Last Updated on September 13, 2026 by Sheryl Cooper
Inside: Use farm toys to create an easy farm circle time activity for toddlers. They will learn how to identify animals and their sounds!
Toddlers love to move, so why not make that part of your circle time?
So many teachers worldwide tell me that circle time is their hardest activity to plan.
I get that, as I felt the same way many years ago.
It wasn’t until I discovered that having something physical for them to hold, as well as inviting them to get up off their mat and be part of the activity, that circle time became fun.
It’s not just about the teacher reading a book or talking about a specific subject.
It’s about making the activity interactive.
Are your toddlers part of your circle time?
Easy Farm Circle Time Activity for Toddlers
Since I have added props to my circle time activities, I’ve actually enjoyed circle time and so have my students.
I often am asked how I handle students who don’t want to be at circle time.
Honestly? That really doesn’t happen very often.
I look at this as a good sign.
(By the way, if a child doesn’t want to be a the circle, they are welcome to quietly look at a book in the reading corner.)
They usually come to circle time eager to be part of whatever I have planned.
And by the way, if you want to learn more circle time tips, I’ve got loads of them in this playlist:
This easy farm circle time activity was created for our farm theme, which we do the second week of September.
It was easy for me to grab the materials needed since they were already in the classroom.
Supplies
- Toy barn
- Farm animals (enough so that each child has one)
Books
There are several simple books you can read before the activity, if your group does well sitting and listening to stories.
Music
Or, you could sing a song!
Set Up
Place the barn in the middle of your circle.
Have farm animals in a basket or some sort of container.
The Circle Time Activity
Show the children the empty barn.
Where are the animals?
Tell the children we need to put some farm animals in that barn.
Hand each child a farm animal.
Go around the circle and ask each child what their farm animal is. (They might need some help with this.)
Then, ask what sound does it make? (Again, some assistance might be required.)
Tell your toddlers that their animals need to go to into the barn!
As you get to each child, have them get up and put their animal in the barn.
Can they once again tell you what type of animal it is?
And what sound it makes?
When finished, have the children notice all the animals in the barn.
Take them out and invite your toddlers to count them.
I then put the barn and animals in our block area where they could play with it independently or with friends.
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