Craft: Balloon Person
Activities: Balloon Hot Potato, Homemade Bubble Makers, Balloon Eggs, Tarp Toss
Snack: Balloon Snack
Reading Selection: Bubbles, Bubbles by Kathi Appelt
Craft
Balloon Person
Need:
# Balloon
# construction paper
# tape
# yarn
# markers
Blow up the balloon to make a small head. Cut out an outfit for the body(one piece). Take strips of paper and fold accordian style to make legs and arms. Tape the arms and legs to the outfit. Then make shoes and glue on to the bottom of the feet. Trace the child's hands, cut out and glue to the end of the arms. Draw a face on the balloon and attach yarn or crete paper with tape for the head. Also, attach a long piece of yarn to the top so you can hang it up!!
Activities/Games
Balloon Hot Potato
Need:
# Water balloons
# water
# swimming pool (optional)
Fill balloons with water, tie end. Have children gather in a circle. Carefully poke several (4-6) holes in the balloon. Children will pass the balloon around the circle, trying not to be the one holding the balloon when it runs out of water! To make it even more fun, especially if there are more than 6 children, have them pass 2-3 balloons at the same time. If you are playing near a pool or lake, the child who is holding a balloon when it empties has to jump in! Make sure to dispose of deflated balloons.
Homemade Bubble Makers
Need:
# home items such as:
# string
# straws
# coathangers
# plastic six pack holders.
# Liquid diswashing soap and water
Using just two straws and string, you can make a simple bubble maker. Just tie a piece of string through two straws to make a collapsible frame. Holding the straws, dip the frame into the solution of water and dishwashing soap and carefully lift it up and pull it towards you. Flip the frame up or down to break off a bubble. Another simple bubble maker is made by bending a coathanger into a loop. If you put your bubble solution in a frying pan, the coathanger will fit. Wave your coathanger loop in the air and rotate it to finish a bubble. Probably the simplest bubble maker of these three is the plastic six pack holder. You don't have to change it at all, just dip it in the solution and wave it around for instant bubbles. This activity is great for all ages. Children love bubbles and they have fun making their own bubble machines. Challenge your children to come up with inventions for new bubble makers using different objects around the house!
Balloon Eggs
Need:
# Balloons
# Paper Mache
# Markers or Crayons
Blow up your ballon, put paper mache' around the ballon and let it dry, When the mache' hardens you have what looks like a large Egg. Decorate with markers or paint. You can even use it as a Pinata!
Tarp Toss
Need:
# 1 tarp or blanket
# tennis balls or inflatable balls
Have the children each grab an end of the tarp. They each take turns throwing a tennis ball onto it, and shaking (bouncing) it. See how many balls you can toss up without any falling off! It is a great game if you do not have a parachute.
Snack
Balloon Snack
Need:
# Rice cake
# frosting
# food coloring
# string licorice
Make colored frosting by adding food coloring to the vanilla frosting. Give each child a rice cake and a small cup with the colored frosting they choose. Let the children use craft sticks to use as spreaders. Have the children decorate their rice cake with frosting. Use the string licorice as the balloon string. You may want to decorate even more with tube icing or other confections. Have fun!
Reading Selection:
Bubbles, Bubbles by Kathi Appelt
Please use care when using balloons around small children. Balloons can be a choking hazard. |
