An Introduction to this category: The following are Games and Activities that encourage cooperation; show a fun way of looking at life; help stay in touch with feelings; explore ways of dealing with outside influences and increase trust and sense of kindness.

Community builders will get your children to feel more like they are part of your program or classroom community by interacting with each other... They help children get to know each other and themselves!

NOTE: As with many 'social activities' in school-age programs and classrooms, the activities should be open to children who "choose to participate"--IT SHOULD NEVER BE MANDATORY. Some ideas are simple and some will take planning.

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IDEAS....

A "FAN" OF VALIDATION
In this activity students validate one another by sharing appreciative comments:

• Give each child a piece of paper.
• Have students make a fan by folding the paper back and forth into seven equal sections. Once fans are folded, have students write their names on the top section, unfold their fan, and pass it to a classmate.
• The classmate writes something he or she really appreciates about the child in the section immediately below the student’s name, folds the section under so the comment is hidden, and passes the fan to another student.
• Students pass the fans until each section has a positive statement.
• When completed, fans are returned to the student whose name is at the top.
• As students read the statements from their classmates, they realize how many "fans" they have on their team!
  Source: plsweb.com

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T-E-A-M CHEER
Create a shared group identity and reinforce the importance of working together as a team by doing a program or school cheer:

• Have students stand in a circle or in lines.
• While shouting out the letters T-E-A-M, have them use their arms to spell the letters over their heads, similar to the YMCA cheer that was made popular by the Village People.
• Have students suggest music and/or lyrics to accompany the cheer.
• Do the cheer whenever your group spirit needs energizing.

Variation: Use this activity with groups of 4-5 students and have each group create a cheer using a different word that relates to a positive aspect of working as a team, such as S-U-C-C-E-S-S, S-U-P-P-O-R-T, or C-O-N-N-E-C-T. When finished, have groups teach their cheer to the rest of the group.

The above activity is based on the PLS graduate course Building Communication and Teamwork in the Classroom™.

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FRUIIT BASKET
The class sits in a circle on chairs, with one person standing in the middle. Participants are equally divided between three fruits (such as apples, oranges and pineapples). When the middle person calls out a fruit (e.g., "apples"), all the apples change chairs, including the middle person. The person "out" becomes the next caller. If a caller says "fruit basket" all participants have to change chairs.

 

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1-2-3 THEN ASK ME!!! Before coming to you, children are to ask three of their peers to assist them! First, childen who know how to do what is asked feel good with demonstrating their ability; two, children being helped or shown--see that they too will learn what their 'friends' can do; three, 'community helping and sharing' is encouraged; and four, children that have been 'helped' will reciprocate and help others when asked.

Example: If Tommy can’t tie his shoe and he comes to you---question to see if he asked three of his friends to help. If no—say, “Tommy needs help in tying his shoe…can someone help?”

This will NOT embarrass the child as it will be part of program routine and he’ll learn from his friend. In  things that Tommy can do--he will return the favor and  assist others when  asked.

For this to work it needs to be consistent. (Post a sign with the 1-2-3 as a reminder) Yes, it does work.  Children become a more cohesive unit, independent, and self esteem soars as they learn from and help each other!

I never had an instance when there wasn't a child that would not assist another child. With consistency- it soon would become part of program routine. (Barb)

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 TUG-OF-WAR PANTOMIME (Community Building Drama Game)

In theatre tug of war, it is the same as the game – except there’s no rope. The children play with a “ space rope”.

This game can be played with two, four, six or eight players at a time. Staff encourages the children to "Pull!” and challenges them to stay in the same space. If the children totally concentrate on the "object" between them, they will use as much energy as if there were a real rope between them. This is an important exercise in that no one can do it alone - it shows that problems can be solved ONLY by interacting with each other! …A good activity for building community spirit!

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You may want to check out the Drama and Drama Game Categories... They are ALL Community Building Activities! There is an introduction to Drama, Pantomime, Improv, and a good variety or Drama Games!

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SAY SOMETHING NICE DAY! (All Ages)
On “Say Something Nice Day’, notice something you like about a person and tell them.

• Declare a day in your program that this is Say Something Nice Day.
• Each participant promises to approach one person that day and finish the sentence: “One of the things I like about you is _________.”
• When you are back together at the end of the day, share your experiences.

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ALL IN ONE! Game
Stand in a circle holding hands. One person is in the middle. That person in the middle calls in some one--one at a time. The goal is to see how many people you can fit in the middle- without breaking hands.
You can create your own Guinness Book of Records!

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PASS IT ON TABLETS….

• Pass it on books are 'question and answer' books that are passed around between the kids allowing for quick, creative responses. This is done in a notebook - with one question or name of a child to a page.
• Friends then respond on the pages and sign their name below their response. 
• Students can have their own books if they choose---or there can be one program/classroom book. In my experience, many children liked to have their own version.
• Rules are to be courteous and kind regarding each child and comment. If something is written about a person, it should be complimentary! (This is something that goes back to the late 1950's!)

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THE BEANBAG GAME - On a large piece of poster board, draw a 3 x 3 matrix. In each square, write or draw a picture of aspects in children’s lives. For example, you may include school, chores, SAC (School Age Care), hobbies, and relationships with siblings, activities, friends, etc. (Author unknown)

Give children a beanbag and have them toss it onto the poster board. For the square that it lands in, they should tell you something good about themselves. If it lands in the school square, they may tell you about a subject in which they excel, a test on which they did well, a time that they stood up for them self-- anything that they feels make them special.

Next, you toss the beanbag. Tell the children something about them that make you glad to know them. Many children have learned to focus on what they're doing wrong, instead of what they're doing right. Sometimes, it just takes a gentle reminder that you're happy for who they are, not what they do.

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THE COMPLIMENT GAME This game is good to play when you have a group of children, especially if they tend to have a lot of personality conflicts.

• Break children into groups; give each child a piece of paper.
• Ask them to tear it into pieces--one for each child in the group.
• On each piece of paper they should write the child's name, and then list all of the positive characteristics they can think of about that child. Try to have them focus on personality traits and behaviors, not physical attributes.
• When each child has completed their lists, they should put all of them into a box. An adult in the group can read aloud all of the positive comments about each child. The children are usually very surprised at how many great things are said about them.
• If they would like, the children can keep their lists in a folder or notebook. Then, when they're feeling a little down about themselves, they can read about how wonderful other people think they are.

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 1. Have a "What-I-Want-To-Be Day" and invite youth to come dressed up in clothing that REPRESENTS a job that interests them.
2.  Have students research their chosen profession and report to the group---and/or make posters depicting their chosen occupation.
3.  Just thinking of things they can wear, design, and make could take up a portion of the week!!!
4.  Take pictures of the event to add to your program scrapbook and for kids to take home

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CREATE A ME COMMERCIAL
Have kids write a two- to three-minute television commercial. The topic is why someone should hire them. The commercial depicts the student's special qualities. After they work on these, the students present their commercials in front of the group. Another variation is for a group of five to create a commercial for each one--- and then present this in front of the group.

A version for younger children could be for each child to create a commercial about what is nice about their “friend.” For a novel way to present it--get an appliance box/large box; cut am oblong hole in it to represent the screen. Fun! The kids stand behind the "screen" and present on T.V.!

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THE JOURNAL
Journaling is a great idea for all! Young children who can't write yet can draw pictures and/or dictate...

• For Older youth--As a journal entry, each student might write a poem, describe a dream, or share something they are pleased about or unhappy about. It is the student's journal; you may read an entry only if the student says you may. However, check occasionally to ensure that there are at least two dated entries per week.
• Extension Ideas are: Watch the movie the Diary of Anne Frank and what people would think of their journals if read years later. Have participants write a letter to themselves that they will read years later; develop “program journals” where participants communicate between group members.
• …….SHARED LEARNING…
  At the end of each quarter, after each student rereads their journal, the group sits in a circle and each student shares one thing they have learned about themselves so far this year.
  From Fun Literacy Activities for After-School Programs by Sue Edwards & Kathleen Martinez

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KINDNESS LESSON...
Trace each child's hand on a piece of paper. Ask children to think of different ways people can be kind to others. Write their ideas on each finger of the hand drawing. It can be completed as descried or cut out, mounted and decorated. Can also be put on wall or bulletin board.

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DREAMY SCRIBBLES
Play some calming music. Listen to the music for awhile. Start to draw with one crayon or marker each. Don’t look at the paper as you draw. By not looking-you won’t judge if it is good or bad—so just flow with it. With hands moving freely, an abstract design will most likely develop. When complete, color in the spaces if you wish.

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***TIP: Read and then discuss “MESSAGE BOOKS” with all ages! (Books written with a lesson built in-- for children)
A good way to teach life lessons...

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THE ‘I’ MUSEUM (For ages 9 to 15)

• Assign each player a small space where he or she has thirty minutes to set up a self- exhibit.
• The player can use magazine clippings, a poem, a favorite object, a flower, a lucky number, a favorite color, a photo from a favorite movie, a family photo, a self-portrait, an essay etc.
•  When it is time to visit the museum, half of the players stay with their exhibits, while the other half visit and have the creators explain them.
• After all exhibits are presented, discuss how much people were willing to reveal about themselves. Which exhibits were the most interesting?
  The above activity is from "101 More Life Skills for Children" (2006 Hunter House)---by Bernie Badegruber. The book presents fun games that help youth from 9 to 15 develop basic social and emotional life skills.

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FEELINGS for Pre-K and K children...

• At this point in their lives, children are just beginning to understand and express their feelings, especially simple emotions like happy, sad and angry.
• An excellent way to illustrate certain feelings is to make a feelings collage. Have child go through magazines to find pictures of people looking happy, sad, angry, and surprised.
• Create one large collage for each feeling. Have children to decorate the collages with crayons or markers in colors they believe represent each feeling.

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***A great activity for talking about feelings is this one called “Make the Face”. The instructor calls out a situation such as losing your favorite toy or winning an important game. Each child makes the corresponding face or body movement for that emotional experience.
Source: preschoolwhiz.com

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CONNECTING WITH PROVERBS!

• With standard 3" x 5" index cards, write a number of famous quotes or proverbs that reflect the core values of your center. Make two cards for every quote, and be sure that the quotes are appropriate for the age and reading level of your kids.
• Distribute the cards face down to the kids---either by passing them out randomly, or by letting them select from a box. Have everyone read the cards silently to themselves. Now tell them that everyone in the room has someone with the same quote; ask them to find that person and talk about what the quote means. (If you have an odd number of children in the group, use a card yourself.)
• Have the kids mingle and talk to each other, sharing the quotes until they find their partner. Make sure they understand that it's not a race.

Once all the students have found their counterparts, have them return to their seats. You can stop now or continue discussing it as a group.
Try asking questions like, "What strategy did you use to find the other person?" or "What does your quote mean to you in your personal life?" Try this activity using other things written on the cards, such as characters or quotes from books you read during the year.

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CANDY NECKLACE THAT REPRESENTS "ME"!
Materials: Any type of candies/cereals with holes in them, string, bowls,
and other items you can think of...
Have the group make necklaces of how they see themselves. Each candy would represent a characteristic. (Make a list of food item and the trait it represents)
Example:

• Life savers represent helpful
• Cheerios are happy disposition
• Froot Loops are "I like to have fun"
• Jelly Life Savers are Outgoing
• Licorice is Creative, etc.

The children then chose what characteristics they believe themselves to have and put them on the necklace. As a group the can share why they put on certain things. Be as creative as possible.

• Have ribbon available where kids can tie small bows in between to say "I like pretty things" or…
• Actual beads in-between for "I'm creative"...
• You can also drill holes or pierce the center of other candies—and with the kids, decide what each item represents...

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THE SQEEZE GAME
Equipment: Small random object - keys, phone, stone, etc.
Have TWO parallel, straight, equal lines of youth, and have them hold each others hand.

Have someone at the front of the lines watching, and have someone at the back of the lines watching also. Place a small item in the middle of the two front people, and place it just within their reach. Have these two people place their free hand on their knee.

The back person (who is watching) must give a number to the last two in the line. Whatever that number, that is the number of times they must squeeze the front person's hand (person in front of them). So if the back person signaled 2  to the back two people, they must squeeze the people's hands in front of them, twice.

This carries on like a chain reaction, till the front person feels there hand being squeezed. Once they feel that, they can reach for the object in front of them. The team to grab the object first wins!

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I LIKE MY NEIGHBOR THAT…
Equipment: A circle of chairs for all playing--one less than the amount of youth/children.

• One person stands in the middle of the circle of chairs and announces "I like my neighbor who"..... Example is wearing sneakers or has brown hair, etc.
• Everyone who fits the statement must move (run) to another chair.
• The object is for the person in the middle to find an empty chair. This lot of fun and can be played for a long time
• Remember to use your imagination.
  Tip: I initially thought this would be a game for children younger than grade 3. The first time I played it (about 18 years ago) several older kids came to watch and asked if they could join in! As the facilitator also play it with the group---it's fun…) Barb

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SPIDER WEB OF FRIENDSHIP (Good for all ages-see photo of adults)
Need: A multi-colored ball of yarn (to call it "Tapestry) or any color if you call it a "Web")

• Have youth sit on the floor in large circle. You start by selecting a person to roll the yarn to. The person who receives it -- holds on to a corner of it--- before passing it on to who they choose. When you choose a person, you must say something nice about that person (or whatever you decide the topic will be) before you pass it on.
• At the end, it looks like a large web of diversity...(Have fun rerolling it!)

 

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A GIANT PAPER DOLL CHAIN
What You Need: Paper and paint or markers...
Cut out life-size cutouts of your children. Have them paint them. Put them together in a large paper doll chain with the heading "We are all Friends"...

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CONTINENTAL DIVIDE - A Game for grades 3 and up! 
Have each team form a straight line that is shoulder to shoulder.
Instruct youth that their shoes are fused to the person‘s shoe to their right and left. In this formation have the team move from point 'A' to point 'B'. If anyone disconnects shoes, the team comes back to point 'A' and starts again. The first Team to point 'B' wins!

This activity took place in Michigan and is adaptable to grades 3 and up...It took place during the school day---but CAN be adapted to SAC!!!

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CHILDREN IN UPPER GRADES OF THEIR SCHOOL can be intimidating and unapproachable.
Older students learn more difficult subjects, are more familiar with the school building and staff, and are just plain bigger than kindergarteners. One 5th-grade class decided to bridge the distance by writing and presenting each younger student with a book.

• Teachers helped collect information about the younger students.
• Each 5th grader then wrote, illustrated, designed, and bound a book about his or her assigned kindergarten student.
• Working in groups during the editing process, they practiced offering compliments and constructive criticism.
• They presented their gifts at a party, where the classes got to know each other better.
• The 5th graders maintained their positive relationship with the kindergarteners by designing and running games at the younger students' end-of-the-year picnic.

During this project, the 5th graders made connections with other students as well. Many were unfamiliar with the computer lab, so students who use the lab daily instructed them. This project grew positive relationships not only between classes but also between parents and the school. The parents were impressed that the school community was so strong and supportive.
Adapted from "Route to Reform: K-8 service-learning Curriculum Ideas," © 1994-95 National Youth Leadership Council.

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THANKS FOR THE COMPLIMENT!
Need: Paper, markers, tape
Everyone gets a piece of paper taped to their back. (Make sure their name is at the top of the paper.) Each person is given a marker. Each person in the group must walk around the room and write a compliment or positive remark about that person on their back..... NO PEEKING!

When everyone has written something positive on each others back, everyone returns to their seat. With a smaller group, everyone exchanges papers without looking at their own. Each participant can take a turn at reading off the person's list to that person aloud. (Adjust for a larger group)

What a great self-esteem booster. It doesn't matter if the group knows each other well--- because you can say things like..."He seems friendly" etc. But this is a great activity to do with kids who have been in a group for a while.

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COOPERATIVE STAND UP (From Drama Games Category)

• Have your group get in pairs.
• The pairs will sit on the floor, back pressed to back. They must stand up without using their hands. It can end here...OR...
• After a pair stands up, have them find another pair and all 4 of them must sit down and stand up.
• Go on as such until the entire group is together and have everyone try to stand up.
• This is a good game to promote friendliness and fun when you have an exceptionally large group...

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ANIMAL GUESSING GAME:
For all ages-Approximately 15 minutes.
This games helps overcome shyness, builds reasoning skills and cooperation...

1. Line up youth in two rows with backs to one another.
2. Tape a picture of an animal to each child’s back. Do not let them see it.
3. Kids must then circulate among others in the room and ask 'yes' or 'no' questions about the animal in an attempt to identify it.
Example: Does it have fur? Does it have hooves? Does it live in cold climate?
They can only ask one or two questions of each individual person. (If necessary help kids circulate around the room and interact with one another.) If they guess correctly they have the picture removed from their back but still circulate to help others.

It's best to choose  a wide variety of well known animals such as dolphin, chicken, duck, lion, elephant, eagle...etc.

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GOOD APPLES: GRADES 3-6
Good for a "Special Activity" in smaller groups (Also in Diversity/Multi-Cultural Category)

• Tell the children that some time will be spent finding out about how people are the same and how they are different.
• Put apples on a table in front of the group. Have each student choose an apple.
• Tell them to get to know their apple really well. Suggest they notice their apple's special characteristics.
• Have them make up a story about their apple and tell it to a friend (modeling this step is helpful with younger students). Allow the students to share their stories with the rest of the group.
•  Direct the students to return their apples to the table in front of the class.

Mix the apples up and ask the students to come back and find their apple. Ask how they knew which apple was theirs (they will indicate things like color, size, shape, special features). Ask what this has to do with people. Make a list of how people are different. Discuss why this is important. Make a list of how people are the same. Discuss why this is important. The lists may be done in cooperative groups and then shared with the large group.

Tying it All Together:
Summarize the importance of individual differences and similarities in people. Suggest that one way in which all people are similar is that they all have a star inside them (something special that makes them shine, that they especially like about themselves), just like each apple has a star inside it. Cut each apple in half (don't cut the usual way, but through the center the other way). Let each child see the star inside their apple. While the students eat the apple, allow them to share something about their star, their strengths, their individuality.
By Robbie Fearon
Burlington Elementary School Burlington

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FIND YOUR FAMILY
Connection/Ice-Breaker Game
Need:
One slip of paper for every player. Papers should be in groups of five, and each group represents a family, for example, the Smiths. So the first Smith paper would be Mr. Smith, the second Mrs. Smith, and the third Brother Smith and so on. Each family should have a different last name but the same characters (i.e.) one mom and one dad.

Each player is given one slip of paper and they must walk around trading papers with everyone else in the room. They should try to make as many exchanges as possible, and they should not be looking at which papers they are receiving. The leader then calls out "Find your family".

The players must find the other members in their family. When they have found them, they must sit in order from dad to baby in a line on the floor. The last family to sit down may be eliminated if you choose to do so. The leader may also give out specific instructions, for example "Find your family without talking".

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JELLY ROLL (Read the message following the directions from one program that tried this!)
This isn’t a game but a great way to assemble kids quickly. This can be used when you need to group up kids, sit them down…have a meeting, explain something, etc.
To Start:

• Previously, assign your large group a method to get them into smaller groups… this can be done by assigning each individual small group a color, season, number, animal, etc.
• Call “Jelly-Roll” and the kids get into their small groups.
• Have each small group hold hands in one long line and then roll from one end to the other into a "jelly roll" --- and then sit down.
• Time youth to see which group can “Roll” and sit the fastest…and then see if they can “beat” their best time.
  At first this may be confusing---but when the kids get the routine down---it will go quickly. Just practice--practice--practice...
  All you need to do is yell "Jelly Roll"…and then they do their thing!

Hi Barb!
Just wanted to let you know how the jelly roll went.  First of all, I decided to rename it the "cinnamon roll" just because I thought the kids would better understand what a cinnamon roll looks like than a jelly roll, for visualization purposes.  I separated them around 10 in each group-- and they did a great job at it!  Before they started we had each group pick which end of the line would make the center of the cinnamon roll, so they knew which way to turn.  All the children were very excited because we never really do group or team activities like this.  Then we tried having all the children do it together in one big roll.  It was a lot of fun for everyone and they were all really pumped!  Thanks for this great team building exercise!  As far as using it for breaking children into groups, I definitely think it would be a good way to do that in a bigger program.  Our program is so small that we never really break into groups, but if we did, we would use this method.  I'm sure we will do this again just because the children loved it so much!
Lia-Baldwin Elementary School 

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JOKE AND PUNCH LINE
CONNECTION/ICE-BREAKER

• Set-up: Write a joke on one card and a punch line on another. Be sure to mix the cards up. The number of different jokes depends on the size of the group.
• Give each person a card. Explain that they may have a joke or a punch line on the card. On a given signal, they are to walk around the group trying to find the other part of their joke/punch line.
• When they find their other half, you may ask them to get to know their new partner by asking things like favorite ice cream or dream vacation etc...
• When this is done, everyone can return to a circle and with their partner, tell their joke.

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CAPTURE THE BALLOON
Purpose:
To introduce or learn something about each other-- To provide physical activity, have fun, build community spirit

   •Each child receives a balloon (either inflated or they blow up). Children write their name and decorate balloons with a marker. Put all balloons in a container, box or bag.
Release all balloons at once. Play some music as children bat the balloons around and keep them in the air. When the music stops the children “capture” a balloon and freeze in their position.

    •When everyone has a balloon the leader calls on one child and the child says the name of the person’s balloon he/she has. The child whose name is called will then say something about themselves. The topic can be pre-chosen such as: What is the best thing that happened to you this week? ---or—If you could do anything for a day, what would it be?—or-- My favorite class is________?
Ideas are endless. If the group is large you can have 3 or 4 children make their statement and then start the music again.

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RANDOM ACTS OF KINDNESS (See the Acts of Kindness Category)

Example: 100 Acts of Kindness

• Celebrate the 100th day of school! (Usually in February in the States)
• Make a large poster in the shape of the number 100 to hang in your program area.
• Several weeks before the 100th day of school, discuss acts of kindness toward others. Based on the number of youth in your program, three to four weeks before the big day, announce open season on acts of kindness. Encourage the children to recognize acts of kindness by others.
• Each time children see a classmate or friend engage in an act of kindness, they will tell staff and then put a sticker and their friend’s name on the poster. The students can not name themselves, only others.
• It should be easy to reach the goal of 100 acts of kindness. A profound difference in behavior, relationships, and outlook will be noticed.

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DESIGNING SELF-COLLAGES: Grades 1-6
In order for youth to build self esteem, they need to know who they are and what is important and unique to them personally. Children also need to have a concrete way in which to express this. Children can become resident 'experts' in the program and this is one way of finding out what the range of knowledge is among a group of students.

• Using pictures, words, or symbols clipped from magazines that represent things they enjoy doing or own, places they've been, and people they admire--- or careers they desire, have youth create a collage. They should place their names on the back, and post the collages around the room.
• Have the other students guess which collage belongs to whom and state why they made that guess. This activity gives youth a chance to reflect on who they are and then to share that information in a fun way with the rest of the group. Barb

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NEVER HAVE I EVER... Icebreaker Game
Ages: 8 and up. Recommended # of people: 10-20.

• Players all sit in a circle. Each player holds out all ten fingers and places them on the floor. One by one, each person announces something that they have never done; for example, they say, “Never have I been on a cruise.” For each statement, all the other players remove a finger if they have done that statement. So, if three other people have been on a cruise, those three people must put down a finger, leaving them with nine fingers.

The goal is to stay in the game the longest (to have fingers remaining). Thus, it is a good strategy to say statements that most people have done, but you haven’t. This can be humorous (e.g. “Never have I ever skipped a class in school” or “Never have I played in mud”)  The game provides a good way to find out unique experiences and facts about people.

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All year long…WELCOME YOUR NEW CHILDREN!

IMPORTANT!!!

 When a new child joins a classroom/program community, there is a great opportunity — not only to welcome the new child, but also to strengthen a sense of cohesion among all of the children in the group. Here are some concrete ways to welcome a new member of the community:

Prepare the class. Share with them some basic information about the new child. What are some of this child’s hobbies or interests? Draw attention to commonalities. Perhaps you can tell Shawna that Kyle also has a pet dog!

Explain the goal of welcoming a new child. Ask the group to brainstorm ways they can help the new child to feel comfortable and welcome. Maybe they would like to make a welcome banner or sign.

Pair up the new child. Assign a buddy. This child can help the newcomer feel welcome and connected as well as serve as a guide by touring the classroom and explaining routines. Pick a child you know would be willing and enthusiastic for this task. An outgoing, highly verbal child is a good choice. Additionally, pairing up children who know each other is an effective way to promote collaboration and teamwork.

Break the ice. Take the time to revisit “getting to know you” games and activities. Have all of the children wear nametags again. Play games that focus on names and  identity (e.g., “My name is Tony and I like tangerines”)."
By Joni Levine from her article, A Classroom Community: Where Everybody Knows Your Name, in the September 2008 issue of Exchange Magazine

You can also Compile a “Big Welcome Book” for new students to learn all about your program - each year up-date the book. 

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FRIENDSHIP TOWER
(Good for Building Team/Program Spirit)
Divide the group into teams of four or five children. Distribute construction paper and tape to each team. Explain to the teams that they will have ten minutes to build the tallest tower they can---WITHOUT TALKING. They can use only the given supplies. At the end of ten minutes -- have each team display their tower and discuss whether it was easy or difficult to build and why.

Not necessary but ---an award or certificate can go to the group who made the tallest tower. You can also award certificates to the smallest, most unique, most straight, most leaning, etc.

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HAPPY FEEL GOOD WORDS (All Ages): Three different Versions!
WANT TO CHEER THE GROUP UP? Try saying “happy-good feeling words”.

#1…When your sitting with a group of children (during a down-time) have a spontaneous game of talking about things that make you “feel happy or good”!
Start off with what makes you happy ---and then take turns calling out things such as: Sunny days make me happy; Sunshine makes me happy; Warm cookies make me happy; Saturday mornings make me happy; Friday nights makes me happy….. Going to the movies makes me happy…..Pizza…..Going on vacation…..Blue skies…..Summer time, etc.
When done in a light-hearted manner, the children will join in and share! You’ll be amazed how the atmosphere can change—as well all realizing it doesn’t have to be a trip to Disney to do it!
(I actually did this with my three grandsons while waiting for their dad in the car not too long ago! Within a few seconds, the atmosphere in the car really lightened up and they were each sharing! Barb)
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#2…Take turns saying “joyous” words with children. Any happy word will do. Young children will come up with words such as “yummy”, “lollipops”, “mommy”. Teens use “awesome,” or whatever expression is current.
Examples: Pleasure, delight, enjoyment, satisfaction, ecstasy, bliss, elation, rapture, rhapsody, gaiety, glee, happiness, festive, glad, pleased, cheerful, joyful, excitement, heaven, enchantment, exhilaration, radiant, etc.
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#3…Use this as a topic for your 'Graffiti Wall'. Leave markers out with a large sheet of butcher/roll paper, and have the children write all the happy/joyous words they can think of.

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I'M A WORK IN PROGRESS!
ADD THE WORD “YET” to any negative assessment children express of themselves or other people.

Make up all sorts of things that can’t be done…”YET.” Remember to use this game when children are discouraged and need to be reminded of “yet.”
Examples: “I can’t do long division"…"yet.”
‘I can’t hit a home run"…"YET.” "I can’t sail a sailboat"…"YET.”
“I can’t do brain surgery"…"YET.” “I haven’t gone to the moon"…"YET.”
(From Spirit Games by Barbara Sher)

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***PLAY FOLLOW THE LEADER
Each time the leader stops, children must turn around and pay a compliment to the next person in line.

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HULA HOOP

• Everyone stands in a circle holding hands. Have two people break hands and put their hands through a hula hoop and rejoin hands again.
• The hoop must be passed the entire way around the circle without breaking hands. Sometimes it goes over and sometimes under...doesn't matter.
• Discuss what helped and what made it difficult. Then try to "beat" the first "time".

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BEACH BALL TOSS

  

• Get one or two beach balls. 
  • Write questions all over the beach ball such as favorite ice-cream, most embarrassing moment, favorite color, etc. 
  • Have everyone stand in a circle and pass the beach ball around the circle by throwing it up in the air--- 
  • The person who threw the ball will then pick a finger such as left thumb. The person who caught the ball must then read out the question and answer (questions nearest to left thumb).

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Activities for Older Youth…

TRUST FALL (ONLY for Middle School to Adult)
The group forms tight circle around person who stands straight and stiff as a log. The group gently moves that stiff person around taking care to be gentle. The purpose is for individuals to gain trust with the group.

Once comfortable, the person in the center closes their eyes. Everyone in the group should try this. Directions say the next step is to have 3 people of the same relative size match up. Two people stand behind the other and act as catchers. (I think I’d have four) The 'Faller' is to remain stiff as a log -- and fall backwards. The catchers first stop the fall-- after a drop of a foot or so-- and then straighten the individual up. The faller falls again -- and the catcher let him fall a little further than before. Continue several times and rotate positions. (Really be careful with this one! Many years ago, when I was training for Crisis Intervention Counseling—my group didn’t catch me! hmmmm…)

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ME-SHIRT
A Self-Discovery Art Activity
In this activity, children will use their artistic skills to create a "Me-Shirt", a T-shirt that expresses something important about them.

What you need...
   • A plain, light-colored T-shirt from home for each child
   • Paints or markers designed for use on clothing
   • Smocks (enough for each child)

What to do...

1....Discuss with children the fact that many T-shirts have art or writing on them. Some children may be wearing such T-shirts. Encourage these children to stand up and show their T-shirts to the group. Ask other children if they have any similar shirts at home. On a board, list the reasons children like to wear these kinds of T-shirts. If children have difficulty thinking of reasons, you might offer some, such as they can show what team they’re on, they can show places they’ve been, they're pretty, they're funny they just like them.

2....Tell children that they are each going to make a T-shirt with their own design on it. Explain that the design should tell something about who they are. It could include their name, pictures of things they like to do, their family members, or even pets.

3....Have children sit in small groups to brainstorm some ideas for their Me-shirts. They can refer to the list on the board for ideas. Once a child has come up with an idea for a design, encourage him or her to sketch it on a piece of paper first. Then review the design with the child to make sure it conveys the message the child wants to express.

4....When children are ready, have them draw or paint their designs on their Me-shirts. Send the shirts home when they are dry and schedule a special Me-shirt party for a day when children can wear their Me-shirts. At the party, children can share with each other what their Me-shirts tell about themselves.

Extension:
     • You may want to display the Me-shirts as art before sending them home.
     • You may want to invite parents or another class to join your Me-shirt party.
See directions for Painting on Fabrics and How to Paint a Shirt, etc, here…

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ALL OF ME!

In this activity, children will draw pictures showing some of the different aspects of their lives and share the pictures with other youth. Beside learning about each other, they will develop a better appreciation of the roles they fill in their families and community.
Need: Crayons and/or colored pencils

1. Discuss with children the fact that they fill many different roles in their families. Point out that a girl may be a daughter, a sister, a niece, and a granddaughter, while a boy may be a son, a brother, a nephew, and a grandson. Ask children to tell about the different roles they fill in their families. Record their answers on the board or on chart paper. Then ask children to think about what roles they fill in the community. Point out that they are students, and ask them what else they do. For example, are they on a soccer or T-ball team? Add their responses to the list.
 
2. Have youth draw pictures to show some of the different roles they fill in their lives (some children may need more than one sheet). Children can refer to the list created earlier for help in labeling their pictures.
3. When children are finished, have them share their pictures with the group. You may want to mount the pictures on an All About Me bulletin board.

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THE INTERVIEW...This is a great beginning-of-the-year activity---or FIRST DAY OR TWO OF SUMMER PROGRAMS WHEN ALL KIDS DON'T KNOW EACH OTHER...
Have students break into dyads. Each is paired with someone they do not already know well. Allowing five minutes per interview, the students interview each other. Then standing behind the person they have just interviewed, each child tells the group what they have learned about the other, introducing them to the group.

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FINDING COMMON GROUND
 
This works best for small groups or for each small group sitting together as a team (4-6 participants).

Give the group a specific time (perhaps 5 minutes) to write a list of everything they all have in common.
Tell them to avoid the obvious ("we're all here").
When time is up, ask each group how many items they have listed.
For fun, ask them to announce some of the most interesting items.

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Back to top of page

You may also be interested in the categories of:

• Building Program Community with Family and Staff Social Events
• Connecting Activities for the Beginning of the School Year
• End of the School Year Ideas
• Community Building Ideas for the 100th Day of School
• Random Acts of Kindness Category

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GUESS THE PUMPKIN'S WEIGHT!
Need:
Large pumpkin
Bathroom or science class scale
Slips of paper
Have children write their estimates of the pumpkin's weight on a slip of paper. Kids write their names on the paper, fold them, and place in a box. At the end of the time-frame, weigh the pumpkin and award a prize or the pumpkin to the child with the closest guess.

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CONTRAST LEAVES...
    • COLLECT GREEN LEAVES and place them on a tray to dry.... Over time they turn brown; without chlorophyll the leaf loses his green color.

   • GLYCERIN LEAVES
Place a small branch with fall leaves on several layers of newspapers. With a hammer tap the end of the stem until it is slightly crushed.
Place the branch in a jar or baking dish with one part glycerin to two parts water. Keep it for 2 weeks. The leaves will be thicker to touch, colors will have changed & they will not disintegrate or fade..

In the autumn, you can also gather branches of oak, beech, and maple leaves just as the colors began to turn. Submerge them in vases filled with a solution of equal parts of water and glycerin. Over the next week, watch the color metamorphose as the chlorophyll ceased production, triggering the release of pigments. The glycerin, an emollient, fills the cells, rendering them supple and leathery. Leaves will last for years this way, more so if pressed.

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YOUNG CHILDREN'S FALL TASTING PARTY
Pre-K to grade 1

You need:
Canned pumpkin
Grapes (green and red seedless)
Apples (various kinds
Pears
Canned corn
Table knives
Paper plates
Optional: Oak tag/card stock paper, Tacks or push pins

1. Help children cut the fruits and vegetables into small pieces and place on paper plates.
2. Ask children to observe and comment on the differences and similarities of texture, color, size, shape. etc.
3. Give each child a paper plate. Let them select from the variety of foods to taste. Encourage children to tasted the unfamiliar as well as favorites.
4. Have a discussion after the tasting party.
Talk about how they look, taste, smell and feel. Encourage the use of such words as sweet, sour, bumpy, smooth and so on.

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DOES A PUMPKIN SINK OR FLOAT?

Fill a large clear storage container or aquarium with water. (If the weather is warm, you can do it outside). Have children make predictions of what will happen and graph the predictions. Do the experiments to determine if they were right or not.

 Make it interesting and get a few pumpkin sizes.
You may hear predictions that the smaller pumpkins will float and the large will sink. (Pumpkins float)

• Talk about why they float... If older kids know the answers... have them run the activity. The pumpkin (and watermelon) will float because its mass is less than the mass of water it displaces. This is due primarily because the inside of the pumpkin and melon are hollow. It is mostly air, which has a much lower mass than water.

 YOU CAN ALSO ADD OTHER AUTUMN ITEMS such as canned pumpkin and cranberry sauce, nuts, acorns, pine-cones,  cranberries, bark, corn, stones, grass and sticks. etc.

Pumpkins are fun. A pumpkin (watermelon too) will float because its mass is less than the mass of water it displaces. This is due primarily because the inside of the pumpkin and melon are hollow. It is mostly air, which has a much lower mass than water.

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LEFT-OVER  PUMPKIN SEEDS!

You can quickly make pumpkin seeds in your microwave. The shells are edible --- and a good source of fiber. You can also use this method with other seeds such as acorn squash and butternut squash also.

Ingredients:
1 cup pumpkin seeds, 1 Tbsp. Olive oil or butter, Salt, seasoned salt, garlic /onion powder or other seasonings to your choice.

Rinse pumpkin seeds. Remove all the pulp. Drain the seeds and discard the pulp. Spread out on paper towel on a cookie sheet and dry them over-night. Place butter or Olive Oil l in a microwave-safe, baking dish.

Microwave on high about 7 to 8 minutes or until seeds are toasted a light golden color. Be sure to stir every 2 minutes as they are cooking. When done, sprinkle with your choice of seasonings. Coat evenly. Cool them before eating or storing. They can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature up to 3 months or refrigerate up to 1 year.

If you like your toasted pumpkin seeds extra-salty, soak them overnight in a solution of 1/4 cup salt to 2 cups of water. Dry an additional day, and follow the above directions.

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SPROUTING INDIAN CORN

Place the Indian Corn on its side in rectagular baking dish or similar container.  Put water in to cover the bottom of dish and then place it in a sunny spot. The corn will sprout in about a week. A good idea to provide a magnifying glass for close inspection. As corn sprouts some of the kernels fall of...this activity gives children a chance to handle and closely observe the sprouting corn. Kids like this one!

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SPROUTING POPCORN KERNEL- Place dirt in a small zip lock bag. Add water and a few kernels of popcorn. Seal the bag and hang in sunny window. The popcorn kernels will begin to sprout in about a week.

 

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PLANT  BULBS IN THE FALL

With the approach of fall, now is the time to get those bulbs in the ground for spring blossoms such as tulips, hyacinths, daffodils and lilies. When flowers welcome next spring-you'll be happy that you did!
For the best results:

• Plant before the first frost.

• Dig a trench and place the soil on a plastic sheet.

• Place the bulbs in the trench according to your design, but don't let them touch. Make sure they are facing the right way up.

• Replace the soil.

• Water thoroughly. You can also add a layer of mulch to keep the bulbs moist.

• Now all you have to do is wait for spring to see healthy green sprouts that will grow into colorful flowers!

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TURN A PROTECTED SECTION of your program, home, or school yard into a nature shelter.

In the cold weather- birds, squirrels and other small wildlife are in constant search of food, fresh water and safe shelter. Set up a bird feeder, bird bath and bird house where you and the children will be able to quietly observe. Youth enjoy watching different animals seek the food and water and your bird house will be there when needed.

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AUTUMN SUNFLOWERS
Celebrate sunflowers by planting several varieties and sizes.
Cut up seed catalogs to visually plan the garden.
 
Turn the  garden into a bird-feeding haven for the fall.
Add a bird bath, bird ornaments, and birdhouses. (See SUNFLOWER CATEGORY for other ideas)

FYI: In a warm temperate climate sunflowers grow from seed to flowering stage in about three months and another six weeks until the seeds mature in the flower head. This relates to the giant flowering types-some of the smaller varieties are quicker to mature.

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COLLECT LEAVES...
Go on a nature walk and collect different kinds of leaves. Sort the leaves by color, size or type of leaf. Place them on your science table.

Extension Ideas: GRAPH THE LEAVES
1. Have children count the number of leaves collected from each type of tree. Graph the results.

2. Get young children thinking about what they collected. Ask questions such as:

•What can you tell me about these leaves?  What is the same about these leaves?  What is different about some of these leaves?
•What colors are the leaves?  Look through the magnifying glass, what do you see? (veins, colors, size of the leaf seems to change)
•How can we measure this leaf? Can someone demostrate (show me) how to measure this leaf?  How long it is?  How wide it is?  (This leaf is __ inches/centimeters in length and __ in width.)

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PRESERVING LEAVES

THE OLD FASHIONED WAY:

• Place your autumn colored leaves between two layers of wax paper.
• Cover with a cloth rag. Using a warm (not too hot) iron, press down on the wax covered leaves, sealing the wax paper together with the leaf in between.
• Cut your leaves out, leaving a narrow margin of wax paper around the leaf edge.

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MICRO-WAVE METHOD
You can preserve fall leaves in your microwave oven.

• Choose fresh leaves with the bright colors. Avoid fallen leaves that have already begun to dry.
• Place separate leaves in the Microwave oven on top of two pieces of paper towel. Cover them with one sheet of paper toweling.
• Run the oven for 30 to 180 seconds. Microwaves vary so watch carefully. The drier the leaves, the less time they will need.
• Be careful, if the leaves "cook" too long you could actually start a fire.
• If the leaves are curled on the edges they need more time.
• Let the leaves dry for a day or two and then finish the leaves with a sealant, such as an acrylic craft spray.
  Source: Amazingmoms.com

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IF YOU FIND A CATERILLAR in late summer to late fall, put fresh leaves in a tank or fish bowl with a few twigs on which to make a chrysalis.

Ask children what they think happen? Ask them what will happen later?

We have done this with our group in the fall. They found a caterpillar outside in early October and brought it in. We put it in a large clear bowl and after the week-end it had made a chrysalis hanging from a twig. Kids  eagerly waited for spring so the butterfly could hatch! Sarah/Oakbrook

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NATURE ART

NATURE COLLAGE
Find: Twigs, leaves, small pine cones, nuts, etc.
Glue them onto tag board cut into wreath shape (or any design). This shows children how to collect items from the ground without damaging the environment.

• You can also peel off the backing of contact paper and adhere the nature items to the sticky side.
• Cut cardboard and frame either method.

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USE LEAVES AS PAINT BRUSHES
Collect leaves with long stems. Have children paint with the leaves, using the leaves as brushes and the stems as handles.
Or...Collect leaves and tape them to a small stick and use them instead of brushes for painting.

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FALL NATURE BRACELETS

•  Wrap a piece of masking tape (sticky side out) around each child's wrist. Go on a nature walk and have children collect a leaf from each of several trees---sticking it on their leaf bracelet.
• Get a Book with a variety of leaves to compare “finds” when you return.
• Children will also be able to go home and see what leaves they find there!

  Photographs are courtesy of Angela at Colorfool  blogsite...

As shown, you can take clear packing tape and make bracelets with a variey of nature finds--as well as some wonderful bookmarks! Angela shares that flat items adhere better than bulky.

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COLLECTING TIP!
FALL IS THE TIME to collect the leaves, pine cones, seeds, sticks, etc. for your craft projects for Fall and Winter!  Gather all you can…You’ll be glad that you did!

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 THE EARTH'S WONDERS

Display natural earth wonders such as :
Sea shells, rocks, crystals, geodes, pine cones, seeds, twigs, etc.
Encourage children to add to the collection. Provide magnifying glasses to study the items at this center...Photograph courtesy of Restoration Place.

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You may also want to check the Fall Art and Craft Category  There are many ideas using nature items of leaves, seeds, etc.

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• Design a pre-cut person, hand, or heart shape. When children are caught being kind, take the design with their name and deed on the shape. 

• The shapes are taped together in a chain or patchwork style connecting the kids of the program or classroom.

This is a good project for the entire school---connecting one end of the school to the other! Check it out with the school to see if they'd like to join you!

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Establish specific days of the week that focus on kindness in different areas of children's lives-- such as:
'Kindness in the Classroom Day'...
'Good Manners Day' and 'Kindness at Home Day'...

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Create a special 'Kindness Section' in your school or center newspaper--where good news about acts of kindness are reported. If there's no school newspaper, create a classroom newspaper.

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 KINDNESS LESSON...
Trace each child's hand on a piece of paper. Ask children to think of different ways people can be kind to others. Write their ideas on each finger of the hand drawing. It can be completed as described or cut out, mounted and decorated. Can also be put on wall or bulletin board.

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A GIANT PAPER DOLL CHAIN
What You Need: Paper and paint or markers...
Cut out life-size cutouts of  children. Have them paint them. Put them together in a large paper doll chain with the heading "We are all Friends"...

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THE COMPLIMENT GAME
This game is good to play when you have a group of children, especially if they tend to have a lot of personality conflicts.

Break children into groups; give each child a piece of paper.
Ask them to tear it into pieces--one for each child in the group.
On each piece of paper they should write the child's name, and then list all of the positive characteristics they can think of about that child. Try to have them focus on personality traits and behaviors, not physical attributes.
 
When each child has completed their lists, they should put all of them into a box. An adult in the group can read aloud all of the positive comments about each child. The children are usually very surprised at how many great things are said about them.
If they would like, the children can keep their lists in a folder or notebook. Then, when they're feeling a little down about themselves, they can read about how wonderful other people think they are.

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THANKS FOR THE COMPLIMENT!
Need: Paper, markers, tape
Everyone gets a piece of paper taped to their back. (Make sure their name is at the top of the paper.) Each person is given a marker. Each person in the group must walk around the room and write a compliment or positive remark about that person on their back..... NO PEEKING!

When everyone has written something positive on each others back, everyone returns to their seat. With a smaller group, everyone exchanges papers without looking at their own. Each participant can take a turn at reading off the person's list to that person aloud. (Adjust for a larger group)

What a great self-esteem booster. It doesn't matter if the group knows each other well--- because you can say things like..."He seems friendly" etc. But this is a great activity to do with kids who have been in a group for a while.

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WEAR THE MESSAGE!

Looking for ways to promote kindness in your programs and schools?
Start with yourself and wear clothing that displays the message!

As Linda Drinkard from 'Kind Words' has written,"When we wear clothing that displays this message it serves as a reminder to us and others that we need to treat each other with care." It's about "...building strong relationships, encouraging people to build one another up and not tear one another down, to choose words that are thoughtful and gentle and kind..."
To purchase shirts --$22.50  for adults and $12.00 for children--visit the Speak Kind Words website. Price includes shipping. Baseball type hats and totes are also available...

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 PURCHASE, DOWNLOAD OR MAKE BOOKMARKS
 
When you "catch a child" in an act of kindness, give them one of the bookmarks! Children receiving the bookmark feel good and the other children will want to know how to get one. It presents an opportunity to discuss altruism and acts of kindness with your group. Special bookmarks may be downloaded on the Random Acts of Kindness web-site

Random Acts of Kindness Foundation...

The Random Acts of Kindness Foundation inspires people to practice kindness and to "pass it on" to others. They provide free educational and community ideas, guidance, and other resources to kindness participants through the website.

BOOKMARKS AVAILABLE TO DOWNLOAD ARE:
1. Bookmarks showing 'ten great ideas' for doing kindness every day.
2. Ten (More) Ideas For Kindness.
3. 'Kindness Pass It On' ... a sheet of bookmarks that you can print out and give to whoever needs a fun reminder about doing kindness.

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RANDOM ACTS OF KINDNESS CLUB This is a club for third through eighth graders. The club is based on service learning and community service. Through this process, responsible youth will make the club successful.

  • The kids in the club brainstorm some service learning projects, and then implement their ideas.
 
   •  A contract must be signed as a promise of commitment.

  • The children deliver the items that the program produces to the people in need Example: pictures to senior homes, etc.
 
  • Participating children can receive special things for being in the club.  An idea is a badge similar to 'security badges' that staff wear, or a special certificate.
 
  • Also arrange special surprises. In October, one program had a local farm donate small pumpkins for all the students in the RAK Club. This demonstrates the receiving end of a random act of kindness!

  • Recognize the members of this club at a school assembly or event at the end of the school year.

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KINDNESS BULLETIN BOARD
Created by Toni in Missouri

1.  Youth brainstorm ideas for unexpected, kind things to do for people--people who would not expect children to do a favor/kindness for them.
2.  Each idea is put on a shape and put on the board.
3.  When a student completes a RAK, they sign their name on the act that is posted on the board.
4.  By the end of the year, hopefully all of the brainstormed acts will have at least one signature on them to signify that someone acted in that manner for someone.

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RANDOM ACT OF KINDNESS from After-School program to Host building Staff

To increase RAK and morale between your program and host staff, consider an RAK for them.
    • One morning provide a surprise pastry, donut, cookies or fruit table in the lounge.
    • Have the children make cards to put on the teachers room doors announcing the random surprise!
 
One school contacted a local shop to come to the school and make all the teachers lattes/coffee drinks one morning. (This is also a great idea to surprise SAC staff!)
 
Have SAC children volunteer to carry teacher's books, boxes, etc. when needed without being asked by the teacher.
 
On a recognized Kindness day, put together some staff goodies for the staff lounge with a note saying, "Goodies to brighten your day. From  the students of  ______ " 
     • Chocolate Kisses to remind you that you are loved!  
     • Starbursts to give you a burst of energy on the days you're low! 
     • A Lifesaver for you in return for all the times you’ve rescued us!  
     • A "thank you" for all the laughs and Snickers you share!  
     • And most importantly, smiles to pass on!
     • Adapted from an idea on the RAK website

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Celebrate an annual SAY SOMETHING NICE DAY ! (Good for All Ages)

On your “Say Something Nice Day’ notice something you like about a person and tell them. This can be during a Kindness Day or Week--or ANY time of the year!

Declare a day in your program that this is Say Something Nice Day. Each participant promises to approach one person that day and finish the sentence:
“One of the things I like about you is ________________.”
When you are back together at the end of the day, share your experiences.

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Tip: As Marcia Cousin of Ballard Elementary has said in her paper, 'Random Acts of Kindness for Kids'...
Most kids easily understand "act" and "kindness" but might be unfamiliar with "random". Helping them define and learn to use this word is crucial to understanding the phrase.

Explain Random Acts of Kindness. You can do this by reading or telling children Random Acts of Kindness stories to get them to fully understand the concept.

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 ACTS OF KINDNESS FOR ANIMALS...

•Make a birdbath from a plastic dish and put it in your yard or on the windowsill. Keep it filled with water.
 
•Maintain water bowls during cold months for both migrating and local birds. Make birdseed available as well.
 
•Notify authorities immediately about pets left in hot cars. You may save a life.
 
•Talk to younger children about why catching wild creatures such as frogs and turtles is not a good idea. Remind them that wild animals need to stay wild and free.
 
•Offer to wash your dog or a neighbor's dog.
 
•Make nutritional treats for dogs and cats, and give them to neighbors for their pets. Make extra for animal shelters.
 
•Hold a fundraiser and donate the proceeds to an animal shelter or wildlife fund

•Adopt a lion, tiger, whale, or other animal. Many zoos, aquariums, and animal sea habitats have adoption programs. In exchange for financial support, you get a photo and biography of your new adoptee.

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  From Laura~  At the After Care Program I run, we have a RANDOM ACT OF KINDNESS CHAIN. A link is addded every time a random act of kindness is witnessed (The loops are made out of construction paper).  We then send a coupon home that says  "Be proud of your child, they have performed a random act of kindness today!" The kids love it! Each year we try to beat the previous year. We hang the chain around the room.

 

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 KINDNESS FOR THANKSGIVING
Near Thanksgiving, make a huge turkey body out of construction paper and affix it to a wall.
Give kids multi-colored paper feathers (construction paper, and write something nice about other students.
Collect the feather and place on the turkey.

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THE GOOD ELF! (A  Winter RAK Activity)

  1. Challenge children to do random acts of kindness for others for one day.
 2. Advertise, post info, and make a big deal about the day!.
 3. Tell youth that they are not to reveal that they have done these nice things and if someone should ask them, "Did you put away the dishes...or games..or whatever..."? They reply, "Must have been a good elf".

This activity helps children realize we don't always have to be recognized when we do something for someone else. If playing with preschoolers or kindergarteners, you may want to send a note home explaining how parents can help.
I can't remember where I first saw this, but we do it every year! Cassie/Mi.

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100 ACTS OF KINDNESS
Adapted from L. Davis & C. Adams, Iowa

Celebrate the 100th day of school! (In the States, this is usually in February)

Make a large poster in the shape of the number 100 to hang in your program area. SEVERAL WEEKS before the 100th day of school, discuss acts of kindness toward others. Based on the number of youth in your program, two to three weeks before the big day, announce open season on acts of kindness. Encourage the children to recognize acts of kindness by others.
 
Each time kids see a classmate or friend engage in an act of kindness, they will tell staff and then put a sticker and their friend's name on the poster. The students can NOT name themselves, only others.
 
It should be easy to reach the goal of 100 acts of kindness. A profound difference in behavior, relationships, and outlook will be noticed.

• ANOTHER NICE KINDNESS FOR 100TH DAY OF SCHOOL...
Collect 100 hugs. Keep track on them on a chart.

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 SIX DISPLAY WALL IDEAS!

 Great idea! Your own version of a GRAFFITI WALL! 

The 180 Ways to Be Kind  photograph is courtesy of Classroom Display Blog  Put up a large sheet of paper and title. Challenge children to come up with '180 ways' to be kind to each other, teachers, parents, friends, siblings and community in general! (180 is just an idea-it could be 175, 200, etc.) If you have an after-school program, consider opening it to the entire school! 

Additionally, the '100th Day of School' falls about the same time in February as 'Random Acts of Kindness Week'! Consider combining the Graffiti Wall with 100 ways to be kind and celebrate both!

 

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THINK ABOUT...

When 'Random Acts of Kindness and Community Service' are incorporated into programs and classrooms, consider not basing the activity on children receiving individual PRIZES AS AN INCENTIVE. However, do set goals and celebrate as a group when goals are acheived!

We want children to do nice things--because it is helpful to others and feels good! Don't offer bribes, or bargain for good works. For example: "If you do this---I'll give you____". These practices do not build character, or a sense of program/family community.  

The best example to children in the meaning of kindness and altruism -- is for adults in their lives to demonstrate generousity of spirit, good deeds and acts of service...

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"WALL OF LOVE" DISPLAY WALL

The staff at Colchester Institute Library (UK) put together this "Wall of Lurve" (You can call it Wall of 'Kindness'  'Friendship', or  '______'.)  The  library staff provided a display for students and staff to write messages. Around 150 pink hearts were displayed on the Wall at the entrance to the library.

This is something that could easily be adapted to a class or after-school program!  The hearts could  be filled with Acts of Kindness for February's Kindness Week! A really nice idea to cover Valentine's Day, Friendship Month and Kindness Week all in one!

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On a wall, have children/staff make a HUGE GUMBALL MACHINE. Children's names combined with their act of 'kindness' are recorded on large gumballs and then placed on the gumball globe. When the machine is filled- celebrate with the group for achieving your goal!

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SHARE YOUR IDEAS!

♥ What are some things you are doing with your school, classroom, center, or program? Let us know via the comment box below or thru the contact page--and your 'Acts of Kindness' will be entered on this page! Thank you for sharing...

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Community Service and Acts of Kindness go hand in hand. You may also be interested in the Community Service Ideas (Many kindness activities there) and Bully Category

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 Click here for pg. 2...

CREATIVE: Original, resourceful, imaginative, inspired, artistic, inventive, ingenious, innovative, productive, having vision, freshness, novel, unique.... Do you have any ideas that suit the word "creative"?

This is a sample of creative ideas through-out the site! However, if there is something you've done or do--that is a bit different or fun-- would you share with us?


Send it via the 'contact page' or a the bottom of this page in contact/biuquote. All contact information will be held in confidence and not shared. You will be given full credit!
Thank-you.
Barb Shelby

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OPEN YOUR PROGRAM TO NEW EATING EXPERIENCES!

Choose 1 day a month to try a different type of food. Go through cookbooks with the kids and put together a shopping list of international foods aisle items.... Or, go to the produce department to find fruits and vegetables from other countries to try.
You also can go through the newspaper’s local restaurant review section with your kids and choose an ethnic restaurant where you can pick up specialties to try...

As the children try the new food, talk about how they are the same or different from what they usually eat. What are the different tastes? What are the different ingredients?

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PLAN A HEALTHY HEART DAY! (Read this, it's fun!)

Celebrate a “healthy” heart with fun, aerobic activities that get children up and moving. You may want to set up several skill stations; this is an idea adapted from Celebration Games: Physical Activities for Every Month (2006 Human Kinetics).

STATIONS CAN INCLUDE:

• STEP AEROBOCS STATION: Set up four or five step aerobic steppers and music.
• HEALTHY HEART EXERCISES: Demonstrate several aerobic exercises and have children perform three aerobic exercises of their choice at this station (ie. jumping jacks, jumping rope, jogging in place)
• CHOLESTEROL: Pictures of both high and low cholesterol foods are taped down. Children throw beanbags underhand from a throw line at low cholesterol foods.
• BLOOD PRESSURE: Make a sign that says “normal blood pressure 120/80” and tape down pictures of things that can raise blood pressure such as smoking, unhealthy foods, lack of exercise and stress. Children THROW BEANBAGS UNDERHAND from a throw line at the things that will raise blood pressure. (You can put point values on targets and total points)
• A HEALTHY BUT YUMMY SNACK TABLE at culmination of activity.
• Divide the children into groups and disperse them evenly among the stations. Place them in a numerical order and have them keep this order for all stations. Set the number of tries for each turn and announce when it is time to rotate to the next station. Leave ample space between stations and advise children not to stand in the throwing areas. Adapted and expanded upon from: School-age Note of the Day- 2/5/07 schoolagenotes.com     

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Along the same lines~HEART BEATS...

Can you find or borrow one or two good quality stethoscopes?
Show children how to use the stethoscopes to listen to their heart beat. Show them how to tap out the rhythm of their heart: lub-dub-lub-dub.

If young---Ask children if they can think of any way to change how fast their hearts are beating.
For all kids---Have them jog in place for several minutes, then have them recheck the rhythm beats of their hearts.

Extended Activity:
Are any of your parents or friends a nurse or doctor? Ask him/her to visit your group and bring in a stethoscope. Have the visitor talk to the kids about keeping their hearts strong and healthy. (With exercise, good food and sleep!)

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START A "SAC (or OST) BOOK" of RECORDS~ Your own Guinness Book of Records!!!
This one is a winner! Keep your own SAC book of records and have the kids try to set records for things such as:

• Most jumping jacks

• Jumps in jump roping

• Running laps in gym

• Running laps outside

• Most crafts made for the month or year

• Longest handstand

• Most books read, puzzles completed, etc.

• Anything else that you can think of.

Example for "Book of Records"...
ALL IN ONE! Group Activity: Stand in a circle holding hands. One person is in the middle. That person in the middle calls in some one--one at a time. The goal is to see how many people you can fit in the middle---without breaking hands. Use this yearly to see if each new year can beat previous years!

• When kids seem to be tired of this activity give them a new record to break and a fun reward if they set a new record!
• Be sure to make this a yearly ongoing event---NEW records can be set each year!!! 
• TIP: Remember--with something like this--CONSISTENCY is the key!

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Two BEGINNING OF THE YEAR IDEAS! Creative Fun from the 'Back to School' Category'!!!

#1 BUILDING NEW FRIENDSHIPS Bulletin Board

I do an opening week activity that also takes care of a bulletin board for the first month or so. I cut several block shapes (like cement blocks) out of brightly colored paper. On each, I write a declarative statement.

     • I love broccoli. I have broken a bone. I went ice-skating this summer. I have been in another country. I have met someone famous. Be creative with your statements!

Sometime during the first few days, I pass them around and students sign all blocks that apply to them. I sign them also, then circulate them through the rest of the teaching staff, the administrators, the cafeteria workers, custodians, crossing guards, playground aides, etc. It usually takes  about a week to get them all back.

I then "build" a wall with them on a bulletin board under a banner I made on the computer that says "Building New Friendships."

Whenever visitors come into our classroom, I ask them to sign the appropriate blocks, also. This is really a conversation starter and helps the kids find common areas of interest with people they might not have thought of otherwise. Idea of Tami Knight on 'Classroom Displays and Bulletin Boards' by Barbara Colvin

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#2 GREAT IDEA! BACK TO SCHOOL MEMORY GAME AND PUZZLES

1. On one of the first days of school-- take each child's picture.
2. Make double prints and laminate each photograph.
3. Make a Memory Game out of the pictures of the kids. (The children would play the game of Memory just like the regular game)

After a few weeks, save one copy of photos for your program 'Memory Book' or if this is for a classroom--give to parents!
Cut the other set of photographs and make a personal puzzle for each child. Submitted by Ilene/California

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The following are three ideas by Christine Holtz - winner of the 2008 AfterSchoolPRO Quest for Excellence Award. Christine has worked in afterschool for more than 16 years and is a School Age Program Assistant - Target Level at Luke Air Force Base near Phoenix, AZ.

#1 PROJECT- BUILD A DOLL HOUSE WOODWORKING PROJECT...
The children made BLUE-PRINTS ALLTHE WAY DOWN TO THE LANDSCAPING, and determining the kind and amount of materials needed. This required the children to come together to problem solve, debate, and compromise on different aspects of the plan. Then the construction phase started.
Children learned quickly that they needed to measure and calculate in order for their home to be accurate. Through this one project alone, children learned logical sequence, valuable communication skills, math, and teamwork.

#2 JOB CENTER

• Here children apply for PROGRAM JOBS such as tour guides: Kids assist in orientation of incoming families.
• Zoo Keeper: Children maintain program pets.
• Community Leader: Children make calls to set up community projects and office assistant... 
• These are only a few. After  children apply, the oldest interview applicants and fill the positions.
  This is a great ongoing activity demonstrating REAL LIFE SKILLS they will soon encounter as young adults joining the workforce.

#3 Another innovative idea developed due to the extreme summer heat in Arizona and the limitation of the children to enjoy the great outdoors. This was no challenge to Christine. She brought the outside in with an overnight camping area in the Drama Center. The children’s imaginations soared when tents went up, sleeping bags went down, and a paper fireplace was created. Their imagination led to surrounding the camp with rocks and caves and a fishing hole.

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CAN YOU ADAPT ANY OF THIS IN YOUR PROGRAM?
We are an after-school program in a museum, so we probably differ from many programs, but we do offer a number of special programming activities, including having the kids share and display their own collections in the museum (Pokemon cards, rocks, dolls, t-shirts, etc...)

It's a GREAT WAY for kids to understand the importance of capturing part of the legacy of their childhood and learning why museums collect and preserve objects.

We also have Sleep Overs in the museum based on  thematic subjects such as dinosaurs, whales, mammals, Adirondack mountains, immigration, Women's history, etc... We run educational activities for kids and their chaperons until 9:00 or 10:00 p.m. (Art & crafts, museum education programs with lots of objects & artifacts to examine & explore, free time in the museum and usually a music or story telling program to close the evening.) Then campers bed down in the exhibit gallery and when they awake, we provide breakfast and a scavenger hunt through the museum before they go home at 9:00 a.m.

Our kids often make their own MINI MOVIES about particular exhibits. We are a natural history museum that also features the social history of NY State. Kids often don't see the relevance of history to their lives, so we charge the kids with making a movie about a particular period, as evidenced in a museum exhibit. Examples might include: Harlem in the 1920's, Ellis Island, Native Peoples of NY State, whales or other animal-related exhibits, etc. The kids have to conduct some research to gain background knowledge before writing scripts, creating story boards, assembling costumes, rehearsing and practicing camera work, etc. They suddenly become "experts" on a particular subject and often ask to interview curators, scientists, historians or other experts so that they can "get it right" for their films! Stephanie Miller, Director of Youth Services, New York State Museum

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DO YOU INCLUDE CLUBS IN YOUR PROGRAM?
Why Should You?

    • Community spirit grows as mixed-ages interact

    • Children interact with those they may not know

    • Social skills & creativity are nurtured

    • Older help the younger

    • Younger learn from the older

    • New skills are learned; learning is integrated

    • Mixed-ages are supported

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STAR FISH CLUB LEARNING EXPERIENCE, INCENTIVES AND MORE!!!  (From Tasha Palmer, California)

 I called this the STAR FISH CLUB; my theme for the year was Oceans of Fun! Basically, I  created a poster with 84 questions the children needed to answer/research/do.The students could answer as many as they wanted to. None of the questions were theme based--but random. I used some of the questions from the website, but I also incorporated character education and various languages, math skills, etc. - Knowing how many of my students struggled with telling time or multiplication (from the previous year) I included that topic as well.

 I would create worksheets and put on the board "Question 17---See Ms. Tasha for a worksheet on telling time." ... I had grade level sheets so I could make it harder for my upper grades than lower grades. During homework time if a child had no homework or finished their homework, they would have time to work on the questions.

Students were entered into the HALL OF FAME for answering one question. There were special prizes for MEETING MILESTONES such as 24 or 48 questions. At the end of the school year, I had a SPECIAL DINNER for the families of those students who completed the awards.

Throughout the year, I would have SPECIAL DAYS for "Hall of Famers" as an added incentive and to keep the kids motivated. It was so much fun!

The kids really got into it and so did their parents. My students learned so much and really enhanced some of the skills. Their teachers were excited and willingly stayed after school to help research some of it.
...what was even better was the kids didn't see it as more homework but as FUN! From Tasha Palmer in California I adapted this idea from a school teacher in Oregon. (See website: www2.redmond.k12.or.us/mccall/renz/masteryclub.htm)

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON STAR FISH CLUB:

    • As for tracking the answers the children gave-I created a system in which the students wrote their answer on a sheet of lined paper to include their full name and what number they are answering.

    • I wouldn't accept any papers without this information.

    • I also had a box next to the board that the students submitted their work. Each morning I would go through the questions, check them, write comments, and on a star chart next to the child's name (which they can't get their name on the chart until they answered the first question) I would write what number they have completed. They were then able to always see which ones they have completed and also how many they have completed.

    • I would then have one of my students pass they answers back in the PM with my comments.

    • The box was left out during the day so at anytime the students could turn them in. They knew I would not be returning them until the next day. It really only took about 10 minutes in the morning as not all of the students were doing it. I did this with 125 students ages 1st - 5th grade.

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CLAYMATION MOVIES My name is Erika Thiel, I am the 4-H Program Coordinator in Bonners Ferry, Idaho. Over the past four years I have been able to offer an Art & Technology program where we make claymation movies and also do image manipulation – the list goes on and on.

At any rate, I utilize Image blender and Video Blender programs from Tech4Learning (ages range from K-12). Tech4Learning provides the software and site licenses for multiple computers AND lesson plans; the software doesn’t come free but I feel it has paid for itself with the amount of resources they provide. In addition, the lesson plans address National Education standards. For more information click here. 

 

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 DOES YOUR PROGRAM HAVE A SWAT TEAM? SWAT stands for students who assist teachers.

SWAT members help students, staff, and parents before and after school and during special events. Students receive training in matters such as courteous greetings, assisting others, and maintaining a safe environment. One school (Deer Park Elementary in Texas) believes this is instrumental in helping promote an atmosphere that is orderly and friendly in their school. This is different than the school safety team. SWAT is something your program could provide and then have members offer their services for school functions.

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CHECK OUT THE ACTIVITIES OF ONE JR. HIGH AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAM!

WILSON JR. HIGH AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAM
Council Bluffs Community School District

CLUBS:
 
1. A BLAST FROM THE PAST!
Students work with peers in small groups to create web pages, display boards, performances, and compositions related to historical events/people. Teams of students present their project at a local competition and have the opportunity to go on to regional and national competitions. They also explore careers related to the area of history. Research, literacy, team work, problem solving are skills that are honed in this club.
 

2. SOLAR CAR...
Teams of students create model solar cars, culminating in a race in May. The program focuses on math, science and technology. Grand prize winners receive a trophy, gift certificate to "Discover" and are featured in a local newspaper story.
 

3. WEB CLUB...
Students receive training in website development, digital design, digital photography, interviewing skills and writing. Students create a CD and their own personal web site, and they interview information technology professionals in the community.
 

4. OUTDOOR ADVENTURE...
Students meet once per week and also on two Saturdays to focus on environmental issues and how they relate to students' lives. Students hike, climb ropes, learns how to survive in the wild, and explore careers related to the environment, sports and physical education. Literacy, team work, health sciences, environmental sciences are all skills acquired in the club.
 

5. REEL TO REEL...
Students work in teams to create digital video documentaries. They learn how to create a story board and interview people, use a digital camcorder and create a CD. They tour TV stations and have speakers come in a talk about careers in communication and technology fields.
 

6. EVENING PROGRAM FOR STUDENTS AND PARENTS
PIZZA AND PAGES...
Parents and students attend weekly evening sessions to discuss selected books. Dinner and baby sitting are provided. Participants keep the books at the end of the program

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Have a ______(Blank) of the Day--Each and Every Day!

It's fun to have a daily program or classroom feature where there is a "_______ (blank) of the Day! "
This could be a doodle, riddle, trick question, joke, definition of a word or quote.

Brains crave variety and incorporating activities such as this, will certainly go towards some cognitive variety!

Each month or week, change out "What the _____of the Day" will be!  As written above, it could be the puzzle, a word definition, riddle, trick question, or quote. Great for all school ages to high school! Just put the _______on a black board or white board near the room entrance. By the end of the day---discuss guesses and answers.

....if you're taking the time to look at the sample board to the left--the answers are: Period in History, Reading between the lines, Long underwear, Eggs over easy, I understand, Down town, Paradise or Pair of dice!

It's fun to see how many more ideas of your own that you and the kids can come up with! Board by BShelby-KidActivities

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GUESS THE PERSON, ANIMAL OR THING! (This could be  a version of "Have a  ______ of the Day!"

1. Using a picture of an animal, children's character or personality, cover the entire picture with puzzle pieces to hide identifying features.
 
2. Take one piece off at a time; children guess who/what is underneath.

3. This can be done as a group game, individual or team play. It could also be set up in a special daily spot--with guesses being made as removed pieces reveal who/what it is!

4. Depending on how you play this-points can be added or subtracted. The most points of course going to the individual or team who correctly guesses with the least amount of puzzle pieces removed!

Be sure to check out the Transition/Sponge activities and games...More than 70 ideas!!! Don't make kids sit/stand and wait. Have fun whenever you  have some "down time"...

See page 2 for more ideas!

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Click here for pg. 1

 

 This is a fun 'Community" idea for the month of April!

'EARTH DAY' GROCERIES PROJECT
Four Simple Steps

 

1. Borrow. Contact a local grocery store that uses large paper grocery bags. See if the manager will let you "borrow" enough bags so that each student in your school can decorate one. Let the manager know about the project and its environmental education message, of course! Grocers usually get these bags in "bundles" of 500.
 
2. Decorate. Have students at school decorate the bags with pictures of the earth, environmental messages, the name of your school, etc. Be creative! DO NOT allow students to write their last names on any bags.
 
3. Deliver. A couple of days before Earth Day you and/or your students return the decorated bags to the grocery store - with many thanks to the manager! The store then distributes these bags (full of groceries) to happy and amazed shoppers on Earth Day.
 
4. Report. Fill out the Report Form on the project web site with a count of how many bags your school made. Please, only one report per school. All reports will be posted on the Earth Day Groceries site

You do not need to sign up or register, just have a great time with the project! For more information, check the FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) on the above website link.

Another Idea: If you can't use paper bags, you can have students decorate individual fliers, or even bookmarks, which can be handed out to shoppers or inserted in their shopping bags. These will be counted in the project tally, so do send in your report!
This is a great idea, even if you do it on your own!

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NAME FUN...Good for about grade 3 to adult--some younger children 'may' enjoy a couple!

WHAT WOULD YOUR NAME BE IF YOU USED...

(Examples shown...)

1. YOUR ROCK STAR NAME: First pet & current family car (Pixie PT Cruiser)

2. YOUR DETECTIVE NAME: Favorite color & favorite animal (Red Chimpanze) 

3. YOUR SOAP OPERA NAME: Middle name, city where you were born
(Jean Detroit)

4. YOUR STAR WARS NAME: the first 3 letters of your last name and first 2 letters of your first name
(She Ba)

5. SUPERHERO NAME: 'The' plus 2nd favorite color and  favorite drink
(The Brown Sweet Tea)

6. NASCAR NAME: The first names of your grandfathers
(Joseph Anthony)

7. TV WEATHER ANCHOR NAME: Your 5th grade teacher's last name, a major city that starts with the same letter
(Celestine Chicago)

8. SPY NAME: your favorite season/holiday and flower
(Autumn Daisy)

9. CARTOON NAME: (favorite fruit plus article of clothing you're wearing right now and add 'ie' or 'y'
(Watermellon Soxy)

10. HIPPY NAME: What you ate for breakfast plus your favorite tree
(Muffin Red Maple)

11. YOUR ROCKSTAR TOUR NAME: 'The' and Your favorite hobby/craft and favorite weather element plus the word 'Tour'
(The Designing Blue Sky Tour)

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Have a PURPLE PEOPLE EATER Theme...

A fun theme to celebrate with kids! Be sure to visit it for art, crafts, and literacy ideas. Good for Classrooms, after school and childcare programs...Also would make a fun family event!

Additionally, check out all the themes featured in left side category list of this site...

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EACH MONTH-CELEBRATE 'BONZA BOTTLER DAY'!

What is it??? It's a day just to have a reason to celebrate. We all need a day to just be silly and have fun--so celebrate!!! 
This happens each month when the day and date are the same number!
Example: January 1, February 2, March 3, April 4, May 5, etc.

Bonza Bottler Day is a favorite with many school classrooms and programs because it provides a break in routine for the students and teachers. It has been celebrated since August 8 (8-8) 1985!

When the number of the year also coincides with the number of the day and month (October 10, 2010, there is reason to have a bigger celebration (more food, more friends and more decorations).This is called a 'Bodacious Bonza Bottler Day'. As the official website  states, "Bodacious means extraordinary, impressively great in size, or enormous" Consider making this a monthly event the kids can look forward to!

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This is Page 2... Back to Page 1 for Creative SchoolAge Care Program (OST) Ideas

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As you look through these ideas, you'll see great variety that work both in classrooms AND in Before and After School Programs! 

 There are ideas that incorporate physical activity, community service, kindness, snacks, art and more...Many are just plain fun any time!!! (Be sure to look at #35 and the last one with jewelry! Consider these waaaaaay before the 100th day-Some will take thought and preparation! It will however, be well worth it!

1. Have children make a collection of 100 items and display them on a poster board.

 

 2. Make up your own trail mix using 100 items of each ingredient.

3. Say “Hello” in 100 languages.

4. Gym Time Version #1: After exercising 100 times, (10 jumping jacks + 10 times touching toes, etc.), take out a stop watch and have 100 seconds of silence. Enjoy that 100 seconds! 

5. Gym time Version #2: Do and count 10 sets of ten of the following: 

• Sit-ups
• Touching the toes- then the shoulders - the waist
• Jumping on both `feet’
• Jumping Jacks
• Wiggles all over
• Hop on one foot, then on the other
• Bounces of a ball
• Claps-Shrugs-Etc.

6. See what you can make with 100 Legos.

7. If it’s near Valentine's Day, make 100 Valentine cards for local nursing home residents.

8. 100 Foot Prints:
With a friend- trace each others' feet.

• Each child colors and decorates one foot. do this with each child in the program. Do both if necessary. 
• Combine all decorated traced feet and tape the footprints down the hall.
• Mark off every 10 feet until you reach 100.  (Talk to Principal of School to see if there is an area where you can do this...)

9. How many times can students write their name in 100 seconds?  Predict, and then actually do it.

10. Snack - Use one pretzel and two oval crackers to make the numeral "100". Using an oval template a little smaller than the cracker, cut two pieces of cheese to go on the crackers.

11. Play music…Dance for 100 seconds…stop... then do again…

12. Predict how far 100 steps will take you? How many to the gym? To the playground?

13. Puzzle Fun, Prizes and Community Service all in one! 

• Break the children into groups and put together 100 piece puzzles. 
• Consider using some of them as prizes-- or take a few to an Assisted Living Home when the puzzles are completed.

14. Good Idea for the Graffiti Wall!

• On the 100th day of school put together a list of 100 things in which staff and youth are thankful.
• Put these on a large sheet of roll paper. (The Graffiti Wall)
• Encourage youth to be creative and thoughtful as they come up with their ideas.
• The word "things" does not necessarily mean material items.
• Leave up the wall for the week.
• This can be started BEFORE the 100th Day.

15. One Hundred Hanging Objects: 

• As a group, decide on a “set item” such as hearts for Valentine Day-- or some other object that correlates with your current theme.
• Each child would make items to get to the “100” number to hang in the room.
• Some thing could also be illustrated or written on the objects that relates to the theme. (For hearts, children could draw or write kind actions they can do for others.)
• Attach the 100 objects to various lengths of yarn and hang in the room.

16. Try to get painter’s caps donated from a local lumber yard. Decorate the hat with 100 things. You can use 100 dots, stripes, ribbons, macaroni, popcorn kernels, cereal, buttons, or stickers!

17. Make a poster for your hallway that has 100 painted handprints. This heart shape would be nice.

18. In one program, children popped 100 balloons in the gym while they were timed to see how long it would take. A middle school program was enlisted to help blow up the 100 balloons (A nice Community Service) and they were more than willing! The kindergarteners loved it. It really got the children” pumped” for the special day!

19. For kindergartners learning to write to 100: 

• Have children work with a partner (pair up a child that is struggling with someone who is good with numbers).
• They write to 100 on adding machine tape.
• Each child has a different colored marker, and they alternate writing the numbers. (For example 1 is red, 2 is blue, 3 is red, 4 is blue.....on and on to 100).
• The kids will love to do this; it’s amazing how much they teach each other!!

20. Hold a school wide contest entitled "Guess which jar has 100 pieces of candy".  Invite some classes to Guess Which Jar has 100?

   • Each student is given a ballot prior to coming into the program or area.

   • They can first view your children’s 100th day projects and then guess which jar has the 100 pieces in it.

   • The youth drop their ballot off in a basket next to the particular jar they believe has the 100 pieces of candy. (There are jars of small wrapped candies.)

   • To add on to this idea--- the visiting children go out into the hallway and walk the 100 footsteps that are laminated on a roll of paper and taped down to the hallway floor.

   • At the end of the day, the winning jar # of candy is announced, and one piece of candy is distributed to each winner...Or if there is one winner, they can share the candy with their class!  Their name and room # are on the ballots.

21. Set up 100 cereal boxes in domino fashion and have children knock them down to watch them fall.   (Start collecting the boxes well in advance!!!)

22. Take an indoor parachute and popcorn 100 pair of rolled up socks… (Start getting old sock donations early!) Or put 100 one dollar play money bills in the parachute.

23. Read the book 100 Hungry Ants.

24. Before the 100th day - have children make posters with each child stamping 10 times on a piece of paper. Do this until you get to 100 stampings on each poster. Write "Happy 100th Day!" and post them around your area.
 
25. Have contests:

• Who can count backwards from 100 the fastest?
• Who can jump 100 jumping jacks the fastest?
• Who can jump-rope to 100?

26. A “Penny Harvest”: Each child is asked to bring 100 pennies that they harvest up from the loose change at home.

• The students estimate how much 100 pennies would weigh.
• How high they can stack 100 pennies.
• How many pennies it would take to outline a child.
• What the grand total amount would be of the pennies.
• Find your birth year on a penny.
• When done… donate ALL the pennies the students in the program collected to a local charity.

27. In the USA, the hundredth day usually falls in February, for 'Black History Month' put together a bulletin board with the children compiling a list of 100 African-Americans that have made a difference.

28. As each child enters the door on the 100th day, give them a number.

1. All through the morning and afternoon program time, set a timer to go off every 10 minutes.

2. At that point  someone takes a number from a hat - and the child with that number gets a small prize. 

3. Every 100th minute, the winner gets two small prizes. Children enjoy the anticipation.

4. Count by tens every time the timer goes off and kept a record on chart paper or whiteboard/blackboard.

5. When outside make sure you have the timer and prize box.

6. Stop after every child has a prize!!! Have children take a prize if they leave for home before their number is chosen.

 

29. Celebrate the 100th day or week celebration by shaking milk shakes 100 times. Make shakes from softened ice cream, milk and chocolate syrup if desired... put all into a tight containers. Have children count to 100 as they are shaken. Pour into individual glasses and add straws...Kids will love them!!!

30. Give each child in your program--- slips of paper that will eventually form a paper chain... The amount of slips of paper each child receives will be based on the number of kids in your program. (If you have many children consider doing 200 or 300)  Have each child write different things they enjoyed most in your program or class to this point. (One experience to one paper loop) Connect the 100 fun things together and hang it as a paper chain.

 31. During "100th Day" week put up a large sheet of butcher paper; you can also use a black board/white board with the title  "100 Happy Words". Words make the world go around and words that are "Happy" do affect the environment of your program!

32. TWO COMMUNITY SERVICE IDEAS: Collect 100 items for your local Humane Society. The children can donate food, treats, and toys for the animals. Count, sort, and graph the items. 'Kindness Week' is also in February--so this works well with that! Collect 100 returnable bottles and donate to a charity...

 

33. Tie the hundredth day with 'Acts of Kindness'.

• Make a tree out of poster board & add leaves using green, yellow, & orange construction paper.
• On each leaf write good deeds done by the children.
• Keep adding to the tree until it is blooming with 100 acts of kindness.
• The book The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein would work with this activity.

34. This idea is great for Pre-k and/or a Kindergarten SAC program.

• Read the Wolf's Chicken Stew...and then take the children AWAY from your room.
• Have someone hide 100 paper chickens cutouts around the room.
• Have chickens sticking out of books, in the play bins, in children's boots, under the tables and up/down/in/out of everything...!
• When children return have them find the chickens and group the chickens in lines or piles of 10's.
• Keep searching until children just don't find any more!It'll be a nice surprise when a few chickens are found over the next week or so. 

35. All 100th Dayed out??? (Great Idea!)  CELEBRATE THE 101st DAY OF SCHOOL with a Dalmatian theme and watching the movie "101 Dalmatians"!

36. Have kids complete this sentence: I wish I had 100 _________because ____________.

37. Have students collect 100 cans of food, and donate them to a local soup kitchen.
 
38. Ask kids to finish the sentence "One hundred years from now, ..."

39. With your group send a postcard to a school in some or all of the cities 100 miles away from yours.

40. Have students compare the time it takes to melt 100 ice cubes at several different air temperatures -- inside, outside, next to a heater, next to a fan -- and show the results in a chart or graph.
 
41. Have students make a list of 100 things that didn't exist 100 years ago.

42. Help your students make a classroom quilt with 100 squares in it.

43. Together with students' families, create a cookbook of 100 favorite recipes.

44. Without looking at a calendar---ask children to estimate what the date will be in 100 days and to check their estimates on a calendar.

45. Help your students list 100 flavors of ice cream, and have them vote for their favorites. Show the results in a chart.

46. Ask kids to write a list of 100 opposites.

47. Help children send 100 cards to a local nursing home.

48. Challenge students to perform 100 acts of kindness.

49. Have kids make a chain of 100 paper links and measure how long it is.

50. Help students learn a game that children played 100 years ago.

51. Invite someone 100 years old to visit your program/classroom.

52. Have kids write their names using 100 paper dots.

53. Challenge students to tell 100 jokes. (Compile them into a booklet--lots on this site under 'Literacy: Jokes')

54. Have a beanbag toss. Who can score 100 first?

55. Challenge your group to read 100 books.

56. Geography: Look at a map to find what is 100 miles north, south, east, and west of your school.

57. What was happening 100 years ago: Who was President? What were some new inventions?

58. String necklaces with 100 beads or Cheerios.

59. Calculate what year it will be when you turn 100 years old?

60. Write a story about what the world will be like in 100 years.

61. Are there buildings taller than 100 stories? Find out.

62. Sing “100 Bottles of Pop on the Wall” all the way through!

63. Learn 100 new words.

64. Build the tallest structure you can, using tape and 100 craft sticks or straws.

65. Count and glue 100 beans or seeds to a piece of cardboard.

66. Count by 2's to 100. Then, count by 5's.

67. What would you do with $100?

68. Close your eyes for 100 seconds. Stand when you think the time is up....Have someone time you).

69. What will happen 100 years from now?

70. Listen to 100 minutes of music...

71. Walk 100 yards with the entire group.

72. Put up 100 lights (Christmas type)

73. Toss a coin 100 times and graph the results... head and tails.

  74. Have children draw a picture of how they will look when they are 100 years old (These can be hysterical!) They can also write about the picture. What will they be doing? their families? What will the world be like! Etc.

  75. This is a great idea from Cassie in Michigan! I copied this idea from someone else--but now have been doing it for many years. The young kids love it and don't stop looking and touching every thing I'm wearing! Cassie

•  On the 100th day of school, I put on tons and tons of jewelry.
• The children guess whether I have less or more than 100 pieces of jewelry on. I cover myself in bracelets, pins, beads, chains, rings, etc.
• We chart all the guesses and all children get a treat...but the child who comes closest to the exact number gets an extra treat. (Usually it is OVER 100)
• ALSO---my two assistants dress as if they're each 100 years old. They hated the idea at first--but now really have a ball with it. Strangely, the kids are a lot more gentle around them on that day!!! LOL

76. THE 100 INCH DASH! (Game)
You need: yard stick and tape

Measure out 100" on the floor or field.

Mark a start and finish line with the tape.

Start the race at the signal and try to reach the finish line.

What makes this difficult is that the children are to move their feet only one inch at a time by taking baby steps!

The winner crosses the finish line first. 

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What are some of your ideas? Would love to get this to 100...please add yours to the 'Comment' area or via the 'Contact' page! 

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 BOOK LIST FOR 100TH DAY OF SCHOOL CELEBRATION (For young children)

•  100th Day Worries
  ...by Margery Cuyler
• Centipede's One Hundred Shoes
  ...by Tony Ross
• Emily's First 100 Days of School
  ...by Rosemary Wells
• Fluffy's 100th Day of School
  ...by Kate Mcmullan
• From One to One Hundred
  ...by Teri Sloat
• I'll Teach My Dog 100 Words
  ...by Michael Frith
• Miss Bindergarten Celebrates the 100th Day of School
  ...by Joseph Slate
• One Hundred Best Loved Verses
  ...by Mary Engelbreit
• One Hundred Hungry Ants
  ...by Elinor J Pinczes, Bonnie MacKain (Illustrator), Elinor Pinczes
• One Hundred Monsters in My School
  ...by Bonnie Bader
• One Hundred Shoes
  ...by Charles Ghigna
• One Watermelon Seeds
  ...by Celia Barker Lottridge
• The 100th Day of School
  ...by Matt Mitter
• The Wolf's Chicken Stew
  ...by Keiko Kasza
  Book List Source: apples4theteacher.com

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You are welcome to scroll through the entire category,or click on individual pages as you like...The first section -- Doing Crafts for Crafts or for Wonderful Gift Ideas is immediately below the menu.

Menu

• Crafts for crafts or that are great for Gifts
• Children's Crafts that Smell Good! 
• Gifts from a Child's Heart 
• Food Based Gifts
• Creative Ways to Wrap Gifts
• Windsocks and Windchimes

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This category contains a wonderful variety of crafts that would also make great gifts! Some can be made independently...Some will require a little help. You'll find these projects are adaptable to most seasons.

CRAFT GIFTS

YARN VASE
Materials:
A glass bottle
Yarn
Craft glue
A toothpick
1. Cover about 1" of the bottom of the bottle with glue.

2. Wind the yarn around the bottle, tight but not too tight. You can use different colors of yarn to make stripes on your vase.

3. When the glued area is completely covered, push the rows of yarn closer together. Tuck in the beginning of the yarn with a toothpick, add a little more glue there and press down for a minute.

4. Keep repeating steps 1, 2, and 3 until the whole bottle is covered with yarn. Glue will dry clear.

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PAINTED GLASS VASE
Recycle a jar into a pretty gift vase or pencil holder...
Materials:
Clean, empty jar
Acrylic or liquid tempera paints
Paintbrushes or cotton swabs
White glue
Clear glaze (available at craft stores)

• To make the paints stick to the glass, first mix the colors with some glue. Keep the paint thick so it won't run.
• Use brushes or cotton swabs to paint a design on the jar.
• To erase a mistake, use a paper towel to wipe off the paint before it hardens.
• LET THE PAINT DRY, then seal the finished design with a coat of glaze.
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CERAMIC HOT PAD
Paint children’s’ hands and place them on a 6x6 ceramic wall tile (You can usually get them donated through a home repair store). Write the child's name at the bottom. After 24 hours, put a sealer on the tile.

 

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ALTOID TINS make wonderful containers! (Gifts too!)

Need:
Empty, clean Altoid mint tins (other brands will do), acrylic paint, Paint brushes or sponges.
Decorative options: Ribbon, buttons, craft foam shapes, pom-poms, photos, magazine cut-outs, glitter glue, feathers...the possibilities are endless!

•  First paint the tins using acrylic paint. After the paint is dry, it's time to decorate. You can use a glue-gun, glue dots, craft glue or even sticky backed craft foam! It's that easy!
• Fill your new tins with barrettes, paper clips, earrings, postage stamps, lost buttons or make a mini-sewing kit for traveling.

 
It wouldn't cost much to turn it into a SEWING KIT as a gift...

 

 

From: Leslie S. /Minnesota
It works nicely as a SMALL FIRST AID KIT for the car!

  Paint the tin white--when dry add the large red cross in the center Fill it with some "FIRST AID SUPPLIES".
I used sticky-backed red craft foam to make the cross, so no glue was necessary. Then, I filled the tin with Tylenol type tablets, disinfectant wipe and a couple bandages.

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JAR CANDLES

• Save the stubs of candles. When you have several saved, melt them together in a double boiler.
• Color the wax by adding bits of crayon to the mixture.
• Pour the wax into glass jelly or mason jars-- or metal cans.
• Use cotton yarn for wicks, or you can purchase a roll of wick at a craft store.
• Decorate the outside of the candle holder with acrylic paints.

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MAKE SOME BEADS (Two Recipes)

• When making the dough, tint the water with food coloring. (Use the 'Baked Art Dough' recipe below)
• Have children roll the dough into bead shapes.
• Insert a large nail through each shape before baking.
• When the shapes have cooled---remove the nails and have children string the beads to make necklaces.

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BAKED ART DOUGH
Good for making gifts! In a bowl, mix together 2 cups flour and ½ cup salt. Stir in ¾ cup water. Knead the mixture for 8 to 10 minutes, until it is smooth and pliable. If the dough is too dry, add a few drops water. If it is too sticky, add a small amount of flour. Have children mold the dough into shapes and press in decorations when desired.

• Place the decorated shapes on a baking sheet and bake them at 300 degrees F for about 4 hours, or until hard.
• If desired, when shapes are cool and dry, spray the painted or unpainted shapes with a clear fixative—in an area away from youth.

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JEWELRY CLAY
3/4 cup flour
1/2 cup salt
1/2 cup cornstarch
Warm water

• Mix dry ingredients together.
• Gradually add warm water until the mixture can be kneaded into shapes. An adult shouild supervise so the mix doesn't become too watery.
• Form beads by breaking the dough into little balls and rolling it to the desired shape.
• Pierce the balls with toothpicks. Allow the balls to dry.
• When dry, paint and string the beads.

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MAKE JEWELRY OUT OF PUZZLE PIECES

Take a piece of a jigsaw puzzle, or several pieces glued together, paint it and decorate it with beads, glitter, sequins, etc., Glue a jewelry pin on the back.  

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FLOWER POT PENCILS
Materials:
Pencil
Hair scrunchies
Craft foam leaves
Scissors
Hole punch
Clay pot
Black beans
Remember those fluffy scrunchies from the 80's and 90's (the material on an elastic band) that so many of us used to make our pony-tails? Collect all you can for this fun spring/summer craft or gift.

• For each flower, wrap 1 or 2 COLORFUL HAIR SCRUNCHIES around the top of a pencil.
• Cut out a pair of green craft foam leaves (You can pre-make a template for children to trace)
• Lightly etch leaf vein lines in the foam with the tip of a toothpick. Using a hole punch, make a hole in the base of each leaf.
• Put the finished flowers in a clay pot filled with dried black beans (Tape over the pot hole if beans fall through) 

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PENNY PAPER WEIGHT

Materials:
Cleaned and shiny pennies
Elmers Glue
Small tiles ( I used about 3”x 3” – you can also use the top side of jar lids)
Felt pieces for bottom
For a SAC program, I picked up discontinued tiles (see if you can get them donated--the store gave me about 100 for no charge!)

1. First clean and dry the pennies.
2. Next glue pennies to the attractive side of the tile. Glue on the first layer and then in places--- glue two or three on top of each other. Glue will dry transparent. Pennies donot have to cover all edges as the tile underneath is nice looking.
3. When pennies are dry--- fit, cut, and glue felt to the bottom.
4. The tiles used were unfinished on the side, so we used permanent marker along the edge.
5. You can protect pennies with a coat of clear polish!

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TISSUE BOX GIFTS
Directions call for "un-opened facial tissue box".
1.  Take the box and glue pasta shapes all over it--except the opening at the top.
2. IF KIDS WANT, give them a couple days to cover the box completely with the pasta shapes--(they'll do a nicer job if they also have time to do other things too.) Use uncooked pasta shapes of macaroni, wagon wheels, bow ties, and cork-screws...
3.  When the glue has dried, spray paint the boxes gold (away from the kids)...

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Make a TERRERIUM OR SEASIDE SCENE inside a small to medium glass vase.

• Use pebbles, green moss, fall foliage, twigs, small pieces of wood or stone for the EARTH TERRARUIM.
• Or use beach sand, shells, small pieces of driftwood, the small discarded shell of a crab, etc., for a  SEA SCENE.
  TIP: Put small glass vases in your wish list! I imagine that your parents have quite a few vases in their cupboards that they could donate--I get a couple every year with gifts of flowers.

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CRAFT STICK TREASURE BOX
Materials:
1 package of large or small craft sticks
White craft glue
Buttons or beads
Paint brush
Wax paper
Optional: Acrylic paint, Glitter glue, Craft jewels

• Lay several craft sticks on the wax paper, next to each other and touching. Be sure to line them up evenly.
• Use two more craft sticks and glue on top of the others, one at each end, to hold the rest together. They will look similar to a fence or log raft.

  

• Use two more craft sticks --and glue ends of stick-- to the ends of the sticks that are already in place, so that they create a square.
• Keep repeating this alternating process to build up the sides as high as you would like.

 

Make the lid by repeating steps 1 & 2 above. Let everything dry completely.
You can leave your box plain or paint it. You can also add a shiny effect by painting on a layer of glitter glue over white paint. Glue a bead or stacked matching buttons to the center of the finished lid as a handle.
You can further embellish your jewelry box by decorating it with craft jewels.
Adapted from: artistshelpingchildren.org

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SILOUETTE GIFT

Materials:

2 Pieces of White Construction Paper
1 Piece of Black Construction Paper
Pencil
Glue
Tape
Scissors
Flashlight or Lamp with the Shade Removed

•  Tape a piece of white construction paper onto a wall.
• Have the person sit sideways in front of the paper; have someone use the light to cast a shadow of the profile on the paper.
• Trace the profile.
• Trace the profile onto the black paper and cut it out.
• Glue the profile onto the other white paper.

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• 

VOTIVE CANDLES

Materials:
Baby food jars or jam jars
Scraps of tissue paper
Diluted paste or glue
Votive candles

 Clean the jars well and let dry. You can use small jars...but check the size of the votive candle to make sure it will fit.

• Have the children  brush glue onto the jar and place different colors of tissue paper over the glue, overlapping so the entire jar is covered on the outside. When brushing the tissue with glue be sure to do so gently so it doesn't tear. If it tear, remove or leave wrinkled.
• The glue will appear to be white but will dry clear and when a candle is lit inside will give off a pretty color and design.
  Great for gift time!
    ♥ Mother’s Day: Use Mom’s favorite colors 
    ♥ Christmas: Use red and green 
    ♥ Valentine's Day: Use pink & red and so forth...

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DECOUPAGE COOKIE PLATES

You need:
Clear glass plates, plain white paper, pencil, scissors, crayons or markers, Modge Podge

1. Trace around a plate. Cut out the circle.
2. Make a colorful drawing on the paper circle.
3. Brush Mod Podge onto the back of the plate.
4. Press the picture onto the back of the plate.
5. Press out any wrinkles.
6. Let the plate dry.

If you're an adult and making on this for a gift-fill this plate with cookies you have made! Cover with colored cellophane and ribbon.

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ROCK ART are great gifts for people. They can be used as paper weights, decorations for indoor gardens or masterpieces to be shown throughout the home.
1. Gather various shapes and sizes of rocks found at parks or along beaches or in your own background. All sizes and shapes are perfect for rock art.
2. Clean the rocks and air dry.
3. Gather various art supplies. (Markers, paints, crayons, glue, fabric...)
4. Decorate.

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CRAYON COVERED ROCK PAPERWEIGHT...

Makes a nice gift!
Materials:
Zip--close plastic bag,
Wooden or rubber mallet
Smooth, flat rocks about the size of your fist
Aluminum foil or an old pie tin
Felt scraps
Scissors
White glue

• Choose crayons in three or four light or bright colors. Dark crayons will make the color on the rock look muddy.
• Peel the crayons, put them in the zip-to-close bag, and seal it.
• Place the bag on a hard surface such as a floor or sidewalk. Using the mallet, pound the crayons into small pieces.
• Place the rock in the pie tin or on a sheet of aluminum foil in the hot sun. Sprinkle it with the crayon pieces.
• When the crayon pieces have melted, but before they reach the point that they run off the rock, take the rock out of the sun to cool.
• The crayon will quickly harden and form a colorful and waxy coat over the rock.
• Cut a piece of felt to glue to the bottom of the rock to keep it from scratching the table.

The sample photograph is courtesy of World Preschool Mom. The rock was made by a four year old boy; it was colored after being in the oven for about ten minutes. With this method as Deneal states, place the rock on a sheet of foil (with a hot pad or towel under the foil) before decorating with crayons. The hotter the rock, the more runny the wax will be. (Use caution and supervision with this method.)

TIPS:

• IF WEATHER ISN'T HOT--- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Place the rocks on a foil covered cookie sheet and put them in the oven for the children. Keep an eye on them because the crayon melts quickly. It will re-harden within seconds of taking it out of the oven.
• To do outside---this project needs a hot, direct sun..
• If you're unhappy with the color of a crayon-coated rock--Reheat the rock and allow the crayon to melt to the point where most of it drips off the rock and onto the foil under it. Cover the rock with a new selection of crayon bits and see if you get a swirl of color you like better. Remember to avoid dark colors.
• ......A goal is to get it looking like a tie-dyed rock! The distinct lines of color can be very beautiful. Because the rocks can be easily redone, remember not to place the completed ones that you like in a sunny window or direct, hot sunlight because they will re-melt.

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NO ROCKS???
Try sprinkling crayon bits on the indented end of a metal lid from a frozen juice can. After crayon has melted and dried, attach a piece of sticky-back magnet to the back of the lid and put the colorful crayon magnet on the refrigerator. 

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CANCELLED ROCKS
(These make nice paperweights)
Materials
Cancelled stamps from your mail; small colorful pictures from seed catalogs and magazines may be used instead of stamps.
White glue (the kind that dries clear)
Clear shellac, varnish, or fingernail polish
Smooth surfaced rocks

• Wash, rinse, and dry rocks.
• Carefully peel off stamps from envelopes. It’s O.K. if some tear.
• On dry rock, spread a thin layer of glue
• Arrange stamps (or small pictures) on rock, OVERLAPPING, until all rock sides showing are covered. Let dry.
• Coat with thin layer of shellac or varnish, or fingernail polish.
  NOTE: You can also coat the finished rock with a thin layer of white glue. It will dry clear, but it will not be waterproof!

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POPSICLE STICK PENCIL HOLDER
If this is a gift, make it in the person's favorite colors.
Materials: Approximately 22 Popsicle sticks, container, paint (Optional)

• Take the paper label off the container.
• Line up a Popsicle stick, straight up and down, so that the bottom of the stick is just touching the bottom of the container and the top of the stick goes just over the top of the container.
• Glue in place. Glue another Popsicle stick next to the first one-- then repeat until you have glued on Popsicle sticks all the way around.
• Leave natural or paint the Popsicle sticks; use any color except green if you'll be painting on green leaves.
• Let paint dry.
• Paint flowers or decorated as desired.

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PLACE MATS AND COASTERS
Artwork can be transformed into useful place mats or coasters for children and family.

• Use existing artwork or have children design something special. For place mats, have children draw, paint or color a picture on a large piece of paper, then laminate it or cover it with clear contact paper.
• For coasters, children could trace templates on colored paper and laminate. Don't forget to sign and date the back!

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NAPKIN RINGS

• For each napkin ring you will need a chenille stem and several colorful beads.
• Have children twist the ends of each chenille stem so that a 2-inch circle is made to hold the napkin.
• Thread colorful beads on each end of the chenille.
• Cut off the extra chenille stem as needed; have children experiment with bending and twisting the ends of the chenille stems as the beads are added.

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BOOKMARKS make a great for a gift to someone you love. (Visit Bookmark Category) 
BOOKMARKS #1
Cut the front of appropriate greeting cards into 2 inch wide strips. Punch a hole at the top of each strip and attach a yarn tassel. Children can decorate the backs of the strips with markers and crayons if desired...
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BOOKMARKS #2
Make fun bookmarks with construction paper, markers, paints, and stickers. You can also use glitter, sequins, lace, doilies, buttons, and any other odds and ends you have left over form other projects. 

• Cut strips from construction paper, painting the construction paper will make it sturdier, or you can visit the local library or office supply to have them laminated for longer lasting use.
• To complete the bookmark, attach a tassel make from strands of yarn.

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STATIONARY
Decorate several sheets of paper and envelopes to give as stationery. Use glue and glitter, crayons, markers or paint for borders; or cut out pieces of sponge, dip them into paint and make stamps on the paper.

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FLOWER AND LEAF PRESS Note Cards or Pictures

Materials needed:
Old phone book
Collection of colorful leaves
Grasses, flowers, herbs
Craft glue
Plain note cards/postcards/watercolor paper.

• Take a nature walk on a clear, dry day. Collect any attractive flowers, leaves, grasses, and herbs.
• Separate each stalk or blossom. Place each one separately between the pages of the phone book, spacing them well apart from each other.
• Place the phone book in a cool, dry place for a week to ten days. Your leaves will then be totally dry and ready for use.
• Carefully apply craft glue, just a dab, to the back of the dried leaf or flower.
• Center it on a note card for a single design or place several as a collage on a sheet of watercolor paper, which can later be framed.
• Your leaf press can be used over and over again. Flowers can be stored in them for several months. A
• They're also nice for journals and bookmarks...

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DID YOU KNOW?
In Victorian times people planted decorative gardens and often preserved their herbs and flowers in a leaf press. Certain flowers were thought to have specific qualities:

• Rosemary for remembrance
• Roses for undying love
• Lavender for devotion
• Oak leaves for strength
• A note card that used the fragrant language of flowers conveyed more than words.

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LAYERED PASTA JARS
Collect an assortment of jars. Have children fill the jars in layers with a variety of shapes and colors of pasta. The jars make pretty decorations for kitchens, etc. Nice to give as a gift...

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THREE GIFT IDEAS FOR DAD, GRAMPA, UNCLE, ETC...
 
PLASTER PAPER WEIGHT
Materials:
Plaster of Paris,
Assorted nuts, bolts, etc.
Felt
Glue
Silver spray paint

• Mix up the Plaster of Paris according to package directions.
• Give each child about 1 cup of the mixture and have them form it into a lump with a flat bottom.
• Quickly before it hardens have them stick the nuts, bolts, etc. all over the lump.
• Leave it to harden overnight and then spray with silver paint.
• Last, cut out a piece of felt and glue it on the bottom.
  

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CHIP OFF THE OLD BLOCK (A gift for Dad)
Materials:
Block of wood 
Child's Photo 
Modge Podge

• Glue child's photo on the block of wood using the podge type effect.
• On the back of the wood have a card printed with 'A Chip Off The Old Block'.

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COIN HOLDER
Have children mold pieces of dough into small bowl shapes. Decorate the bowls by pressing colored pasta pieces and dried beans into the shape. Bake the bowls with decorations in place.
You can use the  recipe above...

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WIND CHIMES MAKE WONDERFUL GIFTS. For Windsock and Wind Chime ideas... Click Here

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PENCIL HOLDER FROM A YOUNG CHILD
Materials:
Tin can
Paper
Paint
Glue
Note.
Have each child paint or finger-paint a design on paper. When dry, cut the paper to fit around the tin can. (Make sure there are no sharp edges left on the can.) After reading the following note aloud to the children, have each sign his/her copy and tuck it into their can.

NOTE to tuck in can:
This little can, made of tin,
Was washed and saved to use again.
I added paint, I added glue,
And made a present just for you.
It's for your pencils or your pens.
You can show it to your friends.
It's not empty, for you can see
It's filled with love to you from me.

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MAKE A PERSONALIZED T-SHIRT for Mom or Dad
Mom's could be a sleep shirt!

• Idea: Paint the bottom of the children's feet using fabric paint and have them step on the shirt to make footprints. Once the footprints are dry, use black fabric paint and write, "My kids walk all over me".
  OR...
• When painting a shirt for someone...Keep the recipient's hobbies and interests in mind. For example, if he/she is an avid fisherman, why not make him/her a related shirt? You can make or buy fish-shaped stamps or sponges, dip them in fabric paint, and press a print on the shirt.

Since this could be costly--you could ask children that want to make a shirt-- to bring one in. If "new" it needs to first be washed.

ABOUT PAINTING ON FABRICS...

• Painting on fabric is done with a special acrylic paint that sets in the heat (Fabric paint) --by ironing or in an oven at 302F.
• You can also make your own fabric paint by mixing acrylic paint with a mixer.
• Apply the paint with a brush or stencil brush. The fabric SHOULD BE PRE-WASHED TO REMOVE SIZING/Starch so that the paint doesn't 'slip'.
• Avoid  slightly fluffy fabrics when using a paintbrush, it makes the task harder.
• When the shirt is painted and dry--be sure to iron it to set the paint before it is worn. If the paint is not "set" it may come off when washed. TO PAINT A T-SHIRT… After washing and drying the garment, you should iron it and lay it out flat. Slip a thin piece of card board inside to stop the paint from staining the back of the t-shirt. It could be impossible to get rid of paint stains on clothes; work carefully and cover up the surfaces not meant to be painted to protect them as you're working._

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REFRIGERATOR MAGNETS... Take small wooden shapes; paint them or decorate them with other supplies. Glue a small magnet strip on the back.

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PAINT A POT...

Paint pictures or designs onto a plain clay flower pot. Give just the pot or fill it with some goodies. These are also nice painted to a Theme...such as Halloween...and then filled with candy corn or ____ for a center piece.

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Make Scarves: This is a craft that requires only the fleece fabric & a good pair of scissors! The pictures are not mine but shows you exactly what I'm talking about.Our students made warm scarves by buying lengths of micro-fleece and simply cutting them into strips. The end was then cut into fringe. The fleece does NOT unravel so does not need any sewing.

 

It is available in unlimited colors and prints. All you need is approximately 8 to 10 inches wide by 3-5 feet in length (shorter or longer depending upon your preference). You can knot fringe pieces together, two by two, so that all of the fringes are knotted. If desired, slide beads (as in photo) onto the fringe and tie another knot, for added embellishment. (No name submitted)

 Back to top of page

Be sure to check out the Gift Wrapping Ideas--it could be another fun activity and extend the gift making project!

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Other pages in this Category of Crafts that are great for Gifts are:

• Children's Crafts that Smell Good! (Sachets, Salts, etc.)
• Gifts from a Child's Heart
• Food Based Gifts
• Creative Ways to Wrap Gifts

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• Afterschool Alliance

The Alliance was formed on the belief that afterschool programs are critical to children and families today, and that the need for programs is not adequately addressed. As many as 15 million children have no place to go after the school bell rings. These children are at significant risk of getting poor grades, being victims of crime, or participating in anti-social behaviors that have grave consequences and costs to society. They are also missing significant opportunities to learn and grow.

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• Afterschool.org /PPAS listserve

The Afterschool.org website is for afterschool program directors who want to improve the quality of their programs. On the Afterschool.org website, you will find tons of information that you can use in your own program. You can see promising practices from programs around the country, find resources and professional development opportunities, and share your own "aha's."

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• National Institute of Out-of-School Time

Provides information on announcements, upcoming events, training services, publications and data, and resource links, as well as information about the NIOST initiative and a proposed partnership to establish standards and accreditation of school-age child care programs.

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•National Afterschool Association
A national membership organization whose mission is to build a profession that supports and promotes quality afterschool programs for children & youth and is dedicated to the development, education, and care of children and youth.

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• National Association for the Education of Young Children

NAEYC is dedicated to improving the well-being of all young children, with particular focus on the quality of educational and developmental services for all children from birth through age 8. NAEYC is committed to becoming an increasingly high performing and inclusive organization.

Founded in 1926, NAEYC is the world's largest organization working on behalf of young children with nearly 90,000 members, a national network of over 300 local, state, and regional Affiliates, and a growing global alliance of like-minded organizations.
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•YouthLearn
YouthLearn's mission is to advance the work of individuals working with youth, particularly in out-of-school learning programs, in ways that increase opportunities for young people. Through this Web site and other initiatives, YouthLearn provides a base of knowledge and rich resources for those starting or implementing out-of-school programs that integrate technology. YouthLearn also nurtures a learning community of those people and organizations to share knowledge and insights on improving their effectiveness and the effectiveness of their programs.

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•Search Institute
Search Institute is an independent, nonprofit, nonsectarian organization whose mission is to advance the well-being of adolescents and children by generating knowledge and promoting its application. To accomplish this mission, the institute generates, synthesizes, and communicates new knowledge, convenes organizational and community leaders, and works with state and national organizations.

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•Foundations Inc.
A non-profit professional development, training, technical assistance, assessment and research organization committed to increasing the quality of nationwide youth programs.

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•The Finance Project
Develops and disseminates research, information, tools, and technical assistance for improved polices, programs, and financing strategies.

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• National Network for Child Care  

NNCC unites the expertise of many of the nation's leading universities through the outreach system of Cooperative Extension. Our goal is to share knowledge about children and child care from the vast resources of the landgrant universities with parents, professionals, practitioners, and the general public. We network with committed individuals around the country to bring you practical information and resources that will be useful to you in your everyday work with children.

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•4-H Afterschool is a special focused effort within the 4-H Youth Development Program that helps 4-H and other youth-serving organizations create and improve after-school programs in urban, suburban, and rural communities across the U.S. 4-H Afterschool is one of the various delivery methods through which 4-H programming is implemented; bringing community-based organizations access to the considerable resources of 4-H and the Cooperative Extension System of the nation’s land-grant universities and the USDA.

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Afterschool.gov
Offers links and referrals to a wide variety of afterschool resources including a database of more than 100 grant and loan programs from the federal government.

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•Center for Summer Learning
Creates opportunities for high-quality summer learning for all young people

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The Children's Defense Fund (CDF) is a non-profit child advocacy organization that has worked  for over 35 years to ensure a level playing field for all children. They champion policies and programs that lift children out of poverty; protect them from abuse and neglect; and ensure their access to health care, quality education and a moral and spiritual foundation. .

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• Forum for Youth Investment

 • Coalition for Community Schools: www.communityschools.org

• Fight Crime, Invest in Kids: www.fightcrime.org

• National School Board Association: www.nsba.org

• Afterschool.Gov: http://www.csrees.usda.gov/childcareafterschoolprograms.cfm

• ACT for Youth: www.actforyouth.net

• The Innovation Center: www.theinnovationcenter.org

• National Association of Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies: www.naccrra.org

 • ChildCareExchange: http://www.childcareexchange.com/index.php

• School Age Notes: www.schoolagenotes.com

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Family Child Care Links...

•National Association for Family Child Care: www.nafcc.org

•Red Leaf Institute
This Web site is for family child care providers who want to be more successful as business owners. It is also for trainers, tax preparers, and organizations that assist providers in dealing with business issues. Free e-mail service provides updates articles and newsletter articles.

•Resources for Child Caring Learning Center
Whether you are new to family child care or a seasoned professional looking to brush up on your knowledge, the Business Series of online courses is designed just for you. The Business Series offers Web-based courses on the business basics of family child care. Each interactive course includes creative and fun exercises, manageable reading assignments and other recommended resources, and interaction with instructors (such as Tom Copeland) and with other providers. 

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How do you create an appropriate setting for homework in your after-school program?

 

HOMEWORK AREA AND SUPPLIES
 In setting up your environment, put together a box or area where children can easily access homework supplies. Make this specifically for Homework. Unfortunately, there are  many programs that do not have this readily accessible without children asking. Also, after children ask--the supplies are often not available or difficult to find!  

Encourage children to take part in creating this study space; they'll feel more comfortable and be less likely to think of homework as an unpleasant task.

Include:

• Sharpened pencils with erasers-ball pont pens
• Pencil sharpener
• White paper/lined paper
• Paper hole reinforcers
• Crayons
• Colored pencils/thin and thick markers
• Stapler/Staples
• Ruler
• Glue Stick
• Scotch Tape
• Calculator
• Single hole punch
• Index cards
• Hilighter pens
• Dictionary
• Thesaures
• Atlas
• Globe (Would be nice)
• Encyclopedia or access to library and/or internet

Photo from LakeShore Learning

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For a Homework Areas, Susan O'Connor and Kate McGuire, authors of Homework Assistance & Out-of- School Time: Filling the Need, Finding a Balance make many recommendations, including the following:

 • Create a comfortable setting. Some children require quiet while others may be comfortable with quiet conversations or may want to work in groups. If possible, have two spaces so that children may choose between a quiet space and a space where quiet conversations can take place.

• Offer several seating options such as a straight-back chair at a table, beanbag chairs and a carpeted area.

• If the program shares space with a school, ask for the use of additional quiet space such as the library. Even if the library is not available for the whole afternoon, find out if the children can use the reference materials for thirty minutes each day. Additionally, inquire if the school can make the computer lab available. This is especially helpful for children who struggle with handwriting.

• If special spaces are not available in the school, a teacher who supports the idea of homework assistance may be willing to make a classroom available.

• Programs housed in an agency or community building may need to create a space that will work for homework. A game room, art room or storage space could be modified to serve as a homework space. To order "Homework Assistance" and other proven and practical resources, please visit the Web site at www.schoolagenotes.com. (From SchoolAgeNote of the Day-10/11/08

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 MENU FOR ACTIVITY CENTERS

•  Science Center Ideas
• Language and Writing Center Ideas
• Sewing and Fiber Art Centers
• Work Bench and Construction Center (Also Sand Play)
• Drama and Music Center Ideas
• Also read Does your Program Environment Say you're a Professional?
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WHAT IS BLACK HISTORY MONTH?

Black History Month was established in 1926. Although there is an international aspect to Black History month, it is mainly an American holiday. In 1926, Dr. Carter Godwin Woodson and other African American and white scholars, launched "Negro History Week" so that Americans could reflect on the history and contributions of African Americans. In the 1970s, the celebration of African American history was expanded to include the entire month of February.

Black History Month should not be confused with a national holiday for African countries. African countries have their own national holidays at various times throughout the year. For example, Kenya's national holiday is on December 12th. Source:dltk-kids.com 

The following activities have been compiled for school-agers in recognition of Black History Month as well as Cultural Diversity and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Be sure to visit the other categories to see the complete resource for activities!

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DISPLAY BOARDS

Idea #1

Put together a bulletin board with the children compiling a list of 100 African-Americans that have made a difference. Black History Month usually will coincide with the 100th Day or School--this board could celebrate both occasions!!! 

Tip: Pictures can easily be found and down-loaded with Internet Searches

 

Idea #2  Celebrate Black History by introducing the purpose of it and some key leaders. Make class room displays of pictures and information surrounding this occasion.

See three Display Wall examples at page bottom.

 

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WRITE A LETTER

Ask  children to choose a friend or relative to write a letter to about Black History. Have them include a purpose for the special occasion, contributions of two or more leaders and the most interesting piece of information learned about Black History. Post the children's letters. At the end of the month, the children can send their letters to their chosen recipients.

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BLACK HISTORY QUILT

Have children choose one or more biographies to read, then encourage them to draw a picture based on one scene from the life of each person about whom they have read. Mount each picture on a larger sheet of colored paper, and attach pages to wall to form a quilt of famous African-Americans. Purchase, or down-load age-appropriate biographies of influential African-Americans---The following list can get you started! 

•Benjamin Banneker
•Elijah McCoy
•Harriet Tubman
•Frederick Douglass
•George Washington Carver
•Booker T. Washington
•Samuel Morris
•Dred Scott
•Matthew Henson
•Garrett A. Morgan
•James Weldon Johnson
•Colin Powell
•Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

•Barack Obama

•Mary Mcleod Bethune
•Marian Anderson
•Mahalia Jackson
•Marian Anderson: singer
•Maya Angelou: singer, actress, activist, writer, poet
•Lil Hardin Armstrong: jazz musician
•Pearl Bailey: singer, performer, stage, film, special ambassador
•Marian Anderson: singer
•Regina Anderson: librarian, playwright
•Josephine Baker: entertainer
•Willie B. Barrow: minister, civil rights activist
•Daisy Bates: journalist, civil rights activist
•Mary McLeod Bethune: educator, racial justice activist, New Deal government official
•Gwendolyn Brooks: poet, winner of a Pulitzer Prize in 1950, poet laureate of Illinois
•Marita Bonner: writer, educator
•Shirley Chisholm: politician
•Ruby Dee: actress, activist
•Mae Jemison: astronaut, physician
•Barbara Jordan: politician

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BLACK AND WHITE COLLAGE

Each person will need one sheet of black construction paper, one sheet of white, one brightly colored sheet, and glue.

Tear black and white sheets into small pieces (> 1/2" square).
Paste the black and white pieces on the brightly colored sheet to create a unique collage.
Some people may choose to create identifiable objects. Others may create geometric designs or a patterned "quilt."

After all pieces are completed, allow children to show their pictures and briefly describe them.
Note that neither the black nor the white alone would have created an interesting picture, yet the two could be combined into many interesting patterns. In short, they were more productive working as a team. Discuss the need for teamwork, whether it is in the home, the classroom, the workplace or the community at large. What are some tasks that require group effort?

You might also pay special attention to the differences between the pieces. Point out that just as no two pieces are art are alike, no two people are alike. Each person has a unique purpose in life, and the home, church, community, and society as a whole are benefited when each person finds and fulfills his purpose in life instead of seeking to be "just like" another individual.

Consider the lives of Harriet Tubman, George Washington Carver, Booker T. Washington, Martin Luther King, Jr., Rosa Parks, and Colin Powell. Each has significantly influenced not only the African-American community, but all of American society. What would have happened, however, if any of these individuals had tried to be "just like" one of their predecessors? Source: Geo Cities

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RE-ENACT A STORY BOOK SCENE...

KId Activities.net has an extensive Book LIst for all ages on Black History and Dr. Martin Luther King.

 Invite the children to read one of more of the stories such as one about Harriet Tubman and the Underground Railroad. (Checking Amazon.com-the book is 99 cents)

After reading the book, children can write a skit...practice...and perform!

ANOTHER BOOK IDEA...

Read a book and then have children draw/color/paint pictures based on something they found profound or interesting in the story.

• Using  the children's creative efforts--- make a Display Wall.
• After the wall is taken down, the art can then be compiled into a program/classroom booklet.

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Many groups observe Black History Month with public lectures and exhibits, and perhaps include African foods. African dishes that are related to African-American favorites are especially appropriate for these occasions. Of course it would be difficult to provide an entire meal from the menu below---but you COULD do something with the fruit at the bottom of this post!

An African meal example: 

•WKoki- an appetizer made from black-eyed peas
•Peanut Soup -a pan-African and African-American favorite
•Rice
•Yams  or their American relation, sweet potatoes
•Fruit Salad OR Coconut Pie for dessert
•Beverages: Green Tea with Mint, (iced, if you like)
•Ginger

 FRUIT SALAD

A wide variety of tropical fruits, both native and non-native, are cultivated in Africa. It is more likely that any of the fruits listed in this recipe would be eaten as a snack than made into an elaborate fruit salad.

In Western Africa, the closest thing to a dessert course is the "after-chop" and a popular "after-chop" is fruit salad. 

In Eastern Africa, Swahili people make a 'Saladi ya Matunda' for dessert. One interesting thing about the African fruit salad is the use of the avocado. A fruit salad can be made from just three or four of the ingredients listed below.
 .
Any of the following (fresh or canned): avocado, banana, grapefruit, guava, mango, melon, orange, papaya, peach, pear, pineapple, tangerine, juice of one lemon -- or -- chopped, crushed mint leaves, grated coconut, or chopped roasted peanuts, sugar, (optional) -- honey can also be used...

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ACTIVITIES TO CELEBRATE INVENTORS AND THEIR INVENTIONS!

UNIQUE PROGRAM/CLASSROOM INVENTIONS!

1. Open up your recycled area and provide materials such as- pieces of wood, used CD's, milk containers, straws, tape, pipe cleaners, paper clips paper, glue, poster paint, markers, crayons, elastic, fabric scraps, construction paper, pom-poms, rubber bands and safety pins.
 
2. Children can work individually or in small groups; Give them plenty of time to brainstorm ideas.

3. Challenge children to come up with unique,  creative, and useful items.
 
4. The kids may need more than one day to complete their projects; however, when complete- share the inventions with the group. 

• What is it?
• What does it do?
• What materials are used to make it?

5. SHARE IT...This is an activity that takes time and thought. Honor the children's work by inviting parents and visitors to view the display. A written description of each "invention" would also be a good idea.

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GARRETT MORGAN INVENTED THE TRAFFIC LIGHT

 

Idea #1: MAKE A TRAFFIC LIGHT SNACK
Ingredients:
Graham crackers
Peanut butter or chocolate frosting (Sample is frosting) 
Red, yellow and green m&ms--craft sticks 
     • Spread peanut butter or frosing on a one quarter piece of graham cracker. Place this on the top of a craft sitck. Place the m&m's in the pattern of a traffic Light. Snacks can also be made without the craft sticks.

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#2 PLAY THE GAME RED-LIGHT-GREEN LIGHT

Select one child, or perhaps yourself, to start the game and be the “stoplight”.
All the children line up on the other side of gym or field.
The designated stoplight yells “Green light!” and the children lined up start running.
The first one to make it to the stoplight wins and is now the stoplight.
It gets tricky when the stoplight changes, though.
The stoplight should yell “Red light!” to get children to stop.

Any movement by a child means she is sent back to the beginning.
The stoplight can also call out “yellow light” which means the children can only walk very slowly. Variations to this game include yelling “red light” two times in a row, or adding body movements.
Say “green light” with your arms up one time and then say “red light,” but throw your arms up again to confuse runners into thinking your body language says “green light.”

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#3 DRAW, COLOR, and PAINT a TRAFFIC LIGHT

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#4 TRAFFIC LIGHT DRAMA GAME for Young Kids...

 With colored construction paper or cardstock--cut out a red circle, a green circle and a yellow circle. You can also color it in on white paper.

With music playing in the background, have children start "driving" around the room. They should make beeping and engine noises while doing so. They can pretend to be buses, cars, trucks or bikes - whatever they like.

Every couple minutes, hold up a colored circle and call out either...
"Stop - the lights are Red!"” or
"Slow down - the lights are Yellow!" or
"Go, go, go - the lights are Green!"

If the lights are red, the children must stand absolutely still. If they are yellow they must slow down. On green they move around normally. When ending the game ask all the "vehicles" to neatly park.

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 GRANVILLLE T. WOODS -- Who He was...
Granville T. Woods (1856-1910) of Cincinnati invented Air Brakes, Steam Boilers and the Telegram System (1885) for sending messages while trains were still in motion. His inventions were sold to General Electric, American Telephone and the Westinghouse Air Brake Company. During his lifetime he held U.S. patents to over 50 inventions.

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Granville T. Woods RAP SONG... RAP can be Fun! It stands for "Rhythm & Poetry. A fun way to get Literacy into the program! Can you group come up with any other RAP songs?!

Granville T. Woods was an inventor you see,
He made lots of things very positively.
Mr. Woods invented the telegraph,
Which let trains know what was in their path.
Granville invented one incubator,
Which saved lots of chicken 2 months later.
Granville T. Woods was a very smart man.
His inventions are used throughout the land.

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George Washington Carver

(1864-1943)
The Peanut Man

 

George's life is an amazing story and life lesson to explore with the children in your class/program. Be sure to do an internet search or obtain a book to learn about this great man.

Briefly,
George was an agricultural scientist, who devoted his life to research projects connected primarily with southern United States agriculture.  He derived many products from the peanut and soybean, but never patented any of his discoveries.

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Among the products created by Carver from various foods are the following:
Adhesives, Axle Grease, Bleach, Buttermilk, Chili Sauce, Cream, Instant Coffee, Linoleum, Mayonnaise, Meat Tenderizer, Metal Polish, Paper, Peanut Butter, Rubbing Oils, Shampoo, Shaving Cream, Shoe Polish, Sugar

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MAKE HOMEMADE PEANUT BUTTER

Before starting this project, check allergy records children and send a note to parents, informing them of the project.

Materials:
4 Cups of shelled Peanuts
1/3  cup Canola Oil
1 teaspoon Salt
1/4 cup Sugar
Measuring spoon
Measuring cup
Food Processor
Knife
Crackers
Paper Plates

Instructions:
1. Have kids help you shell the peanuts and place them into the food processor.
2. Measure and pour the vegetable oil into the food processor.
3. Have another student volunteer add three pinches of salt.
4. Turn the food processor on and blend ingredients. You may need to stop every now and then and scrape the sides. If the peanut butter looks too hard, then add a little oil at a time until it becomes smooth.
5. Have children come to the bowl to spread peanut butter onto a cracker.

Ask kids if they like the peanut butter.
Extension Idea:  Compare store bought peanut butter to the homemade peanut butter and chart the differences.
If you want to try this other ways-you can also--
Add some honey for the oil
Add pecans, sunflower seeds, and other nuts or some chocolate or butterscotch chips

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GROW A PEANUT IN A BAGGIE

Materials:
Raw peanuts from the health food store
Plastic baggies,
Paper towels
Water
Plant a peanut in a baggie by having each child put one or two raw peanuts in the baggie along with a damp paper towel.
Seal the baggie. Keep paper towel damp-but briefly open every couple days as not to mold. Observe how peanuts grow.

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What other fun ideas can you come up with to celebrate all the wonderful inventors and inventions?!

A month of this theme could easily be adapted to Black History Month!

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 THREE EXAMPLES OF DISPLAY WALLS at Wyland

Each grade at  Wyland Elmentary School in St. Louis, MO. decorate their halls with Display Walls/Bulletin Boards celebrating Black History Month.

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Menu for Diversity and Multi-Cultural Category

• Diversity Theme Introduction & Menu
• Entire Diversity & Multi Cultural Category (Excluding MLK)
• Diversity Using Arts & Crafts
• Diversity Through Foods and Other Activities
• Diversity through Language and Literacy
• Diversity with Games and School/Program Implemented Ideas
• List of Multi-Cultural Themed Books Listed by Age
• Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
• Book List for Black History & MLK

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Back to top of page..

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 Part One of Four Parts:

Is your program writing a newsletter each month?  If not, seriously consider it!  Newsletters are an effective means of communication between your program and parents. A great way to inform the entire school community of all you are doing! 

First, BEFORE YOU START--
Decide on the purpose of the newsletter. Is it primarily a tool to convey program information, upcoming events and policy? Or is it something in which you want to include child participation? First grade to high school students have great ideas. When they are part of the newsletter creation process, they are more willing to use it as a communication tool and share it with their parents. Favorite websites and special program moments are just a couple of student generated ideas.

2. CHOOSE A TEMPLATE for the newsletter.
Microsoft Word has simple newsletter templates that can be modified for the special needs of your program. Each newsletter template allows the addition of clip art or photos with minimal computer knowledge. Click here for templates and tools from Education World.

3. PERSONALIZE THE TEMPLATE.
Include a catchy name, the issue, volume number and date. The volume number will change with each school year, but the issue number will change with each new issue of the newsletter (for example, the newsletter's first issue in its second school year will be Volume 2, Issue 1).

4. DECIDE HOW OFTEN TO PRINT the newsletter.
With the amount of activities going on in a good child care or school-age program, one should go out every month. (A classroom  newsletter may need to be written every week and  PTA news will depend on budget allotment; it could be monthly or quarterly.)
    • Keep your newsletter up-to-date and send it out on time. If parents feel that the newsletter only contains old news, with out-of-date information, they will not read it.

 

 5. Any school newsletter --whether it's an after-school program, classroom or PTA-- should be informative, upbeat/fun to read, and aesthetically pleasing. 
    • Make it about the kids and parents alike to keep people interested in the Newsletter. The more interactive the newsletter, the more likely parents will read it. Who knows? You just may get volunteers to join in and bring some of their talents with them!

 

 6. WHAT ARE SOME CATEGORIES THAT CAN BE INCLUDED?

• Current Activities

• Up-coming Events--both during the Program Day and Family Social Events

• Thank You's

• Tips for Parents on Timely Topics (Discipline, Nutrition, etc.; actual ideas are in below categories)

• Family Involvement: Share favorite program recipes for snacks, play dough or crafts for families to make together at home

• Monthly Birthdays

• Favorite Websites

• Family Feature: Invite a family to tell about themselves (especially good when families are new to the program and/or school

• Collecting Beautiful Junk: Do you have a 'Wish List' going? Include  requests for recycled materials and gently used items to that "Wish List" (Check out our Wish List ideas)
 
 • Include cute children's quotes or stories

• Photographs: Including photographs of students adds a little depth to the newsletter. Children (and parents) will be excited to see their faces; children are also then more willing to share with their parents. If you do this, it is important to display a picture of each student in the program at least once, and be careful not to feature one student continuously each month.

• ONE AT A TIME, SPOTLIGHT the director, program manager, and staff members in the Newsletter.  Something that parents and people in general love to read are biographies on other people. Ask those involved in your program if if they would be willing to be interviewed for the newsletter. Ask in advance...The interview can be in person, or written.
.....Just write down a few questions and give it to the spotlighted person. Ask such things as how long they've been working with children,  and what their personal hobbies are.
.....Stay away from overly personal questions such as religious and political views. Take a picture to post next to their interview.

• How about creating a "KINDNESS COLUMN" (Kindness ideas here) in your school or program newsletter! Report the news of acts of kindness being given, shared or generated by your students. What about Community Services? (Community Service Ideas here)

• A column (The Kid's Corner) by the children is also a consideration!

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TIP:  Consider uploading the newsletter to your school website. If you choose to upload the newsletter to your school website, remember that the information may be searchable by the public. Many parents do not want student information available online.

IMPORTANT: If using children's photographs, make sure you have a photo permission with the explanation on how it is to be used.

TIP: Be sure to share your newletter with the school community. Place copies in the teacher's lounge-- and if affordable--give one to each teacher and school staff member--a great way to spread the news of all the wonderful things your program is doing!

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 GOOD IDEA! WILL THIS BE YOUR FIRST NEWLETTER? Hold a contest to name the newsletter. Students can have two weeks to hand in suggestions. The student/program body can then vote on the names. The winner receives special recognition and a small prize and gets his or her picture in the newsletter.

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 The sections of 'Newsletter Category' are:

Click for the  Entire Newsletter Category

Part 1. What to Put in Newsletters 

Part 2. Prose, Poems and Cute items for Newsletters

Part 3. Timely Newsletter Topics to Connect Kids and Parents

Part 4. Newsletter Topics of Health and Food

  

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