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Preschool Program
Deportes para campeones /
Sports for Champions

By Alexandra Corona and Paula Gonzales

Books to Share

Bulletin Board

Reading is Cool!

Cover the bulletin board with green paper to represent a soccer field. Add details, such as the two goalie boxes and white lines. Include a soccer ball and two soccer players from opposing teams. If your soccer players are large enough, write a reading message on their jerseys, such as “Reading is Cool.” If the bulletin board is near a shelf or table, display books about soccer.

Nametag

Baseball!

Reproduce the baseball pattern or cut out circles and draw lines to represent a baseball. Provide one for each child, adding his or her name to the tag.

Refreshments

Make baseball cookies. Bake sugar cookies using your favorite recipe or a mix. Frost the cookies with white icing, adding red icing to make red threading. Decorating icing is available in tubes at many supermarkets.

Action Rhymes

Abranlas y ciérrenlas

(Traditional. English translation by Alexandra Corona.)

Abranlas y ciérrenlas,
ábranlas y ciérrenlas.
Da un aplauso.
Abranlas y ciérrenlas,
ábranlas y ciérrenlas.
Pon tus manos sobre tus piernas.

Open, Shut Them

Open, shut them, (Open and close hands quickly)
Open shut them.
Give a little clap (Clap hands)
Open, shut them, (Open and close hands quickly)
Open shut them.
Put them in your lap. (Place hands in lap)

Dance and Movement Songs

Si estás contento

(Translated and adapted by Paula Gonzales.)

Si estás contento aplaude.
Si estás contento aplaude.
Si estás contento, si estás contento,
Si estás contento aplaude.

Si estás contento da un brinco.
Si estás contento da un brinco.
Si estás contento, si estás contento,
Si estás contento da un brinco.
Si estás contento hecha un grito.
Si estás contento hecha un grito.
Si estás contento, si estás contento,
Si estás contento hecha un grito.

If You’re Happy and You Know it

(Traditional)

If you’re happy and you know it, clap your hands. (Clap hands)
If you’re happy and you know it, clap your hands.
If you’re happy and you know it, if you’re happy and you know it
If you’re happy and you know it, clap your hands.

If you’re happy and you know it, jump up and down. (Jump up and down)
If you’re happy and you know it, jump up and down.
If you’re happy and you know it, if you’re happy and you know it,
If you’re happy and you know it, jump up and down.
If you’re happy and you know it, shout hurray! (Shout hurray)
If you’re happy and you know it, shout hurray!
If you’re happy and you know it, if you’re happy and you know it,
If you’re happy and you it, shout hurray.

Cabeza, hombros, peirnas y pies

(Translated by Alexandra Corona. Touch each body part as it is named. Repeat the song up to three times while increasing the speed of the song and movements.)

Cabeza y hombros, piernas y pies,
Piernas y pies.
Cabeza y hombros, piernas y pies,
Ojos, orejas, boca y una nariz.
Cabeza y hombros, piernas y pies,
Piernas y pies.

Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes

(Traditional)

Head and shoulders, knees and toes,
Knees and toes.
Head and shoulders, knees and toes,
Piernas y pies. Knees and toes.
Eyes, ears, mouth, and nose.
Head and shoulders, knees and toes,
Knees and toes

La danza del “Hokey Pokey”

(Translated by Paula Gonzales. Repeat the verse, substituting various body parts. Be sure that the program presenters and any helpers stand so that their bodies are in line with the children. If you do the Hokey Pokey while facing young children, they will mimic your actions. When you extend your right hand they will mirror your action and put their left hand in.)

Mete tu mano derecha,
Saca tu mano derecha.
Mete tu mano derecha,
Y sacudela muy bien.
Baila la danza del hokey pokey
Y date una vuelta.
Y eso es de lo que se trata.

…mano izquierdo
…el pie derecha
…el pie izquierdo
…la cadera derecha
…la cadera izquierdo
…la cabeza

Hokey Pokey

(Traditional)

You put your right hand in, (Extend right hand to the front)
You put your right hand out. (Pull the right hand back to your body)
You put your right hand in, and (Extend right hand to the front)
You shake it all about. (Shake your hand)
You do the hokey pokey and (Wiggle your fingers while doing a little dance step in place)
You turn yourself around. (Turn around)
That’s what it’s all about. (Hop and clap)

…left hand
…right foot
…left foot
…right hip
…left hip
…head

Flannel Boards

In advance, memorize Five Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed by Eileen Christelow. Make 5 copies of the monkey pattern from brown felt. Alternatively, cut the monkeys out of an old copy of the book and add flannel or sandpaper to the back.

Crafts

Medals for Champions

Materials

Directions

Precut circles from card stock paper. Take a piece of aluminum foil and wrap it around the cardboard circle. Put a small amount of glue on the back of the circle to hold the foil down. Turn the medal to the front side. Use a pencil to draw a number sign (#) and the numeral one (1) in the middle of the circle. Punch a hole at the top of the medal. Thread a piece of yarn through the hole and tie it at the ends.

Games and Activities

Word Ball

Ask the children to stand in a circle. Start the game by bouncing a ball to one child. When you bounce the ball to the child, call out a word. The child should respond with a word that rhymes with your word. Then the child will bounce the ball back to another child with a new word.

Web Sites

Mexico para niños / deportes
www.elbalero.gob.mx/deportes/html/home.html
This web site has games for children that are based on several sports.
Kokone
www.kokone.com.mx
This web site includes several educational activities for children.
KidSport Ontario
www.kidsport.on.ca/kidzone.html
The “Just for Kids” section of this Canadian web site provides fun facts, quizzes, and information about the body and the effects of exercise.
Online Sports Games for Kids
www.thekidzpage.com/freekidsgames/sportgames.htm
This web site includes games, coloring sheets, clip art, puzzles, and other learning materials for children.

Professional Resources

Five Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed by Eileen Christelow.