Preschool Indoor Beach Party for the Middle of Winter

During the long winter months, try planning an indoor beach day full of fun activities, games, songs, crafts and more all surrounding the beach theme. This beach day would work well within a preschool lesson plan on opposites, an ocean theme, as well as traveling and the world.

Staging an Indoor Beach Day In the Preschool Classroom

It is important for any preschool party to set the stage. For this theme fill the room with beach towels, beach umbrellas, sand buckets and shovels, beach chairs, sunglasses, seashells, pictures of the beach, palm trees painted onto paper, empty suntan lotion bottles, water bottles. Play music in the background that has waves or perhaps a steel band drum. Have bright color balloons and steamers up, such as yellow and orange to bring in the sunshine effect. If possible put the heat up in the preschool classroom to not only help with setting the scene, but to make a more comfortable temperature for beach attire. In a parent's newsletter, inform the parents to dress their children in beach clothes for the day.  

Sensory Table with a Beach Theme

The sensory table is a great place to feature the beach and if possible, have both sand and water sensory activities.

Water: place blue food coloring into the water set up, seashells, plastic fish, glass beads, plastic boats, water wheel, sieves

                                                     

Sand: seashells, buckets, shovels, container with lids, plastic crabs, small rocks, play coins

  

Beach Preschool Crafts

Beach Scene: A beach scene can be created by the preschoolers with broken shells, sand and cut out pictures or store bought foam pieces of such things as the sun, a shovel and bucket, sun umbrella and so on. Make sure to have a tray to catch all the sand that does not attract to the glue.

Sand in a bottle: Provide each child with a small empty bottle and different color sand, which can easily be made with sand and powder paint. Allow the children to make layers of sand inside and perhaps also some small shells to place in between the layers.

Ocean: Any ocean crafts will work well for a indoor beach theme. One suggestion is to create a fish template out of a paper plate, then provide shiny cellophane paper, tissue and/or wrapping paper cut into small pieces for gluing onto the fish to create colorful scales.



                                                            

Preschool Games for a Beach Theme

These games are versions from classic preschool games:

•Lifeguard Where is Your Whistle?: a version of Doggy Doggy Where is Your Bone.

•Beach Sharades: provide children with ocean animals and/or activities that would occur at the beach.

•Bucket, Bucket, Shovel: this is a version of duck, duck, goose

•Whose under the Beach Blanket?

•Find the Seashell: creating a scavenger hunt to find the seashell or seashells.

Preschool Songs and Poem for Indoor Beach Party

To the tune of Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star

I love the beach, oh yes I do

I love the beach, how about you

Jumping in the water with sand in my toes

Lying on my towel, the sun on my nose

I love the beach, oh yes I do

I love the beach, how about you?

Another song that can be done with actions is to get five children to lie in the middle of the circle on a big beach towel:

Five on the towel, and the little one said,

Roll over, roll over

So they all rolled over, and one fell out...

For a fun ocean poem to tell on the Indoor Beach Party which works well on a felt board and is great for learning math concepts:

Five little sea creatures on the ocean floor.

The lobster walked away, and now there are four.

Four little sea creatures living in the sea.

The octopus crept away and now there are three.

Three little sea creatures wondering what to do.

Good-bye said the starfish and now there are two.

Two little sea creatures not having much fun.

Off swam the seahorse, now there is one.

One little hermit crab, sad and all alone.

Back came the seahorse, back came the starfish,

back came the octopus, back came the lobster.

Then they all went home.

Preschool Snacks 

Some great preschool snack ideas for a beach theme involve thinking about what we would all eat on a hot, sunny day. Some ideas are:

• fruit popsicles
• ice cream sandwiches
• smoothies
• watermelon
• ice cream cones with frozen yogurt
• lemonade
• popcorn
• fish crackers

An indoor beach party provides a fun day for preschoolers and will liven and warm up a winter month that depending on the location, can often hold some dreary and cold weather.

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Cloud Preschool Lesson Plan

Clouds are in our skies throughout the seasons and in different geographical locations. These puffy visions in the sky contain ever changing looks and their connections to weather make them a fun learning choice for a preschool lesson plan. Clouds can be discussed in a preschool curriculum for a long stretch of time or be apart of other themes such as weather and seasons. The following article suggests some cloud facts, songs, crafts, and preschool book suggestions for a cloud theme.

Introduce a Cloud Theme at Circle Time

To begin a theme about clouds; introduce the topic at circle time. You could ask preschool children some fun questions like:


•"Do you think we could walk on clouds?"
•"How do you think they get there?"
•"Are there different kinds of clouds?"
•"What colors have you seen when looking at clouds?"

The answers that come out of the children will be entertaining and knowledgeable. The answers can be the starting point for the learning process and will work well for a cloud display in the classroom for all to view. The following blogger shows how her class turned the entire room into a cloud display:

From Our Kindergarten Journey Blog

Cloud Facts for Children


•Clouds are made of many tiny droplets of water or ice crystals.
•There are three different kinds of clouds (the names are tricky, but pictures of the different clouds would help show the children): Stratus, Cirrus and Cumulus.
•Clouds bring us shade and help protect the earth from getting cold.
•Clouds are white because they reflect the light of the sun.
•They move with the wind




Story for a Cloud Preschool Theme
   
 Little Cloud by Eric Carle, which also lends itself very well to a felt story.

                                


Cloud Preschool Crafts

1) Decorating Cloud Shape

One idea is to cut out basic shapes of clouds, and allow the children to glue cotton balls onto the cloud. Illustrate to the children how to pull the cotton ball apart to make different textures. These clouds can then be glued onto blue construction paper. This art project can be expanded by having items on the ground, such as trees and houses and the sun in the sky. Or, you could find a question to ask the children about clouds and write the children's answers onto their cloud picture such as, "I think clouds feel like....?"

                                             I think clouds feel like....

2) Children Creating Their Own Cloud

Another idea is to allow children to create their own cloud shapes. This activity works very well with older preschool children who have mastered their fine motor skills with scissors and drawing. Before the craft activity, the children could go outside to look at how clouds in the sky can look like different things with a little imagination. Ask the children, "what do the clouds look like?" Then the children can draw onto a white paper what they saw. Finally, they can cut out their shapes and glue onto paper.

3) Painting with Black and White

Another craft idea for a cloud preschool lesson plan is to make rainy clouds. The children can paint grey clouds and then use their fingerprints for rain, or fingerpaint creations can be cut into clouds.

From teachpreschool.Org

4. Cloud Mobiles

Using old CDs, children can decorate their shape to create a cloud mobile

From crafts.preschoolrock.com

Preschool Song/Poem about Clouds



This simple poem about clouds can be used with felts or foam shapes of clouds or turned into a song with a simple melody:


I am a cloud in the sky,
Floating past you, way up high.
I am a cloud, in the sky
Watch me change before your eyes.


This following song is to the tune of London Bridge and lyrics can be replaced very easily with this tune:


Clouds are drifting in the sky, in the sky, in the sky
Clouds are drifting in the sky, oh how quickly.
Clouds are turning orange and pink, orange and pink, orange and pink
Clouds are turning orange and pink, what a sunset!
Clouds are low down in the sky, in the sky, in the sky
Cloud are low down in the sky, we have some fog.
Clouds are turning dark and grey, dark and grey, dark and grey
Clouds are turning dark and grey, here comes a storm.



Further Reading Suggestions

Rain Felt Board Ideas

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Cars Preschool Theme

  

With the popularity of Disney's Cars the Movie and Lightening McQueen, cars is a good theme for a preschool curriculum. The topic can be included within a transportation preschool lesson plan or as part of a safety unit. The following article provides ideas for car crafts, songs and activities appropriate for any early childhood environment.

  

Car Preschool Crafts

There are many crafts that can follow a car theme. The following suggestions are appropriate for toddlers as well.


1.Car Painting: allow young children to paint with cars by placing some spoonfuls of tempera paint onto large pieces of paper and provide small cars and trucks to drive. It is a good idea to choose cars or trucks that have treads on the wheel for they will make more visible tire tracks. Alternatively, the cars can be sitting in a tray of paint.


2.License Plate Rubbings: find old license plates for cars. Each child can create a crayon rubbing of the plate by placing a tracing paper over top and then using the side edge of crayons to create the image.


3.Collective Mural: on a bulletin board, the preschool teacher will place a large picture of a road. The children can cut out car pictures from magazines and then paste them onto the road to help make a classroom mural. This class project also works well for a transportation theme.


4.Shapes: provide children with different shapes, such as rectangles, squares, circles and small triangles and allow them to create cars out of the shapes. This art activity works well with a class demonstration and visual cue for the children to follow.



Car Preschool Songs


Overall, transportation songs can be included into a car preschool lesson plan. The following song is more specific to a car theme.


Twinkle twinkle little star
My daddy drives a motor car
Push a button, and pull the choke
Off he goes with a puff of smoke
Twinkle twinkle little star
My daddy drives a motor car.



Another important lesson to include into a car theme for a preschool class is to discuss safety, and the lights which are used to direct traffic. This following song will correlate well with a game of Go, Go, Stop.


To the tune of "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star" –

Twinkle, twinkle traffic light
On the corner shining bright
Red means stop, and green means go
Yellow means go very slow
Twinkle twinkle traffic light
On the corner shining bright



Children Activities for a Car Theme


                    

Car Matching: this matching game can be made out of felt material for the flannel board or other material. The matching activity promotes color recognition. On a flannel board, the teacher will place different color garages. Alternatively, the garages could hold numbers or shapes. Each child in the circle will be provided a matching car with the same color and/or design. The children will be asked to bring their car to the board to place their felt piece into the appropriate garage.


Cars on Trays: instead of cars in the sandbox, which is thoroughly enjoyed by young children, try placing cornmeal on a tray with a few cars. This activity can be a singular station in the classroom.

Spelling Car: on clean juice lids, stick letters on one side and then turn upside down onto a table. For this activity, a child will use a magnet wand to lift the lids to try and make the word car. The process helps with letter skills.


Threading a Car: provide children with a car shape made out of a thick piece of paper with holes punched out around the edge of the shape. The shape will hold a string with a knot at the end through one hole, to allow a child to thread the string through the other holes. This activity is wonderful for fine motor development in young children.

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Turtle Preschool Theme

Turtles are fun animals to feature for a theme day in a preschool curriculum and could be included into a variety of preschool lesson plans, such as a pet theme, or a reptile lesson plan. The following article provides some facts, preschool songs, crafts and books for a turtle theme day within an early childhood setting.

Introducing Turtles with Children


Begin a theme on turtles at circle time by asking the children what they know about turtles. Record their answers and use them as a starting base for the learning process. Some facts to share with a preschool classroom about turtles:


 •one of the oldest living animals on earth, they existed over 200 million years ago
•some turtles can live for a very long time, to 100 years old and older
•many different sizes and live everywhere on earth except the Antarctica where it is too cold
•live in many different settings from land and water, to forests and grasslands
•many land turtles are called tortoises.
•they are reptiles
•their shell protects them from predators
•there are over 250 species
•some are endangered and need protecting
•some turtles can be kept as pets, and they need to be taken care of properly
•they can be carnivores, herbivores, and omnivores depending on what kind of turtle



Preschool Song and Poem about Turtles

This action song has fun hand motions to go along with the lyrics and is very popular within many early childhood environments, including swimming lessons. If you do not know the tune, there are many YouTube videos available:



I have a little turtle, his name is Tiny Tim
I put him in the bathtub to see if he could swim.
He drank up all the water, he ate up all the soap
And now my little turtle has a bubble in his throat.

Works well with using sign language as well. Here are the signs for turtle and bubble

This finger play is a popular preschool poem about turtles:



There was a little turtle (make a small circle with your hands)
He lived in a box, (make a box with both hands)
He swam in a puddle, (wiggle hands)
He climbed on the rocks. (climb fingers of one hand up over the other)
He snapped at a mosquito, (clap hands)
He snapped at a flea, (clap hands)
He snapped at a minnow, (clap hands)
He snapped at me. (point to yourself)
He caught the mosquito, (mimic catching a bug)
He caught the flea (same action)
He caught the minnow, (same action)
But he didn't catch me! (point to yourself)



Turtle Preschool Craft








A developmentally appropriate craft for preschool is to use a paper plate for the turtle's body. The preschoolers can then tear up paper to cover the shell. This process is great for fine motor development. Prepare a head, tail and feet for the children to finish their turtle.



A single egg carton can be used for the turtle's body. In addition to make a flat turtle, the young children can put together the turtle with as an old CD covered in felt or craft foam cut in a circle for the main body.









Felt Board Poem about Turtles

                                              




The following poem works well as felt pieces on a flannel board:

One turtle with nothing to do
Called for his friend, then there were two.
Two turtles strolling by a tree
Saw their buddy, now there are three.
Three turtles, a log as their floor
Made room for a pal, now there are four.
Four turtles warming in the sun
Saw a fifth friend, and said, "what fun!"




Children's Books about Turtles


Many preschool children are familiar with turtles based on the many books, and television shows about Franklin and his friends. Here are a few more suggested books:


•One Tiny Turtle by Nicola Davies (Candlewick, 2005)
•Turtle in the Sea by Jim Arnosky (GP Putnam and Sons, 2002)
•Turtle Splash by Cathryn Falwell (Greenwillow, 2002)
Of course, don't forget about the classic tale of Tortoise and the Hare.



Other Preschool Areas for a Turtle Theme


There are still some more ways to add turtles into a theme day within a preschool curriculum, such as placing plastic turtles into a sensory table with sand and barks of wood, taking a field trip to a local pet store that have turtles and playing a game of Turtle Turtle Hare, a rendition of the classic Duck, Duck Goose. Children could wear green or brown on this theme day and be invited to bring any turtles they have at their home.

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Indoor Preschool Games

 

In early childhood settings, it is important to have a curriculum that includes physical activities that will foster gross motor development. But, sometimes, there are those days when the weather does not cooperate for the young children to have their allocated outside play time. When those days occur, whether it's due to rainy days, or too cold or hot temperatures, then it is a good idea to have some games and movement activities available for young children to engage in. Following are some game ideas for young children to play inside. These games are helpful in preschool and daycare settings but can also be used at home and for birthday parties.

 

 

Who is Under the Blanket?

One child is chosen to leave the group, and is sent away somewhere so that he/she cannot see the rest of the class. The teacher then chooses one child to hide under the blanket. When the selected child returns to the group, he/she must guess who is under the blanket. It is important to tell the children, before the game begins, how everyone must keep the secret and not give the child's name away to the guesser.

Fruit Basket

Every child in a circle receives a picture of a fruit. There are pairs of fruit. A teacher calls out a fruit, such as "apple" and two people will stand up and change seats. This is done several times, and then the teacher says, "fruit basket" and all the children must stand up and move to another seat. This game can have other variations, such as bug dance.

Doggie, Doggie, Where's Your Bone?

One child is selected to be the dog, and sits in a chair with his/her back to the children who are sitting in a circle. The teacher chooses a child from the group to steal the bone which is sitting under the chair. The child makes sure that bone cannot be seen and the group says, "Doggie, doggie, where's your bone? Somebody stole it from your home. Guess who? Maybe you! Maybe the monkeys from the zoo. Wake up doggie, find your bone". This game can have many variations depending on seasons, holidays and themes. For instance, it can be a squirrel and the nut is stolen.

Duck Duck Goose

This is a classic game that requires some room. The children sit in a circle and one child is chosen. He/she moves around the outside of the circle tapping each child's head while saying "duck." But, when the child says, "goose," then that child must stand up and run the opposite direction of the first child in atttempt to get his/her seat back.

The Bunny Hop

Have a number of flashcards with shapes or numbers on them, and one card that has a bunny. The teacher shows the cards to the group and the children can call out the right answer to the picture being shown. Then the teacher shows the bunny card, and all the children can hop up and down while she sings, "hop little bunnies, hop hop hop, hop little bunnies till you stop and drop."

 

 

The Shoe Game

Everyone takes off one shoe and puts in the center of the room. Then a child is asked to leave the room. The teacher selects one of the shoes and hides it away. The child returns to the circle and has to guess whose shoe is missing. This is a great visual and memory game.

 

Number Game

The children dance and/or move around and when the teacher pauses the music she will call out a number. The children will then try and make groups with that number. So, for instance if she calls out three, then the children try and make groups of three.

 

Obstacle Course for Preschoolers

If the young children inside are very active, an indoor obstacle course can do the trick. Use things around the room to help create the course, such as furniture, cushion and carpets. The children each take a turn. They have to listen to the instructions carefully. The teacher might say, "first I want you to go under this table, then go around this chair, hop up and down twice and then sit back down."
Young children need to move their bodies. When outside time is not available, then it is becomes necessary to find indoor games and activities which allow them to move and have fun.

 

Toddler Craft Ideas for Winter

There are many craft ideas for the winter holiday season for young children to make. Sometimes, the material and steps are not age appropriate for toddlers, ages one to three. The following crafts bring fun results through simple methods. They allow toddlers to have the hands-on enjoyment of creating art, as well as providing sensory experiences and introduction to new material.

 

Photo from Kiwicrate.com

 

 

Winter Snowflake Art Activity

Materials Required:

• Dark construction paper (black, or blue)
• Large Paper Doilies
• Small Paint Rollers
• White Paint (kid safe)
• Tape
• Small shallow paint containers

For the following art activity each toddler is provided a piece of dark construction paper, black or blue, with a large paper doily taped in the middle. White tempera paint is then placed into small shallow containers beside each child with a small paint roller made for children, which can be purchased at most craft establishments or large outlet stores. Alternatively, the toddlers could use a large paintbrush or sponges for painting. Young children love to paint, and enjoy the process equally and perhaps even more than the product. The children will hopefully paint their entire paper white. When dry, the doily is carefully peeled off by grown up hands and the image left behind resembles a winter snowflake.

Photo from SheKnows Parenting

 

Snowmen Craft Activity

Materials Required:

• Contact Paper
• Scissors
• Cotton Balls
• Googly Eyes
• Orange Paper
• Black Paper
• Paper plates or firm paper (optional)

Before the toddlers begin this activity, the caregiver has some material to prepare. Small carrot noses and black hats should be cut out as well as snowman shapes from the contact paper. If this activity is being prepared for a large group of toddlers and there is a budget, simply make the snowmen smaller to allow the contact paper to be spread into more individual projects.

This activity is a fun, sensory experience for young children as they place soft cotton balls onto sticky contact paper. This paper can be found at most stationary or office supply stores. The children are provided snowman shapes and when the paper is peeled back, they are left with adhesive paper that can hold the cottonballs. The children can cover their snowman and finish the project off with eyes, carrot nose and a hat. Alternatively, the contact paper can be glued or stapled to a firm paper, such as small paper plates or thick white paper.

 

Painting with Holiday Cookie Cutters

Holiday cookie cutters provide wonderful winter shapes for paint stamping. The material required is paint, paper and the cookie cutters. This activity can be done as a group activity with toddlers on a large piece of paper taped to a table. The paper can then be used for wrapping paper or card making.

Final Thoughts

Toddlers love to be introduced to new material and fun hands-on activities. They may try to place the material into their mouths, but through the learning experience of cause and effect will soon realize it's better for paint to be used on the paper! Parents and grandparents truly appreciate these first time holiday creations.

Mitten Preschool Songs

Mitten Song #1

To the tune of "Row, Row, Row Your Boat"

Warm. warm. warm and dry

Mittens feel so nice.

So grab a pair in chilly air

Or in the snow and ice.

Mitten Song #2

To the tune of "The Farmer in the Dell"

Each mitten has a pair

Each mitten has a pair

Can (child's name) find its friend

(He/She) 's looking here and there.

Mitten Song #3

Thumb in the thumb place

Fingers all together

This is the song

We sing in mitten weather

Mitten Song #4

To the tune of "The Wheels on the Bus"

The mittens on my hands

They keep me warm

They keep me warm

They keep me warm

The mittens on my hands

They keep me warm

All winter long!

Mitten Song #5

For Jan Brett's The Mitten

To the tune of "The Farmer in the Dell"

The mitten on the ground.
The mitten on the ground.
Heigh-ho! It's cold outside.
The mitten on the ground.
The (mole) snuggles in.
The (mole) snuggles in.
Heigh-ho! It's cold outside.
The (mole) snuggles in.
(After the last animal, all pretend to sneeze and fall out of the mitten.)

---

FURTHER RESOURCES: Snow and Ice Preschool Activities

                                            Winter Felt Board Activities

Online Early Childhood Workshops with Circle of Ideas 

Snowflake Preschool Songs

Learning about seasons is a steadfast component of most early childhood environments, whether at home, preschool or daycare. If children experience winter with hands on experiences, then songs contribute to the learning process. Music helps with language development and concepts. Throughout the winter, most of the songs we are familiar with fall under Christmas tunes. But, including winter songs about the season helps create an inclusive program for all. In preschool and daycare settings, snowflakes are a common theme for crafts and books. Following are some song and poem suggestions.

Snowflakes are Falling Down

(To the tune of London Bridge is Falling Down)

Snowflakes are falling down,

Falling down, falling down.

Snowflakes are falling down

Quietly without a sound.

Snowflake Poem

This poem is very lyrical and could be used with a piggyback song. It works well with felt snowflakes props to use on a flannel board.

One little snowflake with nothing to do,

Along came another and then there were two.

Two little snowflakes playing in a tree,

Along came another and then there were three.

Three little snowflakes looking for some more,

Along came another and then there were four.

Four little snowflakes that finally did arrive,

Along came another, and then there were five.

Five little snowflakes having so much fun,

Out came the sun and then there were none.

Snowflake Action Song

The next song is a great action song for circle time or a group of children together. When running a circle time with a group of young children, it is essential to find songs that allow them to stand up and move their bodies around.

(To the tune of Are you Sleeping)

Dance like snowflakes

Dance like snowflakes

In the air

In the air

Whirling, twirling snowflakes

Whirling, twirling snowflakes

Here and there,

Here and there.

Snowflake Teaching Song

One of the lessons to teach young children about snowflakes is how each one is different when observed closely. Just like people, we are the same, but different. Snowflakes are created when water droplets freeze on small ice particles. For young children, this song will help with this early introduction of winter weather concepts.

To the tune of I'm a Little Teapot.

I'm a little snowflake, falling down,

With so many all around.

We are not the same as you will see,

No other snowflake looks like me!

FURTHER RESOURCES: Snow and Ice Preschool Activities

                                           Winter Felt Board Ideas

Online Early Childhood Workshops with Circle of Ideas 

Snow and Ice Preschool Activities

Activities surrounding ice for a preschool curriculum are appropriate during the winter season as many young children are experiencing these weather conditions at this time of the year. Bringing the weather inside to the classroom environment as well as bringing an indoor activity, like painting, outside is a fun way for preschoolers to learn and explore the cold sensations of ice and snow. In addition, even if the weather is warm outdoors, the ice can be made in the freezer for children to enjoy. The following article will present some craft, science and sensory activities for an early childhood setting.

Snow Inside a Sensory Table

A sensory table is commonly used for sand or water, but it can provide young children with hands-on experiences and learning opportunities with a variety of material. Snow can be brought into a sensory table from the outside along with pails and shovels. In addition, play dough and/or sand molds can be used with the snow to create shapes. The teacher can facilitate a learning process by asking open ended questions, such as why do you think the snow is melting?" and "What is the snow melting into?" and so forth.

Ice Exploration in a Sensory Table

Ice shapes made in a freezer, or placed outside overnight if weather is below freezing, with different shaped containers is a gret activity for the winter season during an ice and snow theme. A few drops of food coloring can be placed in with the water to make different color ice shapes. Placing little toys inside can be enjoyable for young children as well. The containers should have a wide opening to allow the shapes to easily fall out into the sensory tables. When all the ice formations are created and emptied into the sensory table, tools can be placed inside the table as well to allow children to explore the ice while fostering fine motor skills, such as spray bottles of water, salt shakers, and eye droppers


Check out these amazing sculptures from a preschool website:

From Dunluce Preschool Website

Painting with Ice

Ice can be used instead of a paintbrush to create a unique way of making art. The ice brushes are created by using ice popsicles, which the caregiver can make by using store bought popsicle trays filled with water. When the ice sticks are ready, then each child will be provided a piece of paper, preferably finger painting paper which is shiny and firm enough to absorb liquid. Powder paint is then shaken onto the paper and the children can use the water melting from their ice to create the paint and picture.

Creating Art Outside in Winter

There are a variety of ways to create art outside with the winter weather. One way is to provide children with paint pucks and paintbrushes outside to paint ice, hard snow or the snowman! Another idea is to fill spray bottles with color water made with a some drops of food coloring. The spray bottles will leave color designs on the white snow.This activity does leave the the hands cold, so it is a good idea to warm up inside right after the creative fun.

Ice and Salt Science Experiment

A science tray filled with ice cubes and a salt shaker provides young children an opportunity to explore the two elements together, and determine what happens to the ice when salt is placed onto it. This can turn into a lengthier science activity as predictions by each child and then the results are recorded. Furthermore, the preschoolers can learn that salt is used on our roads and sidewalks to melt the ice for safety reasons.



FURTHER RESOURCES:   Winter Felt Board Ideas

Owl Theme within an Emergent Curriculum

Recently, I worked in a group childcare centre with an Emergent Curriculum. An Owl Theme came from the interest of the children, and then with the creativity of the caregivers and the children themselves, the theme unfolded into a learning process for all. We can still learn from other professionals, regardless of how long we are in the field. I certainly experienced this as I spent time within this Reggio influenced daycare.

After Halloween, the children were interested in owls, which is understandable as so many stories and pictures display owls in the background of Halloween "scenes". Throughout the next week or two, the children were provided books on owls, staff looked for pictures of owls from calendars and other sources. Luckily the center had a wonderful felt story about a mother and baby owl. I was happy to include my felt story about 5 Fluffy Owls into the mix.



Five Fluffly Owls from Felt Board Ideas

Over the next few weeks, I heard the children and teachers learning about owls. We discussed what owls eat and learnt the definition of nocturnal, to name a few facts. Although it never transpired while I was there, we discussed the possibility of talking about how feathers are light and setting up a sink/float type game. I also suggested a creative movement activity of moving around the room as if we were feathers. The ideas were definitely flowing.

One day, when I came into work I saw this display of natural settings for children to explore, and I immediately grabbed by phone to take some pictures! Love it.

Perhaps, the most impressed I was about a theme incorporated into a Reggio (emergent curriculum) program was to observe the art projects. In my history as an Early Childhood Educator, I would have provided owl shapes from paper and then material for the children to decorate them with, such as feathers and googly eyes.  However, at this center, open ended art is encouraged. One day, a picture of a baby owl was sitting on the table for viewing and the children were provided white paint and white feathers to paint with. Another day, they had pictures of owls to look at and draw and then stories were written out about the drawings. Another day, they made owls with playdough and natural ingredients, which were then placed on display. There were lots of  ideas!

 One Monday I walked into the daycare, and there hanging on branches displayed in a vase were adorable owls. One of the educators was at Target and couldn't resist. The children played with these owls all day long. All week long. It was a perfect ending to the owl time period. Yet, that being said, I left this center to work elsewhere, so whoooo hoooo knows if the theme will continue along or if it has run its course. With an emergent curriculum the children are the drivers and the topic will follow with their interest and involvement.

Button Preschool Theme

Buttons are such a great way to allow children to add color and texture to glueing projects. Buttons are available to buy in large packages at most department craft stores, and dollar shops. If using buttons that have been donated, make sure to search through the buttons and use the ones that are flat with holes for better attachment. Be prepared for children to be using lots of glue for their art creations.

 

ART CRAFT SUGGESTIONS:

First of all, simply cutting out shapes, such as Hearts, Easter Eggs, or Pumpkins along with buttons for the children to search through and glue, makes for a fun and easy art process. Some other suggestions are....

• Buttons for Leaves with Tree Shapes
• Buttons with Flowers
• Buttons with Teddybear Shapes or Gingerbread Men
• Buttons onto Frames (have child holding a sign saying Cute as a Button---great present idea!)



From Preschool Crafts for Kids


SENSORY and MORE....

1. Buttons in sensory tables with scoops and containers

2. Place Buttons into playdough

3. Use Buttons for Sorting and Sizing

4. Activity Button Sheets: Making Learning Fun Website has great Pete the Cat activity sheets

5. Learning to Button Table activities

BUTTON SONG

To the tune of Mary Had a Little Lamb

Trevor has buttons on his shirt, buttons on his shirt, buttons on his shirt

Trevor has buttons on his shirt, how many does he have.

(Change the name and clothing to match the children in the group)

With the popularity of Pete the Cat, including the story of his Groovy Buttons with the book and/or the felt story is a great idea!

 

Online Early Childhood Workshops with Circle of Ideas 

                                              

Halloween Handprints

This activity not only creates a fun and playful Halloween craft, but the end result can be kept for a child's memory book collection. Whether with a group or just with one, crafts with older babies and toddlers can seem like a challenging feat. Yet, introducing children at a young age to art and craft activities provides them with opportunities to develop their creative selves. In addition, the sensory experience of paper and paint is greatly enjoyed by these little hands. In order to produce a finished result in this following activity, adult hands are definitely required to finish the project effectively. A good idea is to allow a toddler to have fun with the material and create his/her own masterpiece while simultaneously creating the ghosts.

Ghost Hands with White Paper

Material Needed:

• White construction paper
• Black construction paper
• Scissors
• Glue
• Black felt pen or crayon

Fold the white construction paper into fours and trace one chosen hand from the toddler or older baby with a pencil, rounding at the top of the hand. Cut out the hands to create the ghost's body. On a black background, and with the toddler's help, glue the hands upside down onto the paper. Finish the ghost's body with two eyes and a circle for the mouth.

This song can be sung when the project is complete.

To the tune of I'm a Little Teapot

We are friendly ghosts up in the sky
All dressed in white, we fly so high.
Sometimes we call out, and say boo!
If you were a ghost, you'd say it too.

Ghost Handprints with Paint

Alternatively, this activity could be created with white finger paint. Allow the toddler to freely paint onto a separate piece of paper and during this creative process, guide their hands over to black paper and show them how to press their hands flat on the paper to create handprints. This can be tricky for the adult, and the best result requires the grown up to gently guide hand over hand. When dry, the paper can be turned around and the little ghosts completed with eyes and a mouth drawn on each handprint with black felt pen. When finger painting with toddlers, it is a great idea to be prepared for cleanup before hand with soapy water and towels. Have a painting smock for your young child to wear or make one with an old adult shirt. In addition, toddlers should be instructed to keep the paint out of their mouths, but because it will be so tempting, make sure to use finger paint that is safe for children to use.


Halloween is a memorable holiday for all children, and this craft can also be used to mark your child's handprint and perhaps store away or place into a memory book. Handprints are always amazing to look at later on for both the child and the parents and marvel at how small they once were.