With over 600 activities,
The GIANT Encyclopedia of Monthly Activities is the result of a nationwide search for the most unique, fun, developmentally appropriate, and educational experiences for children. The activities included were selected as the best-of-the-best, and are organized by month for easy use by teachers. Teachers will love the creative ideas that span the traditional areas of the curriculum such as science, math, art, and music and movement, as well as the additional experiences including field trips, cooking, and holidays. Each activity includes instructions and a list of materials, plus possibilities for extending the activity further into the curriculum. Many also include lists of related children's books to further both literacy and imaginative play.
Cherries On The Tree
Materials
- Pastel construction paper
- 1” x 4” pieces of brown construction paper
- 5” circles of green construction paper
- Glue stick
- Plastic lid or small piece of aluminum foil
- Red fingerpaint or poster paint
What To Do
George Washington’s birthday is February 22nd. President’s Day is February 15th.
- Discuss the story of young George Washington chopping down his father’s cherry tree.
- Give each child a 1” x 4” rectangle of brown paper and a sheet of pastel construction paper.
- Demonstrate how to hold both papers in a vertical position and glue the brown rectangle to the bottom half of the pastel paper.
- Give each child a green paper circle. Show them how to glue the green circle to the top of the brown rectangle, forming the shape of a tree.
- Put a small amount of red fingerpaint into a plastic lid or small piece of aluminum foil.
- Encourage the children to dip their fingers into the red paint and make thumbprint “cherries” on their trees.
More To Do
Social Development: Draw a large tree on tagboard and let the children add thumbprint cherries. Have each cherry symbolize an act of kindness by that child.
Related Poem
I’ll pick some cherries from the tree, (pretend to pick cherries)
Five for you and five for me. (show five fingers on each hand)
We’ll eat and eat—(pretend to eat)
5—4—3—2—1 (count down with fingers)
Until the cherries are all gone! (show empty hands and look surprised)
Christina R. Chilcote, New Freedom, PA
Related Products
Pie in the Sky by Lois Ehlert
George Washington by Andrew Santella
George Washington and the General’s Dog by Frank Murphy
George Washington Soldier, Hero, President by Justine Korman Fontes and Ron Fontes
George Washington Father of a Nation by Joe Loesch
Cherries and Cherry Pits by Vera B. Williams
Under the Cherry Blossom Tree by Allen Say
