First Aid Kits

Another great way to be prepared is to prepare a first aid kit. These are great to have on road trips, camping/backpacking trips, in our 72 hour kits, in the trunk of the car, in the house, etc.

BANDAGING:

*Sterile dressings to stop bleeding

*2 absorbent cloth dressings (5x9 inches)

*5 sterile gauze pads (3x3 inches)

*5 sterile gauze pads (4x4 inches)

*2 triangle bandages

*Adhesive bandages in a variety of sizes (25+)

*1 roller bandage (3 inches wide)

*1 roller bandage (4 inches wide)

*Moleskin

1 adhesive cloth tape (10 yards x 1 inch)

MEDICATION:

*Over-the-counter medicines: Tylenol, Advil, ibuprofen, aspirin (2) or other pain relievers; laxative; anti-diarrhea medication; Benadryl for allergic reactions

*Prescription medication: diabetic insulin and supplies; heart medication; asthma inhaler; antacid

TOOLS:

*2 pairs of disposable gloves

*Scissors

*1 breathing barrier (if you have children or an infant consider getting ones to fit them as well)

*Oral thermometer

*Tweezers

*Cotton tip swabs and cotton balls

*1 space blanket

*1 instant cold compress

*First aid instruction booklet

DISINFECTANT/OINTMENT:

*Cleansing agent/soap or antibiotic towelettes with disinfectant (5+ packets)

*Antibiotic ointment to prevent infection (5+ packets)

*2 hydrcortisone ointment packets

*Anti-inch medication: hydrocortisone cream

*Burn ointment and aloe vera gel

*Eye wash solution to flush the eyes

EXTRAS:

*Prepaid cell phone

*Radio with extra batteries

*Pocket knife

*Ready to eat food like granola bars

*Water purification kit

*GPS

Sources:

Red cross

WTA

About.com

4th of July activities

Are you needing to entertain children and guests during the 4th of July? Here are some activities for your family and friends.

Capture the flag

Croquet

Baseball

Basketball

Bike ride

Bob for apples

Bocce ball

Bowling (use liter soda bottle for pins & play outside)

Build a fort using sheets & other materials outside

Donut eating contest (hang them from a string...no hands)

Egg toss contest

Feed the ducks

Fireworks: your own or the cities

Fishing

Flag football

Fly kites

Four-square

Frisbee

Frisbee golf

Go for a walk

Go miniature golfing

Go rollerblading

Go swimming

Go to a park

Have a BBQ: see my BBQ ideas here

Have a picnic

Hide-and-seek

Hike

Hopscotch

Kickball

Limbo

Night games: No bears are out tonight

Pie contest: who makes the best one?

Potato sack race

Shuffle board or make your own (a smaller version) called kick the disk

Soccer

Street hockey

Relay race

Tackle football

Tag: freeze, tv, shadow, etc.

Three legged race

Volleyball

Watch a parade

Water balloon volleyball

Water baseball

Water fight

Even more outdoor activities here

Summer/Spring outdoor activities

Don't forget to participate in the Ronald McDonald House Fundraiser. We only have 4 days left. Check out all the details here.

PLACES TO GO:

Park: have a picnic

Water park

Zoo

Camping

Hiking

Fishing

Nature Gardens

Sports field to play soccer, baseball, etc.

Beach at the ocean or lake

Swimming pool

Fair

Boating

Outdoor markets

Outdoor movies

ACTIVITIES:

Nature scavenger hunt: check out my blog post with lots of ideas. You can even make spy glasses using paper towel rolls.

Sidewalk drawings with chalk or wet chalk

Rolling balls down a pipe: secure a pipe/tube to a wire linked fence. Have the children roll balls down the pipe so the land in a basket/bucket.

Hopscotch: draw it on the ground using chalk.

Hollering: cut the bottoms off of clean plastic gallon milk jugs. Use them and megaphones.

In the sand box: sand combs (using sand combs or old large hair combs make designs in the sand); sand toys (buckets, shovels, rakes, etc.); water; rubber snakes, lizards or bugs; plastic plants; tongue depressors; plastic animals, toy dishes (cups, plates, etc.).

Car wash: wash the car

Bike wash: wash the bikes/trikes

Target practice: with water squirt bottles aim and shoot at a target. On a windy day try it will bubbles.

Obstacle course: Use old tires, hula hoops, ladders, tunnels, long pieces of 2x4's for balance beams, yarn, objects to climb, etc

Soda can or pop bottle bowling: set up your "pin" are roll a rubber ball. Try a beach ball.

Hose rainbow: arch a water hose and run under it.

Matching shapes: name a shape or for younger children show them a picture of a shape and have them find objects outside that match the shape

Catch bugs: check out my bug blog post here

Footprints: get your feet wet with water and walk around. Or you can make different kinds of footprints by cutting up sponges and using those.

Sort rocks: by size, shape, color

Ride bikes

Rollerblade

Cloud drawing: draw the shapes of the clouds. Do you see a dinosaur? How about a flower? Or a tall glass of lemonade? Or just watch the clouds drift by.

Yoga or other exercises like Taebo, push ups, sit ups, etc.

Color match: find things that are colors of the rainbow

Blow bubbles: try using different objects to blow bubbles like a slotted spoon or spatula. Bubble recipe below under "make".

Woodworking: provide wood or a large stump, nails, hammer, saw, googles, etc. With adult supervision let the children hammer nails into the stump, or screw screws (have nails/screws already started) or saw a piece of 2x4 that is secured in a clamp.

In a water bin/sensory table: egg beaters with liquid soap (make bubbles); plastic water baby dolls, liquid soap, wash clothes (wash babies); doll clothes, drying rack, liquid soap, wash boards or washcloths (wash clothes and hang to dry) rocks with old toothbrushes/scrubbing brushes (clean rocks); cups, funnels, etc.; straws, liquid soap (blow bubbles); fizzy bath balls; plastic fish, boats, fishing nets; tongs, plastic balls.

Parachute: with many people lift a parachute or a large sheet up and down. Bounce balls on top or have a few people sit under it (take turns).

Jump rope/double dutch

Jacks

Marbles

Frisbee

Fly a kite

MAKE:

Bird feeder: use a large pine cone, peanut butter and bird seed. Hang it from a tree with yarn.

Telephone cups: punch a hole in the bottom of two styrofoam cups. Insert a long string through the bottom of the hole. Secure the string by tying it to a toothpick (it will be inside the cup). Talk into the cup. Who do you hear? What did they say?

Wind chime: go here for instruction. You can also check out my windy day blog post for lots of other activities and ideas.

Bubbles: 1 cup Dawn dishwashing detergent, 1 gallon warm water, 3 Tbsp glycerin

GAMES:

Bike freeze: play music and instead of dancing you ride bikes/trikes around a path. When the music stops, they stop. When the music starts, they start.

Red light, Green light

Red Rover, Red Rover

No bears are out tonight

Hide and seek

Capture the flag

Mimes: act out an object in nature. Have others guess what you are

I spy

Water transfer race: 4 plus buckets or bowls. First team to get water from one bowl to the other bowl using a baster wins

Egg race: balance eggs on a spoon and race.

Simon Says

Mother May I

Kick the can

Tag: freeze tag, tv tag, shadow tag, etc.

Hot potato

Dance & music

DISCUSS & LEARN:

*Body is made up of bones and muscles. For older children learn about ligaments and the different kinds of way bone connect; for example: ball and joint socket.

*If our bones and muscles didn't allow us movement what would happen?

*Examine different x-rays or a plastic skeleton. Do the bones look similar? Different? Short? Long? Fat? Skinny? Round? Flat?

*What is music like in other countries? Listen to their music.

*What is dancing like in other countries? Learn to dance like they do.

ACTIVITIES:

*Take a dance class: country, jazz, tap, ballet, ballroom, hip hop, etc.

*Take a music lessons: vocal, piano, violin, guitar, etc. Learn to play your favorite song.

*Dance to music! Put in you favorite CD and boogie!

*Shadow dancing: Turn off all the lights on the room, shine a bright lamp at a wall with enough room for you to move and dance between the lamp and the wall. Watch your shadow!

*Freeze dance: play music and dance. When the music stops your freeze in place. Continue dancing when the music starts again...repeat.

MAKE:

*Tambourine: fill a paper/plastic plate with beans or rice. Hot glue a second plate to the top of the plate (rims will be touching). If you want decorate your tambourine. Hot glue ribbons, yarn, foam pieces, etc. onto your tambourine.

*Pie plate tambourine: fill a pie plate with beans or rice. Hot glue a second pie plate on top (rims will be glued together). You can decorate with hot glueing items on or try puff paints.

*Shakers: video here. Use paper towel rolls, clean tin cans, plastic cups, etc. Fill with beans, rice, noodles, etc.

*Guitar: using an empty cardboard cracker box cut a circle shape in the lower bottom section. Stretch rubber bands across the hole.

SONGS:

DO YOUR EARS HANG LOW?

Do your ears hang low?

Do they wobble to and fro?

Can you tie them in a knot?

Can you tie them in a bow?

Can you throw them o'er your shoulder

Like a Continental Soldier?

Do your ears hang low?

Do your ears hang high?

Do they reach up to the sky?

Do they wrinkle when they're wet?

Do they straighten when they're dry?

Can you wave them at your neighbor

With an element of flavor?

Do your ears hang high?

Do your ears hang wide?

Do they flap from side to side?

Do they wave in the breeze

From the slightest little sneeze?

Can you soar above the nation

With a feeling of elevation?

Do your ears hang wide?

Do your ears fall off

When you give a great big cough?

Do they lie there on the ground

Or bounce up at every sound?

Can you stick them in your pocket

Just like Davy Crocket?

Do your ears fall off?

HEAD, SHOULDERS, KNEES AND TOES

Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes,

Knees and Toes

Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes,

Knees and Toes

And Eyes and Ears and Mouth and Nose

Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes

HOKEY POKEY

You put your right foot in,

You put your right foot out;

You put your right foot in,

And you shake it all about.

You do the Hokey-Pokey,

And you turn yourself around.

That's what it's all about!

You put your left foot in,

You put your left foot out;

You put your left foot in,

And you shake it all about.

You do the Hokey-Pokey,

And you turn yourself around.

That's what it's all about!

You put your right hand in,

You put your right hand out;

You put your right hand in,

And you shake it all about.

You do the Hokey-Pokey,

And you turn yourself around.

That's what it's all about!

You put your left hand in,

You put your left hand out;

You put your left hand in,

And you shake it all about.

You do the Hokey-Pokey,

And you turn yourself around.

That's what it's all about!

You put your right side in,

You put your right side out;

You put your right side in,

And you shake it all about.

You do the Hokey-Pokey,

And you turn yourself around.

That's what it's all about!

You put your left side in,

You put your left side out;

You put your left side in,

And you shake it all about.

You do the Hokey-Pokey,

And you turn yourself around.

That's what it's all about!

You put your nose in,

You put your nose out;

You put your nose in,

And you shake it all about.

You do the Hokey-Pokey,

And you turn yourself around.

That's what it's all about!

You put your backside in,

You put your backside out;

You put your backside in,

And you shake it all about.

You do the Hokey-Pokey,

And you turn yourself around.

That's what it's all about!

You put your head in,

You put your head out;

You put your head in,

And you shake it all about.

You do the Hokey-Pokey,

And you turn yourself around.

That's what it's all about!

You put your whole self in,

You put your whole self out;

You put your whole self in,

And you shake it all about.

You do the Hokey-Pokey,

And you turn yourself around.

That's what it's all about.

One of my favorite children's song and dance DVD is from the Laurie Berkner Band, visit their website here.

More action songs for children found here!

Snakes & Lizards

DISCUSS & LEARN:

*Why are snakes covered with plates and scales?

*What is a vertebrae?

*Different ways snakes move.

*Why are snakes jaws not linked together? Do all snakes swallow their food whole?

*Which snakes have teeth? How many teeth?

*Can some snakes smell with their nose? What do all snakes smell with?

*Are snakes carnivores, herbivores or omnivores? What about lizards?

*Which snakes lay eggs? Which snakes give live birth?

*Learn which snakes are poisonous. Are there poisonous lizards?

*Why do snakes shed their skin?

*Learn how to take care of snake bites properly.

ACTIVITIES:

*Go to a pet shop and look at the different snakes and lizards. Compare the size, color, habitats, etc. of each of the snakes and lizards.

*Play-dough snakes: make snakes with play-dough.

*Make lizard prints out of paper or in the dirt. Follow the prints to... (you can make up a fun surprise, scavenger hunt, snack, etc.)

MAKE:

*Snake: Cut out a large circle from a piece of construction paper. Draw a spiral in the circle (the fatter or skinner the spiral depends on how fat, skinny, long or short your snake will be). Cut along the spiral. On one end draw a head. You can decorate your snakes body with marker to make scales.

*Egg carton snake: decorate a egg carton snake. Make it look like your favorite kind of snake.

*Snake length: you will need yarn and scissors. Find out the length of many different snacks. Cut the yarn to represent the length of your snakes. Which snakes are the longest? Smallest? Are there snakes taller than you or your parents? Are there snakes smaller than your foot?

*Pantyhose snake: stuff one panty hose leg with tissue or batting. Add eyes and a tongue. You can draw on the snake with marker to decorate it.

*Check out all of these snack crafts here.

BOOKS:

Don't Take Your Snake For a Stroll by Karin Ireland

The Dangerous Snake and Reptile Club by Daniel San Souci

Snake Alley Band by Elizabeth Nygaard

Hide the Snake by Keith Baker

Slithery Jake by Rose-Marie Provencher

The Greedy Python by Eric Carle

Little Skink's Tail by Janet Halfmann

Leon the Lizard by Hollie Stockman

SONGS:

BOA CONSTRICTOR SONG

I'm being swallowed by a boa constrictor,

Boa constrictor, boa constrictor.

I'm being swallowed by a boa constrictor,

Now what do you think of that?

Oh no, he's got my toe

Oh gee, he has my knee

Oh my, he's up to my thigh

Oh fiddle, he's up to my middle

Oh heck, he's up to my neck

I'm being swallowed by a boa constrictor, boa constrictor, boa constrictor.

I'm being swallowed by a boa constrictor.

No! No! No! (In a high squeaky voice)

LIZARD FINGER PLAY

(One hand is in a fist to make a lizard; your pointer finger quickly moves in and out to act like a tongue. The five fingers on the other hand are the bugs that will disappear when the lizard eats them.)

5 little bugs on the forest floor,

Along came a sticky tongue lizard...slurp!!!

Now there are 4

4 little bugs on a kapok tree,

Along came a sticky tongue lizard...slurp!!!

Now there are 3

3 little bugs without a single clue,

Along came a sticky tongue lizard...slurp!!!

Now there are 2

2 little bugs ran a ton,

Along came a sticky tongue lizard...slurp!!!

Now there is 1

1 little bug knew that he was done,

Along came a sticky tongue lizard...slurp!!!

Now there is none.

HAVE YOU SEEN A LIZARD, A LIZARD, A LIZARD?

sung to: "Have You Ever Seen a Lassie"

Have you seen a lizard, a lizard, a lizard?

Have you ever seen a lizard all dressed up in pink?

With pink eyes, and a pink nose.

And pink legs and pink toes.

Have you ever seen a lizard all dressed up in pink?

Have you seen a lizard, a lizard, a lizard?

Have you ever seen a lizard all dressed up in white?

With white eyes, and a white nose.

And white legs and pink toes.

Have you ever seen a lizard all dressed up in white?

Have you seen a lizard, a lizard, a lizard?

Have you ever seen a lizard all dressed up in purple?

With purple eyes, and a purple nose.

And purple legs and purple toes.

Have you ever seen a lizard all dressed up in purple?

Have you seen a lizard, a lizard, a lizard?

Have you ever seen a lizard all dressed up in blue?

With blue eyes, and a blue nose.

And blue legs and blue toes.

Have you ever seen a lizard all dressed up in blue?

RECIPES:

Cup of dirt: check out my recipe here, scroll to the bottom.

Rice crispy snacks: shape rice crispy treats into snakes.

Farm birds

CHICKENS/ROOSTERS/CHICKS:

DISCUSS & LEARN:

*Difference in a chicken, a rooster and a chick

*Why do farms have chickens, roosters and chicks?

*What do they eat?

*Body parts.

*Can they fly?

ACTIVITIES:

*File folder games: click here for a farm animal game and to check out even more go here

*Feather rooster count: make a rooster and five feather tails. On the roosters bottom write the numbers 1-5. One the tails make dots matching the numbers (one tail has one dot, one tail has two dots, etc.). Place velcro on the roosters bottom and on the bottom of the tails. Have your child match up the feathers to the correct number on the rooster.

*Dance to the Chicken Dance song

MAKE:

*Dinosaur eggs: make hard boiled eggs. Let the eggs cool and dry. Then gently crack the egg so you have small tiny cracks all over. Let your eggs soak in cups of water dyed with food coloring for several hours. Or to make the time go by faster: overnight! Then peel the shell off to reveal your dinosaur egg. (Idea taken from Our Best Bites)

BOOKS:

The Little Red Hen: there are many authors pick your favorite

Chicken Cheeks by Michael Ian Black

Tillie Lays an Egg by Terry Blonder Golson

Chicken Little by Steven Kellogg

Rooster's Off to See the World by Eric Carle

Wake Up, Henry Rooster! by Margriet Ruurs

Rooster Can't Cock-A-Doodle-Doo by Karen Rostoker-Gruber

This Little Chick by John Lawrence

SONGS:

HICKETY PICKETY MY BLACK HEN

Hickety, pickety, my black hen,

She lays eggs for gentlemen;

Gentlemen come every day

To see what my black hen doth lay,

Sometimes nine and sometimes ten,

Hickety, pickety, my black he

CHICKEN: go here for words

HUMPTY DUMPTY

Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall,

Humpty Dumpty had a great fall.

All the king's horses and all the king's men

Couldn't put Humpty together again.

RECIPES:

*Eat chicken nuggets

*Make fried chicken and other chicken recipes

*Make eggs: omelets, scrambled, poached, hard boiled, fried, etc.

DUCKS/GEESE:

DISCUSS & LEARN:

*Body parts of ducks and geese

*Learn about other water fowl

*What do their eggs look like?

*What do they eat?

*Why do ducks put their head under water?

ACTIVITIES:

*Feed the ducks and geese at your local park

*Play duck, duck, goose

MAKE:

*Make you own feather pillow cases.

BOOKS:

Ugly Duckling: there are many authors pick your favorite

Duck on a Bike by David Shannon

The Day a Goose Got Loose by Reeve Lindbergh

Have You Seen My Duckling by Nancy Tafuri

Five Little Ducks by J. Geering

One Duck Stuck by Phyllis Root

The Little Duck by Judy Dunn

The Story About Ping by Marjorie Flack

The fable: The Goose and The Golden Egg

SONGS:

5 LITTLE DUCKS

Five little ducks

Went out one day

Over the hill and far away

Mother duck said

"Quack, quack, quack, quack."

But only four little ducks came back.

Four little ducks

Went out one day

Over the hill and far away

Mother duck said

"Quack, quack, quack, quack."

But only three little ducks came back.

Three little ducks

Went out one day

Over the hill and far away

Mother duck said

"Quack, quack, quack, quack."

But only two little ducks came back.

Two little ducks

Went out one day

Over the hill and far away

Mother duck said

"Quack, quack, quack, quack."

But only one little duck came back.

One little duck

Went out one day

Over the hill and far away

Mother duck said

"Quack, quack, quack, quack."

But none of the five little ducks came back.

Sad mother duck

Went out one day

Over the hill and far away

The sad mother duck said

"Quack, quack, quack."

And all of the five little ducks came back.

For more great ideas and activities on ducks go here.

Horses

DISCUSS & LEARN:

*Wild vs. tame horses

*Body parts of horses

*What are horses used for?

*Learn how to ride a horse. What do you need to wear? What do you need to put on the horse so he is ready to have a rider? What are the commands you should say?

ACTIVITIES:

*Rope a pole/log

*Dress-up: cowboys. You could even make a real campfire or one made for brown construction paper log and tissue paper flames. Make handkerchiefs.

*Pin the tail on the horse

*Play horseshoes or ring toss for the younger children

*Watch a horse race.

*Go horseback riding.

MAKE:

*Horse riding sticks

*Horse ears & tails out of constructions paper & yarn (for the tail)

BOOKS:

Black Beauty by Anna Sewell

The Black Stallion by Walter Farley

Misty of Chincoteague by Marguerite Henry

The Horse in Harry's Room by Syd Hoff

for even more books check out this website.

SONGS:

5 LITTLE COWBOYS

Five little cowboys sitting on a gate

The first one said, "Gee rodeo's are great!"

The second one said, "There are buzzard's in the air."

The third one said, "But we don't care."

The fourth one said, "Let's watch the horse run."

The fifth one said, "I am ready for some fun!"

Ooooooo went the wind and off went their hats.

And five little cowboys fell from where they sat.

Find more great cow, horse & cowboy ideas here.

RECIPES:

*Eat jerky and dried fruit like a cowboy.

*To make treats for your horse try these recipes.

Cows

COWS:

DISCUSS & LEARN:

*Body parts of a cow

*Uses of a cow

ACTIVITIES:

*Milk a live cow at a farm

*Milk rubber gloves. Pour milk into a rubber glove that have tiny pin holes in the finger tips. Let the children squeeze the milk into a bowl or milk bucket.

*Play cowboys

*Visit a farm or petting zoo

MAKE:

*Make cow masks

SCIENCE:

*Magic milk: you will need milk, food coloring, dish soap and plastic bowl or plate. Go here to watch video.

BOOK:

Click Clack Moo: Cows That Type by Doreen Cronin

The Cow That Went OINK by Bernard Most

The Story of Ferdinand by Munro Leaf

Moo, Baa, La, La, La by Sandra Boynton

Kiss the Cow by Phyllis Root

Cows Can't Fly by David Milgrim

Moo Moo, Brown Cow by Jackie Wood

SONGS:

Five Dairy Cows: go here.

RECIPES:

*Ice cream: go here.

*Butter: go here.

*Make hamburgers, steaks, ribs, etc. for dinner

ALL FARM ANIMALS:

ACTIVITIES:

With blocks add plastic animals and farm equipment

MAKE:

Animal dictionary: cut out pictures for magazines and make your own animal dictionary.

BOOKS:

Big Red Barn by Margaret Wise Brown

SONGS:

OLD MACDONALD

Old MacDonald had a farm,

Ee i ee i oh!

And on his farm he had some chicks,

Ee i ee i oh!

With a cluck-cluck here,

And a cluck-cluck there

Here a cluck, there a cluck,

Everywhere a cluck-cluck

Old MacDonald had a farm

Ee i ee i oh!

Old MacDonald had a farm,

Ee i ee i oh!

And on his farm he had some cows,

Ee i ee i oh!

With a moo-moo here,

And a moo-moo there

Here a moo, there a moo,

Everywhere a moo-moo

Old MacDonald had a farm,

Ee i ee i oh!

Old MacDonald had a farm,

Ee i ee i oh!

And on his farm he had some pigs,

Ee i ee i oh!

With an oink-oink here,

And an oink-oink there

Here an oink, there an oink,

Everywhere an oink-oink

Old MacDonald had a farm

Ee i ee i oh!

ALL GOD'S CRITTERS

All God's critters got a place in the choir

Some sing lower and some sing higher

Some sing out loud on the telephone wire

And some just clap their hands or paws,

Or anything they got now.

Listen to the bass, it's the one on the bottom

Where the bullfrog croaks and the hippopotamus

Moans and groans with a big t'do

And the old cow just goes moo.

The dogs and the cats they take up the middle

While the honeybee hums and the cricket fiddles,

The donkey brays and the pony neighs

And the old coyote howls.

All God's critters got a place in the choir

Some sing lower and some sing higher

Some sing out loud on the telephone wire

And some just clap their hands or paws,

Or anything they got now.

Listen to the top where the little birds sing

On the melodies with the high notes ringing,

The hoot owl hollers over everything

And the jaybird disagrees.

Singin' in the night time, singing in the day,

The little duck quacks, then he's on his way.

The 'possum ain't got much to say

And the porcupine talks to himself.

All God's critters got a place in the choir

Some sing lower and some sing higher

Some sing out loud on the telephone wire

And some just clap their hands or paws,

Or anything they got now.

It's a simple song of living sung everywhere

By the ox and the fox and the grizzly bear,

The grumpy alligator the hawk above,

The sly raccoon and the turtle dove.

All God's critters got a place in the choir

Some sing lower and some sing higher

Some sing out loud on the telephone wire

And some just clap their hands or paws,

Or anything they got now

RECIPES:

*Make animal shaped pancakes

*Make popcorn ball shaped creatures

Swim & Ocean

DISCUSS & LEARN:

*Safety rules: when at the pool, when at the lake, when at the beach. Always with an adult, sunscreen, life jacket, etc.

*Different ocean animals: starfish, crab, sharks, dolphins, jellyfish, swordfish, etc.

*Learn the different styles of swimming: backstroke, sidestroke, breaststroke, freestyle.

*Safety swimming positions

*Rescue: long pole, flotation ring, etc.

ACTIVITIES:

*Marco Polo: in the pool have one person close their eyes and try to find the other people by saying "Marco". The hidders reply "Polo".

*Sharks and Minnows: because others are better at describing things than be, go here to see the rules.

*Wash the car: you will need buckets of water, car wash soap, wash clothes, dry towels, and a hose.

*Run through the sprinklers.

*Slip and slide.

*Water flight: use pitchers, hose, squirt guns, etc.

*Body painting:

*Water baseball:

*Collect seashells when at the beach

*Paint seashells

*Seashell stamps: use seashells as stamps

MAKE:

*Sand picture frame: make your cardboard frame (like we did with the puzzle picture frame). With a paint brush spread a light coat of glue onto the front of the frame. Sprinkle the sand you collected from the beach onto the glue. Let it dry. Add seashells.

*Jewels of the sea: I found this cute tutorial at Family Circle.

*Jellyfish: in a quart size ziploc bag put a small amount of colored hair gel and some glitter (enough to coat the inside of the bag). Zip the bag mostly shut and blow air into the bag. Add crepe paper streamers to the zipper part of the bag.

BOOKS:

Froggy Learns to Swim by Jonathan London

SONGS:

I found a lot of fun songs here.

RECIPES:

*Candy sushi rolls: here.

*Homemade ice cream in a bag: here.

*Homemade popsicles: 50+ recipes here.

Bugs

DISCUSS & LEARN:

*Body parts of insects.

*Life cycles of insects.

*What is your state butterfly? Find out here.

ACTIVITIES:

*Bug in a rug: make a rectangular paper rug and about 8 different insects (ladybug, spider, beetle, ant, mosquito, butterfly, etc.) I laminated mine so they would last longer. Hide an insect under the rug and have the children guess which one is missing. Take turns. Let the children hide the bug under the rug.

*Make a butterfly net and catch butterflies!

*Make a home for a bug and catch them.

*Be a spider: With string wrapped around a tube of some sort (like a cut down wrapping paper tub or paper towel tub) attach it to your waste with a skinny belt or string. Attach the end of the string from your tube to something sturdy. Crawl around to unwind the string. Make a web!

*Start a bug collection.

MAKE:

*Egg carton bugs: using egg cartons, markers, foam pieces, pipe cleaner, glue, etc. make different bugs. For example caterpillar, butterfly, ladybug, spider, ant, fly, etc.

*Caterpillar paper chain: (idea from enchantedlearning.com) cut green construction paper into stripes (about a 1 1/2 inches thick). Link them together to create a chain. On the last one attach a circle of construction paper that has a face on it.

*Pipe cleaner bugs: use different color pipe cleaners to create bugs.

*Rock bugs: find and clean stones that are smooth and round/oval. Paint them to make bugs. Red with black spots and head for a ladybug, etc. What bugs will you create?

*Finger print bugs: with ink make finger prints on a piece of paper. Add legs, eyes, etc. to make your finger print bugs.

*Be a bug: with cheap headbands add pipe cleaner with pom poms on the end to make antennae. Dress up! You could have capes for wings or shells.

SCIENCE:

*Go on a bug hunt. In a fanny pack have paper, pencil, magnifying glass, glass jars & lids with holes, a bug list with pictures, camera, etc.

*Bug homes: explore old cocoons and beehives. Watch ants build their home.

BOOKS:

Bugs! Bugs! Bugs! by Bob Barner

Bug Safari by Bob Barner

The Very Busy Spider by Eric Carle

The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle

The Diary of a Spider by Doreen Cronin

Charloette's Web by E. B. White

James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl

The Grouchy Ladybug by Eric Carle

There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly by Simms Taback

The Very Quiet Cricket by Eric Carle

The Very Long Firefly by Eric Carle

In the Tall, Tall Grass by Denise Fleming

The Very Greedy Bee by Steven Smallman

The Honeybee and the Robber by Eric Carle

The Very Clumsy Click Beetle by Eric Carle

Ten Little Ladybugs by Melanie Gerth

SONGS:

LITTLE MISS MUFFET

Little Miss Muffet

Sat on her tuffet,

Eating her curds and whey;

Along came a spider,

Who sat down beside here

And frightened Miss Muffet Away

ITSY BITSY SPIDER

The itsy bitsy spider went up the water spout,

Down came the rain and washed the spider out

Out came the sun that dried up all the rain

And the itsy bitsy spider climbed up the spout again

BABY BUMBLEBEE

I'm bringing home a baby bumblebee,

Won't my mommy be so proud of me,

(Cup hands together as if holding bee)

I'm bringing home a baby bumblebee,

Ouch! It stung me!

(Shake hands as if just stung)

I'm squishing up the baby bumblebee,

Won't my mommy be so proud of me,

('Squish' bee between palms of hands)

I'm squishing up a baby bumblebee,

Ooh! It's yucky!

(Open up hands to look at 'mess')

I'm wiping off the baby bumblebee,

Won't my mommy be so proud of me,

(Wipe hands off on shirt)

I'm wiping off the baby bumblebee,

Now my mommy won't be mad at me!

(Hold hands up to show they are clean)

THE ANTS GO MARCHING

The ants go marching one by one, hurrah, hurrah

The ants go marching one by one, hurrah, hurrah

The ants go marching one by one,

The little one stops to suck his thumb

And they all go marching down to the ground

To get out of the rain, BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

The ants go marching two by two, hurrah, hurrah

The ants go marching two by two, hurrah, hurrah

The ants go marching two by two,

The little one stops to tie his shoe

And they all go marching down to the ground

To get out of the rain, BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

The ants go marching three by three, hurrah, hurrah

The ants go marching three by three, hurrah, hurrah

The ants go marching three by three,

The little one stops to climb a tree

And they all go marching down to the ground

To get out of the rain, BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

The ants go marching four by four, hurrah, hurrah

The ants go marching four by four, hurrah, hurrah

The ants go marching four by four,

The little one stops to shut the door

And they all go marching down to the ground

To get out of the rain, BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

The ants go marching five by five, hurrah, hurrah

The ants go marching five by five, hurrah, hurrah

The ants go marching five by five,

The little one stops to take a dive

And they all go marching down to the ground

To get out of the rain, BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

The ants go marching six by six, hurrah, hurrah

[ From: http://www.metrolyrics.com/the-ants-go-marching-lyrics-children.html ]

The ants go marching six by six, hurrah, hurrah

The ants go marching six by six,

The little one stops to pick up sticks

And they all go marching down to the ground

To get out of the rain, BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

The ants go marching seven by seven, hurrah, hurrah

The ants go marching seven by seven, hurrah, hurrah

The ants go marching seven by seven,

The little one stops to pray to heaven

And they all go marching down to the ground

To get out of the rain, BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

The ants go marching eight by eight, hurrah, hurrah

The ants go marching eight by eight, hurrah, hurrah

The ants go marching eight by eight,

The little one stops to shut the gate

And they all go marching down to the ground

To get out of the rain, BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

The ants go marching nine by nine, hurrah, hurrah

The ants go marching nine by nine, hurrah, hurrah

The ants go marching nine by nine,

The little one stops to check the time

And they all go marching down to the ground

To get out of the rain, BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

The ants go marching ten by ten, hurrah, hurrah

The ants go marching ten by ten, hurrah, hurrah

The ants go marching ten by ten,

The little one stops to say "THE END"

And they all go marching down to the ground

To get out of the rain, BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

RECIPES:

*Cup of dirt: see my recipe here, scroll down to the bottom.

*Ants on a log: spread peanut butter onto a stick of celery. Add raisins to make the ants.

*Ladybug apples: slice red apples in half. With peanut butter "glue" on raisins for the spots.

Garden: fruits & vegetables

Well, we are into our second week of Children's Month at Doodles & Doilies. I hope you are all getting great ideas and learning experiences so you can have a great summer with your children. I am out of town this week and away from all of my resources so I could use your help in getting ideas for activities, crafts, recipes, science projects, books, songs, etc. Don't be shy; email me at doodlesanddoilies(at)gmail(dot)com!

DISCUSS & LEARN:

*Why do some food grow above ground and other grow underneath the ground?

*Healthy food choices

ACTIVITIES:

*Food stamps: cut fruits & vegetables in half. Dip into paint and press them onto paper.

*Plant: plant seeds or starts in pots or your garden. Water & weed until ready to harvest. Make dinner or lunch using your home grown food.

*Prepare food: peel carrots & potatoes with peeler, boil potatoes & mash with masher, crack nuts with nut crackers,

*Food tasting: prepare lots of different kinds of food (even different ways). Everyone samples the food (don't force children to eat something they don't want to) and then on a graph chart what foods everyone like/dislikes. Try brocolli (raw/steamed), carrots (raw, steamed), peas, corn (on the cob/off), lettuce (iceburg, red leaf, etc.), cauliflower (raw, steamed), tomatoes (cherry, grape, stewed, raw, sauce, paste), pumpkin (seeds, pulp), radish, onion (yellow, white, red), squash, zucchini (raw, bread), cucumber, potatoes (mashed, baked, fries, tater tots, boiled), raspberries, strawberries, grapes (green, red, purple, juice), oranges (raw, juice, pulp), lemons (raw, lemonade), limes (raw, limeade), pineapple, watermelon, cantaloupe, honeydew, peach, nectarine, plum, banana (raw, bread), etc.

MAKE:

*Veggie man: cut out shapes of vegetables on colored paper. For example: cabbage (wavy circle), pea pods, broccoli, cherry tomatoes, celery sticks, etc. Using the colored shapes glue them together making a vegetable man.

*Food puppets: using 3-D objects make puppets.

Tennis ball (paint): tomato, pea, purple grape, orange, apple, etc. If you want cut a slit in the side to make a mouth; when you squeeze the sides it will open the mouth so you have a talking puppet.

Sock: corn stalk, carrot, celery, rhubarb

BOOKS:

Growing Vegetable Soup by Lois Ehlert

The Carrot Seed by Ruth Krauss

The Little Mouse, the Red Ripe Strawberry, and the Big Hungry Bear by Audrey Wood

Pumpkin, Pumpkin by Jeanne Titherington

SONGS:

*VEGETABLE

(make vegetable props (paper/flannel) to go with the song)

I'm a tomato, red and round

Red and round, red and round

I'm a tomato red and round

Seated in a group

I'm a corn stalk, tall and straight

Tall and straight, tall and straight

I'm a corn stalk, tall and straight

And I taste just great

I'm a carrot, long and orange

Long and orange, long and orange

I'm a carrot long and orange

Growing under ground

We are peas in a pod

In a pod, in a pod

We are peas in a pod

Cozy as can be

I'm a pumpkin, round and fat

Round and fat, round and fat

I'm a pumpkin round and fat

In a pumpkin patch.

*APPLES AND BANANAS

I like to eat, eat, eat apples and bananas

I like to eat, eat, eat apples and bananas

I like to ate, ate, ate ay-ples and ba-nay-nays

I like to ate, ate, ate ay-ples and ba-nay-nays

I like to eat, eat, eat ee-ples and bee-nee-nees

I like to eat, eat, eat ee-ples and bee-nee-nees

I like to ite, ite, ite i-ples and by-ny-nys

I like to ite, ite, ite i-ples and by-ny-nys

I like to ote, ote, ote oh-ples and bo-no-nos

I like to ote, ote, ote oh-ples and bo-no-nos

I like to oot, oot, oot oo-ples and boo-noo-noos

I like to oot, oot, oot oo-ples and boo-noo-noo

*PETER PETER PUMPKIN EATER

Peter, Peter, pumpkin-eater,

Had a wife and couldn't keep her;

He put her in a pumpkin shell,

And there he kept her very well

*WAY UP HIGH IN THE APPLE TREE

Way up high in the apple tree,

Two red apples looked down at me.

I shook the tree as hard as I could,

And down fell the apples

Mmm were they good!

RECIPES:

Vegetable stew: check out a recipe here

Fruit pizza: check out a recipe here

Vegetable pizza: check out a recipe here

*Salsa:

3 15 oz. cans of black beans, drained

1/3 c. garlic red wine vinegar

1/3 c. olive oil

1 1/2 tsp. minced garlic

3/4 tsp. salt

1/2 tsp. pepper

2 15 oz. cans of tomatoes

1 red onion

1 green pepper

1 can corn, drained

4 avocados, chopped

Mix together vinegar, oil, garlic, salt & pepper in a large bowl Add remaining ingredients, and stir to coat. Serve with tortilla chips.

Fruit salad: mix your desired fruits with cool whip

Green salad: mix lettuce with your desired vegetables

Potato salad: click here to view a recipe

Tomato & cucumber salad: cut on medium tomato into chunks and 1/2 a cucumber into chucks. Add a little bit of mayonnaise. Stir. Serve cool. My husband learned this recipe when he was in Russia.

Flowers & plants

LEARN & DISCUSS:

*Parts of flowers: roots, stem, leaves, bud, petals, pollen, etc.

*Characteristics of flowers & plants: texture, fragrance, color, silky, thorny, smooth, etc.

*Poisonous plants & flowers

*What do plants need to grow? Science project below.

*Why do some plants grow in the mountains and not in the tropics? (desert, forest, jungle, prairie, etc.)

*What is your state flower? Go here to find out.

*What can you do with flowers? Plants? Leis, necklaces, bouquets, corsage/boutonniere, etc.

*What flowers and plants are in your garden or home?

*What tools do you need to plant plants & flowers?

*Types of trees: coniferous & deciduous

ACTIVITIES:

*Dry flowers

*Press flowers

*Plant flowers & plants in pots or the garden

*Make a flower bouquet

*Weed the garden

*Paint with a branch of pine needles, a flower, weeds, tree/plant leaves, etc.

*Nature walk: go for a walk and look for different flowers & plants. Take pictures and put into a nature photo album. Or make a list of different flowers & plants that need to be found.

MAKE:

*Hair clips: I found a cute tutorial here.

*Paper flowers: view Kristine's (a guest blogger on D &D) tutorial here!

*Egg carton flowers

*Flower hand prints: paint or ink your hand. Press onto paper. Draw a stem and leaves to make your hand print a flower.

*Flower mask: use paper plates or material. Which flower will you be?

*Make a flower or plant collage: glue different parts of flowers/plants on to a piece of paper.

Tie dye flowers: you will need coffee filters, color markers, spray bottle with water, pipe cleaner, construction paper and glue. After the children have finished coloring with markers on the coffee filters, spray water directly onto the filter. Watch the colors mix. Scruch the middle of the flower up and wrap pipe cleaner around it to make a stem. Cut out leaves from construction paper and apply to pipe cleaner with glue.

SCIENCE:

*Flower tinting: put a carnation into water dyed with food coloring. As the flower drinks the colored water the petals will start to change colors.

*Compare different kinds of seeds. Observe with magnifying glass or microscope. Sort them by color, shape, size, etc.

*What makes plants grow? Have the same seed growing different ways. In a pot or cup put the items with "x" plus a few seeds. Which seeds grew & why? Try different types of seeds. Is there a difference.

SEEDS:

#1: sun

#2: soil

#3: water

#4: sun, soil

#5: sun, water

#6: soil, water

#7: sun, soil, water

*Try making dye with flowers and other plants. Paint/draw with your new colors. Find instructions and ideas for which plants make what colors here.

BOOKS:

The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett

The Tiny Seed by Eric Carle

Flower Garden by Eve Bunting

Changes by Marjorie N. Allen

Amelia's Road by Linda Jacobs Altman

Anna's Table by Eve Bunting

One Child, One Seed by Katheryn Cave

Leaf Man by Lois Ehlert

Oliver's Fruit Salad by Vivian French

Have You Seen Trees? by Joanne Oppenheim

This Year's Garden by Cynthia Rylant

SONGS:

*Popcorn Popping: find this LDS children's song here.

* In the Leafy Tree Tops: find this LDS children's song here.

*Little Purple Pansies: find this LDS children's song here.

*On a Golden Springtime: find this LDS children's song here.

*ONCE I WAS A SEED

(tune: Once There Was A Snowman; to hear this LDS children's song tune click here)

Once I was a seed, seed, seed. (squat in a ball on the ground)

Once I was a seed, small, small, small.

Then I stared growing, growing, growing. (slowly start to stand)

Then I started growing, tall, tall, tall. (stand as tall as you can with your arms reached high)

*FLOWER SONG

(Tune: The Farm in the Dell)

The flower has some roots, the flower has some roots,

The roots will carry food and drink, the flower has some roots.

The flower has a stem, the flower has a stem,

The stem will make is stand up tall, the flower has a stem.

The flower has some leaves, the flower has some leaves,

The leaves will cate the rain and sun, the flower has some leaves.

The flower has some petals, the flower has some petals,

The petals call the birds and bees, the flower has some petals.

*DIG DIG

Dig, dig, dig the Earth (make a digging motion)

Plant seeds in a row

(pretend to plant seeds)

A gentle rain

(flutter fingers down)

And a bright sunshine

(circle arms above head)

Will help our seeds to grow

(hold one arm paralleel to the ground and move the other arm up behind it with fingers extended to represent a plant growing)

*FLOWER EVERYWHERE

(Tune: Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star; Source: Jean Warren)

Flowers, flowers everywhere

In the garden, in my hair.

In the vase, at the store,

On the table, on the door.

What a lovely time of year,

Flowers blooming, bringing cheer.

*FAVORITE COLORS:

(Tune: Six Little Ducks)

So many flowers in the vase for you

Red ones, yellow ones, blue ones too

But the one little flower that rhymes with _____.

It's my favorite color, it's the color ______.

(bean:green, clown:brown, shoe:blue, bed:red, stink:pink, gak:black, jello:yellow)

*GREEN GRASS GREW ALL AROUND

There once was a tree

(audience repeats: There once was a tree)

A pretty little tree

(audience repeats: A pretty little tree)

The prettiest little tree

(audience repeats: The prettiest little tree)

That you ever did see

(audience repeats: That you ever did see)

Oh, the tree in a hole

And the hole in the ground

And the green grass grew all around, all around

And the green grass grew all around

Now on this tree

(audience repeats: Now on this tree)

There was a limb

(audience repeats: There was a limb)

The prettiest little limb

(audience repeats: The prettiest little limb)

That you ever did see

(audience repeats:That you ever did see)

Oh, the limb on the tree,

And the tree in a hole

And the hole in the ground

And the green grass grew all around, all around

And the green grass grew all around

Now on this limb

(audience repeats: Now on this limb)

There was a branch

(audience repeats: There was a branch)

The prettiest little branch

(audience repeats: The prettiest little branch)

That you ever did see

(audience repeats: That you ever did see)

Oh, the branch on the limb,

And the limb on the tree,

And the tree in a hole

And the hole in the ground

And the green grass grew all around, all around

And the green grass grew all around

Now on this branch

(audience repeats: Now on this branch)

There was a bough

(audience repeats: There was a bough)

The prettiest little bough

(audience repeats: The prettiest little bough)

That you ever did see

(audience repeats: That you ever did see)

Oh, the bough on the branch,

And the branch on the limb,

And the limb on the tree,

and the tree in a hole

And the hole in the ground

And the green grass grew all around, all around

And the green grass grew all around

Now on this bough

(audience repeats: Now on this bough)

There was a twig

(audience repeats: There was a twig)

The prettiest little twig

(audience repeats: The prettiest little twig)

That you ever did see

(audience repeats: That you ever did see)

Oh, the twig on the bough,

And the bough on the branch,

And the branch on the limb,

And the limb on the tree,

and the tree in a hole

And the hole in the ground

And the green grass grew all around, all around

And the green grass grew all around

Now on this twig

(audience repeats: Now on this twig)

There was a leaf

(audience repeats: There was a leaf)

The prettiest little leaf

(audience repeats: prettiest little leaf)

That you ever did see

(audience repeats: That you ever did see)

Oh, the leaf on the twig,

And the twig on the bough,

And the bough on the branch,

And the branch on the limb,

And the limb on the tree,

and the tree in a hole

And the hole in the ground

And the green grass grew all around, all around

And the green grass grew all around

Now on this leaf

(audience repeats: Now on this leaf)

There was a nest

(audience repeats: There was a nest)

The prettiest little nest

(audience repeats: prettiest little nest)

That you ever did see

(audience repeats: That you ever did see)

Oh, the nest on the leaf,

And the leaf on the twig,

And the twig on the bough,

And the bough on the branch,

And the branch on the limb,

And the limb on the tree,

and the tree in a hole

And the hole in the ground

And the green grass grew all around, all around

And the green grass grew all around

Now in this nest

(audience repeats: Now in this nest)

There was a bird

(audience repeats: There was a bird)

The prettiest little bird

(audience repeats: The prettiest little bird)

That you ever did see

(audience repeats: The you ever did see)

Oh, the bird in the nest,

And the nest on the leaf,

And the leaf on the twig,

And the twig on the bough,

And the bough on the branch,

And the branch on the limb,

And the limb on the tree,

and the tree in a hole

And the hole in the ground

And the green grass grew all around, all around

And the green grass grew all around

Now on this bird

(audience repeats: Now on this bird)

There was a feather

(audience repeats: There was a feather)

The prettiest little feather

(audience repeats: The prettiest little feather)

That you ever did see

(audience repeats: That you ever did see)

Oh, the feather on the bird,

And the bird in the nest,

And the nest on the leaf,

And the leaf on the twig,

And the twig on the bough,

And the bough on the branch,

And the branch on the limb,

And the limb on the tree,

and the tree in a hole

And the hole in the ground

And the green grass grew all around, all around

And the green grass grew all around

Now on this feather

(audience repeats: Now in this feather)

There was a flea

(audience repeats: There was a flea)

The prettiest little flea

(audience repeats: The prettiest little flea)

That you ever did see

(audience repeats: That you ever did see)

Oh, the flea on the feather,

And the feather on the bird,

And the bird in the nest,

And the nest on the leaf,

And the leaf on the twig,

And the twig on the bough,

And the bough on the branch,

And the branch on the limb,

And the limb on the tree,

and the tree in a hole

And the hole in the ground

And the green grass grew all around, all around

And the green grass grew all around

*HOORAY FOR SPRING TIME!

All the grass is turning green

Turning green, turning green

All the grass is turning green

Hooray for springtime!

See the flowers start to bloom

Start to bloo, start to bloom

See the flowers start to bloom

Hooray for springtime!

All the leaves are growing back

Growing back, growing back

All the leaves are growing back

Hooray for springtime!

Now it's time to fly a kite

Fly a kite, fly a kite

Now it's time to fly a kite

Hooray for springtime

Hear the birds sing their songs

Sing their songs, Sing their songs

Hear the birds sings their songs

Hooray for springtime!

Feel the rain on our arms

On our arms, on our arms

Feel the rain on our arms

Hooray for springtime!

Watch the worms twist and wiggle

Twist and wiggles, twist and wiggle

Watch the worms twist and wiggle

Hooray for springtime!

Yellow dandelions pop right up

Pop right up, pop right up

Yellow dandelions pop right up

Hooray for springtime!

Feel the sun shining down

Shining down, shining down

Feel the sun shining down

Hooray for springtime!

RECIPES:

Eat edible flowers: go here for some tips and hints

Flower sugar cookies: easy and yummy recipe here

Windy day & rainbows

We have reached the end of our first week in the Doodles and Doilies Children's Month. Thanks to everyone who is participating. We would still love to hear all of your ideas for activities, projects, books, songs, recipes and more! So send them my way at doodlesanddoilies(at)gmail(dot)com. And feel free to send any ideas, even if it doesn't go with any of the themes...I will find a place for it! Check out the Children's Month schedule here.

WIND, CLOUDS & KITES

DISCUSS & LEARN:

What makes the wind blow?

Why do clouds form?

Benjamin Frankin flew a kite during a lightening storm. Why?

ACTIVITIES:

*Fly kites at a park

*Watch the clouds. What do you see? How fast are they moving?

*Capture the wind: using plastic bags capture the wind. Open the bag until the wind has inflated it. Twist the bag shut keeping the air inside.

MAKE:

*Pinwheels: you will need paper (construction or plain); crayons, markers, glitter, stickers (and other decorative items); scissors; tape; paper fastener; cardboard cute into a small circle; and a straw, wooden dowel or unsharpened pencil. Have your child decorate the square piece of paper. Mark the center of the square and from each corner cute diagonally toward the center (stopping about one inch from the center). Fold in every other point toward the center; make sure the decorated side is facing outward. Tape the corners down. Push your paper fastener through the center of circular piece of cardboard. Then push the paper fastener through teh center of the pinwheel. Fasten the paper fastener to the straw. You will find visual instructions here

*Paper bag kite: you will need a large paper bag, hole punch, paper ring reinforcements, scissors, string, paint or markers, stapler or glue, and crepe paper for streamers. Punch a hole in each of the 4 corners in the bag (at the opening) at least one inch from the edge. Place ring enforcement around each hole (I would do inside and outside). Have your child decorate the bag. The bottom of the kite with be the open end and the top of the kite will be the closed end. Cut two three-foot lengths of string and each end into one of the holes (this will form two loops). Cut another three foot length of string (or longer depending on how much rope you want to hold on to). Tie one end of the string to both of the loops to create a handle. Attach crepe paper to the edges of the top of the kite (closed end of the bag). Have your child hold the string and run with the kite!

*Wind chime: go here to see instructions

SCIENCE PROJECTS:

*Moving air: you will need an empty soda bottle, balloon and hot water. First place the balloon over the mouth of the soda bottle. Put hot water into a cup/bowl (large enough to hold your soda bottle). Place the soda bottle into the hot water. The balloon will start to stand up as the air inside the balloon gets warmer it will expand. As the sun warms the air around the Earth it rises so the cool air takes its place. And moving air is wind.

*Make a cloud: you will need a empty soda bottle, matches, and warm water. Get the instructions here.

BOOKS:

It Looked Like Spilt Milk by Charles G. Shaw

I Face the Wind by Vikki Cobb

Willa and the Wind by Janice M. Del Negro

The Wind Blew by Pat Hutchins

The Cloud Book by Tomie DePaola

Little Cloud by Eric Carle

Spot's Windy Day by Eric Hill

Curious George Flies a Kite by Margaret and H. A. Rey

RECIPES:

*Graham cracker kite: Frost a graham cracker. Decorate with sprinks or candy. Add a red licorice rope to a corner.

*Marshmellow clouds: microwave marshmellows and eat!

RAINBOWS & COLORS

DISCUSS & LEARN:

What makes a rainbow?

Are there really pot of gold at the end of a rainbow?

What colors do you get when you mix two colors?

ACTIVITES

*Ice cube color melt: In an ice cube try add drops of food coloring (primary colors: red, yellow & blue) to the water. Freeze to make red, yellow & blue ice cubes. When frozed add two ice cubes (different colors) to a ziploc bag. Have children warm the ice cubes with their hands and see how the ice cubes make new colors.

*Red Light, Green Light: if you need the rules go here.

*Color: using crayons, markers, colored pencils color in coloring books.

*Crayon rubbings: you will need paper, textured objects, and crayons. Place the textured objects under your paper. Using the side of your crayons rub the paper above the objects.

*Wet chalk drawings: you will need sugar, water, colored chalk, and white paper. Mix 6 Tbsp of sugar with 1/4 cup water. Pour mixture over the colored chalk and let it soak for ten minutes. Use the wet chalk to draw pictures on the paper.

*Color dress up: wear a red (or whatever color) hat, scarf, tie, etc.

*Color search: look for things around the room that are orange (or a different color)

*Streamer decorations: hang colored crepe paper streamers (on color or multiple) in the doorway. If you want you can dedicate a day to one color. Decorate the house with colored table clothes, table settings, placemates, etc.

*Basket full of colors: Have the child pick out all of the things that yellow (or whatever color you choose).

*Lots of color for one: For colors that have a lot of different hues like green or blue, you can have the children arrange items (like crayons) from darkest to lightest.*

*Geoboard and rubber bands: Provide one color of rubberbands and a geoboard. If you need to make a geoboard it is a square piece of wood with nails in a straight line (vertical & horizontal) covering the board.

*Drop the handkerchief: Use a purple (or color of your choice) handkerchief. To see the rules go here.

*Streamer dancing: Use blue (or different color) streamers and dance to music.

*Playdough: dye your choice of playdough recipes the color you desire and add some playdough toys. You can also add matching colored pipecleaners, buttons, etc. To see recipes on my blog click here, then scroll down to the bottom of the post.

*Classify: sort a box of buttons or beads in to sets of orange (or which ever color).

*Leaf hunt: go on a leaf hunt and collect lots of different kinds of leaves (shape, size, color, etc.). Afterwards sort the leaves into groups like big/little, rough/smooth edges, green/not green, etc.

*Light show: Cover flashlights with colored cellophane. Each flashlight can be the same color or different color.

*Parachute: with a large group: using a rainbow parachute or a plain color parachute hold on to the edge and lift up and down. Add balls and toss them up and down.

*Cotton ball toss: standing at a predetermined line toss cotton balls into a bowl, cup or laundry basket.

*Salt art: pour salt onto a plate, tray, or cookie sheet. Using your finger draw in the salt.

*I Spy: describe items that are certain colors for the child to find. Take turns. Let them find a colored item for you to find.

MAKE

*Rainbow crayons: you will need broken crayon pieces, clean and empty tin cans, pot of hot water, and empty 35-mm film canisters. Help your child sort the broken crayon pieces into matching colors. Place a pile of matching crayons into a tin can. Place the tin can into the pot of very hot or boiling water until the crayons are melted. Pour a small amount of the melted wax into the film canisters (about 1/4 of an inch). When the wax hardens your are ready to do your second color. When you are finished your child(ren) will have a new set of fat rainbow crayons.

*Swirly stones: you will need clean rocks, aluminum foil, oven mit, newspaper and crayons. Go here to see directions

*Stained glass crayons: you will need broken pieces of different colors of crayon, muffin tin, and aluminum foil (optional). Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Remove paper from crayons if there is any left. Grease your muffin tin well or use aluminum foil to line your muffin tin. Have your child place the crayons into the muffin tin. Place in oven for a few minutes. If you are able to see into your oven from the outside, turn the light on and watch the crayons melt. Remove from the oven and let cool completely. When cooled, your child will have new large circular shaped crayons. If they chose to mix different colors it will have created a stained glass look.

*Color collage: choose a color a make a collage with items of that color. You can use buttons, paper, ribbon, beads, sequeins, glitter, markers, crayons, colored pencils, pictures from magazines, leaves, flowers, etc.

*Make lemonade: provide lemons, strainers, water and sugar. You may want to have really good tasting lemonade for them just incase theirs doesn't turn out to good. But make sure everyone samples everyones homemade lemonade (good or bad). Scroll down to the recipe section for the lemonade recipe.

*Make frogs and a log for the 5 Little Green and Speckled Frog song

*Make green lilly pads. Afterwards leap like a frog from lilly pad to lilly pad.

*Colorful shadows: outside make color shadows using colorc cellophane.

*Hidden picture: draw a color picture on paper. Then color over it with black crayon. Take toothpick and scratch a design on the black crayon. Making a new picture!

*Cotton ball cloud: on a piece of blue paper glue white cotton balls to make clouds.

SCIENCE:

*Examine fruit peels with a magnifying glass; such as lemon peels, orange peels, lime peels, grape skin, pinapple peel, etc.

*Observe goldfish.

BOOKS

Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? by Eric Carle

Rainbow Fish by Marcus Pfister

Planting a Rainbow by Lois Elhert

Let's Paint a Rainbow by Eric Carle

Mouse Paint by Ellen Stoll Walsh

Blueberries for Sal by Robert McCloskey

Hello, Red Fox by Eric Carle

Mary Wore a Red Dress, Henry Wore Green Sneakers by Merle Peek

Elizabeth Silzmann's collection of color books (Red, Yellow, Purple, Orange, ect.)

Red in My World by Joanne Winne (and all the ____in My World color books)

Ted in a Red Bed by Jenny Tyler

Blue Frogs by Margaret Campilonga

Blue Sea by Robert Kalan

Mary Lou Likes Blue by Lyn Hester

Olmo the Blue Butterfly by Alma Flor Ada

Fuzzy Yellow Ducklings by Mathew Van Fleet

Little Blue and Little Yellow by Leo Lionni

Yellow in My World by Joanne Winne

The Yellow Lion by Margaret Camplilonga

Green by Mary Elizabeth Salzmann

Green Eggs and Ham by Dr. Seuss

The Green Giraffe by Margaret Camplilonga

Harold and the Purple Crayon by Crockett Johnson

Mr. Pine's Purple House by Leonard Kessler

Purple is Best by Dana Meachen Rau

Black on White by Tana Hoban

Black, White, Just Right by Marguerite W. Davol

Ten Black Dots by Donald Crews

Little White Dog by Laura Godwin

First Pink Light by Eloise Greenfield

Little Pink Ballerina by Mary Beckett

The Pink House by Pat Hutchins

Pink Is Perfect by Barbara and Cindy Ruiter

Think Pink by Olga Cossi and Lea Anee Clarke

SONGS

*Listen to Blues music

*I LIKE TO LOOK FOR RAINBOWS: this LDS children's song can be found here.

*ONE-EYED ONE-HORNED FLYING PURPLE PEOPLE EATER

The One-Eyed One-Horned Flying Purple People Eater

Well I saw the thing coming out of the sky

It had one long horn and one big eye

I commenced to shakin' and I said oo-wee

It looks like a purple people eater to me

It was a one-eyed one-horned flying purple people eater

Sure looks good to me

Well, he came down to earth and he lit in a tree

I said mr Purple People Eater don't eat me

I heard him say in a voice so gruff

I wouldn't eat you 'cos you're too tough

It was a one-eyed one-horned flying purple people eater

It sure looks strange to me

I said mr Purple People Eater what's your line

He said eating purple people and it sure is fine

But that's not the reason that I came to land

I wanna get a job in a rock 'n roll band

Well, bless my soul rock 'n roll flying' purple people eater

Pigeon-toed under-growed flyin' purple people eater

one-eyed one-horned it was a people eater

What a sight to see

Well, he swung from the tree and he lit on the ground

he started to rock really rockin' around

It was a crazy ditty with a swinging tune

Wop bop a lula wop bam boom

one-eyes one-horned flying people eater

Ooh, it sure looks strange to me

*FIVE GREEN AND SPECKLE FROGS

Five green and speckled frogs

Sat upon a speckled log

Eating some most delicious bugs.

Yum Yum!

One jumped into the pool

Where it was nice and cool.

Then there were

Four green and speckled frogs.

Glub Glub!

Four green and speckled frogs

Sat upon a speckled log

Eating some most delicious bugs

Yum Yum!

One jumped into the pool

Where it was nice and cool.

Then there were

Three green and speckled frogs.

Glub Glub!

Three green and speckled frogs

Sat upon a speckled log

Eating some most delicious bugs

Yum Yum!

One jumped into the pool

Where it was nice and cool.

Then there were

Two green and speckled frogs.

Glub Glub!

Two green and speckled frogs

Sat upon a speckled log

Eating some most delicious bugs

Yum Yum!

One jumped into the pool

Where it was nice and cool.

Then there was

One green and speckled frog.

Glub Glub!

One green and speckled frog

Sat upon a speckled log

Eating some most delicious bugs

Yum Yum!

One jumped into the pool

Where it was nice and cool.

Then there was

No green and speckled frog.

Glub Glub!

*LAVENDER BLUE

Lavender's blue, dilly dilly, lavender's green,

When I am king, dilly, dilly, you shall be queen.

Who told you so, dilly, dilly, who told you so?

'Twas my own heart, dilly, dilly, that told me so.

Call up your men, dilly, dilly, set them to work

Some with a rake, dilly, dilly, some with a fork.

Some to make hay, dilly, dilly, some to thresh corn.

While you and I, dilly, dilly, keep ourselves warm.

Lavender's green, dilly, dilly, Lavender's blue,

If you love me, dilly, dilly, I will love you.

Let the birds sing, dilly, dilly, And the lambs play;

We shall be safe, dilly, dilly, out of harm's way.

I love to dance, dilly, dilly, I love to sing;

When I am queen, dilly, dilly, You'll be my king.

Who told me so, dilly, dilly, Who told me so?

I told myself, dilly, dilly, I told me so.

*TWO LITTLE BLACKBIRDS

Two little blackbirds, sitting on a hill.

(Make fists, with thumbs straight up for "birds.")

One named Jack,

(Wiggle left thumb.)

One named Jill.

(Wiggle right thumb.)

Fly away Jack,

(Move left hand back over left shoulder.)

Fly away Jill,

(Move right hand over right shoulder.)

Come back Jack,

(Bring left hand, with thumb up, back in front of you.)

Come back Jill.

(Bring right hand, with thumb up, back in front of you.)

(Repeat first 3 lines)

*LITTLE RED WAGON

Bumping up and down in my little red wagon

Bumping up and down in my little red wagon

Bumping up and down in my little red wagon

Won’t you be my darling

One wheel’s off and the axels broken

One wheel’s off and the axels broken

One wheel’s off and the axels broken

Won’t you be my darling

We’re gonna fix it with a screwdriver

We’re gonna fix it with a screwdriver

We’re gonna fix it with a screwdriver

So that we can ride it

Bumping up and down in my little red wagon

Bumping up and down in my little red wagon

Bumping up and down in my little red wagon

Won’t you be my darling

(song may repeat with different tools)

*LITTLE RED WAGON (a different version)

Bumpin' up and down in my little red wagon

Bumpin' up and down in my little red wagon

Bumpin' up and down in my little red wagon

Havin' so much fun

Here come my friends in their little red wagons

Here come my friends in their little red wagons

Here come my friends in their little red wagons

Havin' so much fun

Pull me around in my little red wagon

Pull me around in my little red wagon

Pull me around in my little red wagon

Havin' so much fun

Turn the corner in my little red wagon

Turn the corner in my little red wagon

Turn the corner in my little red wagon

Havin' so much fun

Bumpin' up and down in my little red wagon

Bumpin' up and down in my little red wagon

Bumpin' up and down in my little red wagon

Havin' so much fun

We're having so much fun

**RED

(Tune; ARE YOU SLEEPING?)

R-E-D, red.

R-E-D, red.

I can spell red

I can spell red.

Fire trucks are red,

Stop signs are red, too.

R-E-D,

R-E-D.

**BLUE

(Tune: The Farmer in the Dell)

B-L-U-E spells blue

B-L-U-E spells blue

Hi-ho did you know

B-L-U-E spells blue?

The big sky is blue

The ocean is too

Hi-ho did you know

B-L-U-E spells blue?

**ORANGE

(Tune: The Wheels on the Bus)

O-R-A-N-G-E,

O-R-A-N-G-E,

O-R-A-N-G-E

ORANGE is what that spells

Jack-o-lanterns are always orange

Carrots are always orange

Oranges are always orange

O-R-A-N-G-------E!

**WHITE

(Tune: Little Brown Jug)

W-H-I-T-E

That spells white, sing with me

Milk is white, and so is glue

Ghosts are white

And they say Boo!

W-H-I-T-E

That spels white, sing with me

The clouds above, the snow below

Santa's Beard, Ho, Ho, Ho!!

**PINK

(Tune: Jingle Bells)

Cotton candy, fat pink pigs

Girls with socks and bows

P-I-N-K, P-I-N-K that is how it goes

Bubble gum, valentines

These are all pink too

Pink icing and pink balloons

We can spell can you?

(repeat once more)

**BLACK

B-L-A-C-K, spells black

B-L-A-C-K, spells black

Flying bats are black

Scary cats are black

Jelly beans are black

I like black.

B-L-A-C-K, spells black

B-L-A-C-K, spells black

Sunday shoes are black

Santa's boots are black

B-L-A-C-K spells black.

**BROWN

(Tune: BINGO)

There is a color we all know.

Can you guess what it is?

B-R-O-W-N.

B-R-O-W-N.

B-R-O-W-N.

That's how you spell brown.

Teddy bears and squirrels are brown.

Autum leaves are too.

Chocolate candy is always brown.

Chocolate cake is always brown.

Chocolate milk is always brown.

I like brown, don't you?

**PURPLE

P-U-R-P-L-E, purple, purple

P-U-R-P-L-E, purples' what that spells

Purple grapes on the vine

Purple Kool-Aid's fine

P-U-R-P-L-E, purple's what that spells

(repeat song once more)

**GREEN

(Tune: Row, Row, Row Your Boat)

G-R-E-E-N, G-R-E-E-N

I know how to spell green, G-R-E-E-N

Caterpillars are green

And grasshoppers, too

I know how to spell green, G-R-E-E-N

**YELLOW

(Tune: If You're Happy And You Know It)

Y-E-L-L-O-W spells yellow.

Y-E-L-L-O-W spells yellow.

Like the early morning sun.

When the day has just begun..

Y-E-L-L-O-W spells yellow.

Daffodils and baby ducks are yellow.

Lemonade and scrambled eggs are yellow.

I like the smiley face that's yellow.

He is such a happy fellow.

Y-E-L-L-O-W spells yellow.

**These color songs by Frog Street Press can be found here.

RECIPES/FOOD:

*Color meals:

Red: strawberries, cherries, red apples, raspberries, red potatoes, red peppers, beets, radish, tomatoes, cranberries, red gelatin and spaghetti

Orange: oranges, carrots, sweet potatoes, orange peppers, peaches, nectarines, apricots, orange juice, orange gelatin and goldfish crackers

Yellow: lemons, yellow peppers, corn, lemon yogurt, lemonade, pinapple, yellow gelatin, macaroni & cheese, eggs and yellow cake or cookies

Green: limes, green beans, celery, green apples, green grapes, green peppers, lettuce, cucumber, zucchini, peas, broccoli, green gelatin, green eggs and ham (to go along with the story), jalapeno jelly, spinach, and lime yogurt

Blue: blueberries, blue gelatin, and blue frosting on cake

Purple: grape juice, purple gelatin, purple grapes and plums

Black: oreos

White: vanilla pudding, cauliflower, coconut, white bread and mozzarella string cheese

Brown: brownies, chocolate pudding, nuts, peanut butter and jerky

Pink: salmon, pink lemonade and pink gelatin

*Rainbow cupcakes:

white cake mix

food coloring

cupcake liners

6 small mixing bowls or containers

Make cake according to directions. Seperate cake mix into 6 different mixing bowls. Add food coloring (red, orange, yellow, green, blue, violet). Line miffin tin with cupcake liners. Add the 6 different colors of cake mix to the liners and bake according to cake box instructions. To see my picture tutorial click here.

*Lemonade:

1 cup sugar

4 to 5 cups water

1 cup lemon juice (4-6 lemons)

Make a syrup by heating the sugar with 1 cup of water in a saucepan. Heat until sugar is dissolved completely. Meanwhile, juice your lemons. Add the lemon juice and sugar water to a pitcher. Add 3-4 cups of cold water (to taste). Refridgerate for about 1/2 an hour.

Just another reminder to choose age appropriate activities for your children.

Sources: a lot of the ideas this week came from old lesson plans from myself and coworkers as well as curriculum books, the interent and of course you!