Groundhog Fun!

Learn about the groundhog with a burrow full of themed art projects. According to tradition, the groundhog leaves his hole on February 2, of each year and takes a look around. If it's a sunny day and he sees his shadow, it is believed there will be six more long weeks of cold, wintry weather. If he does not see his shadow an early spring is on its way. Groundhog Day provides elementary school students with an opportunity to stimulate their imaginations with a wide array of creative art activities.

Groundhog Headband

Learn about the groundhog by making a groundhog headband. To begin this project provide each student with a brown circle to use as the groundhog's face and a strip of green construction paper long enough to form the headband. Ask the children to use crayons or washable markers to color a face on the construction paper circle, then show them how to glue the face onto the construction paper strip. Go around the classroom and assist the children by gluing or stapling the construction paper strip to fit their head to complete the headband.

Groundhog Burrow

To prepare for this activity get a big cardboard box. Make sure it's large enough so that the children can crawl in and out easily. Provide each student with a brown lunch bag, and take the class on a nature walk. Instruct the kids to fill the bags with small twigs, leaves and grass. Show the children how to use the items, along with markers and washable tempura paints to decorate the box to resemble a groundhog's burrow. Have the class pretend to be groundhogs and crawl in and out o f the box. Turn the lights off and on to show their shadows as they move in and out of the box.

Edible Groundhog Art

Have the class make fun to eat edible crafts for Groundhog Day. To make a cupcake groundhog give each child a chocolate cupcake, a small cup of chocolate frosting, green shredded coconut and a peanut-shaped cookie to use as the groundhog. Show the kids how to use a variety of candy such as mini chocolate chips and marshmallows to create their own groundhog treats.

Punxsutawney Phil's Shadow

To create Punxsutawney Phil and his shadow, start by printing out the groundhog template and glue it to a large piece of card stock. Provide each child with brown tempura paint and a toothbrush to paint the groundhog. Once the picture is dry, cut it out of the card stock. Trace the groundhog shape into a piece of black construction paper to create Punxsutawney Phil's shadow. Have the children place Phil's shadow under the painted groundhog. To complete the project, help the students push a small brass brand through the tail to connect the two pieces.

Halloween Fun!

Halloween and Fall Fun

Halloween is a fun and exciting time in the kindergarten classroom. Everyone is getting ready for the class party, lots of sweet, yummy treats, and dressing up in scary costumes. With these ghostly ideas you can create a spooky, but age-appropriate lesson plan for your Halloween celebration.

Paper Plate Spiders
Large paper plate (body)
Small paper plate (head)
Black streamers (legs)
Wiggly eyes
Washable black tempera paint
Paintbrush
Stapler
Fishing line

Staple the small plate to the large paper plate. Provide each child with black paint and a paintbrush. Have the child paint both sides of the plates black. Once the paint is dry, add the black streamers for legs and wiggly eyes. Hang the spiders from the ceiling using fishing line.

Make this pumpkin spice play dough during large group time.

Pumpkin Spice Play Dough
5 ½ cups of flour
2 cups of salt
8 tsp. Cream of tartar
¾ cups vegetable oil
1 ½ oz. Pumpkin pie spice
Orange food coloring
4 cups of water

Combine the ingredients together in a large saucepan. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon until smooth and free of lumps. Remove the play dough from the play dough from the saucepan and allow to cool for 10-12 minutes. Kneed the dough on a floured surface until smooth.

Leaf Painting
Leaves
Red, orange, yellow and brown tempera paint
Construction paper

Let the children choose a color and paint their leaf. Lay the leaf on a flat surface. Have the child put the construction paper on top of the leaf. Have the child rub their hands over the paper. Allow the child to repeat the process as many times as they want on the paper.

Halloween Fingerplays

Black Cat
A big black cat with eyes so green
(point to eyes)
Went out on the night of Halloween
He saw a witch
(Bring fingertips in a peak over head)
He saw an owl
(Form circles around eyes with fingers and thumbs)
And then he began to “Meow, meow, meow.

Halloween Recipes

Halloween Cat Cookies
Candy corn
Oreo cookies
White frosting
Black licorice
Red and green M&Ms

Spread the frosting on the cookie. Place two green M&Ms on the cookie to create the eyes and a red M&M to make the nose. Cut the licorice into 1 inch pieces and place them on the cookie as whiskers.
Next, place a dab of frosting on the bottom of two pieces of candy corn to make the cat ears.


Leafy Pile of Goodness
5 1/2 cups cornflakes
1 cup Karo syrup
1 cup sugar
1 cup creamy peanut butter

In the microwave melt the Karo syrup, sugar and peanut butter together. Pour over the cornflakes and put them in “piles” and allow to cool. Eat and Enjoy!

Book Selections for May

Book # 1: Hopper Hunts for Spring
by Marcus Pfister
While looking for spring, Hopper the little hare, meets some animal friends while on his journey.


Book # 2: Robin at Hickory Street
by Dana Meacher Rau
While searching for a new home where he can start his own family, Robin often hears “ no vacancy” and no trespassing chirped at him from the other birds in the neighborhood.


Book # 3: Are You Spring?
By Caroline Pitcher
After being told that she cannot leave her winter den until spring arrives, Una the bear cub goes out early, meets some new animal friends, gets into trouble along the way, and in the end, finds out what spring really is.



Book # 4: Why Do Plants Grow In Spring?
By Helen Orme
This book explains in very simple terms the growth and development of plants, including how animals spread seeds, why flowers are important, and what happens to plants during the winter months.



Book # 5: Kitten's Spring
by Eugenie Fernandes
In this book a young kitten explores the wilderness as the other animals around him celebrate spring.



Book # 6: I Like Noisy Mom Likes Quiet: A Mother's Day Story
by Eileen Spinelli
A child who is very different from his mom spends a happy Mother's Day acting just the way his mom likes.



Book # 8: Mother's Day Surprise
by Stephen Krensky
After watching the other animals make Mother's Day gifts, Violet the snake tries to think of something special that she can make for her own mother.



Book # 7: Mother's Day
by Anne Rockwell
The students in Mrs. Madoffs class share how they will celebrate Mother's Day with their families.



Book # 9: Memorial Day Surprise
by Theresa Golding
When Marco attends a Memorial Day parade, he is surprised to see a familiar face among the veterans.



Book # 10: Memorial Day
by Robin Nelson
A simple introduction to why and how we celebrate Memorial Day that even young children will enjoy.

Is Your Child Ready for Kindergarten?

Photo credit: phaewilk from morguefile.com

You've been preparing yourself for this day since you found out you were expecting a little bundle of joy. You bought all the books, taught your child their colors, numbers, and shapes, but do you still ask yourself "Will my child be ready for their first day of kindergarten? It has been my experience as a kindergarten teacher that most children are physically as well as academically ready to enter kindergarten when the first day of school arrives.

However, it has also been my experience that many children are not emotionally ready and have a difficult time transitioning from a home or preschool setting to a more structured kindergarten classroom. In these situations a child can benefit greatly from a private or government funded program such as the Pre-k program we have here in Georgia. In these settings the child will be able to experience some of the same qualities as a preschool while learning the workings of a proper, more structured kindergarten classroom.

There are numerous reasons as to why a child may not be ready to enter into a structured kindergarten program. In many circumstances a child's experience at home may slow their physical as well as emotional development. Unfortunately, there are many families that believe that a child's education does not need to begin in the home setting and rely on the school system for every aspect of their child's early childhood education.

The truth is both teachers and parents play an important role in a child's educational development. The main goal of a kindergarten teacher is to provide the students in his/her classroom with developmentally appropriate lessons and learning material.

The curriculum in the kindergarten classroom tends to focus on gross and fine motor skills, language skills and cognitive skills. The majority of kindergarten teachers take these skills along with any additional state mandated skills into account when creating their curriculum and lesson plans.

Unfortunately, this can be a difficult goal to obtain when many children arrive on the first day of school unable to stay in their chairs for more than five minutes and lacking the ability to properly hold a pencil or crayon.

If, after speaking to your child's teacher you find that your child is not yet ready for kindergarten it is important to realize that neither you as a parent, the child's teacher or the school system is necessarily at fault. There could be many underlying reasons as to why your child is struggling in a classroom setting.

It is your job as a parent to take an active role in your child's education by consulting with your child's school, physician, etc. to determine what is holding your child back. By doing this it will not be long before your child will be ready to take their first step as a kindergarten student.