STYROFOAM FLOWERS
My mind is not fading. LOL. Been years since I did this one. I just cut
some flowers out of meat trays. You boil them hard for about 5 minutes
and they curl just enough to be pretty. A easy one for the kids.
Cut out a circle and snip around the edges almost to the middle.
Boil and they curl some. bend every other peddle up. Cute, Use pink,
white, blue, yellow meat trays. Attach a pipe cleaner) or straw)
to the center and put a pom pom in the middle. make a bunch
for May day. Cut daisies too and tulips. they curve really nice.
Stick in a pot and put a ribbon around it or just pit in a paper
cone with a handle. Or make a few and glue on a piece of tag board
and frame it and make a picture. make a pot (part of a Styrofoam
cup cut to lay on the picture but with a little dimension. You can
paint them if you want but no need to if you get colored meat trays.
if you paint you can get a colored varnish stain. Go to the
meat section of your nearby store and ask for a donation or sometimes
they sell them to you cheap.
SPRING SCIENCE
Submitted by Marilyn
I purchased three, white carnations at the florist. They should
be unopened flowers that have not soaked in any water yet. This
works the best if the carnations are on the dry side and thirsty. Then
I had three see-thru water bottles and red, blue and green food coloring. At
circle the children squeezed the colors into the bottles to make a
bottle of red, one of blue and one of green. I showed them the
carnations and we discussed how we grow flowers, how to keep them healthy,
why they were not opened , etc. Then we cut the stems down low
and at a angle. We predicted what would happen if the carnations
were in the solutions. I told them to keep checking in on them
to see if any thing changes. They LOVED this. After about
30 minutes, the white carnation in the green solution, began to change
into a pale green carnation. (then the red and then the blue). The
children were very interested and excited. We took the stems
out of the bottles and check the bottom of the stem. IT CLICKED!!
They realized that stems are like straws and that flowers get liquid
from them. It was wonderful. This afternoon, they all had
their apple juice, using straws to be like the flowers!!!!!!!! This
is so simple, yet so wonderful for the children to see!
Growing and Gardening.
Submitted by Shelley
Here are just a couple of ideas that we are working on this week.
Seed sprouting chart
I bought in a variety of seeds and we are sprouting them in small
plastic bags of potting soil. We looked at the seeds and we
are charting their growth. The children predicted which would
sprout first. I even threw in popcorn and split pea to add
excitement. We are keeping a day by day chart. As the seeds
begin to grow we will transplant them, measure them, observe, examine
and document what we discover.
Compare/contrast plants - choose two different plants and draw a diagram to
illustrate how they are alike and different. This was really thought
provoking for the children. We drew a Venn (spelling?) diagram and have
it hanging on the wall. The children really took the time to notice the
unique features of each plant.
Art/creativity
Let the children paint still life portraits of plants and flowers. Tell
them how to add white paint to "tint" a color and how to add black paint to
make a "shade" of a color. Let them experiment with the primary colors. This
was really exciting.
Bring in old small flower pots, Styrofoam, silk flowers and let the children
create silk flower arrangements. A big hit!!! Let them take home
their creations after they use them in the dramatic play area.
Graphing/Math
Make a very large chart and at the top draw pictures of various flowers; be
sure to have pictures on hand of the real thing. Let the children choose
which is their favorite and draw a picture of the flower under the one they
like. After the class has completed the chart you can count each columns
to figure out the most popular flower.
Discrimination
Collect several paint chip cards from your local hardware store cut them apart
let the children put them together from lightest to darkest. (use this
with the art/creativity project above!)
Math
Cut out various pictures of fruits, flowers, and vegetables. Glue to cardboard
and laminate if possible. Let the children use these for sorting.
Group project
Bring in several gardening magazines. Let the children each cut out 8
- 10 pictures of various fruits, vegetables, and flowers. On a large
sheet of paper divide it into three parts (vegetable, fruits, flowers) and
glue their pictures in the correct spot.
Sensory table
Submitted by Nancy
When visiting my daughter who teaches Headstart in Provo, Utah, I
visited the headstart class room. I noticed that in her sensory table
she had potting pots, spoons little digger things, and potting soil
and plastic and fake small flowers. I thought it would be fun. Another
new one for me. She said they spend a lot of time there. This sounded
fun for summer or May. You could even put it outside in the summer
or add the pots and flowers to your sand box.
SPRING
Submitted by Janis
March into spring (march in a line or circle)
One step at a time.
March into spring
With words that rhyme.
Clap your hands together (clap hands over head)
Up high in the air.
Look out for raindrops (look up at the sky)
That land in your hair!
Jump over puddles. (jump)
Skip over ground. (skip)
Walk back in your house. (walk back to places and sit)
And quietly sit down.
(by Ann Fisher)
Spring Is Coming (sung to "Are You Sleeping?")
Spring is coming - spring is coming
How do I know?
How do I know?
I see the flowers growing.
I see the flowers growing.
That's how I know - that's how I know.
Verse 2: I hear the robins singing.
Verse 3: The grass is turning green.
Verse 4: I see the dandelions.
Substitute: Spring is here.
This is a seasonal story that uses repetition. You can make this
into a
Big Book like Brown Bear, Brown Bear.
Signs of Spring
Mama bird, mama bird, What do you see?
I see a juicy worm waiting for me.
Fuzzy rabbit, fuzzy rabbit, What do you see?
I see a field of clover waiting for me.
Tadpole, tadpole, What do you see?
I see a tiny bug waiting for me.
Baby chick, baby chick, What do you see?
I see a grain of corn waiting for me.
Firefly, firefly, What do you see?
I see a starry night waiting for me.
Bullfrog, bullfrog, What do you see?
I see a snapping turtle waiting for me.
Young colt, young colt, What do you see?
I see a stack of hay waiting for me.
Little mouse, little mouse, What do you see?
I see a piece of cheese waiting for me.
Spotted calf, spotted calf, What do you see?
I see my mama waiting for me.
This was taken from the magazine Holidays & Seasonal Celebrations
by Teaching and Learning Co.
Plant Prints
Submitted by Theresa
Procedure: Gather several healthy green leaves that have prominent
veins and varied shapes. Point out the parts of a leaf, especially
the veins. Give children plasticine (nondrying clay), potter's
clay (drying), or modeling dough. Roll out dough flat with
a rolling pin. Lay a leaf on the flattened surface, and roll
over the leaf surface. Remove the leaf. for a permanent
print, allow the clay to dry.
Mini-Terrariums
Cut a plastic liter size soft drink bottle in half. Remove the
base from the bottom the base from the bottom portion of the bottle.
Let the children fill the base with gravel, aquarium charcoal and soil.
Place a small plant in the soil and then water. Invert the remaining
cut bottom half of the bottle over the plant to create the terrarium.
Little Sprouts
Provide baby food jars, paper towel inside the baby food jar; nestle
the lima bean between the folds of the paper towel.
Place top on the jar. Children will be able to observe the bean sprouting.
When sprouted, have children plant it in cup or garden.
Popcorn Tree
Don't forget about making a popcorn tree. They look like a tree with
blossoms. Take and trace a child's forearm and hand on a sheet of
blue construction paper with a dark brown crayon. Let them color
it brown. Take popped popcorn and put in a ziploc bag with a little
pink powdered tempera paint. Shake good . Shake off excess as
best as you can. You can do all blossom colors, purple is pretty
too. Let them glue the popcorn on their trees.
Five Spring Flowers
Submitted by Stella
Five Spring Flowers
The first one said, "We need rain to grow!"
The second one said, "Oh my, we need water!"
The third one said, "Yes, it is getting hotter!"
The fourth one said, "I see clouds in the sky."
The fifth one said, "I wonder why?"
Then BOOM went the thunder
And ZAP went the lightning!
That springtime storm was really frightening!
But the flowers weren't worried -- no, no, no, no!
The rain helped them to grow, grow, GROW!
WELCOME SPRING SONG
Submitted by Cherilyn
Welcome, Spring!
(Sung to: "Christmas is Coming")
Up come the flowers, (Raise
hands)
Out comes the sun. (Form
arms in circle over head)
Hear the bees buzzing. (Cup one hand
behind ear)
Springtime has begun! (Fold hands
together)
Up in the treetops (Raise
arms above head like tree branches)
The birds are all here (Open
and close hands like birds chirping)
Now we know it's springtime (All join hands)
Let's give a big cheer (All
stand and raise arms in cheer)
EGG WITH CHICK
Submitted by Nancy
this is made with the children's hands and it is so cute. Have them
cut out a nice size egg on yellow construction paper. About 7 inches
tall. I trace mine on with a black marker so it is easy to follow
the line. Trace their hands on yellow also. You might need to help
them cut their hands. tricky. Fasten the cutout hands to the side
of the egg with brads - these make the chickens wings. Add a beak
and eyes. Makes a cute chick.
SPRINGTIME BIRD FEEDERS
Submitted by Gail
Take bread slices and use a cookie cutter to cut out the bread.
(I like heart shapes) Put a hole through the top and let them dry
out overnight. Thread with ribbon or yarn (to be used later for nest
building). Then we spread bacon fat (or use peanut butter) on one
side and shake them in birdseed. Hang them on the trees.
"Bird nests"
Give each child peanut butter to spread all around the inside of a small paper
bowl. Then invite them to crumple Shredded Wheat biscuits and press into the
bowl. Give each child some jelly beans to represent eggs in the nest.
LION & LAMB
Submitted by Margie
Lion and Lamb Puppet
Trace the child's hand one time onto a sheet of yellow . Cut it out
with a sheet of black under it so you have 2 hand shapes, 1
yellow, 1 black. Have the child glue cotton on the black hand
with finger tips down to represent the lamb. The thumb will
be the head. Take a marker and have the child soak a dot for
the lamb's eye. Then have the child draw a circle face in the
palm of the yellow hand print with finger tips down. Have him
then tear strips of brown to glue around the face to be the mane.
The thumb becomes the lion's tail. After all is dry, assemble
them back to back with popsicle stick between them. It ends
up to be a reversible puppet that they can turn one way or the other---
follow a story or follow sound commands or songs (fast/slow, loud/soft,
quiet/ loud). Good Luck!
BIRD BEDDING
Submitted by Cara
Spring is drawing near and here is a neat idea to make bird bedding
. Your feathered friends will thank you! The Earth will
thank you too!
Materials needed: dryer lint, onion bag netting
Place cotton lint inside netting about the size of a softball. Tie a knot in
the bag and hang from your favorite tree. Watch the birds discover it. Don't
be surprised when some of the lint is whisked away to nearby tree nests.
Title: SEED UNIT
Following cross-curricular ideas submitted by Peg
Math:
Sort different types of seeds.
Estimate how many seeds in jar. Make note of everyone's estimate
and then graph.
Science: Plant a pinto, pumpkin, corn, or sunflower seed and graph its
growth.
Fine Motor and Language: Use your water table or small tub to make mud.
Finger-paint the letter "S".
Snack:
Pop popcorn.
Roast pumpkinseeds.
Have refried beans.
Crack open and eat sunflower seeds.
Chocolate Garden
Instant chocolate pudding - "Mud"
Broken and crunched Oreo cookies - "Dirt"
M&Ms or Skittles - "Seeds"
Prepare instant pudding according to package directions and put in bottom of
bowl.
Top with "dirt" and then plant your "seed".
Eat!
Title: The Days Of Spring...
(The Farmer In The Dell)
The days of spring are here.
Warm, sunny days are near.
Birds in trees, flowers and bees,
The days of spring are here.
Title: Flower Garden...
(The Farmer In The Dell)
The farmer plants the seeds
The Farmer plants the seeds
Hi, Ho and Cheery O
The farmer plants the seeds.
(Use the following verses.)
The sun begins to shine...
The rain begins to fall...
The plants begin to grow...
The flowers smile at us...
Title Title: Little Bird
One little bird with feathers of blue;
Flew beside the green one and then there were two.
Two little birds singing in the tree;
The red bird came to join them and then there were three.
Three little birds, wishing there were more;
Along came the purple bird and then there were four.
Four little birds, happy to be alive;
Found a little yellow one, and then there were five.
Five little birds as happy as can be.
Singing beautiful songs - just for you and me!
Title: Polly - Wog
There once was a polly named Wog
Who wanted to change to a frog.
So he dropped off his tail
Grew legs without fail
And croaked all day on a log.
SPRINGTIME SONGS
The following songs submitted by Peg
My Kite
Tune: The Farmer in the Dell
My kite is up so high, my kite is up so high - (Pretend to hold kite
with arms up high)
Oh my - just watch it fly - (shade eyes and point up)
My kite is up so high - (Pretend to hold kite with arms up high)
My kite is falling down, my kite is falling down - (hands together floating down)
Oh no - it's down so low - (fall to knees as hands float to floor)
My kite is falling down. -
The wind has caught my kite, the wind has caught my kite-(Quickly stand and mimic
kite flying)
What fun - I'm on the run - (run in place)
The wind has caught my kite.
SPRINGTIME RECIPE
Submitted by Kris
Ingredients:
1 lettuce leaf per child
1/2 English muffin per child
1 container soft cream cheese
red concentrated icing coloring (why not food coloring?)
6 raisins per child
Utensils: spoon, 1 small plate per child, 1 plastic knife per child
Teacher prep:
Stir icing color into cream cheese. Wash lettuce and tear one
piece for each child.
Literature link: The Grouchy Ladybug
Directions:
1. Wash hands
2. Put lettuce leaf on plate
3. Put english muffin half on lettuce leaf
4. Spread colored cream cheese on muffin
5. Put raisins on cream cheese
6. Eat and enjoy!
Strawberry Surprise
ingredients:
2 Tbs. strawberry yogurt per child (one 8 oz container per 4 children)
2 whole strawberries per child
1 tsp. granola per child
Utensils:
1 plastic knife per child, napkins, one 9 oz clear, plastic cup per child
teaspoon, 1 spoon per child
Teacher prep:
wash and hull strawberries.
Literature link: The Little Mouse, The Red Ripe strawberry, and the Big Hungry
Bear
Directions:
1. Wash hands
2. slice strawberries
3. put 1 Tbs. yogurt in clear cup
4. put sliced strawberries in cup
5. put 1 Tbs. yogurt in cup
6. sprinkle granola on top
LION & LAMB
Submitted by Kathy
Discussion:
Talk about the meaning of the saying "March comes in like a lion and
goes out like a lamb" Explain that the weather at the beginning
of March is often fierce like a lion. It is very windy and cold. At
the end of the month, the weather is calmer, warmer, and the gentle
characteristics of a lamb
Graph the weather for the month
Craft
Materials: popsicle sticks, cotton, white construction paper, brown construction
paper, crayons and glue, small white paper plates
Process:
Make lamb faces on one paper plate put cotton around plate and draw in lamb face
attach ears at the top
Make lion faces on other paper plate
cut brown circles the size of paper plate cut center from middle and fringe around
outside of circle glue to plate and draw lion facial features on plate where
the center circle will be attach lion ears (half circles). Sandwich popsicle
stick between the two faces and glue together
March Roars In Like A Lion
March roars in like a lion
With it's north winds
Time for kite flying
And scarves covering chins
By the end of the month
March is a peaceful lamb
As the sun shines brightly
And starts to warm the land
March Class Book
Have each child think of two different animals that would be appropriate
for "March comes in like a ______________ and goes out like a _________________(ex.
elephant, bunny)
Have the children illustrate their pages, laminate and bind pages together
to form a class book
Children's Literature selections:
"The Wind Blew" by Pat Hutchins
"Curious George Flies A Kite" by Margaret and H.A. Rey
This selection comes from Lollipops issue 74 with art project from daughter's
kindergarten teacher five years ago
SPRING & TRANSPORTATION
Submitted by Marilyn
Roll out three long pieces of white paper. Attach it to the
wall. Have the children paint two long strips in
different shades of blue. Next, the other strip in various
shades of brown. Put them up horizontally on your bulletin
board. Then throughout your unit on transportation, as the
children make different types of vehicles, or cut out pictures from
magazines, have them add it to the appropriate place. For example,
planes, helicopters, hot air balloons would be on the top, blue strip
for the sky....cars, trucks, horses, etc., would be on the brown
paper strip for land, and lastly, boats, canoes, waterskiing would
be on the bottom paper strip for water.
This is a bulletin board created totally by the children and it is a wonderful
sorting activity. I do the same thing in the spring, only the children
paint large strips of shades of blue for the sky, shades of brown for the earth,
and lastly, shades of green for the grass. We then make birds, caterpillars,
bugs, worms, butterflies, snails frogs etc., and the children place the "critters" in
the appropriate spot. Some children place their bugs in the sky portion
and tell me that it is a "hopping" bug that can jump way up high. So,
it gets placed in the sky portion. Others have put the birds in the grass
finding material for a nest. Whatever their reasoning it is fine. We
place their work wherever they decide it belongs, because, after all, IT IS
THEIR WORK!!!!!!
SPRING UNIT
Following ideas submitted Margie by of the KOS
"RAIN AND RAINBOWS"
ART: Paper towel art: Fold paper towel in half
2 times. Dip each corner into a different color of water. Open
for a beautiful design.
DRAMATIC: Add dress up clothing for rainy weather..ie: hats, gloves,
scarves, jackets, raincoats, etc.
MANIPULATIVE: Popsicle stick puzzles.....lay popsicle sticks
down (about 8 of them) beside each other. Draw a rainbow or raindrops
on the
sticks. Separate sticks and have the children put them together in the
correct way to see the picture.!!! FUN.
SCIENCE: Use eyedroppers to drip different colors of water on different
types of paper. ...i.e.: paper towel, foil, plastic wrap, cotton balls,
etc. Talk about what happens when the water is dropped on
each type of paper.
Outdoor fun: ART: With back to the sun...spray water hose
and watch rainbow of colors in water of spray.
ART: Rain paint: White construction paper,
colored tempura paint...sprinkle on paper and let sit in the rain.
ART: Masking tape several colored pencils together and draw rainbows?!?!
SCIENCE: Fill plastic container w/water. Mark spot where water
rests. Explain "EVAPORATION" to children. Graph each day of how
much water
from the jar has evaporated.
SONGS: Rain Rain Go Away; Intsy Weensy Spider
SCIENCE: Put a stalk of celery in colored water and watch the celery
drink the colored water.
ART: Put the primary colors......RED BLUE YELLOW at the easel
for the week and let the children paint, mix and discover......paint with varied
items.
ART: Water paint outdoors......for older children: Add food coloring
to water.
ART: Paper mache raindrops to hang in class or home.......cut raindrop
shapes out of empty (CLEAN....HA HA) milk jugs.....brush a bit of glue/water
mixture over blue tissue paper on the plastic raindrop shapes. Hole punch
the tops when done and hang in room.. Make various shapes
/ sizes raindrops.
FOOTPRINT BIRDS
Submitted by Jen
For an art project with toddlers or young preschoolers you can use
their footprint for the bird body with their toes being the tail
feathers. You can draw or glue on a beak and glue on a wing. Parents
and children alike love this keepsake project.
Title: Spring Poem
Submitted by Peg
Some days seem like winter
Some are nice and warm
Rainy and windy days
Maybe it will storm
Warm or cold or wet or dry
What will the weather be?
I think Spring is trying to play
Peek-a-boo with me!
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