Next time that you have pizza for dinner try saving that box
and use it for individual flannel stories. Place felt on the
inside lid and use the container to hold the pieces of each
story. Try using this method for It Looked Like Spilt Milk,
The Very Hungry Caterpillar, and The Eensy Weensy Spider.
Another container that would work well is to use cookie tins
for magnetic stories. Use non'toxic paint on the inside lid
to paint the scene of any story and add a magnetic strip to
the back of each picture. The tin will make a great storage
container.
Contributed by Kids Korner Daycare
(dcowboys@cyberhighway.net)
Wait for a cold and dreary day (best when there are children
that are starting or ending with a cold). Try not to plan it
in advance. Call all of the families first thing in the
morning and say it is pajama day so leave the children in
their PJs. Spend the day on the floor with pillows and
blankets, eating popcorn, watch a video, play games, read
stories.
Materials: Shaving cream, Toothpaste 'roller-uppers', Bowls,
Towels, Warm water, Mirrors
Procedure:
1. Have mirrors, towels, shaving cream, bowls of warm water
and toothpaste 'roller-uppers' ready for use.
2. Let the child shave like Daddy by squirting a small
amount of shaving cream into his/her hand and letting him rub
it onto his face, arms, or legs.
3. Give each child a toothpaste 'roller-upper' to pretend it
is a razor. Boys and girls enjoy it.
4. Be sure to wipe off area when the child is finished.
5. Using scented shaving cream is fun too.
When Goldilocks went to the house of the bears.
What did her blue eyes see?
A bowl that was big, a bowl that was small,
A bowl that was tiny and that's not all
She counted them 1 - 2 - 3
(Repeat with 'chair', 'bed' and 'bear', but substitute for
the last line, 'They growled at her Grrrr Grrrr Grrr)'
Little Rabbit Foo Foo
Hopping throught the green grass.
Scooping up the field mice.
Knocking them on the head.
Last verse:
Down came the good fairy. Little Rabbit Foo Foo
And she said: I really warned you;
Little Rabbit Foo Foo. Now I'm going to turn you
I don't want to see you. Into a goooooool!
Scooping up the field mice. (Hare today gooool tomorrow)
Knocking them on the head.
So I'll give you three more chances.
(Repeat above ..two...one..no more chances.)
There was a princess long ago,
Long ago, long ago,
There was a princess long ago,
Long, long ago.
And she lived in a big high tower.
A wicked fairy waved her wand.
The princess slept for a hundred years.
A great big forest grew around.
A gallant prince came riding by.
He chopped the trees down one by one.
He took the princess by the hand.
So everybody's happy now.
My dad works in an office downtown,
And when he's home, he works all around.
He cleans up dishes and that job's hard;
Then he rakes up leaves and mows the front yard.
But Dad always finds some time for me,
And that's what makes a family.
I didn't understand at first
why Daddy went away.
I thought that it must be my fault
because he wouldn't stay.
Did he still love Mom and me?
'Yes,' he said, 'Of course.'
'Then,' I said, 'Explain to me:'
'What does it mean, 'divorce'?'
Each child is given a book at the beginning of the unit with
a caption on each page. (Books can be made using newsprint
and construction paper.) My mother is special because... My
dad can... Grandparents are special because....The best part
of being a brother/sister is... Each day the children are
asked to draw a different picture and complete the sentence
with you help. A wonderful book to bring home and 'read')
Have the children go through magazines and find pictures of
all the things their mothers do. Cut them out and glue them
onto construction paper. The same can be done for dad.
Another variation is to have the children cut out pictures to
represent the people in their family and the things they like
to do as a family.
Bring a shoe box for each child.
Have the children:
Paint a background on the inside of it.
Make stand up pictures of your house and family.
Glue the pictures in your box.
Illustrate a picture of each member of the family. Include
the pet if the child has one.
Cut out each family member.
Glue each picture on strong paper or cardboard.
Hang your pictures on a hanger with yarn or string to make a
mobile.
Print the last name on a piece of paper and fasten it to the
hanger.
Hang your mobile in the classroom.
Let's all go to the woods today,
We're sure of a big surprise.
Let's all go to the woods today.
We'll walk there side by side.
We know that we'll have lots of fun,
We'll eat and play and dance and run.
Today's the day we have our family picnic.
Let's all go to the woods today,
We're sure of a big surprise.
Let's all go to the woods today,
We'll walk there side by side.
We know that we'll have lots of fun,
We'll eat and play and dance and run.
Today's the day we have our family picnic!
Materials: Felt-tip markers.
Making the Puppets: Use felt-tip markers to draw two eyes, a
nose and a mouth on each finger of one hand.
Encourage your children to talk about all the people that
belong in their family. Mother, father, sister, brother,
grand parents, aunts and uncles. To make a family tree you
will need: an orange juice can for each child, a small branch
from a tree for each child, construction paper cut into
circles and punched with a small hole, string or wool and
some plaster of paris. Cover the can with paper and
decorate. Go for a walk and have each child pick a branch to
put in the can 2/3rds full of plaster. Allow to dry
overnight. Ask the children to draw a picture on one side of
a circle and you write the name of the family member on the
other side. Punch hole and thread - hang on tree.
During family week take the time to discuss what we should
eat to stay healthy. Talk about the different food groups
and a food group for each day. Encourage your children to
have healthy eating habits.
Milk Products- milk, yogurt, ice cream, cheese
Fruit - fruit salad, fruit kebabs or sliced fruits.
Vegetables - an assortment of fresh vegetables, vegetable
soup or a garden green salad.
Grain Products - muffins, crackers, toast or cookies for a
real treat
Meat & Alternatives - chicken, peanut butter, eggs and
tofu for something new.
'Now go to bed,'
Says Grandpa's clock.
'Tick-tock, tick-tock,
Tick-tock, tick-tock!'
So I put down my big red block,
And then pull off each wrinkled sock.
I am bacon, I am bacon
In the pan, In the pan.
Watch me curl and sizzle,
Watch me curl and sizzle,
Sizzle, Sizzle, Sizzle, Sizzle, Sizzle, Sizzle.
I've got friends, I've got friends.
Toast and eggs, Toast and eggs.
Put us all together - We are good for you,
Crunch, crunch, crunch, crunch, crunch, crunch.
(Have children lay on floor and sizzle/shake)
Here are the windows,
Here is the door.
Come on in, I'll show you more.
Here is the kitchen, the living room too.
A bathroom, three bedrooms, and a room for you!
An attic, a chimney, and a roof above.
And my house is a home,
'Cause it's filled with love!
My puppy has a doghouse,
just outside my door.
He licks me when I pet him,
and wags his tail for more.
He's always there beside me,
no matter what I do.
My puppy is my special friend,
and a family member too!
Set out foods from each food group. Yogurt, cottage cheese,
apple slices, orange slices, carrot and celery sticks, peanut
butter and tuna sandwiches. Give each child a paper plate
and ask them to select something from each food group to
make their snack plate today. A great way to see if the
children have really learned the food groups.
Take a walk and have the children collect four or five
different sized rocks to make a family. Bring them back and
paint them. Then let the children play with their families.
Encourage them to make up stories about their rock families.
For example have them name their rocks and tell what each one
likes to do. Help them expand their stories by asking
questions.
Materials: whipping cream, mixer, bowl, small cups, crafts
sticks or tongue depressors, mirror
Procedure: Give each child a small cup full of 'shaving
cream' (whipped cream) and a 'razer' (craft stick). Looking
into a mirror, the children put the shaving cream on their
faces, all over their imaginary beards and mustaches. Then,
slowly and carefully, they 'shave' off their whiskers until
they can feel their smooth faces. Next time they can give
someone else a shave. Be sure the children understand that
real razors are not to play with. -----Put on the cream. You
can have a taste, Now shave it off carefully, And make a
funny face!-----
I used to be the 'special one,'
Till baby sister came along.
Mom's busy changing diapers,
Feeding Baby and, you see,
She doesn't seem to have the time
She used to spend with me.
Sometimes it makes me angry,
Sometimes I want to cry.
My new job as big brother
Isn't easy, but I'll try!
I always eat my vegetables,
Carrots and broccoli too.
My mother says they'll help me grow:
'Eat them, they're good for you!'
But there is just one vegetable
I can't seem to eat:
I don't care if I ever grow
If I have to eat a beet!
This is an imagination game. Have the children close their
eyes. 'Imagine you are walking into your house. Open the
door - step through the door - now tell me what you see.'
Ask the first child to answer and then continue asking
questions such as 'If you go up the stairs what is the first
room that you will see? Step though that door and put your
hand out to the side - what do you feel? What kind of smell
do you notice coming from the pot on the stove?'
If this game is too hard try changing it. Ask the children
what room has a toilet in it. What room has the most
windows. What room has the most toys? etc.
My mommy has to work each day.
She used to stay with me and play.
But daddy said, 'We need more money.'
Mommy said, 'Don't worry, Honey.
There'll be lots of time for you and me.
It's not love's amount, but the quality.'
Tell the following story:
Joe got a brand new puppy for his birthday. He loved the
puppy very much, but the puppy was very naughty. The first
day he chewed up Daddy's slipper. The second day he chewed
up the garbage wack and spilled garbage all over the kitchen
floor. The third day he woke up everyone barking at the cat
on the window sill. That day mother said. 'No more puppy in
the house.'
Ask the children questions about how Joe might have felt, how
daddy might have felt, how mother might have felt and
how the puppy might have felt.
Materials: Baking cups, Popsicle stick or pipe cleaner
Give the children yellow and white paper baking cups. Have
them each flatten one of the cups and spread glue on the
center portion. Then have them each place a second cup
upright on top of the glue to make a daffodil. If desired,
let the children attach Popsicle sticks or pipe cleaners for
stems.
Let the children help you pick some tender young dandelion
leaves. (They taste best when picked before the plant has
blossomed.) Wash the leaves, then dry them with paper
towels. Have the children tear the leaves into bite sized
pieces. To make dandelion eggs, prepare scrambled eggs
according to your usual recipe, adding the leaves just as the
eggs are starting to set.
Take the children outside to a place where there are lots of
dandelions. Ask them to find big, small, unopened, or ones
with leaves.
Tell them that the word 'dandelion' means 'teeth of the lion'
in French. Ask them to look at the dandelion leaves and see
if they can guess how the dandelion got its name.
Have each child pick a dandelion that has gone to seed. Have
the children hold the dandelions in front of their mouths.
Encourage them to blow the seeds off their dandelions by
saying words that begin with the 'wh' sound, such as 'why',
and 'whisper'. How many different words can they think of
that start with that sound.
Materials: Paper, Glue, Dandelions
Take the children outside to a place where there are many
dandelions that have gone to seed. Give each child a piece
of dark coloured construction paper and a paint brush. Set
out several shallow containers of glue. Let the children
brush glue all over their papers. Then help the children
hold their papers behind the dandelions while they blow the
seeds onto them.
(Best done outside.)
Materials: Dandelions, Tempera paint (yellow), Paper
Give each child a dandelion blossom and a piece of white
paper. Set out small dishes of yellow tempera paint. Let
the children use their dandelions as paint brushes to dab the
yellow paint on their papers.
Materials: Egg carton, Pipe cleaners, Paper leaves, Tempera
paint
Cut the egg cups out of cardboard egg cartons. Then cut the
cups into bluebell shapes and let the children paint them
blue. When the paint has dried, make stems by inserting the
ends of green pipe cleaners through the bottoms of the
bluebells, then bending the pipe cleaners into cane shapes.
Let the children poke holes in the ends of precut green
construction paper leaves and thread them on their bluebell
stems.
Variation: Cut the egg cups into tulip shapes and let the
children paint them different colours.
Materials: Construction flower shapes (different colours),
Popsicle sticks, Aluminum square pan, Sand
Cut flower shapes out of various colours of construction
paper. Let the children glue them to Popsicle sticks. Fill
a shallow box with dirt or sand. Have the children 'plant'
the flowers in the dirt in rows of twos, threes or fours.
Encourage them to plant the rows from left to right or from
back to front. Or direct the children to plant a red flower
in front of a yellow flower, an orange flower behind a blue
flower, etc.
Cover a table with towels. Give each child two circles cut
out of waxed paper. Place a variety of fresh flowers in the
center of the table and let each child choose several to
arrange on top of one of his or her waxed paper circles.
Have each child cover his or her flowers with the second
piece of waxed paper. Then place a towel on top of each
child's waxed paper circles and press with a warm iron to
seal the edges together. Use a hole punch to make holes at
the tops of the circles. Thread pieces of yarn through the
holes and arrange the flower hangings in a window.
Materials: Small dried or silk flowers, Small baby food jar,
Ribbon, Clay
Let the children place small amounts of clay in baby food jar
lids. Give them small dried flowers to arrange in the clay.
Help the children screw the jars onto the lids. Tie ribbons
around the necks of the jars and let the children give them
as gifts.
Materials: Flower shapes (5 identical pairs of colours)
Cut ten identical flower shapes from construction paper and
group them in pairs. Glue a different kind of fabric to each
pair of flowers. Mix up the flowers and let the children
take turns finding the matching pairs.
Variation: Cut pairs of identical flower shapes from five
different colours of construction paper. Let the children
take turns finding the flowers with matching colours. For
older children instead of matching colours they can match
number with dots.
Materials: toilet paper roll, hole puncher, 4 in. X 4 in.
piece of paper, elastic band, coloured paper for flower and
leaves.
Punch hole into toilet paper roll about an inch in. Use the
piece of paper and attach it to the toilet paper roll using
the elastic band. (This must be done on the side that has
the hole.)
Attach a colourful fringe for the petals and green leaves for
decoration.
Materials: toilet paper, paper towels, paint, paper, paint
brush
After painting a picture of a flower pot and leaves have the
children roll a piece of toilet paper (or paper towel) up in
a spiral (snail shape) and dip it into the paint. Apply the
toilet paper to the paper in a spiral motion. Glue may be
needed to keep the paper in place after it dries.
