The five lines
- Hello: a hello song that names each child.
- Calendar: the day, the date, and a look out of the window for the weather.
- The theme question: one open question you come back to all week.
- The song: this week's song, standing up for the twos.
- The book: the week's first book, with a child turning the pages.
The circle time page fills the question, the song and the book in for this week's theme.
How long to plan for
These are planning numbers, not targets. Watch the room, not the clock.
- Babies and young toddlers: two or three minutes, on laps.
- Twos: about five minutes.
- Threes and fours: ten to fifteen minutes.
Watch for When the room is restless, drop the calendar first and keep the song and the book. The song gets everyone moving; the book settles them.
Why the same order every day
Children who know what comes next can join in instead of waiting to find out. By Wednesday they will start the song before you do. Changing the theme each week keeps it fresh; keeping the order keeps it calm.