other cheese spread onto their muffin.
	Then set out some sliced olives for your children to use to decorate their muffin faces.

ME MUSIC

IN THE WHOLE WIDE WORLD

In this whole wide world, (make a circle with your two arms)
I can clearly see. (put fingers around your eyes, looking through)
There is only one of you. (point to other person)
And there is only one of me. (Point to yourself)
Traditional

SEE NOW WHAT I CAN DO
Tune: “Hokey-Pokey”

Oh, I can reach up high,
Oh, I can reach down low.
Oh, I can clap real fast.
Oh, I can clap real slow.

I can do so many things,
I can twirl around.
That’s what I can do!
Elizabeth Scofield
Invite your children to act out the song. Create additional verses substituting other action words for “reach” and “clap”, such as “point” or “march”.

FAVORITE THINGS SONG
Tune: “Paw-Paw Patch”

(Bella) likes pizza, how about you?
(Bella) likes pizza, how about you?
(Bella) likes pizza, how about you?
How many people like pizza, too? (Children raise their hands)
Liz Ryerson
Sing a verse of the song for each child, substituting his or her favorite food. Or sing about other categories, such as my favorite toy, color or animal.

TEN LITTLE FINGERS
I have ten little fingers and they all belong to me.
I can make them do things, would you like to see?
I can shut them all up tight or open them up wide.
I can put them all together, or make them run and hide.
I can make them jump up high, or I can make them hang real low.
I can fold them in my lap and hold them just like so.
Author Unknown

IF YOU’RE HAPPY AND YOU KNOW IT
Tune: “If You’re Happy and You Know It”

If you’re happy and you know it, clap your hands.
If you’re happy and you know it, clap your hands.
If you’re happy and you know it, your face will surely shoe it.
If you’re happy and you know it, clap your hands.
Traditional
Create additional verses, such as; “If you’re mad and you know it stamp your feet”.

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