Excellent Opposites!
Little ones learn the ins and outs of opposites with
these engaging activities!
Up, Up, and Away!
Blast off with opposites practice with the PLAYMOBIL
1.2.3 Moon Rocket! Have a youngster place the
astronaut in the rocket. Say, “Oh no, the astronaut
forgot to pack his favorite space snacks. Let’s take
him out of the rocket.” Encourage a child to remove
the astronaut and help pack his pretend snacks. Then,
encourage the child to put the astronaut back in the
rocket. Say, “The top of the rocket is off, let’s put it on.”
Once the top is attached, prompt the child to make the
rocket blast off and then soar up and down and fast and
slow as the astronaut explores. Outer space is such a
fascinating place! Opposites: in/out, off/on, up/down,
fast/slow
To enrich and extend the pretend play, try
the following suggestions:
Have a child flatten play dough to make a pretend
planetary surface. Then, have her land the rocket ship
and remove the astronaut to explore this strange new
planet!
Incorporate the PLAYMOBIL 1.2.3 Quad Bike.
Together, the astronaut and the rider can use the quad
bike to explore the surface of the moon or a planet.
Provide several medium-sized rocks. Have the
youngster encourage the astronaut to investigate
these “moon rocks” and take them back to earth for
analysis.
© 2014 PLAYMOBIL®. Text and design by The Education Center, LLC
www.playmobil.us
A Nature Walk
With the PLAYMOBIL 1.2.3 Meadow
Path you’ll find opposites everywhere!
Place the cow so it appears as if it’s
walking over the bridge and put the sheep
under the bridge. Then, ask a youngster,
“What is going over the bridge?” Help
him to correctly identify the cow. Then,
ask, “What is under the bridge?” Repeat
the activity, placing different toys over
and under the bridge. Next, give a child a
toy and ask him to place it on the bridge.
Check for understanding and then have
him take the toy off the bridge. Turn
the tables and have the child test you
on the opposites of over/under and on/
off. Finally, have a youngster place the
squirrel in and out of the tree. Challenge
little ones to find other manipulatives in
this set that can be placed in and out of
the tree. Opposites: over/under, off/on,
in/out
Enrich pretend play with the following add-ons:
Place a blue strip of paper below the bridge so it resembles
a river. Then, have the various toys jump in and out of the
river!
Provide rice or oatmeal and encourage a child to scoop
some into the animal trough. Have the youngster note that
the trough is full. Then, prompt her to have the
sheep and cow “eat” the food. Encourage her to
dump it back into the original container to pretend
it’s all gone. Then, refer to the trough as empty.
Get a big and small square of green construction
paper. Place the paper near the toys and say,
“These are the farmer’s fields. He has a big field
and a small field.” Have the child point to the
big field and to the small field. Then, give him
instructions to place the PLAYMOBIL 1.2.3
Pony Wagon on a specific field for added
pretend play.
© 2014 PLAYMOBIL®. Text and design by The Education Center, LLC
www.playmobil.us
Zoom, Zoom!
Little ones will have lots of playful opposites experiences
with the PLAYMOBIL 1.2.3 Motor Bike and the
PLAYMOBIL 1.2.3 Quad Bike! Attach two lengths of
tape to your floor several feet apart to make a start and
a finish line. Use a permanent marker to label the pieces
of tape “start” and “finish.” Also, lean a sturdy piece of
cardboard against a box or chair to make a ramp. Prompt
youngsters to move the bikes from the start to the finish
line slowly. Then, have them repeat the process, making
the bikes move quickly. Next, have a child notice that an
engine noise on the PLAYMOBIL 1.2.3 Motor Bike can
be switched on and off. Ask youngsters which one they
prefer. Finally, prompt students to “drive” the bikes up
and down the ramp. Opposites: start/finish, slowly/
quickly, off/on, up/down
To enhance and extend the pretend
play, try the following suggestions:
Incorporate the PLAYMOBIL 1.2.3 Convertible
Car for added pretend play.
Put the bikes in your play dough center and
prompt youngsters to roll the bike over flattened
play dough, noting the different textures they leave
behind.
Place the bikes in your block center and
encourage students to build roadways or trails for
the bikes.
Put the bikes in your sand table. Also add sticks,
leaves, and rocks. Then, encourage little ones to
move the bikes over this new bumpy terrain!
© 2014 PLAYMOBIL®. Text and design by The Education Center, LLC
www.playmobil.us
Down on the Farm
The PLAYMOBIL 1.2.3 Take Along
Barn is the perfect tool to help little ones
practice the concept of left and right! To
begin, open the barn and remove the
figures and accessories. Then, introduce
a youngster to the toy, and point out that
there is a left side and a right side to the
barn. To help the child remember which
side is which, place a reminder on the
right side, such as a letter R manipulative
or a specific toy. Then, play this quick
little game. Have the child find the pig.
Prompt him to place the pig on the left
side of the barn. Continue with other
toys, having him place them on either the
left or right side. Next, remove the toys
and have the child tell you where to place
them. What fun! Opposites: left/right
To enhance and enrich farm-themed
play, try the following suggestions:
Provide the PLAYMOBIL 1.2.3 Farmer with
Tractor to expand the pretend play.
Place blocks near the barn and encourage
little ones to expand the farm by making
additional corrals.
Provide the PLAYMOBIL 1.2.3 Mother With
Baby and Stroller. Encourage youngsters to
give them a tour of the farm.
© 2014 PLAYMOBIL®. Text and design by The Education Center, LLC
www.playmobil.us