Summertime Fun Round-Up (And a few Father's Day Links)

Hi! I'm Ayn and I am a Ga. Pre-K teacher, serving 4 and 5 year olds in an inclusive setting. I share my classroom adventures on my blog, little illuminations.

Summertime!!!! School has been out for a couple of weeks here in Georgia. I see a lot of parents posting on Facebook looking for economical ways to keep the kids busy this summer. Today I'm sharing some of my more popular posts about summer activities from here on PreK+K Sharing and from my personal blog little illuminations. 

This post has some ideas to keep the kids engaged during road trips. Car rides can be fun, but sometimes kids need a little help finding the fun on a long trip. Check out the travel ideas in Travel Activities For Kids...and a freebie!

Looking for ways to incorporate literacy skills into your summer activities? Simple Summer Literacy is just the post for you!

Vacations are expensive and require a lot of planning. There are lots of ways to have fun by simply planning a "stay"cation! I have a friend that takes her boys to a local hotel for a night or two as a special "stay"cation. They use the pool and eat at the breakfast bar and generally have a great little vacation without ever leaving town. Sometimes, they even invite a few friends! 5 Budget-Friendly Ways to Enjoy Summer "Stay"cations might help you plan a local outing without breaking the bank or leaving town!

And a few more "stay"cation ideas are here in "10 More Summer "Stay"cations on a Budget".

Need more ideas for summer activities? Go to the search bar at the top of this page and type in "summer". A ton of posts from PreK+K Sharing authors will come up with oodles of summer activity ideas!

I know that Father's Day is coming up in a couple of weeks and many of you will be searching for cute ideas to help children make a gift for dad, so I thought I would share a couple of links here for Father's Day, as well!

**from little illuminations: "Father's day Ideas from Around the Blogosphere!"

**from PreKinders: "Father's Day Activities For Kids"

**from Pre-K Pages: Fathers Day Ideas

    Happy Summer and Happy Father's Day! Enjoy!

 Stop by and visit me anytime at littleilluminations.blogspot.com or visit the little illuminations fanpage on facebook! And be sure to check out PreK+K Sharing EEE!

Father's Day Fun!

Hi! It's Carolyn from Kindergarten: Holding Hands and Sticking Together. Today I'm going to share some simple, fun Father's Day activities with you.

First, my friend Sarah (from A Sunny Day in First Grade) shared this wonderful writing prompt for Father's Day, free at her TpT Store. I always love to see the kids'  answers.

A "My Dad Rocks" paperweight is a fun keepsake for children to make for dad.  This one is from  Our Family World.  You can make them as simple as you want.  You don't even need to paint the rocks- the children can just write "My Dad Rocks" on a special rock with a sharpie, and you can spray it with clear spray paint sealer.  Don't forget to have the child write his/her name on the bottom and date it, too!

Aren't these gloves sweet? I found the picture on Pinterest, but it didn't have any link back to anywhere.  If it's yours, let me know so I can link it to you.  I love these.  You can usually find these gloves at a Dollar Store.  The poem says:

See these gloves daddy?

They don't fit me just  yet.

My handprints are on them, 

So you'll never forget.

I'm only small for a little while,

So remember my hands and my smile.

I love you daddy, with all my heart.

No matter how much I grow,

We will never grow apart.

Kristin Miller shared this on Pinterest.  I thought it was so cute!  You could make a simple, inexpensive card/gift by having children stamp their hand prints on  a white paper plate made into a baseball like this.

This activity is from Oriental Trading.  The packet makes 12 activities.  A simple way to make this activity with your class would be to have children put red and yellow pieces of tissue paper onto clear contact paper, then cut it into this shape, and outline it with blue tape. The kids could write, "You're my hero, Dad!" in the middle with a Sharpie. 

My class made these for their dads. Each child colored a paper that said, "MY."  I took each child's picture holding their sign.  Then,  I taped a packet of Pop Rocks under the sign so it says, "MY Pop Rocks!"  

I decided to use these as covers for their books about dad.  Here are some of the sweet pages from some of the books.  

I hope you found some fun things to do for Father's Day!  I'd love you to stop by my blog or my Facebook page!  Have a  wonderful week.

Summer's Here! Twitter Anniversary! EOY Song! Frog Street Splash!

We are headed north to our summer hiatus spot, 

perched on the bay. 

I took that photo exactly one year ago.

I found the quotation yesterday. 

Education carries us triumphant to the sunset. 

One step at a time. 

With the arrival of summer, 

some of our readers have more 'time' to explore. 

Maybe this is the summer that you learn the ropes at Twitter. 

The weekly chat that I host on Tuesday nights 

is nearing our second anniversary. 

There are some BIG plans in the making to celebrate. 

Save June 28th for your chance to win big! 

You have a couple of weeks before then,

where you can learn the ropes. 

This coming Tuesday, June 7th,

my dear friend Kim Vij will be taking our spotlight. 

Her brand new book is just a few days old and some lucky participant

will be winning a copy!!! 

This is a brilliant book for teachers and parents alike. 

If you are a visual learner yourself, 

this book is for you! 

The photographs capture the fun and learning, 

offering inspiration and delight just in turning the pages! 

---------------------------------------------------------

I realize the vast majority of teachers are finished or down to the last moments in the classroom. 

Just when I think that way, 

I get a message from a teacher in CA and one in NY and

both are still teaching for another three weeks. 

So I include this news for you! 

Everyone else will just have to plan ahead about 300 days! 

I know how you like to plan ahead! 

PINCH ME!!! Look what happened! 

I made it back into the recording studio!!!

Believe in unicorns and pixie dust and happily ever after too! 

I am so very excited. I have BIG news!

My dear sweet husband said, "Yes."
He gave me the most incredible gift. 

The rest is history. 

A couple of years ago I wrote a little poem -- 

as a tribute to teachers.

• I wanted to say thank you in a tangible way.
• I wanted to express my appreciation. 
• I wanted to acknowledge your hard work.
• I wanted to affirm your many feelings. 
• I wanted to offer support.
• I wanted to recognize the milestone.
• I wanted to attempt to capture the emotions in saying good-bye. 
• I wanted to give you a new tool for your toolbox.
• I wanted to contribute to your closure.

So much happens in a school year.

Starting with early fall's delight over new supplies and potential, 

{twinged with just the slightest apprehension of the unknown....} 
There's an onslaught of pumpkins and reindeer,
candy hearts, leprechauns and bumblebees

*****BLINK***** 

and it is all over!  

The ending of a school year is so very poignant.

When the finish line is tangible, 

every moment goes into hyper-drive captured in 'forever' mode.

#Bittersweet

#Memories 

#ExhaustionElationExaustionElationExhaustion 

#Feelings

#Overwhelm
#Touching
#Meaningful

#Good-Bye
#Significance

#Reflections

#Growth
#Sentimental 
#Endings
#Finality
#Graduation
#BoomDropTheMicDone
#Legacy 

People downloaded my poem. 
They thanked me for articulating their experience. 
They told me they cried when they read it.
They tagged their friends.
They were grateful.
They printed it. 
They sent it home. 
They shared it.
They used it. 
  
Then someone said, 
"I wish it had a melody so that I could sing it." 

That one line of feedback started the ache. 
She planted the seed. 
It could be MORE!
It could be a song. 
Songs have legs.
Songs get play-time.
Songs stick with you.
I write songs. 

And a year went by. 
And then another. 

The feedback and gratitude accumulated. 
Like a gnawing water drip.....
so did that one request
ring over and over and over in my head. 
"I wish it had a melody so that I could sing it." 

Going into a recording studio with a poem on a piece of paper is expensive. This last couple years of my personal and professional life, we haven't had the 'extra' to even contemplate considering what it would take to go back into the studio. That's a long complicated story that is mostly sad, where we are still awaiting the triumphant conclusion. BUT......... stay the course long enough and the tide begins to turn. Have faith. Trust. Believe. Pray. Give thanks. HALLELUJAH.

So I squinted and in my best smiling wifey voice, I asked my dear sweet husband if this spring we were in a position to take on a new project. Hubby Allen said, 'yes.' 

Turns out that our efforts over at WobbleSeat.com could provide the financial resources necessary to answer her request to turn my little poem into a song. 

And with that go-ahead I got the nerve to talk to my UBBER talented producer-friend Ronn. His talent is legendary and his heart is even bigger. Ronn would have to agree to work for peanuts, or more accurately for peanut dust.... not even a minuscule fraction of his worth and value in the real world. The man has created brilliance in Nashville and Detroit. I thought he might be willing. I hoped. Just because he's the best. Just because he knows that for me to ask a favor -- it must be worthwhile. And Ronn said yes! 

And with that go-ahead we had to rope in Dan, the owner of the studio. It would take all three of us to bring this little idea to fruition. He too would have to be willing to make me the 'deal' of the century. Just because. As a friend. As an acknowledgement of our nearly two decades of projects together. Dan-the-man has a heart of gold. It would be fun to have the three of us under the same roof at Amerisound.  And Dan said yes! 

TRIFECTA. All three. Everyone on board. Tic-Tac-Toe!

So began the real work by Ronn to create the arrangement out of thin air. That is his specialty. We talked over the role of the song and how I envisioned it being used. We talked over the tone. We talked over poignancy. And then I gave him permission. Create. Use your gifts. Stay out of his way. 

I just had to get myself back to Columbus, Ohio. That's all. We left Vero Beach, FL just over three weeks ago.... driving to Green Bay, WI where I had the keynote. First must make stops in Augusta, Columbus, Cleveland, Green Springs, Ft. Wayne, South Bend and then actually arrive straight on to the Tundra Lodge in Green Bay. After that immediately down to Chicago for two days of work in Schaumberg at their library. Return to Columbus directly, to take the first flight out BACK TO FLORIDA! 

Return a couple days later to Columbus. Final annual school visit of the year in Westerville. Hugs. Hugs. Hugs. Hugs all around. Some of my VERY favorite people in that big road trip loop-di-loo. Some of my oldest and dearest friends.

Then time to drive to Amerisound Studios. TA DA. I could get there blindfolded.

While I was busy traipsing back and forth across the the country, Ronn was in a VERY serious car accident. Just mere days before our scheduled recording session. He testifies that it was his seat belt that saved his life. Angels watching over my dear, talented friend. How close do we come to our mortality on a daily basis? Sobering. 

What a back-drop to creative studio work. To say that we were all just a bit frazzled would be a slight under-statement. So when Ronn started playing his arrangement, it was no surprise that I was an immediate blubbering mortal. I just sat there and cried and cried as he added each track from his keyboard to the studio console. They weren't even the least bit surprised at my response. 

Time to blow your nose and sing, Debbie. It is at that point that I wish I am Celine. Alas. 

The song version required some slight reordering of my poem's origianal stanzas. This is now the completed song lyric sheet. It is in Pdf format in the zipped file that is now available over at TeachersPayTeachers. 

I have decided to make the digital file available for free for right now. HURRY over to get it for FREE!!! 

Pay it Forward. Gratitude. Appreciation. Random Act of Kindness. Anyone that still has school after Memorial Day deserves an extra serving of support. I can't wait to hear your feedback. It would be very kind if you would leave your supportive thoughts at TpT after you download it. 

From the very beginning, I thought that the song version could be used in your slide show overview, as part of the sound track to photographically reviewing your year. Then my friend Maggie, suggested that it could be used as a "Kindergarten Graduation March." I'm excited to hear how you might put it to use! 

I have several exciting invitations on the horizon this summer to contribute to professional development. Each is unique it its own way. My participating at Frog Street is ALWAYS a highlight of the year. I am so grateful to return yet again. Will I get a chance to meet you this year? 

4 Preschool Planning Tips To Save You Time & Help You Enjoy Your Preschoolers This Summer

Woot woot!  3 days until June!  Summer is just about here!

It’s the end of the school year!  You’ve been busy planning your end of the year program or graduation, catching up on your professional development and now, for many, it is time to set up for summer programs!

Summer planning of preschool themes, activities and the like typically has a different look to it than school year planning. Summer planning is more relaxed.  The children in your care in the summer are most likely full time children with parents or guardians working full time.

What can you do to still support your preschoolers' growth and development but have your program feel less like the typical school year?  

Here are 4 small changes that will help!

1.  Change Your Interest Center Names

In his play, Romeo and Juliet, William Shakespeare penned the following phrase:

 

"A rose by any other name would smell as sweet".  

It's become an iconic phrase meaning that changing the name of something does not change what it is.  This might also apply to the names of your interest learning centers. Although, I AM going to suggest that you change what it is! 

Think about renaming your centers.  

How about Campfire Time rather than Circle Time?  

And then, change what you do there!  Which brings us to #2!

2.  Drop the "academics"

I recommend this in general, but especially in the summer!  

STOP "Calendar Time" and "Weather Time" and "Letter of the Week"!  

Have Campfire Time (aka Circle Time) be a time of gathering and sharing before going on with the day!  Hopefully this will carry forward into your new school year as well! ;)  

(Italk in detail about the Dos and Don'ts of Circle Time here.)

3.  Lighten up on your themes

Decide on one (two at most) themes for the summer!  

Perhaps you'll have an overall Ocean Theme.  

From there, add a few weeks covering different areas of that theme such as:

Ocean Life activities for 2 weeks.  

Things on the Beach for 2 weeks.  

Pirates for 2 weeks.  

You get the idea!

4. Include the children in your planning.

Although you should be doing this all year, brainstorm activity ideas with the children!

If you have The Ocean as an overall theme, ask the children what they know about that theme.  LIST EVERYTHING!  Create your activities based on this list!

You will find that they state things like sea shells, whales, sharks, swimming, etc.

Take those ideas and then create activities around them!

Doing this will save you a lot of time!  

Not sure how to do this?  For the 4 steps on how to create a theme, be sure to read my How To Plan A Theme series!   

Summer-y (See what I did there?!)

In summary, if you are a full year provider, take the time this summer to really enjoy the season with your preschoolers!  

You can read more about the ideas I discussed here in my full Summer Planning page by clicking here!

Lighten up, relax, enjoy!  

Cheryl

About the author

Cheryl Hatch has taught and directed preschool programs for over 20 years.  She is the Creator and Owner of Preschool Plan It, a website dedicated to sharing preschool themes, activities, articles and training with early childhood educators.  She volunteers as the coordinator and teacher of the MOPPETS program in her town (a preschool program for the M.O.P.S.--Mothers of Preschoolers Program).  She has her undergraduate degree in Early Childhood Education.  Cheryl has been an active, integral member and leader within the Teachers.Net Early Childhood community for many years, moderating live chats and providing peer support on the Preschool Teachers Chatboard.  You can read Cheryl’s articles, activities and themed preschool lesson plans at www.preschool-plan-it.com 

From Plate to Container

It's Scott from Brick by Brick. I love to repurpose materials—use materials in ways different from their intended purpose.

We love containers - of all sorts. Plastic bottles and bowls. Containers from powdered drink mix and coffee. Anything with a lid can become a shaker or a bank or just about anything.

But I often run into a problem. I just don't have any containers (or enough containers) when I want to make shakers or banks. After all, my garage can only hold so much and when I use all my saved containers I often need time to build up my supply. What can a teacher do when he doesn't have containers? Just paper plates!

Paper plates make great shakers (and even banks!). Use the inexpensive, flexible plates. Decorate the backs of the plates with tape, stickers, markers, or whatever art media you want. In this case, plates are often better than most containers because just about any art medium will adhere to the plate. 

Flip the plate over and add gravel or other shaker material. Fold the plate in half and staple along the curved edge to seal. Use larger shaker material (gravel, beans, beads) rather than smaller material (rice). The smaller material always seems to find the gaps and leak out. That's why we usually add tape around the edge to further seal it. 

If you want to make a bank, cut a small slit in the plate before decorating. Make sure not to cover the slit when adding tape or stickers. Then, after stapling the plate closed, kids can drop coins in the slot and the coins will be sealed inside. (Remove the staples to retrieve the coins.)

While limited in use, plates can still make great alternatives to containers. And I can go and purchase them at the dollar store instead of saving them up! Hope this fun repurposing idea helps you in those "what do I use?" moments.

Dancing With (Stuffed Toy) Animals!

Greetings!

Here is a dance activity that can incorporate your child's favorite small plush animal, which can stimulate many different movement ideas.  Children will have the chance to explore how different animals move, they will dance with their animals, and they will also dance for their animal "audience."

When I teach this lesson in the classroom, I invite the children ahead of time to bring a small plush animal.  I also have a bag of them that I bring in for extras.  

This lesson is loosely based on the chapter More and More Animals, from my book Dance, Turn, Hop, Learn! Enriching Movement Activities for Preschoolers (Redleaf Press, 2006).  

  Dancing with animals! This photo is from my class at the Otto M. Budig Academy of the Cincinnati Ballet 

Dancing With Animals!

This lesson works best in a large room, such as a gym.

Bring one or two upbeat songs about animals, or lively instrumental music, that the children enjoy.

Begin the lesson with a short Seated Warm Up using the animal theme.  

1.  Boat:   Sit with legs crossed or soles of the feet together and rock from side to side, placing the animal on the floor in the “boat,” giving the animal a “ride.” 

2.  Merry-Go-Round:  Also while sitting, have each child bring their knees to their chest and spin around on their bottoms several times using their arms to propel them.  Then have them spin their animal around the same way. 

3.  Body Part Isolation:  Ask the children to put their animals next to them.  Lead the children in a body part warm up, begininng with the face, then neck, shoulders, arms hands, torso, legs, and feet.  Then ask the children to help their animals do the same thing, moving the parts of the animals as you say them again.

For the remainder of the seated warm up, ask the children to have their animals next to them to "watch." 

1.  Upside-Down Bug:  While lying on the back, move the arms and legs in the air.

2.  Cobra: Lying face down, lift head and chest by pushing up on the hands.  Slowly lower the head and chest to the ground.

3.  Lizard Crawl:  Lying face down, bend one leg up and to the side, then use the arm and bent leg on that side to propel the body forward.  Repeat to the other side, and continue moving forward by alternating sides.

4.  Kitty-Cat:  While on hands and knees, arch and curve the back.

4.  Down-Dog Position:  Face downwards with the weight on the hands and feet, the legs straight and the seat in the air.

5.  Bring the Children to Standing: From the Down Dog position, walk the hands back to the feet, bend the knees, and slowly stand up by uncurling the back.

 Large Motor Skills Practice:

For the large motor skills practice, ask the children to line up on one side of the room, carrying their animals while they move across the floor: 

1.  March Can you march, stamping your feet like a great big dinosaur?

2.  Tiptoe Walk:  Can you tiptoe quietly like a mouse?

3.  Prance:  Prance like a proud horse!

4.  Gallop:  Gallop like a zebra!

5.  Run:  Can you run quickly and quietly like a leopard, or a cheetah?

6.  Jump: First, let’s all jump up and down while we are holding our animals. Now, standing still, let’s throw the animals up in the air and catch them, so they can “jump” too!

Animal Dance

1.  Dance For the Animals:   Line the animals up against a wall of the room, telling the children the animals will be the “audience.”  Then, ask each child to take turns leading the class, moving like his or her stuffed animal would move if it were a real animal.  Play one of your musical selections. Continue this activity until every child that wants to has had a chance to lead the class.

2.  Dance With the Animals:  Now have the children pick up their animals.  Suggest to them that they are going to do a good-bye dance with their animals.  Prompt them to find as many ways to dance with their animals as they can, using many different movements.  Play another musical selection for this activity.

Good-Bye Circle

Have the children bring their animals into the closing circle.  Tell them:  Hold your animal in your hands away from your body, and as you bow, have your animal bow toward you!

Keep on Dancin',

Connie

Moving is Learning!