Introduction

Transitioning to a new activity is an essential skill for PreK students to learn. It helps them develop the ability to stop, listen, and change tasks when instructed by a teacher or parent. This skill plays a significant role in their social-emotional learning journey and fosters a positive learning environment. In this blog post, we will explore a simple, no-prep activity that educators can use to teach students the skill of transitioning to a new activity and guide them in understanding the importance of listening and following instructions.

No-Prep Activity: Freeze Dance Transitions

This activity requires no preparation or materials from the educator. It is called “Freeze Dance Transitions” and is an engaging way to teach students the skill of transitioning to a new activity. Here’s how it works:

1. Have the students stand in a circle or scattered around the room.
2. Play music and encourage the students to dance and move to the rhythm.
3. When the music stops, call out a new activity (e.g., “Time to sit and read a book” or “Time to line up for lunch”).
4. Students should stop dancing, listen to the instruction, and transition to the new activity.
5. Repeat this process several times, using different activities each time.

This activity not only encourages students to listen and follow instructions but also gives them practice in stopping a fun activity and transitioning to a new one. The element of surprise keeps students engaged and helps them become more adaptable.

Discussion Questions

After the Freeze Dance Transitions activity, use these discussion questions to further stimulate conversations and reflections on the skill of transitioning to a new activity:

1. How did you feel when the music stopped, and you had to change to a new activity? Was it easy or difficult?
2. Why is it important to stop, listen, and follow instructions from a teacher or parent?
3. How do you think your classmates feel when everyone listens and transitions to a new activity together?
4. Can you think of a time when it was challenging to transition to a new activity? How did you handle it?

Related Skills

Beyond transitioning to new activities, there are other essential skills that PreK students should learn to support their social-emotional development. Some of these skills include:

• Following directions
• Sharing and taking turns
• Developing empathy and understanding emotions
• Building positive relationships with peers and adults

Each of these skills contributes to creating a supportive, inclusive learning environment and helps students develop strong foundations for future success.

Next Steps

If you found this activity and discussion helpful, be sure to sign up for free samples of the skill of transitioning to a new activity and other valuable resources from Everyday Speech. These materials are designed to support educators in teaching essential social-emotional skills to PreK students and creating a positive learning environment for all.