MISC
SUMMER IDEASMISC
SUMMER IDEAS
From
Stormie:
Although I'm posting
ideas below as often as I can, I have reserved my very favorite activities for
my "SUMMER THINGS"
booklet (see the "Stormie's Stuff for Teachers" section
of my website).
Fingerprint Critters: Children press their fingers on inkpads or in paint then onto paper. Once the prints dry, children can use markers, pens, and colored pencils to add their own version of facial features and/or extremities. So that paint can be easier to use for this little activity, here's what I do: Place a paper towel in the bottom of a tray. Slowly pour a very small amount (thin layer) of paint over the paper towel. It gets absorbed by the towel, creating a sort of paint pad.
Flour and Water Painting: Give each child an equal part mix of flour and salt. Allow them to add water till the mixture becomes runny. They can then use brushes to paint with it or squeeze it from bottles or tubes onto dark paper. Add food coloring or colors of dry tempera if you wish.
Cornstarch Fingerpainting: To 3/4 cup of cornstarch, add cold water to make a smooth paste. Stir in boiling water to your desired consistency (you want it thick and almost clear). Spoon it into small bowls and allow the children to stir in their choice of liquid tempera paints, then fingerpaint with it.
Playdoh Sculptures: Here's a neat way to use up old half-dried playdoh: Give each child a piece of playdoh. Provide collage materials for them to stick into it, then take it home (toothpicks, beans, beads, pipe cleaner pieces, straw pieces, buttons, etc). To treat these works of art with extra class, have children place them on a styrofoam tray. Ask them to tell you about their sculptures then write their words at the base of the tray.
Summer Bulletin Board: This idea is one that was done by the greatest boss I ever had (Linda) at the greatest school I've ever worked (Temple Israel Preschool, Columbus, Ohio): One summer camp, Linda placed a super large cut-out of a pair of scissors in the center of the bulletin board. Around the scissors, she placed strands of paper dolls. She printed the name of one of our campers on each doll. At the top, she placed the words: "Our Summer Cut-Ups"
Summer
Themes: From Renee Davis, in North Carolina: Stormie, here are
some of the summer day themes we do in our 8-week program (in session only on
Tuesdays and Thursdays): *Sidewalk Artist Day: Children paint on the sidewalk
using water and large brushes and sidewalk chalk. *Noah's Ark Day: We talk
about animals and make "animals in cages." Children glue pictures from Ranger
Rick and Big Back Yard magazines onto styrofoam meat trays. We then wrap
the tray long-ways with black yarn to make them look like cages. We usually
display them on a wall or bulletin board. We sing "The Animals Go
Marching Two By Two." We read the "Noah's Ark" story and have "Animal Crackers"
for snack. *Let's Take A Vacation Day: We ask the children to bring
pictures of themselves and their families on a vacation to discuss. We also
take a pretend trip. We go to different places and talk about what we would
do there. Disney World and the beach are the usual favorites. One
game we play is: The teacher brings in a suitcase filled with items needed on
a trip such as clothing, toothpaste, toothbrush, umbrella, etc. She places
five items out for the children to look at. She asks them to turn away while
she removes one item. The children then guess which item is missing.
For an art activity, children draw or paint a picture of themselves on vacation
and we write down exactly what they say on their pictures. *Joyful Noise
Day: We use our musical instruments and have a real guitarist friend come
in to play and teach the kids some songs. *Other special days include:
Bug Day, Color Days, Bubble Day, Favorite Book Day, Splish Splash Day, and Games
Galore Day. On the last day, we share a snack picnic on the playground (weather
permitting).
Journals:
Kathi, in Maryland, says to issue each camper a blank book (either
bought or hand made) as a journal to keep as a memory of the fun they had in the
summer of '99. Have stickers and photos available for the children
to include on their pages. Ticket stubs are also a nice touch. This
encourages reading and writing and is a good way to start or end your day.
From Cynthia
Hernandez:
Colored Sand Filled Jars:
Instead of buying sand, you can use salt for this project (so much cheaper!).
Place salt into several bowls, then simply rub large pieces of sidewalk chalk
into them (each bowl of salt being a different color). Then, have the children
pour the colors of their choice into a small baby food jar using a small spoon
and funnel (fine motor). You could even have the children create faces on
their jars (like they do at fairs) -- add googley eyes, feathers for hair, and
a pompon nose.
From
Georgia T., Sarasota, Florida:
Hi Stormie, I do this every year,
and it can be adapted for use with kids of all ages: Each week over the summer,
I plan a "theme" and then decorate our room for that theme. For
example, this week is "Summer Vacation Fun!" So, on Monday, the
children will take a pretend plane trip to Hawaii. The room is decorated
with Hawaiian decor, and the children can practice lacing and make their own lai's.
Tomorrow, the children will bring in a brown bag lunch and a backpack and
we will hike outside and then eat a picnic lunch outdoors. Wednesday, we
will pretend to camp, so I am setting up a tent in the classroom, the children
will listen to stories, and we will make "'Smores" for snack. I
just make up fun summer stuff for the kids each week and make each day as fun
as I can. Here are some of my other weekly summer themes: "Ooey Gooey"
week, "Explorers and Exploration" week (included a treasure hunt and
fossil dig), and "Chef Camp" week (we just enjoy learning about food
that week). Hope these ideas help someone somewhere!
-----------------------------
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