Use a School Readiness Activity to provide early language thinking experiences for preschool children that will prepare them to do well in the early grades.
Grades:
Subjects:
Making a Snack
Purpose/Skills- To follow multi-step directions
- To demonstrate understanding through action
- To build vocabulary
- To connect language development with health/science
Materials
Healthful snacks: Find out first about any food allergies or intolerances, then prepare a healthful snack in small, easy-to-serve portions, such as apple slices, crackers, and cheese slices. Ask children to wash their hands before-they-eat.
Vocabulary
instruction words, such as:
listen
follow directions
Literature Suggestion
Read any book about making a snack or following a recipe.
Engage children in a discussion about following directions.
- Ask questions such as: Why is it important to listen carefully and follow directions? What would happen if we didn't follow directions (the rules) when we play games? How can following directions keep us safe?
- Encourage children to think of times in their own daily lives when they follow directions.
- Ask children to listen and follow directions on how to serve themselves a healthful snack.
- To help English Language Learners: hold up each food item, say its name, and have children repeat it.
- Show children where the food is and give directions for getting their snacks. Instruct them to listen carefully. Then provide multi-step directions that vary slightly for each child. For example: Dana, get one cracker, put a slice of cheese on it, then add another cracker on top. Sylvia, please take some apple slices first, then get your cheese and two grapes and sit in the red chair.
- Repeat the directions one step at a time for any children who need help. (You may want to do this activity in small groups.)
Enrichment
Invite children to have fun by playing a game in which they give you directions. Occasionally make a mistake, so they can correct you.
Observation Assessment
- Proficient - Child follows multi-step directions correctly, in the proper order.
- In Process - Child has difficulty following the directions, gets the wrong mix or quantity of food, or forgets a step.
- Not Yet Ready - Child does not yet follow multi-step directions.
