Download Preschool Opening/Closing Rituals Opening Ritual Ideas Song and

Preschool Opening/Closing Rituals
Opening Ritual Ideas
1.
Song and Hand Opening (to the tune of “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star”)
a. Everyone sits in a circle with their hands laying on the person’s hands next to them. Everyone’s
right hand should be on top, and left hand underneath. As the song below is sang, everyone
takes turns high-fiving the person’s hand to the left of them. When the song is completed
everyone does one giant clap above their heads. Can be paired with Song and Hand closing
ritual.
Hello, Hello Everyone,
We are gonna’ have so much fun!
Dancing, singing, and drawing lots,
Stripes and stars and polka-dots!
Hello, Hello Everyone,
We are gonna’ have so much fun!
2.
Stuffed Animal Pass
a. Each week there is a new topic/category. For example, the very first session could ask the
question, “What is your name and what is your favorite color?” Everyone sits in a circle and a
stuffed animal is passed around. When the stuffed animal gets to a child/mentor, they have to
answer the question of the day before passing the animal.
3.
Brain Train
a. Each week a new leader is the conductor of the brain train. The conductor will lead the group
around the room for 2-3 minutes acting out different scenarios. Examples could be: squatting
low to drive the train through a tunnel, jumping over a log on the tracks, leaning sideways
because the wind is blowing, etc. The train will end by “stopping at the station” and letting all the
riders off at their designated seats. (Idea from www.peacefirst.org)
4.
Welcome Banner
a. At the beginning of the very first session, the kids will all decorate an outlined face. This face will
represent them in any way they want. A string will be hung up with clothes pins attached to it.
When the kids come in each session they will clothes pin their face to the string. This will create a
banner each session of the kids that are participating in the fun! Can be paired with Goodbye
Banner closing ritual.
5.
Hide and Seek
a. At the beginning of the very first session the kids will pick an object that represents them. Before
each following session, the mentors will be in charge of hiding their item in the room. When the
kids come in, the first thing they are in charge of before finding their seat is finding their
designated item. Can be paired with Hide the Object closing ritual.
Preschool Opening/Closing Rituals
Closing Ritual Ideas
1.
Song and Hand Closing (to the tune of “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star”)
a. Just as the Song and Hand opening ritual, this is done to close the session.
Goodbye, Goodbye Everyone,
Boy did we have so much fun!
Dancing, singing, and drawing lots,
Stripes and stars and polka-dots!
Goodbye, Goodbye Everyone,
Boy did we have so much fun!
2.
Balloon Bounce
a. Before the children leave each day they will grab a small blown up balloon. They will have one
minute to keep their balloon from touching the ground by continuously hitting it into the air.
After one minute, the group freezes and puts away their balloon.
3.
Sound Copy
a. The group will sit in a circle and ask to think of sound they can make that describes the way they
are feeling. The first person makes the sound, and then each person in the circle takes a turn
trying to mimic that same sound. This continues until everyone has had a chance to come up
with a sound. (Idea retrieved from www.pyeglobal.org)
4.
Goodbye Banner
a. Just like the Welcome Banner in opening rituals, the children can be in charge of taking down
their face each day and putting it away in a designated area. This signals a closing to the session.
5.
Hide the Object
a. Just like the Hide and Seek opening ritual, an object will be hid in the room. But this time the
children get to hide their specific object and the mentors have to find it!