Flamingoes

SPECIAL TOOL

The following tool was created in response to a special request received. (Open group identification-Pink flamingoes) Print and display within your daycare or use the various items in your circle time area.

CIRCLE TIME

Animated discussion-Flamingoes

(Open picture game-Flamingoes) Print and laminate the pictures in the format you prefer. Use them to spark a discussion with your group and to ask children questions related to the theme.

Flamingo circle time

Every morning, have fun hiding an item related to the theme within your daycare. When children find it, photograph it, and print the picture. Display the pictures on a wall so that children can share their findings with their parents at the end of each day. Wear pink clothing items to greet children in the morning. Name a “flamingo of the day” and grant him privileges.

Illustrated circle time chart

(Open picture game-Flamingoes) Print several pictures related to the theme and glue them on a large piece of cardboard. During circle time, use your chart to present the items pertaining to the theme to your group. You can hand each child a dry-erase marker. When a child identifies an item displayed on your chart, let him circle it. This will help younger children visualize what you are talking about.

A treasure hunt to discover the theme

(Open educa-decorate-Flamingoes) Print and laminate. Hide the illustrated items throughout your daycare. Encourage children to search for them. Name the items as they find them and invite your group to identify your theme.

AREA SETUP

Thematic poster-Flamingoes

(Open thematic poster-Flamingoes) Print, laminate, and display all kinds of posters.

Educa-decorate-Flamingoes

(Open educa-decorate-Flamingoes) Print, cut out, and laminate. Use the items to decorate the walls of your daycare and set the mood for the theme.

Educa-theme-Flamingoes

(Open educa-theme-Flamingoes) Print and laminate the items that represent the theme. Use them to present the theme to your group (and parents) while decorating your daycare.

Stickers-Flamingoes

(Open stickers-Flamingoes) Print the illustrations on adhesive paper. Cut out the items and use the stickers to reward children.

Homemade decoration

Create a fascinating centerpiece by setting tiny white and pink Christmas lights in a clear container.

Thematic wreath

Children will love creating a wreath that will decorate your daycare throughout the theme. You will need a pink hula hoop as a base. (Open models-flamingoes and greenery) Print the models and have children trace the flamingoes on pink Fun Foam. The greenery can be traced on green Fun Foam (different shades). Cut out the shapes and glue them here and there around your hula hoop. Inflate pink balloons and use pink ribbon to tie them to the hula hoop. If you wish, you may also use metallic wire to add plastic greenery and fabric tropical flowers to your wreath.

Fun ceiling

Use plastic flamingoes or other pink objects or pictures to create a fun mobile. If you prefer, simply stick pictures of flamingoes on the ceiling, over your changing table.

PICTURE GAME

(Open picture game-Flamingoes) Use the pictures to decorate your daycare or to spark a conversation with your group. Print, laminate, and store the pictures in a Ziploc bag or in your thematic bin.

Memory game-Flamingoes

(Open picture game-Flamingoes) Print the pictures twice and use them for a traditional memory game.

ACTIVITY SHEETS

(Open activity sheets-Flamingoes) Print and follow instructions.

WRITING ACTIVITIES

(Open writing activities-F like flamingo) Print for each child or laminate for use with a dry-erase marker.

String activities-Flamingoes

(Open string activities-Flamingoes) Print for each child. Children trace the lines with waxed string pieces (Wikki Stix) or, if you prefer, with white glue and then press yarn or string on the shape outlines.

Homemade activity sheet binder

Laminate the activity sheets and writing activities and insert them in a binder. Provide dry-erase markers and set the binder on a table. Children can complete the pages as they wish. At the end of the day, simply wipe their work away so the activity sheets can be used again.

Free tracing

Provide cookie cutters, stencils, and compasses that children can use to trace various shapes. Cut them out and display them on your daycare walls, floors, ceiling, under tables, on games, in your workshops…

Light table for free play

You will need a clear rectangular bin. Set a string of battery-operated LED lights under your overturned bin. Use the bin as a light table for tracing fun.

Educa-nuudles-Flamingoes

(Open educa-nuudles-Flamingoes) Print for each child. Have children color the sheet. Once they are done, they may use Magic Nuudles to turn the coloring pages into three-dimensional works of art.

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

To order Magic Nuudles:

http://www.educatout.com/catalog/index.php?cPath=76&osCsid=dd5f6e4b9a9a91cbd4f9a233494afbff

LANGUAGE ACTIVITIES

Word flashcards

Use the flashcards to spark a conversation with your group, in your reading and writing corner, or to identify your thematic bins. (Open word flashcards-Flamingoes) (Open giant word flashcards-Flamingoes) Print.

pink flamingo, pink, beach, birds, beak, legs, wings, plumage, neck, sun, Caribbean, inflatable

Flamingo classification

Offer a wide range of classification and sorting challenges. Set the illustrations from the theme’s educa-decorate document on a table. Ask children to pick one, to name the item, and associate it to one of the pre-determined categories (size, color, theme, shape, etc.).

Word clothesline

(Open word flashcards-Flamingoes) (Open giant word flashcards-Flamingoes) Print two copies of several word flashcards. Hang one copy of each word on an indoor clothesline with colourful clothespins. Arrange the copies in a pile on a table. Let children take turns picking a word and finding the matching word on the clothesline. When they find a match, they can place the flashcard on top of the one that was already hanging on the clothesline. Help younger children manipulate the clothespins if necessary.

Let’s chat

(Open word flashcards-Flamingoes) Print and laminate the word flashcards. Have each child pick a flashcard. They can take turns presenting the word they picked to the group. With your group, talk about each item. Ask children questions to encourage them to share what they know about each one.

Word race

(Open word flashcards-Flamingoes) (Open giant word flashcards-Flamingoes) Print several word flashcards and hide them throughout your daycare or yard. Divide your group into two teams. When you give them the signal, children must search for the flashcards for a pre-determined period, for example three minutes. When the time is up, children must be able to “read” their flashcards to earn a point for their team. If they are unable to find the correct word, the other team can earn the point if they succeed.

Associating words and pictures

(Open giant word flashcards-Flamingoes) (Open word flashcards-Flamingoes) Print, laminate, and display the word flashcards on a wall or a large piece of cardboard that can be moved around. Name a word and have children identify the corresponding word flashcard.

ROUTINES AND TRANSITIONS

Game-This is my spot-Flamingoes

(Open models-Flamingoes) Print two copies of each illustration. Use adhesive paper to stick one copy of each illustration on the table. Place the second copy in a bag. Children take turns picking an illustration to determine where they must sit at the table. You may also use the illustrations to determine children’s naptime spots or their place in the task train.

My flamingo path

(Open models-Flamingoes) Print, laminate, and secure the illustrations on the floor of your daycare to create a path leading to the areas frequently visited by children throughout the day. The path can lead to the bathroom, the cloakroom, etc. If you prefer, use the illustrations to delimit various areas.

One-legged waiting

Every time children must wait for their turn, invite them to stand on one leg, like a flamingo. For example, when they are waiting in line to wash their hands, challenge them to balance on one leg and then the other for as long as they can. The child who lasts the longest can be the next one to wash his hands.

Flamingo stretching

(Open stretching-Flamingoes) Print, laminate, and cut out the cards. Before naptime (or when children need help calming down), invite them to pick a card and use their body to represent the flamingo’s position. The cards will lead them to stretch their neck, their legs, their back, etc. Encourage them to execute each pose slowly.

PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AND MOTOR SKILLS

Pyramid-Flamingoes

(Open big stickers-Flamingoes) Print and use the stickers to create games. Collect different sizes of empty metal cans. Decorate them with the stickers. Use the cans to build a pyramid and encourage children to try to make them fall with a frisbee. Give each child three tries.

Modeling dough activity placemats-Flamingoes

(Open modeling dough activity placemats-Flamingoes) Print and laminate. Let children pick a placemat and provide modeling dough. Encourage them to use the dough to fill or reproduce the shapes that are on their placemat.

Roll & color-Flamingoes

(Open roll & color-Flamingoes) Print for each child. This game can be enjoyed individually or as a group. Children take turns rolling a die, counting the dots, and coloring the corresponding part.

Flamingo long jump

Help children notice how long a flamingo’s legs are and how a flamingo has webbed feet. Cut webbed footprints out of pink construction paper and press them on your daycare floor using adhesive paper, leaving a certain distance between them. Encourage children to take giant steps in order to walk on the footsteps. You may also have them jump from one to the next.

Beware of the flamingo

Play tag with your group. Give a pink pool noodle to the child who is “it”. You can draw eyes and wings on the noodle to make it look like a flamingo. The child must use the “flamingo” to touch his peers. Every time he succeeds, the child who was touched must remain perfectly still, on one leg, until another child frees him by tapping him on the shoulder.

Flying flamingoes

You will need a cylindrical balloon for each child. Inflate the balloons and let children use a permanent marker to draw eyes, wings, and legs on their balloon to represent a pink flamingo. Next, show them how they can curve one end that will become their flamingo’s head. Children will love tossing their flamingo in the air. Challenge them to try to make it “fly” for as long as possible.

Pink balloons

Inflate 4 or 5 pink balloons. They must never touch the floor! You can challenge children to never touch the balloons with their hands, to blow on them to keep them up in the air, etc.

Flamingo, where are you hiding?

Draw tiny flamingoes on pink Post-it notes. Press them on items throughout your daycare. This activity can last all day…or all week. Children will enjoy finding the flamingoes as they go about their activities.

I pick a flamingo

Cut flamingoes out of pink construction paper. Attach a paperclip to each one and let children try to “fish” them using a homemade fishing rod with a magnet attached to the end of the line.

Hunting for flamingoes

(Open miniature flamingoes) Print, laminate, and cut out. Disperse the flamingoes throughout your daycare. Your flamingo hunt could also be presented outdoors, in your yard. Children search for the flamingoes, set them in a net, and hand them to you.

Bowling-Flamingoes

(Open bowling-Flamingoes) Print and use the stickers to create games. Make your own flamingo bowling game by pressing them on plastic bottles. Arrange them on a table. Children can toss tennis balls towards the bowling pins. Give each child 3 tries to make them all fall.

Giant flamingo

(Open giant flamingo pieces) Print, laminate, and cut out each piece. Children sit on the floor and assemble the pieces to create a giant flamingo.

Pink obstacle course

Close your curtains and turn the lights off. Create a path lined with a variety of obstacles that you decorated with pink glowstick bracelets that children must collect. At the end of the course, children connect the glowsticks to form a pink circle of light.

Where are the flamingoes hiding?

Hide pink flamingoes throughout your daycare. Children search for them. Every time they find one, they must run to deposit it in a beach bag before going to search for more.

COGNITIVE ACTIVITIES

Game-Four flamingoes

(Open game-Four flamingoes) Print, glue the cards on opaque cardboard and cut them out. Arrange all the cards upside down on the floor or table (so you can’t see the illustrations). Children take turns rolling a die. Every time a child rolls a “1”, he can turn a card. If he doesn’t already have this flamingo in front of him, he keeps it and places it in front of him for everyone to see. The first child who has collected all four flamingoes wins.

Lego block flamingoes

(Open Lego block flamingoes) Print for each child. Set a bin filled with Lego blocks on the table. Children must find pink blocks and set them on their sheet to represent a flamingo. If you do not have enough pink blocks, invite children to work in teams.

Educa-symmetry-Flamingoes

(Open educa-symmetry-Flamingoes) Print. Children must color the picture on the right to make it look exactly like the one on the left.

Roll and color-3D-Flamingoes

(Open roll and color-3D-Flamingoes) Print for each child. This game can be enjoyed individually or as a group. Children take turns rolling a die, counting the dots, and coloring the corresponding part. The child who finishes coloring his picture first wins.

Homemade wooden puzzles

Print several pictures representing flamingoes. Color them if necessary. Arrange several Popsicle sticks in a row on a table and glue a picture on top of them. Cut along each stick. Repeat these steps for each picture. Hand children a set of Popsicle sticks and invite them to place them in the correct order to complete the picture.

MORAL AND SOCIAL ACTIVITIES

Mandalas-Flamingoes

(Open mandalas-Flamingoes) Print one copy for each child. Invite children to color the mandalas to provide them with a relaxing activity.

Light signals

Turn the lights on and off in a rhythmic fashion. If your group is highly active, use this method to calm children. Have fun stopping their playtime often throughout the day to help them practice self-control and gathering quickly.

Relaxing flamingoes

Purchase one or two inflatable flamingoes (for swimming pools). Inflate them and set them in your reading or relaxation corner. Children will enjoy reading with their new friends.

Flamingo game

(Open game-Flamingoes) Print and laminate. With your group, color the flamingo and display it on a wall. Invite each child to color and cut out a wing. Blindfold one child at a time and invite them to try to press their wing as close to the correct spot as possible.

Gather the flamingoes

Set a kiddie pool in one corner of your daycare. You can add water if you wish, but it isn’t necessary. To avoid spills, you could simply add blue balls or crumpled blue paper to represent water. Purchase small inflatable flamingoes (dollar store) or plastic flamingoes and set them in your pool. Once children have found all the flamingoes, let them play with them.

MUSICAL AND RHYTHMIC ACTIVITIES

Musical flamingoes

Sit in a circle with your group. To the sound of music, children pass one or two plastic flamingoes around. When the music stops, the child holding a flamingo deposits it on the floor in front of him. The music starts again. Add one or two other flamingoes. At the end of the activity, count the flamingoes each child collected.

Pink dance

Cut various shapes out of pink cardboard and arrange them on the floor throughout your daycare (or yard). Play soft music and invite children to move to the rhythm. When the music stops, they must find a pink shape to stand on.

Pink musical drawing

Divide your group into two teams. Have each group sit at a table. Set a large piece of paper on each table. Play music. The goal is for each child to have the chance to draw pink items for the duration of one song. When the music stops, another child continues the drawing. Variation: You may also choose to have children use a dark pencil to draw on pink paper.

OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES

Flamingo limbo

Prick two plastic flamingoes in the ground in your yard, leaving a few feet between them. Set one end of a pink swimming pool noodle on each flamingo’s back. Children will have fun bending forward and backwards to limbo their way under the noodle.

Flamingo obstacle course

Purchase several plastic flamingoes and use them to create a thematic obstacle course. Among other things, children can run between the flamingoes, jump over them, spin around them, tap them, etc.

Decorated flamingoes

Prick a few plastic flamingoes in the ground in your yard and invite children to stand on a line, a few feet away. Give each child three leis of a different color. Children take turns tossing their leis towards the flamingoes. The goal is for the leis to land around a flamingo’s neck. If you wish, attribute a certain number of points to each flamingo and add up each child’s points.

The hungry flamingo

Inflate a large flamingo-shaped swimming pool toy with a hole in the center (buoy). Set your flamingo on the ground.  (Open variety of fish models) Print, laminate, and cut out the fish. Glue them on frisbees. Children will have fun trying to toss the frisbees in the center of the buoy to “feed” the flamingo.

CULINARY ACTIVITIES

Pink flamingo cupcakes

(Open cake decorations-Flamingoes) Print and glue the elements on toothpicks. Bake cupcakes with your group and once they are cooled, have children spread pink icing on them. Simply add a few drops of red food coloring to vanilla icing. Provide pink sprinkles. Insert the paper cake decorations in the cupcakes.

Strawberry milkshakes

Serve strawberry milkshakes at snack time. Children will enjoy this sweet pink drink!

Just pink!

Add red food coloring to a variety of white food items to give them a pink color. Suggestions: vanilla cake batter, milk, icing, mashed potatoes, etc.

ARTS & CRAFTS

Flamingo mural-Group project

Hang a large piece of blue paper on the wall. With your group, paint a beach and palm trees or tropical greenery at the bottom of your mural. You could also glue plastic plants and tropical flowers here and there. Glue a large yellow circle in one corner to represent the sun. Finally, cut flamingo shapes out of heavy paper and add them to your mural.

Soft flamingoes

For each child, you will need one large pink pompom. Invite them to draw a tropical scene on a piece of construction paper. Next, they can glue their pompom in the center. It will represent their flamingo’s body. Hand each child four toothpicks. They can use two to represent each of their flamingo’s legs. Show them how they can glue them under their pompom. One leg can be made of two toothpicks glued one on top of the other to form a straight line. For the second leg, they can glue the two other toothpicks at a 45-degree angle to represent a bent leg. Finally, have children glue a flexible pink drinking straw above their pompom to represent their flamingo’s head.

Textured flamingoes

(Open models-Flamingoes) Print for each child. Have them color their flamingo’s head using a pink marker. Next, have them glue pink feathers (different shades) all over their flamingo’s body. Encourage them to draw two skinny legs under the feathers.

Inflated flamingoes

You will need pink party balloons. Inflate one balloon per child. (Open balloon crafts-Flamingoes) Print the document and cut out the various parts. Have children trace a head, two legs, and two wings on pink Fun Foam or paper. Next, they cut out the pieces and use double-sided tape to stick the parts on their balloon to turn it into a flamingo.

Flamingo glasses

(Open glasses-Flamingoes) Print the model for each child. Invite them to cut out and color their glasses. Provide pink adhesive rhinestones that children can press on their frame. They will love wearing their flamingo glasses when you go for a walk in your neighbourhood.

Flamingo drinking straws

Cut flamingo shapes out of pink Fun Foam. Cut a slit in each shape and insert a drinking straw.

My flamingo hat

(Open educa-decorate-Flamingoes) Print and cut out. Glue the shapes around a hat or headband.

Crafts-Flamingoes

(Open models-Flamingoes) Print the models and use them for various activities and projects throughout the theme.

Mobile-Flamingoes

(Open models-Flamingoes) Print for each child. Have children color and decorate the various shapes and assemble them to create a mobile. The items can be hung from a clothing hanger, a perforated plastic container, or a paper plate.

Masks-Flamingoes

(Open masks-Flamingoes) Print and set the masks in the center of the table. Children use arts & crafts materials and markers to decorate a mask. Attach a string on either side of each child’s mask so they can be tied behind their head.

Puppets-Flamingoes

(Open puppets-Flamingoes) Print the various models on cardboard. Ask children to cut them out and decorate them with arts & crafts materials. Glue a Popsicle stick behind each one to complete the puppets.

Fluorescent paint

Provide fluorescent paint and encourage children to paint as if they were flamingoes. They can, for example, stand on one leg.

COLORING PAGES

(Open coloring pages theme-Flamingoes) Print for each child.

DIFFERENT WAYS TO USE THE COLORING PAGES

Identical coloring pages-Flamingoes

Print the same coloring page for each child and an additional copy for your model. Color only certain parts of your picture. Present the model to your group and ask them to color their picture to make it look exactly like yours.

Coloring binder- Flamingoes

Print and laminate several coloring pages and arrange them in a binder with a few dry-erase markers. Leave everything on a table for children to explore.

Musical drawing- Flamingoes

Play musical drawing with your group. Give each child a coloring page. Have children sit around a table. When the music starts, they must pass the coloring pages around the table. Every time the music stops, they must color the picture in front of them until the music starts again.

Homemade puzzles- Flamingoes

Give each child a picture to color. When they are done, cut each picture into pieces to create unique puzzles.

Have fun!

The educatall team