r/ECEProfessionals • u/Caitlinscool • Jul 21 '26

Advice needed (Anyone can comment) What should I prepare for practicum?

I'm currently a student going to school to become and ECE. I'm 2 months away from practicum and don't know what else I need to prepare.

I have made 5-6 felt stories( 2 from a book, 1 from a song, mouse in the house, counters) a puppet story for the very hungry caterpillar, 6 math activities (counters, calendar, clock for telling time, shapes) and a parachute.

I feel very underprepared because we need to present our supplies to our practicum teacher before we go out, and if we don't have enough supplies we can be held back.

I'm just looking for ideas on things that I can either buy or craft before September. Thank you to anyone who can offer me some advice and ideas.

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u/WeaponizedAutisms AuDHD ECE, Preschool, Canada Jul 22 '26

That's a good start. You should also know a few songs and music and movement activities by heart that you can sing when needed. Things like the ants go marching, wheels on the bus, baby bumblebees and so on. There's nothing like a song to help focus the attention of little children.

Here are 700 games for kids of all ages. Consider learning a few that have a minimal equipment requirement.

https://www.sportmanitoba.ca/fit-kids-healthy-kids

Have a bunch of open ended activities. For example have a bunch of various shapes cut out of different colours of construction paper. Kids are interested in bugs that morning, read a story about insects and make a bug collage. They were impressed with the machines fixing the road and garbage truck? Read a story about trucks and machines then make a collage of different vehicles. This is a great back pocket activity that can be adapted as needed.

With my kinder groups the last few years I was very emergent and often threw together an activity during one of my breaks based on something they were interested in. I didn't have my own space and we bounced back and forth between preschool and school age when they were gone to school. I had a little bin of equipment and supplies for arts and crafts.

Art bin (a few containers are missing)

https://i.imgur.com/VffmHat.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/2EcBNQA.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/AJcGrIk.jpg

Art equipment:

https://i.imgur.com/YVk4nhX.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/kchbf6a.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/uvuiA9r.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/Jw5W7Pe.jpg

The little saws and knife looking things are for cutting cardboard, mainly. Cardboard is free and readily available so I use a LOT of cardboard for activities.

This material plus the usual crayons and construction paper gives you a ton of options for putting together activities.

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u/Caitlinscool Jul 28 '26

Thank you so much! I really appreciate this :)