August National Catfish Month *I didn't know this existed but I am definitely going to gather up all my old magazines and have the kids cut out all the cat pictures they can find (I get every catalog under the sun including many pet supply catalogs) and have them glue them on to a large posterboard fish with large brown chenille stem whiskers. *Magnet Fishing Draw and cut out several posterboard or construction paper fish. Attach a paper clip to each one and place in box (such as a shoe box) which has been decorated. Tie a small household magnet to a string tied to the end of a stick. Go fish! Good for eye/hand coordination. Children's Vision & Learning Month Home Business Month Medic-Alert Awareness Month National Water Quality Month Romance Awareness Month 1 - 7 International Clown Week *Clown Masks For each mask you need 1 paper plate (clown's head) 1 large pompom (clown's nose) 1 tongue depressor/popsicle stick (handle for mask) yarn (hair) construction paper hat & big bow tie On a paper plate, glue the nose, hair, and handle. Place the bow tie just above the handle and secure with glue. You can either draw the eyes and mouth with markers or make them from construction paper. (We did this for Halloween. The smaller children loved to play peekaboo from behind their masks.) Children also used masks as puppets (mask play can be scary to some children) Clown shoes can be fashioned from kleenex boxes with the bottoms cut out. Decorate with construction paper and slip over child's shoes. Then have a clown parade...Children dress in "dressup clothes" with masks. Parade in a line while singing (to the tune of Farmer in the Dell) Come join the big parade Come join the big parade It's your turn so get in line! Come join the big parade For those with larger groups of children, some can be the "audience" while others are the parade clowns, alternating until everyone has a turn. 1 - Parent's day *Thumbprint Picture Have child stamp his thumbprint on an index card, then cut card to fit the inside circle of a wooden or plastic curtain ring. Decorate thumbprint into a person, animal or creature. And write the child's name and date on the card. Glue to back of ring. Tie a ribbon on the top of the ring. Neat little keepsake for mom and dad. 1 - Rounds Resounding Day (have your group learn how to sing rounds) 1-3 Frog Days (Frog Days, Rt. 1, Box 90, Cashton, WI 54619) 1-7 International Clown Week (email Stephrich@aol.com) 1-7 Simplify Your Life Week 2 - Amherst's Teddy Bear Rally (Amherst, MA) 2 - National Mustard Day (mustard1@ix.netcom.com) 3 - American Family Day 3 - Sister's Day (for more info, write Tricia Eleogram, 666 Hawthorne, Memphis, TN 38107 or call 901/725-5190) 3 - Prairie Dawn's b-day ( S.Street) 4 - Picnic Day (Austraila) 4- 10 National Bargain Hunting Week (http://www.angelfire.com/free/bargains.html) 4-10 National Smile Week (http://www.heloise.com) 5- National Night Out 6 - Friendship day *For friendship day, make a "Friendship Salad" Have each child bring a piece of fruit to day care. They can help cut into pieces and add to the bowl, mix all together and serve for snack. 6 - Lucille Ball's Birthday ( 8-6-11) 6 - Halfway Point of Summer at 12:08 pm EDT 7-9 National Hobo Convention (Britt, IA) 8-10 Mosquito Awareness Weekend (Walcott, AR .. BTW, the have the World Championship Mosquito-Calling Contest and cook's making their best mosquito dishes, information on the propper way to swat one, too!) 8 - Sneak Some Zucchini Onto Your Neighbor's Porch Nite (http://www.wellcat.com) 9 - Book Lovers' Day 9-17 Elvis Week (1-800-238-2000) 9- International Art Appreciation Day 9 - National Hand Holding Day 10 - Family Day (http://www.kiwanis.org) 11-17 Don't Wait - Celebrate! Week 13 - International Lefthanders Day 14 - National Financial Awareness Day 15 - National Relaxation Day 15 - Bob's b-day (S.Street) 16 - National Homeless Animals Day 18 - Bad Poetry Day (http://www.wellcat.com) 18-24 National Aviation Week 19 - Snuffleupagus' B-day ( S.Street) 22 - Be An Angel Day (email jhoward388@aol.com) 24-30 National Veterinary Week 24-30 Stepparents' Appreciation Week 25 - Kiss-and-Make-Up Day 26 - Make Your Own Luck Day 26 - Women's Equality Day 29 - More Herbs Less Salt Day (http://www.wellcat.com) 31 - Herry the Monster b-day ( S. Street)