Each Rainbow Group have a daily circle time. This is different and distinct from a 
morning meeting, story time or group time. During circle time, children sit specifically in a circle, and not just a gathering on the rug. Sometimes children to sit on stools or on chairs for the circle if they have trouble staying in one spot during the session.
Depending on age and stage of development circle time will last between 10 and 25 minutes. In Babies there is no specific circle time, although elements of circle time are slowly introduced over time.
There are 8 key principles for Circle time:
- to practice turn taking
- to understand sequencing
- to respond to their own name
- to follow simple instructions
- to follow complex instructions
- to categorize based on given criteria
- to share and recount experiences
- to explore cultural differences within the group
Our Circle times follow this basic structure:
- Welcome every child by name
- Count children. (all group) Ask who is missing… introduce basic maths (older groups)
- Warm up with a familiar song or poem
- Letter, sound and number of the day (older groups)
- Familiar or semi-familiar song (older groups)
- Introduce the topic
- Interactive Activity (using senses, movement and active participation)
- Conclude and reinforce topic
- New song, rhyme or poem
- Familiar song
- Release each child by name to a given destination
Each week at Rainbow, we have a theme of the week; this transcends all groups, and helps provide a framework for learning, planning and activities that we deliver in each room. Each age group respond to the overarching theme in a way suitable for their age and stage of development. We have a daily circle time topic, that follows the same idea; each group will discuss or learn about the identified topic during circle time, in a way that is developmentally suitable for their age.
You can click the link below, to see our weekly themes, and our daily circle time topics.
Click here to down load the annual topics plan for circle time