Playgroup Ideas, Materials & Best Practices

[Kei_as_in_K]

Do you have a theme for your playgroups?
Do you use activity ideas from the Signing Time Activities guides?
Have you created some fun new activities (and if you do, be sure to share them here http://70.86.26.3/forums/showthread.php?t=67 ~ you might win store credit from Signing Time!)

Let's share our ideas!

[ST! LeeAnn]

We general have a theme for our 10 - 20 minute activity and then we let the children free play. For our October playgroup we did Halloween Signs. Other themes have been food and animals.

[taylorcamel]

We start out with free play while the adults visit. We usually watch a little of one of the signing time shows and talk about new signing time products or events that will be coming out soon. The kids love to color the signing time coloring pages and play with playdoh while we practice new signs and ask questions about new signs we want to learn. Snack time is good and it helps the kids practice signing food signs and please thank you etc. Eventually I want to have song time and story time that incorporate signing. I like the mix of some structured activities along with lots of chances for visiting and free play.

[Teresa Jo]

So far I had used themes too. For animals we sang "Old MacDonald" and used two wooden animal puzzles I own to teach the signs. For the food week, we all sat at my table and had snacks of course. I couldn't see starting to sign and talk about food with my 15 month old and not expect him to want to eat food I was talking and signing about. One week we walked to the park and did some nature signs as well as signs for swing and slide. Of course with each theme, we watch the appropriate selection from either St or BST! :D . In general, I like to use songs, rhymes, picture books, and flannel board stories to facilitate our signing lessons.

[momgael]

Our Playgroup is a little more formal (it's a developmental playgroup). So, not everything will be applicable to everyone, but here's a little bit about how we run our group. :)
This is our 'schedule': :)
Free play
Circle Time
Art
Snack
Books/Parent Education
Closing Circle

Each session has a developmental theme and corresponding handout that goes into a 3 ring binder. (ie. 'in & out', 'greetings', 'name recognition', etc.) We try to make it multi-sensory, using multiple intelligences principles. We also have activity guides placed throughout the room with activities to encourage the five areas of development on the slide (for example) plus Sign Language to support those activities. We have a calendar of the schedule with transitions songs built into all activity changes. Lots of music and hands on learning.

Have a great day!

Nickie, NC

[kimberly]

Teresa Jo, I love the theme idea! Our group is just starting up, but I think it will also be really fun to teach a new song in ASL at each meeting.

[Teresa Jo]

This week for my signing playdate we are doing colors. I will also be doing colors in conjunction with foods and animals since we have already covered these signs in previous weeks.

Here's my agenda so far:

Movie: ST DVD segment on color (of course!) :D
Book: Brown Bear, Brown Bear by Bill Martin Jr
Song: "Colors" by Hap Palmer from Album titled "Learning Basic Skills Through Music". This album has several great songs suitable for signing.)
Activity: color activity. Sign a color and then sign animal and food that are the same color.
Flannel board rhyme: "Red is An Apple"

Red is an apple on a tree.
Yellow is the sun shinning on me.
Orange is the umbrella over my head.
Green is the leaf on a twig.
Blue is the ocean. Oh, so big!
Grey is an elephant I like to ride.
Pink is the flower I see outside.
Brown is a rabbit in a hat.
White is white, and that is that!

[Teresa Jo]

The Hap Palmer song "Colors" was a hit! Other songs on the same album that would be good for signing activites are:

"What are you wearing?" and "Marching Around The Alphabet"

[c01dunlap]

Hi all! I suspect everyone's seen the post about the new http://www.signingtimekids.org site. I think that the "printables" (http://www.signingtimekids.org/index.php?page=coloringpages ) could well be used for a playgroup activity (or backup when you have one kid of a very different age than the others).

Also, if you want to see discussion or make comments about this new site, see the following thread: http://www.signingtime.com/forums/showthread.php?t=486

Have fun!

[ST! LeeAnn]

This was posted on another thread, but I am going to use it for one of my playgroup activities. Thanks for sharing.
LeeAnn

I found this site while looking for materials I could enhance for my classes. Along with this page, which has fingerspelling books, games, and flashcards, they also have printable flashcards on a lot of other things which I plan to add ASL graphics to for use in my classes and with my daugher. Enjoy!

http://www.kinderprintables.com/signlanguage/

For general stuff

http://www.kinderprintables.com/

[Teresa Jo]

I started my signing play group again last week. It was a lot of fun. The first week I chose a food theme. It is always easy and fun to do! Here are the songs/rhyme from the handout I made for all the mommies.

The More We Get Together
The more we get together, together, together.
The more we get together, the happier we’ll be.
For your friends are my friends,
And my friends are your friends.
The more we get together the happier we’ll be.
We’ll play and learn signs; sing and have fun.
The more we get together the happier we’ll be.

Number Food Rhyme
1,2,3,4 Daniel at the kitchen door.
5,6,7,8 eating crackers off his plate.
9,10...let’s begin AGAIN!

I like to Eat and Eat
I like to eat and eat,
Bananas, bananas, a really good treat.
I like to eat and eat,
Bananas, bananas a really good treat!

Eating Song
(Tune: Farmer in the Dell)
Mommy eats an apple, Mommy eats an apple
Hi-ho the derry-o, Mommy eats an apple.
Daddy drinks some milk, Daddy drinks some milk,
Hi-ho the derry-o, Daddy drinks some milk.
Baby asks for more, Baby asks for more,
Hi-ho the derry-o, Baby asks for more.
Mira says “all done”, Mira says “all done”,
Hi-ho the derry-o, Mira says “all done!”

Breakfast song
(Tune: Down by the Station)
On the kitchen table early in the morning,
See the banana waiting for you.
Peel your banana, eat your banana,
Yum, yum, yum, yum, I’m all done!
On the kitchen table early in the morning,
See the bowl of cereal waiting for you.
Pour in the milk, get yourself a spoon,
Crunch, crunch, crunch, crunch, I’m all done!
On the kitchen table early in the morning,
See the sippy cup waiting for you.
Drink all your juice now, tasty apple juice.
Sip, sip, sip, sip, I’m all done!
On the kitchen table early in the morning,
See the plate of bread waiting for you.
Spread on some jelly, grape or strawberry.
Eat it up, eat it up, I’m all done!

Where oh Where??
Where oh where is the pear? Where oh where can it be?
It’s yellow and sweet and good to eat.
Oh where, oh where can it be??

The Very Hungry Caterpillar Song
(Tune: Ten Little Indians)
On Sunday, 1 little egg, on Sunday, 1 little egg,
On Sunday, 1 little egg, out comes a caterpillar.
On Monday, 1 red apple, on Monday, 1 red apple,
On Monday 1 red apple, that’s what the caterpillar eats.
On Tuesday, 2 yellow pears, on Tuesday, 2 yellow pears,
On Tuesday, 2 yellow pears, that’s what the caterpillar eats.
On Wednesday, 3 purple plums, on Wednesday, 3 purple plums,
On Wednesday, 3 purple plums, that’s what the caterpillar eats.
On Thursday, 4 red strawberries, on Thursday, 4 red strawberries,
On Thursday, 4 red strawberries, that’s what the caterpillar eats.
On Friday, 5 oranges, on Friday, 5 oranges,
On Friday, 5 oranges, that’s what the caterpillar eats.
On Saturday, too much food, on Saturday, too much food,
On Saturday, too much food, that’s what the caterpillar eats.
On Sunday, 1 green leaf, on Sunday, 1 green leaf,
On Sunday, 1 green leaf, that’s what the caterpillar eats.
In his cocoon, he goes to sleep, in his cocoon, he goes to sleep,
In his cocoon, he goes to sleep, that’s what the caterpillar does.
Out comes a butterfly, out comes a butterfly,
Out comes a butterfly, isn’t that a great surprise!


The kids all played with Daniel's wood play food as I taught the signs for the food. At the end we all had a snack and learned signs for table, chair, plate, cup, and all the snacks that everyone was eating.

[c01dunlap]

Hi All,

Let me start by saying I'm a plain ol' parent that has been coordinating the Ohio ST Playgroup for the last 4 or 5 months. It has indeed been terrific for both me & Sophie, but I don't have any grand teaching experience (and can't sing on key to boot :o ), so our playgroups have not had 'circle' time or formalized 'theme' activities (other than the plastic animals / name that animal and sign for your snack).

It now looks like we will start having some deaf kids and parents (yay!!! :D ). I realize that it would be extremely helpful to have some formal circle-type of activities to integrate the group, and get the hearing toddlers more in tune with the deaf toddlers and all playing together for free time. Looking for suggestions of things to do. And I think all of the hearing parents will thank you if you don't ask me to sing, LOL.

TIA,

[Teresa Jo]

This week's signing agenda was as follows:

Theme: ABC's and Family signs. Here are the songs from the handout I made.

We Love Mothers
(Tune: "Frere Jacques")
I love mommy.
I love mommy.
Yes I do; yes I do.
Mommy is for hugging.
Mommy is for kissing.
I love you; yes, I do.
Thank you, mommy.
Thank you, mommy.
For your love, for your love.
Mommy is for hugging.
Mommy is for kissing.
I love you; yes, I do.

I Love You
(Tune: Barney theme song)
I love you, you love me.
We are part of a family.
With a mother and a father and a brother too.
Daniel Joseph, we love you!

Where Oh Where?
Where oh where is mommy?
Oh, where oh where can she be?
She’s sweet and kind and she loves me.
Oh where oh where can she be?

I Love You Mommy
(Tune: "You are my sunshine")
I love you mommy, my dearest mommy
You make me happy when I am sad
I want to tell you I really love you!
When I'm with you I am so glad!

[Teresa Jo]

BOOKS:
Winnie the Pooh's Colors
Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? (good for felt)
My Many Colored Days
Mixed Up Chameleon
I Went Walking (good for felt)
My World of Color
Dog's COlorful Day


SONGS:

I Can Sing a Rainbow (LOVE this one!)
(by Arthur Hamilton)
Red and yellow and pink and green,
Purple and orange and blue,
I can sing a rainbow,
Sing a rainbow,
Sing a rainbow too!

Listen to your heart,
Listen to your heart,
And sing everything you feel,
I can sing a rainbow,
Sing a rainbow,
Sing a rainbow too!


Color Song
(tune: If You’re Happy And You Know It)

If you’re wearing any red, any red.
If you’re wearing any red, any red.
If you’re wearing any red, put your finger on your head
If you’re wearing any red, any red.

If you’re wearing any blue, any blue.
If you’re wearing any blue, any blue.
If you’re wearing any blue, put your finger on your shoe
If you’re wearing any blue, any blue.

Green...wave your hand so you are seen.
Yellow...smile like a happy fellow.
Brown...turn your smile into a frown.
Black...put your hands behind your back.
White...stamp your feet with all your might.


Vegetable Garden (I made felt pieces for all the food named and use my felt board for this.)
(tune: Down By The Station)

Out in the garden, early in the morning,
See the red tomatoes all in a row.
See the happy farmer coming out to pick them,
Pick, pick, pick, pick, off she goes.

Out in the garden, early in the morning,
See the yellow squash all in a row.
See the happy farmer coming out to pick them,
Pick, pick, pick, pick, off he goes.

Additional verses:
Blueberries
Green string beans
Orange carrots
Purple cabbages


Rainbow Song
(Tune: Hush, Little Baby)

Rainbow purple
Rainbow blue
Rainbow green
And yellow too
Rainbow orange
Rainbow red
Rainbow shining over head.

Come and count
The colors with me
How many colors
Can you see?
1-2-3 on down to green
4-5-6 colors can be seen

Rainbow purple
Rainbow blue
Rainbow green
And yellow too
Rainbow orange
Rainbow red
Rainbow shining over head.

RHYMES:

Red Is An Apple (Made felt pieces for this one too.)

Red is an apple on a tree
Yellow is the sun shining on me.
Orange is the umbrella over my head.
Green is the leaf on a twig.
Blue is the ocean oh, so big.
Grey is an elephant I like to ride.
Pink is the flower I see outside.
Brown is a rabbit in a hat.
White is white and that is that!


Color Balloons (Another felt board rhyme)

I had a great big red balloon,
Until I let it go.
Now where, oh where, I wonder,
Did my balloon blow?

I had a great big blue balloon,
The string I held so tight.
But when I opened up my hand,
My balloon flew out of sight.

I had a great big green balloon,
As pretty as could be.
But when I let go of its string,
It flew away from me.

I had a great big yellow balloon,
When I went out to play.
But when I wasn’t watching,
My balloon just flew away.
Red balloon, red balloon,
Where can you be?
Red balloon, red balloon,
Up in a tree.

Blue balloon, blue balloon,
Where did you fly?
Blue balloon, blue balloon,
Up in the sky

Green balloon, green balloon,
Where can you be?
Green balloon, green balloon,
Under the tree.

Yellow balloon, yellow balloon,
Where did you fly?
Yellow balloon, yellow balloon,
High in the sky.