18 Engaging Activities and Games That Preschool Teachers Should Know to Make Poetry Lessons More Fun

Depending on the poem and its characters, the teacher can have children act out the story. For instance, if the poem is about a grandmother, the children can take on the role of a grandmother and recite the poem. If it’s about a soldier, the children can pretend to be soldiers, or if it’s about a doctor, they can act as doctors.

Exciting and fresh, the teacher can take on the role of the host, introducing the teams and explaining the different challenges. By keeping the core structure of the poetry lesson while adding a unique twist, it creates a great effect that keeps the children engaged and eager to participate.

On the ball, there are images related to specific lines or verses from the poem. The children listen to music, and when the music stops, the child holding the ball must read the line or verse that corresponds to the image they are holding.

The teacher places an image into a box. A child comes up, looks at the image, and then turns to their team to act out the verse or line of the poem related to the image. The teammates then try to guess and recite the correct verse. The teacher can divide the children into teams, and the team that guesses correctly first gets praise and recognition.

The teacher presents images that illustrate the poem. As the teacher reads a line from the poem, the children rush to grab the corresponding image. The child who collects the correct and most images wins the game. Alternatively, the game can be played in reverse, where the teacher shows the images and the children must recite the corresponding verse.

Rules of the Game: When the command "rainy day" is given, each child must find shelter. If a child cannot find a spot, they are out for one round.

How to Play: The teacher prepares several circles on the ground, spaced 30-40 cm apart, as shelters. There should be fewer circles than the number of children, about 3-4 circles. The children act as students walking to school while singing along to the teacher’s rhythm. When the teacher says "rainy day," each child must quickly run to a circle for shelter (indicating they are safe from the rain). The slow ones who fail to find shelter get wet and must sit out for one round. The game continues, with the teacher calling "sunny day" to signal the children to move away from the circles. When "rainy day" is called again, the children must run back to find shelter.

Game Rules: The rabbit must hide in its own burrow. Any rabbit that is too slow will be caught by the fox, and if a rabbit enters the wrong burrow, they must sit out for one round.

How to Play: The teacher selects one child to play the role of the fox, who sits in the corner of the room. The remaining children act as rabbits and their burrows. Two children will form each burrow by standing in a circle. The teacher asks the rabbits to remember their own burrows. The rabbits then move around, hopping and waving their hands above their heads like rabbit ears, while chanting the following poem:

"On the grassy field
The little rabbits
Search for food
So happily
But beware
A sly fox
Is lurking there
Run, run, run
Or the fox
Will catch you, and you're done."

After finishing the poem, the fox appears, growling and chasing the rabbits. When the fox makes its sound, the rabbits must run back to their burrows. Any rabbits caught by the fox must sit out for one round before switching roles.

Preparation:

• Obstacles (blocks, cones, sandbags, etc.)
• Jumping platform
• Crawl tunnel
• Climbing ladder
• Exercise hoop

How to Play:

• The teacher divides the children into teams (maximum of 5 children per team).
• The children line up behind the starting line. At the teacher’s signal, the first child will squat and carefully weave through the obstacles. Upon reaching the platform, they must jump off. Then, they crawl through the tunnel, climb the ladder, and finally jump through the exercise hoop before returning to the end of their line.

Requirements:

• The child at the front begins by weaving through the obstacles once the child before them reaches the jumping platform, without waiting for the teacher’s signal.
• The game continues for about 15 minutes, and children can play as many rounds as they like.

Note: The teacher should always be near the ladder to assist and ensure the children’s safety.

Preparation:

• Chalk for drawing shapes.
• A basket for collecting fruit.
• Small mushroom figures or cones.
• A plant pot with 10 fruit items.

How to Play:

• The teacher divides the children into groups (3–4 children per group).
• The children line up behind the starting line. When the teacher gives the signal, the first child, acting as a bear, crawls through a narrow path. Once they reach the end of the path, they must jump through a series of circles. After that, they continue to weave through obstacles, reach the fruit tree, pick a fruit, and run back to place it in the basket before returning to the end of the line to wait for their turn.

Requirements:

• Only when the child ahead completes the crawling and jumping does the next child start crawling.
• The children must keep moving continuously without stopping until all the fruit has been picked.
• The game lasts for about 10-15 minutes, and there is no limit to the number of rounds each child can play.

Game Features: This game helps improve children’s agility and reflexes, and it doesn’t require a playground.

How to Play: One child extends their hand, and the other children raise one finger and place it on the palm. Then, they chant quickly:

"Chi chi chành chành
The bell blows fire
The dead horse swells
The Three Emperors and Five Kings
The crickets are searching
Uh uh uh!"

When they reach the word “uh,” the child quickly closes their fist, while the others try to pull their fingers away. The child who doesn’t manage to pull their finger away in time gets their hand caught and must extend their hand again, repeating the rhyme for the other players to enjoy.

Game Rules: Each car must park in its designated spot. If a child parks in the wrong spot, they must sit out for one round.

How to Play:

• The teacher prepares 4 to 5 flags in different colors and divides the play area into 4 to 5 sections that correspond to each flag color.
• The teacher gives each child a flag or colored paper that matches one of the flags.
• Children will pretend to be cars of different colors.
• When the teacher announces, "Cars, prepare to park," the teacher will raise a flag. The cars of the color matching the flag must park in the corresponding section.
• Children run freely around the room while mimicking driving, spinning their arms in front of them and saying, "Bim, bim, bim..."
• Every 30 seconds, the teacher signals by raising a flag. The cars that match the color of the raised flag must park in the corresponding section. The other cars continue moving but at a slower pace. Any car that parks in the wrong section must sit out for one round.

Game Rules: Children must freeze in place when the teacher gives the signal and identify the animal they are mimicking.

How to Play:

• Before the game, the teacher helps children recall the poses of various animals. For example, how does a cat lie down? How does a chicken peck?
• Each child decides which animal they will imitate. When the teacher signals, all the children will strike poses based on the animals they have chosen. The teacher will then ask the children to name the animal they are mimicking, and the child must answer correctly.
• To make the game more fun, the teacher lets the children run freely around the room to the rhythm of her clapping. When the clapping stops, the children must freeze and pose.

Game Rules: Children must start and stop following the teacher's commands. Any child who doesn't follow the instructions must sit out for one round.

How to Play:

• The teacher marks two parallel lines or uses tiles on the ground as tracks.
• Children line up, placing their hands on each other's shoulders to form a train. The group moves along the tracks (or tile lines).
• When the teacher raises a green flag, the children move forward as a train, making the sound: "chug, chug".
• When the teacher says, "Train going uphill", all children must walk on their heels and say, "toot toot".
• When the teacher says, "Train going downhill", children must walk on their toes while saying, "toot toot".

Note:

• To make the game more exciting, the teacher should frequently change the commands.
• When children are walking on their heels (going uphill), the teacher shouldn't immediately switch to the "going downhill" command.
• If the pace of the commands is too slow, the game may become boring. If it's too fast, the children may get out of line. Therefore, the speed of the commands should vary depending on the teacher's control.
• Once the children master the game, the teacher can invite one child to be the leader and direct the game.

Help your child develop walking skills with this indoor activity.

Materials:

• Colored ribbon
• Adhesive tape

How to Play:

• Use tape to stick the ribbon on the floor, forming a straight line, then turn it 90° to create multiple perpendicular and parallel lines.
• The child should walk along the ribbon, keeping their back foot close to the heel of the front foot.
• The game is more fun with multiple children, as they can form a line and walk together like a train.

Skills Developed: Balance while walking.

The teacher introduces the game title: The children repeat the game name. The teacher explains the rules and how to play.

Game Rules: When the wind blows, the leaves fly. When the wind stops, the leaves stop moving. Those who follow the rules will be praised, but those who make a mistake must hop on one foot.

How to Play: The teacher plays the role of the wind, and the children act as leaves falling on the ground. When the wind blows strongly, the leaves fly quickly with the wind. When the wind blows gently, they fly slowly. When the wind stops, the leaves freeze. The teacher organizes the game and plays along with the children, reminding them not to push or shove each other.

The Mystery Box game is a great way to reinforce knowledge during poetry lessons, and many preschool teachers use it. To play, the teacher puts questions related to the poem's content into a box. Then, the children take turns choosing a box in order and answering the questions inside.

How to Play: Divide the children into 3 or 4 groups. Each group is given a board and separate pictures. After hearing a cue or starting a song, the groups select the pictures that match the order of the poem's content and arrange them in the correct sequence. At the end of the music, the teacher checks each group's results.

Alternatively, if the poem includes images, the teacher can paste pictures at the corners of the room. The children will walk around and, when they reach each picture, recite the corresponding part of the poem. The teacher arranges the pictures in order to help the children recognize the sequence more easily.

How to Play: The teacher assigns a poem that the class has already learned. She raises her hand towards a group, and that group continues with the next line of the poem.

This game helps the children memorize and retain the poems they've studied. It also creates a lively atmosphere, getting the children excited for the upcoming lessons.