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| Summer DAZE |
| Art: Foot Flower What You Need: Paint, Paper What You Do: Paint the bottom of the child's foot and let them put it on paper. They can then add a stem and what other decoration they choose to add to the picture. Colored Sand and Salt Shakers Gather several salt shakers and fill each witha mixture of equal parts of clean sand and powdered tempera paint. Set the salt shakers, along with construction paper and glue, on a table. Allow the kids to use the glue to make ocean animal designs on their papers and then cover them with different salt shaker mixtures. Dragon Fly Materials:Paper towel roll, Construction paper, Tape, Markers or crayons Directions: Use a paper towel tube and have children decorate a piece of paper (yellow) that fits around the tube.Then tape it. Trace hands (2) and tape one to either side of the tube near the top. Add eyes - large (oval shaped - flat on bottom), so that they are sticking up above the top of the tube. It's really cute. Looks like it's clapping its hands - it's actually flapping its wings. Bug Catcher Materials: Oatmeal Container Glue or tape Screen or netting material Yarn Directions: Use oatmeal container with lid. Cut large "window" in side and glue or tape screen or netting to inside over hole. Punch two holes in sides to add yarn handle. Feet Butterflies Materials: Construction paper, Paint, Glue, Markers or crayons Directions: Have children take off shoes, dip feet into shallow pan of pastel paint. Step onto a piece of paper so feet are going outward from the heels together. When dry, add antennae with markers. Bug Fingers Materials: Old Gloves Pipe Cleaners Scissors Hot Glue or Tacky Glue Assorted Craft Supplies Directions: Cut the fingers off the gloves, they will be the bugs' body. Glue on pipe cleaners for legs, wiggly eyes, pompoms for noses, and feathers on back.(Or decorate as desired). Makes cute finger puppets. SUN PRINTS Put three or four shapes out of construction paper on a brightly colored paper. Place the papers in a sunny window. After several days, let the children remove the shapes from their papers to reveal the non faded areas under the shapes. Let the children outline the non faded areas with glue and sprinkle on glitter. BUBBLE ART Have the children put their own straw into a cup of bubble mixture and blow until bubbles are on top of the cup. Lay your paper on top of the bubbles and the design will show up on their paper. Add food coloring to the bubble mixture to make the designs more colorful. BUBBLES Cut a circle from poster board, then cut out the center. Squeeze glue along the edge. Put tissue paper over the circle. Allow to dry. Then do the other sides with light blue tempera paint. Punch a hole at the top, thread with fishing line(clear). Hang from the ceiling. BIG BUBBLE BIG BOOK Have each child use white fingerpaint to paint a big bubble. While still wet, sprinkle multi-colored glitter on the bubble. Let dry. Shake off excess glitter. Cut around the bubble, then glue to another paper. Write as they describe their bubble. Bind the pictures together to make a book. Read during group time. Kool-Aid Tie-Dye T-Shirt T-shirt Unsweetened Kool-Aid Vinegar Small plastic bowls Plastic gloves Rubber bands NOTE: Use different flavors/colors of Kool-Aid For every color you wish to use, put 1 package Kool-Aid and 1 ounce of vinegar in individual plastic bowls. Mix until Kool-Aid is dissolved. Using rubber bands, pull and twist T-shirt into different shapes. Dip rubber-banded ends in bowls (make sure you wear gloves or your hands will stain). To set colors, iron on medium-high using an ironing cloth between shirt and iron. Let set for 24 hours before washing. To be safe. wash separately the first time. Launder T-shirt as usual and it's ready to wear. NOTE: Don't put softener on the T-shirt if you pre-wash it as the dye will not take. Beach Sand Color rock salt by soaking in alcohol and food coloring. I made blue, green, and brown. Children make a collage using blue or green for the ocean, brown for the sand and some uncolored rock salt for shells. My class loved doing this because the rock salt looks like gemstones Dramatic Play: Make into a beach scene. Put out beach towels, sunglasses, straw hats, empty suntan bottles, boat, fishing poles, construction paper fish, picnic basket filled with play food. Games: WATER BALLOON SHEET TOSS You'll need lots of water balloons and several old large sheets. One group gathers around the outside of a sheet, stretching it out like a net. Another group stands behind a line and tosses water balloons into the sheet. Adults turn their backs to the net throwing them over their shoulders while children toss forward. The goal is for the group who is catching to catch as many water balloons as they can. Sponge Toss Set out bucket of water and a large sponges. Soak them in the bucket and then toss it back and forth with the childre Meat Tray Boats Ask local grocery store for unused, clean meat trays. Make great boats. Plus collect milk caps and toss them onto floating meat trays with letters/numbers/colors on them. Letters--write upper case on trays; lowercase on caps. They try to make matches. (Younger ones just throw blank caps and try to say the letter it lands on.) Numbers-Match quantity w/numeral or add up points. (meat trays have 1 or 2 on them) Colors--match color of milk cap with color of tray (laminated construction paper circle tapes to it Water Relay Race Sit (outside) in a line, pretzel legs, one behind the other. Pass water from a bucket in the front to a bucket in the back over a designated time. The trick? Use paper cups (about 5 per line) that have pin holes in the bottom (vary the amount). The water drips as they pass it over their heads from front to back trying to fill the back bucket. All kids must pass the cups over the tops of their heads. It really fun if you have a warm enough day and don't make the cupes too holey Scavenger Hunt Make a list of ten things found outdoors, bottle caps, feathers, certain types of flowers, etc. Give a list to each player, the first one to return with all the items is the winner! You can make the scavenger hunt as easy or as difficult as you like depending on the age of the players. Hop In The Hoops Materials: Different colored hoops, an open area and drum or tambourine. Description: Let the children warm up in an open area. Give the children different ideas for moving around - walk, hop, skip, run, walk sideways, run, backwards and so on. Place lots of different colored hoops around the open space. Demonstrate to the children how to walk or run around without touching the hoops. Intersperse these instructions with 'stand in groups of two in red hoops' or 'three people go into each green hoop' and so on. Get the children to listen to the next instruction using a tambour, beat the drum or clap your hands, the children stop and listen for the next step. For example, put your hand in a hoop, put your foot in a hoop. Make it more complex by adding colors and numbers. For example, put one knee in a red hoop, put four fingers in a yellow hoop and so on. Nature Walk & Collage Materials: Paper Bags (enough for each child), A place to walk that is rich in nature, Paper, glue, crayons (and other tools for creativity that the children desire). Description: Go on a nature walk. Allow the children to pick up objects from nature such as rocks, bark, grass, leaves, flowers, nuts etc., and put them into their bags to take back to the class. As you walk along encourage children to talk about what they see and hear in nature. Allow them to observe and ask questions. When you return set out the art tools and let them create a collage of their nature walk Traffic Light (Parachute Game) All the children hold the parachute and walk (Later run, hop, jump...) around to rotate the parachhute. When different colors are called the children must do activities to match the color. Red - stop . Orange - change direction . Green - speed up Chute Ball (Parachute Game) This game is best played with a large beach ball. You simply place the ball in hte middle of the chute by pulling upwards and outwards, throw the ball as high in the air as possible. Popcorn (Parachute Game) Start with everybody holding the chute stretched out. Throw as many soft balls as you can find on the chute. Then see you quickly you can bounce them off without letting go of the chute. Alternatively, you can have half of hte children trying to bounce the balls off and half trying to keep them on. Washing Machine (Parachute Game) 1/2 the children are the machine; 1/2 get under the parachute and are the "Wash". In goes the soap and mix (give parachute a good shake) The washing turns one way (go around in a circle with the parachute) and the other way (go around the other way with the parachute). Rinse the wash out (shake) Turn again (go one way and then turn around and go the other) Shake and dry (Shake parachute) Then have the children switch spots. Mushroom (Parachute Game) Everyone lifts the parachute up together, while it is up, everyone steps under and while holding the handle pull the parachute behind them and sits down on their handle. you can't let go of the handle! Makes a mushroom under the parachute Change Over (Parachute Game) Have the children hold a color on the parachute instead of a handle. Have everyone lift the parachute together and then call out a color. The children holding that color let go and go under the parachute and find a new unoccupied spot to hold. Repeat for all the colors on your parachute. Fun Games & Activities to try: sand play (provide buckets, shovels, toy cars, etc.) limbo volleyball treasure hunt scavenger hunts - rock, feather, wood, shell, colored glass kite flying frisbee golf (throw frisbee at stakes in the sand or other targets) play beach music tug of war with sprinkler in middle (so "losers" get wet) water balloon toss balloon stomp giant bubbles treasure hunt fishing games gym balls obstacle course Language: These are my sun glasses. (circle eyes with fingers) This is my great sun hat. (Hands over head) This is the way I fold my hands (Fold hands) And rest them, just like that. (Place hands into lap) Pack the paper plates and napkins. (Pretend to pack) Don't forget the food and drink: (Shake head no) Hot dogs, potato salad, cake, and lemonade pink. It's fun to go on a picnic. I simply cannot wait To eat and play, have fun all day, In The Sand I dig holes in the sand with my fingers. (wiggle fingers.) I dig holes in the sand with my toes. (wiggle toes.) Then I pour some water in the holes - ( Pretend to pour water) I wonder where it goes (Move hands out to sides, palms up.) These are my sun glasses. (circle eyes with fingers) This is my great sun hat. (Hands over head) This is the way I fold my hands (Fold hands) And rest them, just like that. (Place hands into lap) Pack the paper plates and napkins. (Pretend to pack) Don't forget the food and drink: (Shake head no) Hot dogs, potato salad, cake, and lemonade pink. It's fun to go on a picnic. I simply cannot wait To eat and have fun all day, The sun makes the outside a warm place to play (arms above head in circle) It makes the flowers grow each day (holding up hands wiggling fingers) The sun hides its face during the night (cover face with hands) But during the daytime it shines - oh so bright (arms above head in circle) SUNFLOWER POEM One lonely sunflower growing in the sun Wants to play and have some fun Then whoosh went the wind And scattered all the seeds And now there's lots of sunflowers Playing in the breeze. Anonymous Sunflowers for You You make me warm And all aglow When I am cold you melt my snow Please stay with me Through all my hours I'll give to you a sunflower For me, your heart And a sky of blue And all I bring? Sunflowers for you. Rythmic Chants for Jump Rope One, Two Buclkle my shoe Three, Four, Shut the door Five, Six, Pick up sticks Seven, Eight, Lay them straight Nine, Ten, Begin again. I Like coffee, I like tea I like the boys (girls) And the boys (girls) like me. Apartment to rent Inquire within When A moves out Let B move in. Butterfly, butterfly turn around Butterfly, butterfly touch the ground Butterfly, butterfly show your shoe Butterfly, butterfly, that will do. Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear, turn around. Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear, touch the ground. Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear, read the news. Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear, tie your shoes. Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear, go upstairs. Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear, say your prayers. Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear, turn out the light. Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear, say "Goodnight!" Mabel, Mabel, set the table, Just as fast as you are able! Put on plates, forks, salt...(etc.) And don't forget the RED HOT PEPPER! Music: Summer Parades Have your own "Noisy Parade" by making instruments and hats and walking around neighborhood. It really doesn't matter if you have an audience. Children just enjoy the process. Some of the instruments you can make are: - Put beans, rice or jingle bells inside of toilet paper rolls with tape wrapped around them. Then decorate with stickers and markers. Shake them while walking. - Two paper plates stapled or glued together with beans, rice, beads, bells, etc. inside and use like tambourine. - Oatmeal Containers, can be covered and decorated for drums. Sand Is Gritty (Tune to: Frere Jacques) Sand is gritty, repeat. I like sand. Repeat. Sand is many tiny rocks Broken down from bigger rocks. I like sand. I like sand. Sandbox Song (Tune to: Frere Jacques) Make a sand cake, make a castle, in the sand, in the sand, Pouring, measuring, digging, repeat. Just feels grand. Repeat. I Like Sand (Tune to: Twinkle, twinkle, little star) Sand can be wet, sand can be dry, I like both, I'll tell you why. I make sand castles with wet sand. And pouring dry sand feels just grand. Sand can be wet, sand can be dry, I like both, I'll tell you why. In Your Hands (Tune to: Skip To My Lou) Mold, mold, mold the sand, repeat twice. Mold it in your hands. Pat, pat, pat the sand. Repeat twice. Pat it in your hands. Sift, sift, sift the sand, Repeat twice. Sift it with your hands. Outdoor Fence Fancy Weave different colored rolls of tissue paper streamers through the chain linked fence for a decorative look. This also helps over/under and in/out understanding. Dodge ball Using a soft rubber or nerf ball, all of the players except for one lines up against a fence or wall. The person who is it they are eliminated until there is only one player left. The last player is the winner and gets to throw the ball in the next game. Coffee Can Stilts Using two 1-pound coffee cans, turn each can upside down so that the plastic lid is on the bottom. Using a screwdriver, poke two holes, one on each side of the can. Using several strands of yarn braided or twisted together, or some rope, thread through holes in cans. Tie off inside the can. Cans can be decorated if you like. Recipes ICE CREAM IN A BAG 1 c. whole milk or whipping cream 1/2 tsp. vanilla 2 Tbsp. sugar 1 pint size zipper freezer bag 1 gallon siz zipper freezer bag Enough ice to fill gallon bag 1/2 full 6 Tbsp. salt Directions: Pour milk, sugar and vanilla into pint size bag. Zipclosed, squeezing outair. Gently knead to mix sugar into milk. Fill gallon bag 1/2 full with ice.Pour salt over ice. Put small bag into large bag and zip the large bag closed. Shake bag for about 5 minutes. Wipe off the small bag after removing from large bag. Open and eat! Ice Cream Sandwiches Materials: Graham crackers any flavor (we like Chocolate), ice cream (any flavor) and plastic wrap. Description: Let the ice cream get to a soft stage then take the graham crackers and spread one half with about 1/2 cup ice cream. Put another graham cracker on top and wrap with plastic wrap. Freeze for about 3 hours. These great summer theme treats are good for up to about 3 weeks! FRUIT KEBABS You need strawberries, orange segments, pineapple chunks, melon chunks, lettuce leaves. For each child thread one or two strawberries, orange segments, pineapple chunks, and melon chunks on a bamboo skewer. Serve in top of lettuce leaves placed on paper plates. Talk with the children about the rainbow colors of the fruits. Then have them remove the fruits from the skewer before eating them. YOU'LL SWEAR IT'S WENDY'S FROSTY 1 cup milk (low-fat is OK) 1/2 cup Nestle Nesquik powdered mix 3 cups vanilla ice cream, softened Allow ice cream to soften in refrigerator for 1 hour. Mix all ingredients in blender. Yield: 4 servings Bubbles Basic Bubbles 2 tblsp Dish Soap 1 cup water Sweet Bubbles 1 tblsp Corn Syrup 2 tblsp Dish Soap 1 cup water Magic Bubbles 1 tblsp Glycerine 2 tblsp Dish Soap 9 oz water Color Bubbles 1 cup liquid tempra paints 2 tblsp dish detergent 1 tblsp liquid starch Hints: Mix them up the day before for best results. Glycerine is inexpensive and can be found in most drug stores. The bubbles are so much better that it is worth keeping a small bottle on hand. Do NOT use the Sweet Bubbles recipe if you have bees or wasps in your yard. Color Bubbles can be a bit messy. Be sure to use paint that can wash out. You can add a little water if the mix is too thick Smores in the Sun Make smores is with the SUN !!-get the mini marshmellows and chocolate chips along with the graham crackers--build your smores---wrap in aluminum foil---on a HOT AND SUNNY DAY !!-Have the children put in the sun---playa game---read a book ---about 15 minutes---unwrap---and you have smores !! Science Have two squares of butter and place one on each plate. Put one in a very sunny area and the other one in a shady area. Come back later and discuss with the children what has happened. Birdseed Garden Need: Birdseeds sponge plastic plate Place a sponge soaked with water in a plastic plate and allow child to sprinke it with birdseeds. Place the plate in a sunny place and watch for the seeds to sprout! The seeds will continue to sprout as long as the child keeps water in the plate. Make Bubbles 2/3 cup - 160 ml dish detergent (Dawn and Joy work best) 1 tablespoon - 15 ml glycerin (available at food or drug stores) 1 gallon 3.8L of water Instructions: Mix all ingredients in bowl, pail or container. Allowing the solution to sit or age for 24 hours will increase the life of the bubbles. You are now ready to make some awesome bubbles. All you need are a few tools to help shape and size the bubbles. Standard bubble blowing wands can usually be purchased with commercial bubble mixture but again you can create your own tools. Some examples are: Shape metal coat hangers make larger circular bubbles, Floral wire can be shaped into circles of any size, The end of a funnel can be dipped into solution and blown out Sensory Sand Castles adult supervision/assistance required 1 cup clean sand 1/2 cup cornstarch 1/2 teaspoon alum (in spice section of your grocery store) 1/2 cup water seashells, coral, small pieces of driftwood Direcitons: Place sand into an old cooking pot. Add cornstarch, water and alum; stir. Place pot over a medium heat, stirring frequently. As the mixture warms it will start to liquefy, then it will get thicker (2-3 minutes) As it thickens it will clump and begin to make a "stiff dough Remove from the heat; continue to stir to cool the mixture down. Remove dough to a wooden board, spread it out to help it cool. When cool enough to handle, begin to mold your creation. Tip for your castle: Do not make a huge castle, it will be fragile. Glue the shells and other goodies about the castle. Let dry for a few days. |
Have you Tried?. . . Beat the heat with a fun game of Drip, Drip, Splash! Just like Duck, Duck, Goose, kids sit in a circle while one kid walks around with a large cup of water, dripping a little bit on everyone's head. When they decide to "tag" someone, they empty the whole cup of water onto one of the kid's head and yell "splash!" It's a great way to cool off on a hot summer day! Let the kids get artistic outside! Have the kids paint their arms and legs with washable body paints or water colors. When everyone's masterpiece is done, hose'em down and do it again! Plan a Beach Day OLYMPIC DAY - Divide your playground into seven stations where the events will be held. One adult should be at each station if at all possible. Divide the children up into 5 to 10 children. Every child should receive a reward at every station. They should have them pinned on at each station. End your olympic day with a picnic lunch. Let the children practice the events 3 or 4 times before the olympics start. The seven stations you could have set up are; relay race, frisbee throw, long jump, tricycle races, egg on a spoon race, water balloon toss, and walking backwards race. Collect Rocks while on a walk and paint them when you get home. With children that are old enough put bubble mixture in a cup with a straw and blow into it, making bubbles all over the table. Make a map with landmarks on your way to the park, Like first we will cross the street at the corner, Then we will pass the bridge and last we will see the baseball field before getting to the park. Do this with all outings, it teaches children about geography and directions. Have the children march and dance on the sidewalk. Take your kids on nature hikes. Bring along a nature book and try to identify everything you see. You can even keep a scrapbook of all of your hikes throughout the summer. Make every day exciting and introduce your kids to something new this summer. Give each day of the week a theme, like "Magic Trick Mondays," "Learn to Draw Wednesdays," and "Funny Hat Fridays." Have a water balloon fight. Go for a walk along the beach or a wooded path. See the sunrise. Have a picnic. Watch the sunset. Make playdoh. Read a chapter book aloud to your kids. Read a novel (something just for you!) Go to an amusement park or local county/state fair and ride all the thrill rides! Go fishing. Make homemade ice cream in a Ziploc bag. Sit outside and sip iced tea. Make fresh lemonade. Camp out in a tent. Catch fireflies. Take pictures of the kids having fun! Eat watermelon outside, and let the juice run all over the place! Walk in the grass barefoot. Use lotion, soap, or shampoo that smells like coconuts. Paint your toenails. Get out the kids' watercolor paints and paint a picture of summer means to you. Collect seashells and save them with some sand in a decorative bowl. Sleep in at least once. Hang your bed sheets outside to dry and bask in their clean sunshine smell. Eat strawberry shortcake. Get someone else to take your picture with the kids, smiling and sun-kissed. Write a letter to a friend and include at least three great things that have happened this summer. Thank someone who has helped you out. Eat fresh tomatoes. Go swimming as a family. c. 2006 - 2007 |
| 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. activity guide puzzles board games magnifying glasses sponge painter shovel sink and float objects calendar posters seashell counters sailboats puppets shovel & sieve shells Outdoor Propbox bubbles hula hoop small balls sidewalk chalk and stencils jump rope punching balloon pinwheel Croquet Set mobiles in the trees wind chimes Flower Shop & Garden Centre wheelbarrow, shovels, trowel, rakes, baskets, flowers, gardening gloves, watering cans, various plastic flowers, kneeling pad, scissors for cutting flowers, oasis, paper for children to label flowers, plastic vases, cash register, play money, telephone, paper, pen (to take orders), aprons, plastic vases and pots, gift type items (such as small stuffed animals),spray bottle, credit cards paper bags, little flower cards and envelopes Hawaiian Isle hawaiian dresses (moomoos), leis (make them from wads of colored tissue paper on a string), grass skirts (made out of green crepe paper a one time use prop!), tapes/CDs of Hawaiian music, silk/plastic flowers, To make a moomoo: With brightly flower print material cut out two pieces (30"x20") for each moomoo. Sew up the (30") side seams to within 12 inches from the top. Separate the material and fold over the salvage edges of the (12 inches) side seams and sew each piece to finish the edges of the last 12 inches. Hem the top and bottom edges. (it should now resemble a large tube) Lay the dress down with side seams to outside and tie the ends to form knots at each shoulder leaving room for little arms to go through. Other Prop Boxes Available: Gardening Fishing Camping Beach Hawii |
| Idea Web Introduce and explore the following topics to expand and inspire new activity ideas. Summer DAZE End of the School Year Holi-DAZE Mother's Day Father's Day |
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| "Our duty is to be useful, not according to our desires,
but according to our powers." - Henri F. Amiel |