A group of children sit down in a circle some distance apart, a child is chosen to carry the ‘letter’ (an envelope). The child then runs around the outside of the group (circle) as everyone sitting down closes their eyes and sings:

On finishing the song the children sitting down all look behind them whoever has the letter picks it up and tries to catch the person who dropped the letter before they get back to the vacated seat. If the person who has the letter gets to the seat she gets to be in again, if she gets caught then the other person has a go at dropping off the letter. For younger children (under 5) it is best to just take turns anyway.

Using a beanbag, small ball or potato. Have the children sit in a circle play music as the children pass the hot potato around, when the music stops whoever is holding the hot potato is dismissed. They may go to an activity or just slide back from the circle, the game continues until there is one child left.

You may like to use this game for another activity, having the child holding the hot potato name ryhming words, animals, favourite things, or to match things (opposites, colours) before leaving.

Play music and have the children move to it, then stop it. When the music stops the children lay down with their eyes closed. You then place a sheet over a child and have everyone else come around to see if they can guess who it is. Slowly take the sheet off the missing child, talking about what shoes they have on, the clothes they are wearing and the colour of their hair before revealing who it is.

They may like to go wash hands for lunch, go to an activity. You can also have the mystery child choose a friend to take with them.

Using paddlepop sticks, cut and add round pieces of paper, to look like a lollipop.
On the round section put song titles. You can use these to use up time, when you have a few minutes before going to activities. Pick children to come and pick a lollipop, one at a time and sing the song they have chosen.

You may get older children or yourself, to hum the tune and have the rest of the group try to pick what tune is being hummed.

5 little monkeys jumping on the bed,
One fell off and bumped their head,
Mama called the doctor,
And the doctor said ‘No more monkeys jumping on the bed’

Keep reapeating song counting down to 1 little monkey.

You may like to choose songs from the music section to transition children to hand washing, packing up or new activities.
A few good songs you may like to use are, I wonder what your name is?, beetles in the basin, wibbley wobbley woo and 5 little ducks.

Have between 3-5 children line up, holding onto the persons hips in front of them. Choose the first person as the train driver. You may like to have something you can use as a prop for them, like a cap or jacket. They then ride the train to the next stop, a place you set before they depart the 1st station. When they arrive at the next station the children peel off to go to an activity.

Before you choose any children explain a few of the activies that have been set up especially for the day. This is great for over 2′s.

The microphone is a great tool for group time, it encourages language development and can help children perform.

It is simple to make, from a cardboard roll and tissue paper or foil, which is stuffed into the roll to look like a microphone. Sticky tape or glue the tissue paper from the inside of the cardboard roll to hold in place.

When the children are at group you can use the microphone to give instructions, announce activities or sing songs.

The children can take turns to say good morning, tell news, what they are looking forward to for the day or sing songs to the group.

Always ask which children would like to use the microphone, never force a child to use the microphone. They will use it when they are confident and feel secure in the group/environment.

A tape recorder can be used to tape the children’s voices and the group make like to guess who is talking/singing as a follow up. This is great for developing listening skills.