February 4: Thank a Mailman Day

image from domaingang.com

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Post Office Prop Box

Materials:

• paper
• writing instruments (pencils, pens, markers, etc.)
• envelopes
• stamps
• junk mail
• old greeting cards
• large mailing envelopes
• postman clothes
• mail bag
• scale
• mail box (kids could make)

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.

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Source(s): 100 Drama Activities for Kids (activity A18)

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Check out the full February calendar. It includes floating holidays, specialty weeks, and specialty months.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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