MORE WEATHER ACTIVITIES
RAIN STICK
Supplies:
Cardboard Rolls- Wrapping paper rolls work the best
1 1/2 inch nails
dried peas
Masking Tape
Things to decorate with Cover the end of the cardboard roll with masking tape.
Poke in the nails randomly all over the tube so that they all the way into
the tube but not out the other side. You will need to use quite a lot to get
a good sound effect.
Then add about 1/2 cup of dried peas in the tube and tape up the other end.
Let the children decorate the outside however they would like.
Weather Song
Sung to 'BINGO'
There was a time when we got wet and rainy was the weather.
R-A-I-N-Y, R-A-I-N-Y, R-A-I-N-Y, and rainy was the weather.
There was a time when we got hot and sunny was the
weather.............
There was a time when we got cold and snowy was the weather..........
There was a time when we were blown and windy was the weather.
Raindrops
Pitter-patter raindrops (wiggle fingers to imitate falling rain)
Falling from the sky,
Here is my umbrella (hands over head)
To keep me safe and dry!
When the rain is over
And the sun begins to glow (make large circle with arms)
Little flowers start to bud (cup hands together)
And grow and grow and grow (spread hands apart slowly)
RAIN ACTIVITIES
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.
Class Rainbow
Obtain a large piece of butcher paper. Have the children make a rainbow using their handprints using all the colors of the rainbow.
Tissue 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 tissue paper to the glued area. Next apply glue under the red tissue paper for the next color, and so on!! (you will only be able to do three or four colors)
Rainbow Necklaces
Supply the children with fruitloops and yarn to make a wonderful necklace they can eat:)
Tissue Paper Rainbows 2:
Supply the children with many different colors of tussue paper that will bleed. Have them cut out small shapes and then place on a piece of white paper. After the paper is covered with a single layer of paper (it' okay if a few overlap) have the children paint the paper with water so the tissue paper will bleed onto the white paper. Allow to dry, remove the paper for a beautiful picture.
Paint with Clouds
Supply each child with a piece of blue paper, a cotton ball and white paint. Have the child dip the cotton ball into the white paint and press onto the paper to make cloud prints.
Paint with a Cloud 2:
Supply the children with a piece of white paper an many cotton balls and many different colors of paint, and have them paint with the cotton ball on the paper.
Blue Shaving Cream Art
Add a few drops of blue paint to shaving cream. Have the children use this to paint with. Not mixing the paint in will give it a special look.
Raindrop Hats
Make hats from newsprint and have the child decorate with blue paint or rain and rainbow stickers.
Raindrop People
Give the children a piece of white paper, and a blue raindrop shape. Have the children glue the raindrop onto the paper, and then draw a body as if the raindrop was a head.
Torn Paper Raindrops
Draw a raindrop shape on a piece of paper. Have the children tear pieces of blue construction paper, and glue them inside the lines for the raindrop shape.
Raindrop Necklaces
Supply the children with raindrop shaped stencil. Have the children cut out raindrop shapes from construction paper. Then, have them use a hole punch to make a hole, so they can thread them onto a piece of yarn.
Noodle Necklaces
Supply the children with pasta noodles that have been dyed many different colors for a rainbow necklace, and yarn. Have the children thread the noodles onto the yarn to make a necklace.
Sponge Art
Supply the children with spring sponges and paint and have them make a spring scene with them.
Spring Cookie Cutter Art:
Obtain a cookie cutter that is shaped like a raindrop. Have the children dip the cookie cutter in a shallow container of blue paint, then press onto a piece of paper to make raindrop prints.
Raindrop Rubbings
Cut raindrop shapes from paper doilys or sandpaper. Tape these raindrops to the table. Have the children place a piece of thin white paper over the raindrops and rub a crayon over the raindrop.
Sticker Art
Supply the children with raindrop and rainbow stickers and have them place them on a piece of white paper.
Stamp Art
Supply the children with raindrop and rainbow stamps and have them make a spring scene with the stamps.
Rainbow Eggshell Collage
Use food coloring to color crushed eggshells a few different colors. (You can use eggshells from eggs you have used, there is no need to hard boil these egg shells.) Let your child glue the eggshells to a piece a paper after the dye has dried.
Raindrop Headbands
Measure your child's head, and cut a piece of construction paper long enough to create a headband. Glue the paper together so the headband fits snugly on your child's head but is loose enough to take off easily. Have the children cut out blue raindrop shapes or use stickers and glue to the headband.
Fingerprint Raindrops
Supply your children with white paper and a non-toxic blue stamp pad. Have the children make fingerprints on the paper to represent raindrops.
Rain Catcher
Obtain a flat bottomed jar with straight sides. Tape a ruler to the side, so that the number 1 is 1 inch from the bottom. Set out the jar on a rainy day, and later that day see how much rain was collected. Obtain a newspaper to check the forecast to see whether they match your results.
RAIN
Submitted by Dot Kiebala
Books: "Puddles" by London.
"The Puddle Pail", Branley,
"Will It Rain" by Holly Keller.
1. Have children make puddles out of tinfoil (aluminum foil) on craft paper.
2 Take them out for a "puddle walk" after a rainfall, and have them look
into a puddle for reflections of themselves, their surroundings, the sky...
3 Have children draw a "person" and then add all of the clothes their person will need to stay dry, coats, boots, umbrellas.
4 Make a collage from magazine and catalogue cutouts of things that profit from rain...grass, animals that eat the grass, trees, flowers, gardens..
THREE LITTLE RAINDROPS
Three little raindrops sitting in a cloud.
The first one said, "The thunder sure is loud!"
The second one said, "The lightning's very bright!"
The third one said, "A rainbow is in sight!"
Then splash went the raindrops, down from the sky
To water all the plants and help them grow up high.
CLOUD IDEAS
Cloudy days: give each child a slice of bread. Invite the children to bite the edges to make a cloud shape.
Cloud match: Cut sets of cloud shapes from white and black construction paper. Encourage the children to match clouds with their shadows.
Tearing white paper into cloud shapes not only lets them use their imaginations to see if their shapes resemble other things, but it's good for hand strengthening too.
FIVE UMBRELLAS
Submitted by Jan
Five umbrellas stood by the door,
The red one went outside, then there were four.
Four umbrellas, pretty as could be,
The blue one went outside, then there were three.
Three umbrellas with nothing to do,
The green one went outside, then there were two.
Two umbrellas not having much fun,
The yellow one went outside, then there was one.
Just one umbrella alone in the hall,
The purple one went outside, and that was all.
RAIN STICKS
Take a paper towel tube and cover one end with tape or contact paper. Fill it up with styrofoam peanuts (that annoying packing material) add a couple of tablespoons of dry rice and cover the other end. Decorate with yarn feathers what ever. When turned over the rice falls slowly from one end to the other making a sound like falling rain.
RAINBOW
Submitted by Verlona
We made a great rainbow.
You cut out a huge rainbow and then cut it into 6 pieces (We used our kidney shaped table for a pattern ). The children collage the strips with various items of the same color, not necessarily the same shade. For example with blue we had dark blue, light blue, and several shades in between.
We used buttons, feathers, tissue paper, wood shapes, colored macaroni, glitter, yarn and ribbon scraps, etc...
The children love doing it and it looks good.
At our center we have a morning and afternoon session so each class did 3 pieces of the rainbow.
RAIN POEM
Submitted by Trisha
Rain on the green grass
And rain on the tree.
Rain on the housetop
But not on me!
RAINBOW COLORS
Submitted by Shirley
Rainbow Color Science Art
Using white coffee filters, use colored water markers to draw on these. Magic colors will appear when you use a spray bottle filled with water to spritz on these. Rainbow colors!
UMBRELLA MOBILE
Materials
Paper plate
crayons
scissors
pipe cleaner
string
hole punch
Cut a couple of paper plates in the shape of the top of an umbrella for the children to use as tracers. Have them trace and cut their plate and decorate. Have them draw small pictures of raindrops, ducks, boots anything that has to do with wet weather. Have them cut out these items. Depending on the age and ability of the children have them or you punch holes in the umbrella and pictures and hang them from the umbrella top. Bend the pipe cleaner (chenille stem) into a hook shape and either staple or glue to the middle of the umbrella and hang from the ceiling.
RAINBOWS
Submitted by Diane
Hi everyone, I am just about to file my March curriculum and when leafing through I remembered I wanted to share my rainbows with you. I teach threes and this worked out great for them. You will need a 1/2 sheet (8 1/2 x 11) of each of the six colors. On three colors I traced a half circle about six inches across. I then stapled the other three to each one of the tracing. This was so the children could cut out two colors at the same time. I also find it easier for them to cut through two sheets than one sheet which usually tears. After cutting out the six half circles, with our help, they put the colors in order and we glued them along the bottom line. Some were glued side to side, others up and down. Whatever, they all looked great. We then hung them from the ceiling in our room. We tied this around a visit from a leprechaun who promised to return if we filled our room with rainbows. I loved this project...it reinforced cutting, color recognition and sequencing.
CLOUD WATCHING and LOOKS LIKE SPILT MILK
Submitted by Marilyn
At our playground time, I bring out a large sheet and we all lay down on it.
We do cloud gazing. Each child takes a turn telling what he/she sees. They love this activity. When we get inside (circle time) I hand out the white, flannel pieces to the book It Looked Like Spilt Milk, by Charles Shaw. As I read the book, the children bring up the pieces to the flannel board that match to the story. The children stay focused and it helps to distinguish shapes. For the art for the day, I put out white paint and spoons and light blue construction paper. The paper is folded in half and the child places some white paint on one side. Then he/she presses very hard and opens the paper to see what he created. They enjoy this so much. I ask "What do you see......." and I write their reply on the paper. We hang them in our hallway for the parents to enjoy. this is a big success.
EASY RAINBOW
Submitted by Barbara
Here's an easy project for rainbows for any age. Just paint the kids hands - across not down the fingers with rainbow colors (all colors at once so hands are striped) then press or let them press their hands all over the paper (any color paper of your choice -though blue is nice- you know, for the sky LOL.) You could draw a rainbow shape (just a "n" shape doubled) and have older kids fill in area by themselves. Then we wrote "Little Hands from Rainbow Village" (cause that's our name). They were really cute and SOOO easy.
RAINBOWS SONGS
Submitted by Iram
Oh, Rainbow
(to the tune of "Oh, Christmas Tree")
Oh, rainbow, oh, rainbow,
How lovely are your colors.
Oh, rainbow, oh, rainbow,
How lovely are your colors.
Purple, red and orange, too,
Yellow, green and blue so true.
Oh, rainbow, oh, rainbow,
How lovely are your colors.
-------------
Rainbow
(to the tune of "There's a Hole In My Bucket")
There's an arc in a rainbow,
So pretty, so pretty.
There's an arc in a rainbow,
With colors you see.
The sun after rain
Makes the colors, the colors.
The sun after rain
Makes the colors you see.
There's red and there's orange
And there's yellow so pretty.
There's red and there's orange
And there's yellow you see.
There's green and there's blue
And there's violet so pretty.
There's green and there's blue
And there's violet you see.
There's an arc in a rainbow,
So pretty, so pretty.
There's an arc in a rainbow,
With colors you see.
by Meish Goldish
Umbrellas:
Five umbrellas stood by the back door,
The red one went outside, then there were four.
Four umbrellas pretty as can be,
The blue one went outside, then there were three.
Three umbrellas with nothing to do,
The green one went outside, then there was one.
Just one umbrella alone in the hall,
The purple one went outside, and that was all!
RAINBOW SONGS
Submitted by Lisa
If you want to see a rainbow
(sung to If your happy and you know it)
If you want to see a rainbow, check the sky.
Just as its raining, look up high.
With the sun behind your back,
you will see the colors stacked.
Oh, I love to see a rainbow in the sky!
Rainbow Train
sung to The mulberry bush
The rainbow train is coming to town
coming to town, coming to town.
the rainbow train is coming to town
It's moving very fast!
The rainbow train is full of toys
Full of toys, full of toys
The rainbow train is full of toys
For all the girls and boys!
The red car's filled with bats and balls
Bats and balls, bats and balls.
The red car's filled with bats and balls
For all the girls and boys.
The orange car's filled with puzzles and blocks,
Puzzles and blocks, puzzles and blocks.
The orange car's filled with puzzles and blocks
For all the girls and boys.
The yellow car's filled with dolls and planes,
Dolls and planes, dolls and planes.
The yellow car's filled with dolls and planes,
For all the girls and boys.
The green car's filled with cars and boats,
Cars and boats, cars and boats.
The green car's filled with cars and boats,
For all the girls and boys.
The Blue car's filled with whistles and drums,
Whistles and drums, whistles and drums.
The blue car's filled with whistles and drums,
For all the girls and boys.
The purple car's filled with marbles and tops,
Marbles and tops, marbles and tops.
The purple car's filled with marbles and tops,
For all the girls and boys.
Red and orange, yellow and green
Blue and purple cars I see.
The rainbow train is here at last
I'm glad it came so fast!
"Did You Ever Hear A Rainbow"
(Did You Ever See A Lassie)
Did you ever hear a rainbow,
a rainbow, a rainbow
Did you ever hear a rainbow
FORGET TO SAY PLEASE?
Did you ever hear a rainbow,
a rainbow, a rainbow
Did you ever hear a rainbow say
ICKY OLD PEAS?
Did you ever hear a rainbow
a rainbow, a rainbow
Did you ever hear a rainbow say
______ BROKE THE CHALK? (insert a child's name)
Did you ever hear a rainbow,
a rainbow, a rainbow
No, I never heard a rainbow
CAUSE RAINBOWS CAN'T TALK!
Under The Rainbow (Up On The Housetop)
First comes the rain cloud passing by
Dropping raindrops in my eye
Then comes the sunshine up so high
Now a rainbow in the sky
Yea-Yea-Yea who wouldn't go
Under the rainbow, yes, siree,
Under the rainbow you and me.
Barney's Rainbow
Simple and beautiful a rainbow
So pretty for the eyes to see
There's red, orange and yellow
green, blue and purple
And it's curved like this you see.
Somebody told me that a rainbow
Has a pot of gold at the end
I don't really know if that's so
But it's kind of fun to pretend
It was made for you and me.
Rain picture idea
Set out cutouts of of umbrella people or whatever you want to create a rain scene. Use blue construction paper to make your picture on. Take the picture outside and sprinkle white rice (uncooked) on the picture. Let sit in the sun for awhile and remove rice. The paper will discolor where the rice sits. It will look like rain. Have fun!
Spring Weather Song: (sung to the tune of "Jack & Jill")
Springtime weather, it can change.
Oh, it can change each da-ay.
In the spring we might see clouds.
I love a cloudy da-ay!
Repeat the song replacing the words clouds/cloudy with each of these word pairs in turn: rain/rainy; snow/snowy; wind/windy; and sun/sunny.
Make patterns representing each kind of day: cloudy, rainy, windy, snowy, and sunny. Glue them to craft sticks and have the children hold up the appropriate picture as you sing the song. A CUTE & EASY RAINBOW
Submitted by Nancy
Start with a piece of construction paper for each color of the rainbow. Cut each in a circle, each a little smaller. trace the circles on the paper so they don't get confused and they have a cutting line that way. The largest being the red. Stack and glue each color circle on. Then cut it in half and glue to half circle together. punch a hole in the top and hang. RAINBOWS
Submitted byCooter9767
This "Rainbow Rhyme" was found in the "Mailbox" April/May 1999 magazine.
Six little markers all standing in a line.
They said, "Let's draw a picture and make it mighty fine!"
RED jumped for joy as he leaped across the sky.
Orange jumped up too, but not quite so high.
Next came Yellow as bright as the sun.
Green was excited as he started to run.
Blue followed boldly, then looked all around.
Purple came last, nearly touching the ground.
"Isn't this lovely?" the markers exclaimed.
"We've made a rainbow without any rain!!!!!!"
Title: My Umbrella...
Here's my new umbrella,
Wide and high.
It keeps me cozy, warm, and dry.
If the rain starts falling from the sky,
I'll just open it up and I'll stay dry! RAIN
A fingerplay
Pitter-pat, pitter-pat, (drum fingers on floor)
The rain goes on for hours.
And though it keeps me in the house, (drum fingers on floor)
It's very (close hands to make fist)
Good for the flowers (slowly open hands and wiggle like "flowers")
WIND/WEATHER/OUTDOOR/ETC.
Submitted by Margie
THEME: Wind/Weather/Outdoor/or any theme that may relate to the drawing that your child chooses for his/her whirly bottle.
ACTIVITY: Whirly Bottles
AGES: Pre-school and up
OBJECTIVE: Promotes children's development in the following areas:
PHYSICAL: Hands and Fingers
CREATIVE: Originality, Insight
COGNITIVE: Cause and Effect
AFFECTIVE: Perseverance
MATERIALS: A 2 liter plastic soda bottle, A colored Marker, Paper, Tape, Craft knife, Acrylic paints, PaintBrushes, 3 foot wooden dowel (3/4 inch in diameter), Power drill, Hammer, and Small Nail
1. Remove the label from the bottle. Easy if you fill the bottle with hot water and let it sit for 10 minutes. Drain the bottle and let it dry.
2. Ask your child to come up with a decorative image to paint on the bottle and then to make a template by drawing the design on paper. If child chooses a symmetrical image, such as a butterfly or flower, have her draw a straight line down the center of her drawing and then cut out one half of the image. If it's an animal, like a horse or dog, draw a profile of its head and neck.
3. Tape the template onto the inverted bottle and use the marker to trace around its outer edge (don't trace the centerline or the base of the neck).
4. Repeat this step a few times, keeping an equal space between the outlines.
5. Use the craft knife to cut along the outlines (adults only). Fold the silhouettes forward at a 90 degree angle from the bottle. (the image will stick out from the bottle...if you understand this correctly) Now your child can paint the images.
6. Once the paint dries, drill a small hole in the center of the bottle bottom. Then insert the dowel into the bottle.
7. Tap the nail through the hole in the bottle and into the top of the dowel so that the head extends 1/4 inch above the plastic.
8. Set the dowel in the ground, and the whirligig is ready to catch a breeze.
WIND SOCK
Submitted by Denise
Materials:
Strawberry Basket
Construction Tape(found in hardware stores, comes in hot pink, flourscent green, orange).
Have the children cut various lengths of the tape. Then they tie them around the ends of the baskets.
Don't be surprised at how many can actually tie a simple loop once you show them:)
KITE SONGS AND FINGERPLAY
Five bright kites I bought at the store. (five fingers)
Along came a strong wind, and now I have four. (thumb)
Four bright kites flying over the sea.
Along came a big wave, and now I have three. (index)
Three bright kites, I'll give one to you.
Three bright kites, now I have two. (middle finger)
Two bright kites flew too near to the sun.
Poor little kites! Now I have one. (ring down)
One bright kite - that's enough for me,
I'll keep it away from the kite - eating tree!
Sung to: The Farmer In The Dell
My kite is up so high,
My kite is up so high,
Oh my..just watch it fly,
My kite is up so high.
My kite is falling down......
Oh no...it's down so low....
The wind has caught my kite....
What fun...I'm on the run....
My kite is up so high......
Oh my....just watch it fly.....
SPRING WIND BLOWS
Teach your little performers this chant to help them start thinking about wind.
The spring wind blows this way and that
Oops! Watch out! There goes my hat! (Wave hands above head.)
The spring wind blows round and round.
It blows my hat across the ground. (Move arms in a rolling motion.)
The spring wind blows. Spin, spin, spin!
Oops, it blows my hat again! (Move hand in a circular upward motion.)
The spring wind blows left and right.
Then it blows my hat out of sight! (Move hands to the left, then right.) (Wave bye-bye.)
WIND
Submitted by Marilyn
WINDSOCK
Cut the bottom end off a small, brown lunch bags. At the top of the bag, punch out 3 holes around the rim. (Put reinforcements around the holes to protect from tearing). Place a piece of string through each hole and gather together with a knot. Have the children paint, color or glue things onto the lunch bag. Then have them run with them on the playground and watch as they open and the air rushes through.
KITES
Cut out large diamond shapes from construction paper. Have the children glue a long piece of thin crepe paper to the bottom point of the diamond shape to be the kite's tail. Have them use watered down glue to glue on pieces of colorful tissue paper. When dry, make a slit in the center of the kite and attach a cotton swab to the end of a long piece of string. Pull the string through the slit. This will be the string that the child holds when running with his kite.
WIND DIRECTION
Collect the plastic tops from large coffee cans. Cut out the center so that you are left with only the rim of the plastic top. have the children glue on crepe paper streamers around the rim. Go outside to the playground and place them on the fence. have the children observe in which direction the streamers are blowing.
WIND
Submitted by Kehoe
Lots of fun can be had with a ping pong ball and a hair dryer.
Our children and adults too are always amazed that the ball seems to be rolling very fast.
You just turn the dryer on and then place the ball in the "wind" stream.
Another fun idea (not wind) but fun is to buy a bunch of helium balloons and tie them to a little Dixie cup. Also tie them to a table leg so they can't escape. Then you can give toys a "ride" up and then pull them back down.
WIND
Submitted by Lisa
Take a paper plate and cover with cotton balls. Cut a hole in the center of plate. Attach small streamers in front of hole and and have kids blow and streamers wave in the air.
WIND IDEAS
Submitted by Lauramarie
Punch holes and run string through small white paper plates.
We coat plates with petroleum jelly (Vasaline).
Tie to the playground fence.
Check to see what the wind blows on to the plates.
the famous "anything that moves air races"
We use turkey basters, straws, and our own lung power to move feathers and ping pong balls across the floor.
MARCH WINDS
Submitted by Marilyn
I did these activities last year with my 3's and they seemed to enjoy it.
I read the book The wind blew by Pat Hutchins. This is a wonderful book to illustrate the force of the wind. I then made the flannel board of the characters and handed a part to each child. When reading the story again, they placed the piece onto the flannel board in order. At circle time, I had a large tray on my lap. I had straws for each child. Then each child came up and using the straw, blew the items to see if their "wind" could move them. I had cotton balls, feathers, ping pong balls, small blocks, a key, a car, etc. They realized that the force of the wind can/ cannot move certain things depending on their weight. I also blew up a very large balloon. I then stood on a chair and let the balloon go from high up. Before letting the balloon go I asked the children what they thought would happen. Then we watched as the balloon whipped across the room (from the force of the air leaving the balloon). Another time I brought in my blow dryer. Each child felt the force of that wind and we used the dryer to move items across the floor. I also brought in a small fan and we watched as papers were scattered from the wind.
For art, I cut off the bottoms of regular brown lunch bags. Then I punched 3 holes at the top rim and strung 3 strings through the hole and tied at the top with a knot. The children decorated the bags and then glued crepe paper streamers onto the bottom rim - We Now Had Wind Socks!!!!!! On a windy day, we went outside and ran with the windsocks. The children loved it!!! Some of the children tied the windsocks to the handlebar of the tricycles to watch the air pass through. I also purchased cheap cheerleaders pom-poms. Each child had one and we stood still in the playground to watch the wind blow them. We could tell in which direction the wind was blowing.
I also purchased small aluminum pie plates and made holes around the rim. The children attached shells, sticks, spoons, etc. to make wind chimes.
We also did bubble blowing outside and used our giant parachute to see the wind make it go up and down. For music, we danced with scarves to classical music and pretended to be gentle/forceful wind.
MARCH WIND IDEAS
Submitted by Diane
Hi everyone, We started the month of March with lions and hung them on our bulletin board...very cute.
The first thing I do is to paint their hands brown and stamp them around a circle to make the lion's mane. I then cut out the lions face and they add their own eyes, nose, mouth, whiskers, etc. They look really cute. We also make lambs sometimes using cotton balls, popcorn or cut tissue glued onto a cutout lamb shape. I have also used a small cake size paper plate for the face of the lamb which they cover with cotton balls, add sleepy eyes, ears, nose and bow on top for girls, under the chin for boys.
Paper Kites
You will need:
Large paper bag, one for each child
Hole puncher
Fish line or yarn cut into five foot lengths
Books
Scissors
Crepe streamers
Paints
Brushes
Help each child fold a two inch lip around the rim of the bag. Open the bag and place a book inside to make the bag stand up while the child paints and decorates the bag on all four sides. Add streamers for fun When the bag is dry, cut off the bottom, leaving the four sides attached. Choose a spot along the folded rim and punch a hole. Tie a length of yarn or fish line through. Take the kites outdoors on a windy day and let the children run with them.
Pinwheel
Start with a 9" square of construction paper. Mark the center with an circle.
Using a ruler, draw a line from each corner to the center. Have the children then decorate them with markers, crayons or watercolors. Help them carefully cut on the lines to within a 1/2 of the center. You will have to help them with the next step. Bend the four corners toward the center and secure with a straight pin fastened into the eraser of a pencil. Bend the pin down and cover with tape for safety. This sounds a little confusing but if you practice a little before you will get the knack. It one of those things you have to have in front of you to see how it works.
Wind Chimes
Roll out a slab of clay on your table. Have the children use cookie cutters and plastic knives to cut out broad, simple shapes in the clay. Poke a hole in each shape with the end of a straw. Let the clay dry thoroughly. Have children paint the shapes. When dry, tie a piece of string or fishing line through the hole in each shape. Tie the strings to a branch so that the shapes can knock against each other when the wind blows.
Some of my favorite "wind" stories are:
The Tiny Seed by Eric Carle
Gilberto and the Wind, by Marie Hall Ets
Wind by Ron Bacon
The Wind Garden by Angela McAllister
Come Fly a Kite:
tune of "On top of old Smokey"
Oh, come fly a kite,
way up in the sky.
Watch it climb so far
up, up in the sky.
Oh, come fly a kite,
and just watch it sail,
Across the sky,
Waving its tail.
MARCH LION/LAMB BULLETIN BOARD
Submitted by Diane
I like to do my March bulletin board around that theme.
The first thing I do is to paint their hands brown and stamp them around a circle to make the lion's mane. I then cut out the lions face and they add their own eyes, nose, mouth, whiskers, etc. They look really cute. We also make lambs sometimes using cotton balls, popcorn or cut tissue glued onto a cutout lamb shape. I have also used a small cake size paper plate for the face of the lamb which they cover with cotton balls, add sleepy eyes, ears, nose and bow on top for girls, under the chin for boys.
WIND IDEAS
Submitted by Janis
Flannel board Rhyme
Patterns needed: Boy, hat, tree w/leaves, separate leaves, newspaper, hill shape
Arrange the patterns on the flannel board. As you recite the following rhyme, move the patterns accordingly.
The wind was full of tricks today.
It blew my brother's hat away.
It made the trees bend and dance.
It made the leaves twirl and prance.
It chased our paper down the street.
It almost blew me off my feet!
The Wind (sung to "The Muffin Man")
The wind is full of tricks today
It almost blew me far away.
It almost knocked me off my feet,
As I came walking down the street!
The next time that I go outside
The wind won't take me for a ride
I know just what I will do
I'll put some glue on the bottom of my shoe!
Blow, Blow, Blow the Wind (sung to "Row, Row, Row Your Boat")
Blow, blow, blow, the wind
Gently through the trees.
Blow, and blow, and blow, and blow.
How I like a breeze!
Blow, blow, blow the clouds,
Blow them through the sky.
Blow, and blow, and blow, and blow.
Watch the clouds roll by!
March Winds Blow (sung to "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star")
March winds blow the kites around,
Blow them right up off the ground.
March means spring is almost here,
Sounds of birds you soon will hear.
Watch the leaves sprout on the trees,
Soon you'll see some honeybees.
I See The Wind (sung to "Hush Little Baby")
I see the wind when the leaves dance by.
I see the wind when the clothes wave "Hi!"
I see the wind when the trees bend low.
I see the wind when the flags all blow.
I see the wind when the kites fly high.
I see the wind when the clouds float by.
I see the wind when it blows my hair.
I see the wind most everywhere!
The Sounds of the Wind (sung to "The Farmer In The Dell")
The wind blows very soft - oooo
The wind blows very hard - OOOO
I like to hear it when
It whistles and it sings.
The wind blows very soft - oooo
The wind blows very hard - OOOO
I like to hear it when
It makes the wind chimes ring.
Streamers in the wind : Give each child two crepe paper streamers, about
3 feet long, and a dowel or a cardboard paper towel tube. Have the
children tape their streamers to their dowels or tubes. Then let them
experiment with moving their streamers in the wind as they parade around
outside.
Wind Hummers : For each child cut a 6 inch circle out of pasteboard.
Use a hole punch to punch holes around the edge of the circle and punch two holes, about 1 inch apart, in the center of the circle. Let the children decorate their circles with felt tip markers. Thread a 16 inch piece of string through the center holes of each child's circle and tie the ends together. Show the children how to "wind up" their circles by moving their strings in a circular motion. Then show them how to pull their strings tight to make their circles hum.
Parachute Fun on a Windy day: Have each child make a parachute that will float down from the sky with its passenger. Tie four strong pieces of string, each about 9 inches long, to the corners of a handkerchief.
Fasten a tin soldier or small lightweight toy character to the opposite ends of the strings. Roll it carefully in the parachute. When it is thrown into the air, it will drift to Earth. Discuss how heavy things fall faster than lightweight things. What makes the parachute float? You can even discuss the concept of gravity. The little children seem to remember those big words.
MARCH
Submitted by KinderDeb
Here is a song and chant that I do with my K's.
Wind
Can you see the wind blow? (Put hand above eyes)
Makes the door slam and close. (Slap both hands together)
Trees bend low, (Bend low like a tree)
Windmills go. (Move hands around in a circle)
Can you see the wind blow? (Put hand above eyes)
March is Here
(Sung to 3 Blind Mice)
March is here,
March is here,
Let's fly a kite
Let's fly a kite.
Wait till the wind blows
Wait till the wind blows
March is here
March is here.
KITE FINGER PLAY
Tune: "On Top of Old Smoky"
Oh, come fly a kite,
Way up in the sky.
Watch it fly so far,
Up, up in the sky.
Oh. come fly a kite,
And just watch it sail,
Across the sky,
Waving its tail.
WIND
Submitted by AJ
I also did wind movement experiments with my class. I gave them a zip lock bag and a straw. They placed the straw in the bag and zipped it shut. Then they experimented by placing all types of objects on top of the bag and
blowing into the straw. They charted their results by tracing the items onto the "moved" or "didn't move" column.
WIND ART
Submitted by Kathy
Take the children outside on a windy day. Give each child a piece of construction paper with a few drops of tempera paint on it. Have the children hold up their paper so the wind can make designs through it.
Mrs. Wind
Have the children draw a picture of what they think the wind's face would look like have them brush glue out of the wind's mouth and then sprinkle glitter, colored sand or salt on the glue
Wind Socks
have the children decorate a piece of cardboard (oak tag) cut into 1" by 18" using any medium (draw designs, use stickers, glitter, sequins and spangles are some ideas)
bend the strip into a circle and secure by stapling or taping. Attach strips cut from crepe paper in your choice of colors on one side of circle so that they will hang down punch two holes at the opposite end and attach yarn as a holder . The children can run outside with their windsocks and experience the wind also hang the windsocks outside for the children to watch the wind
Ideas come from "The Best of Totline"
Literature selection: "The Wind Blew" by Pat Hutchins
Wind Chimes
For every child in class, collect one aluminum pie tin, three 8 inch pieces of string, and 30 plastic or wooden beads. Begin by having the children knot the ends of the strings. Have them string ten beads to each string. Punch three holes in the center of the pie tin, pull the stings through the holes and tie the ends. Punch three more holes at the edge of the bottom of the tin and attach three long pieces of string. Hang outdoors in view of a window.
Title: I See The Wind...
(Hush, Little Baby)
I see the wind when the leaves dance by,
I see the wind when the clothes wave "Hi!"
I see the wind when the trees bend low,
I see the wind when the flags all blow.
I see the wind when the kites fly high,
I see the wind when the clouds float by.
I see the wind when the it blows my hair,
I see the wind most everywhere.
Title: Blow, Blow,Blow the Wind...
(Row, Row, Row Your Boat)
Blow, blow, blow the wind
Gently through the trees.
Blow, and blow, and blow, and blow.
How I like a breeze!
Blow, blow, blow the clouds,
Blow them through the sky.
Blow, and blow, and blow, and blow.
Watch the clouds roll by!
Title: The Wind...
The wind came out to play one day.
He swept the clouds out of his way.
(Make sweeping motion with hands.)
He blew the leaves and away they flew.
(Mke fluttering motions with fingers.)
The trees bent low and their branches did too!
(Lift arms high and lower them.)
The wind blew the great big ships at sea.
(Repeat sweeping motion.)
The wind blew the kite away from me.
Raindrops
Pitter-patter raindrops (wiggle fingers to imitate falling rain)
Falling from the sky,
Here is my umbrella (hands over head)
To keep me safe and dry!
When the rain is over
And the sun begins to glow (make large circle with arms)
Little flowers start to bud (cup hands together)
And grow and grow and grow (spread hands apart slowly) |
