OBJECTIVE: with SMARTIN' TIDY CLEANING ACADEMY'S play-based learning environment, the children will learn to love cleaning as well as having fun doing it. Through this program, the students will acquire the ability to increase their receptive, social, expressive, and fine motor skills by working together, matching colors, folding, wiping tables and sweeping.

 

They will also be taught the importance of cleaning and being tidy. They will learn to become more comfortable with social skills and being helpful at home, being successful and thrive in their community. In addition to this, our students will learn to grow in a healthy, positive environment.

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AGE GROUP: This program is designed to target the developmental growth of children ages 3 to 5 years old.

 

NUMBER OF CHILDREN: We provide activities that can be done with a group of 5 to 7 children per instructor.

 

MATERIALS:

 

-Small colorful pieces of clothing: socks, gloves, etc.

- Microfiber Cleaning Cloths

- Plastic spray bottles 

- Child size broom

- Laundry baskets

- Crates

- Music, if wanted

- Small tables or shelving units

 

DIRECTIONS OR PROCEDURE:

 

During circle time:

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• We discuss why cleaning is important.

• Who helps clean at home?

• How the students can help in the cleaning process at home? 

• Ask the children what part of cleaning do you like?

• Go over the types of cleaning supplies at home.

 

When the students help clean up, each will be assigned a job. They can gather materials around the classroom, put them in baskets and crates. Someone can hand out the spray bottles and clothes. Others can set up the sorting baskets.

 

Each child will have a turn being a cleaner and helper. 

 

We will encourage the students to ask questions to the instructors:

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• Why do things need to be cleaned?

• What do you use to clean? 

• Who taught you how to clean? 

 

 

If this is done during free play, the teachers can gauge who would like to switch roles. If this is a group activity, the teachers can decide on a certain amount of time and then switch everyone.

 

Students will also have the opportunity to sort gloves, socks, and towels into proper baskets. 

 

 

EVALUATION MEASURES: After we teach our cleaning activities throughout the day and weeks, we observe each child’s behavior and take notes. Are they more helpful or more enthusiastic about wanting to clean? We also ask each child if they know the names of the various cleaning products and supplies. Can they sort them into the proper basket?  Children should be able to name the items and what they're used for.

 

LESSON EXTENSION: This can be an ongoing part of the classroom, and the items can change. The children that are interested in continuing the fun in cleaning can discuss what they might clean in different environments outside of the classroom or home. This can lead to a discussion of what can be done to keep the neighborhood, community or the earth clean. The children may want to start their own cleaning caddy and start cleaning up a designated outside area (if available). In addition, a trip can be arranged to visit a recycling center to see how to keep the community clean. This could be part of a larger unit on, What can we do to keep the earth