Although we don't have "homework" in preschool, we will give you some age appropriate "work" for home.  These are not mandatory but suggestions of activities that can be done throughout the month with your child at home.  They are fun simple ideas for developmentally appropriate "work" for your child. 

The following is what can support what we will be doing in school this month.  

August-September Recipes for FUN!

​Let’s Sing!

The Wheels on the Bus (Traditional Tune)

The wheels on the bus Go round and round,

Round and round,

Round and round.

The wheels on the bus Go round and round,

All around the town.

Wipers – swish, swish, swish…

Horn – beep, beep, beep…

Lights – blink, blink, blink…

Doors – open and shut…

Driver on the bus…”Move on back”…

Children on the bus – bounce up and down…

Help children learn the name of their school and their teacher’s name by changing the words to the song. The name of my school is, St. Christina, St. Christina,

The name of my school is St. Christina,.

That’s the name of my school.

The name of my teacher is Mrs. C,

Let’s Do a Finger Play!

ME

(Children repeat each line after you.)

I’ve got ten little fingers, (Hold up both hands.)

And ten little toes, (Point to feet.)

Two little eyes, (Point to eyes.)

A mouth and a nose. (Point mouth and then nose.)

Put them all together, (Circle arms as if hugging.)

And what have you got? (Hands on hips.)

You’ve got me, baby, (Put thumbs in chest.)

And that’s a lot! (Wiggle hips.)

Let’s Say a Nursery Rhyme!

Jack and Jill

Jack and Jill Went up the hill

To fetch a pail of water.

Jack fell down

And broke his crown

And Jill came tumbling after.

Here are some additional verses:

Then up got Jack

And said to Jill

As in his arms he took her.

You’re not hurt,

Brush off that dirt.

Now let’s go fetch that water.

Let’s Cook!

Polka Dot Pizza

You will need:

1 English muffin

pizza sauce

sliced pepperoni

mozzarella cheese (grated)

Directions:

1. Wash your hands.

2. Spread 2 tablespoons of sauce on half a muffin.

3. Put 4 slices of pepperoni on top.

4. Sprinkle with cheese.

5. Broil in the oven until the cheese melts.

6. Mama Mia! What a pizza! Hint! Try other toppings like green peppers or mushrooms.

Let’s Explore!

Discovery Walk

Take your child on a feeling walk.

Let them touch various objects in nature and describe how they feel.

Ask them to close their eyes and try to identify an object in their hands by using their sense of touch.

What things do you like to feel? What things do you not like to feel?

Adaptations:

Take a listening walk where children close their eyes and identify the sounds in their environment.

Go on a “smelling” walk where children try to identify different smells in nature.

Just for fun, take a “Spooky Walk” one night with a flashlight! Are there different sounds and sights at night?

Let’s Make Something!

Cutting Tub

You will need a plastic tub or shoebox with a lid, plus some safety scissors your child can use.

Fill the tub with old catalogs, junk mail, greeting cards, wrapping paper scraps, etc.

Supervise your child as she practices cutting items in the tub.

Let her make a collage on a paper plate by gluing shapes she cuts from the paper scraps.

Let’s Play a Game!

I Spy!

​ You can play this game in the car, outside, or any place you might be. The first player begins by saying, “I spy something that is (name a color).” Family members take turns trying to identify what the object might be. The first one who guesses correctly is the next one to say, “I spy!” You can adapt this game for shapes. For example, “I spy something that is a square.” Play this game using rhyming words. “I spy something that rhymes with look.” Play this game with beginning sounds. “I spy something that starts with /t/.”

October Recipes for FUN!

Let’s Sing!

The Itsy Bitsy Spider

(Traditional Tune)

The itsy bitsy spider (Fingers pretend to

Went up the water spout. climb up in front of you.)

Down came the rain (Wiggle fingers down.)

And washed the spider out. (Cross arms.)

Out came the sun (Make circle above head.)

And dried up all the rain.

And the itsy bitsy spider (Take fingers and climb

Went up the spout again. in front of you.)

The big, fat spider… (Sing this version in a loud voice

and make large, exaggerated movements.)

The teensy weensy spider… (Sing in a quiet voice and make very

small motions with your fingertips.)

Let’s Do a Finger Play!

The Apple Tree

Way up high in the tree, (Look up and point.)

One red apple smiled down at me, (Hold up 1 finger and smile.)

So I shook that tree as hard as I could. (Pretend to shake a tree.)

Down came an apple, (Roll hands around.)

Mmm! Mmm! Good! (Pat your tummy.)

Add more verses to this finger play by using other types of fruit:

Two yellow pears…

Three purple plums…

4 orange peaches…

5 green limes…

Let’s Say a Nursery Rhyme!

Little Miss Muffet

Little Miss Muffet

Sat on a tuffet,

Eating her curds and whey.

Along came a spider

And sat down beside her.

And frightened

Miss Muffet away!

*Model how to look up words, such as “tuffet” and “curds and whey” that you don’t

understand in the dictionary.

Let’s Cook Something!

Spider Sandwich

You will need:

2 slices of bread

peanut butter and/or honey

raisins

8 pretzel sticks

Directions:

1. Wash your hands

2. Cut 2 circles out of the bread with a cookie cutter or plastic cup.

3. Spread peanut butter and honey on one circle.

4. Put the other circle on top to make the spider’s body.

5. Make a face with raisins.

6. Add 8 pretzel sticks for legs.

7. Eat it and let it wiggle and jiggle and tickle inside you!

Hint! Use carrot sticks or cheese curls for legs.

Substitute cream cheese for peanut butter and honey.

Let’s Explore!

Homemade Binoculars

Materials: paper towel roll

tape

hole punch

string or yarn

Directions: Cut the paper towel roll in half. Tape the two halves together.

Punch a hole in the top of each roll and tie a piece of string through

the holes. (Make sure the string is long enough to go easily over

the head.) Let your child decorate the binoculars with markers or

crayons. Take a nature walk and then ask your child to draw what

they saw through their binoculars.

Let’s Make Something!

Rubbings

Materials: paper, old crayons

leaves, coins, and other textured objects

Directions: Peel the paper off of several old crayons. Put leaves on the table

and place a sheet of paper on top. Rub over the object with the side of

the crayon. (It will work better if you rub in one direction.)

Compare the rubbings of different leaves. Why are they the same or

different?

*Rub over coins.

*Do a rubbing of the bottom of your shoe.

*Go outside and make rubbings of tree bark, rocks, and other objects in

nature.

Let’s Play a Game!

Guess Who I Am?

First, take turns acting out animal movements and making appropriate sounds. Can you

guess which animal it is?

Next, pantomime animal movements and characteristics. Can you guess what it is?

Can your child answer these animal riddles?

I give you milk. Do you want some now? Moo, moo, moo! I’m a ______.

In the dirt I play and dig. Oink, oink, oink. I’m a _______.

I have horns and a beard on my throat. Naa, naa! I’m a ______.

I’ll give you a ride on my back, of course. Neigh, neigh! I’m a ______.

Cluck, cluck, cluck, in the pen. I lay eggs because I’m a _______.

Who would like my wool to keep? Baa, baa. I’m a ______.

I can be white or black or skinny or fat. Meow, meow! I’m a ______.

I’m man’s best friend. I’m not a hog. Woof, woof! I’m a ______.

When it rains, I’m in luck. Quack, quack! I’m a _______.

November Recipes for FUN!

Let’s Sing!

Little Red Box

(Tune: “Polly Wolly Doodle”)

I wish I had a little red box (Cup hands in front of you.)

To put my mommy in. (Pretend to put something in.)

I’d take her out and go, (Pretend to take something out.)

Kiss, kiss, kiss, (Do three air kisses.)

And put her back again. (Pretend to put something back in the box.

Daddy: Hug, hug, hug. (Hug self.)

*Make up additional verses for other family members and pets.

Let’s Do a Finger Play!

Mr. Turkey

Mr. Turkey went for (Start with hands behind your back.)

A walk one day (Bring right thumb out in front of you.)

In the very best

Of weather.

He met Mr. Duck (Bring left thumb out in front.)

Along the way

And they talked (Have thumbs look at each other.)

Together.

“Gobble, gobble, gobble.” (Wiggle right thumb.)

“Quack, quack, quack.” (Wiggle left thumb.)

“Good-bye.” (Bow right thumb.)

“Good-bye.” (Bow left thumb.)

And they both walked back! (Wiggle thumbs behind your back.)

Let’s Say a Nursery Rhyme!

Old Mother Hubbard

Old Mother Hubbard

Went to her cupboard

To get her poor dog a bone,

But when she got there

The cupboard was bare,

And so the poor dog had none.

Let’s Cook Something!

Rainbow Kabob

You will need:

red strawberries

blue blueberries

green grapes

yellow pineapple chunks

wooden skewers or toothpicks

Directions:

1. Wash your hands.

2. Clean the fruit and cut into bite-size pieces.

3. Push fruit onto skewers to make a rainbow of colors.

4. Make a wish and eat!

Hint! Use bananas, kiwi, pears, and other types of fruit.

Let’s Explore!

Color Mixing

Materials: ice cube tray

eye droppers

food coloring

cups of water

Directions: Prepare 3 cups of water with the primary colors (red, yellow, and

blue). Let your child take the eye dropper and mix a few drops

of each color in the ice cube tray. What happens? What colors

make purple? Green? Orange?

Adaptations: Let children experiment with water colors to create different

colors.

Let’s Make Something!

Play Dough

2 cups all purpose flour

1 cup salt

2 TB. cream of tartar

2 TB. vegetable oil

2 cups water

food coloring

Mix all the ingredients together in a pan and stir until smooth. Cook over medium heat

stirring constantly until the mixture forms a ball and sticks to the spoon. Cool and knead.

Store in plastic bags or covered containers.

*Add oil of mint or other extracts to play dough to give it a fragrance.

*Use 2 TB baby oil or massage oil in place of the vegetable oil.

*Unsweetened Kool-aid mix can be used in lieu of food coloring. The flavor will add

a sweet aroma!

*Make surprise balls. Follow the recipe, omitting the food coloring. Take small

amounts of dough and roll them into balls. Poke a hole in each and add a drop of

food coloring to the middle of each ball. Pinch to seal in the color. Children knead

the balls and – surprise!

Hint! Have children play with dough and clay on plastic placemats or trays. Add

scissors, cookie cutters, play dishes, birthday candles, and other cooking props.

Let’s Play a Game!

Step School

Materials: pebble or small toy, stairs

1. The players sit on the bottom step, which is "kindergarten".

2. One person, who is "the teacher," stands on the ground and faces the others.

"The teacher" takes the pebble, puts it behind her back, and then hides the

pebble in one of her hands. "The teacher" then brings forward both fists.

3. The first player on the step chooses a hand. If she selects the hand with the

pebble, then she may move up a stair to "first grade." If she selects the empty

hand, then she continues to sit in "kindergarten."

"The teacher" continues hiding the pebble and allows other members in the game to

select the hand with the pebble. The game continues until a player reaches the top step.

That player then becomes the next "teacher."

December Recipes for FUN!

Let’s Sing!

Silly ABC’s

(Traditional Tune)

A B C D E F G

H I J K L M N O P

Q R S T U V

W X Y Z

Now I’ve sung my ABC’s.

Next time sing them silly with me!

Sing very slowly like a turtle.

Sing soft like a mouse.

Sing with a deep, loud voice like a monster.

Hold your nose and pretend to sing with a cold.

Let your child suggest other silly ways to sing.

Let’s Do a Finger Play!

Here Is a Turtle

Here is a turtle. (Make fist.)

He lives in a shell.

He likes his home

Very well.

When he gets hungry (Stick out thumb and wiggle.)

He comes out to eat.

Then he goes back into (Tuck thumb back in fist.)

His house to sleep.

Let’s Say a Nursery Rhyme!

Jack Horner

Little Jack Horner

Sat in a corner

Eating his Christmas pie.

He stuck in his thumb,

And pulled out a plumb,

And said,

“What a good boy am I!”

Let’s Cook!

Stir Friend O’s

You will need:

Cheerios

butter or margarine

cinnamon sugar

Directions:

1. Wash your hands.

2. Put 2 tablespoons of butter in the pan.

3. Melt the butter, and then stir in 3 cups of Cheerios.

4. Stir over medium heat until they are toasty and lightly browned.

5. Sprinkle on cinnamon sugar and toss.

Hint! Use salt instead of cinnamon sugar and it will taste like popcorn!

Let’s Explore!

Mystery Mess

Materials: cornstarch

water

food coloring

measuring cup, bowl, spoon

Directions: Put one cup of cornstarch in the bowl. Slowly stir in about   cup

of water. (You may need to add a little more water to make it the

right consistency.) Add a few drops of food coloring to the

mixture. Try to pick up your mystery mess and play with it. How

is it like a solid? How is it like a liquid?

Let’s Make Something!

Holiday Gifts

You don’t have to buy gifts this year. Who wouldn’t want something homemade by the

hand of a child! Here are some ideas.

PENCIL HOLDER

Materials: juice or vegetable can, glue, pasta, spray paint

Directions: Remove the label from the can. Let children glue pasta (bow ties, spirals,

macaroni, etc.) around the can. Spray paint gold or silver.

Adaptation: Children can also cover a can with construction paper. Next, let them

create a collage on the can with pictures and words cut from magazines.

KEY RACK

Materials: wood scraps (4” x 10”), nails, markers, picture hangers

Directions: Let children decorate the wood with markers. Next, let them hammer 4 -6

nails spaced evenly apart. Attach a hanger to the back.

PET ROCK

Materials: rocks or stones (about the size of a fist), markers, felt, wiggly eyes, yarn,

glue

Directions: Go on a rock hunt and let children find a special rock. Have them

wash their rocks and set them aside to dry. Decorate the rocks with

wiggly eyes, markers, yarn hair, etc. Add a piece of felt to the bottom to

make a paper weight.

PICTURE FRAME

Materials: cardboard, puzzle pieces, glue, photograph

Directions: Cut cardboard into 4” x 8” picture frames. Let children glue puzzle pieces

around the edges. Tape a photo in the frame.

Adaptations: Add a magnetic strip to the back so it can be hung on the refrigerator.

Decorate with buttons for mom and say “Cute as a button!”

Decorate with golf tees for dad.

Let’s Play a Game!

Ball Time

Wad up a sheet of paper and wrap masking tape around it to make a ball.

Practice throwing and catching the ball.

Use a box or basket and play “basket” ball by tossing the ball in the basket.

Staple two paper plates together. Leave a 4” opening so you can insert your

hand. Use like a racket and volley a balloon or paper ball back and forth.

Let children use a child size broom and a foam ball to play hockey. The goal

could be a box turned on its side.

January Recipes for FUN!

Let’s Sing!

Ring in the New Year

(We Wish You a Merry Christmas)

Let’s all do a little ringing, (Shake hands as if ringing bells.)

Let’s all do a little ringing,

Let’s all do a little ringing

It’s a Happy New Year!

Let’s all do a little clapping… (Clap hands.)

Let’s all do a little dancing… (Dance around.)

Let’s all do a little smiling… (Smile.)

Let’s Do a Finger Play!

Two Little Black Birds

Two little black birds

Sitting on a hill (Make fists and stick up thumbs.)

One name Jack (Wiggle right thumb.)

and one named Jill. (Wiggle left thumb.)

Fly away Jack. (Wiggle right thumb behind back.)

Fly away Jill. (Wiggle left thumb behind back.)

Come back Jack. (Bring back right thumb.)

Come back Jill. (Bring back left thumb.)

Additional verses:

Two little red birds sitting on a wall.

One named Pam and one named Paul.

Fly away Pam. Fly away Paul.

Come back Pam. Come back Paul.

Two little yellow birds sitting on a sled.

One named Tami and one named Ted.

Fly away Tami. Fly away Ted.

Come back Tami. Come back Ted.

Let’s Say a Nursery Rhyme!

Three Little Kittens

The three little kittens,

They lost their mittens,

And they began to cry,

“Oh, mother dear, we sadly fear,

our mittens we have lost.”

“What, lost your mittens?

You naughty kittens!

Then you shall have no pie.”

“Boo-hoo, boo-hoo,

we shall have no pie.”

The three little kittens,

They found their mittens,

And they began to cry,

“Oh, mother dear, see here, see here,

our mittens we have found.”

“What, found your mittens,

You darling kittens!

Then you shall have some pie.”

“Meow, meow,

we shall have some pie.”

Let’s Cook!

Birds in the Snow

You will need:

celery

cream cheese

raisins

sunflower seeds

Directions:

1. Wash your hands.

2. Take a stalk of celery (the log).

3. Spread cream cheese (snow) in the celery.

4. Place raisins (birds) on top of the cream cheese.

5. Add sunflower seeds (birdseed)! MMMM!

Hint! Make ants on a log by filling a stalk of celery with peanut butter.

Put raisins on top for ants.

Let’s Explore!

Feed the Birds

Materials plastic milk jug

birdseed

scissors, yarn

Directions: Cut a hole in the side of the milk jug with scissors. Punch two

holes in the top and tie on a piece of yarn for the hanger. Put a cup

of birdseed in the bottom of the jug. Hang it in a tree. Add a small

stick for a perch.

Adaptations: Place the bird feeder near a window. Check out a bird

identification book from the library. Encourage your to identify

the birds that feed.

Make another birdfeeder by stringing cereal with holes on a pipe

cleaner.

Spread honey or peanut butter on a Bavarian pretzel and sprinkle

with seed. Tie on yarn so you can hang in a tree.

Put honey or peanut butter on pinecones and then sprinkle with

birdseed.

Cut shapes from stale brad and decorate with honey and birdseed.

Let’s Make Something!

Snowflakes

Let children fold coffee filters in half, then fourths and eighths. Cut little “bites” out of

the folded edges. Open. You can make colorful snowflakes by coloring the coffee filters

with water soluble markers before cutting them.

Hint! Make snowflakes out of newspaper, tissue paper, wrapping paper, and other types

of recycled paper.

Let’s Play a Game!

Paper Plate Party

Give your child 2 paper plates. Put on some music and:

*Clap the plates like cymbals.

*Shuffle them to the beat.

*Tap on the hips, shoulders, and other body parts.

*Clap high, low, in front of you, behind.

*Play “follow the leader” as you take turns doing different motions with plates.

*Place on the floor. Put one foot on each plate and skate around the room.

Skate backwards. Skate on one foot.

*Put one plate on the floor and sit on it. Can you spin around?

February Recipes for FUN!

Let’s Sing!

Bringing Home a Valentine

(Tune: I’m Bringing Home a Baby Bumblebee)

I’m bringing home a valentine for you, (Cup hands and move them to

One that says, “I love you.” the beat in front of your body.)

I’m bringing home a valentine for you

With a great big hug, and a (kiss) (kiss), too! (Hug self and then kiss

in the air.)

Let’s Do a Finger Play!

King Kong

(Say “King Kong” in a loud voice and

“teeny tiny monkey” in a soft, squeaky voice.)

KING KONG (Flex arms.)

Was just a teeny

Tiny monkey (Hold up pinky.)

Compared to my love for you. (Cross arms over chest and then extend.)

KING KONG (Flex arms.)

Was just a teeny

Tiny monkey (Hold up pinky.)

Compared to my love for you. (Cross arms over chest and then extend.)

I love you day (Make circle with arms over your head.)

And night. (Lay head on hands.)

My love is out of sight. (Hands in air.)

KING KONG (Flex arms.)

Was just a teeny

Tiny monkey (Hold up pinky.)

Compared to my love for you! (Softly say this line as you point to children.)

Let’s Say a Nursery Rhyme!

Jack Be Nimble

Jack be nimble.

Jack be quick.

Jack jump over

The candlestick.

Jump it lively.

Jump it quick.

But don’t knock over

The candlestick!

Let’s Cook Something!

Cinnamon Applesauce

You will need:

applesauce

cinnamon candies

cups

spoons

Directions:

1. Wash your hands.

2. Put applesauce in the cup.

3. Count out 8 candies and put them in the cup.

4. Stir, stir, stir until the applesauce turns pink and the candy dissolves.

5. It’s a candy apple surprise!

Let’s Explore!

Magic Pennies

Materials: old pennies

vinegar

salt

cup and spoon

Directions: Put   cup of vinegar in the cup. Add 1 TB salt and mix to

dissolve. Drop the pennies in the cup and stir them around while

you count to 25. Take the pennies out of the cup and rinse them

off in water. Taaa Daaa! What happened to the pennies? What

made them shiny?

Experiment shining pennies with ketchup or lemon juice.

Let’s Make Something!

Magazine Puppets

Materials: magazines, catalogs, scissors, straws, stapler or tape

Directions: Cut sports figures and other famous people out of catalogs or

magazines. Staple or tape to a straw to make a puppet. What

would your puppet say if it could talk?

Hint! Children could also cut family members, what they want to be when they grow up,

etc. out of catalogs to make puppets. Or, cut out children’s photos and tape to a craft

stick to make “personal puppets.”

Let’s Play a Game!

Simon Says

The leader (parent or child) is Simon. Simon gives various commands which the other

players must follow exactly if it is introduced by “Simon Says.” If “Simon Says” does

not come before the command then players should stand still.

March Recipes for FUN!

Let’s Sing a Song!

Address, Phone, and Birthday Songs

Your child can quickly learn important information with a familiar tune.

Addresses can be sung to “Do You Know the Muffin Man?”

495 Oak Tree Lane

495 Oak Tree Lane

405 Oak Tree lane

Is where Jason lives.

Sing phone numbers to “Twinkle Little Star.”

397-4121

397-4121

397-4121

I know my phone number.

397-4121

397-4121

If you live in an area where children need to know the area code as well, you can sing to

“Michael Row Your Boat Ashore.”

668-397-4121

668-397-4121

Birthdays will be easy to remember with the traditional “Happy Birthday Song.”

March 17th

March 17th

I know my birthday.

March 17th

Let’s Do a Finger Play!

Monkeys and Alligator

Five little monkeys (Hold up 5 fingers.)

Swinging from a tree,

Teasing Mr. Alligator, (Point finger as if teasing.)

“Can’t catch me!

You can’t catch me!” (Shake head “no.”)

Along came Mr. Alligator (Put palms together and slowly

Quiet as can be, move like an alligator.)

And snatched a monkey (Open and clap palms as if

Right out of the tree! chomping on something.)

Four…three…two…one

“Missed me, missed me! (Put open hands on either side

Now you gotta kiss me!” of your head and wiggle.)

Let’s Say a Nursery Rhyme!

Hey, Diddle, Diddle

Hey, diddle, diddle,

The cat and the fiddle,

The cow jumped over the moon.

The little dog laughed.

To see such sport,

And the dish ran away

With the spoon.

Let’s Cook!

Letter Bread

You will need:

bread

milk

food coloring

Q-tips

butter

toaster

Directions:

1. Wash your hands.

2. Take 4 cups and put a little milk in each.

3. Add 2 drops of food coloring to each cup.

4. Use the colored milk like paint and draw a letter or design on the bread with a

Q-tip.

5. Toast.

6. Spread with butter.

Hint! Serve with honey, jelly, or cinnamon sugar.

Let’s Explore!

Cloud Watch

Materials blue sky with fluffy clouds

blue paper

white chalk

Directions: Go outside on a day when there are cumulus (white, fluffy) clouds.

Ask the children if they can find clouds that look like animals or

other objects. Explain that clouds that look like cotton are called

cumulus clouds. Let them sketch pictures of the clouds with chalk

on the blue paper.

Adaptations: Call children’s attention to different types of cloud formations.

Let’s Make Something!

Paper Plate Kite

Cut the inner section out of a paper plate. Decorate the rim with markers. Glue tissue

paper streamers to one side. Punch a hole and tie a piece of string on the other side. Go

outside and run to make your kite fly.

You can also tie kite string to a plastic shopping bag. Hold up the bag, let it fill with air,

and watch it fly!

Let’s Play a Game!

Jump the Creek

Materials: 2 jump ropes

1. Place the two ropes on the ground a few inches apart to make a “creek.”

2. Have players line up single file and try to jump over the creek one at a time without

stepping on a rope.

3. After every player has jumped, move the ropes a little farther apart to make the creek

wider.

4. Continue moving the ropes farther apart and letting the players jump over them.

When a player can no longer jump over the rope, he must stand to the side of the

game and be a cheerleader.

*You can play a similar game by drawing lines in the sand or dirt.

April Recipes for FUN!

Let’s Sing!

The Planting Song

(Tune: “Farmer in the Dell”)

Let’s all plant some seeds, (Pretend to dig with a shovel.)

Let’s all plant some seeds.

Hi, ho, it’s spring you know,

Let’s all plant some seeds.

The rain begins to fall… (Have fingers fall like rain.)

The sun warms the earth… (Hands over head in a circle.)

The seeds begin to grow… (Make a fist with one hand and bring

the other hand up through it.)

Let’s Do a Finger Play!

Caterpillar

A caterpillar crawled (Hold up right arm like a tree branch.)

To the top of a tree. (Crawl left pointer up right arm.

I think I’ll take a nap said he. (Wiggle left pointer.)

So under the leaf (Pretend to crawl left pointer

He began to creep. under right palm.)

He spun a cocoon, (Wrap right hand around left pointer.)

And he fell asleep. (Hold hands very still.)

For six long months

He slept in that cocoon bed.

Til spring came along and said,

Wake up, wake up,

You sleep head. (Shake pointer.)

Out of the leaf he did cry, (Clasp thumbs and open palms.)

Lo, I am a butterfly! (Fly hands around like a butterfly.)

Let’s Say a Nursery Rhyme!

Little Boy Blue

Little boy blue,

Come blow your horn.

The sheep’s in the meadow,

The cow’s in the corn.

Where is the boy

Who looks after the sheep?

Under the haystack fast asleep!

Let’s Cook!

Trail Mix

You will need:

Cheerios

pretzel sticks

raisins

fish crackers

chocolate chips

zip bags

Directions:

1. Wash your hands

2. Count out and put in the bag:

10 Cheerios

9 pretzel sticks

8 raisins

7 fish crackers

6 chocolate chips

3. Zip the bag and shake.

4. Yippee ti yi yo!

Hint! Serve trail mix in flat bottom ice cream cones. You can just eat the cone when

you’re through with the mix.

*Use cheese crackers, sunflower seeds, M&Ms, or other snack foods in your trail mix.

Let’s Explore!

Popcorn Plants

Materials: clear jar or glass

paper towel

sand or soil

popcorn kernels

Directions: Take a clear jar and fold a paper towel so it fits inside the jar.

Put sand or soil inside the paper towel. Drop several beans or

popcorn kernels between the paper towel and the cup. Water

and place in a sunny spot. Children can observe the seed, root,

and stem as they grow.

Let’s Make Something!

Box Tops Rock

Save your cardboard food boxes for a week and then use them for some of the toys and

games below:

Cardboard castle – Let children use masking tape to create a castle or other play

sculpture.

Books – Cut the fronts off the boxes. Hole punch and bind with a book ring.

Great for reading environmental print.

Puzzles – Cut box fronts into puzzle shapes. Store in zip bags. For younger

children use two like boxes. Cut one up and let them place the pieces on the

second box.

Fronts and backs – Cut front and back panels off of boxes. Mix them up and then

ask the children to match up the ones that go together.

Play a memory game where you place the fronts and backs face down on the

floor. Children try to match up pairs.

Stencils and templates – Cut geometric shapes out of box fronts. Children can

trace these with colored pencils, crayons, or markers.

Sewing cards – Punch holes around the sides of boxes. Children can sew these

with yarn, string, or old shoelaces.

Let’s Play a Game!

Hug Tag

Materials: none

1. Designate a playing area. One child is “it.” “It” chases other players who

must “freeze” when they are tagged.

2. Players hug those who are “frozen” to “unfreeze” them.

• Stoop Tag – Children stoop down on the ground when they are tagged.

• Cartoon Tag – Children must name a cartoon show when they are tagged.

• Shadow Tag – Children must freeze when “it” steps on their shadow.

• Sticky Tag – Children must hold the part of their body that is tagged.

May Recipes for FUN!

Let’s Sing!

BINGO

(Traditional Tune)

There was a farmer had a dog

And Bingo was his name-O.

B - I – N – G – O,

B – I – N – G – O.

B – I – N – G – O.

And Bingo was his name-O.

Spell your child’s name with this tune.

There is a boy that I love so

And Billy is his name-o.

B-i-l-l-y,

B-i-l-l-y,

B-i-l-l-y,

And Billy is his name-o.

Let’s Say a Finger Play!

Ten Little Friends

Ten little friends (Hold up fingers.)

Went out to play (Wiggle.)

On a very bright

And sunny day.

And they took a little walk.

Walk, walk, walk. (Walk fingers in front of your body.)

And they had a little talk.

Talk, talk, talk. (Put fingertips together.)

They climbed a great big hill (Move fingers over your head.)

And stood on the top very still. (Keep hands still.)

Then they all tumbled down (Roll hands around and down.)

And fell to the ground.

We’re so tired, (Hold up fingers.)

They all said.

So they all went home

And went to bed.

10 – 9 – 8 – 7 – 6 –

5 – 4 – 3 – 2 – 1. (Put down fingers one at a time.)

Good night! (Lay head on hands.)

Let’s Say a Nursery Rhyme!

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.

Let’s Cook!

Life Preserver Sandwich

You will need:

1 bagel (cut in half)

cream cheese

blue food coloring

fish crackers

Directions:

1. Wash your hands

2. Dye the cream cheese blue with a few drops of blue food coloring.

3. Spread cream cheese on the bagel.

4. Arrange several fish crackers on the cream cheese.

5. Swim it into your mouth.

Let’s Explore!

Nature Scavenger Hunt

Materials: paper sack

Directions: Give children a bag and the list below. Help them hunt until they

find all the items.

CAN YOU FIND?

Something green

Something alive (but not an animal or bug)

Something dead (but not an animal or bug)

Something that smells good

Something smaller than you

Something older than you

Something the size of your thumb

Something that feels rough

Something that feels soft

Something that is beautiful to you

Something that does not belong there

Let’s Make Something!

Paper Bag Puppet

All you need is some paper lunch bags, crayons, construction paper scraps, glue, scissors,

and your imagination to turn a sack into a frog, astronaut, princess, or monster. Turn the

sack upside down so the flap (bottom of the bag) is on the top. That will be the head.

Add a face, arms, legs, clothes, and other details. Encourage your child to name their

puppet and let their puppet talk.

Let’s Play a Game!

Mother, May I?

Materials: none

1. Players line up with their backs to a wall.

2. One person is “mother” and stands about 30 feet in front of the others.

3. One at a time “mother” names a child and tells them a different motion they

must perform. For example, baby steps, scissor steps, twirls, giant steps, or

frog leaps. The child must remember to ask, “Mother, may I?” before

performing the movement or he is sent back to the starting line.

4. The first one to reach “mother” becomes the next “mother.”

*Change the name of the game to “Father, May I?” or “Grandma, May I?” or any other

person in your family.

Summer Recipes for FUN!

Let’s Sing!

Swimming

(Tune: “Sailing, Sailing, Over the Bounding Maine”)

Swimming, swimming,

In the swimming pool. (Stroke arms as if swimming.)

When days are hot (Pretend to fan self.)

Or days are cold, (Hug self and shiver.)

In the swimming pool.

Back stroke, side stroke, (Make different strokes.)

Fancy diving, too. (Hands over head.)

There’s no place

I would rather be (Shake head.)

Than in the swimming pool.

Let’s Say a Finger Play!

This Little Girl

This little girl is

Ready for bed. (Hold up index finger and wiggle.)

On the pillow

She lays her head. (Open palm and lay finger down.)

Wrap the covers

Around her tight. (Wrap fist around finger.)

That’s the way

She spends the night. (Rock hand.)

Morning comes,

She opens her eyes.

Off with a toss

The covers fly. (Open fist.)

She jumps out of bed, (Hold up finger.)

Eats her breakfast, (Pretend to feed finger some food.)

And brushes her teeth. (Pretend to brush teeth on finger.)

She gets dressed and (Pretend to dress finger.)

Brushes her hair. (Pretend to brush hair.)

Now she’s ready

And on her way, (Dance finger around.)

To work and play

At school all day.

This little boy… (Do similar motions with the

opposite index finger.)

Let’s Say a Nursery Rhyme!

Mary Had a Little Lamb

Mary had a little lamb,

Little lamb, little lamb.

Mary had a little lamb.

It’s fleece was white as snow.

And everywhere that Mary went,

Mary went, Mary went.

And everywhere that Mary went

The lamb was sure to go.

It followed her to school one day,

School one day, school one day.

It followed her to school one day

Which was against the rule.

Let’s Cook!

Fire Cracker Sandwich

You will need:

slice of bread

peanut butter, jelly, tuna fish, or pimento cheese

plastic wrap

curling ribbon

Directions:

1. Wash your hands

2. Cut the crust off your bread

3. Flatten the bread with the palm of your hand.

4. Spread peanut butter, tuna, or pimento cheese on the bread.

5. Roll it up.

6. Wrap it in plastic wrap.

7. Twist the ends, and then tie with ribbons to resemble a firecracker.

Let’s Make Something!

Finger Painting and Water Painting

Squirt shaving cream on a cookie sheet or smooth surface for ooey gooey fun. You can

also finger paint with shaving cream on windows. Hose them off when you’re finished.

Fill a sand bucket or plastic bowl with water. Give children an old paintbrush or sponge

and let them paint the house, trees, sidewalk, or their bike. You can also put water in

an empty squirt bottle and invite them to squirt and water the flowers, grass, etc

Let’s Explore!

Dirt Diggers

Materials: sand shovel or large spoon

plastic container

magnifying glass

tweezers

newspaper or large flat pan

Directions: Go outside and dig up some dirt from under a bush or tree. Spread

the dirt out on the newspaper or a large pan. Use the magnifying

glass to look at the dirt. What do you see? Can you tell a story

from the bits of things you find in the dirt? Use the tweezers to

separate the objects you find.

Adaptations: Collect soil samples from different areas of your yard and place in

a plastic bag and label. How are the soil samples different? Why?

Let’s Play!

Tents are fun to build, hide in, read a book, or play with a friend!

Card Table Tent

Drape a blanket over a card table or picnic table. Spread a sleeping bag on the ground for

a cozy retreat.

Porch Railing Tent

Pin one end of a blanket to the railing of a deck or porch. Pull out the opposite end and

secure at an angle with bricks or rocks. This is a "cool" place for a game or nap from the

summer sun.

Cardboard Castle

An appliance box or other large box can be a "castle" to a child. Cut out a door and

windows with a utility knife. (An adult will need to do this!) Let the children decorate

with paints, markers, or crayons.