Books by Dave Whitaker

Check out Toolbox Training books and more at WritbyWhit.com or David L. Whitaker's author page at Amazon.com.

Monday, September 29, 2014

September 29-30: Family Health and Fitness Days

image from makeandtakes.com

It would be great to get families involved, but you can still do your own version of the Olympics with the kids to focus on health and fitness.


Kid Olympics

Materials:

  • Dependent on what activities children choose

Directions:

  1. Let the kids brainstorm different ideas for Olympic events.
  2. Think of ways to make the games cooperative instead of competitive.
  3. Depending on how many events you choose to do, you might have small groups of children responsible for planning individual events (such as determining necessary materials, the rules, and where the event will be in your program space). This is an especially good opportunity for older kids in a school-based program.
Source(s): Check out the relays and sports activities in the Toolbox Training book 100 Game Activities for Kids for more ideas.


Check out the full September calendar to see the month at a glance as well as floating holidays, specialty weeks, and themes for the month.

Sunday, September 28, 2014

September 28: Ask a Stupid Question Day

image from alisonimiller.com

Well, we certainly don’t want to teach kids that their questions are stupid, but we can celebrate asking questions in general with a variation on the game “20 Questions.”


20 Questions

Materials:

  • None

Directions:

  1. One child (the guesser) leaves the room.
  2. While child is out of the room, another child is picked to be “it”.
  3. When the guesser returns, (s)he gets to ask up to 20 questions that can be answered yes or no to determine who was picked.
Variations:
  • Can the guesser figure out who was picked with just ten guesses?
  • What if two people switch places and guesser has to figure out who switched?
Source(s): Toolbox Training’s book 100 Game Activities for Kids (activity H5)


Check out the full September calendar to see the month at a glance as well as floating holidays, specialty weeks, and themes for the month.

Saturday, September 27, 2014

September 27: Dog Week

image from dogsonline.com

In honor of Dog Week, consider this tag game which kids in a school-age care program made up:


Dog and Cat

Materials:

  • a ball (optional)

Directions:

  1. The dog starts in the middle of the room or playing area.
  2. The cats start on either side of the play area.
  3. The dog yells a color (or other means of describing at least two players) and those people must run to the other side of the play area.
  4. Anyone tagged sits down right there and, with legs crossed and bottom on the floor, may reach out to tag others throughout the game.
  5. The last cat becomes the new dog.
Source(s): Toolbox Training’s book 100 Game Activities for Kids (activity A4, also consider activity H2)


Check out the full September calendar to see the month at a glance as well as floating holidays, specialty weeks, and themes for the month.

Friday, September 26, 2014

September 26: Johnny Appleseed was born (1774).



With several holidays yesterday which combined nicely for one major event, Johnny Appleseed’s birthday gets bumped a day. There’s plenty of activities you can do with apples. Here’s one:


Apple Smiles


From the cooking card set available from Toolbox Training (activity D1). Adapted from familycorner.com.

Materials:
·         Apples (4-5)
·         Peanut butter
·         Miniature marshmallows (10-ounce bag)
·         Knife

Directions:
1.       Cut apples into wedges.
2.       Spread peanut butter on one side of an apple wedge.
3.       Place marshmallows on peanut butter to form teeth.
4.       Spread peanut on one side of a second apple wedge.
5.       Place on top of the marshmallows to create the other side of the mouth.

Also check out activities D3 (caramel apples – featured on the August 6 blog post), D4, E6, and I6 from the cooking card set available from Toolbox Training.  


Other Holidays and Events Today:
  • Crush-a Can-Day

Check out the full September calendar to see the month at a glance as well as floating holidays, specialty weeks, and themes for the month.

September 26: Hold a pancake day for family members.

image from bargainbriana.com

If your program’s guidelines allow for cooking in your program, today is an excellent day for combining three different holidays into one event. Not only is today Pancake Day, but it is also Ancestor Appreciation Day and Food-Service Employees Day. Why not hold a pancake day where the kids serve as the food-service employees and serve family members? Depending on the ages of children, they may or may not be able to help actually cook, but consider having kids serve as hosts and hostesses as well as waiters and waitresses.


Check out the full September calendar to see the month at a glance as well as floating holidays, specialty weeks, and themes for the month.

Thursday, September 25, 2014

September 25: Comic Book Day

image from silive.com

Let kids make their own comic books!


Create Your Own Comic Book

Materials:

  • Paper
  • Writing instruments
  • Ruler
  • Stapler

Directions:

  1. Encourage kids to create their story idea first.
  2. They can even plan out each picture and how it will tell the story.
  3. Encourage kids to start simple with just a few pages.
  4. Also consider developing a comic book as a group project.
  5. Finally, kids can develop comic strips or comic books online. Check out SuperHeroSquad.Marvel.com.
  6. Kids can also make their own super heros online at Marvel.com.

Check out the full September calendar to see the month at a glance as well as floating holidays, specialty weeks, and themes for the month.

Wednesday, September 24, 2014

September 24: First toy store opened.

image from plaidstallions.com

Let the kids create their own toy store!


Toy Store Prop Box

Materials:

  • toys
  • stuffed animals
  • board games/card games
  • cash register
  • play money
  • blank stickers

Directions:

  1. Prop boxes are items grouped together by a theme to allow children to pretend. They can be used as specific activities or put out during free time.
  2. The materials listed above are merely suggestions. You may come up with additional ideas and leave some of these materials out.
  3. The boxes that hold 10 reams of computer paper/typing paper are a nice size for prop boxes. They can be covered with nice contact paper to make them more attractive.
  4. You might also consider a creative way of putting all the prop box materials into something that fits the theme. For example, a camping prop box might go in a backpack; a travel prop box could go in a suitcase.
Source(s): Toolbox Training book 100 Drama Activities for Kids (activity A21).

Also consider activity K4 from the nature card set.


Check out the full September calendar to see the month at a glance as well as floating holidays, specialty weeks, and themes for the month.

Tuesday, September 23, 2014

September 23: Eat a Hoagie Day

image from thehistorybluff.com

Ask kids to brainstorm ingredients to make their own sandwich bar. Here are some to consider:
  • Bread (buns, rolls, wheat, white)
  • Meat (salami, bologna, pepperoni, chicken)
  • Cheese (Swiss, Colby-Jack, American)
  • Vegetables (tomato, onion, pickles, mushrooms)
  • Condiments (mayonnaise, mustard, salad dressings)

Directions:

  1. Encourage kids to add their own ideas to the mix.
  2. Allow them to be silly!
  3. Consider hosting an event where kids make sandwiches for family members.

Check out the full September calendar to see the month at a glance as well as floating holidays, specialty weeks, and themes for the month.

Monday, September 22, 2014

September 22: First day of Autumn

image from betterbudgeting.com

For the first day of autumn, try out this activity to help understand why leaves change colors.


Chlorophyll and Autumn Colors

Materials:

  • Plant (geraniums work well for this)
  • Black paper
  • Paper clip or tape
  • Alcohol

Directions:

  1. Cover half of a leaf (still attached to the plant) with black paper.
  2. Put the plant in sunlight for 48 hours.
  3. Remove the black paper and one half of the leaf should be yellowish.
  4. Chlorophyll, which is what makes a plant green, will break down if it does not receive sunlight for an extended period of time. The base color of many leaves is yellow, which is why some leaves turn yellow in the autumn; the other fall colors are due to chemical changes within the leaves.
  5. Remove the leaf from the plant and soak it in warm alcohol until the chlorophyll has been removed from it. If the leaf is now dipped in iodine solution, the part that has received sunlight will turn blue, as iodine turns blue in the presence of starch.
Source(s): Toolbox Training’s nature card set (activity E11). Adapted from bizarrelabs.com. Also try activity F8 from the Toolbox Training book 100 Music Activities for Kids.


Check out the full September calendar to see the month at a glance as well as floating holidays, specialty weeks, and themes for the month.

Sunday, September 21, 2014

September 21: International Banana Festival

image from

There are lots of banana-related cooking activities (see list below), but you can also use bananas for a science experiment.


Banana/Yeast Mold

Materials:

  • A banana
  • Two sealable plastic bags
  • Dry yeast
  • Measuring spoon (½ tsp.)
  • Marker
  • Table knife

Directions:

  1. Cut slices from a peeled banana.
  2. Put one slice in each sealable bag.
  3. Sprinkle ½ tsp. of yeast on one of the banana slices.
  4. Seal both bags.
  5. Mark an “X” on the bag with the yeast.
  6. Record kids’ predictions on what will happen.
  7. Check each bag daily for a week. Which slice decomposes fastest?
Source(s): Toolbox Training’s book 100 Science Activities for Kids (activity E9)

Also check out activities C3, D5, I9, and J4 from Toolbox Training book 100 Cooking Activities for Kids.


Check out the full September calendar to see the month at a glance as well as floating holidays, specialty weeks, and themes for the month.

Saturday, September 20, 2014

September 20: Punch Day

image from


Sparkling Punch

Materials:

  • Sparkling apple cider, 750-mm bottles
  • Carbonated water, 1 liter
  • Large oranges, 3
  • Lemons, 2
  • Frozen lemonade concentrate, 1 six-ounce can
  • White sugar, 1 tablespoon
  • Large punch bowl
  • Ice cubes, 2 trays
  • Stirring spoon
  • Cups

Directions:

  1. Thinly slice the lemons and oranges and place in punch bowl.
  2. Pour in thawed lemonade concentrate.
  3. Stir in the carbonated water and sparkling apple cider.
  4. Add sugar to taste.
  5. Add ice and enjoy!
Source(s): Toolbox Training book 100 Cooking Activities for Kids (activity A2). Adapted from allrecipes.com. Also check out activity A1 from the cooking activity book.


Check out the full September calendar to see the month at a glance as well as floating holidays, specialty weeks, and themes for the month.

Friday, September 19, 2014

September 19: Butterscotch Pudding Day

image from nutrisystem.com

Pudding is a simple food for children to make. Consider creating your own “pudding bar”. Consider some of the same ingredients you might include on an ice cream sundae bar (but be sure to ask the kids for ideas as well):

  • Whipped cream
  • Nuts *
  • Cherries
  • Candy bar chunks
  • Sprinkles
  • Pieces of fruit
  • Bits of candy

* Be aware of allergies with the kids in your program. This and other ingredients may not be appropriate for this activity.


Check out the full September calendar to see the month at a glance as well as floating holidays, specialty weeks, and themes for the month.

Thursday, September 18, 2014

September 18: Thank You Day

image from positivepsychologynews.com

In honor of Thank You Day, get the kids to consider all the people for whom they should be thankful!


Thank You Cards and/or Bulletin Board

Materials:

  • Construction paper
  • Writing materials (pens, pencils, crayons, etc.)
  • Decorative material (lace, glitter, ribbon, etc.)
  • Camera

Directions:

  1. Brainstorm with the kids all the people for whom they should be thankful.
  2. Encourage them to consider family, friends, people in the community, etc.
  3. Let kids make cards for people.
  4. If you are in a facility such as a school or child care center, consider making a “thank you” bulletin board. Kids can take pictures of the people in the facility and post the pictures on the board along with thank yous.

Check out the full September calendar to see the month at a glance as well as floating holidays, specialty weeks, and themes for the month.

Wednesday, September 17, 2014

September 17: Collect Rocks Day (actually yesterday)




Actually, yesterday was Collect Rocks Day, but that got trumped because it was also the day of the birth of Play-Doh. Check out activity K1 in the construction card set and C1-C7 in the nature card set. Among the activities in the nature set are a rock hunt, rock displays, pet rocks, making a rock necklace, and estimating weight with rocks, and playing the games I Spy and Categories. Here’s directions for I Spy:


I Spy: The Rock Version


Materials:
·         Variety of rocks

Directions:
1.       Children go on a rock hunt and gather as wide a variety of rocks as they can find.
2.       For the game, lay out the rocks in a space where all the children can see them.
3.       One child is chosen to be “it” and secretly picks one of the rocks.
4.       Other children try to guess which rock was picked by asking questions which can be answered either “yes” or “no”. Examples: “Is it smooth?” or “Is it gray?”
5.       When a child guesses correctly, he/she becomes “it”.


Other Holidays and Events Today:
  • Citizenship Day
  • Apple Dumpling Day

Check out the full September calendar or get more ideas from books and activity card sets at www.toolboxtrainingonline.com.

September 17: Flower Week

image from frmp.org

The third week of September is Flower Week. You can use dried flowers to make an air freshener.


Air Freshener

Materials:

  • poster board
  • scissors
  • hole punch
  • yarn
  • glue
  • dried flowers

Directions:

  1. Cut shape out of poster board.
  2. You may opt to paint or decorate poster board before going any further.
  3. Punch a hole in the top and tie the yarn through it.
  4. Glue dried flowers to one side of the poster board.
  5. Let dry completely.
  6. Now you can add more flowers to the other side.
  7. Once both sides are dry, hang air freshener.
  8. Experiment with different kinds of dried flowers. Which work best?
Source(s): Toolbox Training’s construction card set (activity K6). There are also several flower-related activities (B6, B7, C3, and H7) in Toolbox Training’s book 100 Art Activities for Kids.


Check out the full September calendar to see the month at a glance as well as floating holidays, specialty weeks, and themes for the month.

Tuesday, September 16, 2014

September 16, 1956: The birth of Play-Doh

image from babyearth.com

Doughs include basic play dough, oatmeal dough, peanut butter dough, graham cracker dough, apple cinnamon dough, cream cheese dough, and chocolate dough.
Basic Play Dough

Materials:

  • Plain flour (3 cups)
  • Water (1 cup)
  • Salt (1/2 cup)
  • Cooking oil (3 tablespoons)
  • Food coloring
  • Mixing bowl

Directions:

  1. Mix flour, salt, oil, and water.
  2. Divide into portions depending on how many colors you want.
  3. Add food coloring to each portion and mix in.
Source(s): About.com. Also, there is a whole section on different kinds of dough children can make in the Toolbox Training book 100 Cooking Activities for Kids (activities L1-L7).

Also check out activity M1 in the construction card set.


Check out the full September calendar to see the month at a glance as well as floating holidays, specialty weeks, and themes for the month.

Monday, September 15, 2014

September 15: Make a Hat Day

image from queenscamp.com

Materials:

  • paper plates
  • cardboard
  • scissors
  • markers/crayons
  • glue
  • material to decorate hats (feathers, yarn, buttons, etc.)
  • string
  • hole punch

Directions:

  1. Kids can use paper plates and thick cardboard to create whatever kinds of hats they wish. Encourage them to be creative and silly.
  2. Kids can also decorate their hats with lots of material.
  3. You may wish to provide paint for the kids as well.
  4. It may also be necessary for them to punch holes in the hat and tie the hat on to their heads.
Source(s): Toolbox Training book 100 Drama Activities for Kids (activity B6).

Also consider activities B2 and B3 from the construction card set. Also consider drama-related activities to do with hats. For example, gather a variety of hats (including the hats the kids have made) and use those as springboards for skits. Based on the hat a child chooses, what “character” can the child create?


Check out the full September calendar to see the month at a glance as well as floating holidays, specialty weeks, and themes for the month.

Sunday, September 14, 2014

September 14: Sewing Month

image from threadsmagazine.com


Mini-Cushion

Materials:

  • cloth napkins
  • scissors
  • darning needle
  • heavy thread or yarn
  • tissues or cotton

Directions:

  1. Younger kids might need to practice stitching on scratch cloth before starting this project.
  2. Make a design or picture using yarn and needle on one of the cloth napkins.
  3. Sew the 2 napkins together with big stitches on all sides.
  4. Be sure to leave a space to stuff the cushion.
  5. Stuff the cushion with the stockings and sew the opening together.
Source(s): The above is just one of multiple sewing activities (H3, H4, H5, H11, H12, and H13) in Toolbox Training’s book 100 Art Activities for Kids.


Check out the full September calendar to see the month at a glance as well as floating holidays, specialty weeks, and themes for the month.

Saturday, September 13, 2014

September 13: Positive Thinking Day

image from 53riverbankrun.com

It can be easy for children – and adults – to get bogged down by all that is going in wrong. Use today as a day for celebrating all that is going right. What are kids thankful for in their lives? What are they good at doing? Who are the important people in their lives who make a difference?

You can also make this into a day of compliments. Challenge kids to think of nice things to say about each other. You could even start a tradition. In a circle time or gathering, pick one child. Go around the group and ask each child to share one thing they like about that child. You may wish to write down what the kids say and send it home with the child.


Check out the full September calendar to see the month at a glance as well as floating holidays, specialty weeks, and themes for the month.

Friday, September 12, 2014

September 12: Video Game Day

image from paranerds.com

There’s plenty of research to show that children get too much screen time. On a day that celebrates video games, why not turn a video game into an active running game? Brainstorm ideas with the kids or go with this basic “video game”:


Master Blaster

Materials:

  • None

Directions:

  1. One person is picked as the game player and another is picked as the Master Blaster (the game player should not know who this person is). The other players are Blasters.
  2. The Blasters circulate on one side of a line.
  3. The game player is on the other.
  4. When the game player points his/her thumb at a Blaster, then that Blaster moves out of the play area.
  5. Game player is trying to get as many Blasters as possible without picking the Master Blaster.
  6. If the game player gets all the Blasters, then (s)he can have another turn. Otherwise, the Master Blaster becomes the new game player.
  7. Add twists to the game like turning it into a tag game or using a ball. Add a second game player and/or Master Blaster. Make the object of the game to find the Master Blaster.

Variations:

  • Turn this into a tag game.
  • Use a ball.
  • Use a net as the dividing line.
  • Turn it into a “two player” game.
  • Have two Master Blasters.
  • Make the object of the game to find the Master Blaster.
Source(s): Toolbox Training’s book 100 Game Activities for Kids (activity H13)


Check out the full September calendar to see the month at a glance as well as floating holidays, specialty weeks, and themes for the month.

Wednesday, September 10, 2014

September 10: Swap Ideas Day

image from wristbandconnection.com

Contact another local child care or after school program. Ideally, let your kids talk to their kids. What are the favorite activities at the other program? What do they like to have for snacks? What are there favorite toys?

You could also have kids take pictures of activities, events, and materials in your program that are favorites. Send them to the other program.

You could even trade some materials with the other program on a temporary basis to give kids something “new”.


Check out the full September calendar to see the month at a glance as well as floating holidays, specialty weeks, and themes for the month.

Tuesday, September 9, 2014

September 9: Teddy Bear Day

image from themontclarion.org

You can expand this day to celebrate stuffed animals in general. Have you ever had a pet sharing day in your program? Why not have a stuffed animal sharing day?

Suggestions:

  1. Children can bring in their stuffed animals and share them in show-and-tell fashion.
  2. For a fun game, take pictures of children’s stuffed animals and post them on a bulletin board. Let kids guess who they belong to. You could also have the kids put the actual stuffed animals on a table and let kids guess which animal belongs to which child.
  3. Create an “About Me” board where instead of offering information about a child, you have information about the child’s stuffed animal. Be silly. Include name, birthdays, the stuffed animal’s family members, interests, etc.

Check out the full September calendar to see the month at a glance as well as floating holidays, specialty weeks, and themes for the month.

Monday, September 8, 2014

September 8: Iguana Awareness Day

image from fc08deviantart.net

General information about iguanas:
  • Iguanas are a species of lizard with a row of spines running down their back to their tail.
  • They can grow to as long as 4-6 feet in length and reach 10-15 pounds in weight.
  • In captivity, they average a lifespan of 12-15 years.
  • While they are popular as pets, they can be difficult to tame and may become aggressive.

Suggestions:

  1. Contact your local pet store. Can they send someone to your site to talk about iguanas? Can they bring some?
  2. Check out Wikipedia for general information about iguanas.
  3. Check out www.drexotic.com and exoticpets.about.com to learn about the care and feeding of iguanas and other exotic animals. The latter offers several more links.

Check out the full September calendar to see the month at a glance as well as floating holidays, specialty weeks, and themes for the month.

Sunday, September 7, 2014

September 7: Neither Rain Nor Snow Day

image from villagevoice.com

Sure, it’s September so there shouldn’t be any snow, right? Why not make some – or at least some snowballs? Here’s a game where kids can make snowballs and have a late summer snowball fight!


Snowball

Materials:

  • Lots of scrap paper
  • Tape

Directions:

  1. Make snowballs by wadding up paper and taping where necessary.
  2. There should be at least one snowball per child.
  3. Determine boundaries.
  4. Pick a designated area as a “snow fort”.
  5. When play begins, children try to get each out by hitting them with snowballs.
  6. If a child is hit with a snowball, (s)he must drop and snowballs and run to the snow fort.
  7. Child may rest at the fort or immediately come right back into the game.
Source(s): Toolbox Training’s book 100 Game Activities for Kids (activity B6)


Check out the full September calendar to see the month at a glance as well as floating holidays, specialty weeks, and themes for the month.

Saturday, September 6, 2014

September 6: Read a Book Day

image from 3.bp.blogspot.com

Toolbox Training hopes to roll out a language activity card set/book by year’s end. Along with activities around reading, the set should include activities for storytelling, writing, poetry, bookmaking, and more.


Various Reading Activities

Here are different reading activities to consider:

  • Read a book to the group.
  • Have older kids read to younger kids.
  • Have non-readers look at a picture book and tell an adult what they think the story is about without knowing the words.
  • Read a picture book to the group without showing the pictures. Then ask the kids to illustrate the book.
  • Read part of a book to the group and then have them predict the ending. Then finish to see how close kids were.
  • Have kids act out a book as an adult or older child reads it.
  • Let kids read books and record their voices for books on tape.

Check out the full September calendar to see the month at a glance as well as floating holidays, specialty weeks, and themes for the month.

Friday, September 5, 2014

September 5: Chicken Month

image from patrickstack.com

In honor of National Chicken Month, kids can make their own nuggets.


Chicken Nuggets

Materials:

  • Boneless, skinless chicken breasts, 1 ½ pounds
  • Soy sauce, ¼ cup
  • Brown sugar, 1 tablespoon
  • Orange juice, 2 tablespoons
  • Sesame oil or vegetable oil, 1 tablespoon
  • Crushed garlic cloves, 1 to 2
  • Deep bowl with lid
  • Toothpicks
  • Microwave-safe plate
  • Sauces for dipping
  • Pita bread

Directions:

  1. Chop chicken into 1-inch chunks.
  2. Combine soy sauce, brown sugar, orange juice, oil, and garlic in a deep bowl.
  3. Toss chicken cubes in the bowl.
  4. Cover bowl and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.
  5. Spear cubes with toothpicks and arrange chicken on plate.
  6. Cover and microwave on high for 6 to 10 minutes or until cooked through.
  7. Dip in favorite sauces or wrap in pita bread for sandwiches.
Source(s): familyfun.go.com, adapted for the Toolbox Training book 100 Cooking Activities for Kids (activity G7).


Check out the full September calendar to see the month at a glance as well as floating holidays, specialty weeks, and themes for the month.

Thursday, September 4, 2014

September 4: Kodak patented the roll film camera (1888).

image from historiccamera.com

In honor of Kodak patenting the roll film camera on this date in 1888, you can show kids how to make their own camera.


Pinhole Camera

Materials:

  • round oatmeal containers
  • tissue paper
  • aluminum foil
  • cellophane tape
  • flashlight
  • straight pins

Directions:

  1. Cut a 3” square out of the bottom of the oatmeal container.
  2. Cover the hole with tissue paper.
  3. Cut another hole about the size of a postage stamp in the top of the box.
  4. Cover the hole with foil.
  5. In the middle of the foil, make a small hole with a pin.
  6. Cut out a black shape or picture and tape to front of flashlight.
  7. Hold oatmeal container about 2’ away from flashlight.
  8. Point foil toward flashlight.
  9. You should see the picture reflected on the tissue paper.
Source(s): Toolbox Training’s book 100 Science Activities for Kids (activity I17).


Check out the full September calendar to see the month at a glance as well as floating holidays, specialty weeks, and themes for the month.

Wednesday, September 3, 2014

September 3: Skyscraper Day

image from perkins.org

September 3 is Skyscraper Day. Kids can do simple construction with just newspaper and masking tape. Challenge them to see how high a structure they can build!
Newspaper Roll Sculptures

Materials:

  • newspaper
  • masking tape

Directions:

  1. Lay newspaper on floor.
  2. Beginning at corner, roll newspaper diagonally.
  3. Tape end to form a roll.
  4. Tape end of roll to table, floor, or posted paper.
  5. Tape another roll to the first roll.
  6. Keep adding rolls to create a sculpture.
Source(s): Toolbox Training’s construction card set (activity B1)

Check out the full September calendar to see the month at a glance as well as floating holidays, specialty weeks, and themes for the month.


Tuesday, September 2, 2014

September 2: Fall Hat Month

image from ucf4fl-explorers-settlerssp10t.wikispaces.com

September is Fall Hat Month. Here’s a newspaper hat you can make with paper mache.
Newspaper Hat

Materials:

  • newspaper
  • large balloons
  • flour
  • water
  • bowl
  • paper plates
  • paint
  • paint brushes
  • decorative material (felt scraps, colored cotton balls, feathers, beads, etc.)

Directions:

  1. Blow up a large balloon to be the same size as your head. Tie the balloon.
  2. Mix flour and water in a bowl until it has a soupy texture.
  3. Tear newspaper into strips.
  4. Dip strips into flour/water mixture and mold around just the top of the balloon so as to form a cap.
  5. Apply several layers.
  6. Let cap dry for at least a day and then pop the balloon.
  7. Decorate cap as you wish - you can use a paper plate to form a bill for the cap (like a baseball cap).
Source(s): Toolbox Training’s construction card set (activity B2)

Check out the full September calendar to see the month at a glance as well as floating holidays, specialty weeks, and themes for the month.


Monday, September 1, 2014

September 1: Mary Had a Little Lamb

image from nurseryrhymesonline.com

“Mary Had a Little Lamb” was published on this date in 1830. School-age children can use the tune as the basis for writing a brand new song.
Old Songs, New Words

Materials:

  • Tape recorder (optional)
  • Blank cassette (optional)

Directions:

  1. Pick a familiar tune children will know – like “Mary Had a Little Lamb”. Other possibilities include “Old MacDonald”, “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star”, or “My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean”.
  2. Determine a subject or topic for the new song.
  3. Work with the group to get contributions to the new song.
  4. You may even want to print the original lyrics for the song so that kids can study the number of syllables used in each line. Find the words for “Mary Had a Little Lamb” here.
  5. Try out the new words in the song frequently to see if they fit.
  6. When the song is perfected, write the words down or even record the song if possible.
Source(s): Toolbox Training’s book 100 Music Activities for Kids (activity D2)

Check out the full September calendar to see the month at a glance as well as floating holidays, specialty weeks, and themes for the month.


September Holidays and Activities

Listed below are interesting holidays, celebrations, important dates, and events for September. Icons indicate an activity from one of Toolbox Training’s 100 Activities series of books or activity card sets. Hover over the icon for specific references to exact activities.

You can also click on links for additional information on dates. Many of these connect directly to activities on the Toolbox Training blog, but some are off-site links.

1

“Mary Had a Little Lamb” published (1830)

2

Blueberry Popsicle Day

3

Skyscraper Day

4

Newspaper Carrier Day

Kodak patented the roll film camera (1888)

5

Be-Late-for-Something Day

6

Read a Book Day

Fight Procrastination Day

7

Neither Rain Nor Snow Day

8

Literacy Day (International)

Iguana Awareness Day

9

Teddy Bear Day

California Admissions Day

10

Swap Ideas Day

11

Make Your Bed Day

No-News-Is-Good-News Day

Motor vehicle patented (1900)

12

Video Game Day

Chocolate Milk Shake Day

13

Peanut Day

Positive Thinking Day

Defy Superstition Day

14

Cream-Filled Doughnut Day

National Anthem Day

Eat a Hoagie Day

15

Make a Hat Day

16

Birth of Play-Doh (1956)

Working Parents Day

Happy Stepfamily Day

Kids Day

Collect Rocks Day

Mayflower Day

17

Citizenship Day

Apple Dumpling Day

18

Birth of the U.S. Air Force (1947 – became a separate military unit)

Thank You Day

19

Butterscotch Pudding Day

20

First Railroad Station opened (1914).

Punch Day

Nylon patented (1938)

21

World Gratitude Day

Banana Festival (International)

22

First Day of Autumn

American Business Woman's Day

Band-Aid invented (1921)

Dear Diary Day

Elephant Appreciation Day

US Post Office opened (1789)

23

Eat a Hoagie Day

24

First toy store opened

Rabbit Day

Bluebird of Happiness Day

25

Comic Book Day

26

Ancestor Appreciation Day

Johnny Appleseed’s Birthday (1774)

Food-Service Employees Day

Pancake Day

27

Crush-a Can-Day

28

First airport opened (1940)

Ask a Stupid Question Day

29

Family Health and Fitness Days (2 days)

30

Family Health and Fitness Days (2 days)

Safety pin invented (1849)


Floating Holidays:

  • Working Mothers Day (1st Sunday)
  • Labor Day (1st Monday)
  • Grandparent's Day (1st Sunday after Labor Day)
  • Peace Day (International) (3rd Tuesday)
  • Native American Day (4th Friday)
  • Good Neighbor Day (4th Sunday)
  • Jewish holiday Rosh Hashanah begins at sundown on 9/29/11, 9/17/12, 9/5/13, and 9/25/14
  • Jewish holiday Yom Kippur begins at sundown on 10/8/11, 9/26/12, 9/14/13, and 10/4/14
  • Jewish holiday Sukkot begins at sundown on 10/13/11, 10/1/12, 9/19/13, and 10/9/14

Specialty Weeks:

1st week
  • Childhood Injury Prevention Week

2nd week
  • Fall Hat Week

3rd week
  • Child Care Week
  • Farm Animals Week
  • Flower Week
  • Flower Week

4th week
  • Autumn Leaf Festival
  • Constitution Week
  • Dog Week
  • Equal Parents’ Week

Specialty Months:

  • Baby Safety Month
  • Be Kind to Editors and Writers Month
  • Better Breakfast Month
  • Biscuit Month
  • Childhood Cancer Awareness Month
  • Coupon Month
  • Courtesy Month/Children’s Good Manners Month
  • Chicken Month
  • Children’s Eye Health and Safety Month
  • Cholesterol Education Month
  • Classical Music Month
  • Cold and Flu Campaign
  • Ethnic Foods Month
  • Health in Aging Month
  • Hispanic Heritage Month (Sept. 15 - Oct. 15)
  • Honey Month
  • Library Card Sign-Up Month
  • Literacy Month
  • Fall Hat Month
  • Little League Month
  • Mushroom Month
  • Nutrition Month
  • Organic Harvest Month
  • Papaya Month
  • Read-a-New-Book Month
  • Rice Month
  • School Success Month
  • Self Improvement Month
  • Sewing Month
  • Square Dancing Month (International)
  • Woman of Achievement Month


Check out other months
or return to activity calendar page.