Picnics Theme

Picnics Theme  

TALK:
 Summer is the perfect time for picnics! Here are some great books to share with your little ones all about picnics!

Ask if anyone has gone on a picnic. 

Talk about what you do on a picnic:
What you see?  
What do you hear?
What types of food do you eat?
What type of weather is best for a picnic?
Where do you go?  A park?

 READ: Books
Picnic: A Day in the Park By Joan Holub
We're going on a Picnic By Pat Hutchins
Mouse's First Summer By Lauren Thompson
The Perfect Picnic By Ciara Flood 
The Winter Picnic By Robert Welber
Freda Plans a Picnic By Stuart Murphy
Peanut and Pearl's Picnic Adventure By Rebecca Kai Doltich
Picnic By Emily Arnold McCully
 





Picnic By John Burningham
Biscuit's Picnic By Alyssa Satin Capucilli
The Best Picnic Ever By Clare Jarrett
The Teddy Bear's Picnic By Steven Anderson
Once Upon a Picnic By John Prater

SING:
 Action Song: “Ants Go Marching”
The ants go marching one by one, hurrah! Hurrah!
The ants go marching one by one, hurrah! Hurrah!
The ants go marching one by one,
The little one stops to suck his thumb,
And they all go marching down, to the ground, to get out of the rain.
(two, tie his shoe; three, climb a tree; four, shut the door; five, take a dive)
Credit:Storytime Katie 

Cool Bear Hunt Song from Dr. Jean Feldman's CD Silly Songs

Let's Pack a Picnic Basket

A-tisket, A-tasket,
Let's pack a picnic basket.
We'll fill it up with food to munch.
What's in our picnic lunch? 
Credit: Child Care Lounge 

Ants at the Picnic (tune: "Skip to My Lou")

Ants at the picnic, what'll I do?

Ants at the picnic, what'll I do?
Ants at the picnic, what'll I do?
Guess I will eat real quickly! 
Credit: Child Care lounge  

PLAY:
 Hungry Ant: Have children sit in a circle. In the middle of the circle have a variety of picnic items such as napkins, a thermos, a paper plate, a sandwich, a fork, a banana etc. Have all the children close their eyes. Select one child to be the "Hungry Ant." That child removes one item and hides it behind their back. When children open their eyes have them guess what the "Hungry Ant" took away.

Picnic Tossing: Have children take turns tossing plastic play food into a picnic basket. Keep moving the basket farther away to see how far they can throw the items. 

Ants go Marching: Play the song 'The Ants Go Marching' and let children march around room or outdoor area. 
Credit- Child Care Lounge


 CRAFTS & PRINTABLES:

Hot Dog Lacing Printables

Picnic Printables  

Picnic blanket weave collage link

Teddy Bear Picnic and Bear Theme UPDATED

 Teddy Bear/Bear Picnic Program

 September 9 is Teddy Bear Day. A Teddy Bear is a special friend to children all over the world. He's cuddly. He makes you feel secure in an otherwise insecure world. He's lovable. Your Teddy Bear is both a companion and a comforter. And, he's not afraid of the dark. He'll keep you safe.

Spend the day and night with your teddy bear . Cuddle up to him. Talk to him. And, do all of your favorite things together.

Talk:

Show bear puppet or a stuffed teddy bear? What sound do they make? Where do they live/sleep?Bears in the winter like to sleep in their cave Which is called “Hibernating.  We are going to share books all about bears  and then make a special craft. 

 
READ Books: Goodnight Already By Jory John 

Brown Bear, Brown Bear By Eric Carle

Where’s My Teddy? By Jez Albough

Orange Pear, Apple Bear By Emily Gravett
The Little Mouse, the Red Ripe Strawberry, and the Big Hungry Bear By Don Wood

My Bear and Me By Barbara Maitland

Sleepy Bear By Lydia Dabocovich

Sleepy Bears By Mem Fox

We're Going on a Bear Hunt By Helen Oxenbury 
Bear Snores On By Karma Wilson 

I Am Bear By Ben Bailey Smith 
My Friend Bear By Jez Alborough  



 

Songs:

If your happy and you know it (intro song)

ABC SONG

Itsy Bitsy Spider

Teddy bear Teddy Bear rhyme 

CD Music  

Bean bag song #3- on bean bag activities CD

**Cool Bear Hunt Song # 3 Dr. Jean Silly Songs

Toe leg knee song from green Jim Gill CD

I took a bath in a washing machine #4 Jim Gill CD (use colorful scarves in clear bag in wooden two door cabinet)

The Tempo marches on with egg shakers from Orange Jim Gill CD

Silly Dance Contest #8 Jim Gill Cd (use scarves again if you wish)

#2 Hands are for clapping Song Yellow Jim Gill CD

PLAY: Teddy Bear Game

Use die cut teddy bears shapes- -- color sheet bears cut out or colored clip art-- the kids can keep it when you are done with the game if want them too.

Actions:

·       Hold your teddy bear high in the sky (with right hand and then left )

·       Dance around with your teddy bear

·       Stretch down and touch your toes with your teddy bear (2-3 times)

·       Jump up with your teddy bear (2-3 times)

·       Hug your teddy tight

·       Find your teddy’s nose and give it a kiss

·       Let your teddy walk down your leg

·       Let him jump back and forth on your toes (2-3 times)

·       March in place with your teddy bear

·       Hide your teddy behind your back

·       Shout Hooray with your teddy bear

·       Give your teddy to the big person with you!

Craft: Moveable teddy bear
Color and put together a moveable bear with brad fastners and color it with crayons. 5 fastners per child to create their bear. 



 Also you can host a teddy bear picnic Party-- bring blankets for your guests to sit on-- have them bring their favorite stuffed bear or animal and then read the above bear books--have a snack of teddy bear crackers and juice. Then make the moveable bear craft above. 
Don't forget to set up a bear book display of your favorites!