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 for May 13 through May 16:

Click to download Activity Cards

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 MAKE SOMETHING

We are so busy trying to give children things we didn’t have ~

that we are failing to give them what we did have!!!

Isn’t that a profound quote? We are in such a hurry to push children and academics that we often fail to remember that they are just little children. Summer is a good time to PAUSE and reflect on your own childhood. What special memories do you have and how can you pass them on to your children?

I’m excited about sharing these activity cards with ideas I’ve collected over the past six decades as a child, teacher, parent. You will find games, songs, crafts, recipes, and activities to build lasting memories in young children. UNPLUG the electronics and PLUG into good old-fashioned FUN! And, the amazing thing is you will actually be nurturing children’s brains with these multi-sensory activities. You will be engaging the WHOLE child as you develop oral language, social skills, large and small motor skills, and emotional well-being.

Please share these with your families, friends, relatives - EVERYONE!  You can use these ideas in summer school, Bible school, camp, a family trip, home school…go for it! 

Here's a like to download all the activity cards:

 

Click to download activity cards

Special thanks to Carolyn Kisloski (Holding Hands and Sticking Together – ckisloski.blogspot.com) for her magic touch with the graphics and design!

The link goes to the first set of cards called LET'S MAKE SOMETHING!
You'll find some simple craft projects and homemade toys that children can enjoy making and playing.

1. Wonder Watchers

2. Hummers

3. Paper Plate Party

4. Magic Wand

5. Cardboard Rollers

6. Magazine Puppets

7. Box Top Puzzles

8. Sewing Cards

9. Sweet Baby

10. Sock Puppets

11. Flannel Board

12. Art Easel

13. Play Dough

14. Play on with Dough

15. Goop

16. Flubber

17. Giant Bubbles

18. Mud Pies

19. Shaving Cream Painting

20. Silly Putty

REWARD STICKS AND GIFT CARDS

Need a few incentives and rewards to keep those kids motivated the last few weeks of school?Rather than stickers or treats, here are reward sticks that you can use to reinforce a special accomplishment or good behavior.

Choose activities that you think would work best for your students from the list below. Write these on jumbo craft sticks with a Sharpie. Place them in a cup and pretend like children are “winning” something when they choose a stick.

Choose a song and lead the class.

Eat lunch with your teacher or a special friend.

Be excused from a homework assignment.

Choose an indoor game to play.

Select the book for story time.

Sit by a favorite person all day.

15 minutes of free time.

Help the teacher do a special job.

Decorate the bulletin board or door.

Sit at the teacher’s desk.

Take off your shoes.

Listen to an IPod or headset while you work.

Take a class game or book home for the night.

Chew sugar free gum.

Be first in line for lunch

Use the teacher’s stamps, pens, or markers.

Choose a board game and play it with a friend.

Hand out supplies.

Be leader of a class game.

Be excused from a written assignment.

Play games on the computer for 10 minutes.

Visit another class in the school.

Work with a friend.

Be a helper in the office, lunchroom, or in another classroom.

Read a story to the principal or another class.

Have the teacher call your parents to tell them what a great kid you are!

Take a note to the principal about what a great kid you are.

Make something at the art center.

Have your work displayed in the hall or on the classroom door.

One special wish!


Note! Let your students suggest activities that they would like for rewards.




Gift Cards
Cut cardboard into 2" x 3 1/2" rectangles and write the non-tangible rewards on these. Let children choose a "gift card" from a bag.

WE SAY THANK YOU TO YOU!

Everybody likes to be appreciated - even Dr. Jean. When I do free Zoom visits or school concerts, it means so much to get a little "thank you."

Here are some simple ideas you can use to thank parent volunteers and school helpers at the end of the year.

Sing and Sign Thanks
Teach children this song to the tune of “Happy Birthday.” Use a sign language dictionary to learn appropriate signs.
We
Say
Thank you
To
You
(Repeat twice)
We say thank you
For helping.
We say thank you to you!


Elvis Thank You
Get out your microphone. (Hold a fist by your mouth.)
Wiggle your hips.
(Pretend to twirl your microphone around.)
Thank you! Thank you very much!

Pictures and Letters
Integrate writing by having the children make thank you cards with various art media. 

"Thumb" Body Thanks You!

Gift Certificates
Here are some certificates that Carolyn Kisloski created.

You can download 6 free ones in the preview or order the whole set.

https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Gift-Tags-Gift-Cards-and-Gift-Ideas-2542953


Want more ideas?
Kudos Bar – “Kudos to you!”
Snickers – “Nuts about you!”
100 Grand – “A million thanks for all you did!”
M & M’s – “You’re marvelous and magnificent.”
Mint – “You ‘mint’ the world to us.”
Hershey’s Kisses – and Hugs, too!
Lifesavers – “You were a lifesaver this year!”
Apple – You’re the “apple” of our eyes.
Ice Cream Cone Coupon – You’re the best scoop! Thanks!

CAMP KINDERGARTEN

Several years ago Michelle Page shared this idea with me. Talk about ending the year with a special memory!

Note! It could be called Camp Pre-K, Camp First Grade, Camp name of school, Camp teacher's name, whatever!!


Camp Kindergarten (Michelle Page)
We do camp kindergarten the last two weeks in the school year. Every morning we meet at the flagpole for the pledge and camp songs.

*“Baby Fish,” “The Ants Go Marching,” “Banana Dance,” “Peanut Butter,” and "Tooty Ta" are a few songs we sing.

The parents write letters for “mail call” and the children write back.

We take an ABC nature walk and try to find objects for each letter in the alphabet.

We make s’mores and trail mix for snack.
                        

The children bring blankets, towels, and sleeping bags. They get to take off their shoes to read, do work, listen to a story.

We go fishing for words (plastic pool and words with magnets).

We go on a bear hunt and then draw pictures of our adventure.

To tie in science we study about bugs and worms.

What an amazing way to celebrate and end the school year!

Look at our camp t-shirts with the kids’ names on the back.

        

FUN SHINE CAN

Here's a sample letter you might want to send home to parents along with these summer activities.


Dear ______, 

Lucky me to spend this amazing year with your child!
(Child’s name) has worked hard and has grown in many ways. 

One of my favorite memories is (something unique about the child).

I appreciate all the support and encouragement you have given 

(child’s name) at home. Behind every great student is a great family!

Saying good-bye is bittersweet. “Bitter” because I will miss (child’s name),

but sweet because I am so proud to have been a part of his/her life! 

Please keep in touch because I know the future holds many wonderful things 

for your child and your family!

Remember to read and laugh every day this summer!

Sincerely,
(Teacher’s name)

Have children bring in a plastic or cardboard can from icing, potato chips, or drink
mix. (Avoid tin cans because the edges can be sharp.) Run off summer activities
so they can be cut in strips and placed in the can. Let children cover their cans
with paper and decorate with drawings, stickers, or collage materials. Put the
strips of summer fun in the can. Send the can home with a note encouraging the
parents to let their child select a strip each day and do the activity. 

Hint! Use a plastic sand bucket or seasonal cup for this project.


You can also send home a summer calendar children will enjoy doing with their parents.

Here's a link where you can download the summer activities and calendar.

http://www.drjean.org/html/monthly_act/act_2014/05_May_css/pg05.html

SUMMER WRITES

You will need a pocket folder for each child for this summer writing activity. Remind the children what wonderful writers they have become and how important it is for them to keep writing over the summer. Explain that many famous writers started keeping diaries and journals just like them when they were young. Motivate them to make their own “Summer Fun Journal” so they can record all the special things they will be doing over the summer. 

Provide the children with markers, crayons, construction paper, and other art media to decorate the front of their pocket folders. (You might suggest they title it “Summer Fun.”) Run off copies with the attached writing prompts or create your own based on the interests of your students. You might even want to ask your class to brainstorm topics for these journals.

Hint! Be sure and include some blank paper at the end.

*Encourage students to add photos, brochures, or other special keepsakes.

*Add a line for the date on each page.

*Tell your students you’d love to see their journals when the come back for the new school year.

*For younger children encourage parents to have their children illustrate the topic and then dictate sentences for their parents to write.

Here are some summer writing prompts.

I like summer because

My favorite book is

This is one of my chores

My family is going

This is what I like to do outside

These are my favorite summer foods

My goal for this summer is

These are my friends

I wish

When it’s hot I

These are games I like to play

This is what I like to wear in the summer

This is my favorite place to play

These are my favorite toys

My worst day ever

My best day ever

I can’t wait for school to start because

Best of all, Carolyn Kisloski has created a free download of the summer fun journal. You're going to LOVE it, and we hope it will inspire your students to write over the summer. (Each writing prompt has three choices so you can choose your favorite one.)

https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Summer-Writing-Prompts-Journal-2521920