 Themes & Activities
|
|
Spring
(Open thematic poster - Spring)
CHALLENGE OF THE WEEK, MONTH, YEAR
Have fun recognizing the different months of the year. (Open 12 months of the year) Print and allow children to manipulate.
CIRCLE TIME
Nancy Hamelin suggests an imaginary game you can prepare for your group every day.
(Open thematic letter - Spring) Print the letter and insert it in an envelope. Leave the envelope in an easy to find location within the daycare. During circle time, have children find the letter. Read portions of the letter to them each day.
AREA SETUP
Hang tissue paper garlands from the ceiling, they will look like clotheslines. Hang paper flowers, suns, and butterflies throughout the daycare.
Collective spring mural
Hang an old white sheet on the wall, at children's level. Provide them with fabric flowers, paint, tissue paper, and crayons. Have them create a colourful garden.
The clothesline
Have children draw and cut out spring pictures. Using clothespins, they can hang them on a clothesline. This activity can be done throughout the theme. (Open coloring pages theme - Spring)
PICTURE GAME
The pictures may be used as a memory game or to spark a conversation with the group. Use them to decorate the daycare or a specific thematic corner. (Open picture game - Spring) Print, laminate, and store in a "Ziploc" bag or in your thematic bins.
ACTIVITY SHEET
Activity sheets are provided for each theme. Print and follow instructions. (Open activity sheet - Spring)
VARIOUS WORKSHOPS
Sensory bins:
- A container filled with soil and plastic gardening tools or utensils, a few containers, plastic vegetables to make it look like a real garden, seeds for planting, and a watering can to turn the soil into mud!
- A container filled with snow which has begun to melt (if you still have some ☺)
- A container filled with sunflower seeds (beware of allergies)
Construction and building blocks:
- Containers for sowing seeds (plastic or other material) which may be stacked.
- Plastic plant containers for building towers.
- Plastic flower bed borders can be used to define the playing area.
- Artificial flowers and various sizes of containers for creating planters.
Manipulation:
- Transparent bottles containing different types of seedlings and pictures of what the seeds will become as they grow...make associations.
- A series of illustrations showing each stage from the seed to the adult flower. Children can mix them up and put them back in the correct order.
- Homemade or store-bought puzzles representing various springtime elements.
- Scented modeling dough...in springtime colours along with cookie cutters such as flowers, leaves, vegetables. You may add tiny artificial flowers to your modeling dough...children will love planting them in the dough.
- A memory game.
Role play:
- Plastic gardening tools, gardening gloves, a straw hat, jeans, plastic flower pots, fabric or plastic flowers, empty seed envelopes, etc.
- Rubber boots, a rain coat, an umbrella...
Arts & crafts:
- Different types of paper in springtime colours (green, brown, yellow...) as well as very colourful paper which may be used to make flowers of all kinds. Provide models for children.
- Tissue paper for making flowers.
- Coloring pages related to the theme.
- Seeds which can be glued on paper to create lovely images. Black sunflower seeds are very pretty on light paper.
Reading and relaxation:
- Picture books about spring and other seasons.
- Storybooks related to spring.
- CDs with sounds from nature (birds singing).
Science:
- Grow grass or alfalfa in a Styrofoam glass and create funny characters.
- Plant seeds with your group.
- Magnifying glasses may be used to observe various elements of nature.
- Binoculars may be used for bird-watching outdoors or through a window.
WORD FLASHCARDS
The flashcards may be used during circle time to spark a conversation with the group or in your reading and writing area. They may also be used to identify your thematic bins. (Open word flashcards - Spring) buds, sun, mud, rain, umbrella, tree, bird, raincoat, tulip, rubber boots, cleaning, melting
Springtime modeling dough
Give children modeling dough in springtime colours. Suggest they make objects related to spring (tree, leaf, flower, bud, etc.).
PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AND MOTOR SKILLS
The wind is blowing
Arrange feathers or other very light objects in a pile. Have children blow like the wind on the pile to move the objects as far as possible.
Exploration bin
In spring, it rains. When rain mixes with soil, it becomes mud. Take a break from your traditional rice bin and offer a new texture...let children play in the mud!
Groundhog
Explain to your group how the groundhog leaves his burrow every spring. If it sees its shadow and is afraid of it, winter will last six more weeks. If the groundhog does not see its shadow, spring is almost here. Play a groundhog game. Create an obstacle course. Have children slither under chairs, roll around, crawl... You may hide a picture of a groundhog and have children try to find it before the music stops. If they don't succeed, spring will arrive late! (Open pictogram - Groundhog)
Spring clothing
Place spring clothing at one end of the daycare. Children must run to the pile of clothing, put an item of clothing on, and run back to the start line. This is a great way to help children learn to dress themselves. If they select an item which has buttons or a zipper, children simply do their best.
Bird food
Use string and "Cheerios" cereal. Have children thread the cereal onto the string. When they are done, tie the two ends of the string together like a necklace. Hang the cereal in a tree. Birds will enjoy the treat!
OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES
Take a walk with your group. Collect tree branches which have buds on them. Place them in the daycare in a jar filled with water. Observe them for several days. Eventually, leaves will grow.
Illustrated nature
On a beautiful sunny day, take a walk with your group. Have them collect all of spring's gifts: rocks, sand, branches, small pieces of leaves or grass...Let the items dry and then glue them to a large piece of paper.
Springtime parade
Enjoy the sun and take long walks. Listen to the birds singing. Invite children to imitate the different sounds the birds make. Encourage your group to climb, jump, and spin around. Teach them to whistle. If you are brave enough, try whistling with crackers at snack time!
COGNITIVE ACTIVITIES
I dress appropriately
(Open game - I am learning to dress myself) Print and laminate. Ask children to dress the doll according to precise instructions. For example, you may ask them how the doll should dress in winter or when it is raining, etc.
Sequential spring story
(Open sequential story - Spring) Print the story. Laminate it and cut out the pieces. Have children place the illustrations in the correct order.
Clothing game
(Open game - Seasonal clothing) Print and laminate the posters and clothing items. Have children associate the clothing to the correct season.
MORAL AND SOCIAL ACTIVITIES
Spring cleaning
Provide children with sponges, towels, and pails of soapy water. Turn spring cleaning into a game both indoors and out.
EARLY SCIENCE
Carnations
Purchase white carnations. Place the carnations in coloured water (let children choose the colours) and have children notice the transformations which take place during the following hours.
Where does the snow go?
Fill a container with snow and bring it inside the daycare. Watch the snow change with your group. The snow melts and becomes water. Make sure children make the connection between the water in the container and the snow outside. It turns into water because the temperature is warmer. The water is then absorbed by the ground. Fill another container with soil. Have children pour the water which is the result of the melted snow on the soil so they can see how it is absorbed.
Let's observe nature
Purchase a variety of seeds. Try to find seeds of different sizes and shapes. You may also have both flower and vegetable seeds. Present the seed envelopes to your group. Ask them what they think the seeds inside the envelopes look like. Empty the contents of the envelopes on a white plate. Let children manipulate the seeds. Have them identify similarities and differences. (Open Step by step guide to planting seeds) We have prepared an illustrated guide for planting your seeds.
Hairy spring
Grow hair on a silly face. (Open pictogram - Silly faces) Have children choose the silly face they prefer. Have them cut it out and glue it on a plastic or Styrofoam glass. If the glasses are made of clear plastic, children will be able to observe the roots as they grow. Have children fill their glasses with soil. Moisten. It is very important that you always keep the soil moist. Have children water their silly face every morning using a spray bottle. They will love cutting his hair when the grass is long enough!
CULINARY ACTIVITIES
Bird feeder
Have children slide grapes, apple and orange pieces, and other types of fruit you may have on hand onto wooden skewers. Attach a long piece of string to each end of the skewers and hang in a tree.
White clouds
Cover the floor with a large piece of dark-coloured plastic such as a blue shower curtain. Serve each child a small mountain of whipped cream. Invite them to spread the whipped cream to make it look like large white clouds.
ARTS & CRAFTS
Bird feeder
Make a bird feeder out of a 2 litre cardboard milk carton. There are two different methods:
- Make holes at the top of the container and thread string through the holes to hang it from a branch. Cut out a large door on one side of the carton. Decorate and add a variety of seeds.
- Cut the milk carton in two. Keep the bottom part. Decorate it and add seeds. To hang it from a branch, make holes on either side.
Colourful stones
Search for small stones which can be found under snow. Select a few with different shapes and bring them indoors to paint them. Display your colourful stones on a window sill or on a shelf.
Big gardens
Hang a large sheet of paper on the wall and make a collective garden. Draw flower stems and make handprints to create beautiful tulips. Add green straw (used for Easter baskets) for grass.
The birds are returning
(Open models - Bird) Have children cut out their bird and decorate it as they please. Provide a variety of materials. Remember to include feathers. Hang them from the ceiling throughout the daycare.
Tulip
Have children paint sections of an egg carton with springtime colours. Let dry. Cut out each section and insert pipe cleaners. Place your tulips in a vase or stick them into a Styrofoam block.
Hanging sun
(Open models - Sun) Print for each child. Have children colour and glue their sun to orange construction paper. Children may cut them out. Hang them from the ceiling using invisible thread.
My ladybug
Cut a ladybug body out of red construction paper. Using black finger paint, invite children to add spots using their index finger. Make two holes at the top of the ladybug and thread a black pipe cleaner through for the antennae.
My budding tree
Provide each child with a sheet of paper, a straw, and brown paint. Encourage children to let drops of paint fall on their paper. Have them blow on the paint to make tree branches. When they are done, set aside to dry. When the branches are dry, have children glue crumpled pieces of tissue paper (buds) to the branches.
The sun is back
(Open models - Circles) Trace the models on yellow and orange construction paper. The large circle should be on one colour and the small circle on the other colour. Children cut out the circles and glue the small circle on the large circle. Have them cut strips of construction paper for the sun's rays. They can glue them around the sun. When they are done, invite them to draw a face on their sun.
Spring bonnet
(Open models - Flowers) Print several copies. Have children colour and decorate their flowers. They can cut a strip of cardboard long enough to fit around the contour of their head. Tell them to glue their flowers around the cardboard strip.
Umbrella
Cut a circle out of construction paper. Fold it in four parts. Unfold it and insert a pipe cleaner in the centre to represent the umbrella's handle. Children can decorate.
COLORING PAGES
(Open coloring pages theme - Spring)
SONGS & RHYMES
Rain, rain, go away
Rain, rain, go away
Come again some other day
We want to go outside and play
Come again some other day
A nice stroll
by: Patricia Morrison
Sung to: Sleigh bells
Just hear those birds tweet, tweetling
Singing and chirping too
Come on it's perfect weather
For a nice stroll together with you
Outside the snow is melting
And friends are calling on you
Come on it's perfect weather
For a nice stroll together with you
SUGGESTION OF THE WEEK
Thematic day: Beach Party (Open perpetual calendar - Beach party)
Ask each child to bring a beach towel, sunglasses, a bathing suit, a hat, and other related objects to the daycare. Prepare activities involving beach balls and hoola hoops. Have bubble solution on hand. Add shovels and pails to your water table, sandbox, or rice bin.
Crumple up springtime-coloured tissue paper. Fill an inflatable pool with water. Have children lie on their beach towel at naptime. For lunch, have a picnic on your beach towels.
Have nice day!
Educatall team
Our job is to make yours
easier. Do not hesitate to suggest themes you would like to see us
develop. Let us know of any printable documents or tools which could be
useful. Send us your comments and suggestions!
No part of this text may
be copied, reproduced, distributed, published, translated, downloaded,
posted, or transmitted, in any way, without first obtaining written
authorization from educatall and the copyright holder. Elements of the
text may be posted or downloaded solely for personal and non-commercial
use provided no modification is made and that all notices of
intellectual property are clearly indicated (name of the author, title
of the article, name of the website, date the text is used).
Theme - Archives
