Umbrellas *Have the children cut the individual egg-carton cups in half. Show them how to glue the halves onto a sheet of construction paper. Add pipe cleaners for handles. Draw pictures around the umbrellas with crayons or paint. Five Umbrellas Five umbrellas stood by the back door, The red one went outside, then there were four Four umbrellas, pretty as could be The blue one went outside, then there were three Three umbrellas with nothing to do The green one went outside, then there were two Two umbrellas not having much fun The yellow went outside, then there was one Just one umbrella alone in the hall, The purple one went outside, and that was all! by Jean Warren I plan on using this with large colored umbrella cut-outs. When the child's color is called, he/she will go "outside". (Out in the hall) Color Umbrellas We keep our umbrellas so perky and gay Ready and waiting for a rainy day. Here is a green one to keep me dry When I open it up and hold it high. Have you seen the umbrella that's red? It loooks so nice held over my head. The rain can get heavy, oh me, oh my, But the purple umbrella will keep me dry I love the umbrella of pretty blue It's big enough for me and you! The yellow umbrella is bright like the sun Jumping puddles with is it so much fun! The orange umbrella is saved for showers The kind of rain that wakes up the flowers Our umbrellas are fun and so nice to see Just look at them all, I'm sure you'll agree! by Susan M. Paprocki This one I will use as a flannelboard activity. Umbrella Crafts Here are some ways we have made umbrellas: 1. Large half circles, cut out, with handle shapes attached. 2. Large half circles, handles attached, but also glue on a strip of blue crepe paper at bottom of circle before you attach the handle. Use scissors to fringe. This looks like rain. The children enjoy "fringing" the paper. 3. This one is a little difficult to explain, but have used it for display and is cute. Use a full circle. (This may be cons. paper or even a paper plate. I have made a scalloped circle and reproduce it on the fold so children cut one line, then open to make a large scalloped circle.) This is the umbrella. Add boot shapes to the bottom. It looks like a full umbrella, opened up, from the back. Like "Singing in the Rain"--all you see is from the back. I usually add a small circle to the very center of the plate. This looks like the umbrella shaft. 4. Large Umbrella with handle. Make into a mobile by attaching raindrops with yarn and hang from the bottom of the umbrella (not handle, but umbrella). I have seen these with the children's name written on raindrops, one letter per drop and suspended from the umbrella like above. Story: This isn't about just am umbrella, but has an umbrella in it and is a cute spring story. AND THE WIND BLEW-- by Pat Hutchins. Ugly Duckling Read the story Ugly Duckling, then have the children draw a picture of what they think an ugly duckling looks like and how they think it feels. Under Cover Work on the concept of "under" by using several old sheets. Have the children hang on to the edge of the sheet. When you holler "Under", the children all get under the sheet and pull it around them. Under the Umbrella Give each child a small bowl of mixed fruit. Place a washed lettuce leave over the top to act as an "Umbrella" to cover their food until it is time to eat. *Umbrella pictures Supplies: Paper Baking Cups Scissors Glue Crayons or Paint Pipe Cleaners Cut several baking cups in half, these will be the umbrellas. Glue them on a sheet of paper. For the handles, use pipe cleaners or you can draw them. Draw or paint rain drops. * UMBRELLAS I put on my raincoat. (Pretend to put on coat.) I put on my hat. (Put on hat.) I put up my umbrella (fingertips touching over head) Just like that! Umbrellas go up, Unbrellas go down, (Point up and down.) When rain clouds are dark All over the town. One raindrop and two, (hold up on finger at a time) Two raindrops and three, My up and down umbrella Is up over me. (fingertips touching over head.) Four raindrops and five, (hold up one finger at a time) Six raindrops and seven, Raindrops are tumbling (raise arms and let fingers fall slowly) Down from the heaven. Drip, drip, drip, drip! I am dry as can be, My up and down umbrella Is up over me (fingertips touching over head.) (Suggest that children draw a rainy day picture with umbrellas) SPECIAL UMBRELLA The first umbrella is red. It keeps rain off my head. The second umbrella is yellow For a very lucky fellow. The third umbrella is blue. It is one that I drew. The fourth umbrella is brown. I will carry it to town. The fifth umbrella is green Fit for a king or a queen! (One finger at a time may be held up to review ordinals. Suggest that the children draw and color umbrellas as a rainy day activity.) UMBRELLAS IN MANY COLORS Umbrellas help in many ways. This black one is for rainy days. In summer, when there's too much sun, I carry this bright yellow one. This umbrella pink and neat Fits at the table where I eat. This red one when I put it up Looks like an upside-down big cup. (Ask the children to take out their crayons and hold up the correct color as you red the poem aloud. Suggest that they draw and color their favorite umbrella. Ask, "How many umbrellas are mentioned in the rhyme?" Ask them to say the rhyming words in the poem. Read the poem again and ask the clas to help you with the words.) *Unicorn Song. For those of you, like me, that did not know there were hand motions, I'll pass them along. The hand motions go with the chorus after each verse. Chorus: There were green aligators (arms in front of your face, opening and closing like alligator's mouth) And long necked geese (two arms outstretched in front, with wrists bent down) Some humpy-backed camels (use arms to form a hump on your back) And some chimpanzees (hands under arms) Some cats (make whiskers); some rats (hands in front of face with wrists bent in a menacing way); and elephants (arm extended out in front of face for trunk) as sure as you're born But the lovliest of all was the unicorn (hand close to head, making a spiraling motion *Uu Umbrellas Have the children cut the individual egg-carton cups in half. Show them how to glue the halves onto a sheet of construction paper. Add pipe cleaners for handles. Draw pictures around the umbrellas with crayons or paint. Ugly Duckling Read the story Ugly Duckling, then have the children draw a picture of what they think an ugly duckling looks like and how they think it feels. Movement and Games Under Cover Work on the concept of "under" by using several old sheets. Have the children hang on to the edge of the sheet. When you holler "Under", the children all get under the sheet and pull it around them. Alphabet Appetizer Under Cover Give each child a small bowl of mixed fruit. Place a washed lettuce leave over the top to act as an "Umbrella" to cover their food until it is time to eat. Upside-Down day Umbrella Collages I Unpacked My Grandmother's Trunk (Suitcase) Take a trunk or suitcase and put objects in that start with letters you've already talked about (i.e. socks, watch, hat, ball). The more funny the stuff the better the children like it. Then the children take turns pulling things out and they have to say what the object is and what letter it starts with. It's great fun!