Games for Preschool Students

Recently I asked readers to let me know what kinds of resources they were looking for during this unusual time of online lessons. I got a great response and plan to address many of these topics in upcoming articles.

Today I am tackling the topic of games for preschool students.

Here are some things I have found that help with lessons with preschoolers as I learn what works (and doesn’t work) with my students:

Lesson Format & Technology

Option One: Turn off the video of the student during their lesson so they can only see their teacher (but are still visible to the other participant) is a big help. Here is a tutorial about how to do that in zoom.

alternately

Send videos back and forth between student and teacher twice a week rather than meeting on video for a formal “lesson.”

You could also arrange to have two shorter lessons during the week.

Have a routine that signals the start to the lesson. Many teachers start with a bow, but I also have a rest and play position song that begin with each lesson & I find that when it’s hard to get started hearing me start this song often helps students settle in.

Games to use during practice or lessons:

A Game of Chance

You can write activities for the student on a slip of paper and pull them one by one out of a bowl or lunch sack during the lesson in random order.

Hide them in a plastic easter egg

Assign a number for each slip and ask the student to pick a number (between 1-10, for example.

Gameboard

You can use this one or google other blank options.

At home: print and write in activities to be completed or give each square a number and make a notecard for each number (that can be swapped out as needed)

In lessons (especially on the screen share option), show the gameboard and assign one task per square to your student. You can draw directly on the game board as you work your way through the activities for the lesson.

Treasure Map

Feel free to request a printable of the treasure map at the bottom of this article and use this treasure map.

You can screen share it during group class or lessons or use it for practice; there are endless ways to use it.

Move one space for each song played

Move one space for each repetition of the same song

Move one space for each activity done in one practice session

Add stickers or and x for completed circles or move a game piece across and reuse many times.

Experiment with what works and what helps your child or student focus best.

Tic Tac Toe

Take turns adding an ‘X’ or “O” after each successful repetition and see who wins!

Animals:

Find pictures of animals to help students imagine creative ways to play them expressively. For example, I often talk to students about animals that swim or fly to help them think about playing with smooth,legato bows. You can hold them up or screen share with your students.

Many of the games we use in person in our lessons simply need to be modified or re-imagined for them to work in our online lessons right now. It helps so much to share ideas and what is working! I’d love to hear of any games working for you with this age group right now.