Jungle

Jungle and rainforest-themed preschool lesson plans, including arts and crafts, games, math, science, group time activities, songs, and snack ideas.

Arts and Crafts

Kool Aid Rain Art

Sprinkle a little dry Kool aid mix onto a piece of paper. Have your child spray water from a spray bottle onto the paper. Use different colored Kool-aid mix. For added adventure, you may choose to take your children out into the rain with a piece of paper that has Kool-aid on it.

Safari Map

Tear a large piece of paper from a brown grocery bag. Lie the paper flat and have the children create a safari map on the paper. You may use black paint and markers for the map. They can use stamps, stickers, pictures from magazines or draw the animals they might see.

Safari Vests

Make and decorate vests from paper grocery bags.

Rain Sticks

Seal off one end of a paper towel tube with tape or tape heavy construction paper or tag board over one hole. Pre-poke holes in the side of the paper towel tube with either a small nail or an awl. The child then can insert toothpicks into the holes. Have the child fill with dried rice or lentils, then seal the other end of the tube. Cover the tube with construction paper, then have the child decorate as desired. To use the rain stick, simply turn it over and listen to the “rain”.

Paper Plate Snakes

Draw a spiral on a paper plate that goes from the outside to the inside of the plate. Have the child cut along the line. Decorate the snake with green paint, crayons, stickers or whatever you desire. Hang the snakes by the middle of the plate (their tail) about the room to give a jungle feel.

Jungle Vines

Have the children create many different leaves and animals and hang them from brown yarn around the room to represent vines

Foot Parrot

Trace each child’s foot on white paper. Cut out and decorate with colorful paints, crayons, feathers and/or googly eyes.

Rain Art

Fill a spray bottle 3/4 full with water. Place a small amount of paint (powdered or liquid) into the water. If you use too much or do not shake well the paint will clog up the spray bottle. Do this for at least three different bottles, with three different colors. Then place a large piece of paper on the floor, on an easel, on a wall or fence outside. Then have the children spray the colored water on the paper. Allow to dry.

Raindrop Hats

Make hats from newsprint and have the child decorate with blue paint or rain and rainbow stickers.

Torn Paper Raindrops

Draw a raindrop shape on a piece of paper. Have the children tear pieces of blue construction paper, and glue them inside the lines for the raindrop shape.

Raindrop Necklaces

Supply the children with raindrop shaped stencil. Have the children cut out raindrop shapes from construction paper. Then, have the child use a hole punch to make a hole, so they can thread them onto a piece of yarn.

Rain Cookie Cutter Art

Obtain a cookie cutter that is shaped like a raindrop. Have the children dip the cookie cutter in a shallow container of blue paint, then press onto a piece of paper to make raindrop prints.

Raindrop Rubbings

Cut raindrop shapes from paper doilies or sandpaper. Tape these raindrops to the table. Have the children place a piece of thin white paper over the raindrops and rub a crayon over the raindrop.

Pipe Cleaner Spiders

Provide the children with pipe cleaners to make spiders. Have the children twist the pipe cleaners together to form a body and legs.
Discuss how many legs a spider has.

Spider Paper Plates

Use a smaller and larger paper plate to make these spiders. Staple the smaller plate onto the larger plate, as if the smaller plate will be the spider’s head. Have the child paint both sides black. Then add black streamers for legs and white construction paper for eyes. Hang them from the ceiling.

Spider Gumdrops

Supply the children with large black gum drops and eight toothpicks per child. Have the children push the toothpicks in the gum drops to represent the spiders legs.

Snake Tracks

This one is a lot of fun, and has great results. Set out a piece of yarn for each color of paint you intend to use. Have the child dip the yarn in one color of paint, and run it across the paper. Use a new piece of string for a different color.

Contact Paper Art

You will need a picture of a rain forest animal. A reverse image is needed if the picture can be backwards. Place the image on the table and place a piece of contact paper, sticky side up over the image. Supply the children with scraps of construction paper to tissue paper. Children use the scraps to create the image on the contact paper.

Cookie Cutter Painting

Put a small amount of tempera paint in a large shallow container. (A pie tin works well.) Show your child how to dip the cookie cutter in the paint and press onto a piece of paper to create a print. You can make jungle pictures by using animal cookie cutters and colored paper.

Tiger Stripes

Supply each child with orange and black paper. Have the child tear the black paper into thin stripes, then glue onto the orange paper.

Leopard Prints

Supply each child with a piece of brown paper and black non-toxic stamp pads. Show the child how to make fingerprints on the paper, using only one finger at a time.

Fingerprint Monkeys

Put a small amount of tempera paint in a small shallow container. (The metal lid of a juice bottle works well) Show your child how to dip his/her finger in the paint and make a fingerprint on a piece of paper. (Alternative: Use a non-toxic ink pad) have your child make several fingerprints using yellow or light brown paint. After the paint dries, add the facial features with a pen.

Lizards

Cut out lizard shapes from construction paper. Have the children decorate them with scraps of paper, tissue paper, yarn and other items.

Other Fingerprint Ideas:

Giant Ant Hill

Materials: Large Butcher Paper Black crayon Cut the paper in the shape of an ant hill. Help your child draw tunnels with the crayon and draw ants in the tunnels.

Ants in the Dirt

Materials: Brown and blue construction paper None toxic ink pad Glue Black Marker Have the children tear pieces of the brown construction paper and glue them onto the bottom of the blue paper to represent the dirt and sky. After the glue has dried, have the children place a few fingerprints on the brown paper to represent ants. Add legs and antennae with black marker.

Ants at My Picnic

Materials: Construction paper Paper plates Magazine ads for food Black marker Have your child glue pictures of their favorite foods onto the paper plate, then glue the plate onto the paper as if the paper were the place mat. Then have your child draw the ants on the place mat and plate.

Balloon Ants

Materials: Balloon Marker Yarn Blow up a balloon, have your child tape six pieces of yarn onto the balloon for the ants legs, and let them draw on a face.

Tube Ants

Materials: Cardboard tube from a tissue paper roll Raisins Have your child dip the raisins into glue and stick them inside the tube to simulate ants being in their tunnels. Add pieces of green yarn to represent grass.

Play Doh Ants

Have your children make Ants out of play doh.

Busy Ants Headbands

Have the children cut out two strips of paper that when connected will fit around their head. Connect the strips with glue or tape, (staples will catch the child’s hair). Supply the children with two pipe cleaners… and have them shape them however they want to and tape them on the inside of the headband. On mine I wrote “Busy Ant Suzy” and “Busy Ant Max” or whatever they wanted to be.

Toothpick and Marshmallow Ants

Supply older children with marshmallows and toothpicks. They can connect three marshmallows with toothpicks to form the body and head. They may use toothpicks for the legs as well.

Starbucks (w/paint) Ant Hills!

Have your child use and ant stamp to create an ant scene. When dry, add a mixture of coffee grounds, glue and brown paint to create an ant hill. Allow to dry completely.

Egg Carton Ants

Cut out three sections of a cardboard egg carton. Have the child paint the egg carton brown. When dry attach pipe cleaners for legs and googly eyes.

Play Doh Bugs

Have your children make bugs out of play doh.

Bee Stripes

Cut out bee shapes. Have the children cut out black and yellow stripes to add to their bee. Then have them glue the stripes on their bee.

Pom Pom Caterpillar

Supply the children with many pom poms to glue together to make a caterpillar. Add pipe cleaner legs and wiggly eyes.

Pom Pom Butterfly

This activity is very teacher-directed. Please use the image as a guide.

Butterfly Stamps

Have the children use various sizes of butterfly and bug stamps. These can be colored with Crayola markers, then pressed on construction paper, to give a variety of different colors on each butterfly or bug.

Contact Paper Butterfly

Supply the children with a picture of a butterfly and a piece of contact paper. Place the contact paper over the picture, sticky side up. Supply the children with bits of tissue paper to decorate the butterfly.

Busy Bugs Headbands

Have the children cut out two strips of paper that when connected will fit around their head. Connect the strips with glue or tape, (staples will catch the child’s hair). Supply the children with two pipe cleaners… and have them shape them however they want to and tape them on the inside of the headband. On mine I wrote “Busy Bee Suzy” and “Beautiful Butterfly Max” or whatever they wanted to be.

Clothespin Butterflies

(Another Big Toddler Hit) Obtain the old fashion style one piece clothespin (wooden) Allow the children to paint the clothespin with bright colors. When dry, ask the child to pick a piece of tissue paper for the wings. Fold the paper in half, and then scrunch the tissue into the opening in the clothespin. Then have the child pick out a pipe cleaner, and tie the pipe cleaner around the knob of the clothespin for antennae.

Clothespin Butterflies 2

Obtain clothespins (wooden). Allow the children to paint the clothespin with bright colors. (Optional) Have the child paint a piece of tissue paper for the wings with either water colors or tempera paint. Fold the paper in half, and then scrunch the tissue into the opening in the clothespin. Then have the child pick out a pipe cleaner, and tie the pipe cleaner around the knob of the clothespin for antennae. (Optional)

Popsicle Stick Butterflies

Use a Popsicle stick for the body. Allow the children to paint the Popsicle stick. (Optional) Have the child paint a piece of tissue paper for the wings with either water colors or tempera paint. The children can then tape or glue the wings onto the Popsicle stick.
Natural Wood Craft Sticks

Butterfly Ink Blot

Cut out a butterfly shape on white paper, the shape should be symmetrical. Fold the paper in half, and ask the child to paint half of the butterfly. When the child is finished, ask him/her to press the paper halves together, so that both sides will look the same. Have the child rub the folded paper. Open the paper, and you have a butterfly with matching wings.

Ladybugs

Provide each child with a red circle. Have them draw as many black dots as they would like on one side. Have the child count the dots on the paper and write the number on the other side.

Fingerprint Bugs

Supply each child with a piece of white paper and different colored non-toxic stamp pads. Show the child how to make fingerprints on the paper, using only one finger at a time. When finished, add legs and antennae with a black pen, or for older children, have them add the legs and antennae.

Sun Catcher Butterflies

Cut out a butterfly shape from black paper. This shape should be symmetrical. Fold the shape in half then open it again. Then help the child use a hole puncher to make holes in one wing. They make as many as they wish. Then help the child fold the shape in half and punch the holes in the other half by using the first half as a guide. To complete this project have the child glue scrapes of tissue paper to the back of the butterfly. When dry, hang in a window.

Caterpillars

Supply the children with many different circles to glue onto a piece of paper to make a caterpillar. Have the children draw on the legs and facial features or use yarn for the legs.

Tissue Paper Butterflies

Supply the children with small pre-cut squares of bleeding (the color comes out when it is wet) tissue paper, a copy of a butterfly on white paper (copy of coloring book page works well) a paint brush and a small amount of water. Have the child dab a small amount of water onto the butterfly shape, then place the tissue paper on the butterfly shape wait until dry, then remove the tissue paper.

Feet Butterflies

Have children take off shoes and socks, paint the bottom of their feet with non-toxic tempera paint. Have the child step onto a piece of paper with their feet and heels together. When dry, add antennae with markers or crayons or yarn.

Butterfly Punch Collage

We used a butterfly punch to make many different colored butterflies for the children to glue to different colors of construction paper. We punched wall paper and construction paper.

Make a Bug

Have the children make a bug with marshmallows, toothpicks and pipe cleaners. Use the toothpicks for legs and to connect the body parts, use the pipe cleaners for antennae or a tail.

Spider Web Art

Place a piece of black paper in a box, supply the children with a few marbles covered in white paint. Place the marbles in the box and have the child shake the box to make a spider web. Please be careful when using marbles with small children, as they are a choking hazard.

Caterpillar Sock

Provide each child with a sock to paint. Have the child paint a toilet paper tube a different color. Cut the toilet paper tube into four sections. Stuff the sock into the toilet paper tube sections. Add googly eyes and pipe cleaners.

Egg Carton Caterpillar

Provide the children with cardboard egg cartons and tissue paper or construction paper scraps. You could also have the children paint or add stickers to the cartons. Add pipe cleaners for legs and googly eyes.

Dipping Bugs

Obtain cookie cutters that are shaped like bugs. Have the children dip the cookie cutter in a shallow container of paint, then press onto a piece of paper to make prints.

Bird Collages

Have the children cut out pictures of birds from magazines, and glue them onto a piece of paper for a collage.

Bird Seed Collage

Allow your child to use bird seeds to create a collage.

Paper Bag Bird Masks

Let children use yarn, paints, crayons and paper scraps to create their own bird mask. You may have to cut out the eyes, mouth and shoulders for younger children.

Paper Plate Bird Mask

Have the children paint a paper plate. When dry have the children add feathers and a nose. Cut out holes for the eyes and add a Popsicle stick to the back of the plate near the bottom with glue.

Bird Placemat

Have the children cut out pictures of birds from magazines. Have the children glue the pictures onto a piece of paper. Laminate the paper and use for a placemat.

Sponge Print

You can find already shaped sponges at most art and craft stores or you can make your own. Obtain sponges shaped like birds. Have your child dip the sponges into paint and press on a piece of paper.

Feather Headbands

Measure your child’s head, and cut a piece of construction paper long enough to create a headband. Glue the paper together so the headband fits snugly on your child’s head but is loose enough to take off easily. Glue the feathers to the headband.

Bird Necklaces

Have the children cut out bird shapes from construction paper. Then, have them use a hole punch to make a hole, so they can thread them onto a piece of yarn. Add colored noodles to the necklace.

Bird Rubbings

Cut bird shapes from paper doilies or sandpaper. Tape these shapes to the table. Have the children place a piece of thin white paper over the shapes and rub a crayon over the shape.

Cookie Cutter Painting

Put a small amount of tempera paint in a large shallow container. (A pie tin works well) Show your child how to dip the bird shaped cookie cutter in the paint and press onto a piece of paper to create a print.

Sticker Art

For a very simple art project, supply the children with a piece of paper and stickers. For younger children this provides an excellent fine motor activity.

Bird Spray Paint Art

Obtain a few clean spray bottles. Add water and a little bit of liquid or powdered tempera. Then, place a large piece of cat shaped paper on an easel, and have the children spray the colored water onto the bird shaped paper.

Kool Aid Art

Sprinkle a little dry kool aid mix onto a bird shaped piece of paper. Have your child spray water from a spray bottle onto the paper. For added adventure, you may choose to take your children out into the rain with a piece of paper that has kool-aid on it.

Feather Painting

Provide each child with a feather, paint and paper. Ask the children paint a picture using the feather as a paintbrush.

Eggshell Collage

Use food coloring to color crushed eggshells. Use a few different colors. (You can use eggshells from eggs you have used. There is no need to hard boil these eggshells.) Let your child glue the eggshells to a piece a paper, after the dye has dried.

Paint like a Bird

Supply the children with paper and paint and have the children paint like a bird might paint. You may want to have them put a pair of clean socks on their hands to help them imagine not having fingers to use.

Frog Head Band

Have the children color precut frog shapes or coloring page. Have the children cut out two strips of paper that when connected will fit around their head. Connect the strips with glue or tape, (staples will catch the child’s hair). Affix their frog on the headband.

Lily Pads

Cut out lily pad shapes from large white construction paper. Have the children paint them green. After they dry write each child’s name on them. Laminate them so you can use them for the activities below.

Paper Plate Lily Pads

Supply each child with green paint and a paper plate. Have the children paint the plate green. Then have them cut out a long thin triangle to make a lily pad.

Color Me Frog

Have the children color and cut out a picture of a frog. Use brads to create movable parts.

Paper Plate Frog

Have children paint half a paper plate green. Have the children glue on white eyes, and a red tongue. Attach a Popsicle stick behind the tongue.

Paper Plate Frog 2

Have children paint a paper plate green. Have the children glue on white eyes, a red tongue and legs.

Paper Bag Frogs

Have the children paint a small lunch paper bag green. Have the children glue on eyes to the bottom of the bag, as if it were the frogs face, and a tongue.

Paper Bag Frog 2

Provide the children with a paper bag and different shades of green circles. Have the children glue the circles to the bag. Supply the children with pre-cut arms, legs, tongue and eyes. Let them glue the features on the bag as shown.

Pom Pom Frog

Supply the children with one large green circle (for the body), two smaller green circles (for the outer eyes), two even smaller colored circles (for inner eyes), two medium green triangle shapes (for the legs) and two small green triangles (for the feet).

Frog Heart

Use the image as a demo. This is a project for older children and is very teacher-directed!

Frog and Lilly Pad Scene

Have your child paint a coffee filter green to represent lily pads. Allow the child to cut several pieces of green yarn for the plants in the water. Have the child glue the lily pads and the plants to a piece of blue paper (lake). Then have them paint a frog on the paper. Add eyes.

Leaf Collages

Cut out different leaf shapes out of fall colors and have the children glue the shapes onto another piece of paper.

Leaf Rubbings

Have the child place a leaf under a piece of paper, and rub the paper with crayon, and the leaf shape will appear. This works much better with green leaves.

Leaf Hands

Trace your child’s hand onto a fall color of construction paper, and cut it out to make it look like a maple leaf.

Leaf Tree

Use brown construction paper for the trunk of the tree, and tape up fall leaves to the wall to make a huge fall tree in your classroom.

Leaf Painting

Have the children paint, using leaves as paintbrushes.

Leaf Glitter

Find some old brown leaves. Have the children crumble them up and use them as glitter. You could even paint them before you crumble them to make different colored glitter.

Leaf People

Have the children glue a leaf on a piece of paper, and draw legs, arms, and a head to create a person.

Leaf Mobile

Have the children attach leaves to a hanger with different lengths of string to create a mobile. Hang around the classroom.

Torn Paper Tree

Have the children make a torn paper tree with brown paper for the trunk, and red, orange and yellow paper for the leaves. The children should be supplied with the paper and glue. they should tear the pieces of paper into the shape they want it to be.

Leaves

Supply each child with a piece of white paper and instruct them to paint it using red and yellow paint. they may mix the paints to create orange. Allow the papers to dry, then flip the papers over and draw leaf shapes on the back for the children to cut out. Have them cut out the leaves. You may then:

Have them make a leaf mobile

Have them glue them onto a piece of paper for a leaf collage

Hang them from the ceiling

Have them glue them onto a piece of paper with a trunk to make a tree

Put them up on a bulletin board

Hang them from a classroom size tree

Games, Science, and Math

Cookie Cutter Match Game

Obtain many different jungle animal cookie cutters. Trace each one onto one piece of paper. Have the children try to match each cookie cutter to its match on the paper.

Felt Monkey Board

Make monkey faces and bananas from felt. Number each monkey. The children will place the correct number of bananas next to each monkey.

Stamping Patterns

Use animal rubber stamps to create a simple pattern on the top half of a piece of paper. Ask your child to help you recreate the pattern on the bottom half of the paper. Tip: Start with one stamp, and have your child pick which stamp you used. Start slowly and work your way up to more complicated patterns.

Snake Sort

Provide the children with many different plastic snakes and have them sort the snakes by size or color.

Bug Sort

Provide the children with many different plastic bugs and have them sort them by size or color.

Raindrop fishing

Cut out several raindrop shapes from light blue construction paper. Write several numbers or letters on them. Have them laminated. Then place a paper clip on each raindrop. Make a fishing pole out of a dowel or pencil, string and a magnet. Place the raindrops on the floor and have the children sit in chairs around the raindrops. (This may work better with a few fishing poles.) Have the children try to catch a raindrop with the fishing pole. Then, when they catch one, show it to them and ask what letter or number it is.
Variation: For younger children you could make the raindrops different colors and ask what color is the raindrop
Variation: Ask the child if they can catch the “a” or the “1”

Spider Webbing

Provide children with a chair and some yarn or string. Ask them to create a spider’s web by wrapping the string around the legs of the chair.

Spider Legs

Draw eight different spiders on index cards. The spiders should be drawn with 1 to 8 legs. Ask your child to arrange the spiders according to how many legs the spiders have.

Ant Hunt

Simply go outside and observe some ants.

Sand Table Fun

Add plastic ants to your sand or water table.

Lacing Cards

Cut colored poster board into a ant shape and punch holes around the edges. Then let your child lace yarn or a shoestring into the cards.

Bean Bag Toss

Have your child toss bean bags into a box with fingerprint ants on it. You can use masking tape to mark where the child should stand.

Ant Sizing

Cut out many different sized ants. Ask the children to line up the ants from largest to smallest.

Ant Numbers

Cut out ten ant shapes. Number them one to ten. Ask the children to line up the ants from one to ten.

Ant Colors

Cut out many ant shapes from different colors. Ask the children to sort the ants by color.

Ants in a Nest

You need: Muffin Tin Raisins Small Tongs Paper, tape, pen How to: Number small pieces of paper 1 through 6. Tape these numbers into the bottom of each hole in the muffin tin. Ask your child to place the appropriate number of raisins (ants) in each hole (nest). One raisin in the hole marked 1, and so on.

Feelie Caterpillar

To create this caterpillar, use cardboard circles. Attach different textured items to the circles, like lace, foil, contact paper, felt etc.

Caterpillar Jar

For older children. Fill a small jar with Gummy Worms. Ask each child to guess how many Gummy Worms are in the jar. For younger children, limit the number of Gummy Worms to less than ten. Record each child’s guess. Count the Gummy Worms.

Caterpillar Jar 2

Provide three identical jars with pre-counted Gummy Worms of 20, 30, and 40. Label these jars 20, 30 and 40. Place 20 to 40 Gummy Worms in a fourth identical jar. Allow the children to examine all four jars before they guess. Record the children’s approximations. Count the Gummy Worms

Caterpillar Sort

Provide the children with Gummy Worms. Have them sort the Gummy Worms by color.

Butterfly or Bee Prop

This can be made with two wooden circles painted yellow, ribbons, and mesh wire wings. A craft store will be the best place to pick up these items.

Where’s The Bug

For this activity you will need index cards, a piece of construction paper and two sets of matching stickers. Place one set of stickers on the construction paper. Place each sticker of the second set on its own index card. To play: the children pick an index card and try to find the matching bug on the construction paper. Kinda like “Where’s Waldo?”

Counting Bugs

For this activity you will need index cards and bugs stickers. Place the stickers on index cards. Place one on one card, two on another and so on. Then on the back of the card write the number “1”, “2” and so on. The children count the bugs and say the number and then flip the card over and see if they are correct.

Bug Hunt

Go for a bug hunt outside. Provide a box to collect them, and magnifying glasses to allow the children a better view.

Butterfly Wing Match

Draw five butterflies and color them. Clip art works well. Have them laminated, then cut them in half, and have the children put them back together like a puzzle.

Bee Stripes

Make a number of bees with different number of stripes. Have the children count the number of black or yellow stripes on the bee.

Be a Bee

Have the children pretend to be a bee or bug and buzz around the room.

Ladybug Chart

Chart the number of dots each ladybug had that the children made. Who had the most, least, etc.?

Bug Farm

Collect bugs in a jar, and let the children examine them with a magnifying glass. Return the bugs to their homes so they do not die.

Collecting Leaves

Have the children collect different kinds of leaves.

Leaf Graph

Have the children count the number of leaves they collected from each type of tree, and graph the results.

Leaf Sort

Have the children sort the leaves they collected by color, size or type of leaf.

Leaf Blow

Have the children blow a leaf across a table with a straw. Have a leaf race. See who can blow their leaf across the table first.

Ordering Leaves

Find pictures of different stages of a tree’s life, in summer, spring, winter, and fall. Have the child arrange the pictures in order. (note children may start with any season)

Leaf Count

Have the children count how many leaves they have collected

Leaf Count 2

Make pictures of trees with different numbers of leaves on the trees. Have the children count the number of leaves on the tree.

Leaf Match

Set out two of each kind of leaf and have the children find the matches.

Leave Sticker Match

You may be able to find leaf stickers. Make sure that you have at least two identical sheets. Place two identical stickers on one index card. One on the left side and one on the right. Then cut the card in half in a funny shape. Follow with all the stickers. Then set out the cards and ask the child to pick out one, then find it’s match. Next, place the cards together.

Leaf Match Up

There are many ways to set this up depending on the skill level or the particular skill you wish to work on. Try these different set ups:

Cut out leaf shapes from different colors of paper. Give each child one leaf. Ask the children to find one person with the same color leaf.

Cut out leaf shapes from different colors of paper. Cut the leaves in half using a puzzle type cut, like zig zag or interlocking pieces. Give each child one half of a leaf, and ask them to find the person with the other half. Or Give the children two pieces and have the children make a circle, with one child that has one match on one side and the other match on the other side. You may end up with 2 or more circles depending on how the leaf pieces are distributed.

Cut out leaf shapes from one color of paper. Cut the leaves in half using a puzzle type cut, like zig zag or interlocking pieces. Give each child one half of a heart, and ask them to find the person with the other half.

Or Give the children two pieces and have the children make a circle, with one child that has one match on one side and the other match on the other side. You may end up with 2 or more circles depending on how the heart pieces are distributed.

Cut the leaf shapes from one color of paper. Label one set of leaves with numbers, i.e. if you have 20 children, label the leaves with the numbers one to ten. The other half, draw one dot on one, two on another, and so on until ten. Give each child one leaf and have them find the child with their match.

Cut the leaf shapes from one color of paper. Place matching stickers on two leafves. Give each child one leaf and have them find the child with their match.

Cut the leaf shapes from one color of paper. Cut the leaves in half using a puzzle type cut, like zig zag or interlocking pieces. Place matching stickers on each half of a leaf. Give each child one leaf half and have them find the child with their match.

Place matching leaf stickers on separate index cards. Give each child a card and ask them to find the child with their match.

Try all the above, but in a file folder format. Glue one part of the leaf to the file folder and laminate it’s match.

Leaf Match II

Collect four or five leaves. Trace their shape onto a piece of paper. Place the leaves on the table next to the paper and have the child place the appropriate leaf over the tracing.

Leaf Fall

Make a pile of leaves and let the children fall or jump into the pile of leaves.

Leaf Bean Bag Toss

Obtain a large piece of cardboard. A large, unfolded box works well. Cut One or two leaf shapes out of the cardboard. Paint the cardboard orange, red and yellow. When dry let the children throw bean bags through the leaf-shaped holes.

Leaf Hop

Cut out large leaf shapes from colored paper. Laminate them and cut them out. Place them on the floor and ask the children to hop from one leaf to another. These may also be used at seat markers for group time.

Leaf Hide and Seek

Have all the children hide their eyes while you “hide” a leaf in the room. (It should be placed in plain view) Tell the children to find the leaf, but not touch it. Once they spot it they should sit back down in their spot. The first one to sit down again will get to hide the leaf.

Leaf Hide and Seek

Play the game the same as above, except hide the leaf. Then tell the children individually whether they are “hot” or “cold” to the relation of the leaf. Allow the other children to have a change to hide the leaf, and tell children whether they are “hot or cold”. It may be a good idea to discuss the meaning of hot and cold before you play this game.

Leaf Fishing Game

Tie 3 feet of string to a wooden spoon. Attach a magnet to the end of the string. Cut and laminate many different colored, and sized leaves from construction paper (not too big though). Attach a paper clip to each leaf. Spread the leaf shapes on the floor and let your child try to catch the leaves. Have them try to catch the red leaf.. or the biggest leaf. For a twist, label the leaves with letters or numbers. Ask the children to catch a specific leaf, or ask them which leaf they caught.

Fishing Fun

Tie 3 feet of string to a wooden spoon. Attach a magnet to the end of the string. Cut and laminate many different colored, and sized frogs from construction paper. Attach a paper clip to each frog. Spread the frog shapes on the floor and let your child try to catch the frogs. Have them try to catch the red frog.. or the biggest frog.

Frog Sort

Use the frogs from above, have your child sort the frogs by color or size.

Frog Sort 2

Have your child sort plastic frogs by color or size. Which one do they like the best?

Frog in the Class

Purchase a tadpole or frog to keep in your class.

Lily Pad, Frog Match

Cut out lily pad and frog shapes from different colored construction paper. Have the children match the frog to the same color lily pad.

Frog Count

Cut out lily pad shapes from construction paper. Write a number on each lily pad. Have the children place plastic frogs on each lily pad corresponding to the number on the lily pad.

File Folder Game

Place blue paper on the inside of a file folder. On one side place a green lily pad shape. Laminate. Then create many small frog shapes and laminate the frogs. The children can place the frogs on the lily pad and in the pond. Ask the children to count the frogs on the lily pad, then count the frogs in the pond. How many frogs are there altogether?
Variation: On one side of an index card write a simple addition problem (2+1=3). On the other side draw a model of the pond and lily pad. Use small frog stickers to represent the problem. (2 frogs on the lily pad and 1 in the pond) The children can use the model side as a self-check.

Lacing Cards

Cut colored poster board into frog shapes and punch holes around the edges. Then let your child lace yarn or a shoestring into the cards.

Frog Memory

Obtain matching pictures of frogs, or stickers. Place the matching pictures or stickers on card stock (Frog shapes are used in the picture). Let the children play frog memory.

Stamping Patterns

Use bird-shaped rubber stamps to create a simple pattern on the top half of a piece of paper. Ask your child to help you recreate the pattern on the bottom half of the paper. Tip: Start with one stamp, and have your child pick which stamp you used. Start slowly and work your way up to more complicated patterns.

Picture Matching

Find bird stickers. Place 2 identical stickers on the left and right sides of an index card. Cut the index in half, cut in a jig-jag form. Use a highlighter to highlight the edges. Do this with many different stickers. Have the child match the stickers, and line up the two halves of the index card.

Bird Memory

Find bird stickers. Place 2 identical stickers on the left and right sides of an index card. Cut the index in half, cut the index card in half. You can use these cards to play memory.

Bird Sizing

Draw different-sized bird shapes and laminate them. Have the children arrange the birds according to size.

Bird Sort

Draw different kinds of birds and have the children sort the bird by color. Or you can cut out pictures of birds and glue each onto a separate piece of paper. Have the children sort the birds.

Pine Cone Bird Feeder

Cut a long piece of yarn or ribbon to hang the bird feeder. Tie the ribbon in a knot around the pine cone near the top. Spread peanut butter on the pine cone then sprinkle birdseed over the pine cone. Hang the bird feeder on the tree.

Measuring Seeds

Supply the children with bird seed and measuring cups to experiment with.

Where is My Nest?

Cut out bird and nest shapes from many different colors of construction paper. Have the children match the bird to the correct nest.

Place the Eggs in the Nest

Tape numbers one through six in the bottom of a muffin tin. Have the children place the appropriate number of eggs in each nest (the muffin holes)

Seeds and a Balance

Provide the children with bird seeds and a balance to experiment with.

Seed Sort

Provide the children with a variety of different kinds of seeds to sort.

Neighborhood Bird Walk

Next time you go for a walk pay special attention to the birds that you see. Name the ones you can for your child. In my area we have a nature park… check to see if you have a nature park near your city.

Which Seed Is It?

Place many different kinds of seeds on a paper plate. One of each kind. Talk about the seeds with your child. Then tell your child that you are going to describe a seed, and you want them to guess which one it is. Take turns trying to guess which seed the other is describing.

Which Bird Is It?

Show the children many pictures of different kinds of birds. Talk about the birds with your child. Then tell your child that you are going to describe a bird, and you want them to guess which one it is. Take turns trying to guess which bird the other is describing.

Talk About Leaves

Talk about the leaves you have collected. Name the types of trees that they came from. Have the children pick out their favorite.
Leaves
Place leaves in the sand and water table for the children to feel and play with.

Does it Fly?

Talk about different kinds of birds and whether they can fly or not.

My Favorite Bird Graph

Ask the children what their favorite kind of bird is. Graph the results.

Bird Toss

Obtain Bird beanie toys or stuffed animals. Have the children try to toss these toys into a laundry basket.

Vinegar and Eggs

We probably all have seen this at one time or another. Place a hard-boiled egg in a cup of vinegar, and watch it bubble. After one day, take out the egg, wipe it off with a paper towel and feel the egg. Ask your child questions about what you see and feel.

Lacing Cards

Cut colored poster board into bird shapes and punch holes around the edges. Then let your child lace yarn or a shoestring into the cards.

Ant Place Mat

Make ant-shaped placemats.

Simple Ant Farm

Materials:
Glass Jar, Black Paper, An old nylon stocking, Soil and Ants, A rubber band
Fill a glass jar with loose soil, and add your ants. Use the rubber band to secure the stocking on the top of the jar, and cut off the excess, leaving a good amount left so you can easily take it off and put it on the jar again. Tape black paper around the outside of the jar so the ants will build tunnels on the sides of the jar. Don’t forget to feed and water your new pets. After a couple of hours, take off the paper and see what is happening. Don’t forget to put the paper back on the jar.

Group Activities

Act Like a Monkey

Have the children pretend to be monkeys. Have them hop around the class making monkey noises.

Bean Bag Toss

Supply the children with animal bean bags and a laundry basket. Place a piece of masking tape on the floor for a throw line. The distance from the basket to the line should vary with abilities. Have the children throw the bean bags into the basket.

Mouse Bowling

Obtain 10 half-gallon milk cartons, or 2 liter bottles. Fill the bottles about 1/8 full with water and seal the lid. Then, decorate the bottles like mice, adding construction paper ears, and use permanent markers for the eyes and nose. Set the bottles up like they were bowling pins and have the children roll a ball to try to knock them over. If they don’t knock over easily, remove some of the water.

Mouse, Mouse, Bat!

Played like “Duck, Duck, Goose” except the children will go around the circle, and say “Mouse” instead of “Duck” and “Bat” instead of “Goose.”
Substitute for other Jungle animals

Musical Chairs

Arrange the chairs in a circle. If you have younger children, it is best to have too many chairs. This can be a game where everyone wins. Have the children act like different jungle animals as they walk around the chairs until the music stops. Then everyone finds a chair.

Musical Jungle

Cut out animal shapes from colored paper. Laminate them and cut them out. Place them on the floor. It is best for younger children to have more animals than children. Play music and have the children walk around the room. When the music stops, each child needs to find an animal to stand on.

Pass the Bug

Played like hot potato… have the children sit in a circle and pass stuffed bear around the circle when music is playing, when the music stops the child holding the bear sits in the middle or the “Bug pot” until the music stops again and the next child replaces the first. You may also chant “Pass the Bug, Pass the Bug, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10” and the child who has the bear on 10 is in the “Bug pot.”

Jungle Animals Charades

Have the children act out certain animals or play charades.

Snake Race

Have the children slither on the floor like a snake. Have the children race from one mark to another.

Frog Race

Have a leapfrog-style race.

Alligator Race

Have the children pretend to be alligators by crawling on their bellies.

Capybara Race

Children can pretend to be Capybara and race to the finish line while crawling on their hands and knees.

Gorilla Race

Children can pretend to be gorillas and race to the finish line while crawling on their fists and feet.

Spider Walk

Have the children do a spider walk, by placing their hands and feet on the floor and lifting their bottom off the floor.

Spider Walk Race

Have the children race each other while walking like a spider. Or try a relay race.

Butterfly Tag

Have the children pretend to be butterflies while playing tag.

Birdie Says

Played like Simon says.

Birdie, May I?

Played like “Mother, May I?”

The Animal Boogie

Can you boogie? Down in the Indian jungle, the children and animals are learning about actions like leaping, stomping, shaking and flapping while meeting different jungle creatures.

Raindrop Search

Cut out many raindrop shapes and hide them around the room. Have the children search for them like an Easter egg hunt.

Alphabet Jungle

Have the children name animals starting with each letter of the alphabet.

Jungle Animal Picnic

Invite the children to bring their favorite stuffed animal. The animal should be one commonly found in a jungle. Have a picnic on the floor or outside with each child’s favorite animal. You can either pretend to eat, or have snack or lunch picnic style.

Animal Crackers Jar

For older children. Fill a small jar with Animal Crackers. Ask each child to guess how many Animal Crackers are in the jar. For younger children, limit the number of Animal Crackers to less than ten. Record each child’s guess. Count the Animal Crackers.

Animal Crackers Jar for School-Age Children

Provide three identical jars with pre-counted Animal Crackers of 20, 30, and 40. Label these jars 20, 30 and 40. Place 20 to 40 Animal Crackers in a fourth identical jar. Allow the children to examine all four jars before they guess. Record the children’s approximations. Count the Animal Crackers.

Jungle Animal Day

Invite each child to bring in a stuffed animal. During group time, talk about whether that animal might be found in a jungle.

Vote and Graph It

Have the children vote for their favorite jungle animal and graph the results. Which animals did most children like the best?

Field Trip Ideas

Visit a zoo, pet store, or pond. Or have someone come in to visit you that owns a frog or two. Maybe a frog specialist.

Bulletin Board Idea

Title the board “Leaps in Learning.” Ask the children to list everything they know about frogs. Write each idea down on a large piece of red butcher paper. This paper should be used for a tongue in a large frog bulletin board display.

Lily Pad Circle Time

Set out the Lily Pads on the floor in a circle. Have each child sit on his/her own lily pad for circle time.

Lily Pad Placemat

Make lily pads for placemats.

Where do Frogs Live?

Talk to your child about where frogs live. In a pond, swamp, deserts, gardens, rain forests, etc. What is the weather like there?

Vote and Graph It: Frogs

Show the children pictures of many different frogs. Let them vote on their favorite. Graph the results.
Ant Jump
Set out the ant shapes on the floor. Have the children hop from one ant shapes to another.

Ant Musical Chairs

Set out the ant shapes on the floor in a circle. Have the children walk around the circle of ants. When the music stops have the children race to their ant shapes. Every child should have an ant shape to stand on.

Ant Circle Time

Set out the ant shapes on the floor in a circle. Have each child sit on his/her own ant for circle time.

What Do Ants Eat?

Divide a paper plate into sections with a black marker. Place various food items on the plate (i.e. crackers, sugar, lettuce).Set the plate outside on a nice warm day, in a low traffic shaded area where you have seen ants. Check back after 1 hour to see what has happened. Check back in 2 hours. What foods have the ants taken? Which is their favorite? Ask your child what foods they like the best.

Field Trip: Ants

Take your child outside to observe the ants.

Parts of an Ant

Talk about the different parts of an ant, head, body, legs. For older children talk about thorax, abdomen, antennae. Have the children compare the ant to themselves. What is the same? What is different? Make a list.

Songs

Butterfly

Butterfly, Butterfly, Turn around.
Butterfly, Butterfly, Touch the ground.
Butterfly, Butterfly, Shine your shoes.
Butterfly, Butterfly, Skidoo.

Butterfly, Butterfly, Go upstairs.
Butterfly, Butterfly, Say your prayers.
Butterfly, Butterfly, Turn out the light.
Butterfly, Butterfly, Say good night.

Substitute Butterfly with other jungle animals.

Jungle Song

By chicky, sung to “Mary Had a Little Lamb”
I went to the jungle one day,
jungle one day, jungle one day
I went to the jungle one day
And I saw a (fill in the blank.)

Special Song

Sung to “Where is Thumbkin?”
(Animal’s Name) are Special,
(Animal’s Name) are Special,
Yes they are,
Yes they are,
(Animal’s Name) are Special,
(Animal’s Name) are Special,
Yes they are,
Yes they are.

Five Little Monkeys

Five little monkeys jumping on the bed
One fell off and bumped his head
So Momma called the doctor and the doctor said
No more monkeys jumping on the bed!
(Sing with 4,3,2,1 little monkeys) then…
No little monkeys jumping on the bed
None fell off and bumped his head
So Momma called the doctor and the doctor said
Put those monkeys back in bed!

Kookaburra

Kookaburra sits in the old gum tree
Merry, merry king of the bush is he
Laugh, Kookaburra! Laugh, Kookaburra!
Gay your life must be
Kookaburra sits in the old gum tree
Eating all the gum drops he can see
Stop, Kookaburra! Stop, Kookaburra!
Leave some there for me
Kookaburra sits in the old gum tree
Counting all the monkeys he can see
Stop, Kookaburra! Stop, Kookaburra!
That’s not a monkey that’s me

Five Little Monkeys

Five little monkeys, swinging in a tree (hold up five fingers, and swing hand)
Teasing Mr. Alligator, can’t catch me, (make wings by placing thumbs in armpits, and rock elbows up and down)
You (point to child) can’t catch me!!! (point to self)
Shhhh (index finger to your mouth)
Along comes Mr. Alligator…. quiet as can be (Place palms together thumbs pointing up, and fingers away from you, and move back and forth like a fish)
And he snaps (clap hands in front of a child) that monkey right out of that tree.
Repeat with Four, three, two and one. After the last monkey, say No more monkeys swinging in the tree.
(use gesture for “all gone” or “I don’t know”)

Rain, Rain

Rain, rain, go away
Come again some other day
We want to go outside and play
Come again some other day
(Optional lyrics: change third line to say:
(child’s name)’s friends all want to play

It’s Raining, It’s Pouring,

It’s raining, it’s pouring,
The old man is snoring.
He went to bed and he
Bumped his head
And he couldn’t get up in the morning.

It Ain’t Gonna Rain

It ain’t gonna rain no more, no more
It ain’t gonna rain no more,
How in the heck will we wash the neck
If it ain’t gonna rain no more?

Itsy Bitsy Spider

The itsy bitsy spider,
climbed up the water spout.
Down came the rain,
and washed the spider out.
Out came the sun,
and dried up all the rain.
And the itsy bitsy spider,
went up the spout again.

(Sing with a deep slow chanting voice. Make a big spider with your hands.)
The GREAT BIG SPIDER,
climbed up the water spout.
Down came the rain,
and washed the spider out.
Out came the sun,
and dried up all the rain.
And the GREAT BIG SPIDER,
went up the spout again.

(Sing with a very fast high chanting voice. Make a tiny spider with your hands.)
The teeny weeny spider,
climbed up the water spout.
Down came the rain,
and washed the spider out.
Out came the sun,
and dried up all the rain.
And the teeny weeny spider,
went up the spout again.

Spider song

by chicky-ma-ma, sung to “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star”
Spider, Spider
In the sky
Weaving your webs way up high
Catching bugs, and insects too
What a chore it is for you
Spider, Spider
In the sky
Weaving your webs way up high

Leaves Song

By chicky-ma-ma, sung to “Row, Row, Row Your Boat”
Leaves, Leaves, falling down,
Falling on the ground
Red and orange,
Yellow and brown
Falling on the ground.

Fall is Here

by chicky, sung to “Where is Thumbkin?”
Fall is here
Fall is here
Yes it is
Yes it is
We can see the leaves change
Then they fall on the ground
Blow away
Blow away

Falling Leaves

by chicky, sung to “Mary had a Little Lamb”
Leaves are falling on the ground
On the ground
On the ground
Leaves are falling on the ground
Red, yellow, green and brown.

Jump Song

Froggie, Froggie, Jump up and Down,
Jump up and Down, Jump up and Down
Froggie, Froggie, Jump up and Down
Now sit back down.

My Frog Song

by chicky-ma-ma, sung to “It’s a Small World”
I’m a small Frog in the sea
I’m as green as green can be
I have 4 legs as you can see
I’m a small green frog.

Five Green and Speckled Frogs

Five Green and Speckled Frogs
Sat on a Speckled Log
Eating some most delicious bugs
YUM! YUM!
One jumped into the pool
Where it was nice and cool
Now there are four green speckled frogs
Gulp, Gulp
Continue to repeat until you sing, Now there are no green speckled frogs.

Five Little Froggies

The Frog and the Crow
The Frog and the Mouse
A Frog He Would A-Wooing Go
A Frog Went a Courting
Froggie in the Bathtub
Froggie in the Middle
The Frog’s Goodbye
Twenty Froggies

Love Song by chicky

Love my birdie,
Yes I do,
Love my birdie,
Yes I do,
Love my birdie,
Yes I do,
Love my birdie,
And she loves you!

Special Bird Song

by chicky-ma-ma, sung to “Where is Thumbkin?”
My bird is special,
My bird is special,
Yes he is,
Yes he is,
My bird is special,
My bird is special,
Yes he is,
Yes he is.

The 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, BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

The ants go marching two by two, hurrah, hurrah
The ants go marching two by two, hurrah, hurrah
The ants go marching two by two,
The little one stops to tie his shoe
And they all go marching down to the ground
To get out of the rain, BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

The ants go marching three by three, hurrah, hurrah
The ants go marching three by three, hurrah, hurrah
The ants go marching three by three,
The little one stops to climb a tree
And they all go marching down to the ground
To get out of the rain, BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

The ants go marching four by four, hurrah, hurrah
The ants go marching four by four, hurrah, hurrah
The ants go marching four by four,
The little one stops to shut the door
And they all go marching down to the ground
To get out of the rain, BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

The ants go marching five by five, hurrah, hurrah
The ants go marching five by five, hurrah, hurrah
The ants go marching five by five,
The little one stops to take a dive
And they all go marching down to the ground
To get out of the rain, BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

The ants go marching six by six, hurrah, hurrah
The ants go marching six by six, hurrah, hurrah
The ants go marching six by six,
The little one stops to pick up sticks
And they all go marching down to the ground
To get out of the rain, BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

The ants go marching seven by seven, hurrah, hurrah
The ants go marching seven by seven, hurrah, hurrah
The ants go marching seven by seven,
The little one stops to pray to heaven
And they all go marching down to the ground
To get out of the rain, BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

The ants go marching eight by eight, hurrah, hurrah
The ants go marching eight by eight, hurrah, hurrah
The ants go marching eight by eight,
The little one stops to shut the gate
And they all go marching down to the ground
To get out of the rain, BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

The ants go marching nine by nine, hurrah, hurrah
The ants go marching nine by nine, hurrah, hurrah
The ants go marching nine by nine,
The little one stops to check the time
And they all go marching down to the ground
To get out of the rain, BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

The ants go marching ten by ten, hurrah, hurrah
The ants go marching ten by ten, hurrah, hurrah
The ants go marching ten by ten,
The little one stops to say “THE END”
And they all go marching down to the ground
To get out of the rain, BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

The Ant Song Written

by chicky, sung to “The More We Get Together”
If I could be an ant
an ant, an ant
If I could be an ant, What color would I be?
Red or brown or black you see
If I could be an ant, I would be quite (child fills in the color)

Building Ants

by chicky, sung to “London Bridge”
Ants are building a big hill
A big hill
A big hill
Ants are building a big hill
And they call it home.

Ants are Busy

by chicky, sung to “Where is Thumbkin?”
The ants are busy
The ants are busy
Yes they are
Yes they are
Busy finding some food
Busy building their home
Work away
Work away

Bumble Bee, Bumble Bee Rhyme

Bumble Bee, Bumble Bee
by the barn,
Bumble bee get Johnny,
Under the Arm

Bumble Bee, Bumble Bee
by the boulder,
Bumble bee get Johnny,
On the Shoulder

Bumble Bee, Bumble Bee
by the tree,
Bumble bee get Johnny,
Under the Knee

Baby Bumble Bee Song

I’m bringing home a baby bumblebee,
Won’t my mommy be so proud of me,
(Cup hands together as if holding bee)

I’m bringing home a baby bumblebee,

Ouch! It stung me!
(Shake hands as if just stung)

I’m squishing up the baby bumblebee,
Won’t my mommy be so proud of me,
(‘Squish’ bee between palms of hands)

I’m squishing up a baby bumblebee,
Ooh! It’s yucky!

(Open up hands to look at ‘mess’)

I’m wiping off the baby bumblebee,
Won’t my mommy be so proud of me,
(Wipe hands off on shirt)

I’m wiping off the baby bumblebee,
Now my mommy won’t be mad at me!
(Hold hands up to show they are clean)

Dramatic Play

Sand Table Idea

Add plastic jungle animals to your sand table.

Dramatic Play Idea

Add plastic jungle animals to your block area. Encourage the children to build a jungle.

Another Dramatic Play Idea

Supply the children with costumes of animals commonly found in a jungle.

Pretend To Go on a Safari

You are the tour guide on this safari. Have all the children join you in circle time or on a rug. Tell them that we are all going on a safari (or to the jungle.) Tell the children what animals you see. “Look, over there, it’s a huge elephant.” Ask the children what animals they see.

Pretend To Be a Veterinarian

Provide your children with stuffed birds, play stethoscopes, and bandages for the children to play with.

Puppet Ideas

Puppets are always a great addition to any dramatic play area, add a Emperor Penguin Puppet ,or a Snowy Owl Puppet , or other stuffed polar animals for the children to play with. Here’s a great Crown Table Top Puppet Theatre.

Froggie Hop

Play the bunny hop song and have the children pretend to be froggies hopping around.

Sand Table Idea

Add plastic frogs to your sand table.

Dramatic Play Idea

Add plastic zoo animals to your block area. Encourage the children to build a zoo.

Snacks

Banana Treat

Cut a banana into sections, place on the end of a straw. Dip the banana into warmed chocolate. Freeze, then eat!

Banana Frozen Pops

– image submitted by Julia
Cut a banana in half. Insert a Popsicle stick in one end of the banana. Spread peanut butter onto the banana then drizzle with honey. Finally roll the banana in Rice Crispies and freeze.

Ants on a Log Snack

spread peanut butter on a piece of celery. Add raisins to the peanut butter.

Ants on a Log Snack 2

spread peanut butter on a pretzel rod. Add raisins to the peanut butter.

Ants in Your Pants

You will need to cut a banana into 2″ sections. Supply each child with 2 banana pieces, 2 grapes (do not serve grapes to children under the age of 3 without cutting them into quarters), peanut butter, and either raisins or chocolate chips. The child will also need a safe spreading utensil. The child should place two spots of peanut butter on their plate next to each other, then place the two banana shapes on the peanut butter to help keep them in place. The bananas are the legs. Spread peanut butter onto the top of the two bananas and add the raisins or chocolate chips onto the peanut butter. Finally add the two grapes for feet.

Ants in Dirt

Supply each child with three mini marshmallows and three pretzels. They can connect three marshmallows with a dab of peanut butter to form the body and head. Break each pretzel in half and use them for the legs.

Ants in the Grass

Peel the outside of a green apple, make the peels long and skinny. These peels will represent the grass. Cut the apple in half and core the apple. Place one half on the apple on a plate (this is the ant hill) and sprinkle half of the peels around the apple. Sprinkle raisins (the ants) on top of the hill and the grass.

Fruit Snack Fun

I believe that Farley’s makes fruit snack bugs. The children love to eat them.

Sunflower Seeds

Serve Sunflower seeds for a snack.

Butterfly Cookies

Use your favorite sugar cookie recipe to create the dough for these cookies. Roll out the dough and let the children use various butterfly and bug cookie cutters to cut out the dough. Bake as directed. After baked and cool let the children use frosting and confections to decorate their butterflies.

Caterpillar Cupcakes

Bake cupcakes, following the directions of your favorite recipe. Allow to cool. Add frosting and jelly beans to represent the caterpillar sections.

Caterpillar Cookies

Make your favorite sugar cookie recipe. Have the children create a snake with the dough, then flatten it on the cookie sheet. Bake according to the directions. After cool, allow the children to decorate as desired.

Frog Cupcakes

Make cupcakes, when cool frost with green icing, use confections for eyes and licorice for a mouth.

Eating Leaves

Discuss the food that we eat that are leaves, like lettuce, or cabbage. Have the children try these food items.

Leaf Cookies

Obtain a leaf-shaped cookie cutter and have the children help you make leaf cookies. Decorate them with red, orange, yellow and brown frosting.

Leaf Jello

Obtain a leaf-shaped cookie cutter. Make jello jigglers from yellow, red, or orange jello.