"Where Do You Start Your Letters?"

Use shaking hands to teach another important skill: directionality. Children can learn to tell left from right easily with this activity. How does it work? We teach only the right hand and associate it with shaking hands. When children learn just the right hand, they’re never confused. They know the right, and what’s left is left.

Materials

• Lotion • Rubber stamp • Scent • Cup of water

Activity

1. Greeting—Shake hands with each child. Smile and make eye contact. 2. Say, Hello. This is your right hand. I’m going to do something to your right hand. • Lotion—Put a dab on the right thumb. Rub your fingers together. • Rubber Stamp—Stamp the right hand. Look at your right hand now. • Scent—Dab a scent on the right hand to smell. • Water—Dip child’s right fingertips in a cup. Have them shake fingers. 3. Direct students to raise their right hands and say with you, This is my right hand. I shake hands with my right hand.