Have you Tried?

Fathers Day coupons for chores, breakfast in bed, or big kiss.

Paper weights - paint rocks or do plaster of Paris handprints

Card containing a poem from the child; dictate their answer to what do you Like best about your father.

Father collage from pictures of men and children cut from magazines - have
Then dictate a story describing their choices and what they mean.

A desk blotter or mouse pad from pictures on construction paper that has
Been contact papered.

A pencil holder, decorate a strip of construction paper in any fashion then
Contact paper it around a can brought from home.

Decorate baby food jars for Dad to use in the garage to hold nuts, bolts,
And screws.

making plants in  glass jars as a gift idea?

tracing child's silhouettes for cards?

Have dads bring in pictures of themselves?

Ask the children to find the picture of their Father.

Make Dad Breakfast

Invite Dad to visit child's classroom.

Play golf or design a mini putt course in your living room/classroom to share with Dad

Host a B.B.Q for Dad

Serve "Donuts for Dad"

Help the kids make up a play or a song for dad and perform it for him on his special day.

Before Fathers Day, get dad to pick the menu for the entire day and mom and the kids have to serve him. Anything he wants, even if its potato chips for breakfast!

Help the kids scan their favourite picture of themselves, then use a photo editing program to write a message on the image and e-mail it to him. If you have a CD burner, make a CD with all of dad's favourite songs for him. Are you really cyber-savy? Make dad a Web page telling dad how wonderful he is!

Does dad love to golf? Build a miniature golf course in the living room or the back yard.

Does dad work in an office? Have a photo of the kids scanned onto a mouse pad so dad can always see their smiling faces - or simply frame a nice picture of mom and the kids - or you could make dad a colourful desk organizer.


c.2007-2008
Father's DAZE
Art:
Fabric Painting Ideas
Purchase fabric paint.  Pour into a paper plate.  Have children dip their hands in the paint or sponge brush paint onto their hands.  Stamp hands onto T-Shirt, apron or pillowcase.  Use fabric marker or fabric paint and brush to print messages to go with the handprints

Paint handprints all over the back.  On the front, print "My DAD deserves a pat on the back." 
  
Print "World's Best DAD" and with space in between "Hands Down". Put two hand prints in the middle. 
  
You could do handprints all around and put "Many hands make light work." 

Footprints as the head of a deer and handprints for antlers -- make 2.  Print "I'm Rich. I've got 2 bucks!"
  
"Any Man Can Be A Father, But It Takes Someone Special To Be A Daddy!"

"Everyday I am growing up
And soon I will be so tall
That the handprints on this case
May be very hard to recall.
So here are two of my handprints
On this pillowcase to stay
And show you how my fingers looked
This year on Father's Day."

Beer Glass Candle
Materials:  Wax Gold Colored crayons for color , Wick , Fork , Spoon , Glass Beer Mug,
Stick
Directions:  Set up your candle with the wick supported by a stick across the glass. After you have slowly melted and colored the wax in a double boiler CAREFULLY pour the wax in the mug to within 2 inches from the top. The wax is VERY HOT. It may even help to use some old pot holders when handling the double boiler. Once it is cool you will add the "head". Wait for your melted wax to form a skin on top and whip it with a fork then spoon it on top of your candle. Trim your wick to a quarter inch, and you're all finished.

Napkin Rings
Materials: Assorted Beans (4 or More Varieties), Empty Paper Towel Tube, Low Temp Glue Gun, Scissors
Directions: Cut empty paper towel tubes into 1-1/4" rings. Use glue gun to
Attach beans all around ring in a decorative pattern.

"King for a Day" Crown
Materials: Cardboard (you can use an old cereal box), Aluminum foil, Scissors, Glue, Ruler, Stapler, Construction paper, Sequins, glitter, etc. (optional), One of Dad's hats, Piece of newspaper or other long paper
Directions: Cut a strip about one inch wide the whole length of the newspaper. You will use this to measure the circumference your dad's head. Take the newspaper strip and place it around the inside of the hat. (Keep one end still with your thumb and cover the band part inside all the way around. Tear off any extra.) This is how long your crown will need to be to fit your father. Cut the cardboard box apart into panels (flat parts.) Lay the two big panels next to each other with their "short sides" touching. Use your "newspaper ruler" to measure how long the crown needs to be. Trim off any extra length. Cut another piece off of the newspaper (about five inches wide.) Fold about three inches over. Continue to fold the paper into three inch sections. When it is all folded, cut a "v" into the top of one of the "short" sides. Open the paper and see your crown pattern! Trace your pattern onto the cardboard and cut it out. Carefully cover the crown with aluminum foil. Cut pretend "jewels" out of construction paper and glue them on your crown. You may even want to cut out letters to spell "dad" or "the king" or something else. Glue on sequins or glitter if you have them. When you are finished decorating, get a grownup to staple the crown together.

A Handful of Love for Dad

This is an easy handmade card project! You need red construction paper and white copy paper. First, trace your child's hand twice on the red paper. Cut out the hand shapes and set aside.  Cut out a red heart out of the construction paper, and a smaller heart out of the white copy paper. On the white heart, draw a self-portrait and write "ME" along with your Happy Father's Day message. Glue the white heart to the middle of the red heart.
Now staple the hand cutouts to the top of the heart so that the fingers intertwine and cover the picture. On the top hand write "Look inside so you can see." Then on the second hand cutout write "Who loves you best. Of course it is...” When Dad opens it up, he'll see "ME!"

DAD'S SURVIVAL KIT

Materials: small box, magazines, scissors, glue, pencils, crayons, paper, envelope, string, contact paper, assorted goodies
Directions: Decorate a small box with a picture collage from magazines or drawings and secure it with clear contact paper. What goes inside? What does dad need to remember that you are thinking of him? Dad needs a photo of you, maybe surrounded by a homemade frame. He'll need a paper heart to remind him you care. A Band-aid in case he needs some TLC a Quarter or a Phone card so he can call home. (Or ride the pony at the store) A home made ID card with your fingerprints on it so he knows what kid he belongs to. A drawing of you and him eating Mom's cookies together or some other activity you share. A piece of paper, and a stamped, addressed envelope, to mail you a letter A Hershey's kiss (or a lipstick print on paper) A personal item such as a rock, if you and dad like to collect them, or a fish hook taped to a card... Write a note to dad in your best printing. A tracing of your handprint with a piece of string glued around one of the fingers, and words that say "Don't forget, I'm thinking of you" One of your small toys, like a small action figure or doll. So he can think about playing with you. Things you can never find when you need them, a rubber band, a paper clip, a thumb tack, a safety pin... Put everything inside the box, tie the box shut with a ribbon or a piece of yarn and label it "Dad's survival kit"

Wrapped Around My Finger

Materials: Good watercolor paper, acrylic paint, foam brush, fame, glass and mats
Gold metallic marker pen, black calligraphy pen
Directions:  Using foam brush, paint child's hand with paint and press onto center of paper. (Wear smocks, this paint does NOT wash out :) Let dry. With gold marker,
Draw a fancy bow around one finger. In the upper right corner, write in fancy writing, "DAD, I have you wrapped around my finger". After dry, insert in frame with mat.

Dramatic Play

Have children bring in favorite articles of Dad's clothing and have them
play dress up.

Play role-reversal with them, you act like the child and have them act like
the Dad.

Language
A Little Girl Needs Daddy
A little girl needs Daddy
For many, many things:
Like holding her high off the ground
Where the sunlight sings!
Like being the deep music
That tells her all is right
When she awakens frantic with
The terrors of the night.
Like being the great mountain
That rises in her heart
And shows her how she might get home
When all else falls apart.
Like giving her the love
That is her sea and air,
So diving deep or soaring high
She'll always find him there

Music
A Special Friend
(to the tune of "B-I-N-G-O")
I have a very special friend,
And Daddy is his name-o,
D-a-d-d-y, D-a-d-d-y, D-a-d-d-y,
and Daddy is his name-o!
He always loves and cares for me,
And Daddy is his name-o,
D-a-d-d-y, D-a-d-d-y, D-a-d-d-y,
and Daddy is his name-o!

Happy Father's Day
(to the tune of "Happy Birthday")
Happy Father's Day to you!
Happy Father's Day to you!
Happy Father's Day, dear Daddy!
Happy Father's Day to you!

I Love You
(to the tune of "London Bridge")
Daddy, Daddy, I love you!
I love you!
I love you!
Daddy, Daddy, I love you!
Yes, I do!

You Are Special
(to the tune of "Are You Sleeping?")
You are special, you are special,
Every day, every day!
Now on Father's Day
Oh my dearest Daddy,
I will say,
"I love you!"

Recipes:
Put everything in bowls on a table and give the kids a large cup to spoon 
things into.  They can choose a little of everything and more of something 
their Dad particularly likes  When the cup is full we dump the contents  into
their bag and staple it shut.

Raisin's cause you're raisin' me
Goldfish 'cause you are the BIG fish in the sea
Cheezit's 'cause you're the BIG cheese
Pretzels 'cause you guide me in all life's twists and turns
Chocolate chips 'cause I'm the chip off the old block!
Chex 'cause you are always chexin' up on me.
Froot Loops for all our loopy times together
Peanuts because I am your little peanut. (sometimes not there do to allergy 
issues)
Teddy Grahams for all the bear hugs you give me
Popcorn 'cause you are my POP!
Kisses.....because  I love you.

CHEWY BROWNIE COOKIES

Ingredients :
2/3 cup shortening
1 1/2 cups firmly packed light brown sugar
1 tablespoon water
1 teaspoon vanilla 2 eggs
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/3 cup unsweetened baking cocoa
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt 
Preparation : Heat oven to 375 F. Combine Crisco, light brown sugar, water and vanilla in a large mixing bowl. Beat at medium speed of electric mixer until well blended. Beat eggs into creamed mixture. Combine flour, cocoa, baking soda and salt. Mix into creamed mixture at low speed until just blended. Drop rounded measuring tablespoonfuls 2 inches apart onto ungreased baking sheet. Bake one baking sheet at a time at 375 F for 7 minutes, or until cookies are set. Cookies will appear soft and moist - take care not to over bake. Cool on baking sheet 2 minutes. Place sheets of foil on countertop. Remove cookies to foil to cool completely. 

CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES

Ingredients :
2 1/4 c flour
1/3 c Hershey's cocoa
1 t. baking soda
1/2 t salt
1 c. butter or margarine, softened
3/4 c granulated sugar
3/4 c packed light brown sugar
1 t vanilla extract
t2 eggs
2 c (12-oz pkg) semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 c chopped nuts (optional) 
Preparation : Heat oven to 375F. Stir together flour, cocoa, baking soda and salt. In large bowl, beat butter, granulated sugar, brown sugar and vanilla with electric mixer until creamy. Add eggs; beat well. Gradually mix flour mixture, beating well. Stir in chocolate chips and nuts, if desired. Drop by rounded teaspoons onto ungreased cookie sheet. Bake 8 to 10 minutes or until lightly browned. Cool slightly; remove from cookie sheet to wire rack. Makes About 5 dozen cookies. 

APPLE CREAM DESSERT 
Ingredients :
1 1/2 cups Graham Crackers;
Crushed or Crumbed
1/4 cup Butter; Melted
1-14 oz. can Sweetened Condensed Milk
1/4 cup Lemon Juice
1 cup Sour Cream
1-21 oz. can Apple Pie Filling
1/4 cup Pecans; Chopped
1/4 tsp. Ground Cinnamon 
Preparation : In a medium mixing bowl combine butter and graham cracker crumbs. Pat mixture into the bottom of a 9 x 13-inch baking pan. In a separate bowl, combine condensed milk, sour cream and lemon juice. Evenly spread the milk and cream mixture over the crust. Gently spoon on apple pie filling. Sprinkle the pecans and cinnamon over the of the pie filling top. Bake in a 350-F degree pre-heated oven for 30 minutes. Let cool for 10 to 15-minuted before serving. Refrigerate any dessert that remains (Serves 6) 

STRAWBERRY MUFFINS
Ingredients :
2 1/2 C Flour
2/3 C Sugar
1 T Baking soda
3/4 Ts Cinnamon
1/2 Ts Salt
2 C Fresh strawberries, sliced
1 C Buttermilk
1/3 C Butter - Melted
1 1/4 Ts Vanilla extract
1 Egg - Slightly Beaten
1 Egg white - SlightlyBeaten
Vegetable cooking spray
1 1/2 Tb Sugar 
Preparation : Combine flour and next 4 ingredients in a large bowl, and stir well. Add fresh strawberries; stir well, and make a well in center of mixture. Combine buttermilk and next 4 ingredients; stir well. Add to dry ingredients, stirring just until moistened. Divide batter evenly among 18 muffin cups coated with cooking spray; sprinkle 1 1/2 tablespoons sugar evenly over muffins. Bake at 350F for 25 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Remove from pans immediately; let cool on a wire rack.
Prop Box Ideas
Include the following collections of objects and materials for children to create, discover, and use for imaginary play. Store collections in boxes or baskets to be accessible at any time (indoors or outdoors) for children to enhance their dramatic play

"A hero is no braver than an ordinary man, but he is brave
five minutes longer."
- Ralph Waldo Emerson































Curriculum Resources

Art

Dramatic Play

Prop Boxes

Fine Motor

Games

Language

Math

Music

Outdoor Play

Quiet Time

Recipes

Science/Sensory

Fine Motor

Themes


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