Starfall

Pre KTeacher’s Guide

Seasonal HolidaysSeasonal Holidays

This is a preview from our Pre-Kindergarten Teacher’s Guide.

Our complete Pre-Kindergarten curriculum, books, and materials will be available for the upcoming 2013-2014 school year. Keep an eye on our website for

updates about this program, or contact us today at:

prek@Starfall.com

Starfall Education P.O. Box 359, Boulder, CO 80306 U.S.A.

Phone: 1-888-857-8990 or 303-417-6414 Fax: 1-800-943-6666 or 303-417-6434 Email: helpdesk@starfall.com

This book is a pilot edition for the 2012-2013 school year. The lessons, activities, and pictured products in this book are under development, and may vary from the fi nal publication.

Copyright © 2012 by Starfall Education. All rights reserved. Starfall is a registered trademark in the U.S., the European Community, and various other countries. Printed in U.S.A.

Fall . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

Grandparent’s Day. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

Johnny Appleseed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

Harvest / Halloween . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14

Thanksgiving Day . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18

Winter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22

Chinese New Year . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26

Groundhog Day . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28

Valentine’s Day. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30

Black History Month . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .33

Spring . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38

Earth Day . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .42

St. Patrick’s Day . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .45

Cinco de Mayo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .49

Mother’s Day . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .52

Starfall

Pre KSeasonal HolidaysSeasonal Holidays

Holiday Page

Fall Holidays 3

Fall Holidays Fall Holidays Fall . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

Grandparent’s Day. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

Johnny Appleseed. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

Harvest / Halloween . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

Thanksgiving Day. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

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Fall FallGenerally considered to include September, October,

and November

This season is often referred to by two names, fall and autumn. Use

these terms interchangeably, explaining that both refer to the same

season. Explain that the season gets its name because it is typically when

leaves turn beautiful colors and fall from the trees.

Provide a visual display of the four seasons, or use the Starfall Four Seasons poster, and explain that the

year is divided into four seasons based on weather.

If you live in a warmer climate, fi nd pictures or check websites that show the changes in nature that

occur during this beautiful season.

Book Suggestions • Autumn by Gerda Muller

• Cliff ord’s First Autumn by Norman Bridwell

• Frederick by Leo Lionni

• How Do You Know It’s Fall? by Allan Fowler

• Red Leaf, Yellow Leaf by Lois Ehlert

• Sara Squirrel and the Lost Acorns by Julie Sykes

• Scarecrow by Cynthia Rylant

• Squirrels by Brian Wildsmith

• The Listening Walk by Paul Showers

• The Little Scarecrow Boy by Margaret Wise Brown

• The Stranger by Chris Van Allsburg

• Why Do Leaves Change Color? by Betsy Maestro

Activities and CraftsThe Listening WalkRead the suggested book The Listening Walk by Paul Showers to teach

children how to observe things around them they may usually miss.

Go on your own listening walks around the school grounds. Give each

child a small paper bag to fi ll with many diff erent kinds of fallen

leaves, twigs and seeds.

Children use the leaves collected to make leaf rubbings. Each child chooses a leaf, tapes it to a table, bottom

side up to expose the veins, and covers the leaf with a sheet of paper. With the side of a crayon, children

gently rub the area of the paper above the leaf. The shape and texture of the leaf and veins will appear.

See Harvest/Halloween for

pumpkin-related ideas!

Starfall Online Activities • Calendar

• Starfall Sing-Along:

Volume 2, “ Autumn Leaves”

Materials

Small paper bag for each child

Crayons with wrappers removed

Manila paper

Fall Holidays 5

FALL

FALL

Leaf Oral LanguageDistribute leaf shapes. Give children oral directions for positioning

the leaves. Use words such as on, above, under, beside, beneath, right,

left, between, over, and below.

Leaf Sorting/CountingCollect leaves for sorting and counting activities. The children sort them by size, color, or type. Laminate the leaves to make them last longer, or rub them on both sides with vegetable oil and store

them between newspaper sheets with a weight on top for three or four days.

Fall Paper ChainsDecorate the classroom for fall by making paper chains. The children glue paper strips together to make chains in autumn colors. Talk about color patterns,

and decide as a class what the pattern will be.

Sponge PaintingSponge paint leaves by arranging some on a sheet of construction paper. Use small pieces of rolled tape under the leaves to keep them in place. With a small sponge, dab fall-colored tempera paint around the outside of the leaves. When the paint is dry, carefully remove the leaves.

Fall CollageThe children use seeds, twigs, and leaves to make fall collages on construction paper. They arrange the leaves and twigs as desired,

then glue them in place and allow them to dry.

Fall TreeCut a tree trunk with bare branches from brown butcher paper and attach it to the wall. As the year progresses, children dress the tree to indicate the season. For fall, they color pre-cut leaves and tape them to and underneath the tree. In winter, they glue cotton balls on and under the tree. In spring, children color pre-cut or torn paper green leaves to tape on the tree. For

summer, they make apples or other fruits.

Peppermint Play Dough Leaf PrintsMake peppermint play dough with the children. They measure and mix fl our and salt into a large bowl. Slowly add water and vinegar, then stir with a wooden spoon until the mixture is stiff .

Help children knead the dough until pliable. Poke your fi nger into the center of each section of dough and drop in peppermint extract. Knead the dough until it is smooth. Store it in a plastic bag or sealed container. It will keep for months if refrigerated when not in use.

To use the dough for the leaf prints activity, take it out of the refrigerator about fi ve minutes before children are ready to use it so it will be pliable. Children make leaf prints by using a rolling pin to fl atten out some of the peppermint play dough. Next, they place a leaf on top of the play dough, and roll the rolling pin over the leaf to create a print in the dough. They remove the leaf and allow the dough to dry for 24 hours. Children then paint the leaf print using a fall-colored tempera paint.

Materials

Several leaves cut from fall-colored

construction paper

erns,

Materials

8"x2" strips of fall-colored construction paper

Materials

Construction paper

Tape

Small sponges

Fall-colored tempera paint

s

Materials

Seeds, twigs, leaves

Large sheets of construction paper

Glue

Ingredients

2 cups fl our

1 cup salt

½ cup water

1 teaspoon vinegar

¼ tsp. peppermint extract

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FALL

Fall WalkTake your class for a walk around your school grounds and look for signs of fall. Do you see leaves changing color and falling? Do you see birds fl ying south?

When you return to the classroom, make a list of the fall signs the children noticed. They may help sound out words as you list them on chart paper. Keep the list in view, and add other signs as fall progresses. Complete your fall outing by reading The Stranger by

Chris Van Allsburg. This story is about a year when fall never comes.

Shared WritingWrite about one of the following topics with the children each week. Use chart paper to record responses, and write each child’s

name by his or her sentence.

• What do you like to do in the fall?

• Describe how trees look in the fall.

• Which season do you like best?

• How is fall diff erent from summer?

Season Dress UpPlace a variety of clothing items and pictures of clothing in the middle of a circle. Include items such as a sun hat, bathing suit, scarf, short-sleeved shirt, shorts, jacket, coat, winter boots, and other seasonal clothing. The children take turns trying on articles of clothing. The group guesses which season the clothes are appropriate for by sorting the pictures.

Fall Feely BoxHelp children learn and identify diff erent textures by making a “Fall Feely Box.” Include acorns, pine cones, leaves, nuts, apples, pears, potatoes, carrots, etc. Cut a hole in the top of a shoebox that children can fi t their hands into without

seeing inside. Change the items periodically to maintain interest.

GamesLeaf DancingChildren role-play dancing leaves using Vivaldi or similar classical music and colored scarves. The

children pretend they are falling, dancing leaves while they move to the music and swirl their scarves.

Leaf Blowing Children play a leaf blowing game. In pairs, they each blow their leaves across a table with straws to

see which can reach the other end of the table fi rst.

Recipes*

*Always check for allergies and sensitivities before serving food.

Fruits and Vegetable SnackServe cut-up fall fruits and vegetables (carrots or zucchini sticks, apple or pear slices, broccoli or caulifl ower fl orets, and berries) for a healthy snack. Discuss the texture, shape, color, smell, and taste of each.

Songs and Finger Plays Scarecrow, Scarecrow

(Melody: “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star”)

Scarecrow, scarecrow, turn around

Scarecrow, scarecrow, touch the ground

Stand up tall and blink your eyes

Raise your hands up to the skies

Turn around and tap your feet

Fold your arms so very neat.

Scarecrow, scarecrow, touch your toes

Scarecrow, scarecrow, tap your nose

Swing your arms so very slow

Now real fast to scare the crows!

Touch your head, jump up and down

Now sit down without a sound.

Autumn Leaves (Finger Play)

Orange and red, yellow and brown,

(Count off the colors on fi ngers.)

Autumn leaves are falling down

(Wiggle hands and fi ngers

to show leaves falling.)

Let’s rake them into a pile so high,

(Pretend to rake leaves.)

And jump right in, you and I!

(Jump into pretend pile of leaves.)

Fall Holidays 7

Grandparent’s Day Grandparent’s DayCelebrated the fi rst Sunday after Labor Day

Celebrate National Grandparent’s Day by inviting grandparents to visit the classroom to share in this

special day. Give them the opportunity to see what their grandchildren do in the classroom. For those

children who do not have grandparents living in the area, invite another family member to attend.

Book Suggestions • Hurrah for Grandparent’s Day by Nancy Carlson

• Just Grandma and Me by Mercer Mayer

• Just Grandpa and Me by Mercer Mayer

• Little Bear’s Visit by Else Holmelund Minarik

• Nana Upstairs, Nana Downstairs by Tomie de Paola

• Grandfather’s Journey by Allen Say

• Grandma, Grandpa, and Me by Mercer Mayer

• Grandma’s Gift by Eric Valasquez

• Grandparent’s Day by Nikki Tate

Activities and CraftsPrior to Grandparent’s Day, take a digital photo of each child. Fold sheets of construction paper in half

to make greeting cards. Glue photos to the front, and let the children decorate the cards and draw

pictures inside. Children present the cards on Grandparent’s Day.

Create a language experience chart by asking each child what he or she likes best about visiting with

grandmother and/or grandfather. Write the child’s dictated sentence on the chart paper. (Examples:

Zoe said, “I like to bake cookies with my grandmother.” Jeremy said, “I like to go fi shing with my

grandpa.”) Display the chart in the classroom and read it aloud on Grandparent’s Day.

Teach the children how to say Grandfather and Grandmother in other languages:

• Spanish — abuelo y abuela

• Italian — nonno et nonna

• Dutch — opa en oma

• Swedish — farfar och farmor

• French — grand-pere et grand-mere

Take photos in the classroom of children with their visiting grandparents (or other family members)

to place on the bulletin board. Children whose grandparents don’t live nearby draw pictures of

themselves with their grandparents.

Starfall Online Activities • Holidays: Grandparent’s Day

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GamesMeet Grandma and GrandpaInvite visiting grandparents to talk about their favorite games

as children and ask them to teach a few of the inside or outside

games to the class.

Recipes* *Always check for allergies and sensitivities before serving food.

Peanut Butter, Oatmeal, and

Banana CookiesMake cookies for grandparents. Invite

grandparents to join the children for snack

and serve the cookie/cupcakes. Children

serve grandparents (or other family

members) fi rst. You may also invite the

grandparents to join the children for lunch.

In a large bowl, mash bananas with a fork

until smooth. Add peanut butter, milk,

vanilla and maple syrup and mix well.

Add remaining ingredients and stir until

well combined.

Drop spoonfuls of dough onto an ungreased

cookie sheet and bake 13-16 minutes at 350 degrees, or until done.

Finger Play Grandma and Grandpa’s Glasses

These are grandma’s glasses,

(make circles around each eye

with fi ngers)

This is grandma’s hat,

(hold fi ngers interlocked over head)

This is the way she folds her hands,

(fold hands)

And puts them on her lap.

(put hands in lap)

These are Grandpa’s glasses,

(same as above)

This is Grandpa’s cap,

(same as above)

And this is the way he folds his arms,

(fold arms across chest)

And THAT IS THAT!

Materials

1⁄3 cup peanut butter

2 ripe bananas

(overripe is fi ne)

1 tsp vanilla

4 tbsp milk

2 tbsp maple syrup

2 ½ cups quick cooking

or rolled oatmeal

dash cinnamon

¼ cup fl our

Fall Holidays 9

Johnny AppleseedJohnny AppleseedSeptember 26th

The fi rst apple trees in the United States were planted

by the pilgrims in Massachusetts. In the early 1800’s

Johnny Appleseed traveled across the Ohio Valley carrying

bags of apple seeds, planting them as he traveled westward.

Johnny Appleseed spent most of his life planting apple seeds. His real name was John Chapman.

He was born on September 26, 1774 in Massachusetts. It was Johnny Appleseed who created apple

orchards in Kentucky, Illinois, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Indiana. Some trees that Johnny planted over 200

years ago are still bearing apples!

Johnny Appleseed’s dream was to live in a land where apple trees were everywhere so no one would

go hungry. He was a friend to everyone he met, even the animals.

Book Suggestions • Apple Picking Time by Michele B. Slowson

• Apples by Gail Gibbons

• Big Red Apple by Tony Johnston

• I Am an Apple by Jean Marzollo

• John Chapman: The Man Who Was Johnny

Appleseed by Carol Greene

• Johnny Appleseed by Patricia Demuth

• Johnny Appleseed by Steven Kellogg

• Picking Apples and Pumpkins by Amy Hutchings

• The Seasons of Arnold’s Apple Tree by Gail Gibbons

Activities and CraftsSink or Float?Prepare a chart paper with the following headings: “Yes” and “No.”

The children predict if an apple will sink or fl oat, and write their

names on the chart under their predictions. Place the apple in

water to determine if it sinks or fl oats. Repeat with other fruits or

vegetables.

Weighing an ApplePlace an apple on one side of the balance scale. Children estimate

how many objects to place on the other side of the scale to equal

the weight of the apple, then test it. Repeat with several diff erent

types of objects.

ng

Starfall Online Activities • ABC’s: Aa

Materials

Chart paper

Marker

Tub of water

Apple and other fruits or vegetables

Materials

Balance scale

Apple

Variety of objects such as markers, pencils,

small blocks, etc.

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Johnny Appleseed Headbands Staple two 6” x 12” black construction paper strips end-

to-end. The children draw, color, and cut out apples to

decorate their headbands.

Apple Shared WritingChildren examine the apples

and then do a shared writing

to describe them. Write each

sentence on chart paper

beginning: “An apple is _____.”

followed by the child’s name.

Responses might include red,

green, round, shiny, hard, sweet,

ripe, etc. Add children’s names

next to repeat responses.

Apple Math: EstimationEstimate the number of seeds in an apple.

Prepare an Estimation Chart. Write each child’s name and estimation on the chart. Include your estimate, and Gingerbread Boys’.

Cut the apple in half and remove seeds as children count them. Discuss how the estimates relate to the actual number of seeds in the apple. Are the estimates more, less or the same? How far off were the estimates?

Apple PaintingPlace a damp, quarter-folded paper towel on each plate, one for each paint color. Pour a small amount of paint on each paper towel. Using paint from the paper towels, children stamp apple pictures onto large sheets of paper.

Variation: Encourage the children to create patterns (red, red, green

or yellow, green or red, yellow, green, etc.).

Apple SortChildren form three large circles using yarn. Place a color Picture

Card in each circle. Children sort apples according to color.

Challenge them to fi nd other ways to sort such as with/without

stems; large/small, bumpy/smooth, or speckled/not speckled.

Songs and Rhymes Starfall’s Selected Nursery Rhymes

page 24, “Little Jack Horner”

(Recite the rhyme, replacing “Christmas”

with “apple.”)

Starfall’s Selected Nursery Rhymes

page 31, “Little Jack Horner”

(Recite the rhyme, replacing “Pease

Porridge” with “Apple Cider.”)

Starfall’s Selected Nursery Rhymes

page 44, “Three Little Kittens”

Apple Tree

Way up high in an apple tree

Lots of apples looking at me

I shook the tree as hard as I could

Down came some apples.

Wow, they were good!

Ten Little Apples

(Melody: Ten Little Indians)

One little, two little, three little apples,

Four little, fi ve little, six little apples,

Seven little, eight little, nine little apples,

Ten red apples in the tree.

Variation: Change “little” to “red,”

“yellow,” or “green.”

Materials

Chart paper

Marker

Tub of water

Apple and other fruits

or vegetables

Materials

Apple

Knife

Chart paper, marker

Materials

Several apples sliced in half to show the stars

Bowls of red, yellow and green paint

Paper towel

Three paper plates

Large drawing paper

Materials

Three pieces of yarn (to form three circles)

Large basket

Several red, yellow, and green apples

Picture Cards: red, yellow, green

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Johnny AppleseedIntroduce Johnny Appleseed by wearing a pot on your head

and carry a bag of apples and seeds! Read a story about Johnny

Appleseed while wearing the pot as a hat.

Apple TreeGive each child a paper plate and one paint color: red, yellow or green. Children paint the paper plates. After the paint dries, the children tear brown stems to add to their apples. They

then glue real apples seeds to their plates. Attach

the apples to your tree!

GamesApple Hide and Seek A volunteer turns away from you as you hide an apple. The rest of the class observes where you hide the apple. The volunteer searches for the apple. The class tells the child if he or she is “hot” or “cold.” Explain that “hot” means the searching child is close to the apple; “cold” means he or she is not near the

apple. Once the apple is found, the volunteer chooses the next child.

Apple RelayPlace two baskets on a table at one end of the room. Put half of the apples in each basket. Place two empty baskets on a table at the other end of the room.

Divide the class into two teams. The teams stand in line, with the fi rst child by the table with the apples, and the last child by the other table.

Explain that the children are going to help Johnny with his apples. They will transfer all the apples from the full baskets to the empty ones. When you say “start,” the fi rst child on each team will take an apple and pass it to the next child down the line to the last child, who places it in the empty basket. Repeat

this process until one team empties its basket.

Pass the ApplePlay this game like “Hot Potato.” Children sit in a circle and pass an apple around the circle while music is playing. When the music stops, the child holding the apple sits in the middle, or the “apple orchard,” until the music stops again. Then the next child replaces the fi rst. You may also chant “hot apple, hot apple 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10” and the child who has the apple on 10 is in the “apple orchard.” You may count fi ve instead,

depending on the ability of your group.

Apple TossMake a line on the fl oor with masking tape. Place the basket a couple of feet away from the line. Children stand behind the line,

and try to toss the balls or bean bags into the basket.

Materials

Pot with a handle that will fi t on your head

Bag of apples

Bag of seeds

Book about Johnny Appleseed

Materials

Prepared tree with no apples

Small paper plate for each child

Red, yellow, and green paint

Brown construction paper scraps

Seeds

Glue

y

Materials

Four laundry baskets

One apple for each child

Materials

An apple

Music

Materials

Laundry basket

Bean bags or small red balls

Masking tape

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Recipes* *Always check for allergies and sensitivities before serving food.

ApplesaucePeel, core and slice apples into eight pieces each. Put the apples in a pot along with the water, cinnamon, and sugar. Cover and simmer until the apples are tender (about 30 minutes). Allow apples to cool, then the children mash the apples in a bowl using a potato masher to make applesauce. This recipe serves 10. Increase ingredient

quantities according to class size.

Ants on an AppleChildren use plastic knives or craft sticks to spread apple slices with peanut butter then add a few

raisins to make “ants on an apple.”

Apple PancakesUse your favorite pancake recipe. Mix the batter, and then add chopped apples and cinnamon and cook as

usual. Top cooked pancakes with warm applesauce.

Ingredients

Five apples

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1⁄3 cup water

1 tablespoon sugar (optional)

Fall Holidays 13

Harvest / Halloween Harvest / HalloweenOctober

Book Suggestions • Apples and Pumpkins by Anne F. Rockwell

• Arthur’s Halloween by Marc Brown

• Cliff ord’s First Halloween by Norman Bridwell

• Corduroy’s Best Halloween Ever by Don Freeman

• Franklin’s Halloween by Paulette Bourgeois

• Pooh’s Happy Halloween by Disney Press Staff

• Pumpkin Circle by George Levenson

• The Berenstain Bears Trick or Treat by Stan and Jan Berenstain

• The Biggest Pumpkin Ever by Steven Kroll

• The Little Old Lady Who Was Not Afraid of Anything by Linda Williams

• The Pumpkin Book by Gail Gibbons

• The Pumpkin Patch by Elizabeth King

• Too Many Pumpkins by Linda White

• The Witch Has an Itch by Donna Guthrie

Activities and CraftsFruits and Vegetable PrintsUse fruits and vegetables that are being harvested at this time for a simple painting activity. Slice apples, squash and small pumpkins in half and remove any seeds. Place bowls of diff erent colors of paint on tables where the children can reach. Children dip the fruit or vegetable fl esh-side-down into the paint and then press it onto construction paper like a stamp. Encourage the children to experiment with diff erent colors and to use all the fruits and

vegetables in their designs.

Corncob Prints Shuck and remove the kernels from corncobs. Select diff erent colored

paints and pour small amounts into shallow pans. Next, lay out large

sheets of paper for the children and have cob holders handy for the

corncobs. Children take the corncobs and roll them into the paint(s)

and onto the paper for diff erent customized designs.

Variation: Use muslin or other fabric. The children make corncob

prints to decorate a table cloth that can be used during snack.

Starfall Online Activities • Calendar

• Holidays: Pick a Pumpkin

• Starfall.com: I’m Reading:

Fiction/Nonfi ction:

“Pumpkin, Pumpkin”

Materials

Seasonal fruits and vegetables (apples,

squash, small pumpkins) sliced seeded

Fall-colored tempera paint in small bowls

Construction paper

Materials

Corn cobs

Tempera paint (various colors) in shallow pans

Large sheets of construction paper

Cob holders

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Halloween ScienceCompare pumpkin seeds with the seeds of other fruits like apples,

peaches, oranges, plums, etc. by either showing children the actual

seeds or by looking at pictures in books or on the Internet. Discuss

size, quantity, shape, texture and color. Make a list of words that

describe the seeds.

SlimePour one part liquid starch and two parts white school glue in a

bowl. Add food coloring if desired. Mix until it becomes a workable

ball. Provide each child with their own ingredients in individual cups

and a disposable bowl and spoon so they can mix their own.

Open Market Dramatic PlaySet up a center as a fruit and vegetable stand with pumpkins, apples,

gourds, eggplants and other fall produce. Children pretend to weigh

them and sell them to each other.

Pumpkin MathShow children how to use a cloth tape measure by measuring a child’s

waist. Compare the measurement with the circumference of a pumpkin.

Write the number. Now, look at your pumpkin. What shape is it?

Does it look like a circle? Measure the distance around your pumpkin.

Explain you are measuring the circumference, or the distance around a circle. Compare the diff erence

in the measurements. Was the pumpkin’s circumference bigger or smaller than the child’s?

Halloween Dress UpProvide additional dress up items in the Dramatic Play Center such as dresses, high-heeled shoes,

scarves, plastic hats, sports jackets, and children’s costumes. Challenge children to create costumes

using what is available and model them for the class.

Halloween Sticker Match UpObtain pairs of identical Halloween themed stickers. Place one set

on small index cards (one per card). Place the other set on a sheet

of sturdy paper or on a fi le folder. Children match the stickers on the

cards to the cards on the folder. The stickers could also be placed on

two sets of index cards and used to play “Concentration.”

Treat a Nursing HomeIf fi eld trips are an option, consider having the children dress up and visit a local nursing home. They

may sing songs as they walk through the halls.

Apples and Pumpkins Compare and contrast an apple and a pumpkin using a Venn diagram. Shape one half like an apple

and the other like a pumpkin.

Materials

Pumpkin seeds

Seeds of apples, peaches, oranges, plums

or other fruits (or pictures)

Materials

Liquid starch

Glue

Food coloring (optional)

Disposable cup, bowl, and spoon for each child

Materials

Cloth tape measure

Pumpkin

Materials

Pairs of identical Halloween stickers on

index cards and sturdy paper or fi le folders

Fall Holidays 15

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GamesPumpkin RaceSet up start and fi nish lines. Children race to see who can get their pumpkin over the fi nish line fi rst using only their feet to slide the

pumpkins along. No kicking the pumpkins like footballs!

Pass the Pumpkin Sit in a circle. Provide a plastic pumpkin for children to pass while the teacher beats on a drum. Children pass the pumpkin to the tempo of the beats. Alternate between slow and fast. When the music stops,

the child who has the pumpkin stands and takes a bow. Repeat this several times.

Harvest Obstacle CourseUse bales of hay for the children to climb or jump over for part of the course. Another part can have

small pumpkins to jump over. Children throw hula-hoops over larger pumpkins.

Pin the Stem on the PumpkinPrepare a large construction paper pumpkin with a stem for each child. Write each child’s name on the stems. Blindfold children and play as you would “Pin the Tail on the Donkey.” When all have had a turn,

observe whose stem is closest to the correct place.

Recipes*

*Always check for allergies and sensitivities before serving food.

Pumpkin JuiceAdd a couple of drops of orange food coloring to milk to create “pumpkin juice.”

Roasted Pumpkin Seeds Save the seeds from the pumpkin you carve into a jack-o-lantern for a delicious and healthy snack. After the seeds have been removed from the pumpkin, wash them in a colander under running water, removing as much of the stringy material as possible.

Spread the seeds in a thin layer on a cookie sheet. Coat them with melted butter or vegetable oil and sprinkle them lightly with salt. Place them in the oven and bake at 250 degrees for about an hour and a half, shaking the cookie sheet every now and then. The seeds should be removed from the oven when

they are a light golden brown color. Cool seeds completely before eating.

Materials

Small pumpkin for each child

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Songs and Rhymes The Pumpkin on the Vine

(Melody: “The Farmer in the Dell”)

The pumpkin on the vine,

the pumpkin on the vine,

I picked the one that weighed a ton

And that’s the one that’s mine.

I made two funny eyes,

A mouth that’s oversize.

The other gook my mother took

For baking pumpkin pies.

Oh, the pumpkin on the vine,

the pumpkin on the vine,

Is now a jack-o-lantern

and you ought to see it shine.

Five Little Pumpkins

Five little pumpkins sitting on a gate.

The fi rst one said, “Oh my, it’s getting late.”

The second one said, “There are witches in the air!”

The third one said, “But we don’t care.”

The fourth one said, “Let’s run and run and run.”

The fi fth one said, “Isn’t Halloween fun?”

Whoosh! Went the wind,

And out went the light,

And the fi ve little pumpkins rolled out of sight!

Ten Little Pumpkins

(Melody: “Ten Little Indians”)

One little, two little, three little pumpkins,

Four little, fi ve little, six little pumpkins.

Seven little, eight little, nine little pumpkins,

Ten little pumpkins in the pumpkin patch.

(Try singing the song again starting with

ten and counting backward!)

Fall Holidays 17

Thanksgiving ThanksgivingFourth Thursday of November (US) or the second Monday of October (Canada)

On Thanksgiving we remember the settlers who gave thanks for a plentiful harvest. The pilgrims and

the Native Americans celebrated together (they had arranged a peace treaty), and feasted on geese,

ducks, deer, corn, oysters, fi sh, and berries.

One aspect of Thanksgiving involves gratitude for having enough food to eat. Encourage children to

help buy groceries for a food bank, or make a donation to a local soup kitchen.

Whatever Thanksgiving may have been in the past, it is now a time for people to celebrate with family

and friends, to be grateful for what they have, and to help those who may have less.

Book Suggestions • A Turkey for Thanksgiving by Eve Bunting

• Arthur’s Thanksgiving by Marc Brown

• Best Thanksgiving Book by Patricia Whitehead

• Cranberry Thanksgiving by Harry Devlin

• Farmer Goff and His Turkey Sam by Brian Schattell

• Franklin’s Thanksgiving by Sharon Jennings

• I Know an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Pie by Alison Jackson

• My First Thanksgiving by Tomie de Paola

• Sometimes It’s Turkey--- Sometimes It’s Feathers by Lorna Balian

• Oh, What A Thanksgiving by Steven Kroll

• Over the River and Through the Woods illustrated by John Gurney

• Thanksgiving Day by Ann Rockwell

• Thanksgiving Day by Gail Gibbons

• The Berenstain Bears Count Their Blessings by Stan and Jan Berenstain

• The Night Before Thanksgiving by Natasha Wing

• Twas the Night Before Thanksgiving by Dav Pilkey

• What is Thanksgiving? by Harriet Ziefert

Activities and CraftsIndian Corn Picture This is a fun craft activity since the fi nished product so closely resembles the real thing.

Help children draw an ear of corn shape on a sheet of construction paper. Children crumple small pieces of tissue paper (red, brown, black, yellow and orange, to represent the kernels) and glue them in rows to create an ear of corn.

Starfall Online Activities • Holidays: Turkey

Materials

Construction paper

Small pieces of fall-colored tissue paper

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Giving Thanks Class BookThe children think of things they are thankful for, and

illustrate them. Each child’s page might read: “_____ is

thankful for _____.” Example: “Jeff rey is thankful for friends.”

Insert each paper into a plastic sleeve to form a class book

or laminate and bind the book.

Turkey HeadbandCut a strip of paper that will

fi t around children’s heads.

Staple or tape two pieces

together to fi t all the way

around.

Provide construction paper

scraps and a feather pattern.

The children create a turkey

and staple or glue pieces to

make a turkey headband.

Thanksgiving MealChildren cut pictures of their

favorite foods from grocery store

advertisements, newspapers and

recycled magazines and glue

them on a paper plate.

Bean and Corn PatternsUse several varieties of dried beans

and corn (or Indian corn) kernels to

create patterns.

Count the Popcorn Provide cupcake liners or coff ee fi lters. In the bottom of each, write

numerals. Give children popcorn, and instruct them to place the

correct number of popped corn into each container to match the

number written inside. After children are fi nished, they eat the sets!

Remind them to wash their hands before starting the activity.

Songs and Rhymes Starfall’s Selected Nursery

Rhymes Book and CD: page 4,

Track 1, “A Tisket, A Tasket”

Turkey Pokey

(Melody: “Hokey Pokey”)

You put your right wing in.

You put your right wing out.

You put your right wing in,

And you shake it all about.

You do the turkey pokey

And you turn your self around.

That’s what it’s all about.

Additional verses:

• Left wing (left arm)

• Turkey legs (legs)

• Wattle (head)

• Tail feathers (bottom)

• Turkey body (whole self)

If You’re Thankful and You Know It

(Melody: “If You’re Happy and You Know It”)

If you’re thankful and you know it, clap your hands.

If you’re thankful and you know it, clap your hands.

If you’re thankful and you know it,

then your face will surely show it.

If you’re thankful and you know it, clap your hands.

Repeat using:

Stomp your feet

Shout, “I am!”

Do all three

Materials

Strips of paper to fi t

around children’s heads

Construction paper scraps

Feather pattern

Glue

Materials

Recycled magazines

Paper plate for each child

Glue

Grocery store ads

Materials

Cupcake liners or coff ee fi lters with

numerals written on the bottom

Popcorn

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Games Turkey KeeperName one of the children the “Turkey Keeper.” Instruct the Turkey Keeper to close his or her eyes while you hide your turkey somewhere in the room.

The Turkey Keeper opens his or her eyes and begins to search for the turkey. If the child begins walking in the direction of the turkey, the rest of the children provide a clue by saying, “Gobble, gobble!” As the Keeper gets closer to the turkey, the children use louder voices. If the Keeper gets farther away, the children use quiet voices. Once the turkey is found, another child

becomes the Turkey Keeper.

Pin the Gobbler on the TurkeyPlay like “Pin the Tail on the Donkey”

Duck Duck TurkeyPlay like “Duck Duck Goose.”

Recipes*

*Always check for allergies and sensitivities before serving food.

Cornbread In a mixing bowl, measure and combine fl our, cornmeal, baking powder and salt. Push the ingredients to the sides of the bowl, making a well in the center. Next, combine the eggs, milk and oil (or shortening). Add this to the dry ingredients. Stir until smooth. Pour into a greased 8 or 9-inch square pan. Bake at 425 degrees for 20 to 25 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean. Allow to cool and cut into squares to serve.

For corn muffi ns, spoon batter into greased muffi n cups and bake for 15 to 20 minutes. The recipe makes about 12 muffi ns.

Pumpkin PiesStir the vanilla pudding and canned pumpkin together. Spoon the mixture into the mini pie crust. Top with whipped topping. Makes

one serving.

Friendship Fruit SaladEach child brings fruit from home. (These could be sorted and graphed.) Make a huge fruit salad with everyone’s contribution. Serve with homemade butter and cornbread.

Read the Starfall book about fruit salad: Let’s Eat! A book about delicious colors.

Materials

Turkey picture or stuff ed animal

Ingredients

1 cup fl our

1 cup cornmeal

4 teaspoons baking powder

1 teaspoon salt

2 eggs, slightly beaten

1 cup milk

¼ cup oil or melted shortening

Ingredients

Mini graham cracker crust

3 tablespoons vanilla pudding

1 tablespoon canned pumpkin

1 tablespoon whipped topping

20 Fall Holidays

Winter Holidays Winter Holidays Winter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22

Chinese New Year . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26

Groundhog Day . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28

Valentine’s Day . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30

Black History Month . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33

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Winter WinterGenerally considered to include December, January, and February

December 21st is the shortest day of the year. That means on this day

we receive the least amount of daylight of any other day of the year.

Provide a visual display of the four seasons, or use the Starfall Four Seasons

Poster, and review the fact that the year is divided into four seasons based on changes in the weather.

If you live where the weather is warm through the winter months, fi nd pictures or check websites that

show the changes in nature that occur in snowy climates. Activity suggestions are included for places

where children will not experience snow.

Book Suggestions • Footprints in the Snow by Cynthia Benjamin

• Frozen Noses by Jan Carr

• In The Snow by Huy Voun Lee

• In the Snow: Who’s Been Here? by Lindsey George

• Snow by Uri Shulevitz

• Snowballs by Lois Ehlert

• Snowfl ake Bentley by Jacqueline Briggs Martin

• Stopping by the Woods on a Snowy Evening

by Robert Frost

• The Big Snow by Berta and Elmer Hader

• The Hat by Jan Brett

• The Missing Mitten Mystery by Steven Kellogg

• The Mitten by Jan Brett

• The Snowman by Raymond Briggs

• The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats

• Thomas’ Snowsuit by Robert Munsch

• Winter is Here by Kimberly Weimbeiger

Activities and CraftsWinter Window (For classrooms in the South)Cut brown construction paper into strips. Children spread glue with a

paintbrush onto the strips. Sprinkle with silver or white glitter. Tape or

use reusable adhesive to attach the strips to your window vertically

and horizontally to create winter window frames.

he

Starfall Online Activities • Calendar

• Holidays: “Snowman”

• Backpack Bear’s Books:

“What’s the Weather?”

• I’m Reading, Fiction/Nonfi ction:

“Penguin, Penguin”

• Talking Library:

“Precipitation,” “Jack Frost”

Materials

Brown construction paper

Glue

Paintbrush

Silver or white glitter

Tape or reusable adhesive

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TERShaving Cream SnowThe children pretend shaving cream is snow, and use

their fi ngers to form their names, letters, or shapes in it.

Indoor Ice-skatingIf you live in a climate that does not have winter

snow and ice, turn your classroom into a skating rink. Give each

child two pieces of waxed paper and instruct them to glide on them

around the classroom.

Ice Melting ChartThe children predict what will make ice melt fastest: salt, cold water,

hot water, salt water, or nothing. Use each method on similar size

chunks of ice and graph the results. Discuss the outcomes.

Counting SnowballsThe children place the appropriate

number of pom-poms or cotton

balls in each section of the egg

carton.

Marshmallow Math: EstimationExplain that marshmallows look similar to snowballs.

Indicate a jar, bowl, or other container. Children guess how many

marshmallows it will take to fi ll the container to the top. Write

the child’s name on chart paper and the estimate next to his or

her name. Repeat for each child. Fill the container, counting the

marshmallows. Compare the actual number of marshmallows it took

to fi ll the container with the children’s guesses.

Repeat with a diff erent container.

Animals in the Arctic: What keeps them warm? Explain that Arctic animals have blubber to keep them warm in the

winter. To experience how Arctic animals stay warm when protected

by a layer of fat, the children take turns placing their hands into the

bowl of icy water, then into a bag of vegetable shortening, then

back into the icy water.

Snowman Number MatchingShuffl e the cards and place them face down on a table. The children

take turns and reveal two of the cards to fi nd matches.

Materials

Non-menthol shaving cream

Materials

Two pieces of waxed paper

per child

Materials

Recyclable aluminum pan

Ice cubes

Salt

Cup of cold water

Cup of warm water

Cup of room temperature water

Salt (to add to cup of water)

Chart paper

Materials

Miniature marshmallows

Several diff erent small jars, bowls, or containers

Chart paper

Marker

Materials

Bag of vegetable shortening

Bowl of icy water

Materials

10 snowmen shapes on index cards with

numbers from 0-9 on their bellies

10 snowmen shapes with a matching

number of buttons on their bellies (0-9)

Winter

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Snow Glitter PicturesThe children paint a winter scene on

black paper using glue. Before the glue

dries sprinkle with glitter.

Snow Covered PicturesAdd water slowly to bar soap fl akes (or powder detergent for the best consistency) to make imaginary snow.

The children draw pictures, then paint snow on them using the soap

mixture and paintbrushes.

Animals and HibernationExplain that some animals hibernate during the winter months. Animals that hibernate include some bears, bats, butterfl ies, moths, chipmunks, frogs, groundhogs, hamsters, snakes, ladybugs, raccoons, and skunks.

Discuss the following ideas about how animals spend the winter:

• Winter is cold. There is often snow on the ground. People live in warm houses. What do animals do?

• Some animals sleep all winter. It is a very deep sleep called hibernation. They need little or no food. Bears and chipmunks hibernate. So do frogs, snakes and even some bugs.

• Other animals stay active in winter. It is hard for them to fi nd food. They may live in holes in trees or under the ground to stay warm. Deer, squirrels and rabbits stay active.

• Some birds fl y south for the winter. We call this migration. They go to warmer places to fi nd food. Other birds remain all winter. We can help by feeding them.

Painting with snowballsChildren use cotton balls as paintbrushes to create winter scenes.

GamesMusical Hibernation GameReview the fact that some animals sleep all winter. Distribute the mats, carpet tiles, or blankets, one to each child. Children pretend they are animals, and dance while the music plays. When the music stops it is winter and time to fi nd a place to sleep. As children become familiar with more animals that hibernate, they

declare which animal they are when they sleep.

Indoor Snowball FunCrumple up sheets of paper to make snowballs. Use them to do one

or more of the following activities:

• Set a Hula-Hoop on the fl oor and toss the snowballs into the circle.

• Place a laundry basket on a table and toss snowballs into the basket.

• Place a Ping-Pong ball on the mouth of an empty plastic soda bottle, then try to knock the ball off with the paper snowballs, without knocking over the bottle.

Materials

Glue

Glitter

Black paper

Materials

Light blue construction paper

Bar soap fl akes or powder detergent

Crayons

Paintbrushes

Container for soap mixture

Materials

Cotton balls

Paints, painting paper

Materials

Tape/cd player and lively music

Carpet tiles, mats, or blankets

Materials

Several sheets of recycled white paper

Hula-Hoop

Laundry basket

Ping-Pong ball

Empty plastic soda bottle

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Choose a child to sneak up, touch the bear, then quickly return to his or her place in the circle. Everyone in the circle says, “Wake up sleepy bear! Wake up!” The child in the middle sits up and has three chances

to guess who woke him or her.

Snowman, Snowman, Where’s Your Nose? Children sit in a circle. Choose one child to be the snowman. That child sits in the middle of the circle and hides his or her eyes. Another child hides a carrot behind his or her back while the other children pretend to have carrots, holding their hands behind their backs. The children then chant, “Snowman, Snowman, where’s your nose? Somebody took it from your home. Wake up Snowman, fi nd your nose!”

The child in the middle uncovers his or her eyes and has three guesses to discover who has the carrot. Even if the child in the middle doesn’t guess correctly, the child who was hiding the carrot sits in the

middle of the circle and the game continues.

Musical Snowfl akesPlace the snowfl akes on the fl oor. It is best to have more snowfl akes than children. Play music and children walk around the room. When

the music stops each child fi nds a snowfl ake on which to stand.

Recipes* *Always check for allergies and sensitivities before serving food.

Frozen Juice Igloo PopsicleChildren choose their favorite juices and pour them into ice cube trays. Write each child’s name on a popsicle stick and stick them into the trays. If the temperature is below freezing in your area, place the trays outside and allow the drinks to freeze. If not, place the trays in

the freezer. When frozen, children have igloo blocks for snack.

Banana BlizzardsThe recipe is for 10 children. (Double the recipe if necessary.)

Blend together one cup of cold milk with two or three bananas in

a blender. The children count aloud as you add ten snowballs

(scoops of vanilla frozen yogurt) to the blender. The children (with

supervision) turn the blender on and off again to create blizzards.

Serve in 5 ounce cups.

Snowman Face SnackDistribute a rice cake to each child to frost with

cream cheese Add raisins for facial features,

and a baby carrot nose.

SongsStarfall Sing-Along Volume 1:

Track 40, “What’s the Weather?”

and Track 49, “Zipper Coat”

Starfall Sing-Along Volume 2:

Track 16, “If All the Raindrops”

Materials

One carrot

Materials

Large colored paper snowfl akes, laminated

Teacher’s choice of music

Ingredients

Assortment of fruit and/or vegetable juices

Ice cube trays

Popsicle sticks

Ingredients

One cup cold milk

2-3 bananas

Blender

Vanilla frozen yogurt

5 ounce cups and a scoop

Ingredients

Rice cake for each child

Cream cheese

Raisins

Baby carrots

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Chinese New Year Chinese New YearBetween late January and early February, depending on

the cycle of the moon

Chinese New Year starts on a new moon and ends with the lantern festival on

the full moon 15 days later.

In China the New Year marks the birthday of every family member. During

Chinese New Year celebrations, people wear red clothes. Red symbolizes fi re, which the

Chinese believe drives away bad luck. Children receive good luck money in small red envelopes and

everyone wears their newest clothes. In Chinese, the word “fu” means “good luck.”

Book Suggestions • Celebrating Chinese New Year

by Diane Hoyt-Goldsmith

• Dim Sum for Everyone by Grace Lin

• Dragon Dance - A Chinese New Year Lift-the-Flap Book by Joan Holub

• Draw Dragon Dot Eyes and other Chinese Fables retold by Ellen Ching (Starfall)

• Lanterns and Firecrackers - A Chinese New Year Story by Jonny Zucker

• Lion Dancer by Kate Waters

• The Dancing Dragon by Marcia K. Vaughan

Activities and CraftsChinese Ribbon DanceAttach a crepe paper streamer to a chopstick or unsharpened

pencil. Play Chinese inspired music and children dance around.

Demonstrate a movement with the ribbon and children copy it.

Masks on ParadeChildren make their own masks to wear

in a New Year classroom parade. Distribute

prepared paper plates. Children decorate their masks

with paints, crayons, paper and cloth scraps, streamers, and glitter.

When they are fi nished, attach pieces of yarn or construction paper

strips to the backs of the masks. Children can showcase their masks

by wearing them in a classroom parade.

Rice PaintingsChildren paint with a glue/paint mixture. They then sprinkle rice into

this paint. The glue/paint and rice mixture dries to create a shiny,

attractive design.

Starfall Online Activities • I’m Reading: Chinese Fables

Materials

Crepe paper streamers

Chopstick or unsharpened pencil

Materials

Paper plate with eye, nose, and mouth

holes cut out for each child

Paints, crayons, paper, and cloth scraps

Streamer and/or glitter

Yarn or construction paper strips

Materials

Glue/paint mixture

Paintbrush

Rice

Paper

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Chinese New Year Clean Up!Traditionally one’s house is cleaned for the New Year. Enlist the

help of the children prior to Chinese New Year in cleaning the

classroom, sweeping, wiping the tables, straightening bookshelves,

and hanging up their coats and backpacks. Note:

No sweeping is allowed on the fi rst day of Chinese New Year as it is

believed good luck or family fortune is swept away.

Dragon DanceMany cities hold parades, which are led by a huge dragon or lion.

The Chinese have a great respect for dragons. In Chinese legend,

the dragon is not a monster but a protector against evil spirits

and the symbol of luck, goodness, and strength. The lion is the

symbol of protection and is thought to guard against danger.

Children love to watch the dragon parade and take part in the

great Dragon Dance.

Chopstick PracticeChildren practice using chopsticks in your Dramatic Play

Center. Provide items to pick up with the chopsticks (pom poms,

marshmallows, cotton balls, and small toys). Also provide a snack

such as apple or pear slices, or banana chunks, which children

can eat using chopsticks.

FireworksChildren squirt glue on black paper and

then cover the glue with multi-colored

colored glitter.

Chinese AbacusMake a Chinese abacus using O-shaped cereal. Children count out

ten O-shaped cereal pieces and string them on yarn. Attach the yarn

to a piece of paper to create a Chinese abacus.

Recipes*

*Always check for allergies and sensitivities before serving food.

Chinese Orange TrayDuring the celebration of Chinese New Year, oranges and tangerines are

displayed in trays or bowls. Tangerines are symbolic of good luck and

oranges represent wealth. Make your own Chinese orange tray to share

good luck with the class. The children eat the fruit for snack.

SongsFive Green Dragons

(Melody: Five Little Chickadees)

Five green dragons making such a roar.

One danced away

and then there were four.

Four green dragons marching ‘round a tree.

One danced away

and then there were three.

Three green dragons dancing around you.

One danced away

and then there were two.

Two green dragons looking at the sun.

One danced away

and then there was one.

One green dragon having lots of fun

She danced away

and then there were none.

Materials

Black paper

Glue

Glitter (multi-colored)

Materials

O-shaped cereal

Yarn

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Groundhog Day Groundhog DayFebruary 2ndChildren enjoy the legend of the groundhog, especially watching the news to learn of the groundhog’s forecast. Start these activities before Groundhog Day so the children will be experts by the time the big day arrives!

Groundhog Day is celebrated on February 2nd each year. Popular legend says that if the groundhog sees his shadow when he awakens and peeks out of his burrow, there will be six more weeks of winter. If not, there will be an early spring.

A groundhog is also called a woodchuck and is a member of the squirrel family. A groundhog hibernates (goes into a deep sleep) during the winter from October through March. When the weather becomes warmer, the groundhog’s body warms up and it awakens.

A groundhog lives underground in a burrow. It digs its own burrow with its front feet. In fact, a groundhog builds two burrows, one for summer and one for winter. It even builds an extra exit or two just in case another animal ventures into its burrow.

Groundhogs usually have three to fi ve babies per year. A groundhog’s babies are called cubs, kits, or pups.

Book Suggestions • Geoff rey Groundhog Predicts the Weather

by Bruce Koscielniak

• Gretchen Groundhog, It’s Your Day!

by Abby Levine

• Go to Sleep Groundhog! by Judy Cox

• Groundhog Stays Up Late by Margery Cuyler

• How Groundhog’s Garden Grew by Lynne Cherry

• It’s Groundhog Day by Steven Kroll

• Little Groundhog’s Shadow by Janet Craig and Susan T. Hall

• Wake Up Groundhog by Susan Korman

• What Makes a Shadow by Clyde Robert Bulla

Activities and CraftsShadow Activities

• The children go outside several times on a sunny day to check the length of their shadows at diff er-ent times. Trace shadows on the pavement with sidewalk chalk. The children add faces, clothing, etc.

• Shadows are caused by objects getting in the way of light (the sun). Turn off the overhead lights and shine a fl ashlight or other bright light on a child. Children experiment forming diff erent kinds of shadows.

Tongue Twister Teach the following tongue twister: “How much wood would a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck could chuck wood?” See Starfall, It’s Fun to Read: Tongue Twisters, “Woodchuck.”

Starfall Online Activities • Holidays: “Groundhog Day”

• It’s Fun to Read: Tongue

Twisters, “Woodchuck”

• It’s Fun to Read: Poetry,

“My Shadow”

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Groundhog Day Groundhog MathThe average groundhog usually grows to about two feet long from head to tail.

Cut a piece of string or yarn two feet long. The children use the string or yarn to determine if objects (books, chair, table, desk, television, pencil, plate, lamp, picture frame, etc.) are longer, shorter,

or about the same size as a groundhog.

Groundhog Day PredictionOn the nearest school day before February 2nd, children predict whether or not the groundhog will see its shadow. They illustrate their predictions and dictate sentences to explain.

On February 2nd check whether or not the groundhog saw its shadow. Check predictions to discover how many children were correct.

GamesGroundhog Tunnel GameChildren line up in a row (two if needed). To form

a tunnel, children stand close together with

their legs apart. The last person in the row is the

groundhog. The groundhog travels through the

tunnel on his or her stomach. When the groundhog reaches the end of the tunnel, he or she stands

and becomes part of the tunnel while a new groundhog starts wiggling through.

Groundhog’s Home The children decorate the box to resemble a groundhog’s burrow

by painting it brown and drawing trees on it, etc. They pretend to be

groundhogs crawling in and out of the burrow.

Recipes*

*Always check for allergies and sensitivities before serving food.

Groundhog SnackGroundhogs eat green vegetation. Serve lettuce, carrots, etc. for snack.

Songs and PoemsTen Little Groundhogs

(Melody: Ten Little Indians)

One little, two little, three little groundhogs,

Four little, fi ve little, six little groundhogs,

Seven little, eight little, nine little groundhogs,

Sleeping under ground.

Nine little, eight little, seven little groundhogs,

Six little, fi ve little, four little groundhogs,

Three little, two little, one little groundhog,

(Will) Did he see his shadow?

My Shadow

(by Robert Louis Stevenson)

I have a little shadow that goes in and out with me.

And what can be the use of him is more than I can see.

He is very, very like me from the heels up to the head;

And I see him jump before me when I jump into my bed.

The funniest thing about him is the way he likes to grow --

Not at all like proper children, which is always very slow;

For he sometimes shoots up taller like an India rubber ball,

And he sometimes gets so little that there’s none of him at all.

Materials

Large box (large enough for a child to crawl in)

Paints, markers, construction, paper, etc.

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Valentine’s DayValentine’s DayFebruary 14thTraditionally Valentine’s Day, which is celebrated on February 14 each year, is a day to tell people you love them. Valentine’s Day cards are exchanged and are sometimes sent anonymously. Chocolate is a popular snack and a great gift on Valentine’s Day!

Book Suggestions • Arthur’s Valentine by Marc Brown

• Cliff ord’s First Valentine’s Day by Normal Bridwell

• Franklin’s Valentine by Paulette Bourgeois

• I Love You With All My Heart by Noris Kern

• It’s Valentine’s Day by Jack Prelutsky

• Love you Forever by Robert Munsch

• Mama Do You Love Me? by Barbara M. Joose

• Roses are Pink, Your Feet Really Stink by Diane de Groat

• Valentine Mice by Bethany Roberts

• Valentine’s Day by Gail Gibbons

• Will You Be My Valentine? by Steven Kroll

Activities and CraftsValentine Stick PuppetsProvide children with a selection of valentine cards. Each child chooses one and glues it to the top of a craft stick.

Gather the children together with their valentine puppets and say the “Valentine Puppet Rhyme” together. (See Valentine’s Day Songs

and Rhymes.)

Valentine Mixing ColorsAsk children which colors mix together to create the color pink. In a small resealable plastic bag, place a small amount of each of the colors of fi nger paints predicted to create pink. Seal the bag, then children squeeze the colors together to mix them and see what color results. If the colors mixed don’t result in pink, try again with new bags. Eventually children will predict that red and white mixed together will make pink. The remaining paint mixtures can be used to paint in the

Art Center.

Class Love BookChildren draw pictures of someone they love (family member, friend, or pet). They use scribble writing to label or write sentences about their pictures. Assemble the pages and add a cover to create a Class

Love Book.

Starfall Online Activities • Holidays: “Valentine’s Day”

• Calendar: “February”

Materials

Selection of valentine cards (recycled or new)

Craft sticks

Glue

Materials

Quart-sized resealable plastic bags

Red and white fi nger paint

Additional colors of fi nger paint

for experimentation

Materials

Pink or white construction paper

Markers, crayons

Heart cut outs

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Valentine’s Day Valentine EstimationIndicate a sample heart cut out and bag or box of candy hearts. Children estimate how many candy hearts it would take to cover the paper heart. Write each child’s name and estimation on chart paper. You and/or Gingerbread Boy may make estimates too.

Distribute a heart cut out and a bag or box of candy hearts to each child. Explain that they will check their estimates by placing candy hearts as closely together as possible, to entirely cover the heart cut out. Help children count the candy hearts and compare to their estimates. Discuss whether the estimates were too high or

too low. Afterwards, the children eat the candy hearts.

Valentine EstimationPrint “How many hearts can I hold in my hand?” at the top of the chart paper. Prepare three columns: “Name,” “Guess,” and “Actual.” The children guess how many candy hearts they can hold in their hands. Record the guesses. Each child cleans his or her hands with hand sanitizer, then reaches into the candy jar and grabs a handful of candy hearts. Count the hearts and record the number in the

“Actual” column. Compare the guesses with the actual numbers.

Fish for HeartsTie one end of the strings to the rulers, and the other end to the magnets. The children use these as fi shing poles to fi sh for specifi c

hearts. Example: Go fi sh for a large pink heart.

Heart LacingThe children lace yarn around the hearts.

GamesValentine GameThis game is a variation of “Duck, Duck, Goose” and “A Tisket, A Tasket.”

Put a heart or a valentine card in a small basket. Children sit in a circle. Designate a child to be “it.” This child holds the basket and walks around the circle while the group sings, “A tisket, a tasket, I have a little basket. I made my friend a valentine and on the way I dropped it.”

The child who is “it” then drops the valentine in the lap of the child closest to him or her. As with “Duck, Duck, Goose” that child stands and chases the other around the circle back to his or her seat while the rest of the group continues the song, “I dropped it, I dropped it, on the way I dropped it. I made my friend a

valentine and on the way I dropped it.” Continue play until everyone has had a turn.

Songs and RhymesStarfall’s Selected Nursery Rhymes:

Track 1, “A Tisket, A Tasket” and

Track 2, “Georgie Porgie”

Ten Little Valentines

(Melody: “Ten Little Indians”)

One little, two little, three little valentines

Four little, fi ve little, six little valentines

Seven little, eight little, nine little valentines.

Ten valentines in a row!

Valentine Puppet Rhyme

I move it to the right,

I move it to the left,

I move it in the way

My HEART loves BEST!

Materials

One small box of candy hearts

and one small paper heart

cut-out for each child

Chart paper

Marker

Materials

Jar of candy hearts

Hand sanitizer

Chart paper

Materials

Rulers, string or yarn, and magnets

Large, medium, and small paper hearts in red,

pink, and purple with paper clips attached

Materials

Large red heart shapes cut from poster board

with holes punched around the perimeters

Lengths of yarn with knots on one end

Materials

Valentine card or heart

Small basket with a handle

Winter Holidays 31

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AYHide the ValentineHide a construction paper heart in the classroom. Children take turns trying to fi nd it. Provide simple clues and guide them by letting them know if they are getting “hotter” (closer) or “colder” (farther) from the heart. When a child locates the heart, the others turn and close their eyes while the heart is hidden again.

Variation #1: Mail Carrier, Mail Carrier, Where’s my Mail?

One child is the mail carrier and wears the mail carrier’s hat (a red strip of paper with a pink heart that says “Mail Carrier”). The mail carrier hides his or her eyes while you give another child a valentine to hide behind his or her back. The other children pretend to also have valentines hidden behind them. The mail carrier uncovers his or her eyes and faces the children who say, “Mail carrier, mail carrier, where’s the mail?” The mail carrier has three guesses to discover who is hiding the valentine. If he or she guesses correctly, he or she continues as mail carrier. If he or she guesses incorrectly, the person with the valentine becomes the mail carrier.

Variation #2: This variation is similar to “Doggie, Doggie, Where’s your Bone?”

One child sits in a chair and faces away from the class with his or her eyes closed. Give a plastic or decorated paper heart to a child in the group who then places it under the chair as quietly as possible and returns to his or her place. The child in the chair faces the group. Ask the child, “Who was so kind to leave you this

pretty valentine?” The child then has three guesses.

Recipes*

*Always check for allergies and sensitivities before serving food.

Queen of Hearts TartsChildren make their own tarts by mixing two spoonfuls of cream cheese with one spoonful of strawberry preserves or fruit spread in

small cups. They spread the mixture onto vanilla wafers.

Edible ValentinesThe children use heart-shaped cookie cutters to cut heart shapes

out of this snack. They may use the spread or preserves to either

make a full sandwich, or cut heart shapes out of single slices of

bread to make an open-faced heart treat.

Ingredients

Cream cheese (2 spoonfuls for each child)

Strawberry preserves or fruit spread

Small cup for each child

Vanilla wafers

Ingredients

Slice of bread for each child

Red fruit spread or preserves

Heart-shaped cookie cutters

Plastic knife or craft stick

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Black History Month Black History MonthFebruary

Black History Month was established in 1926 so that Americans could refl ect on the history and

contributions of African-Americans. In the 1970s, this celebration of African-American history was

expanded to include the entire month of February. Think about using some of the following activities

throughout the school year rather than just during the month of February.

Book Suggestions • A Is for Africa by Ifeoma Onyefulu

• A Picture Book of Martin Luther King, Jr. by David A. Adler

• Cassie’s Colorful Day by Faith Ringgold

• Dancing the Ring Shout by Kim Siegelson

• I Like Myself! by Karen Beaumont

• I Love My Hair! by Natasha Anastasia Tarpley

• Kente Colors by Debbi Chocolate

• Mama Panya’s Pancakes by Mary Chamberlin

• My Painted House, My Friendly Chicken, and Me by Maya Angelou

• Why Am I Diff erent? by Norma Simon

Activities and CraftsDiversity Sheet Fill several plastic spray bottles with diff erent colors of tempera paint

that have been diluted with water.

Children use bottles to spray paint on a bed sheet. They then watch

as the colors run and blend together to create a beautiful design.

Discuss the diff erent colors and what happened when they mixed

together. Use the discussion to lead into a conversation about how people may be diff erent (eye color,

hair color, short, tall, etc.), but yet they blend together in work and play to make the world wonderful!

Diff erent EggsIndicate the eggs. Volunteers describe the eggs,

noting how they are alike and how they are

diff erent. Children assist to crack open the eggs.

Discuss the fact that even though the eggs may be diff erent

on the outside, all the eggs are the same on the inside. Lead a

discussion to help children realize that even though their classmates

may be diff erent on the outside (hair color, eye color, tall, short, etc.), they are alike on the inside. Use

questions such as: How many of you like to play outside? How many of you like to eat ice cream on a

hot summer day? How many of you love your parents and grandparents? Consider having scrambled

eggs for snack.

Starfall Online Activities • It’s Fun to Read: Music,

“Scott Joplin”

• It’s Fun to Read: Music,

“Scott Joplin Jukebox”

• It’s Fun to Read: Artists,

“Ernie Barnes”

Materials

Water bottles

Tempera paint

White bed sheet

Materials

A dozen brown eggs

A dozen white eggs

Large bowl

Winter Holidays 33

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THAfrican MusicPrior to reading this story, explain that a “Ring Shout” is a harvest

celebration that dates back to the 1800s, in which African-Americans

gathered to sing, dance, and make music with homemade instruments.

During the story imitate the sound of each instrument. When you

have fi nished reading, sequence the main events. Discuss what takes

place at the Ring Shout and what the community is thankful

for after the harvest.

The children work together and use available materials to create their own instruments.

African DrumPrior to the lesson, connect two cups for each child bottom-to-bottom, using a low temperature hot glue gun or masking tape, and allow them to dry. The children will use these to make drums.

The children tear off 4 to 5 inch lengths of masking tape to completely cover the opening at the top and bottom of the cups. Next they use 3 to 4 inch lengths of masking tape to completely cover the outside of the cups. Then they brush shoe polish all over the tape-covered cups, and wipe the excess off with rags.

To decorate their drums, the children use permanent markers to draw geometric or other designs, or glue construction paper shapes around the top, middle and

bottom of the drums.

Be an InventorExplain that when a person has an idea to make something that no other person has ever made, that person is an inventor.

Display the Gingerbread Boy stamp. Discuss how an African-American man named W. B. Purvis wanted to be able to recreate the same picture over and over, so he invented something called a “hand stamp.”

• Demonstrate how to use the hand stamp with an ink pad to create a picture.

• Distribute an index card to each child. Children take turns using the Gingerbread Boy hand stamp and ink pad to stamp their index cards.

• The children experiment with other hand stamps.

The children think of inventions they would like to create. Remind them that their inventions should be new things that other people could use. Give children plenty of time to share ideas. They may work alone or in groups.

Provide a variety of arts and crafts materials and time for children to create their own inventions. When children have completed their inventions (they may need more than one day) they share them with the class. Be sure they explain how their inventions can be used and what materials were used to create them. Place the inventions on display in the classroom for parents and visitors to see. Include a child-dictated description of each invention.

Materials

Materials to create musical instruments,

such as paper cups, rice, tape, paper plates,

hole punch, bells, string

Dancing the Ring Shout by Kim Siegelson

Materials

Two disposable drinking cups per child

Glue

Masking tape

Brown shoe polish

Rags

Permanent markers

Materials

Gingerbread Boy hand stamp

Variety of hand stamps

Ink pad

Index card for each child

Other suggested arts and crafts materials:

pieces of wood, milk containers, pipe

cleaners, paper clips, straws, tape, paper,

glue, poster paint, markers, crayons, elastic,

fabric scraps, construction paper, pom-poms

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THChange the World Discuss how Martin Luther King, Jr. was an African-American

who worked very hard to make the world a peace-fi lled place

to live. He taught us how to love each other, get along with one

another, and to work together. Volunteers suggest behaviors

that help make the classroom a peaceful, loving place to learn,

like smiling, holding doors for others, saying please and thank

you, giving a hug, sharing, etc.

Inventor: George Washington Carver**Check for nut/peanut allergies before doing

this activity.

Introduce African-American inventor,

George Washington Carver. Discuss how

George Washington Carver is credited with

discovering over three hundred uses for the peanut, and hundreds more for sweet potatoes, soybeans

and pecans. His research was intended to provide products that were less expensive than commercial

products of his time.

The children shell peanuts and observe them the way George Washington Carver would have seen them.

Distribute an unshelled peanut to each child. Children describe how the peanuts look, feel, and smell.

Discuss and list potential uses for peanuts (peanut butter, peanut oil, cookies, cosmetics, paints, plastics).

Optional: Serve peanut butter with crackers and/or celery for snack.

Inventor: Garret MorganIntroduce Garret Morgan, the African-American inventor of the traffi c light. Until Garret Morgan invented the traffi c light, drivers had to guess the right time to cross the street.

Discuss the reason we need traffi c lights and how they contribute to our safety.

The children paint the milk or juice cartons with black poster paint. After the paint dries they glue on the red, yellow, and green circles in order from top to bottom.

The children fi nd places in the classroom or on the playground where they pretend to use their traffi c lights. Examples:

• Block Area - directing traffi c during dramatic play

• Exit doors - as a signal to children to walk quietly, not run, in the hallway

• Snack – as a signal to remind children to use their inside voices

Red Light, Green LightChildren march around the room as you raise a green circle. Raise

a red circle as the signal to stop marching. When you raise a yellow

circle, children walk very slowly. Say the words: “Red light, green light,

yellow light, 1, 2, 3!” then change the color.

SongsStarfall Sing-Along Volume 1:

Track 37, “Traffi c Lights”

Starfall Sing-Along Volume 2:

Track 46, “The More We Get Together”

Materials

Peanuts (unshelled)

Peanuts (shelled, enough for each child)

Materials

1 milk or juice carton for each child

Black poster paint and paintbrushes

1 red, 1 yellow, and 1 green construction

paper circle for each child

Glue

Materials

Red, yellow and green construction paper

circles (one of each)

Winter Holidays 35

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THGames Red Light, Green LightOne child pretends to be a traffi c light and stands with his or her

back to the other children. When he or she raises a green circle, the

other children run toward him or her. When he or she raises a yellow

circle, the other children run slower. Finally when he or she raises a

red circle, the other children stop. The child acting as the traffi c light

may raise the cards in any order.

This game helps develop motor skills.

Recipes**Always check for allergies and sensitivities before serving food.

Traffi c Light Snack After discussing the invention of the traffi c light, each child makes

a traffi c light for snack by spreading peanut butter or cream cheese

on a three inch piece of celery and placing the three fruits in a traffi c

light color pattern.

Friendship SnackEach child brings a half cup of his or her favorite dry snack to school.

Suggestions include raisins, miniature crackers, cereal snack mix,

pretzels, and popcorn. Mix the snacks together in a large bowl and serve the mixture for snack.

Discuss how diff erent things can go together to make something very good. This is a great snack to

communicate the concepts of diversity, sharing, cooperation, and trying new things.

Materials

Red, yellow, and green construction paper

circles (one of each)

Ingredients

One 3" piece of celery for each child

Peanut butter or cream cheese

1 green grape, 1 golden raisin, and 1 raspberry

for each child (or diff erent fruits of the same

colors if these are not available)

36 Winter Holidays

Spring Holidays Spring Holidays Spring . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38

Earth Day . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42

St. Patrick’s Day . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45

Cinco de Mayo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49

Mother’s Day . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52

Spring Holidays 37

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SpringSpringGenerally considered to include March, April, and May

The vernal equinox is the day on which daylight lasts for approximately twelve hours, with the hours of daylight increasing as the season continues due to the increasing tilt of the earth’s axis toward the sun. Spring is known as a time of new birth, renewal and growth.

Book Suggestions • Are You Spring? by Caroline Pitcher

• Curious George Flies a Kite by Margaret and H.A. Rey

• Flower Garden by Eve Bunting

• Frog and Toad Together by Arnold Lobel

• How Do You Know It’s Spring? by Allan Fowler

• I Can Read About the Seasons by Robyn Supraner

• Just a Rainy Day by Mercer Mayer

• The Cloud Book by Tomie de Paola

• The Search for Spring by Else Holmelundi

• The Wind by Ron Bacon

• When Spring Comes by Robert Maass

Activities and CraftsSpring Bulletin BoardUse brown bulletin board paper to construct a large tree, making sure you have a branch for each child in your class. Write the children’s names on the branches.

The children make fl owers and decorate their branches of the tree.

Evaporation Measure one cup of water into each of two clear plastic glasses of equal size. Mark the water level of each cup with a permanent marker. Place one glass in a sunny window and the other somewhere else in the room. Observe the glasses of water over the next couple of days. Ask the children where the water is going. Explain that evaporation occurs when the particles of water become warm enough that they turn into vapors, leave the cup, and escape into the air. Ask which glass of

water is evaporating more quickly, and why the water in the sun evaporated faster.

Measuring Rainfall On a rainy day, set out a container to measure the rainfall. Continue to measure the rain each day, and record it for a few weeks. The children predict how much

water will be collected.

Starfall Online Activities • Backpack Bear’s Books:

“What’s the Weather?

• Calendar

• Holiday Icon: “Garden Shop”

• It’s Fun to Read: Poetry: “Who Has Seen the Wind?”

• It’s Fun to Read: Bird Riddles

• Talking Library: “Who Likes the Rain?”

• I’m Reading: Nonfi ction, “A House in a Tree”

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GFour SeasonsSuggestions for seasonal clothing or Picture Cards:

• Summer — bathing suit, fl ip-fl ops, sunglasses, sunscreen, beach ball, fi shing rod

• Fall — light jacket, leaf, pumpkin, Halloween costume, turkey

• Winter — coat, mittens, picture of snowman and/or Santa Claus, bare tree

• Spring — picture of rain, raincoat, umbrella, fl owers, butterfl y

Review the Four Seasons Poster. Assign a Season Word Necklace to

four children. Classify items by asking children to which season each item best belongs. Place the items

or Picture Cards in front of the child wearing the appropriate Season’s Word Card.

Spring Bubbles Mix detergent, water, and glycerin in a shallow container. Let the

solution settle before using. Children dip fl y swatters into the bubble

solution, then run around and watch the bubbles blow in the wind.

Spring Flowers The children glue pastel-colored cupcake liners (blossoms) to sheets

of colored construction paper to create spring fl owers. They draw leaves and stems with crayons, and

add scenery, (sun, grass, trees, etc.).

Rain Sticks Seal off one end of several empty paper towel tubes with tape, or

tape heavy construction paper or tag board over one end hole. Poke

holes in the sides of the paper towel tubes with either a small nail

or an awl. The children insert toothpicks into the holes. They add

dried rice or lentils, then use pieces of tape to seal the other ends of

the tubes. Cover the tubes with construction paper, then children

decorate them as desired. Play your choice of music and demonstrate

how to use a rain stick, simply turning it over and listening to the rain.

The children take turns playing the rain sticks.

Bean Bag Puddle Toss Use a hula hoop or yarn to designate a puddle. The children throw

bean bags, trying to land them in the puddle.

Jump Over the Puddle Cut puddle shapes small enough for the children to jump over from

blue paper or newspaper the children have painted blue. Spread the puddles on the fl oor and children

take turns hopping over them.

Flower Mosaics The children draw outlines of fl owers on pieces of paper. They add glue inside the outlines, and attach

colorful confetti and/or glitter to decorate the fl owers.

Materials

Starfall Four Seasons Poster

Word Card Necklaces (Prepare four Word

Cards: Summer, Fall, Winter, and Spring.

Attach yarn to make Word Necklaces.)

Optional: Add a picture next to each

word to help identify it.

Items or Picture Cards representing each season

Materials

1 cup liquid dish detergent

1 gallon water

1 tablespoon glycerin

Materials

Several prepared paper towel tubes

Toothpicks

Dried rice or lentils

Masking tape

Teacher’s music choice

Materials

Hula hoop or yarn

Bean bags

Spring Holidays 39

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Kite Art The children cut and glue pieces of paper together and add ribbon to

create kites. Make this an open-ended art project by not requiring the

kites to be a specifi c shape. The children add ribbon tails and hang the

kites from the ceiling.

Solar OvenIn spring the weather becomes warmer. The children begin to discover

how much Earth is warmed by the sun, and how hot the sun is by

building a solar oven.

Line a shoebox with aluminum foil. Put kabob skewers through the

box. Place plastic wrap over the top of the box. Place the box in the direct sunlight. Try cooking

marshmallows or hot dogs.

GamesWorm HomePut gravel at the bottom of a large clear container. Fill the container

with a mixture of potting soil and dry leaves. Finally, add a few large

earthworms (available outside or at bait stores) to your container.

Let the earthworms settle into their new home for about a week.

Explain that earthworms come to the top of the soil when it rains.

Pour water into the container and children watch as the earthworms

come to the top.

Musical Raindrops Cut several large raindrop shapes from colored paper. Laminate

them, cut them out, and place them on the fl oor. (It is best for younger children to have more

raindrops than children.) Play your choice of music as the children walk around the room. When you

stop the music, each child stands on a raindrop.

Feather Pair children and give each pair a feather. They try to keep the feather in the air by blowing it. Explain

that the air they are blowing out of their mouths is like the wind.

Ping-Pong Game Place a child on each side of the table. Children blow the Ping-Pong ball (or cotton ball) across the

table to each other without letting it fall. Review how the wind makes things move.

Recipes*

*Always check for allergies and sensitivities before serving food.

Sunfl ower Seeds Serve sunfl ower seeds for a snack.

Materials

Large clear container

Gravel

Potting soil

Live earthworms

Watering can

The Teacher‛s Guide Unit 7: Growing provides plans and activities related to plants, caterpillars, and butterfl ies. Therefore these Spring plans contain general activities related to spring.

40 Spring Holidays

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GFlowers for Snack Serve fresh broccoli or caulifl ower fl orets. Explain that

these are actually fl owers that grow in cool, spring

weather. Children dip the broccoli and caulifl ower fl orets

on toothpicks into melted cheese, ranch dressing, or dip.

Songs, Rhymes and Finger PlaysStarfall Sing-Along Volume 1:

Track 18, “Little Plant,”

Track 21, “Months of the Year,” and

Tack 40, “What’s the Weather?”

Starfall Sing-Along Volume 2:

Track 16, “If All the Raindrops,”

Track 35, “Six Little Ducks,” and

Track 40, “The Ants Go Marching”

Starfall’s Selected Nursery Rhymes:

Page 8, “Eeensy Weensy Spider,”

Page 20, “It’s Raining, It’s Pouring,”

and “Rain, Rain, Go Away”

Bye Bye Winter

(Melody: Baa, Baa, Black Sheep)

Bye, bye Winter

Spring is on it’s way

First comes March, then April

and May

March brings the wind

to fl y kites high

April brings raindrops

from the sky

May brings fl owers

that smell so sweet

Springtime really

can’t be beat!

Spring Is On Its Way

(Melody: Farmer in the Dell)

Spring is on its way

March, April, merry May

No more mittens, hats, or coats

Spring is on its way!

Spring Finger Play

Our fi ngers go shake, shake, shake, shake

For fl owers we will make, make, make!

(Children shake and wiggle their fi ngers.)

Close your hands to make fi sts so tight

Don’t you let in any light!

(Children make tight fi sts with their hands.)

Slowly, slowly open your hands to see

The pretty spring fl owers for you and me!

(Children open up fi ngers.)

Spring Holidays 41

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Earth DayEarth DayApril 22nd

The original Proclamation of Earth Day was by the city of San Francisco,

where it was fi rst celebrated on March 21, 1970, the fi rst day of spring.

Gaylord Nelson, a United States senator then called for a day to teach the

public about the environment, or Earth Day, which was celebrated on April

22, 1970. In the United States Earth Day is now celebrated each year on

April 22nd, and is celebrated throughout the world by more than a billion people! It is a day meant to

inspire awareness and appreciation of nature and the environment, and honor our home, planet Earth.

Book Suggestions • Fun with Recycling by Marion Elliot

• Grover’s 10 Terrifi c Ways to Help Our Wonderful Word by Anna Ross

• It’s Earth Day by Mercer Mayer

• Let’s Get Ready for Earth Day by Lloyd G. Douglas

• The Lorax Earth by Dr. Seuss

Activities and CraftsPollution PondPut fi sh in the pond. Explain to children that the fi sh used to live

happily until people started coming to the park for picnics and

throwing their trash into the pond. (A volunteer throws a piece of

trash into the pond.) Remove a fi sh. Repeat until all the fi sh are gone.

Tell children that some people decided to clean up the pond. Have

children remove their trash one piece at a time and add a fi sh. When

all the trash is gone the water is clean and the fi sh have room to swim.

Be Kind to the EarthEach child dips his or her hand in either green or

blue fi nger paint and stamps it on the circle. After

it dries, cut out the circle and mount it on your

bulletin board. Label the board, “Be Kind

to the Earth.”

Coff ee Filter Planet EarthThe children fl atten out coff ee fi lters on paper plates. They use the

markers to color the coff ee fi lters using the globe as a reference.

Children spray the colored fi lters a time or two with water and watch

the colors fl ow. Allow the fi lters to dry.

Starfall Online Activities • Holiday icon: “Everyday is Earth Day”

• I’m Reading: Nonfi ction, “It’s Earth Day, Dear Dragon”

Materials

Small kiddie pool, or large piece of paper

painted blue (pond)

Construction paper fi sh

Trash (newspaper, clean empty cans or

bottles, empty cereal boxes, etc.)

Materials

Poster board with a large circle drawn on it

Green and blue fi nger paint

Materials

Coff ee fi lter and paper plate for each child

Blue and green washable markers

Spray bottle of water

Globe

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Litter Bags Children decorate white lunch

bags with markers or crayons

and stickers. They use the bags to

collect litter, or take them home

to hang in the family car.

Sorting Cans Collect cans to recycle in your classroom. Children sort them by

color, brand, or other physical attribute. When cans have been

sorted, take them to your local recycling center and use the profi ts

to buy supplies to create a class recycling book.

Note: The cans should be clean. To avoid cuts, warn the children

not to stick their fi ngers into the tops of the cans.

Recycling Activities for Math • Collect sticks (or other natural elements) for children to create various geometric shapes.

• Take children on a nature walk and have them collect natural math manipulatives such as rocks, seeds, and nuts and use them to practice counting, patterning, and sorting.

• Measure the length of natural objects using standard and nonstandard units of measurement.

• Collect and measure rainfall. Use the collected rainfall to water plants.

GamesActivityAffi x box lids so that they easily open and close to view the items

inside. Inside the boxes attach fabric squares above the holes

(creating fl aps) and place a diff erent natural object.

Children take turns inserting one hand into the box and guessing

what the natural object might be by feeling it. Open the lid for

children to see if they correctly identifi ed the objects.

Recycle Relay Set up three containers at one end of the classroom or playground,

labeled with diff erent types of recycling (“Paper”, “Plastic”, “Aluminum”) and tape a picture next to each

to help children identify them.

At the other end of the classroom, place two collections of materials, each with an equal number of

objects to be recycled. Children form two teams and line up behind the recyclable materials. At the

start, each child chooses something from his or her collection and runs to deposit it in the proper bin.

Instead of racing each other, children could race the clock.

Songs and PoemsTree Poem

Oh, little tree grow straight and tall

With green leaves that shade us all.

Birds will make their nests on you.

Owls will fi nd a home there too!

Rabbits will burrow under your trunk

You might be home for a skunk!

Clean Up the Earth

(Melody: “Way Down Yonder in the

Paw Paw Patch”)

Pick up paper put it in the trash can.

Pick up paper put it in the trash can.

Pick up paper put it in the trash can.

Way down yonder in the recycle bin!

Pick up tin cans put them in the trash can.

Pick up tin cans put them in the trash can.

Pick up tin cans put them in the trash can.

Way down yonder in the recycle bin!

Pick up plastic put it in the trash can.

Pick up plastic put it in the trash can.

Pick up plastic put it in the trash can.

Way down yonder in the recycle bin!

Materials

White lunch bag for each child

Markers, crayons, stickers

Materials

Several medium-sized cardboard boxes

with 6" diameter holes cut at one end;

attach lids so that they can easily open

and close

8"x10" fabric pieces or felt squares

Various natural objects

Spring Holidays 43

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AYRecipes*

*Always check for allergies and sensitivities before serving food.

Nature’s Bounty Children snack on a variety of foods that come directly from nature, such as apple slices, orange

segments, fresh berries, and sunfl ower seeds.

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'S DAY

St. Patrick’s DaySt. Patrick’s DayMarch 17

St. Patrick’s Day is a national holiday in Ireland and commemorates

Ireland’s patron saint. The holiday, which was made an offi cial feast

day in the 17th century, has progressively become a celebration of

Irish culture. In the United States, St. Patrick’s Day is widely celebrated

by Irish and non-Irish alike. Many cities hold parades and parties with Irish music and dancing.

It is customary to wear green, or run the risk of being pinched aff ectionately. In some places, rivers,

fountains, and canals are dyed green.

Book Suggestions • A Leprechaun for St. Patrick’s Day by Sarah Kirivan Blazel

• Clever Tom and the Leprechaun by Linda Shute

• Jack and the Leprechaun by Ivan Robertson

• Jamie O’Rourke and the Big Potato by Tomie de Paola

• Leprechaun Gold by Teresa Bateman

• St. Patrick’s Day Alphabet by Beverly Barras Vidrine

• St. Patrick’s Day by Gail Gibbons

• St. Patrick’s Day in the Morning by Eve Bunting

• The Hungry Leprechaun by Mary Calhoun

• Tim O’Toole and the Wee Folk by Gerald McDermott

• Patrick by Tomie de Paola

• St. Patrick’s Day by Kathy Ross

Activities and CraftsShamrock Numbers Gather children in a circle. Volunteers help you place

paper plates on the fl oor in order from 1 to 10. Place the

shamrocks into a cloth bag. The children take turns picking out

shamrocks and telling you what number is written on them. They

place them on the correct paper plates, matching the numbers on

the shamrocks to those on the paper plates.

Starfall Online Activities • More.starfall.com: Holidays:

“Find a Four Leaf Clover”

Materials

10 paper plates numbered from 1 to 10

Several sets of construction paper shamrocks

with numbers 1-10 printed on them

Cloth bag or “pot”

Spring Holidays 45

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AYSt. Patrick’s Day WindsockCut the bottom out of one paper bag for each child. Children paint

the bags and decorate them with shamrocks. They use glue sticks to

attach streamers to the bottom ends of the bags. Reinforce a small

area of each side of the other end of the bag with masking tape.

Punch a hole on each side and thread yarn through the holes to

form a hanger. Hang the windsocks in the classroom.

Where is the Shamrock?Prepare a construction paper shamrock. Give the shamrock to one

child to hide as the others cover their eyes. When the shamrock is

hidden, the children try to fi nd it. The child who fi nds the shamrock is

the next to hide it.

St. Patrick’s Day Mixing Colors Activities • The children guess which colors mixed together would make green (blue and yellow). Put small amounts of the two paint colors into a small plastic bag, and seal it with tape. The children mix the colors by kneading the bag until the blue and yellow paint combine.

• Add green food coloring to the water. Children experiment by dipping their strips of paper towels, and/or coff ee fi lters into the water and watching the green water make its way up the strips.

• Pour yellow and green dry tempera paint into old shaker bottles or saltshakers. Children carefully shake yellow and green paint onto white paper. They then spray a small amount of water onto their paint, revealing how the colors mix to make green.

Hidden TreasuresSpray paint small rocks with gold paint. Hide these gold nuggets in your Discovery table for children to

fi nd the gold a leprechaun lost.

Shamrock Prints Children dip the cut side of green bell peppers into green tempera

paint and stamp pictures onto construction paper.

Materials

Paper bags (one per child)

Streamers

Paint

Green construction paper shamrocks of

various sizes

Glue sticks

Hole punch

Yarn

Various other art supplies

Materials

Small plastic bags

Packing or masking tape

Blue and yellow tempera paint

Several cups of water in a container

Green food coloring

Strips of paper towels and/or coff ee fi lters

Blue and yellow tempera paint powder

Spray bottle with water

Shaker bottles or saltshakers

White paper

Materials

Green bell peppers, seeded and cut in half

Green tempera paint

Construction paper

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'S DAY

Leprechaun NotesPrepare for this activity several days before St. Patrick’s Day:

• Mess up the classroom prior to the arrival of the children.

• Using chalk dust or talcum powder, make fi ngerprints in the areas that are messed up to represent leprechaun footprints.

• Prepare a note from Gingerbread Boy that reads, “Last night I woke up and saw leprechauns playing all over our classroom. They were laughing and having a great time. I fell back to sleep and when I woke up the classroom was a mess!”

Read a book about leprechauns. Discuss how they

love to be mischievous. Children decide if the

leprechauns were being mischievous, or if they just

forgot to clean up.

Write a class note to the leprechauns. The note should

discuss how important it is to clean up after play.

Include questions the children may have, or ask where

they keep their pot of gold. For several days leading

up to St. Patrick’s Day, mess up the classroom and

prepare notes from the leprechauns responding to the

children’s notes.

On St. Patrick’s Day, do not mess up the classroom.

Prepare a treat from the leprechauns and a note telling

the children to have fun celebrating St. Patrick’s Day.

Finding IrelandLocate Ireland on a map or globe. Ireland is

surrounded by water so it is considered an island. It

is the third largest island in Europe. In fact, Ireland is

commonly referred to as the “Emerald Isle” because it

is so green with vegetation due to its mild climate and

abundant rainfall. Interesting facts:

• Vehicles are driven on the left side of the road.

• There are no snakes in Ireland.

• There are around 400 species of birds.

• The common lizard is the only reptile native to Ireland.

• Dublin is the region visited by the most tourists.

Songs and PoemsWay Down Yonder at the Rainbow’s End

(Melody: “Paw Paw Patch”)

Where, oh where are the dear little leprechauns?

Where, oh where are the dear little leprechauns?

Where, oh where are the dear little leprechauns?

Way down yonder at the rainbow’s end.

Come on kids, let’s go fi nd them!

Come on kids, let’s go fi nd them!

Come on kids, let’s go fi nd them!

Way down yonder at the rainbow’s end!

They’re picking up gold coins, puttin’ them in black pots,

Picking up gold coins, puttin’ them in black pots,

Picking up gold coins, puttin’ them in black pots,

Way down yonder at the rainbow’s end!

Can’t Catch Me!

(Melody: “Skip To My Lou”)

Can’t, can’t, can’t catch me!

Can’t, can’t, can’t catch me!

Can’t, can’t, can’t catch me!

I’m a leprechaun, you see!

Looking for Leprechauns

(Melody: “I’m a Little Teapot”)

Let’s look for leprechauns little and green

Most of the time, they can’t be seen

At the end of rainbows we’ve been told

That’s where we’ll fi nd their pots of gold!

Five Little Leprechauns

Five little leprechauns running by my door

One jumped away, and then there were four

Four little leprechauns sitting in a tree

One hid in the leaves, and then there were three

Three little leprechauns, wondering what to do

One went for a pot of gold, and then there were two

Two little leprechauns, having lots of fun

One jumped over the rainbow, and then there was one

One little leprechaun, having too much fun

He slipped off for a nap, and then there were none

Spring Holidays 47

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AYGames“Tape the Gold in the Pot” A variation of “Pin the Tail on the Donkey.”

Pretend the large black circle is a pot, and the children’s small circles are pieces of gold. Blindfold children in turn, twirling them three or more times. The children count the twirls. They then try to place their coins onto the pot. Afterwards, count the coins on the pot, and discuss the locations of the other coins using position words (above, below, next to).

“St. Patrick’s Day Toss”Set up several coff ee cans in row. The children pretend to throw gold into pots by taking turns tossing Ping-Pong balls or painted clothespins into the cans.

Recipes*

*Always check for allergies and sensitivities before serving food.

Shamrock ShakesBlend the frozen yogurt, milk, and green food coloring to make shakes.

Shamrock Mashed Potatoes Boil enough potatoes for your class. Drain the potatoes. Add milk, butter and salt to the cooked potatoes. Choose volunteers to add green food coloring to them, then use a masher or mixer to mash the potatoes.

Eat Green DayProvide all green foods in honor of St. Patrick’s Day: green milk, grapes, celery, green peppers, broccoli with ranch dressing, green eggs and ham, etc.

Materials

Large black construction paper circle

Small circle of gold or yellow construction

paper for each child, with tape attached

Blindfold or scarf

Materials

Several coff ee cans covered with black

construction paper

Ping-Pong balls or painted (gold) clothespins

Ingredients

Vanilla frozen yogurt

Milk

Green food coloring

Blender

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Cinco de Mayo Cinco de MayoMay 5

Cinco de Mayo, Spanish for “fi fth of May,” is celebrated regionally in Mexico and by Mexican-Americans

throughout the United States. The day celebrates the Mexican heritage and commemorates an

unlikely Mexican victory in battle against the French in which the Mexican army was outnumbered, ill

equipped, and poorly armed, yet they won against incredible odds, with courage and spirit. Cinco de

Mayo is celebrated with fi estas, music, dancing, parades, and food.

Book Suggestions • Carlos Goes To School by Eloise A. Anderson

• Celebrate! It’s Cinco de Mayo! by Janice Levy

• Cinco de Mayo by Mary Dodson Wade

• Cinco de Mayo: Celebrating the Traditions of Mexico by Diane Hoyt-Goldsmith

• Cinco de Mouse-O by Judy Cox

• Maria by Joan Lexau

Activities and CraftsWhere is Mexico? Indicate where you live in relation to Mexico. Demonstrate a route

you might take if you were going to take a trip to Mexico. For

example, if you lived in New York, you would indicate New York

on the map or globe, then show the path you would take south

and west to get to Mexico. Discuss how you would travel there. Would you drive, walk, bike, or ride an

airplane? The children take turns suggesting other possible routes to Mexico.

Mexican FlagThe colors of the fl ag of Mexico are green, white and red respectively.

Distribute prepared white papers to each child. Children tear green

and red construction paper into small pieces and glue them on the

appropriate section of the white paper to create a Mexican fl ag.

To add authenticity, provide copies of the eagle positioned in the

center of the Mexican fl ag and children glue it to the white section

of their fl ags.

ABC Pattern (Green, White, Red)The children use objects to create ABC patterns (green, red, white,

green, red, white).

Starfall Online Activities • If you have created a class list on more.Starfall.com, you have access to the ABCs in Spanish. Enable Spanish ABCs on the Class List settings page. Once enabled, you can access them by going to the English ABCs page, then clicking the Spanish icon at the top-right corner.

Materials

Large wall map or globe

Materials

One sheet of white construction paper with

lines drawn dividing the page into thirds

(lengthwise) for each child

Green and red construction paper

Glue or glue sticks

Materials

Provide a large assortment of objects in

green, white and red. Suggestions: plastic

linking chains, bingo chips, squares of

paper, small blocks, crayons, markers,

counters, etc.

Spring Holidays 49

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¡Hablemos Español! Teach the children words and phrases in Spanish.

Please Por Favor (poor fah-vohr)

Thank You Gracias (grah-see-aahs)

You’re Welcome De Nada (day nah-dah)

Good Morning Buenos Días (bweh-nos dee-ahs)

Hello Hola (oh-lah)

Goodbye Adiós (ah-dee-ohs)

Good Night Buenas Noches (bweh-nahs noh-chays)

See You Tomorrow Hasta Mañana ah-stah mahn-yahn-ah

Goodbye Friends Adiós Amigos (ah-dee-ohs ah-mee-gohs)

Counting in Spanish Teach the children how to count to ten in Spanish.

One Uno (oo-noh)

Two Dos (doss)

Three Tres (tress)

Four Cuatro (kwa-tro)

Five Cinco (seen-ko)

Six Seis (saiss)

Seven Siete (sye-te)

Eight Ocho (o-cho)

Nine Nueve (nwai-be)

Ten Diez (dyess)

MaracasExplain that maracas are instruments that are used throughout Mexico. They are shaken to create sounds. Distribute two small paper cups to each child. Children decorate the paper cups with markers or crayons. They pour a handful of uncooked dry beans into one cup and place the other cup on top. Secure the cups by wrapping masking tape or electrical tape around them. Play mariachi music as

children shake their maracas.

Dance Streamers The children decorate their paper towel tubes using crayons or markers and cutting shapes from a variety of colors of construction paper and gluing them. When they fi nish decorating, help them tape or staple crepe paper streamers around the edges. Play Latin music

and children wave their dance streamers as they dance.

Materials

Two small paper cups per child

Masking or electrical tape

Uncooked dry beans

Crayons, markers

Materials

Paper towel tube for each child

Variety of colors of construction paper

Colorful crepe paper streamers

(several per child)

Tape or a stapler

Markers, crayons, glue sticks

Latin music

50 Spring Holidays

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AYOProducts from Mexico Place some Mexican products in your Discovery Center for

your children to touch and smell. Explain that these are just

a few of the products that we get from Mexico.

Suggestions: coff ee, sugar (cane), wheat, cotton.

Mexican Hat Dance The Mexican Hat Dance is the offi cial dance of Mexico.

It is a symbol of pride and is even taught in public schools

in Mexico.

To perform the dance, children stand with their feet

together and their arms at their sides. When the music

starts, they kick up their heels three times alternating feet

and clap two times. They repeat this until the chorus of the

song, then link elbows with a partner and skip around in a

small circle. They switch elbows and skip in a circle in the

opposite direction. They return to kicking up their heels

until the chorus plays again, and link arms with a diff erent

partner and skip in circles in both directions.

GamesBe a BurritoWrap a child in a sheet or a blanket. He or she rolls down the hill burrito style! Repeat until each child has a turn. If you don’t have hills or an area to do this, children may roll across the fl oor. Their friends will be

more than happy to help them.

Recipes*

*Always check for allergies and sensitivities before serving food.

Burritos The children take turns adding what they like to the center of their

tortillas. Help them roll their burritos.

Songs and PoemsWe Can Count in Spanish!

(Melody: “If You’re Happy and You Know it”)

We can count in Spanish yes we can (clap clap)

We can count in Spanish yes we can (clap, clap)

Uno, dos, tres, cuatro, cinco so what do you thinko?

We can count in Spanish yes we can! (clap ,clap)

Cinco de Mayo

(Melody: “The Farmer in the Dell”)

Today’s the 5th of May

Cinco de Mayo we say

Let’s have a fi esta

And then a siesta

It’s Cinco de Mayo today!

Sombrero

I have a big sombrero

I wear on Fiesta days

Like Cinco de Mayo

Which is the 5th of May!

Materials

Large sheet

Small outside hill

Ingredients

Small tortillas

Fillings (diced tomatoes, meat, beans,

guacamole, cheese, etc.)

Spring Holidays 51

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Mother’s Day Mother’s DayCelebrated on the second Sunday of May in the United States and Canada

Mother’s Day is a celebration of motherhood and the infl uence mothers have in society. It is celebrated

throughout the world in a variety of ways on various days. Many of these celebrations of motherhood

can be traced back to ancient festivals. In the United States, Mother’s Day is presently celebrated on

the second Sunday of May. Teachers must be especially sensitive around Mother’s Day to children

who live without mothers due to death, divorce, or abuse. One way to do this is to include various

caregivers such as grandmothers, foster mothers, godmothers, aunts, or fathers who are raising their

children alone in your Mother’s Day discussions. Explain that anyone special who cares for a child can

be honored or remembered on Mother’s Day.

Book Suggestions • Biscuit Loves Mother’s Day by Alyssa Satin Capucilli

• Did I Tell You I Love You Today? by Deloris Jordan

• Happy Mother’s Day! by Mercer Mayer

• Happy Mother’s Day Mami! by Leslie Valdes

• I Like Noisy Mom Likes Quiet: A Mother’s Day Story by Eileen Spinelli

• Love you Forever by Robert Munsch

• Siempre Te Querré (Love You Forever, Spanish Edition) by Robert Munsch

• The Mother’s Day Mice by Bunting

Activities and CraftsHand FlowersTrace each child’s hand onto construction paper. Help the children

cut them out. Glue a photo of each child in the middle of his or her

handprint. The children each paint a craft stick green. Glue or tape

the hand shapes to the sticks to create hand-shaped fl owers.

Variation: Each child decorates a paper or styrofoam cup. The

children place a small amount of play dough in the bottom of the

cup, then push the craft stick and the attached fl ower into the dough.

Special Person PuzzleEach child draws a picture for his or her special person. Write “I Love

You!” on the whiteboard for children to copy.

Assist children in cutting their papers into 6 to 8 pieces to create puzzles.

The children take their decorated puzzle pieces home in envelopes.

Bath Salt GiftsChildren paint designs on the baby food jars. When the paint dries,

assist children in fi lling the jars with bath salts. Tie a ribbon around

each jar to create special Mother’s Day gifts.

Starfall Online Activities • I’m Reading: Fiction/Nonfi ction:

“Happy Mother’s Day

Dear Dragon”

Materials

Construction paper

Photo of each child

Craft stick for each child

Materials

Construction paper

Crayons, scissors

Large envelopes

Materials

Empty baby food jars

Bath salts

Paint

Ribbon

52 Spring Holidays

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AYAll About Mom (or another signifi cant person) Prepare a worksheet as follows. Each child dictates his or her responses and you write them. The children decorate the pages and write their names.

• My mom’s favorite color is .

• My mom’s favorite food is .

• My mom’s favorite story is .

• My mom’s favorite place to go is .

• My mom’s favorite song is .

• My mom’s favorite thing to do with me is .

• I love my mom because .

Coupon BooksStaple together several rectangular sheets of construction paper for each child to create coupon books. Discuss how coupons are used, and explain that they will each make a coupon book as a Mother’s Day gift. Generate a list of kindnesses the children can do for their mothers, grandmothers or other special people. Suggestions: a hug, a kiss, drawing a picture, cleaning up their rooms, washing dishes, folding their clothes and emptying the trash. The children decorate the covers of their coupon books, then dictate one action they will perform on each of their coupons. You write the actions. The children illustrate and write their names on each page.

Memory HandprintMix the fl our and salt, then add enough water to create a fi rm clay-like mixture. Remove ½ cup of dough and form it into a circular shape on a lightly greased cookie sheet. Be sure the shapes are large enough to fi t a child’s hand or foot with fi ngers or toes spread. Push children’s hands or feet fi rmly into the dough. Allow the dough to dry for

several weeks or bake them at 225 degrees for 2 to 4 hours, depending on the thickness of the dough.

Games“Mother Says” Play “Simon Says,” replacing Simon with Mother.

Recipes*

*Always check for allergies and sensitivities before serving food.

Mother’s Day TeaPlan a Mother’s Day Tea for snack to honor mothers and all caregivers. Serve a variety of sandwiches

and cut them into fourths. Serve juice or lemonade for the children to drink.

Our Mothers’ Favorite SnacksAsk the children to think of their mother’s or other caregiver’s favorite snacks. Make a chart paper list of their responses. Choose one or more of the healthier ideas for children to enjoy for snack for several

days before and after Mother’s Day.

Songs and RhymesStarfall’s Selected Nursery Rhymes:

Page 44, “Three Little Kittens”

Mommy’s Care

(Melody: “Here We Go Round the Mulberry Bush”)

This is the way mommy brushes my hair

(The children brush their hair)

Brushes my hair

Brushes my hair

This is the way mommy brushes my hair

Mommy takes care of me

This is the way mommy slices my bread…

This is the way mommy blows me a kiss…

This is the way mommy reads to me…

This is the way Mommy tucks me in bed…

Someone Special

To someone special that I love

A great big enormous hug, hug, hug!

There is someone that I love and here is a clue,

She takes the best care of me YES! It’s YOU!

Materials

Prepared coupon books

Markers, crayons

Materials

1 cup fl our, 1 cup salt, water, and food

coloring (optional) for each child

Spring Holidays 53

Starfall®

KPre

Starfall Education P.O. Box 359, Boulder, CO 80306 U.S.A.

Phone: 1-888-857-8990 or 303-417-6414 Fax: 1-800-943-6666 or 303-417-6434 Email: helpdesk@starfall.com

This book is a pilot edition for the 2012-2013 school year. The lessons, activities, and pictured products in this book are under development, and may vary from the fi nal publication.

Copyright © 2012 by Starfall Education. All rights reserved. Starfall is a registered trademark in the U.S., the European Community, and various other countries. Printed in U.S.A.