April 21, 2009 , ExchangeEveryday

Children with challenging behavior is far and away the leading training priority for teachers identified in our current Exchange Insta Poll. And, this has been true for over five years of doing this survey. [If you want to share your views on Teacher Training Needs, you still have 16 hours to participate in the Exchange Insta Poll.] A number of reasons have been proposed for this phenomenon:

• Cultural: Children today, from the earliest ages, are exposed to enormous amounts of violence on television, videos, and computer games and are given the message that you solve problems with aggression.
• Societal: This theory points the finger at parents whose lives are so hectic and stressful that they are not spending enough time nurturing their children and helping them develop self control.
• Environmental: Contaminants and additives in the air we breathe, the fast food we consume, and water we drink are polluting and impacting our children’s health and dispositions.
• Professional: In classrooms of highly functioning teachers, there is little misbehavior to manage — children are engaged. The prevalence of misbehavior in programs is attributable to low pay and low skills of our workforce.

We hesitate to select any one of these theories as the answer. But, it is clear that children’s challenging behavior is an issue our field needs to address in order for children to have positive, nurturing experiences in our programs.

April 16, 2009

In the introduction to their article “Play and Cultural Differences” (which is one of more than 90 articles in the new Exchange resource, Promoting the Value of Play CD Book), Elizabeth Jones and Sharon Cronin observe…

“Culture — a people’s way of behaving, being in, and understanding the world — is learned by each new generation through a process of enculturation. A culture’s solutions and life strategies are acquired by children as they watch and listen — and reinvented as they imitate, talk, and play. Language, including both words and art forms, is central to the unity of a culture.

“In the first five years of life, children learn to ta lk their people’s language and play their people’s daily life scripts — homemaking and going places, talking to friends and buying and selling, making and fixing, singing and dancing, and storytelling and celebrating rituals. Children’s imitative and playful grounding in their culture is the foundation for identity development and for trust in the world as a predictable and meaningful place.

“For many children, this learning process is disrupted by racism and other biases that devalue their home culture, or by sustained discontinuous experiences that ignore it. A child in out-of-home care will be aware both of differences and of the unspoken values attached to these differences: Are my language, my hair and skin, my games — myself — welcome here? Am I expected to change in order to be acceptable? Child care can be an alienating experience — or an affirming one.

“If no one in the child care program speaks the child’s language, if none of the toys recreate home, if no familiar adult is present in a caregiving role, the young child is thrust into the confusing but all-too-common experience of stranger care — of long days in a setting which doesn’t resemble home and whose people will have no lasting relationship with the child’s family. In such a setting, it’s hard to play and learn.”

Taken from ExchangeEveryDay, a free service of Exchange Magazine.

March 2, 2009, ExchangeEveryday

Character is higher than intellect. A great soul will be strong to live, as well as strong to think. Ralph Waldo Emerson The March issue of Exchange, which is now on its way to subscribers around the world, features a Beginnings Workshop section with four articles on the challenges of play, including one by Joan Almon, “The Fear of Play,” from which the excerpt below comes and which can be viewed in its entirety on the Exchange web site.

“Real play — play that is initiated and directed by children and that bubbles up from within the child rather than being imposed by adults — has largely disappeared from the landscape of childhood in the United States. There are many reasons for this, such as the long hours spent in front of screens each day or in activities organized by adults. In addition, preschools and kindergartens that used to foster meaningful play and exploration often spend long hours on adult-led instruction instead.

“All of these are the outer manifestations of something deeper — a modern mindset that does not value play and is even afraid of it. Some fears are easy to identify. People freely admit they are afraid of accidents in play and want to minimize risk. Yet playgrounds that offer genuine risk, such as Berkeley’s adventure playground, where children build two-story play structures with hammers and nails, tend to have fewer accidents than traditional playgrounds. Give children real risk and they rise to it; they learn how to handle it.

Give them sanitized play spaces, and children often are less conscious of risk and have accidents, or take outlandish risks for the sheer excitement of it all. “There is also a widespread fear of ‘s tranger danger.’ Most parents will not let their elementary-age children go out unattended. Yet most crimes against children, such as abduction or abuse, are perpetrated by people the family knows rather than strangers on the playground.

“These are the easily recognized fears. There are underlying fears that are harder to describe. “The current mindset in the U.S. leads us to create a life that is as safe and risk-free as possible. We want life to be ultra-organized, and we want to be in charge at all times. We’re taught from early on that life should be rational and measurable. No wonder people love to see young children sitting still and working on worksheets or at computer screens. It’s so tidy compared to play, which is messy, not only physically but also emotionally.

“In play, the full range of human feelings and longings surfaces at one time or another, some of which are not very beautiful and can even be a bit scary. In addition, play is hard to track or assess. It wanders in and out of different realities like dreams. It may start out looking familiar, but will often go into deeper realms that are not easily understood. Play is full of symbols and metaphors. It has some elements that seem familiar and arise from our everyday life, but in the next moment it is full of magical thinking. It is a way of perceiving the world that is reminiscent of fairy tales and myths. It is the antithesis of didactic teaching and scripted lessons, which are highly predictable, although their outcomes tend to be much weaker than promised.”

Serious Need for Play

February 18, 2009

“Free, imaginative play is crucial for normal social, emotional, and cognitive development. It makes us better adjusted, smarter, and less stressed.” This bold statement comes not from the latest issue of Young Children, or a keynoter at the annual meeting of the Chicago Metro AEYC, but from the Scientific American MIND magazine (February 2009).

The article, “The Serious Need for Play” by Melinda Wenner, provides a strong, research-based case for the value of play in the lives of children. Every early childhood program should hand out copies of the article to parents, politicians, and funders. Here ar e some points Wenner makes… “[Researcher Stuart Brown] has interviewed some 6,000 people about their childhoods, and his data suggest that a lack of opportunities for unstructured, imaginative play can keep children from growing into happy, well-adjusted adults.

Free play…is critical for becoming socially adept, coping with stress, and building cognitive skills such as problem solving.” “Studies show that children use more sophisticated language when playing with other children than when playing with adults. In pretend play, for instance, they have to communicate about something that’s not physically present, so they have to use complicated language in such a way that they can communicate to their peer what it is that they’re trying to say.”

“Researchers at the University of Washington gave a box of toy blocks to children from middle- and low-income families aged 18 months to two and a half years. Par ents of these kids, as well as parents of a similar group of kids who had no blocks, kept track of how often the children played. After six months, the kids who had played with blocks scored significantly higher on language tests than the others did.”

~ taken from ExchangeEveryDay is a free service of Exchange Magazine.

Taken from Preschool Education : http://www.preschooleducation.com/aweather.shtml

Arts & Crafts: Weather

Taken from http://www.kinderplans.com/content.cfm?pageid=143

Introduce Weather Words by Using A Predictable Chart 

Using a predictable chart is a good introduction to using weather words. This would be used to model the reading process.

The chart could use the following predictable text line:  What’s the weather like?
It is hot.    It is cold.    It is cloudy.   It is windy.     It is raining.    It is snowing.   It is stormy.   It is a blizzard.  We like it when it is sunny.

Only a portion of the chart is shown.

Follow-up Craft Activity

The craft displayed to the right could be used as a follow-up activity.  It could also be used as an introduction to colors and color words or as a review. There are two different versions of the craft, one with words on the rainbow and another without the words.  The templates to complete the craft are found in the member’s area or theme book.

Preschool and Kindergarten Activity

Another Follow-up Activity

Weather Sorting

Children can sort pictures according to if they are representative of the cold/cool category or hot/warm category. Discussion on appropriate clothing and terms used for different weather conditions could be discussed in relation to the craft activity.  Pictures could be found in catalogs.  Color or black white pictures are also found  in the members’ area and theme unit.

Connection to Literature

“It Looked Like Spilt Milk” by Charles G. Shaw is a favorite book to read to young children.  The simple story line and pictures are very appealing to this age group.  The follow-up activities outlined below really bring this book and the learning opportunities related to it a valuable teaching and learning tool.

Follow-up to Reading the Book “It Looked Like Spilt Milk” Activities

Accompanying Emergent Reader – Introduces Letter “Cc”

The printable emergent reader “Cool Clouds” is offered in both color and black white versions. It is used to introduce the letter “Cc” and its accompanying sound. A sample of the big book page is displayed to the right.  The story line reads as follows:

Cool Clouds

Clouds that look like an ice cream cone. 

Clouds that look like a candy cane.

Clouds that look like a castle.

Clouds that look like a car.

Clouds that look like a cat.

Cool clouds are everywhere.

Note:  Every cloud begins with the letter “c” sound.

Letter “Cc” Recognition – Picture Mnemonic

This craft activity involves children being actively involved in associating the picture to the letter sound. The purpose is to have them associate the letter “c” to the initial sound heard in “cloud”.  This is a great activity to use in conjunction with the emergent reader “Cool Clouds”. The  children would be introduced to the letter and the corresponding sound within the context of the reader.  After they would complete the activity displayed to the left.  The children would paint or use another method to color the “c”blue for the sky.  Cotton balls would be added to represent clouds.

Literacy and Craft Follow-up

In the member’s area you will find templates of the shapes used in the reader.  These can be traced on cardstock or a plastic lid of an ice cream pail (to be reused every year). The children would pick their favorite cloud and make a scene displaying this page.  They would place the outline tracer on paper and sponge-paint blue around the outline to make a silhouette  of the cloud.  The shape can be secured by tape or sticky tac.  The words representing the page would be given to each child in a mixed-up order and they would cut, arrange and paste the words to the page in the correct order. Younger children can just cut and paste the sentence representing the page. 

Literacy Center Ideas

1. The above project.

2.  The picture mnemonic activity displayed above would be used.  Practice printing the letter “c” in salt trays, painting it, using wikki stix, using playdough or using bingo markers are just a few ways that could be implemented.  Prior to doing this the children should have practice printing the name  in the air, on each others backs, on on the palm of their hand, draw it with their foot.  Use your imagination in this area.  A printing book can be found in the link below:

3.  Sorting through the alphabet pictures and determining which ones begin with the initial sound heard in the word “cloud”.  These pictures can be found in the member’s area in both color and black and white.

Math Center Ideas

1.  Place a number of cotton balls in a container (representing clouds).  Have children predict how many there are.  The children count each one to determine how close their prediction was.  Pretend they are the wind and blow on the cotton ball clouds.  Introduce the concept of furthest and closest.  Ask:  Who blew the cloud the furthest ?  Who blew the cloud the closest?  Integrate measurement into this activity by using snap cubes, paper clips or craft sticks.  Ask the children to predict how many snap cubes or another unit of measurement a certain cloud was blown.  This can be predicted and measured.

2.  The literacy and craft follow-up displayed above could use shape clouds instead of the  shapes used in the reader.

Connection to Literature

Prior to reading the emergent reader you might want to read the book “The Umbrella Party” by Janet Lunn.

Introducing the Letter “Uu”

Under the Umbrella Reader            

After reading the story “Under the Umbrella” emergent reader printable from the theme unit or revised edition on the supplementary resources page, the children can do a scene depicting the story. The reader introduces how the main character is under the umbrella when it is raining and she describes how she uses her five senses to enjoy the experience.  It also introduces the letter ‘Uu’ within its story context. Interactive component – children can draw, trace or cut the umbrella provided in the theme unit to complete the reader. Photograph from the big book page can be seen to the right.

Under the Umbrella Sample Page

Under the Umbrella – The Predictable Version – Introduces Five Senses.

Under the umbrella I can hear. (a boy jumping in the puddles)

Under the umbrella I can taste. (the raindrops)

Under the umbrella I can feel.  (her dog shaking water on her).

Under the umbrella I can see. (rainbow)

Under the umbrella I can smell. (fresh air)

Under the umbrella I can use my senses.

Now I don’t need my umbrella!

These emergent readers are excellent for a preschool or kindergarten take home activity.  Parents are thrilled to have a resource that can assist in giving their child an early start to reading. 

Picture Mnemonic for Letter “Uu”

The children children will cut, color, paint and cut the letter “Uu” shaped umbrella as shown in the photograph above.

Follow-up Craft Activity

The craft shown in the photo and outlined below is an excellent follow-up to reading the printable emergent reader.  The children complete the project by adding their own facial features.

Instructions for the Craft (illustrates concept of under)

1.  The children can paint or color the spring clothes

2.  Cut the clothes and glue them on the child outline

3.  Add facial features.

4.  Color and cut the umbrella and add it

Simple Version

Another version is included in the members’ area.  The children just color or paint the spring clothes and just add facial features and the umbrella.

Duck Under the Umbrella Craft

The duck and umbrella craft shown in the photograph could also be a great follow-up to reading the emergent reader ‘Under the Umbrella‘.  It offers a variation. 

More Kindergarten and Preschool Activities

Wind Art Craft                             

Children pretend they are the wind and blow on the paint with a straw to make a unique design!

Materials Required        

paint, containers (plastic cups) paint brushes and straws. 

Instructions for the Craft

1.  Pour different colors of paint in containers

2.  Add water to make the paint thinner

3.  Stir the paint with a paint brush

4.  The children dab the paint on a paper with the paint brush

5.  They blow on the paint with a straw to make it flow into a design

6.  Dab lightly with a tissue to spread and dry the remaining paint

Preschool and Kindergarten Activity – Another Emergent Reader

After reading the story Rolling, Rolling emergent reader printable book in the theme unit, have children experience this concept by doing the craft below.  This reader introduces the letter ‘Rr’ within its story context.   It also introduces the concept of how the wind makes things move or roll.  The story line is repetitive and predictable so that young children can read the story on their own after it has been introduced as a shared reading experience.  Interactive component – the children are required to cut and paste the picture of the wind as shown above.  The text reads:  Rolling, rolling, the wind makes things roll.  Seeds can roll.

Rolling Marble Craft – Materials for the Craft

Paper, container, marbles and paint brushes

Instructions for the Craft

1.  Place a paper into a pie plate or other container

2.  Pour paint into containers

3.  Add water to the paint to make it thinner

5.  Children dab the paint onto different spots on the paper (dab with a small spoonful)

6.  The children are to maneuver the plate to make a marble roll onto the paint and spread it.

The children love this craft!

Connect the Dots Weather Number Picture

The children can make an umbrella by connecting the numbers in the link below:

Visual Discrimination Activity Integrated With Connect the Dots

The children cut and paste the words in the links below to match the sentences on the connect the dots picture.

Taken from Activity Idea Place ~
http://123child.com/UBB/showthread.php?t=7868

Weather Art

Kool Aid Rain Art
Sprinkle a little dry Kool aid mix onto a piece of paper. Have your child spray water from a spray bottle onto the paper. Use different colored Kool-aid mix. For added adventure, you may choose to take your children out into the rain with a piece of paper that has Kool-aid on it.

Rain Sticks
Seal off one end of a paper towel tube with tape or tape heavy construction paper or tagboard over one hole. Prepoke holes in the side of the paper towel tube with either a small nail or an awl. The child then can insert toothpicks into the holes. Have the child fill with dried rice or lentils, then seal the other end of the tube. Cover the tube with construction paper, then have the child decorate as desired. To use the rain stick, simply turn it over and listen to the “rain”.

Rain Art
Fill a spray bottle 3/4 full with water. Place a small amount of paint (powdered or liquid) into the water. If you use too much or do not shake well the paint will clog up the spray bottle. Do this for at least three different bottles, with three different colors. Then place a large piece of paper on the floor, on an easel, on a wall or fence outside. Then have the children spray the colored water on the paper. Allow to dry.

Raindrop Hats
Make hats from newsprint and have the child decorate with blue paint or rain and rainbow stickers.

Torn Paper Raindrops
Draw a raindrop shape on a piece of paper. Have the children tear pieces of blue construction paper, and glue them inside the lines for the raindrop shape.

Raindrop Necklaces
Supply the children with raindrop shaped stencil. Have the children cut out raindrop shapes from construction paper. Then, have the child use a hole punch to make a hole, so they can thread them onto a piece of yarn.

Raindrop Rubbings
Cut raindrop shapes from paper doilies or sandpaper. Tape these raindrops to the table. Have the children place a piece of thin white paper over the raindrops and rub a crayon over the raindrop

Kool Aid Art
Sprinkle a little dry Kool aid mix onto a piece of paper. Have your child spray water from a spray bottle onto the paper. Use different colored Kool-aid mix. For added adventure, you may choose to take your children out into the rain with a piece of paper that has Kool-aid on it.

Umbrella Art
Cut out an umbrella shape and have your child decorate it with paint, glitter, fabric, crayons, or whatever you can come up with.

Thunderstorm:
When it is raining, watch the rain. Talk about the sounds that you hear during a rain storm. What are the signs that a storm is coming. Talk about storm safety!!!

Spray Art
Fill a spray bottle 3/4 full with water. Place a small amount of paint (powdered or liquid) into the water. If you use too much or do not shake well the paint will clog up the spray bottle. Do this for at least three different bottles, with three different colors. Then place a large piece of paper on the floor, on an easel, on a wall or fence outside. Then have the children spray the colored water on the paper. Allow to dry.

Raindrop Hats
Make hats from newsprint and have the child decorate with blue paint or rain and rainbow stickers.

Raindrop People
Give the children a piece of white paper, and a blue raindrop shape. Have the children glue the raindrop onto the paper, and then draw a body as if the raindrop was a head.

Torn Paper Raindrops
Draw a raindrop shape on a piece of paper. Have the children tear pieces of blue construction paper, and glue them inside the lines for the raindrop shape.

Raindrop Necklaces
Supply the children with raindrop shaped stencil. Have the children cut out raindrop shapes from construction paper. Then, have the child use a hole punch to make a hole, so they can thread them onto a piece of yarn.

Raindrop Rubbing
Cut raindrop shapes from paper doilies or sandpaper. Tape these raindrops to the table. Have the children place a piece of thin white paper over the raindrops and rub a crayon over the raindrop.

Raindrop Art
Supply the children with raindrop shaped sponges and paint and have them make a rain scene with them.

Raindrop Cookie Cutter Art:
Obtain a cookie cutter that is shaped like a raindrop. Have the children dip the cookie cutter in a shallow container of blue paint, then press onto a piece of paper to make raindrop prints.

Sticker Art
Supply the children with raindrop shaped stickers and have them place them on a piece of white paper.

Stamp Art
Supply the children with raindrop stamps and have them make a rain scene with the stamps.

Raindrop Headbands
Measure your child’s head, and cut a piece of construction paper long enough to create a headband. Glue the paper together so the headband fits snugly on your child’s head but is loose enough to take off easily. Have the children cut out blue raindrop shapes or use stickers and glue to the headband.

Fingerprint Raindrops
Supply your children with white paper and a non-toxic blue stamp pad. Have the children make fingerprints on the paper to represent raindrops.

Measuring rainfall
On a rainy day, set out a container to measure the rainfall. Measure how much rain fell that day. Continue to measure the rain each day, and record for a few weeks. Ask your child to predict how much water will be collected. Ask at the beginning of the day and ask when it is raining. Did their answer change?

Bean Bag Puddle Toss
You need a hula hoop (the puddle) and some bean bags. You can either set up the hula hoop on its side or on the ground. Have your child try to throw the bean bags into the puddle.

Jump in the Puddle
Set a hula hoop on the floor. Play some music and have your child walk around the hula hoop. When the music stops, have them jump into the hoop (the puddle).

Jump Over the Puddle
Cut out puddle shapes from blue paper or newspaper (you can have the children paint it blue). They need to be small enough for the children to be able to hop over. Then set them on the floor and ask the children to take turns hopping over the puddle.

Wet or Dry
Cut some pictures from a magazine, or show some pictures from a book, ask your child if the objects are wet or dry?

Raindrop fishing
Cut out several raindrop shapes from light blue construction paper. Write several numbers or letters on them. Have them laminated. Then place a paper clip on each raindrop. Make a fishing pole out of a dowel or pencil, string and a magnet. Place the raindrops on the floor and have the children sit in chairs around the raindrops. (This may work better with a few fishing poles.) Have the children try to catch a raindrop with the fishing pole. Then, when they catch one, show it to them and ask what letter or number it is.
Variation: For younger children you could make the raindrops different colors and ask what color is the raindrop
Variation: Ask the child if they can catch the “a” or the “1″

Raindrop Search
Cut out many raindrop shapes and hide them around the room. Have the children search for them like an Easter egg hunt.

Raindrop Hop
Place raindrop shapes on the floor. Have the children hop from one raindrop to the next.

Raindrop Seat Markers
Cut out and laminate big raindrop shapes to be used as seat markers for the children to sit on during story and circle time.

Rain, Rain
Rain, rain, go away
Come again some other day
We want to go outside and play
Come again some other day
(Optional lyrics: change third line to say:
(child’s name)’s friends all want to play

It’s raining, it’s pouring,
It’s raining, it’s pouring,
The old man is snoring.
He went to bed and he
Bumped his head
And he couldn’t get up in the morning.

It Ain’t Gonna Rain
It ain’t gonna rain no more, no more
It ain’t gonna rain no more,
How in the heck will we wash the neck
If it ain’t gonna rain no more?

If All the Raindrops
If all the raindrops were lemon drops and gumdrops
Oh, what a rain that would be!
Standing outside, with my mouth open wide
Singing La la la la, la la la, la la la,
If all the raindrops were lemon drops and gumdrops
Oh, what a rain that would be!

If all the snowflakes were candy bars and milkshakes
Oh, what a snow that would be!
Standing outside, with my mouth open wide
Singing La la la la, la la la, la la la,
If all the snowflakes were candy bars and milkshakes
Oh, what a snow that would be!

If all the sunbeams were bubble gum and ice cream
Oh, what a sun that would be!
Standing outside, with my mouth open wide
Singing La la la la, la la la, la la la,
If all the sunbeams were bubble gum and ice cream
Oh, what a sun that would be!

Musical Raindrops
Cut out large raindrop shapes from colored paper. Laminate them and cut them out. Place them on the floor. It is best for younger children to have more raindrops than children. Play music and have the children walk around the room. When the music stops each child needs to find a raindrop to stand on.

What time is it Mr. Raindrop?
This is a fun game to play outside. You can change the name to suit any theme. The children all line up against a wall or fence. And one child, Mr. Raindrop or the teacher faces away from the children, a good distance away from the children. The children yell, what time is it “Mr. Raindrop”, Mr. Raindrop answers 1 o’clock, and the children all take one step toward Mr. Raindrop. The children yell again, what time is it “Mr. Raindrop”, Mr. Raindrop answers (fill in the blank) o’clock, and the children all take same number of step toward Mr. Raindrop. This continues until all the children are very close to Mr. Raindrop, then Mr. Raindrop will answer it’s midnight, and chases the children back to the fence or wall that they started at. The first person Mr. Raindrop touches will be the new Mr. Raindrop.

Raindrop Feelie Center
Cut raindrop shapes from blue fabrics with different textures. Glue these onto a piece of cardboard. When dry, let the children feel the different textures.

Rain Plates
Sprinkle a bit of tempera paint or a few drops of food coloring onto a paper plate. Have the child take the plate out into the rain for a few seconds, then bring the plate back inside and allow to dry. If you don’t want to brave the rain, just have the children use a spray bottle to add water to their plate.

Evaporation:
Obtain two clear plastic glasses of the same size. Measure one cup of water and place in each cup. Mark the water level of each cup with a permanent marker. Place one in a sunny window and the other somewhere else in the room. Observe the glasses of water over the nest couple of days. Ask the children where the water is going. Which is evaporating more quickly? Evaporation occurs when the particles of water become warm enough that they turn into vapors and leave the cup and escape into the air. Why did the water in the sun evaporate faster?

Rain Spattered Umbrellas
You will need: watered down non-toxic blue paint, paper, pipettes and straws. Supply each child with a straw and a piece of paper. Allow the children to use the pipette (or medicine dropper NOT GLASS) to place a small amount of paint onto a piece of paper. Then, have them use the straw to blow the paint around their picture.

Rain Sticks
Seal off one end of a paper towel tube with tape or tape heavy construction paper or tag board over one hole. Pre-poke holes in the side of the paper towel tube with either a small nail or an awl. The child then can insert toothpicks into the holes. Have the child fill with dried rice or lentils, then seal the other end of the tube. Cover the tube with construction paper, then have the child decorate as desired. To use the rain stick, simply turn it over and listen to the rain.

Prop Box Rain Ideas
Raincoats, rain hats, rain boots, child sized umbrella.

Rain in a Bag
Place a handful of dirt, some grass and a couple of tablespoons of water in a ziplock sandwich bag. Place a straw in the bag with out end still sticking out. Seal the bag around the straw then blow air into the bag through the straw until it is filled. Seal the bag closed. Set the bag in the window on a sunny day and see it rain inside the bag.

Cloud Blots and Raindrops
Fold a piece of light blue construction paper in half. Have the children add a couple of drops of white or gray paint to the paper. Have the child refold the paper and press the two halved together. Have the child roll a rolling pin over the paper, in every direction. Then unfold and let dry. Then, fill a spray bottle 3/4 full with water. Place a small amount of blue paint (powdered or liquid) into the water. If you use too much or do not shake well the paint will clog up the spray bottle. Have the children spray the colored water on the paper. Allow to dry.

Paper Plate Umbrellas
Have the children decorate large paper plates with paint, crayons, markers or whatever they would like. When finished and dry, poke a hole in the middle large enough for the child to stick their finger through. Use the umbrellas at circle time, have the children sings a song about the rain while holding the umbrellas over their head.

What Happens to the Rain
After it rains, take the children out to follow the path of the rain. Where does it go? Does it seep into the ground, down the sewer? What happens to the rain on the sidewalk or on the slide?

Songs from http://www.kididdles.com
Cloud Pictures
Clouds
Fairies of the Rain
Have You Heard the Wind?
If All the Little Raindrops
It Ain’t Gonna Rain
It’s Raining, It’s Pouring
Little Raindrops
Louder Than Thunder
Pretty Rainbow
Rain
Rain, Rain, Go Away
Rain, The
Rainbow, The
Rainbow Song
Rainbow Song by Suzy Gazlay
Raindrop Soldiers
Splash! Fall the Raindrops
Spring
Summer Rain
Weather, The

Clouds

Cotton Ball Clouds
Make gray cloud shapes from construction paper. Have the children glue on cotton balls.

Watch the Clouds
On a partly cloudy day take the children out to watch the clouds. Talk about the shapes of the clouds. How do they move? What happens when they cover the sun? What colors of clouds are there?

Paint with Clouds
Supply each child with a piece of blue paper, a cotton ball and white paint. Have the child dip the cotton ball into the white paint and press onto the paper to make cloud prints.

Paint with a Cloud 2
Supply the children with a piece of white paper an many cotton balls and many different colors of paint, and have them paint with the cotton ball on the paper.

Playing with Clouds
Put some shaving cream on the table. Tell the children to imagine that it is a cloud. To keep children to their own personal space use a paper plate for the shaving cream.

Blue Shaving Cream Art
Add a few drops of blue paint to shaving cream. Have the children use this to paint with. Not mixing the paint in will give it a special look.

3-D Clouds
Cut out two identical cloud shapes from construction paper. Let the children paint these shapes with gray paint. For added texture, mis the paint with a bit of shaving cream. Allow to dry. Staple the shapes together, but leave about five inches unstapled. Have the children stuff with newspaper then finish stapling around the edge. Staple a piece of yarn to hang the projects from the ceiling.

Wind

Kite Art
Supply the children with paper, glue and ribbon. Have the children cut and glue pieces of paper together and add ribbon to make a kite. This kite can be a very open ended art project, by not requiring the kite to be a specific shape, the children are free to make the kite however they wish. Have the children add a ribbon tail and hang the kites from the ceiling.

Would the Wind Blow It?
Set up a fan in your room to test if a variety of items could be blown by the wind. Before you try each item, have the children predict if the item will move in the wind. Try feathers, paper, paper balled up, blocks, plastic cars, dolls, leaves, plastic bags, and other items in your room.

Wind art:
Click here to see an example
You will need: watered down non-toxic paint, paper, pipettes and straws. Supply each child with a straw and a piece of paper. Allow the children to use the pipette (or medicine dropper NOT GLASS) to place a small amount of paint onto a piece of paper. Then, have them use the straw to blow the paint around their picture.

Wind Sock
Cut the bottom off a brown paper bag. Decorate and add streamers to the bottom. Hang from the ceiling or have the children try the wind sock outside or in front of a fan.

Bubbles in the Wind
On a windy day, blow bubbles. Ask the children why the bubbles are moving around so quickly. You can even have the wind blow the bubbles for you. Ask the children what is making the bubbles.

Sun

Sun Prints
On a sunny day, have the children place various objects on a piece of fading construction paper. Leave it out for the day and come back to see what happened.

Sun Art
Have children paint a paper plate yellow. When dry, the children can add facial features with a marker. You may even glue yellow strips of paper around the edges for rays.

Sun Masks
Have children paint a paper plate yellow. Then cut out holes for eyes, and glue a Popsicle stick on the back of the plate.

Mister Sun
Oh mister sun, sun, mister golden sun, (Place hands over head to form sun) Please shine down on me. (Wiggle fingers while moving hands down) Oh mister sun, sun, mister golden sun,(Place hands over head to form sun) Hiding behind the tree. (Place hands over eyes) These little children are asking you, (Points to children) To please come out so we can play with you. (I don’t know sign) Oh mister sun, sun, mister golden sun,(Place hands over head to form sun) Please shine down on,(Wiggle fingers while moving hands down) Won’t you shine down on,(Wiggle fingers while moving hands down) Please shine down on me.(Point at self)

Torn Paper Sunshines
Have the children tear pieces of yellow construction paper, and glue them on a paper plate for a sun!.

Sunshine Necklaces
Supply the children with many yellow circles. (You can buy them here!!) Then, have them use a hole punch to make a hole, so they can thread them onto a piece of yarn.

Sunshine Rubbings
Cut circle shapes from paper doilys or sandpaper. Tape these sunshines to the table. Have the children place a piece of thin white paper over the circles and rub a yellow crayon over the circle (sunshine).

Jump into the Sunshine
Set a hula hoop on the floor. Play some music and have your child walk around the hula hoop. When the music stops, have them jump into the hoop (the sunshine).

Jump Over the Sun
Cut out circle from yellow paper or newspaper (you can have the children paint it yellow). They need to be small enough for the children to be able to hop over. Then set them on the floor and ask the children to take turns hopping over the sun.

Sun Fishing
Cut out several sun shapes from light yellow construction paper. Write several numbers or letters on them. Have them laminated. Then place a paper clip on each sun. Make a fishing pole out of a dowel or pencil, string and a magnet. Place the suns on the floor and have the children sit in chairs around the suns. (This may work better with a few fishing poles.) Have the children try to catch a sun with the fishing pole. Then, when they catch one.. show it to them and ask what letter or number it is. Variation: For younger children you could make the suns different colors and ask what color is the sun Variation: Ask the child if they can catch the “a” or the “1″

Sunshine Headbands
Measure your child’s head, and cut a piece of construction paper long enough to create a headband. Glue the paper together so the headband fits snugly on your child’s head but is loose enough to take off easily. Have the children cut out yellow sun shapes or use stickers and glue to the headband.

Sunshine Musical Chairs
If they children made sunshine headbands, have them wear them during this activity. Arrange the chairs in a circle. If you have younger children it is best to have too many chairs. This can be a game where everyone wins. Place different color circles on each chair. Have the children walk around the chairs until the music stops. Then everyone finds a chair. Ask who is sitting on a chair with a red circle? Yellow? Etc.

Sun Bean Bag Toss
Cut out three sun shapes from a piece of cardboard. Paint around the shapes with yellow. When dry, prop up the cardboard and have the children play bean bag toss, trying to get the bean bags in the sun shaped holes.

Paper Plate Sun Shaker
Take two sturdy paper plates. (The stronger the better) Place some shape seeds on one of the plates and place the other plate on top of the first so that both eating surface areas are facing each other. Use masking tape to seal the plates together. Have your child decorate with yellow markers, glitter, construction paper, or ribbons. When dry, shake. Shake to music, shake it each time you take a step. Shake, Shake Shake!!!

What is a year:
Discuss with the children what a year is. Have one child stand in one place. They will be the sun. You can even give them a yellow plate with the word sun on it. Ask another child to be the earth. They can have a blue or green plate. Make the floor with masking tape where the child will start and stop. Have the earth child walk around the sun while spinning. Have them stop on the masking tape. Tell the children it takes 365 days for the earth to go all the way around the sun. Let other children have a chance to be the sun and earth. You can explain a day by having the sun child hold a flashlight. Turn out the lights, and have the earth child turn around in the same spot

Snacks

Snowman Cupcake
Make your favorite cupcakes. After they cool add white frosting. Place two marshmallows onto a toothpick and insert into the center of the cupcake. Gel frosting can be used on the marshmallows for eyes and a nose. (Raisins were used in this example).

Biscuit Snowman
Use a pre-made biscuit mix or use your favorite recipe. Connect three together , affix raisins for the eyes, mouth and buttons, pretzels for the arms and bake. When cool use orange frosting gel for the nose.

Snowman Cookies
Use your favorite sugar cookie recipe to make these cookies. When cool let the children decorate with frosting and confections.

Snowman Marshmallows
Connect three marshmallows with a pretzel. Add pretzels for arms and use gel frosting for features.

Powdered Dough nut Holes
Pretend the dough nut holes are snowballs.

Cracker Cream Cheese Snowmen
Use two round crackers and cream cheese to create a snowman shape. Add facial features with frosting gel.

Taken from http://www.lessonplanspage.com/ScienceDayNightK.htm
Science – Day and Night
Grade Level: Kindergarten by Tout

Monday- Have children Put Glow-n-Dark stars on walls and talk about the Galaxy this would be a great time to introduce the “Milky Way” mix Drift detergent and water and glitter and paint it on Black construction paper.

Tuesday- introduce the color yellow and lets Paint the sun and talk about how we cant live on earth without the sun and what it does to help us on Earth.

Wednesday- Have the children bring their flashlights and turn out the lights in your room have them make stars and moons on the ceiling…. This is a great time to view your “Glow-n-Dark” stars.

Thursday-Put up a tent in your room and have a pretend camp fire under those “Glow-n-Dark” stars… have your parents donate some marshmallows and just have a story time with that favorite Science book on Stars.

Friday- Show and Tell….. Have the children Bring something to do with the Stars, Moon, and Sun and have the Science Center set up with many of your Science books and a sensory of powdered sugar to let them feel what the clouds feel like or maybe the Galaxy…and a sensory with some rocks and sand to let the children feel what the moon may feel like.

Taken from http://www.childfun.com/modules.php?name=News&file=print&sid=76

Reptile Activities
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Arts & Crafts

Turtle Puppet
Color two paper plates, one to resemble the top shell on a turtle and one to resemble the bottom shell. Staple together on sides only. Now put your arm into a green sock that you have glued wiggly eyes on and slip it through the two plates. It’s a wonderful (cheap) way to make a turtle puppet for story time!

Lizard Bracelet

Snake
Take a large circle, cut a spiral into the circle. Add two eyes and a tongue and hang. It will bounce a little!

Treasures Stones/Reptile Eggs

• 1 cup of flour
• 1 cup used coffee grinds
• 1/2 cup salt
• 1/4 cup sand
• 3/4 cup water

Mix all dry ingredients together. Slowly add water and knead until mixture is consistency of bread dough. Break off piece of dough and roll into ball (bigger than object you would like to hide inside). Make a hole in center of ball and fill with treasure, seal with extra dough. Let treasure air dry for 2-3 days or until hard, or bake on cookie sheet in 150 degree oven for 15-20 minutes.

Spool Snake
Collect old thread spools that are empty and put a string down the center of each spool. When you put a lot together they form a long snake. You can paint your snake or color with markers.

Paper Plate Snake
Make a snake out of a paper plate: First color with markers or paint the entire front of a paper plate and let it dry. Next, starting at the outside edge, begin cutting around the plate to create a spiral, turning as you cut. When you get to the inside, cut the end to make it look like the snake’s head. Add stickers or glitter to the snake, then poke a hole in the head and tie on a piece of string to hang it from the ceiling. If you are studying specific types of snakes, you could make each snake with the unique markings that distinguish it from the others. (Children love to see a three-dimensional creation spring from a two-dimensional object; this is a neat art activity to demonstrate this effect.)

Group Snake
Give each child a different colored piece of construction paper to decorate any way they wish- paint, crayons, marker, glued on things – whatever. Then attach them all with a head and tail that you make and you have a very long snake when you are done – it is beautiful!

Slithery Snakes
Measure the width of the playground tires & cut long white paper accordingly. Wrap the paper around the tire & secure with tape. Have kids rub entire paper with the sides of green and brown crayons so the tread pattern is transformed to the paper. Remove paper from tire & cut ends so the corners are rounded. Add 2 black eye dots & a red paper forked tongue.

Paper Towel Roll Snakes
Start at the end of the paper roll & cut in a circular or spiral line. At the end cut a head shape, then cut the tail into a tapered shape. Let the kids paint the “snake”. When dry they can wrap it around their arm.

Small Snakes
Wind colored pipe cleaners around a pencil to make snakes. Plant a fallen branch in a bucket of sand and wind the snakes around the branches.

An art project
Cut bubble wrap the shape of a lizard. Have the kids use brightly colored neon paint and mini-paint rollers. Roll paint on bubble wrap and then press pieces of paper over the bubbles to make scaly lizard pictures.

Necktie Snakes
If you have a source or each child can bring in an old neck tie, they make nice snakes. Glue the small end of the tie closed or sew closed. If you want to make a rattle snake you can put a couple of bells in then tie a string to mark the tail end. Finish stuffing with any type of stuffing you have, paper, cotton, Polyfil etc. When you get to the large end glue or sew shut. You can also tie a string about four to five inches from the end to make a head and leave the head floppy. You need to glue on eyes (wigglies are my favorite) and a red felt tongue. These not only make cute toys but door draft dodgers when placed along the bottom of a closed door.
You can also slide an opened hanger from one end to the other so you can pose the snake but it makes it an unsafe toy for under 5 group.

Slinky Straw Snake
The slinky snake is lots of fun to make. Once made the children can manipulate the body into almost any shape.

Materials:

• Plastic soda straws
• One length heavy string or yarn with a tip made from tape per child
• One construction paper head and tail pattern per snake
• Transparent taper
• paper punch
• scissors
• paper reinforcements
• crayons

Directions:

1. For each child, cut a length of 24″ string or yarn. Tape the end for easier threading of the straws.
2. For each child cut several straws up into sections about 1″ long. If you want extra long snakes, then cut longer lengths of string and more straw segments.
3. Cut out a snake head and tail for each child. Have the children draw snake eyes on the head and then color the head and tail. Punch holes and reinforce with paper reinforcement at each hole for strength.
4. Tie untaped end of string to hole in tail. Thread straws on. To finish, tie string through hole in the head, bring the string down and under the snake’s head. Tape string down along the underside of head. Use the remaining string to pull the snake along. You can also make one of these snakes out of tissue tubes.

Silly Pet Spider

Materials:

• Paper nut cup or egg carton cup
• Pencil
• Eight 3″ pieces of pipe cleaner or eight twist ties
• Materials for eyes, Cheerios, paper, etc.

1. Decorate the nut cup to make it look like the face of a spider.
2. With adult help, using the tip of a pencil, poke 8 holes around the bottom edge of the nut cup.
3. To make the spider’s legs, insert pipe cleaners into the pencil holes.

Alligators
Make alligators out of clothes pins painted green with yellow tiny pompons for bumps down the back.

Alligator Puppet
Construction paper, Paper Bag
Draw & cut out the eyes, nose & the upper section of the alligators mouth from construction paper. Glue them to the bottom of the paper bag. Draw &; cut out the inside of the mouth & the two front feet from paper. Glue them to the front of the bag. Attach a tail to the back of the bag. Place your hand inside the bag & curve your fingers over the fold to move the puppet.
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Games & Activities

Measuring Snakes
Measure out different kinds of snakes with yarn. The kids will be amazed by how long a boa constrictor really is!

Toad
If you ever find a live toad you can show the children this neat fact:
Feel a toad’s eyes and you will feel a flat surface. Feel your eyes and you will feel they are rounded. A toad’s eye can be used to help push his food down his throat.

Reptile Play
Purchase plastic reptiles and add them to your sand and block areas. Be sure to preface, and follow through, with nonfiction picture books from your local library.

The Chameleon Game
After explaining that chameleons blend with their environment, kids can be chameleons in reverse, finding colors in the environment that match their clothes. People wearing the same color as the rug can lay down there, people wearing the same color as the wall stand against it, people wearing the color of the couch sit on it, etc.

Sorting
Group pictures of snakes in one row, and pictures of lizards in another, pointing out what makes them different.

Snakey S
The letter S and snake are a good pair. You can color a picture of a snake, and write it’s sound. It’s very phonetically memorable, if you make the sound while you write it. You can add descriptive words to the discussions such as slithering, slimy, etc. If you have a pretend rubber snake, you can paste it to a piece of paper in the shape of an S.

Frogs of the World
Cut out frog shapes and talk about how poisonous frogs are brightly colored. Let them color their own frogs in the bright red, green, purples, etc. Then make a frog habitat on a poster board with lily pads and a pond – and bugs.

Color Turtles
Cut turtle shapes out of light green construction paper. Give each child a turtle shape and help the child use crayons to draw one dot of red, black, yellow, green, blue, purple, brown, white and orange on the turtles back. Then recite the poem and have the children point to each color on the turtles back as you name it.
I can name these colors,
All so very bright,
Red, yellow, blue, purple,
Green, brown and white.
Don’t forget the color orange
And the the color black,
These are the colors of the dots
Upon my turtle’s back.

Turtle Races
Make three to five turtles and let the children race them. Cut turtle shapes out of green poster board, number or name each one. Punch a hold just above the center of each turtle and put a five to eight foot long piece of string through it. Get one chair for each turtle. Tie one end of each piece of string to one of the legs of a chair. Line up the chairs along the finish line. Have the children who are racing their turtles stand in a row at the starting line. Each child should hold the loose end of one of the strings. Begin the race with the turtles near the children’s hands. When you say “Go” the children who are racing should start jiggling their pieces of string so that the turtles bound toward the finish line. The other children should pick a turtle and cheer for it. Which turtle made it to the end first? Which one was last? Race again.
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Recipes & Snacks

Snake Cakes
Make patty cakes and join them together in the shape of a snake. Ice them with green icing.

Snake Sticks
Buy pre made or make your own bread stick dough. Have the children help roll them out in the shape of snakes on the baking board or tray. Sprinkle with grated cheese or garlic & butter if desired. Bake according to directions.

Lizard Skins
1/2 cup Peanut butter
12 ounces Marshmallows
4 drops Green food coloring
4 cups Rice Krispies, Cheerios or Corn Flakes
Pam
Raisins
Heat peanut butter with marshmallows in a large saucepan over low heat until melted. Add green food coloring and mix in. Pour in cereal and stir quickly. Spray 8″ pan with Pam then pour contents into pan. Allow to cool in fridge, then cut into long thin strips, about 1″ X 4″. Cut each raisin in half and stick on one end of each strip to make the lizard’s eyes.

Slippery Salamanders
Materials:
pan
spoon
bowl
self-seal sandwich bags
cookie sheet
aluminum foil
scissors
For each different color salamander you’ll need:
1 1/2c. apple juice
1 3 oz. pkg. jello (yellow, red, green or orange)
1 envelope unflavored gelatin
5 ice cubes
Directions: Heat 1/2 the apple juice in a small pan. Add flavored gelatin and stir until dissolved. Pour remaining juice in a bowl, sprinkle with unflavored gelatin and stir. Pour cool mixture over hot and add ice cubes. Stir until most of the ice is melted. Refrigerate about 20 min. until mixture is the texture of pudding. Pour 1/2 of mixture into sandwich bags. Seal bag, leaving corner of bag open. Cover cookie sheet with foil and slowly squeeze jello into 2-in. squiggles. Chill 2 hr. and enjoy some wiggly, squiggly salamanders

Snakes to eat
1/3 cup of margarine
1/3 cup corn syrup
1 Tsp vanilla
1/2 Tsp salt
green food coloring
1 lb. powdered sugar
Knead mixture until smooth. Add more sugar if sticky.

Tuna Turtles
Yield: 8 sandwiches
1 can of flaked tuna
small cucumber seeded and chopped
grated carrot
2 tbs thousand island dressing
1 tbs mayonnaise
1 can biscuits
1 tbs sesame seeds (optional)
Heat oven to 450 Cut two biscuits into four pieces. Attach one piece to sides if the eight remaining biscuits – these are the heads. Score surface of each biscuit to look like turtle shell. Sprinkle sesame seeds on the biscuit. Transfer to lightly greased cookie sheet . Bake 8 minutes until golden brown. Cut each turtle biscuit in half horizontally and fill with tuna salad.

Snapping Turtle Salad
one pear
4 pecan halves
2 cloves
1 green olive
Wash and peel the pear. Cut in half. Place one of the halves hollow-side down on a salad plate. Use the pecans for feet. Use the green olive for the head and stick the cloves in for the eyes. Makes one serving.

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Songs, Poems & Finger Plays

Boa Song
I’m being swallowed by a boa constrictor,
Boa constrictor, boa constrictor.
I’m being swallowed by a boa constrictor,
Now what do you think of that?
Oh no, he’s got my toe
Oh gee, he has my knee
Oh my, he’s up to my thigh
Oh fiddle, he’s up to my middle
Oh heck, he’s up to my neck
I’m being swallowed by a boa constrictor, boa constrictor, boa constrictor.
I’m being swallowed by a boa constrictor
No! No! No! (In a high squeaky voice)

Snapping Turtle
He snaps in the morning, (snap with hand)
He snaps at night
He snaps at the bugs
As he takes each bite.
He snaps so much,
He’s quite a sight.
Snap! Snap! Snap!

A Salamander
I saw a little creature that was slimy, smooth, and wet.
I thought it was the oddest thing that I had ever met.
It was something like a lizard, but it had no scales at all.
It was something like a frog, but it didn’t hop- it crawled.
So I took it to my teacher and she told me right away,
” I see you brought a salamander into class today.”

Lizard Finger play
(Use fist of one hand to represent the lizard – have pointer finger move in and out of fist quickly to be the lizard’s tongue. 5 fingers of the other hand are the bugs that “disappear” as the lizard’s fast tongue “gets” them.)
5 little bugs on the forest floor Along came a sticky tongue lizard … SLURP!!! Now there are 4.
4 little bugs on a kapok tree Along came s sticky tongue lizard … SLURP!!! Now there are 3.
3 little bugs without a single clue…..
2 little bugs soaking up the hot sun….
1 little bug knew that he was done…..
Now there are none.

If You See
If you see a crocodile,
Do you think it’s a pretty sight?
(Make a frightened face)
If you see a snake,
Do you freeze with fright?
(Freeze in position)
If you see an alligator,
Does your heart pound with all it’s might?
(Quickly thump fist over heart)
Their reptile families think they’re dear
(Hug self)
But people really should steer clear!
(Take giant step backwards)

S-n-a-k-e
As he bends and twists and squiggles around,
(Do actions as indicated by words)
See Mr. Snake shaping letters on the ground.
(Point to ground)
First an “S”
Now an “N”
Then an “A”
Next a “K”
And an “E”
(Make giant size letters in the air as each letter is mentioned)
He’s spelled out his name for us all to see.
“S-N-A-K-E” (spell name aloud)

On The Back Of A Crocodile
She sailed away
On a bright and sunny day
On the back of a crocodile
You see said she
He’s as tame as he can be,
I’ll ride him down the Nile,
The croc winked his eye
As she waved a fond good bye Wearing a happy grin.
At the end of the ride,
The lady was inside,
And the smile was on the crocodile.

The Alligator is my Friend
The Alligator is my friend, he can be your friend too
If only you would understand that he has feelings too
The alligator laughs and sings, he never cries the blues
I’d rather have him on my shirt than have him for my shoes
Alligator,alligator, can be your friend, can be your friend,
Can be your friend too!

Taken from the Activity Idea Place:
http://123child.com/UBB/showthread.php?t=7404

Kool Aid Rain Art
Sprinkle a little dry Kool aid mix onto a piece of paper. Have your child spray water from a spray bottle onto the paper. Use different colored Kool-aid mix. For added adventure, you may choose to take your children out into the rain with a piece of paper that has Kool-aid on it.

Safari Map
Tear a large piece of paper from a brown grocery bag. Lie the paper flat and have the children create a safari map on the paper. You may use black paint and markers for the map. They can use stamps, stickers, pictures from magazines or draw the animals they might see.

Safari Vests
Make and decorate vests from paper grocery bags.

Rain Sticks
Seal off one end of a paper towel tube with tape or tape heavy construction paper or tagboard over one hole. Prepoke holes in the side of the paper towel tube with either a small nail or an awl. The child then can insert toothpicks into the holes. Have the child fill with dried rice or lentils, then seal the other end of the tube. Cover the tube with construction paper, then have the child decorate as desired. To use the rain stick, simply turn it over and listen to the “rain”.

Paper Plate Snakes
Draw a spiral on a paper plate that goes from the outside to the inside of the plate. Have the child cut along the line. Deocrate the snake with green paint, crayons, stickers or whatever you desire. Hang the snakes by the middle of the plate (their tail) about the room to give a jungle feel.

Jungle Vines
Have the children create many different leaves and animals and hang them from brown yarn around the room to represent vines

Foot Parrot
Trace each child’s foot on white paper. Cut out and decorate with colorful paints, crayons, feathers and/or googly eyes.

Rain Art
Fill a spray bottle 3/4 full with water. Place a small amount of paint (powdered or liquid) into the water. If you use too much or do not shake well the paint will clog up the spray bottle. Do this for at least three different bottles, with three different colors. Then place a large piece of paper on the floor, on an easel, on a wall or fence outside. Then have the children spray the colored water on the paper. Allow to dry.

Raindrop Hats
Make hats from newsprint and have the child decorate with blue paint or rain and rainbow stickers.

Torn Paper Raindrops
Draw a raindrop shape on a piece of paper. Have the children tear pieces of blue construction paper, and glue them inside the lines for the raindrop shape.

Raindrop Necklaces
Supply the children with raindrop shaped stencil. Have the children cut out raindrop shapes from construction paper. Then, have the child use a hole punch to make a hole, so they can thread them onto a piece of yarn.

Rain Cookie Cutter Art:
Obtain a cookie cutter that is shaped like a raindrop. Have the children dip the cookie cutter in a shallow container of blue paint, then press onto a piece of paper to make raindrop prints.

Raindrop Rubbings
Cut raindrop shapes from paper doilies or sandpaper. Tape these raindrops to the table. Have the children place a piece of thin white paper over the raindrops and rub a crayon over the raindrop.

Pipe Cleaner Spiders
Provide the children with pipe cleaners to make spiders. Have the children twist the pipe cleaners together to form a body and legs. Discuss how many legs a spider has.

Spider Paper Plates
Use a smaller and larger paper plate to make these spiders. Staple the smaller plate onto the larger plate, as if the smaller plate will be the spider’s head. Have the child paint both sides black. Then add black streamers for legs and white construction paper for eyes. Hang them from the ceiling.

Spider Gum drops
Supply the children with large black gum drops and eight toothpicks per child. Have the children push the toothpicks in the gum drops to represent the spiders legs.

Snake Tracks
This one is a lot of fun, and has great results. Set out a piece of yarn for each color of paint you intend to use. Have the child dip the yarn in one color of paint, and run it across the paper. Use a new piece of string for a different color.

Contact Paper Art
You will need a picture of a rainforest animal. A reverse image is needed if the picture can be backwards. Place the image on the table and place a piece of contact paper, sticky side up over the image. Supply the children with scraps of construction paper to tissue paper. Children use the scraps to create the image on the contact paper.

Cookie Cutter Painting
Put a small amount of tempera paint in a large shallow container. (A pie tin works well.) Show your child how to dip the cookie cutter in the paint and press onto a piece of paper to create a print. You can make jungle pictures by using animal cookie cutters and colored paper.

Tiger Stripes
Supply each child with orange and black paper. Have the child tear the black paper into thin stripes, then glue onto the orange paper.

Leopard Prints
Supply each child with a piece of brown paper and black non-toxic stamp pads. Show the child how to make fingerprints on the paper, using only one finger at a time.

Fingerprint Monkeys
Put a small amount of tempera paint in a small shallow container. (The metal lid of a juice bottle works well) Show your child how to dip his/her finger in the paint and make a fingerprint on a piece of paper. (Alternative: Use a non-toxic ink pad) have your child make several fingerprints using yellow or light brown paint. After the paint dries, add the facial features with a pen.

Lizards
Cut out lizard shapes from construction paper. Have the children decorate them with scraps of paper, tissue paper, yarn and other items.

Other Fingerprint Ideas:
Giant Ant Hill
Materials: Large Butcher Paper Black crayon Cut the paper in the shape of an ant hill. Help your child draw tunnels with the crayon and draw ants in the tunnels.

Ants in the Dirt
Materials: Brown and blue construction paper None toxic ink pad Glue Black Marker Have the children tear pieces of the brown construction paper and glue them onto the bottom of the blue paper to represent the dirt and sky. After the glue has dried, have the children place a few fingerprints on the brown paper to represent ants. Add legs and antennae with black marker.

Ants at My Picnic
Materials: Construction paper Paper plates Magazine ads for food Black marker Have your child glue pictures of their favorite foods onto the paper plate, then glue the plate onto the paper as if the paper were the place mat. Then have your child draw the ants on the place mat and plate.

Fingerprint Ants
Materials: Non toxic ink pad (black) Paper Black pen or crayon Show your child how to make finger prints on a piece of paper. Have your child draw six legs, a head and antennae onto their prints to create ants.

Balloon Ants
Materials: Balloon Marker Yarn Blow up a balloon, have your child tape six pieces of yarn onto the balloon for the ants legs, and let them draw on a face.

Tube Ants
Materials: Cardboard tube from a tissue paper roll Raisins Have your child dip the raisins into glue and stick them inside the tube to simulate ants being in their tunnels. Add pieces of green yarn to represent grass.

Play doh Ants
Have your children make Ants out of play doh.

Busy Ants Headbands:
Have the children cut out two strips of paper that when connected will fit around their head. Connect the strips with glue or tape, (staples will catch the child’s hair). Supply the children with two pipe cleaners… and have them shape them however they want to and tape them on the inside of the headband. On mine I wrote “Busy Ant Suzy” and “Busy Ant Max” or whatever they wanted to be.

Toothpick and Marshmallow Ants
Supply older children with marshmallows and toothpicks. They can connect three marshmallows with toothpicks to form the body and head. They may use toothpicks for the legs as well.

Starbucks (w/paint) Ant Hills!
Starbucks (w/paint) Ant Hills! – Image submitted by Julia
Have your child use and ant stamp to create an ant scene. When dry, add a mixture of coffee grounds, glue and brown paint to create an ant hill. Allow to dry completely.

Egg Carton Ants
Egg Carton Ants – Image submitted by Julia
Cut out three sections of a cardboard egg carton. Have the child paint the egg carton brown. When dry attach pipe cleaners for legs and googly eyes.

Busy Kids Pom Pom Bug Kit Makes 6 Pom Pom Bugs – Butterfly, Bee & Ladybugs

Educraft Super Foam Bugs
assorted colors, non-toxic glue, wiggly eyes and a FREE EduCraft® Guide with instructions to make 12 bugs.

Play doh bugs
Have your children make bugs out of play doh.

Play-Doh Rainbow 50 Pack
Bug Buddies Metal Cutter Set – 6pc

Bee Strips
Cut out bee shapes. Have the children cut out black and yellow strips to add to their bee. Then have them glue the stripes on their bee.

Pom Pom Caterpillar Pom Pom Caterpillar
Supply the children with many pom poms to glue together to make a caterpillar. Add pipe cleaner legs and wiggly eyes.

GLITTER POM PONS
Chenille Kraft Pom Pom Hot Colors 50
Pom Pom Variety Pack Multi Brights
Pipe Cleaners,12″

WIGGLE EYES STICKERS ON A ROLL

Pom Pom Butterfly
This activity is very teacher directed. Please use the image as a guide.

Butterfly Stamps
Have the children use various sizes of butterfly and bug stamps. These can be colored with Crayola markers, then pressed on construction paper, to give a variety of different colors on each butterfly or bug.

Contact Paper Butterfly
Supply the children with a picture of a butterfly and a piece of contact paper. Place the contact paper over the picture, sticky side up. Supply the children with bits of tissue paper to decorate the butterfly.