You’ve Come A Long Way, Baby!

Once you’ve introduced the birthday unit, you’ll have the perfect opportunity for noting each person’s growth and how he has changed from year to year. Talk about the many changes – physical, mental and emotional – they experienced since they were babies.

Then send home a note asking each family to provide a baby picture of their child. Create a bulletin board or wall display with the title “Birthday Babies”. Display each baby picture side by side with a current photograph of the child. Write each child’s birth date on a sentence strip and attach the strip below his pair of pictures. Give the display an interactive quality by stapling flaps of paper over the current photos. Students can try to guess the identity of each baby, and then lift the flap to check. Little ones will delight in seeing the changes in themselves and their classmates since “babyhood”!

******
Sharing Time Activities:

Let’s Talk About:

• What is a birthday?
• Have you ever had a cake with candles on it? When?
• What other special foods do you eat on your birthday?
• What special things do people do on their birthdays?
• How old are you?
• What can you do now that you couldn’t do when you were a baby?
• What will you be able to do when you are grown up that you can’t do now?

Birthday Groups:
Put children in groups by the months in which their birthday’s land. This will help them relate to other children who have a birthday during the same month.

Count the Candles:
Make a flannel cake and candles. Place the birthday cake on the flannel board. Then make a certain number of candles on the cake. Ask the children how many candles are on the cake. Ask if anyone is that old. Repeat as many times as the activity holds the children’s attention.

Rhyme “Pat-A-Cake”
Pat-a-cake, Pat-a-cake, baker’s man,
Make me a cake as fast as you can;
Prick it, and pat it, and mark it with a B
And put it in the oven for baby and me.

Birthday Chart:
Make a chart listing the months at the top of poster board. Write the names of the children who were born during a particular month under that month. This can be hung on the wall to help children recognize the months in which they were born and see which children were born in the same month.

Poem – “Balloons”:
This is the way we blow our balloon;
Blow, Blow, Blow.
This is the way we break our balloon;
Oh, Oh, Oh!

Count the Balloons:
Cut balloon shapes from various colors of felt. Attach yarn to the back of each balloon. Children can count the number of balloons on the flannel board or name the colors for the balloons.

Song – Happy Birthday
Sing the “Happy Birthday” song. Do it several times substituting different names.

******
Songs & Finger Plays:

The Package:
Here is the package so brightly wrapped.
(Hold an imaginary package)
Inside is a secret that is well kept.
Now let’s take the ribbon off,
(Take ribbon off)
And tear the paper too.
(Tear paper off)
You see it’s a birthday gift that I made for you
(Offer a pretend gift by extending both hands)

Four Pretty Presents:
Four pretty presents and they are all for me
. (Hold up four fingers.)
I unwrapped the red one, and now there are three.
Three pretty presents and one is from you.
(Hold up three fingers)
I unwrapped the blue one, and now there are two.
Two pretty presents left until I’m done
(Hold up two fingers.) I unwrapped the yellow one and now there is one.
One pretty present, I am having so much fun!
(Hold up one finger.)
I unwrapped it slowly and now there are none.
(Hold up both hands palms facing out)
Happy Birthday Song
Tune: She’ll Be Coming Around the Mountain”

We’ll sing happy birthday and shout hooray! (Hooray!)
(Raise arm and shout.)
We’ll sing happy birthday and shout hooray! (Horray!)
Oh, we’ll sing happy birthday, we‘ll sing happy birthday,
We’ll sing happy birthday and shout hooray! (Hooray!)

We’ll light all the candles and we’ll blow when, when (Whew, Whew!)
(Pretend to blow out the candles.)
We’ll light all the candles and we’ll blow whew, whew (Whew, Whew!)
Oh, we’ll light all the candles; we’ll light all the candles,
We’ll light all the candles and blow whew, whew. (Whew, Whew!)

We’ll all eat cake and ice cream till were full (Yum, Yum.)
(Rub stomach.)
We’ll all eat cake and ice cream till we’re full (Yum, Yum.)
Oh, we’ll all eat cake and ice cream; we’ll all eat cake and ice cream,
We’ll all eat cake and ice cream till we’re full. (Yum, Yum.)

Five Birthday Candles:
Five birthday candles on my special cake.
(Hold up five fingers.)
Sorry I can’t tell you the wish that I’ll make.
Everybody ready to sing “Happy Birthday”?
We’ll blow all the candles out and shout, “Hooray!”
Whew, whew, whew, whew, whew, hooray!
(Blow on each finger. Hold up fist on hooray.) Happy Birthday:
Tune: “Sing a Song of Sixpence”
Sing out a happy birthday,
Sing it loud and clear,
Our special fr iend (child’s name)
Has turned another year.
Let’s stir up a special treat,
A birthday cake we’ll bake,
And don’t forget to light,
The candles on the cake!

******
Books:

• Birthday Bear and The Runaway Skateboard by Michael J. Pellowski
• Happy Birthday Thomas by Rev W. Awdry
• Birthday Presents by Cynthia Rylant
• Georgie and The Runaway Ballon by Robert Bright
• The Birthday Party by Helen Oxenbury
• Happy Birthday Oliver by Pierre Le-Tan
• Happy Birthday Moon by Frank Asch
• Happy Birthday by Gail Gibbons
• On The Day That You Were Born by Debra Frasier
• It’s My Birthday by Helen Oxenbury
• Clifford’s Birthday Party
• Alice and the Birthday Giant by John Green
• PB Bear’s Birthday Party
• Alfie Gives a Hand by Shirley Hughes
• Alice’s Blue Cloth by Deborah VanDeBeek
• Happy Birthday Dear Duck by Eve Bunting
• Happy Birthday Grampie by Susan Pearson
• Happy Birthday Sam by Pat Hutchins
• Hello, Amigos! By Tricia Brown
• Peabody by Rosemary Wells
• The Wednesday Surprise by Eve Bunting
• Today is Your Birthday by P.K. Hallinan
• Benjamin’s 365 Birthdays by Judi Barret
• Too Much Birthday by Stan & Jan Berenstain
• The Secret Birthday Message by Eric Carle
• The Birthday Cake by Joy Cowley
• Moira’s Birthday by Robert Munsch

Related Book Activities:
Read the story “Happy Birthday Dear Duck” by Eve Bunting. Then give each child an opportunity to relate a story about a special birthday. Ask children to compare Duck’s birthday party with their own experiences.

Read the book “Birthday Presents” by Cynthia Rylant to help illustrate the concept of how much each person has grown and changed from year to year. After reading the book, ask the children to talk about the many changes – physical, mental and emotional – they have experienced since they were babies.

After reading, "Today is Your Birthday" to the children, give each a cutout pattern of a birthday cake to place on a sheet of tag board and let them decorate their cake. Put each child's' birth date on their own cake. Then put all the same months together and see which month has the most birthdays.

In "Today is Your Birthday", the boy starts out his day with his favorite breakfast of pancakes. Give the children a paper plate and ask them to cut out things from magazines or draw items they would want to have for their birthday party or breakfast. Activity Two: From Benjamin's 365 Birthdays

This story has Benjamin enjoying his birthday so much that he decides to have one every day. He gives himself a present each day, first rewrapping his birthday gifts, and then wrapping items in his house as presents. This story provides a good opportunity to discuss time in terms of days, weeks, months, and years.

Using a calendar, count the days in a week and in a month. Count the weeks in a month and the months in a year. Discuss the fact that months have different numbers of days. Many of the children may know the classic rhyme, which tells how many days are in each month. For advanced students, count the number of days in a year and discuss leap year.

After reading the story, wrap some items in birthday paper and have the children guess what each one is. Start out by wrapping items with very distinctive shapes, such as a globe, and then wrap other items that may be more difficult to guess. Each day of the remainder of the birthday week, have a wrapped item on a table with a sign that says, "Mystery Birthday Gift". Put a large sheet of paper near the items so that the children can record their guesses.

Read Eric Carle's "The Secret Birthday Message" to connect shapes with birthdays. Give the party a name such as "Stay in Shape with Room " Decorate the room with shape patterns glued on banners or shape mobiles hanging from the ceiling. Serve cookies or crackers of different shapes. For a party game, give the children pieces of paper in a variety of shapes. Play a game in which a shape is called out and the children with that shape follow a simple direction; for example, "Everyone with a square, hop three times on one foot."

******
Art Activities:

Birthday Cupcake Sculptures.
Have the children make birthday cupcakes out of various colors of clay. Encourage children to decorate their cupcakes with buttons and beads and then add candles. Place the finished cupcakes on jar lids. Allow the sculptures to air-dry for several days before the children take them home.

Play Doh Cakes:
Make play doh and let the children make their own birthday cakes. Provide some candles for them to stick in their play doh. Birthday cookie cutters and plastic knives can be used.

Birthday Cards:
Have the children cut up old birthday cards to create new ones. Encourage children to use a variety of materials to create unique birthday cards for friends or family members.

Easel Painting:
Let children paint a birthday cake using pastel colors of tempera paint on white construction paper. Children can make pastel colors by adding white tempera paint to regular colors of tempera paint.

Birthday Necklace:
Trace the numerals of each child’s age onto construction paper. Cut out the numeral, punch a hole in the top, and add yarn to go around child’s neck. They can decorate them any way they want.

Birthday Candle Hat:
Cut out large candles and write each child’s age on them. Then cut out a band to fit each child’s head, attach candle and decorate.

Balloon Party Hat:
Let children make a party hat from different types of materials. Show them how to fold and staple them together or glue them. Decorate them with crayons. Blow up balloons, tape them at the knotted end and ad them to the hats.

******
Dramatic Play/Props:

Sand Table Substitutions:
Props – sand table filled with cornmeal, bowls, flour sifters, measuring spoons and cups, baker’s hats and aprons. Invite the children to measure, sift, and pour cornmeal rather than sand at the sand table. Invite children to dress like bakers by wearing hats and aprons.

Gift Wrapping:
Props – recycled gift boxes, wrapping paper, ribbons, tape, stickers and scissors. Invite the children to practice wrapping birthday gifts for family and friends using the suggested pr ops. (Iron recycled ribbon with a warm iron to smooth out the wrinkles.)

******
Food Experiences:

Cupcakes:
Use a package mix and follow directions to make cupcakes for the children. Provide plastic knives and ready-made frosting. Let each child decorate a cupcake. Add a candle to each and have the children sing Happy Birthday to themselves.

Balloon Cookies:
Give each child a round sugar cookie. Provide white frosting and some food coloring. Let children dye the frosting different colors. Let children decorate the cookies to look like balloons.

Birthday Cake Toast:
Use a bread birthday cake cutter or cookie cutter. Press into a slice of bread but not all the way through. Toast. Butter and sprinkle on cinnamon.

Birthday Cake:
Make or buy a birthday cake with all the children’s names on it. If all the names won’t fit, put them on a piece of tag board, decorate it, and make it a cake decoration.

Blueberry Birthday Muffins:
Invite the children to celebrate everyone’s birthday. Prepare and bake the blueberry muffin mix as directed on the package. Cool. Give each child a muffin and a tablespoon of cream cheese to spread on it. Place a candle on the top of each child’s muffin. Light one candle at a time and supervise carefully as you invite each child to make a secret wish before blowing out the candle.

******
Other Activities

It’s In The Cards:
Little ones like to receive birthday cards almost as much as they like birthday presents. Recycle some birthday cards for new uses in a Birthday Card Basket to help the children practice a variety of skills. Ask parents to send in old or unused birthday cards, or purchase some inexpensive cards with different designs. Cut off the back flaps and discard them. Laminate the card fronts for durability.

Students can sort the cards, circle letters or words on them using a grease pencil, copy the text, match them to correctly sized envelops, (if available) or use them for lacing practice. To create a lacing card, punch holes around the perimeter of a card. Thread a shoelace through one hole and secure it with a knot. If you have enough cards, write one child’s name on the back of each card. Children can then “deliver” the cards by matching the child’s name on the card to the name on her cubby.

Birthday Matchups:
Gather a variety of birthday items for this fun game to help the children practice visual memory. In advance, collect matching pairs of several birthday related objects. You may wish to include two party hats, two gift bows, two birthday invitations, two birthday candles, two party blowers, and two balloons. Tape each individual item to a separate square of tag board. Show the students all the pairs before you begin. Then ask several volunteers to stand in front of the group. Give each volunteer a tag board card to hold, instructing them to keep it turned so that the birthday item cannot be seen.

The remaining children then take turns guessing which two volunteers are holding each matching pair if items. During his turn, a child may call two volunteers names. Those children turn their cards around so that everyone can see what items they are holding. If the items match, the teacher takes those cards. The child who guessed correctly may have a turn to hold a card in the next round. If the items do not match, the cards are turned back around and another child may guess.

******
Games:

Balloon Toss:
Use different sizes and colors of balloons. Have the children toss them to each other.

Balloon Bounce:
Let the children hit the balloons into the air. Have them keep hitting the balloons without letting them hit the floor.

Pin the tail on the Donkey:
Play the classic pin the tail on the donkey game or a variation of it as pin the nose on the clown. Use tape instead of pins and don’t insist that the children be blindfolded.

Surprise Party:
Ask one child to leave the room while the others hide. Chen the child returns, encourage everyone to jump out and shout “Surprise!”

Musical Chairs:

Line up the chairs back to back in a row. Invite the children to march around the chairs while music is playing. When the music stops, encourage children to find a chair and sit down. Take away one of the chairs each time until there is only one chair and one player left. The person remaining wins the price. If it becomes too competitive, change the game to musical pillows and see how many bums can fit on how few pillows.

Ha! Ha! Ha!:
Have everyone sit in a circle (or lay on the floor resting her head on the stomach of the next child). Have one child say “Ha!”, the next child adds a second “Ha, Ha” the third child adds another “Ha, Ha, Ha” , etc. The object of the games is to keep a straight face. The last child to laugh is the winner.

Telephone:
Have the children sit in a circle. Have the oldest whisper a phrase or sentence in one child’s ear. That child whispers what he heard to the next child, that child whispers what she heard, and so on. The last child says aloud what he heard. It is usually very different from the original. (Suggestion “here comes the merry mermaid”).

Pass the Package:
Wrap enough treats for everyone in a small package. Wrap the package lots of times with paper. Play music and pass the package around until everyone has had a turn unwrapping a layer. At the end of the game, place the treats in the middle of the room and each child gets one.

Peanut Hunt:
Hide a bunch of peanuts in their shells around the room. Give each child a paper bag. Have the hunt begin. Have the children hunt for the peanuts and fill up their bags. When no more peanuts can be found, the children can have fun counting their peanuts. The child with the most peanuts is the winner

Giant Steps:
Have the children stand in a row against the wall at one end of the room. The leader stands at the other end and calls a child by name, saying, for example, “Mary, you may take three baby steps”. The number and the type of steps can vary with each child. Mary must say “May I?” If she does not, her turn is over. If the leader says, “Yes, you may”, Mary then takes three baby steps toward the leader. If the leader says “No you may not, Mary must stay put. The leader may also change the number and type of steps: “No, you may not. You may take two giant steps”. Mary must remember to say “May I?” again. If she does not, she must go back to the wall. The first child to reach the leader wins. Hints: Here are some typical steps; giant, baby, hops, twirls, jumps, backward, and tiptoes, or make up some funny ones likes duck waddles or skater slides.

Simon Says:
Have the children stand in a group in front of the leader. The leader says, “Simon says, “Do this,” as she taps her head, claps her hands, turns around, etc. The children must follow the leader’s actions, but only if she begins with “Simon Says…..”. If the leader just says, “Do this…” the children must do nothing. If a child make a mistake he is out. The last child in is the winner.

Limbo:
We could use a broomstick and Caribbean music. Have two adults hold the pole at child height. Start the music. Children must walk under the pole without touching it. After each round, the adults lower the pole an inch or two. When the pole gets very low, children may bend backward and shimmy under or they may crawl. If the payer touches the pole, she is out.

Draw A Face Relay:
Children form teams of about five players and stand in line across the room from papers. On the word “GO”, the first child on each team must walk to a paper and draw the eyes on the face. When she is finished, she walks back to her team. The next child walks to the paper and draws a nose. Team members continue walking and drawing the mouth, ears and hair. The first team to have eyes ears, nose, mouth and hair wins.

I found this somewhere on line, don’t know where, it was just filed on the computer under “Birthday Theme”. It has some useful information.

*****
GENERAL ACTIVITIES

OBJECTIVE
To give children an opportunity to come together to celebrate themselves and each other.

AREAS OF DEVELOPMENT
Social/Emotional Development: To help young children feel good about themselves. When children feel valued as individuals, they can go outside themselves and find joy in discovering the similarities and differences among other children in their class -- the beginnings of friendship.

MATERIALS
invitations, stamps
cupcake mix along with ingredients
can of frosting
sprinkles
collage Materials
heavy Construction Paper
popsicle sticks
crepe paper
tape
party hats
stickers

A Very Merry Un-Birthday to YOU!

Send a letter home announcing your un-birthday celebration. You might include the following on your invitation:

Your invited for: A special un-birthday party celebration!
Where: Our Classroom
Time: all day fun!
We hope everyone can come because its a celebration for everyone!

In advance have parents send a recent photograph of each child to school or take a picture of each child before your celebration. Before children come to school cut a frame out of sturdy construction paper. To do this simply cut a square out of the center of a 5 by 10 piece of construction paper (have a matching piece with out the square cut out to use for backing). On the matching solid piece of the frame write: My un-birthday celebration, the month and year of the celebration. Provide macaroni, glue, and collage material to decorate the frame piece (do not give children the backing at this time because they will want to collage that too!).When frames dry glue picture to frame and backing. You might also have children decorate their own party chair and party hat. Provide children with tape and streamers so they can decorate their own birthday chair. Give each child a solid colored party hat and a tray of stickers, or collage materials. Have them decorate their own party hat. Let the party begin!!!

During circle tell the Good Luck, Bad Luck Birthday Story. While telling the story have children participate by saying what good luck, and what bad luck. Have children participate with the hand motions as well. Children love the build up, mystery, danger, and excitement this story offers.

Good Luck, Bad Luck Birthday Story
Once upon a time I was sitting in my house, when all of a sudden I heard a knock on the door (make a knocking noise on the chair, or wall). I opened up the door and the mailwoman handed me a letter and the letter said we were all invited to a birthday party, and we said What good luck (children say this part with teacher) but, the birthday party was in (pick a part of the world like) Africa and we were in (name your city, state or town) New York and we said, what Bad Luck (children join in) But our friend (name a persons name) Jane said that we could use her plane and we said what Good Luck. Well we were up flying really high in her plane (put arms out and pretend to fly) when all of a sudden we heard put, put, put, put, put, we started falling and falling and we said What Bad Luck, But we looked out of our plane and we saw a hay stack and we said What Good Luck. But sitting in the middle of the haystack was a hungry gorilla and we said YIKES! What Bad Luck. But we missed the haystack and landed in the water and we said What Good Luck. Well, we were swimming in the water until all of a sudden we heard (make Jaws music noise) there were sharks in the water (start pretending to swim very fast) so we started swimming faster and faster until we pulled ourselves up on to land and (wipe brow) we said What Good Luck. Well we were walking on the land until all of a sudden we heard Roar, Growl (make hands like claws ) There were lions and tigers on the land and we said, What Bad Luck, and started running faster and faster (pretend to run) until we came to a cave (lower voice now) and we walked inside the cave and it was very dark inside the cave, but we saw a light, (pretend you see something) so we started digging and digging (pretend to dig with hands) and digging and digging and digging (really build up the suspense) until we pulled our whole bodies through (pretend you are pulling your body through a hole) and we heard (cup mouth with hands) SURPRISE! We were at the Birthday Party and we said, What Good Luck!!!!!

During the un-birthday celebration morning you might choose to bake cupcakes with your class, or have them already made. Give each child a cupcake at snack, a small plate with frosting and sprinkles and a popsicle stick for spreading. Have each child decorate their special un-birthday cupcake. Before everyone eats sing Happy Un-Birthday to you! Then dig in of course YUMMY!

ACTIVITY: Birthday Graph
Material
White paper, marker

On a large piece of white paper write down the months of the year. Then at circle time ask children to tell you when their birthday is (if they dont know then write it down for them). Next to each month write down the childs name. When you have asked everyone around your circle, ask children to tell you what they notice. Ask them which month has the most birthdays, which has the fewest. Ask them to tell you how they figured that out. Go over with the class how they might figure that out. You might say, which month has the most names next to it? which month do you notice has the fewest names next to it?

FOLLOW UP ACTIVITIES: Celebration of the letter B
Materials: Foods beginning with a particular letter Pictures of things that begin with letter Animals toys

Have a table set up in your classroom with a big letter B on it. Have children find things around your classroom beginning with the letter B, bears, blocks blanket, bottle, Blue (from Blues Clues). Next have children list names of foods beginning with the letter B. Children may need help with this, so have pictures ready with some B foods on them, like bananas, berry Jell-O, baby bagels. Select a food from the list and prepare it for that days snack. For that mornings activities you might have out the following B items: Bead stringing, Cut out pictures of B things from catalogs for collage, Boat in the water table, Blocks, and a container of bubbles for use during outdoor time. You might find that your letter celebrations are so successful you may want to Bibeo tape it and share it with parents at a parent night. Whatever you do have a Berry good time doing it!

******
SPECIFIC ACTIVITIES

Blue's Clues: "Blues Birthday"
Celebrate Blues Birthday: Your class might choose to share in Blues birthday celebration by making blue cupcakes or cake. Simply follow the recipe on a box of cake mix or cupcake mix, then add the secret ingredient blue food coloring. You might choose to make sugar cookie but with a Blues Clues twist. In honor of Blues birthday use a bone shaped cookie cutter and then bake. Have a howling good time!
(Mathematical skill building)

Gullah Gullah Island: "Shaina's Birthday Party"
Activity: Pin the Tail on the Zebra?: Play this fun party game just like they did at Shainas birthday, but put a little twist on it! Any one can pin the tail on a donkey, but can you pin the tail on a zebra? Get a poster of a zebra or make your own zebra on a piece of large white oak tag. Cut out enough tails for everyone in the classroom to have one. You will need a blindfold to cover childrens eyes, or ask them to just shut them tight. Write childrens names on each tail to see who comes closest to pinning the tail on the zebra.
(Fine/gross motor skills)

******
Ideas & Tips for Birthday Celebrations

Box Cake Surprise:
Decorate a sturdy box with a lid to look like a birthday cake. Insert candleholders in the top of the lid. Place small, gift-wrapped items inside the box. Whenever one of your children has a birthday, bring out the Box Cake and put the appropriate number of candles in the holders. The candles are not to be lit. Sing “ Happy Birthday” and then let the birthday child reach inside the box and choose one of the gifts.

Birthday Flag:
Hang a birthday flag in your room whenever one of your children has a birthday. Decorative flags can be purchased at variety stores. Or make a flag out of butcher paper and cover it with clear self-stick paper.

Birthday Shirts:
Make a special Birthday shirt for your birthday child. Purchase plain T-shirts inexpensively at discount stores or garage sales. Let all of your children decorate the T-shirt the day before the child’s birthday. Let the birthday child wear this one of a kind shirt on his or her special day.

Start A Tradition:
Start a special birthday tradition in your class. For example, the birthday child gets to sit on your lap while everyone else sings “Happy Birthday”. Or the birthday child gets to lead a special musical instrument parade around the room.

Birthday Scroll:
A Birthday Scroll is an excellent way for your children to show that they care about each other. When it is the child’s birthday, set out a long piece of paper. Let your children tear or cut out pictures that illustrate their feelings about the birthday child. Have them glue the pictures on the roll of paper. Help the children sign their names to the scroll, then give it to the birthday child.

Gift Center:
Set up a temporary interest center where children can create gifts for the birthday child.
Materials: Assorted craft items (yarn, pipe cleaners, old greeting cards, etc.) construction paper, writing materials, tape, scissors, glue, gift wrap cut into manageable sizes, a large open box covered with gift wrap.

Preparation: Two or three days before the birthday, partition off a small corner of your room. Label this area “gift center” and decorate it with garlands to add interest and excitement. Inside, place a small table for a workspace.

Activity: Have your children go to this special place one at a time. Using the materials there let them create gifts for the birthday child. Help them wrap their gifts and write their names on cards. Let the birthday child open the presents either with the children or at home.

Happy, Happy Birthday:
This game is like “Duck, Duck, Goose”. Have your children sit in a circle on the floor. The child who is “it” walks around the circle, tapping heads and saying “Happy, Happy, Happy……. Birthday”. The child who is tapped on “Birthday” chases “it” around the circle and back to his or her place. The last child back to the place becomes the new “it”.

Giant Birthday Card:
Materials: Poster board, markers, stickers, ribbon.
Preparation: Use a marker to write “Happy Birthday (child’s name)!” across the top of the poster board with the phrase “we like (child’s name) because …….” underneath.

Activity: Gather your children around the poster board. Let your children take turns finishing the sentence, “I like (child’s name) because…..”. Record the children’s responses on the poster board as they describe what they like about the birthday child. Let the children decorate the poster board with stickers. Roll up the Giant Birthday Card and tie it with a ribbon for the birthday child to take home.

Birthday Salute:
This is a fun way to acknowledge the birthday child on his or her special day.
Materials: Rhythm instruments, one for each of your children.
Activity: Ask the birthday child to say how old he or she is. Then count slowly as your children tap their rhythm instruments that many times. To complete the salute, have the children sing “Happy Birthday” to the child while playing their instruments.

Birthday Box:
This is an inexpensive way to give a small gift to the birthday child.
Materials: Shoebox with lid, gift-wrap, tape, scissors, assortment of small toys and trinkets appropriate for your children (rings, whistles, stickers, toy cars, etc.)
Preparation: Wrap the shoebox and the lid separately to make a birthday box. Fill the box with the small toys and trinkets and put on the lid.
Activity: Let the birthday child peek into the Birthday Box (no peeking for anyone else!). Let him or her choose a gift while the other children sing the following song.

(Sung to “The Muffin Man”)
Oh, what is in the Birthday Box,
The Birthday Box, The Birthday Box?
Oh, what is in the Birthday box?
What did you find today?

The Big Picture:
Picture this – a birthday message on your classroom door for all to see! Begin by bringing in a supply of birthday party hats and blowers for everyone in the class. Have everyone pose together – with hats on and blowers in hand. Ask a volunteer to snap a photo. Have the photo enlarged; then laminate it for durability. On each child’s birthday, post the photo on your door, along with a message that reads “Happy Birthday, “Child’s Name”!

Birthday Vest:
Purchase a child-sized denim or cotton twill vest in a solid color. Use slick fabric paint and glitter to decorate the vest with a birthday theme. Hang the vest on a hook in your classroom. When a child has a birthday, she may wear the vest over her clothes for the day.

Birthday Bakery:
On each child’s birthday, transform your art area into an imaginary bakery. Stock the center with several colors of play dough, cookie cutters, birthday candles, rickrack, plastic knives, spatulas, cookie sheets and cupcake papers. Children may visit the center at free choice time to make cookies, cakes and cupcakes in honor of the birthday child.

Personal Poster:
Create a poster of personal information for each child on his birthday. Print “Happy Birthday “Child’s Name”! at the top of a sheet of 12” X 18” construction paper. Then use several colors of markers to record information about the birthday child, such a favorite color, favorite food, family members or favorite activity at school. Solicit compliments from classmates to write on the poster as well. Display the poster in the classroom for the day. Then roll it up, tie it with a ribbon, and allow the honoree to take it home.

A Party Hat Prize:
At the beginning of the school year, purchase enough party hats for your class. As each child memorizes his birth date, present him with a hat to wear and take home. When all the children have learned their birthdays, celebrate with a class birthday cake.

Birthday Banner:
Write “Good News! (Child’s name) is (age) today! On a classified ads page from a newspaper and hang it on your door.

Birthday Box:
Fill a box with stickers, felt-tip markers, small toys, pencils and other inexpensive gifts. Decorate the box with birthday gift-wrap. On his or her special day, let the birthday child select a gift from the box.

Birthday Button:
Make a special button that says “Today is my birthday!” or Birthday Girl/Boy” and let the birthday child wear it.

Birthday Card:
Mail a handmade birthday card or certificate to the birthday child at his or her home.

Birthday Hat:
Cut out a three-inch wide construction paper strip that is long enough to fit around the birthday child’s head. Cut the appropriate number of candle shapes from different colors of construction paper and add yellow construction paper flames. Glue the candles on the construction paper strip and write Happy Birthday (child’s name) below them. Adjust the hat to fit the child’s head and secure it with tape.

Birthday Necklace:
Cut a ribbon shape out of construction paper to look like a ribbon won at a competition. Write “Happy Birthday! Today I am ____ years old! On it and add the birthday child’s name and birth date. Strip the ribbon shape on a piece of yarn and pull it around the birthday child’s neck.

Birthday Pennant:
Decorate a pennant shaped piece of construction paper with the birthday child’s name, age and birth date. Add one self-stick star for each year. Attach the pennant to a cardboard tube and let the birthday child take the pennant home.

******
Calendar Markers:

Crowns:
Write the children’s names and new ages on construction paper crown shapes. Attach the crowns to the appropriate dates on your calendar.

Numbers:
For each child cut the number of his or her new age out of a piece of construction paper, write the child’s name on it and attach it to the appropriate date on our calendar.

******
Room Props

Birthday Chair:
Purchase a sturdy wooden chair at a garage sale or a flea market. Clean up the chair, then paint it with bright colors an add the words “Happy Birthday.” Let the birthday child have the honor of sitting in the birthday chair on his or her special day.

Birthday Play Kit:
Make and collect items to create a birthday kit for the children to play with on birthdays. Make a cake from plaster of Paris, placing several plastic birthday candles holders in the top before the plaster sets. Place the plaster cake in a box along with birthday candles with the wicks cut off, birthday hats and decorated napkins, plates and cups.

Birthday Throne:
Make a fabric slipcover to turn an ordinary chair into a birthday throne. Place a large piece of paper on the floor and lay the back of a straight-backed chair on it. Trace around the back of the chair, adding two inches all the way around it. Then cut out the tracing to make a pattern. Place the pattern on a piece of velour, velveteen or other royal looking fabric and cut out two pieces. With the right sides of the fabric pieces together, sew around the sides and top, leaving the bottom open. Turn the cover right side out and slip it over the back of the chair to make a birthday throne.

Cake and Candles Chair Cover:
Make the chair cover as described in making a birthday throne. Glue a birthday cake shape cut from felt to the chair cover. Add a strip of self-gripping fastener to the top of the cake. Cut several candles shapes out of felt and put a small strip of self-gripping fastener on each one. Then let the birthday child add the correct number of felt candles to the cake and sit on his or her special chair.

Felt Birthday Cake:
Cut a birthday cake shape out of felt and decorate it with felt scraps as desired. Cut several candle shapes out of felt and glue on yellow flame shapes. Place the birthday cake shape on a flannel board. Give the birthday child the appropriate number of felt candles. Let him or her place the candles on the cake, one at a time, as the other children count.

Plastic Foam Cake:
Stack three one-inch thick plastic foam circles, one of top of another and glue them together to make a “cake”. Use colorful felt scraps to decorate the sides of the cake. Glue birthday candles holders to the top of the cake. On the child’s birthday, put the appropriate number of candles in the holders and then light the candles after everyone sings “Happy Birthday”. Caution: Adults should always supervise activities that involve lighted candles.

Play dough Birthday Cake:
Fill a cake pan with play dough. Set out candles, small plastic flowers and other decorative items. Let a child use the items to decorate the cake. Count the candles on the cake with the child and ask him or her whom the birthday cake is for, then sing “happy birthday” to that person.

Stars Chair Cover:
Make a chair cover as described in the birthday throne. Make star shapes out of felt or other fabric. Attach small strips of self-gripping fastener to the stars and to the chair cover. Let the birthday child put one star on the cover for each year old he or she is.

******
More Ideas

Birthday Bandana:
Here’s a quick and easy way to distinguish the birthday child. Purchase some fabric with a birthday design, such as balloons or party streamers. Cut a 15-inch square; then fold the square in half to create a triangle. Use a permanent marker to write a message such as “Happy Birthday!” or “It’s my birthday!” on one side of the triangle. On each child’s birthday, allow her to wear this bandana around her neck, with the birthday message showing in back.

Put on A Happy (Birthday) Face:
Use a child safe face paint to paint a simple design (such as a bunch of balloons) on the birthday child’s cheek. Be sure to have a mirror handy to the honoree can enjoy this very special treat!

A Birthday Nap:
Collect several cassette recordings of birthday-theme storybooks. At rest time on a child’s birthday, give him the privilege of choosing a story for the class to listen to during this quiet time.

The Birthday Bag:
Use fabric paint to decorate a canvas tote bag with a birthday message and a simple design, such as balloons or birthday candles. Inside the bag, place several birthday theme storybooks, activity pages, or puzzles. Have the birthday child choose a book from the bag for you to read to the class. Then invite him to enjoy the materials inside the bag at free-choice time or to take the bag home overnight.

Birthday T-Shirt:
A birthday boy or girl will receive lots of special attention when he or she wears this birthday T-shirt. Purchase a plain white T-shirt in an adult size small. Use slick fabric paint to write “Happy Birthday to Me!” on the front of the shirt and “Hug Me! It’s My Birthday!” on the back. Decorate around the message with fabric paint and glitter. Each child may wear the shirt on her birthday.

Birthday Bracelet:
Here’s an easy to make treat for a birthday child. Cut a bracelet-length strip of brightly colored construction paper. Decorate the strip with birthday-theme stickers. Laminate the bracelet, if desired. Fit the bracelet to the birthday child’s wrist; then staple or tape the ends in place.

It’s My Birthday:
Honor the birthday child with a special badge. Cut a birthday cake or cupcake shape from brightly colored Con-Tact paper. Use a permanent market to write, “ It’s My Birthday!” on the cutout. Peel off the backing and stick it to the birthday child’s shirt. The honoree is sure to receive many birthday greetings!

A Very Special Visor:
Looking for a birthday treat that’s tops? Create a birthday visor for each of your little ones to wear on his special day. Purchase a plastic visor fro m your local craft store. Use a paint pent or permanent marker to write “Happy Birthday” across the visor; then add birthday themed stickers; glitter, and imitations jewels. Be sure to clean the visor thoroughly between each wearing.

Click on the "Back" Button to go back to
the PnF Main Theme and Curriculum Pages