With summer in full force, the Fourth of July is just around the corner. From the food to the fireworks, the parades to the pool, kids adore everything about this holiday! For preschool teachers, it's also a fun time to pull a little patriotism into the classroom with age-appropriate crafts that celebrate the Fourth of July. Here are some of our favorites:
Pressed-art fireworks
For a little messy fun using shaving cream and paint, try your hand at pressed-art fireworks. I Can Teach My Child provides full directions! Kids love spreading out the shaving cream on craft trays or baking pans. Then teachers can drop blue and red paint throughout and the kids take turns spreading the paint out with a toothpick to look like a sparkling firework. When done, you lay a piece of paper on top for a minute to soak up the print and you'll have stunning artwork to send home with parents.
Firework painting
As you know, preschoolers adore painting. Put a patriotic twist on typical paint projects by using leftover toilet paper rolls as brushes to create festive firework designs. The trick is to cut fringe on one side of each roll. By doing this, kids can dip the fringed side into paint of various colors, and when pressed down on paper, the fringe will circle out and create an abstract firework shape. Set out red, white and blue colors, or choose all the colors of the rainbow. For a vivid result, use black paper and neon paints!
Patriotic sensory slime
Slime is all the rage these days, and if you introduce a slime project, you're sure to make your preschoolers' day! Making slime can be a fun project packed with science lessons you can discuss with students. Mixing each ingredient is a great group activity, plus when you add in patriotic extras like red, white and blue sequins or buttons, you have the perfect theme for the Fourth of July. Check out full directions for patriotic slime from Little Bins For Little Hands and get ready to have some fun!
Soaring eagle hand-print art
Hand-print art is a preschool favorite! Use blue construction paper and set out brown paint for students' hands. One the paper, gently press each hand side by side with thumbs pointing downward. This creates the eagle's wings spread wide with two legs (the thumbs) at the bottom. After the paint is dry, paint on a white head and beak to represent our national bird: the bald eagle. Add a festive saying like "Happy Birthday, America!" or simply write the child's name.
Star-spangled bubble wands
This DIY project will have them bursting with excitement! Use pipe cleaners and beads to create your bubble wand handle in red, white and blue. Then teachers will have to help shape the star for the bubble topper before twisting it all together. I Heart Crafty Things provides simple-to-follow directions. When finished, head outdoors for an afternoon blowing bubbles and chasing each other around in the summer sun!
With summer in full force, the Fourth of July is just around the corner. From the food to the fireworks, the parades to the pool, kids adore everything about this holiday!