Physical Health and Development
Ways children learn to coordinate parts of their bodies, their entire body, with the world around them.
5 Materials that can be used: rainbow school parachutes, balls of differing sizes and textures, pop beads, peg and peg boards, and fill it up fine motor jars.
1
Planning Form
Name of Activity
Board Book Flip
Originating Idea
Children assist in turning the pages of a board book
Curriculum Area
C. Physical Development and Health
12. Moving parts of the body: children move parts of the body (turning head, grasping, kicking)
Materials
Various board books
Appropriate Age group:
Infant and toddlers
Beginning of Activity
Children work on their fine motor and problem-solving skills when reading a book
Middle of Activity
Your ideas for scaffolding children at different developmental levels
Early:
Children explore the board books by holding, grasping, and eating/tasting the pages and spine.
Middle:
Children orientate the board books appropriately, turn the pages independently, and point to different pictures within the story.
Later:
Children orientate the board books appropriately, turn the pages independently, and identify the pictures within the story.
End of Activity
Sing the classroom clean-up song while assisting the children in cleaning up the board books and putting them away in or on the bookshelf.
Follow-up Ideas
Children independently “read” other types of printed materials on their own like soft books, homemade books, and magazines.
2
Planning Form
Name of Activity
Upstairs, Downstairs
Originating Idea
Children move up and down stairs with assistance
Curriculum Area
C. Physical Development and Health
13. Moving the whole body: children move the whole body (rolling, crawling, cruising, walking, running, balancing)
Materials
Inside infant/toddler climber with steps, and or diaper changing table with steps.
Outside toddler playground structures.
Appropriate Age group:
Infant and toddlers
Beginning of Activity
Safely assist children up and down stairs.
Middle of Activity
Your ideas for scaffolding children at different developmental levels
Early:
While holding a child, start at the top of a safe set of stairs, and turn them facing backward on their belly. Using your hands maneuver their back legs back assisting them as they start their descent down the steps, saying something along the lines of, “here we go, down the stairs.” See if the child attempts to crawl up the stairs as well.
Middle:
Assist the child by having them hold onto the hand railing, you can place your hand over the top of theirs to ensure they are climbing up safely. Once they are at the top of the stairs, assist them in turning around, so that they can safely climb back down facing the stairway.
Later:
Children climb up and walk downstairs independently with the use of the handrail.
End of Activity
If outside on the playground, give children their warnings so that they may clean up their toys, and put them away so that they may line up to go inside.
Follow-up Ideas
Allow them to walk up and down stairs without the handrail.
3
Planning Form
Name of Activity
Baby in a Basket
Originating Idea
Children push and pull a basket filled with dolls
Curriculum Area
C. Physical Development and Health
14. Moving with objects: children move with objects
Materials
Laundry baskets, and various baby dolls
Appropriate Age group: Toddlers
Beginning of Activity
Children develop their large muscle control and move objects.
Middle of Activity
Your ideas for scaffolding children at different developmental levels
Early:
Children will play with the baby dolls and or laundry basket on their own.
Middle:
Children will put the baby doll inside the laundry basket and remove the baby doll from the laundry basket.
Later:
Children will put the baby doll inside the laundry basket and then push and pull the laundry basket, some children may attempt to lift up the laundry basket.
End of Activity
Sing the classroom clean-up song while assisting the children in cleaning up our toys and putting them away.
Follow-up Ideas
Let the children take turns sitting inside the laundry basket and see if a friend can push or pull them.