-large plastic Easter eggs (the eggs should be big enough that the infants won't be able to put the whole thing into their mouths) -rice -hot glue -hot glue sticks -CD player -"Rockabye Baby: Lullaby Renditions of the Beatles"
Materials for Modifiers -twist and treat dog ball -plastic spoons
Modifiers
For an easier challenge -Replace plastic Easter eggs with doggy twist-and-treat ball
For a trickier challenge -Replace plastic Easter eggs with plastic spoons
Follow-up Ideas
-If the teacher wishes to use this activity for older infants, she could have them help her decorate the eggs with stickers and foam stickers.
-Make a drum set out of pots and pans! Set up the pans on the carpet and let your infants touch them and bang on them with their hands and with wooden spoons. They'll be making their own music and experiencing new sounds.
Originating Idea
I love having activities that I can use for different holidays, and the Shake 'em Eggs are perfect for Easter! We're not allowed to hand out candy for Easter. so the infants can take these home as little party favors to celebrate the holidays with!
How to Make Activity
The teacher should twist the large Easter eggs apart and fill the bottom half of the egg with rice. Then the teacher should hot glue the rim of the bottom half and twist the egg halves back together.
How to Implement Activity
After snack time, the teachers should bring the infants to the carpet, where the eggs are placed in the middle. The teacher should then start playing soft music. She then hands each infant an egg and say, "Look at this pretty egg! It's a pretty instrument, isn't it? Would you like to shake it? You could play with the music!"
Some infants may be simply fascinated by the music itself. They may smile or mimic the sounds coming from the CD player. The infants will spend some time looking at the eggs, examining the surface with their hands and mouths. The infants will then shake the eggs, and listen to the sound of the rice bouncing inside the eggs. Some of the infants would mimic the sounds coming from the egg.
Once the infants have explored the eggs to their own satisfaction, the teachers should quietly collect the eggs and bring out a new activity for the infants to enjoy.