Torn-Paper Art Have the children tear paper shapes to create a picture or design. They can add to their picture by coloring with crayons or by cutting out other things and gluing on. Tree Have the children make a tree by gluing toothpicks on a piece of paper. Use a sponge and green tempera paint to add leaves to the top of the tree. Tying Using old shoes, ropes, string, have the children practice tying. Toast Help each child toast a slice of bread. Supply a choice of toppings, such as, peanut butter, cinnamon and sugar, jelly. Have them top their bread and cut the toast into Triangles. Telephone Game You need 2 play telephones for this: Sit in a circle with the children. One child is given a phone, & you keep the other. When the phone "rings", the child picks it up & says "Hello, this is Sally" (They usually forget this part... just respond with "Who's speaking?" after they say hello.) Tell child that you have a question to ask them. This can be a "trivia" question (Who climbed up the hill with Jack?) but it's also a great review technique (What dinosaur has 3 horns? ) The older children enjoy asking ME the questions. * MR. TICKLE LICKLE hold feather in front Mr. Tickle lickle bought a feather fo a nickle put feather on head And he stuck in in the middle of his hat (TWEET TWEET!!) Fly arms Now, he's singing like a bird- like abird you never heard pat head And he only paid a nickle! Think of that! (some Hat111) * Turtle> The song with I have a little turtle I keep him in a box He swims in the water Climbs on the rocks The children love this. I have a little I keep him in my pocket.(purchase at a store, really cheap) At cirlce time I will say, I have something in my pocket, I wonder what it is. The children know that it's Franklin (that's what we call him). They always have to say hi and either kiss him or give him a real good lick. They make great boxes with their hands. They just love it. I do it every day. * One thing that I do is make toothpick sculptures. The children put toothpicks onto a piece of waxed paper. They use glue to connect the toothpicks. When dry, they peel right off and make beautiful sculptures. I stand them on styrofoam sheets. They stick in easily. Some teachers spray paint them. 8 T is for Teapot Materials: Construction paper, scissors, crayons, glue The children cut out a 5 or 6 inch Circle and glue it to the center of another sheet of construction or drawing paper. They then use crayons to add the handle, spout, lid and to decorate it. I always try to bring in a teapot or two ( I collect them) so that the children can get a good look at one. Not many people use them anymore. Be sure to sing "I'm a Little Teapot". We also read a Sesame Street book about Ernie and the Broken Teapot. Try making turtles out of paper plates. The children can paint them green and add construction paper head and legs. Glue toothpicks on the letter t. Paint with toothbrushes. Cover the letter T with textured material. Color the letter Tt and glue on toothpicks triangle Tissue paper collage Teapot telephone craft Toothpick collage White and colored toothpicks, glue, manila paper Let each child make a collage by gluing the toothpicks to make a picture or shape. Show them that they can break the toothpicks in halves or smaller pieces to make different sizes and shapes. The children may add details to the picture with crayons if desired. * How to make a turtle: Need : 1 paper bowl green paint (water colors) brown construction paper black marker stapler Turn bowl upside down and paint green, let dry. Cut out front and back feet from brown const. paper. Staple to bowl. Cut out head w/neck, then draw eyes and mouth. Staple to bowl. *THE TIRED TURTLE ( tune: "i've been working on the railroad") I've been crawling through the mud, All the whole day long. I've been crawling through the mud, Just listen to my song. Oh, my house is getting heavy, My legs are tired and sore. I am moving very slowly. I can't sing any more. *Need a turtle puppet quick? Paint a paper plate to resemble a turtle's top shell and paint another plate for the bottom shell. ( I have used both the dinner plate size and the sandwich plate size.) Staple or glue green construction paper legs on either the top or bottom plate. Sandwich a green sock between the painted paper plates so that the toe sticks out for the head and the top of the sock sticks out the back for the tail. Staple the two plates together on both sides, add eyes, slip your hand into the sock and wah-lah...a turtle hand puppet to use with storytime. Warning...all the children want to make their own! Toothpick number designs Graphing--What kind of toothpaste does your family use? Projects that include teeth, trees, telephone *turtles. I've got 3 different ways you can do this. 1. Take foil wrap and have the children crush them into a nice size ball (about 1") then take any kind of clay that will harden. Have the children form the dough around the foil ball leaving the bottom flat. Then take the dough and have them make the feet, head, and tail. Wait until it's totally hardened and then have them paint. 2. Take a foam bowl then use packing peanuts to make the head and feet. Glue onto the underside of the ball using a good craft glue. Let the children then take fabric scraps and glue them onto the turtle to decorate. 3. Glue paper legs and a head to a large half of a walnut shell. Put a marble under the shell and the turtle will "roll". * TURTLE COOKIES Make rolled sugar cookie dough or buy the refrigerated "slice and bake" dough. Give the children green jelly beans that you have sliced in half horizontally. Shove them into the dough to make arms, legs and head. The children shake green sugar on their cookie. Bake as directed. CREATIVE TURTLE COLLAGE Cut large turtle shapes from green construction paper. Provide the children with scraps of paper -any kind, many colors - the children can tear the paper into tiny pieces and stick them on the turtle shell. SENSORY TABLE Assorted vinyl turtles, damp sand, river rocks to form a pool of water. TURTLES One lonely turtle, feeling so blue; Along came another, Now there are two. Two happy turtles, on their way to the sea, Along came another, now there are three. Four happy turtles going for a dive, Along came another, now there are five. Tiny Tim I have a little turtle His name is Tiny Tim I put him in the bathtub to teach him how to swim. He drank up all the water and ate up all the soap Now he is home, sick in bed with bubbles in his throat. I miss my little turtle, whos name is Tiny Tim I will call him on the telephone-- I would like to visit him. Tiny Tim is better now... his tummy doesnt hurt... He will never eat the soap again... he says it doesnt work. My children love this. I sing it with a nice big green turtle puppet and alot of expression!!!