There is nothing like the expression on a child’s face the first time they see Mom drop a raw egg on the floor on purpose. If you don’t do any of the other letter “E” activities for preschool, try the Humpty Dumpty one, or bring your kids over and let me do it for them, it’s my favorite of all time!

Letter “E” Preschool Activities For The Week

Did you think I was just going to let you skip past on of my favorite letter “E” preschool activities of all time? No siree, we’re starting right off with the very best! 

Humpty Dumpty The Egg 

Say the poem of “Humpty Dumpty” together a few times. Ask if they think they could put Humpty Dumpty back together again. Using a marker, decorate a raw egg to be Humpty Dumpty (the egg must be at room temperature), then say the poem again and drop the egg off of a wall (a table or chair). This is especially fun if the kids don’t understand the poem of Humpty Dumpty yet. Now ask them if they could put him back together again. If you’re feeling brave let the children try it, but remember to tell them that we only do this with permission.

Emotions 

Talk about the different emotions (happy, sad, angry, surprised, etc.) With the children, practice making your face show each emotion, then cut out round circles of paper and draw a simple face on the paper for happy, sad, angry and surprised. Read Horton Hatches the Egg and hold up the emotion that each character is feeling in the different situations.

Exercise To Music

Turn on some fun music and try some exercises like jumping jacks, running in place, windmills, situps and pushups. Count and see how many you can do of each different exercise or take turns being the exercise instructor.

Easter Egg Crafts 

Dye Easter eggs (even though it’s not Easter). For some extra decoration, color the hardboiled eggs with crayon before you dye them. Then hide them around the house or yard and have an egg hunt. Count your eggs before you start though, there’s nothing like finding a stray one 3 months later. 

To dye Easter eggs: 

Add 1/4 teaspoon food coloring and 1 teaspoon vinegar to 1 cup of hot water. Dip hard-boiled eggs in the mixture until the desired color is obtained.

Etiquette and Manners 

Talk about table etiquette such as using a napkin, eating with utensils, etc. Then place an Eskimo pie on a plate and eat it politely with a fork and knife and a napkin. For some extra etiquette fun, read Mark and Carolyn Buehner’s book, It’s a Spoon, Not a Shovel.

Having Fun With “E” Week

I hope you enjoyed these letter “E” Preschool activities! Have you tried them out at home yet? Or have any other ideas for “E week”? Let us know in the comments! Remember that the object in all of this is to have some fun with your children and help them learn a little at the same time. If the kids are getting bored or lose interest, drop what you are doing and head for the sandbox.

Originally published August 17, 2005 in the Crossroads Journal.