Love to Laugh and Learn

Fun and interesting learning activities to do with the children in your life

Circles: Learning Activities for Shapes with Free Printable

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Circles: Learning Activities for Shapes
with free printables

Are you ready to have fun with shapes? We are going to start out by having fun with learning activities for circles. There are so many circles all around you. The buttons on your shirt or coat may be circles. The wheels on the car or your bike are circles. What other circles do you see? Maybe you are eating something for dinner or a snack that is a circle shape. Have fun with theses activities and stories that are about circles.

Content:
Toys
Craft:
Circle Pizza
Snacks
Story Time
Music
Related Posts
Toys
What type of circle shaped toys can you find to play with today? Do you have some balls, a hula hoop, a slinky or a game of ring toss? You could play with marbles or a yo-yo (if your child is a little older). Look for circles on some of your other toys, like the wheels on your cars and trucks. A toy that I liked using with my children and with my preschool classes was Playful Patterns by Discovery Toys. When learning about circles I would just use the circles and the pictures that used circles for the children to play with. It is also a good toy for learning colors and sorting activities.

Craft
Circle Pizza Craft

Circle Pizza Craft

Materials Needed:

Materials Needed for Circle Pizza Craft
Materials Needed for Circle Pizza Craft

Circle Pizza craft page
Pepperoni craft page
White Paper
Light brown crayon
Brown crayon
Reddish brown crayon
Red paint
Paint brush or foam applicator
Hole punch
Scissors
White glue
Basil and oregano seasonings

Instructions:

1.  On white copy paper, print the circle pizza craft page and the pepperoni craft page. I printed the pizza on cardstock so it would hold up better with the paint and glue.

2.  Color the edge of the crust with the light brown crayon. (The Crayola color I used was actually called tan.)

Circle Pizza Craft: Coloring the crust.

3.  Color the pepperoni with the reddish brown crayon then cut them out. (The Crayola color was called Mahogany.)

Circle Pizza Craft: Creating the Pepperoni

4.  There is an empty area on the bottom of the pepperoni page. Use the brown crayon and color that area. Then use the hole punch to punch out sausage crumbles.

Creating Sausage for Circle Pizza Craft

5.  Cut a white piece of paper into very thin strips; to resemble shredded mozzarella cheese.

Assembling the Circle Pizza

6.   Use the paint brush or foam applicator to paint the “tomato sauce” on the pizza.

7.  Lightly sprinkle the basil and oregano and the “shredded cheese” on the wet paint. (I didn’t use glue for this part. The wet paint held everything well. I did use the handle of the foam applicator to push the “mozzarella” into the paint so it would hold better.)

Seasonings and “Cheese” on Circle Pizza

8.  Glue the pepperoni and the sausage on the pizza.

Learn about circles while doing this fun Circle Pizza craft.

9.  Now you have a wonderful Circle Pizza.

* The above craft would also work well for a lesson on the sense of smell.

** You can also use the Grape craft from Learning Activities for the Color Purple or the Blueberry Pie craft from Learning Activities for the Color Blue.

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Foods for snack or meal time

Ritz crackers or any round cracker, cut cheese into circles, sliced banana, Cheerios, make some personal pizzas with English muffins, round cookies or slice an apple through the middle for some circle shaped slices.

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Story Time

(affiliates included)

Circles (The Shape of the World) by Dana Meachen Rau
Reading Level: Birth – 4 yrs old
This is a wonderful book to introduce circles to any age. The text is simple and there are great illustrations of circles that we see around us every day.

Circles (Shapes) by Marybeth Lorbiecki
Reading Level: Birth – 4yrs old
A cute introduction to circles. The rhyming storyline leads you through bright illustrations of a kitten’s birthday party. There are many circles on each page to be observed, counted and enjoyed.

I See Circles (All About Shapes) by D. H. Dilkes
Reading Level: Birth – 4 yrs old
D. H. Dilkes has a great series of little books that discuss different shapes. In this book you will find circles in many different places. I like the fact that the illustrations are photographs of every day items. The text is simple which is great for a young child that is just being introduced to shapes.

So Many Circles, So Many Squares by Tana Hoban (only covers circles and squares)
Reading Level: Birth to 2nd Grade
There is no storyline to this book. It is just pages and pages of pictures from the world around us. It concentrates on two shapes; circles and squares. This is a great book for introducing shapes to your child. This book could lead into a great game of finding circles right where you are.

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Music & Singing Time

Because of copyright laws I am not going to put links to songs (unless I have permission from the artist). I will give you the names of songs that I like to use and you can find them on a CD, video or YouTube to sing with your child.

Ring Around the Rosie

Mister Sun (Mister Sun, Sun, Mister Golden Sun) I would always have the preschoolers make a big round circle with their arms for the sun.

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Related Posts

Shapes – Overview
Ovals: Learning Activities for Shapes
Squares: Learning Activities for Shapes
Rectangles: Learning Activities for Shapes
Triangles: Learning Activities for Shapes
Diamonds: Learning Activities for Shapes
Stars – Learning Activities for Shapes
Hearts: Learning Activities for Shapes
Learning Should Be Fun
When Do Children Start Learning
The Lessons – Overview

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Fun with Music: Woodwind Instruments

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Fun with Music: Woodwind Instruments




This post, “Fun with Music: Brass Instruments”, is written in collaboration with Shannon Wijnker, who used to blog on Mamamusing. Shannon is a music teacher and mother of four.

What is your favorite woodwind instrument; flute, saxophone, recorder or some other? Are you aware of all the woodwind instruments available for your playing and listening pleasure. I would suggest reading either “Woodwind (Instruments and Music)” by Daniel Nunn (for the younger child) or “Wind Instruments (How the World Makes Music)” by Anita Ganeri (for older children). You will see more details about these books below in the Story Time section.

Playtime
Craft
Musical Outings
Story Time
Games Online
Related Posts

Playtime

When you were younger, did you ever make a whistle with a blade of grass? That blade of grass works like the reed in a woodwind instrument. When you blow over the blade of grass it vibrates which causes the air to vibrate and the result is a whistling sound. If you have never done this here is what you do. Take a wide piece of grass and place it between your thumbs. Place your mouth over your knuckles and blow. Were you able to make a whistling sound? Sometimes it takes practice, just keep working on it. This is a fun thing to teach your children, they will think you are amazing.

Shannon from Mamamusing shared that a recorder is great for children to experiment with (and it is a woodwind instrument). You can find them very inexpensively at the dollar store. She also says, “Remember that it’s not just about making a beautiful sound, but playing and exploring the concept of sound. Children learn best by constructing their own concepts and ideas, and by trial and error. They will learn how to create a variety of sounds. Some of which they will like and some they will decide they don’t. Your concept of what is acceptable sound may vary from theirs. But be patient and let them explore.”

“A great resource for teaching them music (and how to play the recorder) is a magazine called “The Recorder Classroom”. I believe there are 4 issues printed so far. You can download both the music and accompanying mp3s online. They are fun to play and I find my students are motivated to learn the music, when they have great accompaniments to play along with.”

“As a child, this toy (by Fisher Price) was a great way to experiment with sound. I don’t know if you can still buy it in stores, but if you find it at a garage sale, or used online – it is a great toy! Or the saxoflute is another great option, because the child can build their own instrument with the various plastic pieces of tube. The sound created (high or low) will depend on the pieces they choose to use.”

Fisher Price Crazy Horn Set
Fisher Price Crazy Horn Set

*** You can find the Fisher Price version on eBay, as it has been discontinued by Fisher Price. You can find a similar toy on Amazon.com  The Quercetti Saxoflute.

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Craft

Wind Instrument Made from Straws

Fun with Music: Woodwind Instruments: Craft
Fun with Music: Woodwind Instruments Craft

This craft is adapted  from Learning Ideas – Grades K -8


Materials Needed:

Drinking straws
Cardboard
Glue
Ruler
Scissors
Duct Tape

Instructions:

1. Cut 2 rectangular pieces of cardboard. (approx. 5 by 2 inches) I used scrap cardboard from an old box.
2. Cut the straws in varying lengths. I used 3”, 4”, 5”, 6” & 7”. You can use more straws and different lengths if you would like.

Fun with Music: Woodwind Instruments Craft
Fun with Music: Woodwind Instruments Craft

3. I didn’t trust simply trying to glue the straws into place because it has been my experience that plastic straws and glue are not long time friends so I glued down duct tape (sticky side up) to help secure the straws into place.

Adding Glue and Tape
Adding Glue and Tape

4. Let the glue dry completely then place the straws on the tape, in order of length.

Placing straws for woodwind craft
Placing straws for woodwind craft

5. Place the second piece of cardboard on top (having all ready glued the tape into place).

Fun with Music: Woodwind Instruments Craft - Attaching other piece of cardboard
Fun with Music: Woodwind Instruments Craft – Attaching other piece of cardboard

6. Since I used scrap cardboard I then added some brightly colored duct tape to decorate my wind instrument. Your child could color or paint it if you would like.
7. To hear the different sounds the instrument makes you need to blow across the top of the straws not straight into them.

Fun with Music: Woodwind Instruments Craft
Fun with Music: Woodwind Instruments Craft

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Musical Outings

Take your children to any place that live music is being played. In Indianapolis, you can find many places that give free outdoor concerts during the summer. Maybe you have the same opportunities in your area. Outdoor concerts are a great way to introduce your children to live music because they can sit in their own lawn chair, on a blanket or even get up and dance around a little. Maybe you have older children or neighbors that participate in a school band. Take your children to see them. Expose your children to many types of music. Take the time to talk about what they are hearing, how it makes them feel and the different instruments they are seeing and hearing.

Shannon from Mamamusing wants you to know: “In London, there are several outdoor concerts and festivals in Victoria Park during the summer. One of the best is Sunfest (beginning of July). You can check out a video of my kids enjoying the multicultural music and dancing byclicking here.”

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Story Time

Below you will find books that discuss the many different types of woodwind instruments and some are devoted to one type of woodwind instrument. Have fun exploring and learning about woodwind instruments with your child.

Clarinets (Music Makers) by Pamela K. Harris
Reading Level: Ages 6 and up
Give your child the opportunity to learn about clarinets with this interesting book by Pamela K. Harris. The book covers many aspects of the clarinet; from the way it is made to how it is played. The illustrations are pictures of actual clarinets and people playing them. Enjoy learning about this special woodwind instrument; the clarinet.

Flutes (Musical Instruments of the World) by Barrie Carson Turner
Reading Level: Ages 6 and up
This book has a lot of information in it but it is laid out nicely. The book introduces you to 18 flutes from around the world. You will find some flutes that look familiar to you and there are others you may have never seen before. Each instrument has it’s own page so if you just want to cover the familiar ones or if you want to break the book up into different sessions it is laid out well for that. Although this book is for a little bit older child you could use it with a younger child by becoming familiar with the text and then simply point out and discuss the different instruments rather than reading it word for word.

Flutes (Music Makers) by Pamela K. Harris
Reading Level: Ages 6 and up
Give your child the opportunity to learn about flutes with this interesting book by Pamela K. Harris. The book covers many aspects of the flute; from the way they are played to how they are made. Your child will get to see flutes from several different countries. The illustrations are of flutes and people playing them. Enjoy learning about this special woodwind instrument; the flute.

Saxophones by Sharon Sharth
Reading Level: Ages 6 and up
Saxophones are a part of a group of instruments called woodwinds. This book will help you and your child learn a lot about saxophones. You will be able to see the different shapes and sizes they come in. You will find out how music is played on a saxophone. Did you know a saxophone can make many of the same sounds that we do with our voices? The illustrations in this book are actual photos of saxophones and people playing them. Share this book with your child so they can learn more about this popular instrument.

Wind Instruments (How the World Makes Music) by Anita Ganeri
Reading Level: Ages 6 and up
This book covers many different wind instruments from around the world. They are all played by blowing into them but that is about the only thing that is common to all of them. Some wind instruments have simple carved mouthpieces, some use a reed in their mouthpiece and some even use two reeds. Most wind instruments are played with the musicians mouth but there are a few that are played with the nose. Be sure to pick this book up to learn a lot about wind instruments. See how many you recognize.

Woodwind (Instruments and Music: Level I) by Daniel Nunn
Reading Level: Ages 4 to 8 yrs old
This is a great book to introduce your young one to woodwind instruments. It has simple text that will allow your child to understand and learn about these special instruments. There are wonderful pictures of musicians playing different woodwind instruments from around the world with just a couple of sentences per page. I can’t wait to share this with the little ones in my life.

Music Makers: Woodwind Instruments by Elizabeth Reid
Reading Level: Ages 6 and up
Give your child the opportunity to learn about woodwind instruments with this interesting book by Elizabeth Reid. Your child will get to learn about the many different types of woodwind instruments. They will see woodwinds from several different countries.They will learn how they are made and the different ways they are played. The illustrations are pictures of actual woodwind instruments and people playing them. Enjoy learning about woodwind instruments. Which one is your favorite?

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Games Online

Shannon from Mamamusing shares some fun online games:

Now that you have introduced your children to some of the various instrument families in the orchestra, you may want to visit the Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra. This is a website created by Carnegie Hall which is a wonderfully FREE interactive online game for young children to explore and learn more about the various instruments of the orchestra. You will need to use a computer, because the game requires Adobe Flash, which you can download for free (if you don’t already have this utility installed on your computer).

There is also a wonderful set of books for children ages 4 to 8 years old that helps them learn different musical concepts. Along with the books the author, Sharon Burch, has a website with coloring pages and games for your child to enjoy and enhance their learning experience: Freddie the Frog Games and Coloring Pages

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Related Posts

Music at an Early Age by Shannon at Mamamusing
Fun with Music – Overview
Fun with Music – Percussion Instruments
Fun with Music: Brass Instruments
Fun with Music: Voices
Fun with Music: String Instruments
Fun with Music: Keyboards

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Fun with Music: Percussion Instruments

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Fun with Music: Percussion Instruments




This post, Fun with Music: Percussion Instruments,  is written in collaboration with Shannon Wijnker formerly blogging at Mamamusing. Shannon is a music teacher and mother of four.


Content:

Playtime
Crafts:
Drum
Shaker
Maracas
Musical Outings
Story Time
Related Posts

Children and music are a perfect combination. Starting at a very young age, children love to move to music. It is important to encourage their natural love of music. Children start banging out rhythms on things almost as soon as they can hold something in their hands. They will bang their spoons on the high chair or drum the coffee table with their hands. Most children love the opportunity to beat your pots, pans and plastic tubs with wooden spoons, if you give them the chance. Since children love banging on things so much I thought the first instrument to cover in the Fun with Music posts should be percussion instruments.

To start this learning activity I would suggest reading Percussion (Instruments and Music) by Daniel Nunn if you child is younger or Percussion (Musical Instruments of the World) by Barrie Carson Turner for an older child. There is more information about both books below in the Storytime section.

Shannon from Mamamusing wants to remind us:

When teaching young children about music, and while they are playing along with music, the subject about beat and rhythm will pop up. It is important to help your child understand the difference between rhythm and beat. Beat is like a heartbeat, it is steady and stays the same. Rhythm changes and provides variety. Usually the rhythms will follow the words (or lyrics).

When trying to teach your child about how to keep a beat, make sure to choose music that is fast. It is impossible for children to keep the beat to slow music. Most adults think slower is easier, but it is not. Children can learn to keep a beat quite easily when it is fast. Think dance music 🙂

To learn rhythm, create accompaniments to a poem. For example, ask them what instrument they would choose for “Twinkle twinkle little star” and get them to explain the reasoning behind their decision. Even if you don’t agree – let them choose! Then try keeping the beat as you sing the song. Then try the rhythm of the words.

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Playtime

Maybe your child has some percussion instruments in their toy box. Do they have a toy drum or toy xylophone? If they don’t (or even if they do) experiment with some household items. A percussion instrument is an instrument that makes sound by striking, scraping or shaking. Set out some pots, pans and plasticware, give your child a wooden spoon, spatula and anything else they can safely beat objects with and let them go at it. Talk about the different sound the different objects make. Which ones make loud sounds and which ones make quieter sounds. Experiment with the objects you are striking the pans with. Does it sound different if you hit the object with the handle of the spatula than if you hit it with the flat part of the spatula?

What kinds of things can you find around the house that make noise when your child shakes them? What about a box of rice? Make sure it’s closed tightly. Small plastic jars of spices would make different sounds when you shake them.

What kinds of things do you have around the house that make noises when you scrape them. Do you have bottles that have ridges around them? We have water bottles like that. Have your child use the wooden spoon handle or spatula handle to rub along the ridges.

Put on some music and encourage your child to play along on their household percussion instruments. Be sure to join your child in the fun.

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Crafts

Have fun creating some simple percussion instruments at home.

Drum

Materials needed:

Fun with Music: Percussion Instruments - Materials Needed to Make Drum
Fun with Music: Percussion Instruments – Materials Needed to Make Drum

Empty oatmeal box, margarine tub or similar container
Construction or craft paper
Markers
Stickers
Glue and/or tape
Scissors

Instructions:

1. Cut your paper to the size you need it to fit around your container. It may take more than one piece.
2. Glue or tape the paper to the container.
3. Let your child decorate their drum with markers and/or stickers.

Now watch your child enjoy playing some fun rhythms for you.

Fun with Music: Percussion Instruments - D.I.Y. Drum
Fun with Music: Percussion Instruments – D.I.Y. Drum

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Shaker

Fun with Music: Percussion Instruments - Materials Needed for Shaker
Fun with Music: Percussion Instruments – Materials Needed for Shaker

Materials Needed:

Empty water bottles or soda bottles
Uncooked rice or dry beans
Colorful duct tape
Stickers – foam stickers work best
Funnel (its easier to put beans in by hand, as they get stuck in the funnel)
Super glue (for adult use only)

Instructions:

1. Have your child put some rice or beans in the bottom of the bottle.
2. Help them wrap some decorative tape around their bottle.
3. Let them put some stickers on the bottle for added fun.
4. This step is for adults only: Run a bead of super glue around the inside of the bottle cap and place on the bottle. This will keep your child from opening the bottle and someone possibly choking on the beans or rice.

Fun with Music: Percussion Instruments - D.I.Y. Shaker
Fun with Music: Percussion Instruments – D.I.Y. Shaker

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I found another fun percussion instrument craft on The First Grade Parade blog. You will find the directions to make cute maracas out of plastic Easter eggs, rice, spoons and some decorative tape. Below is a picture of one I made.

Fun with Music: Percussion Instruments - Maraca
Fun with Music: Percussion Instruments – Maraca

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Musical Outings

Here are some fun places, in Indianapolis, to take your children and have some fun, hands-on experience with percussion instruments.

Bongo Boy Music, Recreational Music Center – Bongo Boy Music offers several drum circles that your child can participate in. They offer times for just the kids, times for the whole family and even a night for special needs children. Some of the events are free and some have a small fee. I include some of their events on my monthly Family Friendly Events schedule.

Rhythm! Discovery Center – The Rhythm! Discovery Center is an interactive, hands-on percussion museum. Children, as well as adults, will love the opportunity to experiment with different percussion instruments from around the world.

If you have similar attractions, in you area, please share them with me and I will add them to this post.

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Story Time

The Drum and Other Percussion Instruments (Let’s Make Music) by Rita Storey
Reading Level: Ages 6 yrs old and up
Your child will enjoy learning about drums and other percussion instruments with this fun book. They will learn how different shaped drums make different sounds. The book gives your child a couple of “experiments” to try to help them learn more about drums. One helps them see how the sounds are made and another shows them how to play different rhythms with different hands (tricky!). Your child will also get the chance to learn about several other percussion instruments. The illustrations are pictures of people playing drums and other percussion instruments.


Drum City by Thea Guidone
Reading Level: Ages 3 – 7
A fun book about kids and their thrill of drumming. They drum on anything they can get their hands on; buckets, bowls, barrels and pans.They dance and march, all while their drumming. They march into the “humdrum of the city”. Soon the children’s infection beat is caught by the adults on the street. “People in traffic” and “Mamas in rollers” and join in keeping the beat. The book is so well written that you get caught up in the fun and want to join the drum parade.

Freddie the Frog and the Mysterious Wahooooo
 by Sharon Burch
Reading Level: Ages 4 – 9 yrs old
Join Freddie the Frog and his best friend, Eli the Elephant, as they discover tempos, rhythms, and beats on Tempo Island. Your child will enjoy learning to play their percussion instruments to the rhythm and beat along with Eli and Freddie. There is also a CD with the dramatized story, sing-along songs and jam tracks to play your own created rhythm.


Percussion (Instruments and Music) by Daniel Nunn
Reading Level: Ages 4 to 8 yrs old
Do your children like to bang on pots, pans or tabletops? Do they like to shake the box of rice to hear the noise it makes? Then they will enjoy this book about percussion instruments. Your child will learn that there are many different kinds of percussion instruments; some you bang, some you shake and some you play tunes on. There is even a cute picture at the end of the book that shows you how to make your own toy drum at home.


Percussion (Musical Instruments of the World) by Barrie Carson Turner
Reading Level: Ages 6 and up
This book has a lot of information in it but it is laid out nicely. The book introduces you to 19 percussion instruments from around the world. You will find some instruments that are familiar to you because you see them where you live and there are others you may have never seen before. Each instrument has it’s own page so if you just want to cover the familiar ones or if you want to break the book up into different sessions it is laid out well for that. Although this book is for a little bit older child you could use it with a younger child by becoming familiar with the text and then simply point out and discuss the different instruments rather than reading it word for word.

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Related Posts

Music at an Early Age by Shannon at Mamamusing
Fun with Music – Overview
Fun with Music: Brass Instruments
Fun with Music: Woodwind Instruments
Fun with Music: Voices
Fun with Music: String Instruments
Fun with Music: Keyboards
Bongo Boy Music School Review
Rhythm! Discovery Center Review

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Fun with Music – Overview

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Fun with Music – Overview




My Family

Does your family have fun with music? Ours certainly does! My husband played in several bands and ensembles. Both of my daughters play trumpet and participated in marching band. We have always done a lot of singing; around the house, in the car and at church activities. We love musicals and although I have heard people say, “Musicals are dumb. Life isn’t a musical. Instruments don’t just start playing and people break out in song.” Well, to those nay-sayers I must reply, “My life is a musical!” I’ve all ready listed some of the ways music intertwines with my life but there are many other ways we have fun with it. It seems to be an ever-present part of our lives. We hear it in stores and on television. I have wonderful memories of trips to Disney World and other amusement parks. There is always music around and I may sing-a-long if I recognize the song. We sometimes make up silly songs as we work and play around the house.

Fun with Music
Fun with Music

Children

Children love music. They like to sway and dance to it. They love playing with instruments. Children love to sing and love to hear others sing to them. Songs can make learning fun and easy for children. Dr Alexandra Lamont states, “Research is beginning to show how music has the power to change the way we feel, think, and behave. We know that music can lift our mood, and certain kinds of music can temporarily boost specific kinds of intelligence.” (article: What is the significance of music for young children?)

I used music a lot in my preschool classrooms. Exercise and learning were more fun when put to it. It helps children in memorization. I could teach my students really long Bible verses by using songs from Steve Green, Hide Em in Your Heart Vol 1 & 2 CD’s. The parents would be amazed at what I was able to teach the three and four year olds.

Upcoming Posts

My following posts will deal with different aspects of music to share with your child. I will suggest books and crafts to enjoy with your child. Be sure to expose your children to all types of music; big band, classical, jazz, rock, country and don’t forget all those great kid songs. Take your children to live concerts. Check your area for free outdoor concerts because they should be starting soon. Outdoor concerts are a great way to introduce your child to all types of music. I love outdoor concerts for young children because they can sit on blankets or in lawn chairs. You don’t have to keep them sitting still and quiet like in a concert hall. It isn’t a bother if they get up and move. We like to bring along a snack or picnic to enjoy together.

So gather the family, while the temperatures are still good, and enjoy listening to the harmonies of the instruments.

Fun with Music: Outdoor Concert
Fun with Music: Outdoor Concert

Related Posts

Music at an Early Age by Mamamusing
Generally Having Fun with Music
Fun with Music: Percussion Instruments
Fun with Music: Brass Instruments
Fun with Music: Woodwind Instruments
Fun with Music: Voices
Fun with Music: String Instruments
Fun with Music: Keyboards
Meet the Musicians
Review: Rhythm! Discovery Center
Review: Peanut Butter and Jam Concerts
Learning Should Be Fun
When Do Children Start Learning
The Lessons – Overview
Colors – Overview
Shapes – Overview

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Learning Activities for the Color Orange

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Learning Activities for the Color Orange





I usually taught the color orange in the fall so we would do pumpkin or jack-o-lantern crafts. But it’s summer time as I am writing this post so I had to come up with some other more “summery” learning activities for the color orange. If it happens to be the fall when you are reading this post or you will be waiting to teach or review the color orange in the fall be sure to check out my post Pumpkins Are Orange and Other Learning Concepts for more ideas.

Content:

Clothing
Toys
Craft:
Carrot
Snacks
Finger Play
Story Time
Music
Related Posts


Clothing

Go through you closets and drawers and see what kinds of orange clothing you have to put on today. Orange is a great summer color; so bright and cheery. Get dressed in your orange and have a blast today.

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Toys

What kinds of orange toys can you find to play with? Like I said before, as I am writing this post it is early in the summer so look at some of your outside summer toys and see if they are orange or have orange on them. Do you have an orange ball or a beach ball with orange on it? How about an orange water gun? You could get a package of water balloons and only fill the orange ones then have a great orange water balloon fight!

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Craft

Have fun learning about the color orange with this carrot craft.

Carrot Craft

This is a good craft for a little one. It’s very simple and they can practice using their fine motor skills while tearing pieces of paper.

Materials Needed for Orange Carrot Craft
Materials Needed for Orange Carrot Craft

 

Materials:
Disposable icing bags
Orange construction
Green ribbon or rickrack
Scissors for cutting ribbon

 

 

1) Have your child tear the orange construction paper into little pieces. I used 3 pieces to fill the icing bag.

Learning Activities for the Color Orange: Orange Carrot Craft
Learning Activities for the Color Orange: Orange Carrot Craft

2) Have them put the pieces of construction paper into a disposable icing bag.

Learning Activities for the Color Orange: Orange Carrot Craft
Learning Activities for the Color Orange: Orange Carrot Craft

3) Tie the bag off with the ribbon.
4) Now you have an orange carrot.

Have fun learning about the color orange with this carrot craft.

* I have seen something similar to this done for snacks or party favors; substituting the paper with orange jellybeans or goldfish crackers (mine is filled with Cheez-Its).

Learning Activities for the Color Orange: Snack Filled Carrot

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Foods for snack or meal time

oranges, orange juice, carrots, sweet potato fries, goldfish crackers, orange pepper

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Finger Play

Alley Cats

One orange alley cat wondering what to do
(hold up 1 finger then hold up both hands in a questioning manner)
Along came another cat, And now there are two
(hold up 2 fingers)
Two orange alley cats scamper up a tree
(act like climbing a tree)
Along came another cat, And now there are three
(hold up 3 fingers)
Three orange alley cats, Running through the door
(act like you are running)
Look here comes another cat! And now there are four
(hold up 4 fingers)
Four orange alley cats, Playing in our drive
(act like cats playing, batting at yarn, etc)
Out pounces another cat, And now there are five
(hold up 5 fingers)
Five orange alley cats, Hear a scary sound
(freeze in place, looked scared)
Oh no it’s a dog!
Run, cats, run so we can’t be found!
(act like you are running away)
– Author Unknown
Adapted from http://rhymes.yakaberry.com/cats.html

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Story Time

The Big Orange Splot by Daniel Manus Pinkwater
Reading Level: 4 yrs and up
“Mr. Plumbean lived on a street where all the houses were just the same.”…UNTIL?!?!…read this book to find out what happens to Mr. Plumbean’s house and how he “fixes” the problem. What would you do if this happened to your house? How would you fix the problem?

The Enormous Carrot by Vladimir Vagin
Reading Level: Ages 3 and up
Daisy and Floyd planted a beautiful garden. Everything grew exactly as they planned except for one enormous exception. Right in the middle of their garden grew an extra large carrot. Read this cute little story to find out how they were able to harvest this huge surprise.

Orange: Seeing Orange All Around Us (A+ Books) by Sarah L. Schuette
Reading Level: 5 yrs old and up
Here is another great color book from an author that has quickly become one of my favorites. I love her color themed books. Like her other color books, the primary theme of the book is written in rhyme. After you have read through the book you can go back and get more information about the orange item on each page. You can learn interesting facts about carrots, butterflies and tigers, as well as several other objects. There is also an informational section in the back with more opportunities for learning and fun activities for the color orange. I believe that it is given such a high reading level because of the extra information on each page. Personally, I would read this to a child that was under the age of 1 year old. I believe the rhythm of the rhyme and the bright pictures would keep them interested.

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Music

Here is a song I enjoyed about the color orange. It even helps your child learn to spell. Because of copyright laws I won’t attach a link to it but you can do a search on the internet and either find the CD or a YouTube version.

Orange Song by Frog Street Press

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Related Posts

The Lessons – Overview
Colors – Overview
A is for Apple: You Can Learn More Than Your ABC’s from Apples
Pumpkins are Orange; and Other Learning Concepts
Learning Activities for the Color Red
Learning Activities for the Color Blue
Learning Activities for the Color Yellow
Learning Activities for the Color Green
Learning Activities for the Color Purple

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