Preschool Art Activities - Cinnamon Sugar Bears

Are you looking for some new preschool art activities? Here is an idea I have used often and it's always a hit with my preschoolers.

It's fun and smells good too! Have the kids make their own Sugar Bear picture.

Cinnamon Sugar Bears

Have students cut out a bear shape if they are able to do so or pre-cut them if this is too difficult for your students.

Next they should cover the bear in liquid glue and dip it first in cinnamon, then in sugar. It will smell delicious and look just like the real thing!

Hang them on the bulletin board for a Teddy Bear Parade!
Always a hit and just a little different to make it unique.

I'll be sharing more ideas with you soon.

If you like this idea, you'll love the other ideas in the Preschool
Planner.

Check it out:
http://www.preschoolplanner.com/thefullstory.html

Enjoy and remember to send in any ideas you wish to share and I will post them here.

Mary
marys.plans@gmail.com

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

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

Preschool Science - Magnets and Art

As preschool teachers we are always searching for new ideas for our classes. Preschool science activities provide the perfect opportunities for hands on learning.

It is my firm belief that children learn by doing--holding things, making things happen, wondering why and figuring out the answer.

Try the art project below that Kimberly sent to me to share here on the blog. It uses art and the science of magnets to create a fun project for all age preschoolers from 2 years old and up.

Marble Magnet Art
Need:

magnetic marbles and a wand
Paint
empty box

Using the magnetic marbles and wand I came up with this idea for my preschoolers to use during science time.

We love to marble paint, so I decided to use these magnetic marbles. I placed the paper, paint and marbles in the box. Then I held the box up in the air while they used the wand to move the marbles around their paper. They really enjoyed it so the next day I used it with my 2 year olds and they enjoyed it as well.

This is a new take on marble painting and a preschool science lesson all in one.


If you like these ideas, you'll love the other ideas in the Preschool Planner.

Check them out:

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

Enjoy and remember to send in any ideas you wish to share and I will post them here.

Mary
marys.plans@gmail.com

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

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

Preschool Bulletin Boards - Springtime Lily Pads

The easiest way to revive your space is to plan a new preschool bulletin board. We all need a change after being inside all winter and springtime is saying RENEW to us all--teachers and kids!

Special thanks to one of my subscribers for sending this recently. It is a wonderful way to involve your children in this rite of passage to a new season.

Give as many tasks as possible to the children to do. The older they are the more they can do. It is something all of them will enjoy and learn from by working together to make a special classroom.


Springtime Bulletin Board - Leaping Into Spring

My idea is for a Spring Bulletin Board. I just put mine up today.

Frogs on lily pads (paper plates painted green) with pipe cleaner attached to both so it's a spring. The children can paint the plates. It's made to look like the frog is jumping off the lily pad.

I cut green construction paper in long strips to make grass. I also cut brown construction paper to make cat tails. I cut blue Bulletin Board paper in a circle to make a pond. I place all the lily pads around the pond. I place the grass and cat tails all around the pond. 2 or 3 in a bunch to give it a swamp effect. I placed foam butterflies and flowers around to make it Spring like.

I chose the wording, "We're Leaping into Spring" for my title. The letters in Leaping I placed going up so it was "leaping" like the frogs. I received LOTS of compliments already on it while I was assembling the board.

Fun for any age of preschooler from the youngest to the oldest.


Have fun with this and remember to send in your ideas! We all learn together; teachers sharing ideas just reinforces what we are teaching our preschoolers.

Mary
marys.plans@gmail.com


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

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

Preschool Ideas for Easter - Easter Craft and Activity

I want to share these two with you since they are easy to do, colorful and fun. These are always a hit with my kids.

Porcelain-Like EGGS
Need cutouts of egg shapes on card stock or heavy white paper.
Tempera Paint
Cornstarch
Easter grass
glue

Put a small amount of each paint into a separate bowl and then add a small amount of cornstarch to the paint and mix well.

Give each child a few egg cutouts. Let them paint the egg shapes. Set aside to dry and when the paint dries, it will have a porcelain-like finish. Next have them glue their eggs onto a paper plate and add some Easter grass.


Match the Patterns

Cut out egg shapes from different colors of paper with 2 eggs for each color. Hide one each of the different color eggs in the classroom. If you don’t have enough colors you can always decorate eggs with matching decoration (for example, some a squiggle design, some with zigzag, some with stripes. Give each child one egg and have them find their matching egg in the room.

To increase the difficulty, you can make large egg shapes then cut them in half using a puzzle type cut, such as zigzag or interlocking puzzle pieces. Give each child one half of an egg, and then ask them to find the person with the other half that fits theirs.

If you like these ideas, you'll love the other ideas in the Preschool Planner.

Check them out:

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

Enjoy and remember to send in any ideas you wish to share and I will post them here.

Mary
marys.plans@gmail.com

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

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

Preschool Curriculum Activities - April Fool's Day Fun

What better way to celebrate a new month than with preschool curriculum activities for April Fool's Day! The basic idea is to have fun, play jokes, and laugh.

Try the ideas below and enjoy yourself and let your preschoolers have pleasant fun. Preschoolers love this day and tricking their friends and parents.

For preschoolers, "Knock, knock" jokes are a favorite. Here is a joke I have used for years and as simple as it is, the kids enjoy it:

APRIL FOOL Question:

Q: Why are people so tired on April 1st?
A: Because they just finished a 31-day March


Silly Pictures

Find pictures from magazines, old books, (even draw your own) that are familiar to your children in everyday life.

Next cut out a section of the picture which makes it look silly or "wrong" such as gluing it upside down, cutting a wheel off of a bicycle or car, gluing flowers upside down in a flower pot. etc. Make as many silly pictures as you can.

Use Circle Time to show them the pictures and ask what is wrong with them. The kids love this. You can make some easier than others so that even the youngest will be able to participate!

April Fool's Snack:

BUGS IN THE SAND

Graham crackers (sand)
Chocolate sprinkles( resemble ants)
Raisins (resemble beetles)
Red Hots (resemble lady bugs)
Oyster crackers (resemble spider eggs)


Place graham crackers in a plastic sandwich bag and crush with a
rolling pin. Use these individual plastic bags or small cups and put the crumbled graham crackers in them. Then put one of the ingredients above to make the bugs, then seal the bag or cover the cup. Give these to the kids to take outside and eat or let them pour it into a small bowl and eat at the table--using their fingers, of course.

Ask for their ideas of what the bugs are that are in the sand. Give hints and have fun. You can serve juice that is colored green and call it Bug Juice!

For a fun April Fool's Snack, try these "Fooled Ya French Fries". I saw this recipe at the link below:

http://www.recipezaar.com/April-Fools-Fooled-Ya-French-Fries-159047

My kids loved this and had so much fun being "tricked"!

If you like these ideas, you'll love the other ideas in the Preschool Planner.

Check them out:

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

There are Two Editions now for the Preschool Planner: Basic or Platinum.

If you prefer lessons which have ideas for the Toddler Age, go here to the second volume of lessons. There is an entire bonus section devoted to TODDLERS.

http://www.preschoolwhiz.com/v2.html

Send me any ideas you would like to share and I will post them on my Blog.

Mary
marys.plans@gmail.com

Preschool Motor Skills - Fitness Tape Shapes & Wiggle Wiggle

Hi there,

According to the calendar it is spring but the weather remains wintery and still keeps us inside. Cabin fever and boundless energy need an outlet. I have these suggestions for preschool motor skills and both can be done inside.

The children have fun, expend their energy and learn ways to control their motions, learn balance and coordination skills and work together.


Wiggle Wiggle

Need: Large dark room
Let the kids stand in a room---preferably lots of space--.
Turn out the lights & yell, “Wiggle, Wiggle”. They move about all they want, but when you turn on the lights, yell “Freeze!”. They then have to freeze where they are & wait until the lights go out again. Vary this game by letting them act like animals (if you’re teaching an animal theme) or cars or whatever. It’s so fun & easy to do almost anywhere. This is such a simple game for Preschoolers, and they love it!


Fitness Tape Shapes

Materials-Painters masking tape
Procedure-Tape one or more lines or shapes on the floor to create a floor level balance beam.A good length is between 4 and 5 feet.Use three straigh lines,3 wavy lines,and 2 zig-zag lines.

Fitness Activities for tape shapes
1. Walk on the tape with one foot in front of the other
2. Walk on the tape with one foot in front of the other and put down your toe-walk heel,toe,heel,toe
3. Walk on tip-toes on the tape
4. Walk in giant steps on the tape
5. Squat and walk on tape like a duck
6. Turn sideways and walk on tape
7. Walk sideways on tape
8. Stand on your tip-toes and turn in the opposite directions
9. Squat down and turn in the opposite direction


Fun for any age of preschooler from the youngest to the oldest.


Have fun with this and enjoy the activities. Please leave a comment and other suggestions you would like to share!


Mary
marys.plans@gmail.com


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

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

Preschool Themes - Recycling for Kids

One of the preschool themes that I stress is recycling for kids. It is so important to bring awareness to being earth friendly to everyone and what better place to start than when our children are young.

These preschool ideas can be used to teach sorting, counting, color matching, textures, etc. The ways to use recycling materials is endless, cost saving and teaches our preschoolers how important it is to be "green" in regards to our earth and environment.

Recycling Station

Ask your students to bring in a large number of cans (only those with smooth edges), bottles, small boxes, packing foam, bottle tops, buttons and other recyclable materials. Create your own storage area for these items. Have the children sort the recyclables by size, color, material, etc. Make sure everything is clean and ask for their ideas on how to re-use the things that they are sorting.

Give suggestions to encourage them to challenge their imaginations. The sky is the limit here and you will all have them reinventing new ways to use old things.

Snack Time - Donut Holes

Show the children a “donut hole” and ask if they can identify it and where it came from. Explain how those pieces went to waste before someone figured out that they could be sold. Try to think of other things that used to go to waste but are now use again. Serve “donut holes” as a snack.


Have fun with these ideas and please continue to send me more or to leave a comment.

Mary
marys.plans@gmail.com


P.S. Looking for NEW IDEAS for your classes but don't want to spend your free time planning--Check out my preschool lesson plans:

http://www.preschoolwhiz.com/v2.html