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:
Announcing First and Last Names
Purpose/Skills
- To speak and enunciate clearly
- To practice social introductions
Materials
None
how do you do
present
first name
last name
Literature Suggestion
Read any engaging book about making friends or meeting new people.
Warm-Up
Tell children that sometimes teachers or other adults have lists to check who is present. Read each child's name from your list, clearly and slowly. Ask each child to shout out "Here!" or "Present!" when his or her name is called.
Procedure
- Play a number of "name games" in which children introduce themselves or say their first and last names.
- Have children stand in a circle. The first child says her name: I'm Latasha. The next child in the circle answers Hi, Latasha! I'm William. The next child chimes in with Hi, William! I'm Maryann. Continue around the circle.
- As children take turns knocking on the door, ask "Who's there?" After children answer with their full names, say "Hello there, (June Washington)! Come in!" Later, ask volunteers to play the role of answering the door.
- Model how to introduce yourself. Greet a child with your name. When the child answers with his full name (prompt this if necessary), shake hands and say "How do you do?" (Example: I'm Mrs. Fulton. I'm Jeff Greenberg. How do you do?)
- If you have a recording of the "Name Game" song, play it and have fun singing along.
Enrichment
Show children a class list. Help one or two children find their names in the list.
Observation Assessment
- Proficient - Child says his or her first and last names clearly enough to be understood by most listeners.
- In Process - Child is able to say only one of the names clearly or mumbles the names so that it would be difficult for most people to hear the child's name.
- Not Yet Ready - Child does not yet attempt to say his or her name, or speaks inaudibly.
