Easy Preschool Crafts - Sand Play Dough

Good Morning,

Summer here in the US is coming to its unofficial close this weekend-- Labor Day Weekend. Schools will all be in full swing next week. I checked my files for easy preschool crafts and found this craft that one of my readers sent in to share. Give it a try with your kids!

This idea is a great one to help your kids create a souvenir of sorts from those summer beach days. It is also a fun idea to use in the winter when you want a diversion from cold and snow!

Let the kids help to measure and to stir and knead the dough, then let their imaginations create!

Sand Play Dough


Here is one that we like to cook with the kids and use to make great sand castles and sculptures.

Need: 2 Cups fine sand, 1 cup cornstarch, 1 ½ cups cold water.

Mix in an old pan. Stir 5-10 minutes over medium heat until thick. Let cool and knead for a bit. Store in a plastic bag or container until ready to use. This should yield enough for 6 children. Give children a paper plate and an assortment of small shells, stones, beads, straws, anything to decorate their creations. These will dry hard if left to set for a few days.

We call it a piece of Island when the children add shells and small tree branches.


If you have ideas to share, send them along and I'll post them here for all of us to use and enjoy.

Thanks,

Mary
marys.plans@gmail.com

P.S. If you would like to receive my free newsletters for ideas for your preschool class, enter your name and address at the site below:

http://preschoolplanner.com/preschool-activities.html

Back to School Preschool Ideas

Hello Again,

The summer is flying by at record speed it seems and it is time to think about back to school preschool ideas.

I'm not sure about you but I am a little behind getting ready because I've had so much fun watching the Summer Olympics from Beijing!

I do have some ideas to start the school year off.

Parents--Use puppets!

For parents with children just starting preschool I suggest using puppets and puppet role playing with your little one. Children love to voice their concerns through a puppet which is always a little safer. You can pretend to be the teacher or the child and act out the first day expectations. Always add that you come back after a short time and that there will be so many fun new things to do and children to meet.

Teachers--Pre-Open House

If possible, send a letter home to your new students introducing yourself. This can be done by email or snail mail. Even better is to hold a mini-open house before school starts so that the children and parents can visit, put a face with a name and know a few basic expectations.

Have a Poster Board up with each child's name on it. Ask the parents if there is anything special --likes, strong dislikes, allergies, etc. which you can put on this poster. This will stay up for the school year and if you are out and another person is helping, all these important facts are right there for all to see.

There are so many more ideas I want to share but running out of time and space for now.

You can also send me any special ideas or tricks you use and I will post them here.

Send them to me at marys.plans@gmail.com.

Until later,

Mary

P.S. PS: If you would like to receive my free newsletters for ideas for your preschool class, enter your name and address at the site below:

http://preschoolplanner.com/preschool-activities.html

Preschool Games Free - Indoor Volleyball

Good Morning,

I hope that you are all enjoying the Olympic Games! This is such a special event with all countries and athletes coming together to play their favorite sports with one another. I will be sharing preschool games free here on my blog the next couple of weeks for all to enjoy.

We all know that sports and being active are good for everyone. Here is an idea that Karen, one of subscribers, sent to me for an INDOOR VOLLEYBALL game. I like it because it is foolproof and everyone gets the chance to play and show their abilities.

Indoor Volleyball

Indoor volleyball is a great game for fun and exercise.
You will need yarn, balloons and groups of four children. The yarn serves as the volleyball net.
Cut a six to eight foot length of yarn.
Two children are needed to stretch out the yarn across the room; each child holding end taut, chest high.
Tie inflated balloon with yarn cut 2-3 foot length. Tie end of yarn near the middle of volleyball net yarn.
Balloon is now hanging from net yarn for two other children to bat or volley back and forth using a three minute timer. When time is done switch end holders and players. Doesn't matter if balloon is hit over or under the net yarn...balloons stay in the playing area!

Have fun!

Thanks again Karen for sending this in to share. Send me your ideas and I'll pass them along here in my blog.

You can reach me at marys.plans@gmail.com

Until next time,

Mary

P.S. If you like these ideas be sure to check out my Preschool Lesson Plans:

http://www.preschoolplanner.com/thefullstory.html

Preschool Olympic Ideas - Opening Ceremony

Hi there,

Today is quite an exciting day - 08/08/08 - Opening Day of the Olympics in Beijing China!

This is a perfect time to talk about the Olympics and how important they are to everyone worldwide.

Children love ceremonies and parades and I suggest you try the following ideas to introduce these games and the tradition of the TORCH.

Introduce the concept of the Olympic torch, the importance of the torch run, how it always starts in Greece, etc. Show videos from previous Olympic opening ceremonies including the lighting of the torch.

Craft- Making Torches

Materials- paper towel rolls, tissue paper (red, yellow and orange), paint, glue, markers, foil, wrapping paper

Give each child one paper towel roll and a few pieces of tissue paper. Have them rip or cut the tissue paper into long strips and glue the strips inside one edge of the paper towel roll. Decorate the tube by either painting it or covering it with foil or wrapping paper.

Opening Ceremonies - using the torches from the craft to perform a torch relay run throughout the school or schoolyard. Put all the torches together in the same place to mark the opening of the Games.


Let me know how you like the ideas and also send me yours to share on the blog.

You can reach me at marys.plans@gmail.com

Until next time,

Mary

P.S. If you like these ideas be sure to check out my Preschool Lesson Plans:

http://www.preschoolplanner.com/thefullstory.html