Summer, 2007

Going On a Picnic
(Children repeat each line.)

We're going on a picnic. (Slap hands on thighs to the beat.)
We're going to pack a big one. (Arms out wide.)
With sandwiches, cookies, and lemonade, too. (Pretend to pack in your basket.)
Look over there. (Hand over eyes.)
It's some tall grass. Can't go over it. (Hands up in the air.)
Can't go under it. (Hands down low.)
Can't go around it. (Circle hands around in front of body.)
I guess we'll go through it. (Shrug shoulders.)
Swish, swish, swish, swish! (Brush palms against each other.)

Look over there. (Hands over eyes.)
It's a lake... I guess we'll row across it.
Row, row, row your boat. (Pretend to row a boat.)
Look over there. (Hands over eyes.)
It's a swamp... Ooeey, gooey, ooey, gooey. (Pretend to tiptoe through mud.)
Look over there. (Hands over eyes.)
It's a park. (Pretend to point at different things.)
It's nice and shady. It's got a picnic bench.
We're all so hungry Let's go eat! (Pretend to eat.)
Mmmmmmmm! (Pat tummy.)

Picnic Play - Put a picnic basket, table cloth, plastic utensils, etc. in the housekeeping area for dramatic play.

Sequence - Fold 2 sheets of paper in half and staple. Have children draw pictures to recall the sequence of this story.

Visors - Cut a crescent shape out of a paper plate. Let children decorate it with markers, crayons, stickers, etc. Punch a hole on each end and tie on a piece of yarn. Tie around the child’s head.

Fence Art - Plastic cups make great decorations on a chain link fence. Children can insert them in the holes to make patterns, shapes, letters, American flag, or other holiday symbols. Fence weaving can be done with plastic strips. You can also attach large sheets of paper to the fence with clothespins and let the children paint with watercolors. Fly swatters dipped in paint make fun designs when children “swat” them on the paper.

Mud Pies - You will need instant chocolate pudding, milk, ice cream cones, and a plastic container with a lid. Put the pudding in the plastic container. Add 2 cups of cold milk. Stir. Put the lid on and shake the container as you pass it around to every student. Spoon the pudding into the ice cream cone.

Hint! Make “Alligator Pie” by using pistachio pudding.

Fire Cracker Sandwich - You will need bread, peanut butter, jelly, plastic wrap, curling ribbon, and a rolling pin (or cylinder block). Cut the crust off your bread. Flatten the bread with the rolling pin. Spread peanut butter and jelly on the bread. Roll it up. Wrap it in plastic wrap. Twist the ends, and then tie with ribbons to resemble a firecracker.

Hint!  You can use tuna fish, pimento cheese, turkey, or any other sandwich filling.

Animal Picnic - Brainstorm foods that animals eat. Write children’s suggestions on the board. Let children circle the foods that they eat as well. Offer those foods (carrots, celery, apples, nuts, berries) for snack.

Beep! Choo! Zoom! Honk!
(Tune: “She’ll Be Coming Round the Mountain”)

We’ll be going on vacation in our car.
Beep-Beep                   (Pretend to drive a steering wheel.)

Train – choo choo       (Pretend to pull whistle.)

Plane – zoom zoom    (Fly hand like a plane.)

Bus – honk, honk       (Pretend to honk the horn.)

Oh, we’ll all have lots of fun on our trips.
Beep beep, choo choo, zoom zoom, honk honk!       (Make all motions.)

Car Painting - Put a small amount of tempera paint on a paper plate. Children take toy cars and trucks and roll them in the paint. Then they roll them on a sheet of paper. You can also use toy trains, planes, or buses to paint.

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