Summer Activities For Kids- The List of Idea Lists

While going through our supplies closet, I found a big roll of banner paper. I wasn’t sure how to use it, but I knew it had to possess some serious potential for creativity. I spread it out on the ground and had each kid sit down next to it like they were at a big party table. Then I had them draw the party they were at. The girls instantly started drawing cakes and party hats, while the boys got to work making laser tag scenes (since they were “at a laser tag birthday.”) Since the paper was so long and each kid had plenty of paper, they drew for quite a while! Something about drawing on long paper is just cooler than drawing on regular paper I guess.

Just Keep Truckin’ (Mid-Year Bulletin Board)

Posted on June 15, 2013 by Squarehead Teachers

Just Keep Truckin' Bulletin Board Printable Students always like telling someone about themselves. Here’s a bulletin board idea that will do just that. Click here to see my Back To school Bus Bulletin Board (similar idea). First, have the students make their truck (directions on the printable itself and below).

Click here for the free printable PDF: Just Keep Truckin’ Bulletin Board

Decorate your truck according to these directions:

Draw yourself in the window.
Write your name on the door.
Draw each of the following things in the back section of the truck:
1. Your favorite outside activity
2. Your dream birthday present
3. Something you’re good at
4. Your favorite part about school
If you have 2 or more siblings, draw stripes in the wheels. If you have 1 sibling or less, draw dots in the wheels. Use your favorite color.
Color rest of the truck using your favorite color.

Once all the students finish, have each student present their truck to the rest of the class. If your class is large, limit each student to 1 minute to share or allow students to only share their truck with those near them. Then put each truck up on a bulletin board and call it something clever (“Just Keep Truckin’!”, “Travelling Down the Road to Success”, or something…).

Father’s Day Card Tutorial

Posted on June 13, 2013 by Squarehead Teachers

This is hands down the cutest Father’s Day card… and it’s so easy, you’ll flip. In this tutorial, I used regular construction paper (9″ x 12″), but if you prefer more space to write inside the card, use the double size 11″ X 17″ paper. You need 1 piece for the shirt (green paper in the photos) and some small scraps for a tie and pocket (yellow and brown in the photos). You’ll also need scissors and glue (Elmer’s bottled glue or glue stick). I’ve seen really cute ones with decorated ties or ties cut out of fabric also. But whatever you do, make sure Dad knows you love him. That’s the point of Father’s Day after all. So without further ado, here’s the tutorial:

Fold your construction paper in half (“hamburger style” as kids always say). Then make 2 cuts in it about 1.5 or 2 inches below the fold. Don’t cut all the way across; leave the middle 1/3 of the width of the paper untouched. P1050325

Fold the newly created tabs diagonally towards the bottom (open edged of paper). They should meet or overlap a little bit. If it looks like a mens’ shirt collar, you’re on the right track. Then decorate it! Add a tie, pocket, buttons, pens, pen protector… whatever describes your card recipient.

After the glue dries, gently open the card from the bottom and write your message. Be gentle with the collar area, since it’s the most fragile part of the card.

Here are some ideas for a more educational twist on this craft:

Write a poem about Dad and glue it inside the card
Write about your favorite memory about you and Dad
Write 10 reasons you love Dad
Rewrite the lyrics to a famous song. Sing about how cool Dad is.
Write the ABCs of Dad (A… always kisses me goodnight, B… best baseball coach ever, etc.)

Class Art Project: Wooden Fans

Posted on June 11, 2013 by Squarehead Teachers

Here’s a cool art project I recently saw. Each student got a single piece of wood (stirring sticks from Home Depot) and decorated it to represent them. Then they glued them together and then tied fancy string on the bottom before attaching it to a frame. It’s a fragile project, so you have to display it somewhere with little nearby traffic. But it sure looks cool!

This could also be a cool project for individual students. Have each student decorate wood pieces based on different areas of their life (ex- one stick for summer, school, each family member, hobbies, goals, etc.).

Paint A Pony Craft

Posted on June 5, 2013 by Squarehead Teachers

My I posted my paint a pig craft, many of my readers asked for more crafts like this. Since My Little Pony is so popular these days, I made a Paint a Pony craft. So here it is! First I found a free coloring page of a horse. Here’s one if you don’t have time to hunt for one. Then decorate your pony (feel free to add a horn to make it a unicorn!). Glue it to some construction paper and decorate the scene for your pony. This craft was a huge hit with my kindergarten girls; many of them wanted to do more than one!

Paint A Pig (Craft Project)

Posted on June 1, 2013 by Squarehead Teachers

Paint a pig printable Here’s a fun, easy craft project that’s simple enough that my kindergarten kids figured it out with hardly any help. Each kid decorated their pig however they wanted. Then they told each other a story about how the pig came to look the way it looked. The stories got pretty wild (which is the fun part). You could even go on to focus on adjectives that describe the pig, nouns the pig likes, write a story about the pig, etc. Have fun!

Click here for the free printable: Paint a Pig – Printable

Here’s a fun song that goes with little piggies:

“Five Dancing Piggies” (“Five Little Monkeys” tune)

Five little piggies dancing in the dirt,

One fell down and he got hurt.

Mama came running from across the farm

And put that piggy inside the barn…

Repeat until no piggies are left.

No more piggies dancing in the dirt,

They all fell down; they all got hurt.

Outside, no piggies can be found.

They’re all indoors, safe and sound.

Toaster Tongs (Fun Mother’s Day Craft)

Posted on May 9, 2013 by Squarehead Teachers

My grandma used to help us make these when we were little. They’re awesome. I mean, how awkward is it to try and get hot toast out of the toaster? Problem solved with a clothes pin and 2 fat wooden craft sticks.

Just glue 2 sticks to the clothes pin (so that they can pinch together) and decorate with markers, paint, puffy paint, etc. Don’t use glitter (it comes off and lands in the toaster) or crayon (the wax melts). Here are some examples a 2nd grade class made: