The fall morning air is arriving, routines are settling, and kids are adjusting to back-to-school routines. And with that brings one of the long-standing traditions of show and tell. Show and tell dates back to as early as the 1950s and brings team building and communication into the classroom.
As a PreK mom, I recently got to experience my first show-and-tell moment with my daughter. I chuckled as I tried to remember what I always brought for show and tell when I was her age in my own early years of learning. Much like the 90s comedy show Kids Say the Darndest Things, humor meets expectations when it comes to what most kiddos want to bring versus what we suggest they bring.
As I shared this concept with my daughter, her four-year-old heart beamed with excitement when I told her she could bring something from home to share with her fellow classmates! Although she spewed out random things like her bicycle or ice-cream kitchen playset, we settled for some things much smaller in size and a little story to tell. We wanted to allow her the creative space to be her own little unique self, and be sure to not dull out her sparkle in the process.
So I compiled a list of 35 fun ideas your early learner can bring to share for their own show and tell.
Ideas for Show and Tell
Creative Self: Items About Themselves
1. A baby picture
2. A family photo
3. A photo of their pet
4. An object of a hobby they have (My daughter brought a soccer medal from her summer season.)
5. A favorite snack of theirs
6. A favorite stuffie they use at bedtime or during moments of anxiety (This is GREAT for self-expression and talking about feelings.)
7. A favorite book for reading
8. Something from their favorite school subject
9. Something from their favorite sports team or someone they admire
10. Something that begins with the same letter as their first name
11. A gift they have gotten for a birthday and tell about the special person who gave it
12. An item with their favorite color on it
Creative Outdoors: Items from Trips & Adventures
13. A photo of a family trip or vacation they’ve taken
14. A ticket stub from a vacation or trip (plane, train, etc.)
15. An object from a nature walk or park they’ve visited
16. An item from the beach (fossil, shell, shark tooth)
17. A picture of a flower or veggie from their own plants and garden at home
18. An item that an explorer would use (map, flashlight, etc.)
19. A drawing of an activity they did outside
20. A fact about or photo of their favorite animal
21. A packet of seeds for something that can grow
Creative Season: Items for Fall & Holidays
22. An item from the fall season (Bring on the pumpkins!)
23. Something for the Halloween season (costume idea or photo of their costume)
24. Something to be thankful for
25. Tell about their favorite Thanksgiving food or share a drawing of a Thanksgiving tradition they have
26. A holiday decoration such as a tree ornament or ornament they made
27. A favorite fall or holiday sweater
28. A favorite mug for hot cocoa
29. A photo visiting Santa or a letter to Santa they wrote
30. A favorite holiday gift they’ve received and tell about who gave it to them
31. A favorite Christmas season tradition or photo from a past holiday
32. A favorite holiday song or have the teacher play it
33. A favorite blanket for staying cozy
34. A favorite holiday movie and why it’s their favorite
35. An object that reminds them of winter
