Gone Fishin'

Supplies: Die Cut Fish & Sticky Hands

Process: Place fish in the middle of the table or circle. Give each child a sticky hand. Have them use their sticky hand and swing it toward the fish. When it lands have them reel in the fish by pulling the sticky hand back toward them. Have them count how many they caught.

Teach Well: Let each child keep their sticky hand. Use a Ziploc to store them and place in their backpacks. Use this idea when teaching about Miracle of the Fishes during Bible Time. It's a great hands-on approach for this story.

Map Mud

Even though the school year might be coming to an end, learning never does. My curruculum ends at the month of May but I use the summer for a great time of sensory, fun, and games. The weather makes it easy to do those messy projects outside. When we did this sensory today, we used a plastic outdoor table and washed the table off with the hose when we were done. Run out of ideas to keep the kids busy? Stay close to this blog this summer and be inspired to teach your kids while having a great time doing it!

Supplies: 3 parts flour, 3 parts salt, 2 parts water, and food coloring if desired

Process: Mix salt and flour in a bowl. Add enough water to make a paste that is thick like frosting. Add food coloring or wait and paint when dry.

This recipe comes from Magic Mixtures Recipes for Fun and Learning by Heidi Stalder, Lane Community College

Teach Well: Some ways to use Map Mud - Spread the mixture on heavy cardboard, a sheet of plastic board, or wood. Shape to land features such as hills, lakes, and valleys. Use it as a sensory mixture and have children spread it like fingerpaint on a hard or washable surface. Use it to build dioramas.

Fish Art

Punches can be great for small motor skill development. The punches below were purchased at a local dollar store. They stick at times and are quite hard for preschoolers. When looking for yours make sure they are good quality and from a craft store if you are going to be using them with younger hands.

Supplies: punches, construction paper, and glue

Process: Have all your supplies out on the table. Have the children punch paper with fish and ocean animal punches. Have them use glue to decorate their paper.

Teach Well: Children don't learn without experimenting themselves. Let the child do the glue application. Have toddlers learn to squeeze the glue from the bottle. When that skill is developed have glue in a small container and give them a Q-tip to apply glue.

Paper Plate Fish

Supplies: white paper plate, stapler, watercolors, paint brush, and water cup

Process: Cut a triangle (or have your child do it) and staple it to the end of the plate as the fish's tail. Have your child paint the fish with watercolors. Dry.

Teach Well: If you have a supply of colored plates on hand, flip the plate over as we did. Paint on the back of it instead. Have paper on hand for those children that love to paint. When their project is painted ask if they would like a clean piece of paper. This keeps the fish from getting muddy.

Gone Fishin'

Wading Pools are one of my favorite items in the classroom during the month of May. There are so many uses for them, including this game. I found these plastic fish with a magnetic fishing pole at the local dollar store a few years ago.

Supplies: Plastic fish, Sharpie pen, magnetic fishing pole, and wadding pool.

Process: Before your game write letters on the fish with a Sharpie pen. Put the fish in the pool and have the children take turns fishing out a letter. Remind the children to only use the fishing pole to collect the fish. This is great for hand/eye coordination and small motor skills. The children might have a difficult time but encourage them to "walk" the line to the fish.

Teach Well: No pool? Use a large piece of blue butcher paper for your water. No fish? Use clip art with paper clips on them. No fishing pole? Use a dowel or stick tied with yarn and attach a magnet.

Items I Can't Live Without!

Here is my list of things I can not live without for the month of May. To look again at the scope and sequence for May's theme go here.

1. Fish squirters like the ones here.

2. Goggles, sailor hats, and sun glasses for dramatic play.

3. This pool from here. The bigger the better! I use this for indoor play and Bible lessons. Stay tuned in this month to see the fun!

4. Plastic boats

5. Plastic eye droppers

6. PVC pieces

7. Ocean Sounds CD

8. Magnetic fishing poles

9. Ocean themed books

10. Shells, sand, shovels, and scoops

This month you will see how I use these items in unique and fun ways!

Teach Well: Shop early for summer items. Items go fast, so if you see something you like grab it!May is the perfect time to collect your Ocean Themed treasures!