Create a schedule and then duplicate it for the second half of the day. For instance, if your morning preschool class has circle time first then your pm preschool class should have circle time first. This makes it easier on you as the teacher.
Start with free play time. This should only be about 15 to 20 minutes long. It is best to start the day with free play time because some parents drop their children off late and you want all of the children to be able to start the days activities together. This could be 9 am to 9:15 am and 12:00 to 12:15 pm.
Begin circle time at 9:15 am. Circle time is a time when children sit around in a circle on the floor or around a round table. Children then are shown the difference between two item such as big and small. You may have a song that goes with big and small. You may then want to place two items in front of each child and ask them to identify which item is big and then which item is small. Each week should stick with a theme. One week you could demonstrate over and under and another week you may focus on colors. Circle time should last 15 minutes. This could be from 9:15 am to 9:30 am and 12:15 to 12:30 pm.
Proceed to arts and crafts. Circle time is a learning experience and you will have another chance for kids to learn more later. You should break up the learning times with fun things such as art projects. Art should last 30 minutes. Art class could be from 9:30 am to 10:00 am and 12:3 0 to1 pm.
Take the children outside for some outdoor play time. Kids need to expend their energy and they need to be active. Outside play is an essential part of any preschool day. If you have inclement weather you can do some kind of physical activity indoors such as duck duck goose or ring around the rosie. Outdoor play should last for 30 minutes. This can take place at 10:00 to 10:30 am or 1:00 to 1:30 pm.
Bring the children inside for story time. This will give them a chance to cool down from the outdoor play and a chance to get focused for the last learning session that will come next. Story time should last 30 minutes. Teachers should stop throughout the story to ask the children questions to see if they remember what is being read. Keeping the children participating is key or they will get bored and begin to act out. This activity can take place from 10:30 am to 11 am and 1:30 pm to 2 pm.
Sit children at the table and have them finish the day with learning time. This is the time they should be working on writing their letters and numbers. They can practice counting and anything else you think they are capable of learning at this age. You can teach them about animals and plants and do some experiments. This should take 30 minutes and then the children will have to get ready for the bus. You can do this activity from 11 to 11:30 am and 2 pm to 2:30 pm.