* Here's another recipe you might be able to add to your "In My
Backyard"Theme.  It is very easy!

All you need is:
1 stick string cheese per child
8 pretzels for each child
plate

My Favorite Bug Recipe
1.  Put string cheese stick on plate.
2.  Add 8 pretzel sticks for legs and feelers!
Cute!

*    Below is an activity we have enjoyed daily for a week  but first I wanted
to say how much everyone enjoyed the Father's Day gift I found on this loop.
 It came in a Curric File titled Father's Day so I don't know the source.  We
made the sand filled latex glove hand.  The children and parents laughted and
joked about it and some said it was the most unique gift they had ever
received from their child!
 
 Waterplay Activity
 
 Place empty paper cups on a table, wall, ledge, ect. out doors.
 
 Fill empty dish detergent bottles (or any squirt type plastic bottle) with
water and the children can try to knock over the cups by squirting them with
water.

* "In my backyard"  Introduces a variety of insects and other creatures
that can be found right outside the back door.  Kids have a natural
fascination for insects, etc...
             Please add to this any crafts, art, games you may have. THANKS!
 AT HOME ACTIVITIES:
 Encourage parents to go outside w/ their child and watch insects and worms.
 If you have a pet, let your child help to give it food and water.
 
 CANDY BUTTERFLIES:
 
 Need
 Blunt plastic knife
 Gumdrops and/or candy orange slices
 Pretzel knots (large & small)
 Tubes if decorator icing (assorted colors)
 Assorted candies (e.g., cinnamon dots, cake decor., colored sprinkles, etc.)
 Dry cereal
 Chow mein noodles and/or shoestring licorice for antennae
 
 USE the knife to cut two slits in each gumdrop or candy orange slice.  Press
a large or small pretzel knot into each slit to form the butterfly's wings.
 Use dots of decorator icing to secure assorted candy pieces and/or dry
cereal to the wings and the bodies.  Create antennae using shoestring
licorice and/or chow mein noodles.

 
 Can You Move With Me?
 (tune: "Do Your Ears Hang Low")
 
 Can you wiggle like a worm?
 Can you squiggle? Can you squirm?
 Can you flutter? Can you fly like a gentle butterfly?
 Can you crawl upon the ground 
 Like a beetle that is round?
 Can you move with me?
 
 Can you flip? Can you flop?
 Can you give a little hop?
 Can you slither like a snake?
 Can you give a little shake?
 Can you dance like bee
 Who is buzzing round a tree?
 Can you move with me?


 Wiggle, Wiggle Little Worm
 (tune: "twinkle, twinkle little star")
 
 Wiggle, wiggle little worm.
 Wiggle, wiggle, jiggle, squirm.
 If a robin you should see,
 Hide as quick as quick can be.
 Wiggle, wiggle little worm.
 Wiggle, wiggle, jiggle, squirm.


 Never Hurt A Ladybug
 (tune: "Yankee Doodle")
 
 Ladybugs are in my yard.
 Just look at them devour 
 Those pesky aphids on the leaves
 Of Mother's pretty flowers.
 Never hurt a ladybug.
 We need them in the garden.
 Ladybugs help flowers grow
 So we must never hurt them.


 ON A SPIDERWEB
 
 On a spiderweb that I once saw
 Eleven little spiders did creep and crawl.
 They crawled and they crawled
 and they crawled around.
 Then one little spider fell down,
 down, down.
 (repeat the rhyme, reducing the number each time.)


 Books to read:
 Cole, Joanna. An Insect's Body
 Inkpen, Mick. Billy's Beetle
 Johnson, Angela. Mama Bird, Baby Bird's
 Halpern, Shari.  I Have a Pet
 Madenski, Melissa. In My Mother's Garden