Special thanks to Beverly Bixler from the San Antonio Public Library, who posted these ideas on the PUBYAC listserv. The concept of Opposites is one children need to understand as they enter Kindergarten!
Yoon, Salina. OPPOSNAKES. Lift the flaps to see various snakes demonstrating the concept of opposites, such as dirty and clean.
Inkpen, Mick. KIPPER’S BOOK OF OPPOSITES. The popular TV character demonstrates opposites.
Ziefert, Harriet. YOU AND ME: WE’RE OPPOSITES. Zoo animals are examples of opposites.
Davis, Nancy. A GARDEN OF OPPOSITES. Simple enough for the younger toddlers, we see a large insect compared to a small ladybug, as well as other opposites.
Fox, Mem. WHERE IS THE GREEN SHEEP? Sheep demonstrate opposites and colors with wry humor.
Minters, Frances. TOO BIG, TOO SMALL, JUST RIGHT. Two rabbits encounter several opposites while looking for a new home.
Seeger, Laura Vaccaro. BLACK? WHITE! DAY? NIGHT! With flaps and cutouts, children can guess the opposites in this dynamic book.
Clark, Emma Chichester. MIMI’S BOOK OF OPPOSITES. Mimi the monkey and her little brother demonstrate various opposites.
Find opposites themed activities at 123child. For example, you can make a simple Lotto style matching game of opposites.
- FINGERPLAYS:
CLAP YOUR HANDS Clap, clap, clap your hands, as slowly as you can (Suit actions to words) Clap, clap, clap your hands as quickly as you can Shake, Roll, Rub, Wiggle
DANCE YOUR FINGERS Dance your fingers up, (Suit actions to words) Dance your fingers down Dance your fingers to the side And dance them round and round Dance them on your shoulders, Dance them on your head Dance them on your belly And now put them to bed.
HOW BIG IS BABY? How big is baby? (Stretch arms out to sides) Soooo big! Soooo big! How big is mousie? (Bring hands in close together) Sooo small! Sooo small.
I’M TALL AND SMALL I’m very, very tall. (Stretch arms up; voice ascends) I’m very, very small. (Squat down; voice descends) Tall (Stretch up again; high note) Small (Squat down again; low note) Now I’m a little ball. (Curl up in ball)
OPEN AND SHUT THEM Open and shut them, open and shut them, (Open and shut hands) Make your hands go clap, clap, clap. (Clap hands) Open and shut them, open and shut them, (Open and shut hands) Put them in your lap, lap, lap. (Put hands in lap)
TALL AS A TREE Tall as a tree, (Raise arms high) Big as a house. (Arms out wide) Thin as a pin, (Hold arms at sides) Little as a mouse. (Make self small)
THIS IS BIG This is big, big, big. (Stretch hands far to side) This is small, small, small. (Cup hands together over lap) This is short, short, short. (Hold palms horizontally, close) This is tall, tall, tall. (Hold palms horizontally, far apart) This is fast, fast, fast. (roll hands quickly) This is slow, slow, slow. (roll hands slowly) This is yes, yes, yes. (nod) This is no, no, no! (shake head)
THIS IS THE GIANT This is the giant who is tall, tall, tall. (Stretch arms up high) And this is the elf who is small, small, small. (Indicate size with hand near floor) Then the little elf reached up high, high, high. (Stretch arms up high) To be as tall as the giant in the sky, sky, sky. (Stand on tip-toe)
BUMPING UP AND DOWN IN MY LITTLE RED WAGON Bumping up and down in my little red wagon, Bumping up and down in my little red wagon, Bumping up and down in my little red wagon, Won’t you be my darling? (Other verses: getting in and out)
GO IN AND OUT THE WINDOW Go in and out the window / Go in and out the window. Go in and out the window / As we have done before. (Other verses: go up and down the staircase; go over and under the bridge; go to and fro on the road; look right and left out the window; go high and low on the swing; go quickly and slowly on the racetrack;)
GRAND OLD DUKE OF YORK Oh, the grand old Duke of York He had ten thousand men He marched them up to the top of the hill and Marched them down again And when you’re up, you’re up And when you’re down, you’re down And when you’re only half way up You’re neither up nor down
HEAD AND SHOULDERS Head and shoulders, knees and toes (knees and toes) Head and shoulders, knees and toes (knees and toes) And eyes, and ears, and mouth and nose, Head and shoulders, knees and toes (knees and toes)
IF YOU’RE HAPPY AND YOU KNOW IT-OPPOSITES STYLE If you’re happy and you know it clap your hands… Sad – say boo-hoo Hungry – Rub your belly Full – Say I’m full Dirty – Wash your face Clean – Shout Hooray!
OPPOSITES HOKEY POKEY (tune: “Hokey Pokey”) You shake your bells up, You shake your bells down; You shake your bells up, Then you shake them all around. You do the hokey pokey And you turn yourself around. That’s what it’s all about!
OPPOSITES LOOBY LOO (tune: “Here We Go Looby Loo”) (If possible, give each child a stuffed animal or puppet. Have the children lift the animals up and down with the song). Here we go up, up, up. Here we go down, down, down. Here we go up, up, up. Here we go down, down, down. Other verses: Here we go in/out; Here we go high/low; Here we go fast/slow; Here we go to/fro)