MOTHER'S
DAY MOTHER'S
DAY
From
Stormie:
Although
I'm posting ideas below as often as I can, my very favorite activities for "Mother's
Day" have been reserved for my "SUMMER THINGS"
booklet (see the "Stormie's Stuff for Teachers" section
of my website).
Napkin Rings: Cut rings from cardboard tubes (paper towel tubes, tubes from foil or plastic wraps). Have children decorate a "special" ring for their own mother's napkin if you plan to hold a Mother's Day Brunch or Tea.
Mother's Day Tea Tablecloth: Let
children use markers to draw pictures of their moms on a white tablecloth or strip
of butcher paper. Print statements from the children on it too by asking
the children questions about their mothers. For example, one statement might
read, "Susy says her mommy loves to eat chocolate kisses." Moms will enjoy
reading about themselves while sitting at the table. Encourage the children
to draw decorative "happy" things as well (sun, flowers, rainbows, etc) to make
the tablecloth pretty and festive. Other questions you might ask the children
are: If you could fix a special meal for your mommy, what would it be? What
do you like best about your mommy?
Variation: Although I love doing
the tablecloth above, I've also done it this way: Ask the children questions about
"Mom" and write their answers on paper. Then, while the moms and children
are eating during the brunch, read the questions and all the answers aloud so
all the moms can enjoy the cute things the children have said.
Mom's Placemat: Let children draw pictures of their "moms." Laminate them and use them as placemats at your special brunch or tea.
Finger Food Refreshments: (Keep
in mind that the children will be eating too, so prepare things they will also
like):
With very clean hands, have
the children use cookie cutters to cut out flower shapes from bread slices.
Create "flower" sandwiches with fillings: peanut butter and jelly, cheese spreads,
tuna and/or chicken salad, etc. Other options: Have children poke pretzel
sticks into cheese chunks; make punch; make brownies, mini muffins, and/or cookies;
buy donut holes;
Atmosphere: Provide soft soothing background music.
I love New Age music for this (like Enya). Light candles for the
center of the food table. Place children's gifts and cards for their moms
on the table near their own special chair. Let children help gather natural
branches and or wild flowers from outdoors to lay in the center of the tables.
Among the branches, let children set things like irons, kettles, and so on, and/or
place flowers or potpourri in dishes, skillets, and pans. Or, use artificial
flowers and greenery. Here's another idea for room decor that came from
a former boss of mine (Karen W): Hang a clothesline
of clothes across the room or on a wall.
At
the Last Minute After Moms Have Arrived: Have children meet their moms and
present them with their own child-made flower bouquet. Then, together, mother
and child find their place settings.
From
Cynthia Hernandez:
Craft
Stick Frames: Help the children glue the ends of four craft sticks together
forming a picture frame. (You could leave the ends of the sticks sticking
out on the edges gluing them together a little further inside rather than on the
tip of the sticks. You could use 2 sticks for each side for a "double" frame.
Have children then glue on puzzle pieces or other materials (tiny foam letters
to spell the children's names, tiny foam shapes, pretend gems, collage materials),
or have children paint their frames.
From
Sara, in Minnesota:
Videotape:
Stormie, my co-teacher and I videotape the children in our class as they answer
our questions about their mothers (what does your mommy do, why do you love her,
what's your favorite thing to do with Mommy, etc). Not only does the tape
provide lots of humor, moms are often moved to tears while watching.
From
Steff Hartman, Allentown, Pennsylvania:
Framed
Photos: First, save those "boutique"
tissue boxes! Then, if you take them apart where they are glued and cut
off the flaps, the oval opening where the tissues once were dispensed makes a
perfect picture frame! You can save the long flap on one side so the frame
will stand up, like a tent. (Hopefully, you can see what I mean when you
take the box apart). You can also glue it shut and add magnetic tape once
the picture is inside, creating a refrigerator magnet framed photo. We took
pictures of the kids, removed any plastic at the oval opening, and taped the pictures
(4x6") inside the oval. We made a stand-up frame with a cute verse
on the back and added pretty flowery stickers to the front...... makes a nice
little inexpensive keepsake.
Some
Handprint Poems from the collection of Sheryl Bauer:
These could be used to accompany "handprint" art projects for Mother's Day
or for the "end of the year/graduation":
| My Handprints
Here my handprints are done for everyone to view I had so much fun doing this for you So look upon this handprint plaque hanging on your wall And memories will come back of me when I was small. This
Little Hand | Here
Is My Hand Here is my hand so tiny and small, For you to hang upon the wall, For you to watch as the years go by, How we do grow, my hands and I. These
Handprints |
FATHERS
ARE SPECIAL TOO
First time visitor:
I have placed all "father related" activities in the Father's Day section of my
website. Don't worry, you won't miss them. They're coming up in my
"June, July, August" section (after these May pages). I place this theme
here though because some schools aren't in session during June, so they may want
to do something special for "dads" during the month of May before school is out.
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Reminder from Stormie:
If you would like to begin collecting ALL my current classroom ideas (each on
a 4 x 6" index card), as well as new ones that I create, you can do so by
ordering my "Activity Cards." Click here
to check them out.
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