JANUARY 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: I & J
Coming Soon
NUMBER: 5
Coming Soon
SHAPE: Rectangle
Coming Soon
COLOR: White
Coming Soon
Winter/Mittens/Winter Clothing
The following crafts and ideas come from Tracy's website at Lil Treasures Child Care
Marshamallow Sculptures
Supplies:
Marshmallows (mini size and large)
Toothpicks or Pretzels
Create sculptures by using toothpicks or pretzels to hold sculpture in place.
Frost Pictures
Supplies:
Construction Paper
Crayon or Markers
Salt
Glue
Draw a winter scene on the construction paper. Glue on the salt to represent snow.
Birdseed Biscuits
Supplies:
2 cups biscuit baking mix
1/2 cup cold water
2 tbsp margarine
2 tbsp sesame seeds
2 tbsp sunflower seeds
Preheat oven to 425F. Form a soft dough with baking mix and water. Roll out the dough to 3/4" thickness and cut it into shapes with cookie cutters. Using a straw, punch a hole in the top of each cookie. Melt the margarine and brush over dough. Sprinkle the seeds and nuts onto the dough and press it in FIRMLY with a fork. Bake for 15-20 min., or until light brown. When cool, thread brightly coloured ribbon through the hole and hang in a tree.
Ice Castles/Igloos
Supplies:
Sugar Cubes
Glue
Paper Plate or cardboard
Glue sugar cubes on plate to make castles or igloos. For a magical touch, paint their creations with gold spray paint.
Thanks Tracy, for those great ideas!
Snow/Snowmen
Cotton Ball Snowman
Supplies:
Construction Paper
Cotton Balls
Glue
Draw an outline of a snowman on a piece of construction paper. Fill in the snowman with cotton balls. Add details (eyes, nose, ect) with scrap construction paper.
From Tracy at Lil Treasures Child Care
Snowstorm Art
Supplies:
Liquid Starch or Glue
Brush or Q-tips
Construction Paper
Rice
Generously brush starch or glue onto paper, then sprinkle rice on the paper. Shake off excess.
From Tracy at Lil Treasures Child Care
Hibernation
Game: Hibernating Animals
Help teach preschoolers the concept of animals hibernating through the winter months with this game by S.T.
Description: Children are accustomed to playing "Duck, Duck, Goose". Use this to introduce the concept of animals hibernating through the winter. After the children form a circle, reintroduce the idea of animals sleeping through the cold winter months. Have them drop to the floor, put their heads down and pretend to sleep. Choose one student to go around the circle saying "sleep, sleep, WAKE UP!"
Everything follows just as in a game of "Duck, Duck, Goose".
From Tracy at Lil Treasures Child Care
Science: "Hibernation"
Teach young children about hibernation with this preschool education activity by Meredith who encourages preschoolers to let "stuffed" animals hibernate for a portion of the winter.
Materials:
a large paper bag
some cotton
some paint...gray or white
Description:
To show our 3 year old class how animals hibernate we made our own individual "caves". Using a supermarket brown shopping bag, we had the kids paint them gray to simulate a cave. Then we cut a door in the front, glued some cotton batting on the top and down the sides to simulate snow and put a stuffed animal inside. We let the animal sleep for a month or so until Spring, when we had a Wake Up party! Talk with children about why animals need to hibernate and how it helps them survive the cold weather.
Comments: It's a bit hard to convince some kids to leave their animal in the cave. But once they get the idea, and know there is a party involved when Spring Arrives, it's a great Hit with them.
From Tracy at Lil Treasures Child Care
Martin Luther King/Arctic Animals
Polar Bear Song
Tune: Frerer Jacques
Polar bear, polar bear
Dark black skin, long white fur
You live where its very cold
Blubber keeps you nice and warm
In the ice, in the snow.
From Tracy at Lil Treasures Child Care
Polar Bear Art
After singing the Polar Bear song try this fun project by Susan K. to promote small motor skills while reinforcing polar bear information.
Materials:
Paper
crayons or markers
glue
white yarn
Description:
The children color a polar bear black and then glue 1-inch pieces of white yarn all over for fur. I use a pre drawn outline of a bear, but some youngster can draw their own. I also have the yarn precut.
From Tracy at Lil Treasures Child Care
Pets
Coming Soon!
Where would you like to
go?
Graphics on this page by...
