The Drum Roll Please!

 

The children really like to play and act out the way in which we pick the leader of the week. Each and everyday this week Zach has asked me if he can play with the popsicle sticks that we use to pick the stick person(leader). Zach, Micah, Josie, Lily , Elias, and Noah took turns picking the sticks and then announced to the group who the stick person was, over and over again! Zach led the group..."THE DRUM ROLL PLEASE!" Everyone proceeded to slap their lap, then Zach picked a stick and we all helped read the name on the stick. I said, "Who's name begins with the letter S ?" Zach looked at whole name and said, "It's Samantha because she has a really long name!" Micah R. shouted, "Sasha begins with the letter S too!"

The children continued to pick the sticks, play their drums and call out their classmates names. Then Micah R brought over the wooden block with his picture and name on it. Micah said, "Let's match the names on the sticks with the blocks!" The entire group liked that idea and said, "YES!" Then we moved over to the rug and decided to play "circle time". Josie was Lauri and Zach was Sasha. Zach said, "Circle time is starting!" Lily took out the Torah and we sang our welcome song! Lauri/Josie read Chester's Journal and Elias held Chester on his lap.

The play went so smoothly and everyone had so much fun! The children had the opportunity to make their own decisions, run their own circle, set the rules, provided directions for the group, and they picked their own props and roles! As I reflect on my afternoons with the children this week in Lunch Bunch...I think how the children responded to the play and on how the children responded to their roles and participation in the play. Giving the children the space and time to experiment with play helps them develop important cognitive, socio-dramatic, and social skills. I for one can't wait to play tomorrow!