 |
| SUMMER DAZE |
| FEATURED THEME: Strawberries Strawberries are one of the most common fruits in the home garden for both their ease of growth and popularity at the table. There are recipes and uses galore from jams and jellies, drinks, baking recipes and more. In addition, they have had medicinal uses over the years. Art: Strawberry with Seeds Need: paper, hole punch, glue Directions: Cut out large strawberries from construction paper. Punch black dots out with a hole puncher. Have children place the black dots (seeds) onto the strawberry and count the seeds. Can change to an addition activity. Cute as a Button Strawberry Need: Strawberry shape, red paint, black buttons (careful around small children) Directions: Cut out a shape of as strawberry. Have the children Paint it red. Glue on black buttons. Basket Prints Need: strawberry baskets, paint, paper Directions: Save those small plastic baskets that strawberries come in. They make neat prints. Dip them in paint & press on paper for interesting designs. Scented Strawberry Materials: Heavy white paper, green paper, Q-tip, red and black paint, strawberry Jell-O or Kool-aid mix. Directions: Have the children cut a strawberry shape from heavier white paper and paint it red with black spots for seeds. Use Q-tips to dab the black paint on. While the paint is wet sprinkle strawberry Jell-O or Kool-aid powdered drink mix. Once the paint is close to drying, cut out a green leafy top for the picture and your strawberry is complete. Strawberry Walnuts Materials: walnuts, red paint, white paint, green felt, toothpick, glue Directions: Paint the walnut red and when dry, paints on white dots with a toothpick. Once dry, glue a piece of green felt to the top of your strawberry for its leaves. Stuffed Strawberry Materials: paper, tissue or newspaper, stapler, crayons or markers Directions: Give the children pattern of a strawberry top (green paper) and a pattern for the red berry. They may make black seeds on the red with marker or crayon. Make two of each and then staple or glue together. Before completely closing the berry, stuff it with tissue or newspaper. These berries look yummy enough to eat! Cute as a Button Strawberry Need: Strawberry shape, red paint, black buttons (careful around small children) Directions: Cut out a shape of as strawberry. Have the children Paint it red. Glue on black buttons. Basket Prints Need: strawberry baskets, paint, paper Directions: Save those small plastic baskets that strawberries come in. They make neat prints. Dip them in paint & press on paper for interesting designs. Math: Strawberry with Seeds Need: paper, hole punch, glue Directions: Cut out large strawberries from construction paper. Punch black dots out with a hole puncher. Have children place the black dots (seeds) onto the strawberry and count the seeds. Can change to an addition activity. Music: Pop Goes the Berries (Sung to "Pop Goes the Weasel") All around the strawberry fields, We picked some juicy berries We brought them home and washed them off, Pop! - go the berries! Picked a Strawberry (Sung to "Clementine" ) Picked a strawberry, Picked a strawberry That was growing In the sun. Then I washed it, And I ate it, And I picked another one. Recipes: Craft Strawberry Playdough 1 cup flour 1 tablespoon vegetable oil 1 package un-sweetened strawberry Kool-Aid 1/4 cup salt 2 tablespoons cream of tartar 1 cup water Mix flour, salt, cream of tartar and Kool-Aid in a medium saucepan. Add water and oil. Stir over medium heat 3 to 5 minutes. When mixture forms a ball in pan, remove. Knead until smooth. Store in a covered plastic container. Recipes: Snack Ideas Strawberry Shortcake Make quick strawberry shortcakes by purchasing small hollowed sponge cakes. Children can fill their own sponge cakes with strawberries and add whipped cream or Cool Whip to the top. Berry-Banana Freezer Pops Stay cool this summer and save with homemade Berry-Banana Freezer Pops. Blend your own fresh mixture of strawberries, yogurt and bananas, and freeze for a cool and refreshing inexpensive treat! 2 packages (10 ounces each) frozen strawberries in syrup, slightly thawed and undrained 1 container (6 ounces) Yoplait® Original strawberry yogurt 1 small banana, mashed 10 wooden sticks with rounded ends 1. Place strawberries, yogurt and banana in blender. Cover and blend until smooth. 2. Pour slightly less than 1/2 cup fruit mixture into each of ten 6- to 8-ounce freezer pop molds or paper cups. Insert stick into each pop. If using paper cups, place on cookie sheet. Freeze at least 8 hours. Berry Yummy Snacks Strawberry - serve strawberries in a variety of ways. Plain, dip in sugar or melted chocolate for an added treat. Strawberry pancakes, shortcake, strawberries on ice cream. Make some freezer jam. Raspberry - these tiny fruits are a little expensive so maybe you could have raspberry day. Make freezer jam, eat them plain, sprinkled over yogurt or with a dollop or whipped cream. Blueberry - go wild for blue. Make muffins, pancakes, cakes, bread, sprinkle them over ice cream or breakfast cereal. |
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. baskets plastic berries paper berries napkins strawberry plants c.2008 |
 |
| "Tomorrow is the most important thing in life. Comes into us at midnight very clean. It's perfect when it arrives and it puts itself in our hands. It hopes we've learned something from yesterday."
John Wayne (1907 - 1979) |
 |