APRIL THEMES
These pages are dedicated to all the wonderful childcare providers and teachers that have become my friends and support through my daycare email lists. Most of the activities and ideas on these pages come from them. Please visit there sites or send them a note to let them know what you think of their ideas. Also, feel free to email me with ideas of your own for activities or other themes that you feel would be appropriate for any particular month. I will add your ideas with links to your website and email address. Thank you, and enjoy!
LETTERS: O & P
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NUMBER: 8
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SHAPE: Oval
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COLOR: Blue
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RAINBOW/RAIN/UMBRELLAS
The following craft ideas come from Tracy's website at Lil Treasures Child Care
Rain Sticks
Supplies:
Cardboard Rolls - Wrapping Paper Rolls work best
1 1/2 inch nails
Dried Peas
Masking Tape
Stuff for Decorating
Cover the end of the cardboard roll with masking tape and then poke in one and half inch nails randomly all over the tube so that they go all the way into the tube but not out the other side. You'll need to use quite a few to get a good sound effect. Then you put about a half a cup of dried peas in the tube (you really need to experiment with the number of nail and amount of peas to see what produces a good sound) and tape up the other end. Then you let the children decorate the outside of the tube however they like. You can use paper, fabric, leaves, acorns, bark, etc. Some children like to use Indian designs, but others just do their own thing.
Umbrella pictures
Supplies:
Paper
Baking Cups
Scissors
Glue
Crayons or Paint
Pipe Cleaners
Cut several baking cups in half, these will be the umbrellas. Glue them on a sheet of paper. For the handles, use pipe cleaners or you can draw them. Draw or paint rain drops.
The following ideas come from Rhonda Yeager. You can email her at ryeager@electrotex.com
Rain and Rainbow Collage
Look in a magazine or newspaper for pictures of rain, or rainbows, cut
them out, and let your child glue them onto a piece of paper for a collage.
Torn Paper Rainbows
Apply glue onto a piece of paper where the first color of the rainbow
should be, you can make a half or full arc. Have your child apply red torn
paper to the glued area. Next apply glue under the red torn paper for the
next color, and so on!! (you will only be able to do three or four colors)
Easy rainbows
Tape three or four different colored crayons in a straight line. Show your
child how to draw a rainbow with one stroke.
Cereal Rainbows
You will need a box of Fruit Loops (or similar cereal), paper, pencil and
glue. For younger children, you should draw a rainbow shape on to the
paper then have the children glue the fruit loops inside the shape. Older
children can make their own rainbow shape, or trace it. You may also do
this project as open ended art by allowing the children to make whatever
they wish with the fruit loops.
Rainbow in a jar
Take a large glass jar, fill it 3/4 with water. Drop a single drop of food
coloring into the jar from about a foot above the jar, so the coloring
makes it's way almost to the bottom. Try different colors.
Prism fun
You can find a prism at many science stores or teachers store. Show your
child the prism, and how to see all the colors of a rainbow in the prism.
Which color is missing?
Draw several different rainbow on small pieces of paper. Each one, exclude
a color that should be in the rainbow.. so the first exclude red, second
orange... etc. Then make a rainbow that has all the colors. Show the
children the rainbow with all the colors on it. Ask what colors do they
see. Then show each card to the children and ask them if they can guess
what color is missing
Variation: Put the colors in the wrong order. See if the children can see which color is not in the right place.
What's under the Rainbow?
Find a very colorful sock. Place something in the sock, like a block, or a
toy. Let the child feel the object and try to guess what it is.
The following ideas come from Cheryl. You can email her at c5joy@aol.com
Thunder
(Tune: Frere Jacques)
I hear thunder. I hear thunder. (stamp feet on floor)
Hark do you, hark do you? (place hand behind ear)
Pitter, patter raindrops, pitter patter raindrops (Wiggle fingers down)
I’m all wet. (Point to yourself).
So are you. (point to a friend).
The Rain
(Tune: Sing a Song of Sixpence)
Pitter patter raindrops
falling form the sky (wiggle fingers down)
Here is my umbrella ( hands over head)
to keep me safe and dry.
When the rain is over
The sun begins to glow
And little flowers start to bud
and grow and grow and grow.
If All The Rain Drops
If all the rain drops,
were jelly beans and gum drops,
Oh what a rain that would be.
Standing outside with my mouth open wide.
Ah, ah ah ah, ah ah ah, ah ah ah,
Oh what a rain that would be.
If all the snowflakes - - candy bars and milk shakes
If all the sunbeams - - bubble gum and ice cream
Rain
Pitter Pat, pitter pat (drum fingers on floor),
the rain goes on for hours.
And though it keeps me in the house,
it's very (hold hands palms up and closed into fists in front of you)
good for (open fists)
flowers (lift hands imitating flowers growing up).
BOOKS
THE NAPPING HOUSE
MY VERY BEST RAINY DAY
MUSHROOM IN THE RAIN: This one would be a good one to act out with the
kids.
RAIN TALK(written by Mary Serfozo, ill. by Keiko Narahashi)
LISTEN TO THE RAIN (written by Bill Martin, Jr. & John Archambault, ill.by James Endicott)
RAIN FEET BOARD BOOK (written by Angela Johnson, ill. by Rhonda Mitchell)
RAIN (by Peter Spier) [no text]
CLOUDY WITH A CHANCE OF MEATBALLS (written by J. Barrett)
IN THE RAIN WITH BABY DUCK (written by Amy Hest illustrated by Jill Barton):
Baby Duck does not like to get his feet wet and muddy. Grandpa knows
just the trick, Mrs. Ducks old bunny boots and matching umbrella.
BIG SARAH'S LITTLE BOOTS (written by Paulette Bourgeois, illustrated by Brenda Clark)
Sarah has outgrown her shiny yellow boots that go squish when she jumps
into puddles. She tries to make them larger by stretching, PLANTING them,
and even blowing them up like a balloon. Much to her dislike she must buy
new ones. All ends well when Sarah's new boots make a new cool sound when
jumbing OVER the puddles.
Rain on the green grass
(flutter fingers down to ground)
And rain on the trees
(Flutter fingers up over head)
Rain on the Housetop
(Make an upside-down "V" with hands and arms over head)
But not on me.
(Circle arms over head to make an umbrella)
Then read again and let the children take turns filling in the blanks. Make
up actions to go with the new words.
Rain on the _________
And rain on the tree.
Rain on the ___________
But not on me.
Rain on my Umbrella
(Tune: Frere Jacques)
Drip, drip, drop, drop,
Drip, drip, drop, drop
Drip, drip, drop,
Drip, drip, drop.
Rain on my umbrella,
Rain on my umbrella,
Never stops.
Drip, drip, drop.
Prop Box For A Rainy Day
Fill box with materials for a warm rainy day. You may want to include rain
boots, rain hat, umbrella, raincoat. This can be set up for children to do
some dramatic play or imaginative games.
Umbrella Song
(Does anyone know the tune -?)
Put up your umbrella
When the rain comes down.
Wear a happy smile
And wipe away a frown.
Splash in all the puddles
And do a little dance.
Rain is just the thing we need
For watering the plants.
Boom, boom goes the thunder after lightning!
Boom, boom goes the thunder after lightning!
Every time we have thunderstorms
Boom, boom goes the thunder after lightning!
The little drops get an electrical charge,
A different one's taken by the drops that are large.
A great spark jumps between the two.
They make a bolt of lightning for you! (spoken in a high voice)
Boom, boom goes the thunder after lightning!
Boom, boom goes the thunder after lightning!
Every time we have thunderstorms
Boom, boom goes the thunder after lightning!
Lightning cuts a path through the air,
Thunder roars from way up there.
When air gets hot it will expand.
Thunder rumbles across the land! (spoken in low voice)
Boom, boom goes the thunder after lightning!
Boom, boom goes the thunder after lightning!
Every time we have thunderstorms
Boom, boom goes the thunder after lightning!
Stuff the Rain Cloud
Have the children sit in a circle and give them each a pile of newspaper
squares. Place a black plactic bag in the middle of the circle. Have the
children crumple the newspaper spuares and stuff them into the trash bag.
When the bag is full, let the children take turns jumping on their big black
rain cloud.
Rain Rain
Rain rain
falls on the street,
mud in puddles
cleaning my feet.
Thunder thunder
rumble and roar,
close the windows
and lock the door.
Clouds clouds
black and gray,
heavy with water
to drop all day.
Sun sun
is breaking through,
clouds are moving,
the rain stops too.
Rainbow rainbow
across the sky,
see through colours
to tickle my eyes.
Tell the students we are going to create the sounds of a rainstorm in the
classroom. Ask the students how they think we could do this. Have the class
sit in a semi-circle and then divide them into three sections. Explain that
the activity you are going to do will be done in a "round-like" fashion. The
teacher will lead the activity by having the first section rub their hands
together. Then the second section will join them, and then finally the third
section. Next, the teacher goes back to the first section and asks them to
start snapping their fingers, while the second and third sections are still
rubbing their hands. Then the second snaps their fingers, and finally the
third section joins in. During the next round, the first section will begin
by patting their legs, and then the second and third sections will join when
it is their turn.
For the peak of the thunderstorm, the students will stomp their feet, section
by section. As the thunderstorm subsides, the students will make all the
sounds in reverse order, section by section. That is, pat legs, snap fingers,
then rub hands.
Title: Rain
Rain is _______
But rain is not _______
Rain is good for _______
But rain is not good for ________
Rain is fun when _______
But rain isn't fun when _______
I ______ the rain.
For the flannelboard. You will need a sun, two clouds, and six fairies that
are red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and violet.
Two little clouds one summer day
Went floating through the sky;
They went so fast they bumped their heads,
And both began to cry.
Old Father Sun looked down and said,
"Oh, never mind, my dears;
I'll send my little fairy folks
To dry your falling tears!"
One fairy came in red so fine,
And one in orange bright;
Then yellow, green, blue, violet
Were all at once in sight.
They wiped the cloud tears all away,
And then from out the sky,
Upon a line the sunbeams made,
They hung their gowns to dry.
Tune: Frere Jacques
I hear thunder, I hear thunder
Hark, don't you? Hark, don't you?
Pitter patter raindrops
Pitter patter raindrops
I'm wet through, so are you.
Who Likes the Rain?
by Clara Doty Bates
"I," said the duck. "I call it fun,
For I have my pretty red rubbers on;
They make a little three-toed track,
In the soft, cool mud, ---quack! quack!"
"I !" cried the dandelion,
"I ! My roots are thirsty, my buds are dry."
And she lifted a towsled yellow head
Out of her green and grassy bed.
"I hope 'twill pour ! I hope 'twill pour !"
Purred the tree-toad at his gray bark door,
"For, with a broad leaf for a roof,
I am perfectly weather-proof."
Sang the brook: "I laugh at every drop,
And wish they never need to stop
Till a big, big river I grow to be,
And could find my way to the sea."
"I," shouted Ted, "for I can run,
With my high-top boots and raincoat on,
Through every puddle and runlet and pool
I find on the road to school."
Wind & rain
-Build a rain gauge by cutting off the top thrid of the plastic bottle
and inverting the top inside the bottom to form a funne. Use a
permanent marker to record inches on the side of the bottle.
-Explain that people who report on the weather need to know how much it
rains each day. Introduce your rain gauge and have children brainstorm
ways the class can use the tool to learn about rainfall.
-Demonstrate how a rain gauge works: Set the gauge in a pan and use a
watering can to simulate a rainstorm over the pan. After the "storm",
have a child study the rain gauge and report on the rainfall. Ask Did
all the rain fall into the gauge? How will the rain gauge help gather
information about the weather? Empty the gauge and vary the
demonstration so that the children can report on a light rain, a heavy
rain, and a day with no rain at all
TAKE A RAINY DAY WALK
Take advantage of a gentle rain to explore water flow, puddles and the sound of rain.
MAKE A RAIN BOOKLET
Cover has an umbrella on it and titled "This is the Rain".
The first page has clouds, a sun and these words: These are the clouds, all puffy and gray, that block out the sun on a cool spring day.
The next page has a farm and a large building on opposite side of
the sheet with these words: These are the raindrops falling from clouds
on country farms and on city crowds.
The next page has flowers and these words: This is the rain that keeps falling down, watering flowers all over the town.
The next page has a rainbow, sun and these words: this is the rainbow that comes when the sun shines in the sky when the rain is all done.
The last page can have a smiley face on it and these words: So, when it's raining and your feeling bad, think about rain and be happy, not sad. Rain's good for gardens and for people too. Rhe sun will come out when the rain is all through.
This was taken from a Weekly Reader magazine.
RAIN PAINT
Sprinkle dry tempra on paper and take outside in the rain.
Rain, rain go away
We made up another version of this song:
Rain, rain don't go away,
Freddie frog wants to play,
He'll play and play in the rain all day,
rain, rain don't go away.
Think of other animals that like the rain.
THE RAIN
Pitter-patter raindorps,
falling from the sky.
here is my umbrella
To keep me safe and dry.
When the rain is over
And the sun begins to glow,
Little flowers start to bud
And grow & grow & grow.
UMBRELLA FUN
Umbrellas are fro make-believe
The one I have is red.
I twirl it upside down
and it's a carousel instead.
I use it for a parachute
(I don't jump very far.)
Or else I walk a tightrope
On the shadow of a bar
I think it must be magic, too.
My mother was upset
the day it vanished in the rain
And I got soaking wet.
Bulletin Board or Wall Idea
Umbrellas
Cut triangles from colored construction paper. I made mine from the largest
construction paper we have because I put it on the wall. With the long sides
together, tape them so it makes a circle (or umbrella). I wanted it to be
three dimensional so I taped some waded up newspaper on the back. Add a
handle and two yellow shiny boots (makes it look like someone is on the other
side). To complete the scene add some half umbrellas (side-view), gray
clouds (I used large white paper and cut a cloud shape. Sponged painted gray
paint on it). For rain, staple blue crepe paper streamers on the bottom of
the cloud and twist. Secure to the wall with tape.
SMILE LINE: The children would come up and peek under the large umbrella to
see who was under there.
Order or have children bring in umbrellas and go for an umbrella
walk....rain or shine.
Make rain sticks
Tape over one end of a paper towel tube. Have children wad up tin
foil and place in stick, about 5 wads.....add 3 little scoops of rice...tape
end and decorate. The children will have fun making you run for cover over
and OVER again.
It's raining outside, but I won't complain.
Because I really enjoy the rain.
I get to go out when rain comes down.
And I'll wear a smile, though it makes you frown.
I'll keep the rain off some lucky fella'.
You see, I am your friendly umbrella.
Raindrops
See the rain clouds in the sky, that
look so stormy and so black?
See the lightning flashing by, and
thunder that goes CRACK?
I wonder if the raindrops, could be
tears the clouds have shed,
From rollong 'round up in the sky
and maybe bumped their heads!
Measuring rainfall
On a rainy day, set out a container to measure the rainfall. Measure how much
rain fell that day. Continue to measure the rain each day, and record for a
few weeks. Ask your child to predict how much water will be collected. Ask at
the begginning of the day, and ask when it is raining, did their answer
change?
Bean bag Puddle Toss
You need a hula hoop (the puddle) and some bean bags. You can either set up
the hula hoop on it's side or on the ground. Have your child try to throw the
bean bags into the puddle. Yeah!!!
Jump in the puddle
Set a hula hoop on the floor. Play some music and have your child walk around
the hula hoop. When the music stops, have them jump into the hoop (the
puddle).
Wet or Dry
Cut some pictures from a magazine, or show some pictures from a book, ask
your child if the objects are wet or dry?
Rain, Rain
Rain, rain, go away
Come again some other day
We want to go outside and play
Come again some other day
(Optional lyrics: change third line to say:
(child's name)'s friends all want to play
It's raining, it's pouring,
It's raining, it's pouring,
The old man is snoring.
He went to bed and he
Bumped his head
And he couldn't get up in the morning.
It Ain't Gonna Rain
It ain't gonna rain no more, no more
It ain't gonna rain no more,
How in the heck will we wash the neck
If it ain't gonna rain no more?
DINOSAURS
The following craft ideas come from Tracy's website at Lil Treasures Child Care
Dinosaur Puppets
Supplies:
Markers or crayons
Strip of 4 paper egg carton cups ATTACHED
Strip of 2 paper egg carto sups attached
Sock
Rubber bands
tape
Step 1- Use markers to decorate the 4 egg cups *any* way the children want draw eggs on the 2 egg cups
Step 2- Slip your hand inside the sock. Place the four egg cups on the top of the sock. with adult hep,put the rubber band on each end of the cups. The rubber bands help keep the egg cups on your arm
Step 3- with adult help, tape the eyes to the sock near the toe area if the sock. Now open and close your hand to make the puppet look like its talking.
Dinosaur Snouts
Supplies:
Disposable Cups
Construction Paper
Glue
Yarn
Use any kind of disposable cup. Cut bottom off and then cut large "V" slits up each side from bottom. Add const. paper or rick rack teeth, add tongues, whatever else Comes to mind. Punch a hole on each side and add yarn to tie on to kids faces.
EASTER
The following songs, crafts and ideas come from Tracy's website at Lil Treasures Child Care
Growing Easter Baskets
Supplies:
Empty 1/2 gal. Milk Cartons
Potting Soil
Grass Seed (fast growing if you have it)
Stuff to Decorate Carton
Take empty milk cartons, cut down to 4-5" high. Can cover with contact paper or construction paper and decorate. Fill 2/3 full with potting soil, the generously cover with grass seed. Have children water daily; grass should grow in about 4-7 days. With remaining carton, cut a handle to staple to the basket. Fill with decorated eggs.
Easter Chicks
Supplies:
2 Cotton Balls
Orange and Black Construction Paper
Dry, Yellow tempera Paint
Glue
Empty, Clean Egg Shell
Put some of the paint in a Ziploc Bag, put in the 2 cotton balls and shake until they are yellow. Feet, eyes, and beaks can be cut from orange & black construction paper and glued on. Then you can glue the chick into half of the egg shell.
Egg Creatures
Supplies:
Eggs (not hard-boiled)
Sharp Nail
Glue
Misc. Supplies
Blow the contents from fresh eggs. Pierce each end of egg with sharp nail. Blow firmly into large end, over dish to catch egg liquid (which you can use for a recipe). Let shells dry. Decorate to resemble rabbits, chicks, or cartoon characters using markers, paint, glued on construction paper, etc. To make stand upright: Cut strip of sturdy paper 1/2 inch by 4-6 ins. Glue into circle, sit egg in it. This paper stand could also be incorporated into design as a collar.
Egg Decorating
Supplies:
Hard Boiled Eggs
Markers
Pass out hard boiled eggs to everyone at the table. Have each person draw a feature on the egg with felt tip markers. Continue passing the eggs until each egg has a face (eyes, cheeks, nose, mouth, ears, moles, eyelashes, chin, freckles, etc.).
Candle Eggs
Supplies:
Eggs (not hard boiled)
Sharp Nail
Old Candles or Parafin Wax
Wicks
Hollow out several eggs by gently poking a small hole in one end of each egg. Rinse clean and set the eggshell in the egg carton. Melt some old candles or paraffin wax and wax coloring in a double boiler over low heat. Place a funnel over the opening of the egg and carefully pour wax into the hollow eggshell in the carton. When the eggshell is full, insert a wired wick into the egg, centering it with a piece of tape for support. Allow the wax to cool and harden, then break off the shell and buff the candle with a soft rag. Heat the bottom end of the candle to soften, then press on a flat surface to make it stand up. or use a candle holder. Variations: You can use several different colors of wax, layering them. Let them cool between colors. Add glitter or metallic confetti to make the egg sparkle. Color the wax with old color crayons instead of buying wax coloring. BE SURE THE EGG SHELL IS DRY BEFORE FILLING IT!
Giant Easter Eggs
Supplies:
Balloon
Liquid Starch or Watered Down Glue
Large Paintbrushes
Crochet Thread
Blow up a balloon and tie a 2 ft. piece of thread to the bottom of it. Cover the entire balloon with starch or watered down glue, using a large paint brush. Wrap crochet thread around the balloon in one direction, leaving small gaps about 1/2 inch wide so the balloon isn't completely covered. Wrapping doesn't have to be perfect. Apply another light layer of starch or glue on top of the thread and wrap with another layer of crochet thread in another direction. Repeat one or more times until the balloon is covered with thread. Hang the balloon from the bottom thread to dry for about 24 hours. When fully dry, pop the balloon and gently pull it out of the thread. Hang the giant egg from the ceiling or place it in a giant easter basket. Variations: Use multicolored thread or yarn. You can flatten the end of the egg by pressing on it gently so it will stand on end. Leave an intentional opening to set figurines and eggs/candy in. They are very pretty this way. Practical tips: Work quickly before the glue/starch dries or add more when necessary. Handle the egg with care after it dries, as it may cave in if you squish it.
Bunny Baskets
Supplies:
Empty, Clean Milk Carton
Construction Paper
Glue
Crayons or Markers
Bottom 1/3 of a milk carton. Staple a 1" strip across the top for a handle. Cut out bunny shapes; sitting up bunny - ears on top, round head and fat body. Make sure it is the width of the milk carton (a bit like the traditional cat drawing). Decorate the basket with paper chips (small pieces of paper cut or torn) and draw on bunny's face. You can also paint the basket with glue and dip it into a container of confetti. Glue on a cotton ball on the opposite side of basket for bunny's tail.
Easter Bonnets
Supplies:
Paper Plate
Styrofoam Plates
Glue
Crayons or Markers
Misc Supplies
Make Easter bonnets from styrofoam soup bowls staped to paper plates that have the center cut out of them. Let the children decorate them as desired. Supply them with cut out flowers, ribbon, and anything else you like
Rabbit Head Bands
Supplies:
Construction Paper
Glue
Cut out a strap long enough to fit around childs head. Cut rabbit ears, using white and pink construction paper. Glue or staple onto the strap, and make it into a head band.
Colored Eggs
Supplies:
Colored Eggs
Tissue Paper or Crepe Paper
Wet the egg and place pieces of colored tissue paper on it. Set it aside to dry. When the egg dries the tissue paper falls off and the colors stay behind.
Filter Paper Eggs
Supplies:
Coffee Filters
Food Coloring
Eye Droppers and Straws
Precut egg shapes out of coffee filters. Mix water and yellow foodcoloring and place mixture in a baby food jar. Do the same for blue. Letthe children use eyedroppers or straws to drip colors on the filter shape. The colors will run together and make beautiful eggs.
Barefoot Chick
Supplies:
Yellow Paint
construction Paper
Crayons
Glue
Cornmeal
Paint (giggling allowed!) the bottom of the child's foot with yellow washable liquid paint. Have him press his foot onto a sheet of construction paper. When the child's foot is clean and the paint is dry, have him use crayons to add an eye, beak, and legs to his chick. Finally have him spread glue along the bottom of the paper, then sprinkle the glue with cornmeal.
Cottony lambs
Supplies:
Black construction Paper
Cotton Balls
White Chalk
Have the child trace their hands on the black paper. Cut these out, placing the "hands" upside down so that the four fingers are the legs and the thumb is the head. Have the kids glue cotton balls to the "body". Use chalk or construction paper or whatever to make the eyes.
Lambs
Supplies:
White Paper
Black Paint
Glue
Packing Popcorn, etc.
Use black paint on the hands and stamp them on a white piece of paper, then decorate. The lambs look cute with packing "popcorn" or white paper reinforcements make great "wool". Also, left-over batting or stuffing can be used.
Bunnies in the Grass
Supplies:
White Paper
Crayons
Glue
Pom-poms or cotton balls
Have dck color a white sheet of paper all green (scribbling is just perfect) that have them glue on 10-15 1/2" pom poms or pieces of cotton balls - wa la you now have "Baby Bunnies Hiding in the Grass!!"
Thanks again to Tracy for those wonderful songs, crafts and ideas. Dont forget to visit her website at Lil Treasures Child Care
