What Christmas / Chanukah / Birthday Present am I?

Even the shyest child will want a chance to be a present. Children should already be familiar with pantomiming before doing this activity.

Objectives

The children should be able to ask questions about objects from given descriptors and pantomime. Children 4 and up should be able to demonstrate meaning of the word/ideas by pantomime Lang. IIIB
Children 3 and up can produce sounds to represent an object Cog. IV A
and all the children can imitate role play Cog. IV A
and can take turns being the present SE IV

Large cardboard box -- big enough for a child to fit inside; long piece of yarn or ribbon.

Procedures

1. The group of children sits in a semi-circle on the floor. One child is chosen to go out of sight with a teacher and decide what present they would like to be. Teacher could help by recalling the child's interests and offer suggestions on what to "be" and how to act it out. Teacher puts child in box and ties yarn loosely around it.

2. Meanwhile the remaining group with another teacher sings an appropriate seasonal or birthday song or discusses favorite presents.

3. The first teacher pushes the "present" into view and chooses a child from the group to unwrap it. The wrapped child emerges from the box and pantomimes the present silently or with appropriate sounds. If the guessers are stumped, they can ask questions of the "present" such as "What are you made of? What sound do you start with? etc..." Teachers guide hints and suggestions.

4. When the "present" is guessed, another child -- not necessarily the correct guesser -- is chosen to be wrapped. If all children who want turns can't be accommodated before the group gets tired, the game can be continued later or the next day.