An All Round Lesson Plan On Circles

By definition, circles tend to have momentum and go round and round. Without edges, there is little to stop them, so they portray movement. Going around in circles can seem a negative thing, but sometimes the circle of life necessitates that we go over old ground. Hopefully we improve with the going around again. Clocks are an example of this and they help to give us routine, which is is good for children to learn at an early age. Once they can tell the time they are better able to organize themselves, so we will be looking at clocks and even making our own.

What child doesn't love the thrill of the momentum that wheels provide. They are a large part of the development in gross motor skills and encourage them to enjoy an active lifestyle.

I hope you have as much fun with this lesson plan as we did. It includes games, stories, crafts, music, dancing and more. Look out for further "taking shape activities" in the future.

Good Circles And Unwanted Spots

Ask the children how they are sitting together and why sitting in a circle is a good way to sit. Illustrate this by playing chinese whispers, passing a secret message around the circle. Did it turn out the same at the end?

What are other types of circles- (polka)dots, spots, hoops, rings, round holes...?

Ask who has ever had spots and why. Did they know what they were? How did they make them feel? If possible, hold up a spotty toy dog and ask them whether this dog is ill because he has spots. Use the dog to pass to each child as they tell their news.

Things that go round and round..

Talk about things that are a circular shape. What things go round and round? Get the children to look at the clocks they have made and move the hands to meal times, bedtime, the time now etc. For younger ones, you could do it first and get them to copy you.

Hickory, Dickory, Dock- the mouse ran up the clock, the clock struck one..

Get them to hold up their clocks and move them to the right times whilst singing this.

Five Currant Buns in a Baker's shop, round and fat with sugar on the top

Ask them what they might find in a baker's shop that is round and fat? Sing Five Currant Buns and Hot Cross Buns. Have a baker's shop board with velcrose buns to stick onto it. Give each child a penny as they come up to buy a bun.

The Wheels On The Bus go round and round all day long..

Talk about wheels and ask the children where they might see them.

Circle Songs

Lastly get them to all stand in a circle and sing The Farmers In His Den. This could be followed with Ring a Ring o Roses, Here We Go Round The Mulberry Bush and we also sang What Shall We Do With The Drunken Sailor, replacing the words with What shall we do in the circle....early Monday morning etc... whilst one child steps into the middle and does what we sing, e.g. jump up and down in the circle... You can carry on adding more verses as the children are keen to show off what they can do.

Have a great time singing along with dancing and miming!

How one boys lunch went round and round

A huge crowd had gathered in the hills to hear Jesus teach. They were so enjoying his stories that they forgot the time. It was (use your clock) lunch time but the people hadn't any food with them and they were hungry. It was a shame to send them all home. Then a boy decided to take what he had to Jesus and let him share it with at least some of his friends. It was only a few bread rolls and fish, but when Jesus blessed it and gave it to his helpers to share with everyone, it just seemed to keep going round and round. It never ran out and there was even some left over. The boy was so glad that he had given what he had.

At the end of your session provide some circular play with fun games

For example: Everyone stands in a circle and when one child throws a ball to another child, they call that child's name. If they catch the ball, they throw to another child in like manner. Otherwise the ball returns to the first person, who throws to another child.