Themes & Activities

Father's Day
(Open thematic poster - Father's Day)

SPECIAL TOOL

Educ-poste-Lettre-A This special tool which was created in response to a special request we received. (Open educ-poster-Letter A) Print and laminate. Display it within the daycare and use it as a learning tool with your group.

CIRCLE TIME

Ask children to bring an object which belongs to their dad and a picture of him to the daycare. They can present their dad to their friends during circle time.

Suggestions for the discussion period:

Describe your father. What is his name? What is your grandfather's name?
Tell us about your father's job.
What do you like to do most with your father?
What is your dad's favourite activity?
What is your father's favourite meal?
Tell me about a fond memory you have about you and your dad.
What does your father do in his free time? Does he have a special pastime?
Does your dad play sports?
Which games does your father play with you?
Does your dad have tools?
Tell me about your father's car.
Which chores does your father do around the house? Groceries? Dishes? Take out the trash? Cooking? Mow the lawn?

Collective story
After your discussion period, invite children to invent a story related to the theme. Encourage them to provide ideas and make suggestions. Write down everything they say. When they are done, read them their story. Have them draw pictures for their story and display it on a wall.

AREA SETUP

Educa-decorate-Father's Day

Educa-decorate-Father’s-Day (Open educa-decorate-Father's Day) Print, cut out, and laminate. Decorate your walls and hang illustrations from the ceiling to create a special atmosphere for the theme.

Organize a "Daddy corner". Hang a picture of each child's father and grandfather in your construction/building area. Children will enjoy imitating them hard at work.

Ask parents to provide pictures of their child's father, grandfather, and great-grandfather. Display all the pictures on a special wall within the daycare.

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 corner. (Open picture game-Father's Day) Print, laminate, and store in a "Ziploc" bag or in your thematic bins.

WRITING ACTIVITIES

Writing sheet
(Open writing activities-D like Dad) Print for each child or laminate and use with a dry-erase marker.

Stationery-Father's Day
You may use the stationery to communicate with parents, in your writing area, or to identify your thematic bins. (Open stationery-Father's Day) Print.

ACTIVITY SHEETS

Activity sheets are suggested for each theme. Print and follow instructions. (Open activity sheets-Father's Day)

Educa-nuudles activity sheet
(Open educa-nuudles-Father's Day) Print for each child. Have children color the sheet. Once they are done, they may use Magic Nuudles to turn their coloring page into a three-dimensional work of art.

Variation: If you do not have Magic Nuudles, ask children to fill the spaces designed for the Magic Nuudles with bingo markers or stickers.

To order Magic Nuudles:
http://www.educatout.com/catalog/index.php?cPath=76&sort=2a&language=en

VARIOUS WORKSHOPS

Have fun with these wonderful workshop ideas provided by Caroline Allard.

Construction/building blocks:

Blocks of all kinds children may use to build different places they would like to visit with their father.
Figurines children may use to represent their family.
Figurines which represent various jobs and professions. Children will make associations with their father's work.

Arts & crafts:

Children make a card for their father or grandfather using recycled objects or pictures. If you wish, use a particular theme such as golf, fishing, etc.
Various arts & crafts material which can be used to make the perfect Father's Day gift...see suggestions within the theme.
A canvas and poster paint...children paint their father's portrait.
A nature collage to represent hunting or fishing.
A Father's Day collage using pictures of fathers found in catalogues. Ask children which man looks most like their father.
An empty tissue box can be used to make a model of their father's car.
Children can glue pictures of their father's favourite foods on a paper plate.

Drawing:

Coloring pages which represent family members or activities which can be enjoyed as a family.
Creative coloring activities.
Children can "write" a letter for their father and mail it to their house.

Role play:

Workbench/tools: Add pieces of wood, safety glasses, dust masks, etc. Children will love to pretend they are fixing toys.
Barbecue: Dads are often barbecue specialists! Set up a toy barbecue and add several accessories such as tongs, spatulas, forks, plates, a tablecloth, glasses, plastic bottles of condiments, etc.
Hunting and fishing: Plastic fish and animals along with fishing rods. Make a boat using a large box or simply place several chairs in a row. A tent, plastic food items, and camouflage clothing are also great additions.

Manipulation:

Memory game using the educatall.com picture game.
Real tools which can be manipulated to compare their size, weight, etc.
Modeling dough... children can play with screwdrivers, a hammer, nails, screws, etc.
A cardboard tie for lacing.
Association game related to families.
Puzzles which represent various professions.
Golf tees along with Styrofoam blocks and hammers.
Various objects related to sports which can be manipulated (baseball mitt, hockey puck, golf club, etc.)

Pre-reading/relaxation:

Books about families.
Books children like their father to read to them. Ask them to share their favourites with you!
Games with educatall.com word flashcards.
Tracing and maze games.
Help children practice writing "Dad" or their father's first name.
Explore the letter "D" like Dad.

Motor skills:

Use ties to make rhythmic ribbons.
Talk about various sports: golf, hockey, baseball...
Play "Daddy says" instead of "Simon says"
Act out things fathers do regularly and have children guess. You may add accessories to help them.
Wash bicycles just like dads wash their car...

Sensory bins:

Water table: wash toy cars.
Container filled with pebbles or tiny rocks.
Container filled with objects which usually belong to dads.

Early science:

Use a magnifying glass to observe sawdust, pieces of wood, parts of a motor, etc.

Kitchen:

Bake a surprise for dads.
Make gingerbread dads.

LANGUAGE ACTIVITIES

Word flashcards
The flashcards may be used during circle time to spark a conversation or in your reading and writing area. They may also be used to identify your thematic bins.

(Open word flashcards-Father's Day) father, grandfather, tools, shaving cream, garage, golf, hockey, tie, fishing, hunting, moustache, beard

Happy Father's Day!

Poster-Happy-Father’s-Day (Open poster-Happy Father's Day) Print and display. Parents will enjoy saying Happy Father's Day in several languages with their child.

Sequential story
(Open sequential story-Father's Day) Print the story. Laminate and cut the illustrations. Children must place the illustrations in the correct order to recreate the story.

Picture clue story-Father's Day
(Open picture clue story-Father's Day) Print. Sit in a circle with your group. Begin reading the story. When you reach a picture clue pause and point to the illustration. Encourage children to guess the missing word.

Educ-chat-Father's Day
Educ-chat-Father’s-Day Educ-chat is a game which is made up of several different illustrations which represent subjects, verbs, and objects. They can be used to help children make complete sentences and enrich their vocabulary. (Open educ-chat-Father's Day) Print, cut out, and laminate the cards. Make three different piles (subject, verb, and object). Ask children to pick three cards, one from each pile. Have them "read" the sentence. The sentences will sometimes be quite silly but you are sure to have fun. You may also choose to place the cards yourself and have children "read" the sentences.

ACTIVITIES FOR BABIES

Dad's clothing
Fill a large container with clothing dads wear: shirts, t-shirts, pants, baseball caps, etc. Let babies try to put the clothing items on, manipulate them, "wear" the shoes, etc.

A painting for Dad
Purchase canvases at the Dollar store. Let babies paint on them (one color at a time to avoid everything turning brown!) Add a cardboard frame and wrap for a beautiful Father's Day gift.

"I love you Dad" mobile
(Open craft-heart shape) Trace and cut out different sizes of hearts. Decorate them with sparkles or other materials. Glue the hearts back to back on either side of ribbon or string. Add a picture of each baby's father or of the babies themselves. Hang from the ceiling.

TRANSITION ACTIVITIES

My spot
(Open game-This is my spot-Father's Day) Print two copies of each illustration. Deposit one illustration on the table and cover it with Mac-Tac. Place the other copy in a bag. Children take turns picking an illustration to determine their spot at the table for the day. You can also use them to determine naptime spots or their place in the task train.

PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AND MOTOR SKILLS

Daddy may I?
Call children one by one. When it is their turn, they must ask if they may execute various actions related to animals. For example, a child may say, "Daddy may I act like a frog?" If you accept, the child will then hop like a frog until you call out his name again.

On the other hand, you may decide to say, "No, you are part of the dog family!" In this case, the child would crawl on four legs and bark. Other examples of animals which are easy to imitate are a chicken, a horse, or a kangaroo.

Obstacle course with ties
Build an obstacle course with several ties. Have children walk on them. Deposit obstacles, such as a dad's shoe children can wear to walk throughout the obstacle course. Add a suit jacket and have children wear it over their shoulders. Place two chairs and have children crawl under them or climb over them, without touching the chairs. Use whatever you have on hand (ties, hats, shoes, a toolbox, etc.) Encourage children to move in several different ways (crawl, jump ten times, hop in hula hoops, spin around, etc.)

Daddy says...
This game is played like "Simon says". Give children instructions (just like their fathers do). If you say, "Daddy says..." at the beginning of the sentence they must do whatever it is you asked them to do. You may, for example, ask them to brush their teeth, go to sleep, eat, etc. If you do not say "Daddy says", they must remain still.

My father's name is...
Call out several names. When children hear their father's name they must run to a designated area.

OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES

Fishing game
(Open fishing game) Print, laminate, and cut out the fish and objects. Add a paperclip to each. Tie a piece of string to the end of an old broomstick and attach a magnet to the end of the string. Sit behind a piece of garden furniture so that children cannot see you. Attach objects to the end of their fishing rod. If children "catch" a fish, they can continue playing, if not, they must give the fishing rod to the next player.

Camping
Set up a tent and camping accessories in your backyard. Children will love pretending they are camping with their father.

Hockey
Play hockey with a soft ball and noodles (the kind used in swimming pools).

Goalie
Deposit hula hoops on the floor (or draw circles) to represent the goals. You should have one goal per child. The circles must be big enough for the children to have room to move inside. Give instructions. You could, for example, have children touch the ground with their hands, place one foot inside their goal and the other foot outside the goal, etc. After a while say, "Goalies change goals!" Continue the game.

Renovations
Gather all the tools you have in your construction area and ask children to "fix" the bicycles, fences, toys, etc.

Painting
Visit a discount store and purchase several painting accessories such as paint rollers, empty paint containers, painter hats, brushes, etc. Place all the accessories in a large container and bring it outside. Add water to the various containers and let children "paint" the fences, toys, daycare walls, etc.

Lawn mower obstacle course
Create an obstacle course using cones and other accessories. Children must push a toy lawn mower through the obstacle course. The other children encourage the child pushing the lawn mower to go as fast as he can by calling out his father's name.

Dad's baseball cap
Invite children to wear one of their father's baseball caps throughout the day. Show children how to throw a baseball (soft ball) and catch it with the cap.

Car wash
Provide buckets and sponges and let children wash your cars, trucks, and toys.

Fill her up!
Use sidewalk chalk to trace a path. Draw a gas station (or make one using a cardboard box). Children can drive around the path with small cars (you can make these out of cardboard boxes too!) Remind them to stop for gas every now and then.

EARLY-LEARNING SOUND ACTIVITIES

My father's voice
Ask each child's father to leave a message on your answering machine or voicemail. Have children identify their father's voice.

Soft voice
Record a few songs and gentle words spoken by children on an audio cassette or CD (microphone and computer). This is a perfect Father's Day gift!

COGNITIVE ACTIVITIES

Educ-differences-Father's Day
Educ-differences-Father’s-Day (Open educ-differences-Father's Day) Print and laminate for durable, eco-friendly use. Children must find the number of differences indicated on the sheet and circle them with a dry-erase marker.

Educ-shadows-Father's Day
(Open educ-shadows-Father's Day) Print and laminate for durable, eco-friendly use. Children must draw a line to the shadow which corresponds to each illustration using a dry-erase marker.

Educ-math-Father's Day

Educ-math-Father’s-Day (Open educ-math-Father's Day) Print and laminate for durable, eco-friendly use. Children must count the objects in each rectangle and circle the corresponding number.

Bingo-Father's Day
(Open bingo-Father's Day) Print. Laminate for durable, eco-friendly use. You may use cereal, "Smarties" or other items as markers.

Magnifying glass game-Father's Day

(Open magnifying glass game-Father's Day) Print and laminate the board game and the cards. Cut them out and store them in a box or in a Ziploc bag. Children pick a card and search for the item on the board game, using a magnifying glass. Once they have found the item, they deposit it in the correct square, on the board game.

Daddy by number
(Open color by number-Father's Day) Print for each child. Children follow the color code to complete the picture.

Educ-same and different-Father's Day
Educ-same-and-different-Father’s-Day (Open educ-same and different-Father's Day) Print and laminate for durable, eco-friendly use. Children must circle the illustration which is different in each row.

Educ-big and small-Father's Day
(Open educ-big and small-Father's Day) Ask children to place identical illustrations in the correct order, from smallest to biggest.

Educ-pattern-Father's Day
(Open educ-pattern-Father's Day) Print and laminate. Add Velcro to the back of the cards. Children must correctly place the cards to complete the patterns.

Hunt and seek-Father's Day
(Open hunt and seek-Father's Day) Print and laminate. Children pick a card and search for the object in the larger picture.

ACTIVITIES INVOLVING PARENTS

Special date for dads

(Open invitation-Father's Day) Print. Invite fathers (and grandfathers) for a gathering at the end of the day. Serve coffee and small treats prepared by the children. The week before prepare a short film. Record the children in your group saying what they love most about their father, which activities they enjoy doing with him, etc. Present the film during this gathering.

Father's Day golf tournament
Organize a golf tournament with your group. (Open perpetual calendar-Father's Day) Set the golf course up in your backyard. Use several different sizes of containers (ice cream, yogurt, bowls, etc.). Surround them with rope or hula hoops. Each child has his own golf ball and must try to hit it into the containers while standing outside of the circle.

Fathers may try too. Their child can act as their caddy. Children will love leading their father to the next hole. Keep track of everyone's score.

We suggest fathers join you around 3:30 p.m. for the golf tournament. At the end of the day, hand out the "Best Dad" diplomas. (Open diploma-Best Dad)

Necktie knot race
Here is an interesting challenge. You will need a tie and a stopwatch. Ask dads to tie a necktie knot as quickly as possible. (Open Father's Day challenge) Time them. Display the results. At the end of the week, crown the winner.

(Open crown) Print and decorate the crown with your group. (Open genealogical tree) Print a copy for each child. Have children complete the tree with their dad at home. Children can present their dad's family to their friends.

Surprise picture
(Open model-Father's Day frame) Take a picture of each child with his dad (secretly if possible). Have children decorate the frame and glue the picture inside.

Grandpa

Invite grandfathers to come spend a short period of time with your group. They can share a story about when they were small.

ACTIVITIES WHICH FAVOR SELF-ESTEEM

Strong like Dad!
Ask children to show you their muscles by performing various bodybuilder poses.

MORAL AND SOCIAL ACTIVITIES

Role play ideas:

Daddy cooks
Make several plastic food items, dishes, and utensils available in your kitchen area. Designate a child to play the role of the father who must cook for his children.

Daddy washes dishes
Set up a water table. Add sponges and soap bubbles. Let children wash the plastic dishes from your kitchen area.

Daddy cleans

Children love cleaning! Provide sponges, dusters, wet towels, etc. Disinfect toys with your group.

Daddy washes the baby
In your bathtub or in a tub of water, let children wash your dolls. They can dress them and put them to bed too.

Daddy heals
Provide several small bandages. Tell children to take care of the dolls' cuts and scrapes.

Daddy goes grocery shopping
Collect empty food containers and boxes. Arrange them throughout the daycare. Give each child a grocery bag and invite them to go grocery shopping.

Daddy rocks the baby
Give each child a doll or a stuffed animal. To the sound of soft music, have them rock their baby.

Variation: You can rock each child.

Tie day
Invite children to attend daycare wearing one of their father's ties.

Box full of kisses
(Open Model-Box of kisses) Print for each child. Children decorate their box. When they are done, encourage them to open the box and add a ton of kisses. Tell them to hurry up and close the box so the kisses don't fly away! At the end of the day, children can give their box of kisses to their father.

Variation: A small cardboard box, a small medicine bottle, or a container for a roll of film could also do just fine!

Surprise telephone
Each child surprises his dad with a surprise telephone call at work.

Secret message
Fill an empty toilet paper roll with a message for each child's dad. We have prepared some for you but you can make your own. (Open memo-Father's Day) You may also add candy pieces. Wrap the roll with tissue paper and decorate. Tie each end with ribbon. Children can give one roll to their father each day.

Message in a bottle
Decorate plastic bottles (water bottles for example) with paint, colourful paper, sparkles... Roll up drawings the children made and slide them in the bottles. Place the bottles in a large container filled with water. At the end of the week, invite each father to pick a bottle, open it, and guess if the drawing was done by his child or not. If not, he places the drawing back in the water and picks another one until he finds the correct drawing.

EARLY SCIENCE-MANIPULATION-EXPLORATION

Daddy reads the newspaper
Deposit a pile of newspapers in the middle of the table. Invite children to manipulate them. They can crumple them or cut them.

Shaving cream
Cover your arts & crafts table with a plastic tablecloth. Provide each child with a small quantity of whipped cream. Let them draw with their fingers.

Beards
Set up a large container of water with bubble bath. Children enjoy creating beards or figurines with the bubbles.

Variation: Weather permitting, fill a small pool with water and bubble bath. Children will play for hours.

Strong like Dad

Have children weigh several objects. Help them notice the difference between heavy and light.

CULINARY ACTIVITIES

A special snack
Ask dads to prepare something special children can share at snack time. Children will be proud to show their friends what their father prepared for them.

Sweets
Prepare special treats each day. Children may give them to their father. Some suggestions are heart-shaped cookies, miniature muffins with coloured icing, or small chocolates.

Edible tie

Material: Rectangular cake pan, knife, plate
Ingredients: Cake mix, icing, candy

Pour the cake mix into your rectangular cake pan and bake. Once the cake has cooled, trace the outline of a tie with a knife. Deposit the tie in a plate and cover it with icing. Use candy to decorate.

Ready for the barbecue
Prepare barbecue sauce with your group. Clean empty plastic bottles thoroughly. Pour the barbecue sauce inside. Have children decorate the bottles. The perfect gift for any barbecue enthusiast!

ARTS & CRAFTS

My dad
(Open My dad) Print for each child. Ask children to cut out the pieces and color them. Assemble them using fasteners where indicated. You can add a picture of each child's dad to replace the face.

My father's portrait
Ask each child to draw his father. To help them, ask fathers to provide a picture. Help children notice certain features such as the color of their father's hair and eyes, the shape of his face, etc. Glue the portrait onto heavy cardboard. Have children decorate the contour with arts & crafts material. Hang the portraits on the wall.

Bookmark for Dad
(Open model bookmark-Father's Day) Print. Give each child a bookmark. Use stamp pads, washable paint, or markers. Let children color their fingertips and make prints on the bookmark. Let dry and laminate.

Musical beverage coasters
Use old CDs (or DVDs) to make beverage coasters for dads. Children can paint them using porcelain paint or poster paint (you will have to varnish). Dads will love using their personalized coasters.

Car air freshener
Use a piece of white tulle. Fill it with potpourri. Sew the top to make a tiny pocket. Add colourful string and tie a laminated picture of the child to it. Dads can hang it from their car mirror.

If you do not have potpourri you can make your own using a few sticks of cinnamon and thin dried orange slices.

Keychain just for Dad
Prepare salt dough (or use modeling dough which hardens upon drying). Ask children to create a keychain. They may use cookie cutters (or their imagination!) Make a hole in the top before setting the keychain out to dry. Add a paper ring. They open up, making them easy to add it to the keychains.

Morning thought
Purchase one white cup per child (and the matching saucer). Let children paint them with porcelain paint. Be sure to offer a single color at a time. Let one color dry before adding a new one to avoid colors mixing together. Ask children to describe how much they love their father. Add their words to the cup or saucer. Bake in the oven to seal the paint (follow manufacturer's instructions). Fathers' mornings will be filled with happy thoughts.

A placemat
Take a picture of each child acting out something their father does regularly (playing golf, shaving, fishing, etc.) Glue the picture on a large sheet of construction paper. Have children color the contour and decorate it.

Laminate.

Dad's favourite dish
Ask children what their father's favourite meal is. Have them cut the ingredients out of grocery store flyers. Glue the items on a paper plate.

Pocket-emptier
Give each child an aluminum tray (for plants). Pour plaster into it (or use salt dough). Make a print of each child's hand. Once dry, have children paint their pocket-emptiers.

Album
Have each child draw their father. Make copies of each child's drawing so that you have one copy of each drawing per child. Glue the drawings on cardboard. Cover with Mac-Tac and bind the pages together so they look like a small album. Give each father one copy.

Pencil holder
Use plastic containers or metal cans. Cut a piece of construction paper to completely cover the container. Decorate the paper and glue it to the container when you are done. If you prefer, you may paint the container using a mixture of ¾ glue, ¼ paint.

A car
Use empty tissue boxes to make cars.

A watch
(Open watch models) Print, cut out, and glue onto heavy cardboard. Use large ribbon for the bracelet. Glue the watch onto the bracelet. To complete the craft, add a tiny pice of "Velcro" to the end of the ribbon. This will allow dads to tie their watch around their wrist.

Mousepad
Cut the shape of your mousepad out of foam paper. Let children decorate the contour.

Remote control carrier
Paint and decorate a small box. Dads can use the box to store the remote control.

A tie for Dad
Purchase a white fabric tie for each child. Invite them to draw on the tie using fabric markers.

Toolbox
Each child will need a large metal can (such as a coffee can). Clean the can thoroughly. Use colourful paper to completely cover the can using double-sided adhesive tape or glue. Cut family pictures (which you secretly asked mothers to provide) and glue them on the toolbox to decorate.

Lunch bag
Children decorate a paper lunch bag for their father.

FATHER'S DAY CARDS

Clay card
Spread clay on the table using a rolling pin. Have children use cookie cutters to cut shapes. Make a hole in the top of each shape using a drinking straw. Let dry. Let children paint the shapes. Fold a piece of construction paper in two. Make a tiny hole in the front of the card and attach the clay shape with ribbon. Write "Happy Father's Day" on the card. Inside, write the messages children would like to offer their dad.

Gift certificates
(Open gift certificates-Father's Day) Print and cut out. Place the gift certificates in envelopes. Give each dad a gift certificate.

Tie card
(Open greeting card-Father's Day) Print and cut out the shirt and tie and have children color them. Cut a slit in the shirt collar where indicated. Fold the flap (at the top of the tie) and insert. Glue to ensure it stays in place.

Best Dad diploma
Prepare a card resembling a "Best Dad diploma". (Open diploma-Best Dad). Children can draw their fondest memory with their dad or offer them a certificate which dads can exchange towards loving hugs, cleanup services, help to clean out the garage or wash the car, a small massage, etc.

A generation card
Have each child bring a picture of himself, one of his father, as well as one of his grandfather and great-grandfather, if possible. Glue the photos on the top of a sheet of construction paper folded in two like a card. Cover with "Mac-Tac". Write a message inside the card or use one of our printable greetings (Open greetings-Father's Day).

COLORING PAGES

Creative coloring-Father's Day
(Open creative coloring-Father's Day) Print for each child. Have children complete the picture by drawing a special memory of an activity they did with their dad.

Coloring pages
(Open coloring pages theme-Father's Day) Print.

Scrapbook-My Dad
(Open scrapbook-My Dad) Print for each child. Add the page to each child's scrapbook.

SONGS & RHYMES

Father's Day

sung to: The wheels on the bus

by: Patricia Morrison

My dad is so great, let's celebrate
On Father's Day, on Father's Day
My dad is so great, let's celebrate
All day long

We can play golf or wash the car
On Father's Day, on Father's Day
We can play golf or wash the car
All day long

We'll have a barbecue and relax
On Father's Day, on Father's Day
We'll have a barbecue and relax
All day long

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!

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