CIRCUS THEME
Submitted by Becky
I used the classroom parachute to make a big top by attaching it to
the ceiling in the dramatic play area.
I attached some balloons for a real circus look. In the dramatic play area I
had face paint and dress up clothes and wigs. You can find good dressup for clowns
at secondhand stores: look for any bright jackets, funny neckties, hats. Take
a plain jacket and add some silly patches to it and you have a clown jacket.
In the craft area, I purchased plain party hats from the party supply store and
put out pom poms, ric-rac, ribbon, sequins,etc. for children to make their own
clown hats. The girls took old scarves and pulled them through the top to make
princess hats. The hats were a big hit.
I asked the local movie theater for popcorn bags, which they gladly donated (the
manager had worked in daycare for many years)and purchased popcorn for our circus
snack.
During circle time, I got a tape of circus music from a local clown group (they
also donated some costumes that I borrowed) and played that while we acted out
circus acts.
The music added a lot to this and I highly recommend having it.
Send in the Clowns!
(sung to the tune of "This Old Man ")
The circus clown
Came to town,
Wearing [circles ] all around..
There were [circles ] on his head
And [circles ] on his toes..
He wears [circles ] wherever he goes!
CLOWN ACTIVITIES
Clown Hats
Make a cone shaped hat out of construction paper. Let the children
decorate their hats with assorted art media. (yarn, stickers, pom-pons,
glitter, etc..) put a piece of scotch tape on the bottom of each
side of their hats.
Using a hole puncher make a hole in the pieces of scotch tape. Put yarn through
the holes so they can be tied loosely to keep the hats on.NOSES- Attach red
consruction paper circles to their noses with tape. Play music and let the
children dance around and have a clown parade.
Felt Board Clown Game
Make 5 felt clown faces with collars attached. Number the clowns
from 1-5 by gluing the right number of dots on the collars. Then make
5 clown hats and number them 1-5. Let the children put the faces on
the feltboard. Then have
them match the numbers on the hats to the numbers on the collars and place
the hats on the clowns head.
CIRCUS ACTIVITIES
Submitted by Erin
Title: Cereal Box Elephant
You will need an oats box for each child in your classroom, construction
paper, toilet paper rolls, tope, and scissors.
The oats box is the body of the elephant. Cut out the trunk and ears from construction
paper. Tape them to the body. Tape a piece of yarn to the bottom of the oats
box for a tail. Use the toilet paper rolls for legs. Eyes can be
added with color crayons or markers.
Title: Circus Ponies
Use paper bags, cut as shown. (They may need to be tied under the chin.)
For the mane, use a 6 in. wide strip of construction paper. Fold
back 1 in. of the strip, lengthwise, and glue to the horse's head.
Paste on eyes, triangle
ears, and if desired, some brown or black spots. Add a plume. Measure a band
to fit around the child's waist. Stape on a crepe paper tail, made the same
way as the Lion Tamer's whip.
Title: Circus Tent
Materials:9X12 in. construction paper, crayons, markers, stickers,
tape, glue, toothpick, wooden clothespins, glitter, pompoms, beads,
yarnProcedure: Decorate paper with markers and stickers. Turn paper
upside down
and fold up the triangular sides and tape points of 2 opposite triangles. Tuck
the points of the 2 remaining triangles under the taped points. For the flag,
fold a small piece of paper in half. Cut out a triangle with one side
on the fold. Unfold. Glue the toothpick along the fold. Fold and attach to
big top. Make circle rings with three 1 in. rings. Decorate rings. Make circus
performer with clothespins glue yarn hair and construction paper hat.
Title: Five Big Elephants
Five big elephants - oh, what a sight,
Swinging their trunks from left to right!
Four are followers, and one is the king.
They all walk around in the circus ring.
(To pantomime, the children crouch over and clasp their hands, then
move arms
left and right as they walk. Choose four children to be elephants
who follow
one chosen to be king. The 'elephants' walk around the room several times as
the rhyme is recited.)
CIRCUS
Submitted by Michelle
I recently had a circus day theme in my 2 year old parents and tots
class. We pitched my pop-up tent and had cirlce time inside
the tent. The kids thought it was great. For our project
we painted (tapping motion)our pre-cut elephant shapes with balloons
(blown up to the size of a grapefruit)dipped into grey paint. The
paint comes out like wrinkled elephant skin. The formed really
cool patterns. The kids and the parents thought it was great
and afterwards we washed the balloons and tossed them
around. A fun new way to paint!
"Strongmen"
(tune is Frere Jacque)
We are the strongmen in the circus show
Watch us now, we'll show you how
We can lift a ton, and make it look like fun
Watch us now, we'll show you how.
Written by Nancy and Scott Remson
I covered 2 beachballs with aluminum foil and attached them to one
of those "noodles" used in swimming pools-they're made of foam. The
kids loved pretending to lift a ton and we even painted little moustaches
on them to make them look like the old fashioned strongmen from the
circus.
CIRCUS CLOWN ICE CREAM
Submitted by
I noticed a wonderful recipe idea using the colored "Nilla Wafers" we
can
find in our grocery store. It is on the back of the box.
1 scoop of ice cream for the head of a clown
1 sugar cone upside down on top for hat
Colored "Nilla Wafers" around ice cream scoop for clowns colorful collar
The facial features were made from small candies I believe and maybe
a
poof of frosting on top of the cone hat for a pom pom effect.
Record Player Art
Submitted by LaProfe2
Materials:
an old kids record player (I found mine at
a second hand store and a yard sale)
markers
masking tape
paper plates
Procedure:
Place loops of masking tape on the turn table of the
record player. Poke a hole in the center of the paper plate,
and put it on the spindle of the turntable. Turn on the record player, and let
the kids hold markers on the plate, telling them not to press hard. These turn
out really pretty, and the kids love to make them!
Title: CIRCUS UNIT
Following cross curricular ideas submitted by Carol
Title: Putting Up the Big Top - Music and Movement
Have children make a circle and pretend they have to put up the
Big Top....bend down and lift it up high, singing:
(to Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star)
Everybody circle round,
Lift the canvas off the ground,
Pull and pull and watch it rise,
Big Top grows before our eyes.
Everybody circle round,
Lift the canvas off the ground.
Sit and watch the circus acts singing:
Everybody circle round,
Form a ring upon the ground.
Now we're set to watch the show,
Circus acts both high and low'.
Everybody circle round,
Form a ring upon the ground.
Circus Acts:
Ringmaster - introduces the acts and controls time etc.
Prancing Horses - high stepping around the ring.
Bare Back Riders - doing fancy tricks
Horses - put a doll on their backs and they have to keep inside a masking
tape track - how do they have to move to keep the doll in place.
Circus Elephants - walking in line (tails to trunks), moving very slowly, balancing
on a beam or "barrel".
Tightrope Walkers - arms out at side as they balance along a masking tape line
on floor - doing one legged turns, bows, etc. Add the balance beam and
an umbrella
Acrobats - forward and backward rolls, cartwheels, splits etc.
Clowns - do clown like actions: running, jumping, falling, tripping over pretend
objects, wiggling and all large exaggerated movements.
Don't forget the Clown Parade.
Elephants balancing
Lions and Tigers - jumping or stepping through hoops, prowling around the
cage - snarling and lunging at the trainer, jumping off "barrels" pretend wrestling
with each other.
MUSIC:
Title: We Are All Clowns Today:
(tune - Farmer in the Dell)
We are all clowns today, We are all clowns today,
Hi ho the derry o, We are all clowns today.
add other verses - clown attributes tricks, making faces etc
Did You Ever See a Clown
(tune: Did You Ever See a Lassie?)
Did you ever see a clown, a clown, a clown?
Did you ever see a clown,
Do this and do that?
Do this and do that,
Do this and do that.
Did you ever see a clown,
Do this and do that?
Let's All Go to the Circus Today
(tune: Mary had a little lamb)
Let's all go to the circus today,
The circus today, the circus today.
Let's all go to the circus today,
And watch the big parade.
Lions and tigers jump through hoops,
Jump through hoops, jump through hoops.
Lions and Tigers jump through hoops,
In their circus cage.
The prancing horses step so high,
Step so high, step so high.
The prancing horses step so high,
In the circus ring.
See the clowns all tumbling,
Tumbling, tumbling.
See the clowns all tumbling,
In the circus ring.
Take Me Out to the Circus
(tune: Take Me Out to the Ball game)
Take me out to the circus,
Take me to the Big Top.
I want to see the clowns tumbling,
As I eat popcorn and drink soda pop.
Oh, the lions and tigers may scare me,
The high wire acts will amaze.
So it's me , you.....oh, the things we will do
On our circus days !!!!!!!
Circus Marching Band
give the kids an instrument each and go for a wander around the
yard, making music as you go, all marching in step and time to the music
(make kazoos)
LANGUAGE:
A funny clown who is short and fat,
A funny clown in a big tall hat.
A funny clown with a nose so red,
A funny clown with green hair on his head.
A funny clown who is very tall,
A funny clown so tiny and small.
A funny clown…………
(make clowns matching the above - and more - for the felt or
magnetic board - children pick out and put in place: one for
each class member would be ideal!)
Color Clowns:
Need a clown body shape, and the bits and pieces to add to it
as you recite a poem.:
Silly clown, silly clown with a great big nose,
Silly clown, silly clown wearing funny clothes.
Silly clown, silly clown with a suit of blue,
Silly clown, silly clown with one big shoe.
Silly clown, silly clown with a spotty tie,
Silly clown, silly clown big glasses on your eye.
Silly clown, silly clown with hair.
(make up the rest along these lines)
"Moving" Language Cards:
Make cards large enough to divide in half and have a silhouette of
someone hopping etc on one side and the appropriate word on the other:
these can be used for a myriad of purposes - writing center, at mat
time to perform, guess the action game (cover the word side) and
whatever else you can think of!
Circus Word cards:
Similar to above - include the animals, performers, ringmaster, tent
and props etc.
MATH:
I made 1 - 10 cards for the bulletin board as follows:
1 - the Big Top; 2 - "dressed" Elephants; 3 - bare
backed riders ; 4 - on the high wire; 5 - tumbling clowns;
6 - seals balancing balls , 7 - snarling lions; 8 - silly
clowns; 9 - prancing horses; 10 - dancing dogs
Cut out matching pairs of clown's hat........mix them up and have
kids match.......use patterned paper to make it a little harder.
Ordering:
I photocopied six different clowns - enlarged/ reduced them in size
each time until I had 10 of each, colored matching clowns same colors
and kids order them by size......keeps them busy for quite a while. (Have
also done this with dinosaurs - they love them.)
GAMES:
Concentration - make up a set of matching cards (ringmaster, lion
through hoop, prancing horse, seal on a drum, big top, acrobats, clown,
elephant, juggler, tightrope walker, wagons and what ever you can think
of) - and away they go.
Lotto - make up 6 boards 3 x 3 and put appropriate circus pictures
or stickers in each square....matching cards.....all you need then
are the players and a caller.
I also have a clown game........ six clowns each with different colored
clothes........cut into 6 pieces (hat, head, upper body, lower body
and big shoes) each with a number from 1 to 6 on it.
Kids roll a die and select the appropriate piece.....first to make up the clown
wins. Can play it that they have to get the pieces in order - head then
shoes don't go together.
P.E.:
Throwing skills can be reinforced by two children holding a hoop
whilst another throws stuffed animals through it..........they can be
a trainer putting the animals through their paces!
Balancing - bean bags to practice walking the high wire......need
to be very sure of where stepping...carry a bean bag on your
head across the beam......as you walk along a rope......round obstacles.......
Throwing at a target.........paint a box any color except where you
have drawn the elephant's face on one side....paint this grey...and
cut out the open mouth. Children could throw peanuts into the
mouth to....feed the elephant.
ART:
Headbands - put out cardboard strips along with stars, sequins, feathers,
glitter..............and let the kids go to town.....when finished
adjust to their head size, fasten......and you have the prancing
horses or the marching band.
Make puppets of circus animals.
Provide streamers etc and decorate the wagons, trolleys and bikes
for the circus parade.
Lots of shapes........glue......paper.......make clown faces.
A body outline.....scraps of material, wool tops, paper etc and kids
can make/dress clowns.
Patterning....balls and drums......kids decorate them with zigzag
patterns.....add a seal and heigh presto!
EATS:
Make a circle on the mat - I draw one with chalk (don't forget to tell
them not to do this at home.....cos we have special kindy chalk that
comes off...mum doesn't!) and they have to stay back behind it.......I
put the fry pan in the middle after spreading paper all over and
we cook the popcorn minus the lid.......jumps everywhere and is a
lot of fun. STRESS.....no one is to touch it in any way or
else it gets picked up and put in the bin.
(Can then do jumping activities to the Popcorn song - from a little
kernel to wiggling around as the pan gets hotter to leaping high in
the air.)
For lunch: make clown faces...........
scoop cottage cheese, flatten onto plate - it's the face, add cherry
tomato noses, cucumber eyes (with a piece of round cut carrot for
pupils), red capsicum (pepper) mouth, bow tie can be a piece of cheese,
shredded (grated) carrot for hair ......or whatever takes your fancy.
Make lemonade.
Thanks Carol for taking the time to share all these wonderful
Circus ideas with us!
Title: CIRCUS THEME
Following cross curricular ideas submitted by Cherilyn
DRESS UP BOX:
Baggy overalls, silly wigs, dad's old shoes, any silly hats, capes,
tutus, red noses (made from egg carton pieces/elastic, painted red),
headbands etc......if game....add face paint and a mirror.
Let them rip into 'em....and when all are dressed up....have a circus
parade. Select the right music and it can be fabulous!
ROOM SET-UP:
I bought rolls of crepe paper in bright colors and we cut these into
strips.....then attached them to a hoop which we hung from a center
point in the ceiling.....taking the ends out to the walls, where
we attached them and let the extra length hang down.....really looked
like a "Big Top" when we finished.......made a large circle using
masking tape on the floor for the ring........and away we went......."COME
TO THE CIRCUS, THE CIRCUS IS IN TOWN!" If you can get hold of the
song.....it is great to have it blaring out as the kids come in the
door on the day you are introducing the theme.......sets the scene.
Title: I'm a Clown!
Dev. Area: Art
Materials: Butcher paper, marker, scissors, crayons, tissue paper,
glue. =
Process: Have each child lay on butcher paper and trace around them. Cut
out child outline and have the child color in a clown face. Them help
the child design the clown outfit by gluing pieces of tissue paper on the "clothing". You
can add a clown hat if you wish. You can also use as class decorations.
Title:Magic Invisible Paint
Submitted by Stephanie
Materials: 4T 60 ml Cup of water, 4T 60 ml baking soda, cotton swab,
sheet of white paper, purple grape juice
What to do:
To make the paint, dissolve the baking soda in the water. Dip the cotton swab
in the cup and paint a picture. Hard to see??? Don't worry! Simply brush over
the picture with purple grape juice. Only the picture mysteriously appears
in blue green colors.
Title: Wax Paper and Tube Kaleidoscope
Submitted by Cynthia
Materials Needed: Toilet tissue tubes, Wax paper, Crayons (peeled),
Potato peeler, Iron, Rubber bands.
Procedure: 1. Cut wax paper into rectangular pieces that when folded, will
amply fit over the end of the toilet tissue roll. 2. Let the child cut
tiny pieces of tissue and place on wax paper. They can tear it if they can't
control scissors. Another variation is to have the child grate peeled crayons
with a potato peeler onto the waxed paper. 3. Fold the waxed paper in
half and press with a warm iron until the paper sticks together. Child can
do this carefully. 4. Fasten the waxed paper to the end of the toilet
tissue roll with a rubber band. 5. Hold up to light and see the various
colors.
Title: Eletelephony
Submitted by Peg
(This is a favorite poem from my childhood. I don't remember the
author)
Once there was an elephant,
Who tried to use the telephant -
No, no! I mean an elephone
Who tried to use the telephone -
(Dear me! I am not certain quite
That even now I've got it right.)
Howe'er it was, he got his trunk
Entangled in the telephunk;
The more he tried to get it free,
The louder buzzed the telephee -
(I fear I'd better drop the song
Of elephop and telephong!)
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