Volume 4, Issue 6
March 28, 2006
Spring Weather
WELCOME! to Education World's Early Childhood Newsletter. Every other week, I'll share some
ideas on a familiar teaching theme. Hopefully you will find a new activity idea or two -- or a new
twist on one of your old favorites! Since I know you are very busy, I'll be short and sweet -- like
most of activities I suggest.
Tell a friend about us! Invite them to sign up for their own FREE subscription at /newsletter_form
With
all its unpredictability, spring arrives and changes the landscape from gray to brown and, finally,
to lush green. Sun, clouds, rain, and wind all contribute to this transformation, and in the process
keep us wondering what each day's weather will be. "Weather" or not, this season provides
you with great opportunities to create lessons in science, art, music, and much more. Why not get
started? Use our ideas and suggestions to help you "spring" into some learning fun!
RAINBOW
DANCING
Make rainbow sticks for dancing. Give each child a smooth dowel about 12 inches long, and invite
him or her to tape colored strips (about 18-inches long) of crepe paper to the ends of it. Play
music and encourage children to move their sticks in circles over their heads, back and forth, or
down low. As children dance, let them create their own movements with their rainbow sticks.
A RAINY DAY
Let children see how much fun a rainy day can be! Provide each child with a piece of paper. Invite
children to sprinkle some powdered tempera paint onto their papers. Now place the papers outdoors
and let the rain do the work. When the paintings are dry, let children describe what they think
their paintings look like. Record their words on the bottom of the paper.
TASTY KITES
Spring winds and kite flying go hand in hand! Read to children Someone Bigger, by Jonathan Emmett
(Clarion), a zany story about a boy and a kite. Then invite children to make some "tasty"
kites. Give each child a small whole-wheat pita pocket. Trim the open side of the pocket to make
a point (of the kite). Let children pack their pitas with a favorite filling. Put each kite sandwich
on a plate and place a kite tail of thin carrot strips on the unopen side of the pita. Let children
eat and enjoy!
WEATHER WORDS
On a large piece of posterboard draw an outline of a sunflower. In the circle that is the middle
of the flower, write the words Spring Weather. Tell children to think about spring weather and to
generate a word that describes it (sun, mud, wind, rain, rainbow, flower, dirt, grass, and so on).
Write each word on a flower petal, adding more petals as you need them. Then read the words aloud
together and use them to create short spring poems or stories.
HOW STRONG IS MR. SUN?
Gather two of each of the following objects:
--- plastic spoon
--- metal spoon
--- ball of clay
--- bowl of water
Ask children what might happen if an object is placed in the sunlight or in the shade. Place one
item from each pair in direct sunlight and the other in complete shade. Return to the classroom
and create a chart with two columns -- one labeled Sun, the other labeled Shade. List the item names
down the left side. Discuss and record student predictions on the chart. After the items sit for
an hour, return and have students feel them. Let students describe how each object feels and record
the results. Compare student predictions with the results. Ask Which item feels hottest? Coolest?
Softest? Explain why.
Check out the following Web sites for additional background and activities.
Whatever
the Weather
You'll find a nice collection of weather-related activities here, including how to make rainbow
jello. http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Aegean/2221/weather.html
Thematic Unit: Weather
Explore weather and rain with this complete unit. Includes resources, activities, discussion prompts,
and lots more! http://www.libsci.sc.edu/miller/Weather.htm
Arts
& Crafts
You'll find loads of spring activities to use with your class. http://www.childfun.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=164
Dressing for the
Season
Try this lesson that teaches children seasonality with cut-out dolls. http://www.uen.org/Lessonplan/preview.cgi?LPid=613
Wind in Children's Books
Find some great suggestions in children's literature to help you teach about wind. http://www.carolhurst.com/subjects/wind.html
|