We Are The Wind- Submitted by Sherry

Tie scarves or crepe paper streamers to your children's wrists and invite them to dance around like the wind. Encourage them to start out like a gentle breeze, then grow into a stronger wind, and finally into stormy blowing. Then have them reverse the process, gradually ending up at rest.

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Dramatic Play- Submitted by Sherry

Set gardening toys out for the children in the playground. Talk about their uses and demonstrate. Let the children create their own play from here.

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Flowers- Submitted by Sherry

Small clay flower pots - one per child, acrylic paints, brushes, potting soil, gardening tools, small six-packs of flowers (marigolds are especially hardy)

Have children paint small clay pots. Set up a tub of potting soil in your science area. Let children transplant a flower into their pot.

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Puddles- Submitted by Sherry

I made pretend puddles using cardboard and aluminum foil ( to use in the block area and at various parts of the room). Just take small or large, depending on where you will use them, pieces of cardboard and then cover them up with aluminum foil. This is great to use in the block area. Or if you do make a big one use it for music and movement time. Have the children jump over the puddle, walk around the puddle, etc.

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Spring Cleaning- Submitted by Sherry

Every year I let my children have buckets of water, squirt bottles, rags, feather dusters, dusting rags etc. I allow them to scrub down chairs and tables, dust, squirt the windows and wipe them down. The children love to do this ! We have given a bath to each toy and baby in the center, we got a little wet but that is half the fun.

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Playing with Clouds- Submitted by Sherry

Give each child a large sheet of paper. Put some shaving cream in the middle of the paper. Tell them to imagine that it is a cloud. How does it feel? What color is it? Let them have fun playing with it. It also makes the room smell great!

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Rain- Submitted by Sherry

How about some water play? I filled the buckets from our sand and rice table with water. Add some plastic boats and cups, put smocks on the kids and let them have fun! They loved it. Just remember to lay down a plastic sheet under the kids feet (I used an old shower curtain we had at the school).

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Sensory Table- Submitted by Sherry

Place several types of seeds, leaves and buds in the sensory table along with magnifying glasses. Allow the children to observe the small details of seeds, leaves and buds. Later in the day I ask them to describe details they have seen.

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Housekeeping- Submitted by Sherry

plastic pots and flowers

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Blocks- Submitted by Sherry

Plastic rakes, hoes, and shovels

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Fishing- Submitted by Sherry

Using short dowels prepare fishing poles with a string taped to one end. Attach a magnet piece to the loose end of the string. Construct fish from tagboard and attach a paper clip to each fish. The magnet will attract the paper clip, allowing the children to catch the fish. Add a tackle box, canteen, hats and life jackets for interest.

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Garden- Submitted by Sherry

A small plastic hoe, rank and garden shovel can be placed outdoors to encourage gardening. A watering can, flowerpot, seed packages, and sun hats will also stimulate interest.

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Flower Shop- Submitted by Sherry

Collect plastic flowers, vases, wrapping paper, seed packages, and catalogues and placed in the dramatic play area. A cash register and play money can be added.

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Spring Cleaning- Submitted by Sherry

Small mops, brooms, feather dusters and empty pails can be placed in the dramatic play area. A spray bottle filled with blue water, which can be used to wash designated windows, can also be provided.

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Planting Pantomime- Submitted by Sherry

Do a planting pantomime. Have children pretend to dig a hole, plant seeds, cover up and water the seeds.

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Windmills- Submitted by Sherry

The children can stand up, swing their arms from side to side, and pretend to be windmills. A fan can be added to the classroom for added interest. Sing the song “Let’s be Windmills”.

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Caterpillar Crawl- Submitted by Sherry

During a transition time, the children can imitate caterpillar movements.

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Dressing for Spring- Submitted by Sherry

Flannelboard figures with clothing items should be provided. The children can dress the figures for different kinds of spring weather.

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Spring Clothing- Submitted by Sherry

Collect several pieces of spring clothing such as a jacket, hat, rubber boots, and short sleeve shirts. Add these to the dramatic play area.

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Insect Movement- Submitted by Sherry

Ask the children to move like the following insects; worms, grasshoppers, spiders, caterpillars, butterflies, bumblebees, etc.

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Rainy Day Play- Submitted by Sherry

Place the various items in a dramatic play area and allow the children to explore "dress-up" on a rainy day. Various rainy day clothes (slickers, rain coats, hats, rubbers, galoshes, umbrellas (if there is enough room and supervision), and a audio tape of rain / storms.

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Planting Pantomime- Submitted by Sherry

Do a planting pantomime. Have children pretend to dig a hole, plant seeds, cover up and water the seeds.

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Plants In A Row- Submitted by Sherry

Fill a shoebox with dirt and attach flower stickers to the tops of craft sticks. Have the children plant the stick flowers in the dirt in two or three straight rows. Encourage the children to plan their rows either from left to right or from front to back.

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Spring Cleaning- Submitted by Sherry

Suggest that this would be a good time to do some "spring cleaning" around the classroom. Get the children involved! Clean off the shelves, wipe over the desks, clean out the cubicles, etc. Play areas could be cleaned, doll clothes washed and hung to dry, etc.

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Rainy Day Play- Submitted by Sherry

Various rainy day clothes (slickers, rain coats, hats, rubbers, galoshes, umbrellas (if there is enough room and supervision), and a audio tape of rain / storms.

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Make Your Own Bird Nest- Submitted by Cheryl

After showing the children pictures of different bird nest, provide the children with mud, sticks, grass, leaves, twigs, pine needles, and pebbles. Let you kids create their own bird nest! Talk about why birds use these things in order to keep their eggs warm. Do this in the sensory table and add several kinds of plastic bird so the children can have the birds "use" the nest they built.

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Bird Play- Submitted by Cheryl

Make set(s) of wings from posterboard. Attach string, elastic, or ribbon to secure to child's arms. Let the children pretend to be a birds -- running and flapping. Talk about what kind of bird the child is. Ask questions like: What color are you? What do you sound like? What do you eat? Direct some conversation toward how it feels when the child flaps her/his wings down (the wind resistance). For older children you can explain how this helps the bird lift off and fly.

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Birds- Submitted by Cheryl

Have a recording of different bird calls, songs, etc. Help the children distinguish between some of the more distinctive sounds. Then take a walk (in the woods, if possible) and see if you can hear any of these sounds (owl, woodpecker, crow, bluejay, are very distinctive). Take a tape player and record the bird sounds you hear. Also take along binoculars to better see these birds.

Also let the children try to mimic the sounds of the different birds.

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Winging It!- Submitted by Cheryl

Colorful scarves or crepe paper streamers can be used to float behind children as wings. Attach elastic bands to the corners of scarves, or tie the scarves to the children's wrist, or just let them hold onto them as they swoop, skim,dart, and dive. Play music of different speeds and rhythms to stimulate their creativity.

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Listen to the Rain- Submitted by Cindy

Create a rainstick so your little ones can experiment with the sounds of the rain. To make a rainstick, push or hammer several small nails all around a wrapping paper tube. Then tape a double thickness of construction paper to one end of the tube. Pour about one cup of uncooked rice into the tube, and then cover the other end of the tube. Experiment with making rainy noises by alternating the position and angle of the tube. It's raining! It's pouring!

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