| Simple is Better | | | | Next, try this craft that focuses on the different |
| While in their formative years, children learn best | | | | animals of the jungle. Children are to draw an outline of |
| through doing, which is why games and activities are | | | | their hand on a piece of light-colored construction |
| an integral part of the preschool experience. | | | | paper. They are then to decorate this outline like their |
| Remember to select early childhood activities that are | | | | favorite jungle animal using markers, crayons, and |
| simple and require little explanation because children's | | | | scrap pieces of fabric. They can also decorate the |
| minds tend to wander very quickly. Certain early | | | | background with features from the creature's natural |
| childhood activities that require more one-on-one | | | | environment such as grass or trees. After all the |
| supervision should be done on the days when parent | | | | pictures are finished, go around the room and have the |
| volunteers are available to attend the class. | | | | children try to guess which animal is which. |
| These early childhood activities are a combination of | | | | K is for Kite |
| games and crafts that are intended to be used in | | | | While there aren't too many words in the English |
| conjunction with learning about the letters J and K, but | | | | language that begin with the letter K, one of these |
| could easily fit into other units on animals, spring, | | | | words that most appeal to children is kite. Kites are fun |
| summer, or the jungle. | | | | to play with, and also provide an opportunity to learn |
| Jars and Jungle Animals | | | | about matching, like in this game. Make a number of |
| Jars provide an excellent opportunity to examine | | | | large kites out of wallpaper or decorated pieces of |
| matching and spatial relations. This activity requires a | | | | cardstock. Cut each kite in half and have children try to |
| number of different sized and shaped jars and their | | | | locate the matching pairs of kites. |
| corresponding lids. Remove the lids from the jars, and | | | | When spring arrives, use these early childhood |
| have the children try to match the lid with the jar. | | | | activities. Children can make their own kites from |
| Children love learning about exotic, wild places and | | | | paper plates, tissue paper, and streamers. Children can |
| animals like the jungle. Children can discover their inner | | | | draw a design of their choosing on the paper plate, or |
| jungle explorer with this simple craft that requires one | | | | cut one out of tissue paper and glue it to the plate. |
| large paper bag per child and paint, crayons, markers | | | | Glue some long streamers to one end of the paper |
| and stickers to decorate the bags. To begin, cut arm | | | | plate, and punch a hole through the top of the plate to |
| holes and a head hole in the bag. Children are then to | | | | insert a piece of string. Wrap the other end of the |
| decorate their jungle safari vests however they desire. | | | | string around a craft stick, and tape it firmly in place. |
| Once the decorating is finished and the paint has dried, | | | | Children are then free to take their kites outside on a |
| they can slip into their vests and explore the jungle. | | | | windy day to watch them take flight! |