SKILLS GALORE OUTDOORS

Sometimes you just have to think outside the box to make standards more fun!

Reading Tree
Choose a poetry book, storybook, and non-fiction book to read outside under a shady tree. Can the children identify the books?


Reading Buddies
Divide children into pairs and let them each choose a favorite book. Go out on the playground, find a shady spot, and enjoy sharing their books with each other.
*Encourage them to ask each other questions about the books they read.


Alphabet Walk
Write letters on a paved surface with chalk. Challenge the children to step on the letters as they name them. Can they think of something that starts with each sound.

Word Hopscotch
Draw a hopscotch grid on a paved surface. Write high frequency words in each section. Children hop on the spaces as they read the words.


Talking Stick
Choose a stick on the playground and then have the children sit in a circle under a tree. Explain that you will start a story. As you pass the stick around, the child holding the stick can add to the story. Only the person holding the stick is allowed to talk. You might want to start a story about the day a space ship landed on the playground or the day animals started to talk.

Prepositions on the Move
Using playground equipment, call out various prepositions, such as on, off, over, under, by, between, to, from for the children to demonstrate.


We Can Do Opposites
Gather children around playground equipment and tell them you will call out a word. Can they demonstrate the opposite? For example, if the teacher said down, the children would climb up. If the teacher said front, the children would move to the back. Other words could be over, behind, inside, and so forth.


Verb Relays
Divide children into relay teams. The teacher names a verb and the children act out the meaning until everyone on their team has completed the movement. For example, you could have them walk, march, strut, prance, and so forth.
*It's a good way to integrate synonyms!

ANIMAL CRACKERS

Some things like animal crackers never go out of style!

Animal Crackers
By Dr. Holly
Lions, and tigers, and bears, oh, my!
In my box that’s what I spy.
Take them out.
Should I run?
No, I’ll eat them!
Yum! Yum! Yum!

Descriptions
Pass out an animal cracker to each child. Encourage them to write descriptive sentences about their cracker. I see… I smell… I feel… I hear… I taste!

Tag Along Book
Cut the front and back off a box of animal crackers. (Be sure and leave the string attached.) Cut paper the size of the box. Give each child a sheet and ask them to draw a zoo animal or write a description of a zoo animal. Put their pictures between the front and back of the box and staple to make a book.

Hint! This is called a tag along book because they can hold it and it will tag along with them!


Math
Use zoo animal plates for simple addition. Children make sets in each ear and then join them together and count the sum. You can use math counters, buttons, popcorn, or cereal.



Vocabulary
What does it mean to be a carnivore? Herbivore? Omnivore? What are you? Do some research to find out eating habits of different zoo animals.


Sorting
Use animal crackers, toy animals, or pictures to sort zoo animals. Ask children what sorting rule they used. Can they think of another way to sort the animals?


Put Me in the Zoo
Do a language experience chart where children fill in the sentence:
If I were in the zoo I would be…
Let them draw pictures of which animal they would like to be. Why did they choose that animal?


Zoo Treats

You will need graham crackers, animal crackers, and peanut butter to make this snack. Children put a small amount of peanut butter on the graham cracker and stand animal cookies up on it.


*You can use icing or honey for children with peanut allergies.

WHAT A NOSE!

Elephants are amazing creatures. I read a book called ELEPHANT BILL about how elephants were used in Burma in WWII - absolutely fascinating! I never knew that elephants have feelings and protect each other's children just like humans.

Here's a silly elephant puppet that my children always enjoyed making. There's nothing like putting a puppet on your hand to tell a story or sing a song.

Materials: old socks, paper plates, crayons, brad fasteners, gray construction paper.

Hint! Ask each child to bring in an old sock. This shouldn't be too difficult because everyone has a lost sock or two.

Directions: Cut 2 ears out of the gray construction paper. Cut a circle large enough for the child’s hand out of the middle of the paper plate. (Color the plate gray if you desire.) Draw a face on the plate as shown. Attach the 2 ears to the sides of the plate with brad fasteners. Insert the hand in the sock and then stick the sock through the back of the plate to create the elephant’s nose.  

Click here to download the pattern.

What a Nose!

(Tune: "I'm a Little Teapot")
Elephants walk like this and that. (Stick out one arm like a trunk and stomp
from side to side.)
They’re terribly big and terribly fat. (Arms out wide.)
They have no hands. (Hold up hands and shake head no.)
They have no toes. (Point to feet and shake head no.)
But, goodness, gracious, what a nose! (Stick out arm like a trunk.)

Click to view video.

One Elephant Went out to Play (Tune: "Five Little Ducks")

One elephant went out to play - (Hold up one finger.)
Out on a spider's web one day. (Roll hands around.)
She had such enormous fun. (Stick arms out wide.)
She called for another elephant to come. (Cup arms by mouth.)
Two elephants went out to play.... (Hold up two fingers.)

*Let children act out this rhyme. The first child chooses the second child. The second child chooses the third child, etc.

*What does "enormous" mean? What are other things that are enormous?

*Could an elephant really play on a spider's web? Why not?

CD Puppet

You can also make an elephant puppet from an old CD. Draw a face on the CD with permanent markers. Tape on construction paper ears and let the children insert their index finger in the hole to make a trunk. (Obviously, my big finger was too large for the hole!)

Note! This is kind of like a history lesson because most kids don't know what a CD is.

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MEET ME AT THE ZOO

I love to go to the zoo. I hope I never lose the thrill of seeing the animals and watching what they will do to entertain the people. Whether you take a real trip to the zoo or an imaginary trip on the internet, I've got some activities that children will enjoy. These ideas could also be related to literature, such as making the elephant puppet when you read HORTON HEARS A WHO. Other ideas could be adapted to literature standards (poems or riddles about zoo animals) or informative writing (habitats, body covering, babies, food).

We’re Going to the Zoo
(Tune: “The Bear Went over the Mountain”)
We’re going to the zoo.
We’re going to the zoo.
We’re going to the zoo.
Won’t you come, too?

The elephants swing their trunks. (Stick out one arm like a trunk
The elephants swing their trunks. and stomp from side to side.)
The elephants swing their trunks.
And we can do it, too.

*Insert other animal names and these motions:
Kangaroos jump around… (Bend elbows like paws and jump.)
Bears put all fours on the ground…(Put hands and feet on ground and walk.)
Giraffes walk on tippy toes…(Stretch neck and walk on toes.)
Zebras gallop to and fro…(Gallop in place.)
Snakes slither and wiggle…(Wiggle as you go up and down.)
Penguins wobble and jiggle…(Palms out by sides and wobble.)


Guess Who?
Let children take turns pantomiming different zoo animals as their friends try and guess who they are.


Zoo Animal Puppets
Let children create their favorite zoo animal from a lunch bag, paper plate, craft stick, or envelope.

Animal Cheers
Seal of Approval – Extend arms in front of you and cross them over each other. Clap as you make a barking noise.
Elephant Cheer - Stick one arm out straight from under your chin. Put top lips over bottom lip as you blow and make a trumpeting sound.
Snake Cheer – Palms folded together next to your chest. Keeping them together wiggle them out as you make a “Ssssss” sound. Stick your tongue quickly in and out of your mouth.
Tiger Cheer – You’re GGGRRREEEAAATTT! (Stick fist in the air.)


Imagination Bag
Give each child an empty lunch bag. Demonstrate how to open the bag and ask them to do the same. Explain that you are going to take an imaginary trip to the zoo. Ask them to look in their bags to see what they can find. Encourage children to name the animals in their bag as they create an imaginary zoo on the floor in front of them.


Matching Game
Make a matching game where children match up mother zoo animals and their babies. Can they tell you the names for the different animal babies?
*You could also play a memory game with these cards.
Hint! I found my pictures at google images.

SUMMERTIME READING

Whether you teach summer school, work at a camp, or have children at home, a major goal will be to encourage them to read and write this summer. Here are some ideas to share with parents to help their children FALL IN LOVE WITH READING!

Explore Your Library
The library is a magical place that will open a world of books to children. When children get to choose their own books, it’s a powerful hook to get them to read. Most libraries have summer reading programs, as well as puppet shows and special events.
*Hint! Let children decorate a cloth bag to store books from the library. Keep it in a special place to encourage children to be responsible.

Noises Off
Have a quiet time each day when all devices are TURNED OFF. If you don’t make this a priority and routine, it won’t happen. Not only should you expect your children to read, you need to enjoy a book and be a good model for them. In the book THE SMARTEST KIDS IN THE WORLD, an interesting finding was that parents who read with their children and modeled reading had a positive impact on academic success.

Rabbit Trap
“If you want to catch a rabbit, you have to have a rabbit trap.” And, if you want children to read, you have to create a unique place where they will want to read.
*Let children decorate a cardboard appliance box to be a “book clubhouse.”
*Put pillows and stuffed animals in a small plastic pool so they can “dive in” and read.
*Make a tent and let them read with a flashlight.
*Brainstorm other places that would be fun to read.

Treasure Hunt Story
Prepare clues that will lead to a “treasure story.” (This is a special book that you have hidden outside.) For example:
1. A treasure hunt is so much fun. Near the swing is clue number one.
2. Clue number two should be easy, too. At the top of the slide is something for you.
3. Clue number three you will find in a tree.
4. Now it’s time for clue number four. Look for it by the storage door…
Tape the clues around your yard or playground ending with the spot where the “treasure story” is hidden. Encourage the children to help you read the clues and follow the directions. Find a shady spot outside and enjoy reading the book.

Paper and Pencils
*How about a spiral notebook or diary where you encourage children to write each day?
*Give children paper and envelopes to send letters to relatives and school classmates.
*Involve children in making shopping lists, chore charts, and other print activities.
*What child won’t want to write if you give them sticky notes to make labels and reminders?
*Clipboards and markers are good for a car trip or walk in the neighborhood.

Busy Box 

Fill a shoebox or plastic tub with scrap paper, pens, pencils, markers, hole punch, scissors, glue stick, stickers, lunch bags, envelopes, silly putty, etc. When you have to fix dinner or need a break, get it out and encourage children use their imaginations.

Chalk Talk
Chalk can provide endless writing and reading opportunities.
*Children can decorate a paved surface for a birthday, Father’s Day, or other event.
*Children can practice writing words or drawing shapes.
*Draw a hopscotch design with chalk on a paved surface. Write letters or numerals in each section for the children to identify as they hop and play.

Reading and writing should be a JOY, not a chore. The trick is finding the right book that they will WANT to read and finding something they WANT to write about.
Happy reading and writing!!

LET'S COOK SOMETHING!

If they make it - they will eat it!

Let children choose which recipe they'd like to try and then make it with you. Encourage them to plan a shopping list, read the directions, and clean up.



Here's a link to download all of the the activity cards:

file:///Users/jeanfeld/Downloads/ActivityCARDS-DrJeanJuly2015-4.pdf


Here are the recipes you'll find for KIDS IN THE KITCHEN!

Trail Mix

Monkey Tail Sandwich

Letter Bread

Spider Sandwich

Zoo Train

Ants Go Marching

Carrot Hot Rods

Two Babies in the Bed

Fire Cracker Sandwich

Peanut Butter Play Dough

Polka Dot Pizza

Stir Fried O’s


file:///Users/jeanfeld/Downloads/ActivityCARDS-DrJeanJuly2015-2.pdf

LET'S EXPERIMENT!

I KNOW A SCIENTIST - AND YOU CAN BE ONE, TOO!

Download all the activity cards for most recent blog posts here:

Click to go to download page on Dr. Jean's website

You'll be amazed by these experiments you can do with simple materials around your home.

Pepper Scatter

Shiny Pennies

Happy Face Balloon

Magnetic Mouse

What’s Up?

Funnel Phone

Growing, Growing

Feely Socks

A pdf file with all of these cards is available with the link above.

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