Classroom Ideas Archive - August, 2006
Summer Fun Activities
It’s summertime, so what can we do to keep young children busy, yet allow them to enjoy the lazy, hazy days of summer? Here are some suggestions for fun and educational summer activities.
Try Group Games to enhance motor skills, balance and coordination, following commands and cooperation among children, such as:
- Simon Says
- Giant Steps
- Duck, Duck, Goose
- Tag
- Relay Races
- Scavenger Hunts
- Ball Play (rolling, tossing, bouncing, throwing, catching, kicking)
Here are additional activities to enhance exploring the environment:
- Water play
- Use sprinklers (Children love to run in and out of the water!)
- Water balloon and/or sponge toss (for those hot days)
- Paint with water
- Take a nature walk and collect items from outside. These items can then be used later for art activities.
- Go on a bug hunt. Take along a magnifying glass to really see the insects
- Nature rubbings
- Rock collecting
- Set up an obstacle course or a bicycle course
- Tunnel fun
- Sidewalk drawings with chalk
- Set up a tent or make a fort
- Watch clouds
- Have a picnic
Recipes:
- Make ice cream
- Make peanut butter and jelly sandwiches outside
- Make fruit shakes, fruit smoothies or popsicles
- Make fruit kabobs
Classroom Ideas is your place to shine, so send in your success stories. How have you integrated technology into your center? How did you design your literacy-enriched classroom? How have you involved parents in the classroom? Share your classroom ideas and pick up some new ones with each visit. Email your stories to jvass@csc.csiu.org.
[Posted on July 27, 2006]
