The ice cream shop

AREA SETUP

(Open thematic poster-The ice cream shop) Print, laminate, and decorate the walls of your daycare with all kinds of posters.

Educa-decorate-The ice cream shop
(Open educa-decorate-The ice cream shop) Print, cut out, and laminate. Use the illustrations to decorate the walls of your daycare and set the mood for the theme.

Garland-The ice cream shop
(Open garland-The ice cream shop) Print. Let children decorate the garland. Cut it out and hang it within your daycare or near your daycare entrance.

SPECIAL TOOL

This special tool was created in response to a special request received. (Poster-Where to find us) Print and display it in a specific area of your daycare.

CIRCLE TIME

To begin your theme, greet children with a cone filled with frozen yogurt or serve it to them as a snack during circle time. Display pictures of children eating frozen treats on the walls of your daycare. Set up an ice cream shop in your role play area.

Educ-chat-The ice cream shop
(Open educ-chat-The ice cream shop) Educ-chat is a game that 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. Print, cut out, and laminate the cards. Make three different piles (subjects, verbs, and objects). 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.

PICTURE GAME

The pictures may be used as a memory game or to spark a conversation with your group. Use them to decorate your daycare or a specific thematic corner. (Open picture game-The ice cream shop) Print, laminate, and store the pictures in a Ziploc bag or in your thematic bin.

ACTIVITY SHEETS

(Open activity sheets-The ice cream shop) Activity sheets are suggested for each theme. Print and follow instructions.

WRITING ACTIVITIES

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

Stationery-The ice cream shop
(Open stationery-The ice cream shop) Print. The stationery can be used to communicate with parents, in your writing area, or to identify your thematic bins.

Educa-nuudles-The ice cream shop

(Open educa-nuudles-The ice cream shop) Print for each child. Have children color the sheet and use Magic Nuudles to give it a three-dimensional look. Variation: You don't have Magic Nuudles? Have children fill the spaces designed for Magic Nuudles with bingo markers or stickers. To order Magic Nuudles

LANGUAGE ACTIVITIES

Word flashcards

Use the cards to spark a conversation with your group or in your reading and writing area. They may also be used to identify your thematic bins. (Open word flashcards-The ice cream shop) (Open giant word flashcards-The ice cream shop) Print. sundae, cone, slushie, banana split, frozen yogurt, milkshake, chocolate, caramel, candy, peanuts, frozen treat, strawberry

Story and memory game-The ice cream shop
(Open story and memory game-The ice cream shop) Print, cut out, and laminate the illustrations. Place them on the floor or table, face down. Children take turns picking three cards and inventing a story in relation to the illustrations. Variation: Print two copies and use the cards to play a memory game.

ROUTINES AND TRANSITIONS

Game-This is my spot-The ice cream shop
(Open game-This is my spot-The ice cream shop) Print two copies. Laminate and cut out the cards. Glue one copy of each card on the table using adhesive paper. Drop the other copies in a bag. Children take turns picking a card to determine their spot at the table for the day. You may also use the cards to determine naptime spots or for your task train.

PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AND MOTOR SKILLS

Lacing-The ice cream shop
(Open lacing-The ice cream shop) Print, laminate, and punch holes where indicated. Give children a shoelace or ribbon they can use to lace the shapes.

Modeling dough ice cream cones
Encourage children to use modeling dough to form balls (scoops) or cylinders. Use cone-shaped glasses or small cardboard glasses to represent ice cream cones. Children will be happy to fulfill your every order.

From one sundae to the next
You will need several red pompoms, plastic spoons, and small bowls. Fill two bowls with cherries (red pompoms) and set them at one end of your daycare. Deposit two empty bowls at the other end of the daycare. Divide your group into two teams. Using the spoons, children must transfer the cherries to the empty bowls without dropping them. The first team to have transferred all its cherries to the other bowl wins.

OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES

Giant cones
Provide sidewalk chalk and invite children to draw giant ice cream cones in your driveway or parking lot.

Ice cream stand
With the children in your group, paint a large box using bright colors. Cut a window out of the front of the box. Children will enjoy taking their friends' ice cream orders in their very own ice cream stand.

Ice cream obstacle course
(Open giant ice cream scoops) Print and laminate the ice cream scoops. Set them on the ground throughout your yard. Encourage children to hop from one scoop of ice cream to the next and name the different flavours.

MUSICAL AND RHYTHMIC ACTIVITIES

Frozen drums
Ask parents to help you collect several empty ice cream containers. Using wooden spoons, their hands, or small plastic spoons to bang on the containers, let children create a variety of rhythms.

COGNITIVE ACTIVITIES

Junior Sudoku-The ice cream shop
(Open junior Sudoku-The ice cream shop) Print and laminate the board game and cards. Attach Velcro to each card (or simply use the game with a dry-erase marker). Children must place the cards on the board while respecting traditional Sudoku rules; there mustn't be two identical cards on the same vertical or horizontal line.

Educa-duo-The ice cream shop
(Open educa-duo-The ice cream shop) Print and laminate for durable, eco-friendly use. Children must use a dry-erase marker to draw a line between items that go together.

Educa-symmetry-The ice cream shop
(Open educa-symmetry-The ice cream shop) Print. Children must color the bottom picture (black & white) to make it look exactly like the top picture (in color).

Educ-pairs-The ice cream shop
(Open educ-pairs-The ice cream shop) Print. Children must draw a line between identical items or color identical items using the same color. For durable, eco-friendly use, laminate for use with a dry-erase marker.

Educ-trace-The ice cream shop
(Open educ-trace-The ice cream shop) Print for each child. Children must trace the lines with the correct colors and then color the corresponding items using the same colors.

Educ-same and different-The ice cream shop
(Open educ-same and different-The ice cream shop) Print and laminate for durable, eco-friendly use. Children must circle the illustration that is different in each row.

EARLY SCIENCE/MANIPULATION/EXPLORATION

I can make my own ice cream
(Open creative recipe-I can make my own ice cream) Print.

Ingredients for the small Ziploc bag:

• 1 cup of 3.25% milk
• 2 tablespoons of sugar
• • 1 teaspoon of vanilla (or 1 tablespoon of chocolate liquid syrup)

Ingredients for the large Ziploc bag:

• 2 to 3 cups of crushed ice (enough for the bag to be half full)
•  6 tablespoons of coarse salt

Steps:

1. Pour the milk, sugar, and vanilla (or chocolate syrup) in the small Ziploc bag.
2. Seal the bag, removing as much air as possible.
3. Deposit the small Ziploc bag in the large Ziploc bag.
4. Add 6 tablespoons of coarse salt.
5. Fill the large bag with crushed ice until it is half full.
6. Encourage children to manipulate and shake the bag for 5 to 10 minutes. Have children work in teams of two so their arms don't get tired.
7. Open the bag and enjoy your delicious soft serve ice cream.

Shaving cream or ice cream
Cover your table with a vinyl tablecloth and empty tiny mounds of shaving cream on it along with a few drops of food coloring if you want to create other "flavours". Let children manipulate the shaving cream like finger paint.

CULINARY ACTIVITIES

Refreshing smoothies
You will need a variety of frozen fruit and orange juice. Have children choose the fruit they prefer and add fruit pieces to the jar of your blender. Add orange juice and mix until your smoothie has the desired texture.

Sundae bar
Prepare small bowls containing a variety of sundae toppings: strawberries, cherries, candy pieces, chocolate chips, chocolate syrup, caramel, etc. Give each child a bowl of vanilla ice cream and let them add their favorite toppings.

Special snack
Purchase a variety of frozen treats at the supermarket. Before snack time, arrange them in a portable cooler. Carry it outside and shout: "Ice cream! Ice cream!" Children will love picking their own treat.

Cake in a cone
(Open creative recipe-Cake in a cone) Print.

Ingredients:

• Store-bought cake mix or homemade cake
• 18 flat-bottom ice cream cones

Steps:

• Prepare cake as indicated on package.
• Arrange the cones in an oven-safe pan or on a cookie sheet.
• Pour the cake mix in the cones until they are ¾ full.
• Bake in a 350°F oven for 15 to 20 minutes.
• Spread icing over the cakes once cooled. Decorate with candy pieces or chocolate chips.
• Enjoy!

Homemade ice cream

(Open creative recipe-Homemade ice cream 2) Print.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup of fruit, mashed
  
• ¼ cup of fresh lemon juice
  
• 1 cup of sugar
  
• 2 cups of 35% cream

Steps:

1. Pour all the ingredients in a large bowl.
2. Mix using an electric mixer.
3. Pour the mixture in ice cube trays.
4. Set the ice cube trays in the freezer for approximately one hour. Remove the ice cube trays from the freezer and stir each cube with a stick (this step is essential to avoid having the fat remain at the surface).
5. Leave the ice cube trays in the freezer for another two hours.
6. Serve the ice cream in small bowls.

ARTS & CRAFTS

Puppets-The ice cream shop
(Open puppets-The ice cream shop) Print the models on heavy paper. Have children cut them out and decorate them. Attach Popsicle sticks to the back of each model to make puppets.

Models-The ice cream shop
(Open models-The ice cream shop) Print. Use the models for various crafts and projects throughout the theme.

Stencils-The ice cream shop
(Open stencils-The ice cream shop) Print and cut out the stencils. Children can use them to trace or paint items related to the theme.

Original sundae
You will need a small disposable bowl for each child. Have children glue cotton balls inside their bowl to represent ice cream. Once the glue is dry, pour brown poster paint in a squeezable bottle. Children will enjoy pretending to spray chocolate syrup over their ice cream. Have them glue a red pompom on top to represent a cherry and add a plastic spoon.

My cone
(Open my cone) Print several copies so each child can prepare his/her own cone. Have children cut out the circles and triangles after coloring them to represent their favorite ice cream flavour. When they are done, have them assemble their cone on a piece of construction paper.

Frozen circles
(Open sundae circles) Print. Have children cut out the bowl and circles. Help them assemble the bowl on a piece of cardboard and complete the craft by adding the three scoops of ice cream and the cherry on top.

COLORING PAGES

Complete the drawing-The ice cream shop
(Open complete the drawing-The ice cream shop) Print for each child. Children must draw the missing elements.

I am learning to draw-An ice cream cone
(Open I am learning to draw-An ice cream cone) Print and laminate the model sheet. Invite children to practice their drawing technique on the model sheet. When they are ready, they can try to draw an ice cream cone on their own.

Coloring pages-The ice cream shop
(Open coloring pages theme-The ice cream shop) Print for each child.

SONGS & RHYMES

(Open songs & rhymes-Ice cream)

Ice cream

By: Patricia Morrison
Sung to: You are my sunshine

I love sundaes
With all the toppings
I love ice cream cones
One scoop, two scoops
Sometimes it's chocolate
Sometimes vanilla
Please don't let my ice cream melt away

Have fun!

The Educatall team