Father's Day Theme for Preschool

Father’s Day Theme for Preschool From Miss Cheryl at Preschool Plan It

Father’s Day Graphic created by http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Charlottes-Clips-4150

Father’s Day Theme Introduction

Father's Day is the third Sunday in June. Father’s Day Activities, such as those special songs, poems, activities or gifts made by a preschooler and given to Dad, Grandpa or other caring male is priceless! These activities are a printable version of the Father’s Day Activities Theme from my website.

Be sure to check out the special resource pack offer in this packet for 50% off a full week’s theme packet for Father’s Day!

You’ll also find the following printable items:

 Themed Activities for Your Interest Learning Centers  Father’s Day Calendar Pieces (ABC pattern)  Dad Match File Folder Game  Playdough Recipe: Sawdust Dough  Playdough/Activity Mat: D-A-D  D-A-D-D-Y Song Poster & Song Card

Let the Theme Planning Begin!

Page 1

Butterfly Picture

Materials Needed: Finger paint paper; finger paint

Have the children dip their hands in finger paint and then press their hands side by side (with both thumbs next to each other) and press down. Remove paper to dry...let them continue free style finger painting!

When their handprints are dry, add this poem to the picture: (Adapted from a poem written by Elaine Magud)

This isn't just a butterfly

As you can plainly see.

I made it with my hands

Which are a part of me.

It comes with lots of love

Especially to say

I hope you have a very, very

Happy Father's Day

Following in your Footprints

Materials Needed: Finger paint and paper, a tub of soapy water and towels!

The children dip one foot into the paint and step on the paper.

When dry, cut out the footprint and attach to sturdy card stock and write on the bottom:

Page 2

"I'm Following in Your Footprints" with a picture of the child on the card.

Hand Print and Poem

Materials Needed: finger paint, paper, picture frames (optional)

The children make hand prints on paper (as many as they want) and when dry, you can frame it or make a construction paper border around it and laminate it.

Before placing it in the frame or laminating it, add the following poem:

There used to be so many of my

Fingerprints to see,

On the furniture and walls and things

From sticky, grubby me

But if you stop and think a while

You’ll see I’m growing fast,

Those tiny hand prints disappear,

You can’t bring back what’s past.

So here’s a small reminder,

To keep, not wipe away,

Of tiny hands and how they looked,

To make you smile someday.

Whale of a Dad Can

Materials Needed: small coffee cans with lids (1 for each child) or other containers with lids; construction paper cut to fit around the can; a picture of each child; whale stamps and stamp pads or whale stamps and paint; markers

The children print whale stamps on the paper. When dry, write "You're A Whale of a Dad!" and have the children help you to glue the paper around the can.

Page 3

Great can for holding their keys, tools, pens, etc.

Kiss and Hug Box

Materials Needed: Small gift boxes (1 for each child); paint; Hershey's Kiss and Hug chocolate.

The children paint the box and when dry add some Kisses and Hugs to the box and cover it!

Here is a poem for the box--I'm not sure who wrote this poem, but it's great!

This is a very special box, that only you can see.

The reason it's so special it's just for you from me.

It's filled with hugs and kisses, as sweet as sweet can be.

Just hold the box close to your heart, and you'll always think of me.

Add dollhouse sized people to your block area for some family fun building!

Circle Time is such a great time for children to learn the social skills of being together as a large group AND to learn more about your Back to School Preschool Activities theme!

My Dad's Name Is.....

Well, of course it's DAD! However, do the children know their Dad's actual first name? Ask each child their Dad's name (have the list of names available so that YOU know them!) and write each name down on a piece of chart paper. The children love talking about their Dads!

Page 4

What Does a Dad Do?

Ask the children what types of things their Dads do. Where do they work? What types of things do they do at home? I'm sure you'll have some funny stories to share!

Cooking with children helps develop their math skills and helps them to learn how to follow directions. It also allows for some great conversation! Ask many questions while cooking with your children to encourage conversation! Be sure to ask specific themed questions while making these fun snacks!

Cooking with children helps develop their math skills and helps them to learn how to follow directions. It also allows for some great conversation!

Ask many questions while cooking with your children to encourage conversation! Be sure to ask specific themed questions while making these fun snacks!

Dad Mix

Ingredients and Items needed: Any items you want to use for a trail mix--be aware of allergies! Perhaps have some cheerios, raisins and pretzels in separate bowls. The children add one scoop of each snack into a baggie and add a "For My Dad" note to give to Dad with a card.

Dollhouses

Page 5

Add dollhouses, furniture and vehicles for the dollhouses to your dramatic play area.

My Daddy....

Ask your children what their Daddy does for or with them and then encourage them to paint a picture of that at the easel. Print on the paper what the child said about their Dad.

Try playing Father May I (a twist on Mother May I) or Father, Father, Son (Daughter) (a twist on Duck, Duck, Goose)!

Book Suggestions for the Library

A Father's Day Thank You by Janet Nolan A Perfect Father's Day by Eve Bunting Because Your Daddy Loves You by Andrew Clements Biscuit Loves Father's Day by Alyssa Satin Capucilli Daddy Kisses by Anne Gutman Father's Day by Anne Rockwell Froggy's Day With Dad by Jonathan London Little Critter: Happy Father's Day! by Mercer Meyer I Love My Daddy by Sebastien Braun

Page 6

Dad Collage

Materials: Scissors, family magazines, glue sticks, colored paper

The children rip out or cut out pictures that remind them of their Dad or family and glue it on a collage. Be sure to ask them why they chose each picture. That way, when they bring the collage home, they will tell their families how each picture reminds them of home!

Dad Match* (This File Folder game is in this packet!)

In advance make (print pictures from online) pictures of a Dad doing daily activities (driving, cooking, working, etc.). Make 2 of each picture, and laminate.

The children can either place them face down on a table and play a memory game with them or they can leave them face up and find the matches, depending upon their level of ability with this type of activity.

How Many

In advance, cut out from magazines (or print out from online) pictures of family members: Moms, Dads, babies, etc. Print out several of each.

Look at and discuss the pictures with the children. Then ask how many Dad pictures are there? How many babies?

Sawdust Playdough

There is a recipe in this packet to make Sawdust playdough! Check it out!

Page 7

D-A-D-D-Y Song* (Poster and Song Card in this packet!) sung to the tune of B-I-N-G-O

I love my Daddy, he's the best.

My Daddy is a great one.

D-A-D-D-Y, D-A-D-D-Y, D-A-D-D-Y

And Daddy is his name-o!

Time for a Shave!

Place shaving cream and craft sticks in your sensory table today for the children to shave with! Add small plastic balls for them to put the shaving cream on and then use the sticks to shave with!

Page 8

Foot Print Stepping Stones!

Materials Needed: bag of cement, water, small toys (little bugs, toy car, etc.); 9" round cake pans (disposable);

1. Mix cement as instructed.

2. Pour into the round pans. Let sit until it is firm enough for a print to stay in it.

3. Press child's foot into it (not too hard though!)

4. Trace child's initials and date into it.

5. Child presses some small toys around the footprint.

6. Let set. Most cement needs to be "cured" by covering with water. Read directions and do this.

7. Let set until hard (a few days) and then remove the stones from the pans.

They are great stones for a home garden, on a deck, end of a driveway!

This is not as complicated as it sounds! When I first saw this activity, I thought "THERE IS NO WAY...!" But it was easy and fun. We did it outside and the kids were able to run around in the playground barefoot for a while!

Heart Shaped Grass!

Materials: Planting pots (1 for each child); potting soil; heart shaped cookie cutters; grass seed; water

Have the children fill their pot with soil until just about full.

Place a heart shaped cookie cutter on the soil.

Page 9

Cover the inside of the cookie cutter with a thin layer of grass seed

Cover the seeds with more soil.

Water the pot.

Remove the cookie cutter.

The grass will grow into a heart shape!

EXTENSION: Before planting, have the children decorate the outside of the pot with markers, stickers, etc. and then glue on a picture of the child to the pot.

Add your favorite Father’s Day poem to a heart shaped paper. Hole punch the heart and tie around the pot with ribbon!

Coupon Book

Materials Needed: Hand shaped stencil (adult sized hand), paper, markers, scissors, stickers

The children trace and cut out 2 hand prints with the stencil (or you can have them pre-cut).

The children trace their own hand and you help them cut out 3-5 of their own hand shapes.

Ask the children what they'd like to do to help Dad to make this Father’s Day activity. They might help:

Rake the leaves

Help in the yard

Wash the dog, etc.

Write each of these ideas on the child sized hand prints. The children decorate each one with markers and stickers.

Page 10

Staple these inside the larger hand prints for a coupon book.

You can write something on the front such as "Giving Dad a Hand" or other saying. Or, have the children practice writing "Dad" on the front!

Placemats

Materials Needed: Construction paper, markers, scissors, pre-cut letters D-A-D OR, I like to have the word "DAD" posted at the writing table for the children to print it themselves. Over the letter A, have the children glue on a small picture of themselves.

They decorate the placemat with markers. You laminate it!

Something to write in the card to go with it (sorry, I'm not sure where I got this poem from, but it is fantastic!):

Dear Dad,

I made this placemat with lots of love

Just for you from me.

You can read my memories and see my art

While you drink some juice with me!

I love you! Happy Father’s Day (add year)

Dad Tracing* This activity and more instructions for use are in this packet!

Create a paper with the letters D A D on them.

Laminate and place in your writing center.

Provide dry erase markers for the children to trace inside, outside and on the letters.

Let the children draw and color on as desired!

Page 11

Calendar Pieces Father’s Day Theme ABC Pattern

Print and laminate all of these pieces. Use a dry erase marker to print the month on the card below (after you have laminated it). You can then erase and use again any month you’d like! 31

1 2 3

7 8 9

13 14 15

19 20 21

25 26 27

Cut Out and Use for Dad Match Game File Folder Tab

Instructions: Print out 2 copies of each of the Dad Match pages (There are 2 Dad Match Pages). Cut out the cards and laminate. The children use these as a matching game by: 1. MEMORY GAME Place the cards picture side down. The children flip over 2 cards. If they match they hold them aside. If the two cards they don’t match, they flip them back over. They try again. 2. FILE FOLDER GAME Tape to one set of cards to the inside of a manila folder. Tape “Dad Match” Label to manila folder tab. The children use the other set of cards. They place the matching card on top of the matching picture in the file folder. Store pieces and these printed instructions in a Ziploc baggie or envelope inside the folder when not in use. © Preschool Plan It www.preschool-plan-it.com

Dad Match Page 1 of 2

www.preschool

plan

- it.com

Dad Match Page 2 of 2

www.preschool

plan

- it.com Sawdust Dough

2 cups (500 mg) sawdust 1 cups (750 mg) flour

1 cup 250 mg) salt Water

1. Combine dry ingredients. 2. Add water as needed to get to the consistency needed for dough.

This dough becomes very hard as it air dries and will not break easily!

It could be great to use to make a sculpture gift for Dad or Grandpa. Once dry, the children could paint and decorate it. Or, while still wet, have children create some abstract art by adding nuts, bolts, screws or other loose parts. The items will become part of that structure once it hardens. Then paint! Recipe makes enough for 8 children.

© Preschool Plan It http://www.preschool-plan-it.com Playdough & Activity Mat : D-A-D Laminate before use! Ideas for use in Playdough Center: Cover the Letters • Children use their muscles to make “snakes” with their playdough and then line them up within the letters. (Skills: muscle development; fine motor control; eye-hand coordination) • Children roll playdough pieces into balls and squish the pieces into the letters. (Skills: muscle development; fine motor control; rational counting) • Children roll playdough pieces into balls and place into letters. Encourage them to count the number of playdough pieces in each letter; in all the letters, etc. (Skills: muscle development; fine motor control; rational counting; eye-hand coordination)

Ideas for use as Activity Mats:

Small Group Work:

• Provide dry erase markers for the children to use on these mats. Encourage them to try tracing on the letters, in the letters, outside the letters. • Let them just color them or draw on them as they talk about their Dads, Grandfathers, etc.) (Skills: fine motor control; eye-hand coordination; letter recognition; )

© Preschool Plan It http://www.preschool-plan-it.com © Preschool Plan It http://www.preschool-plan-it.com Song Card & Song Poster How to use: • Print and laminate the song card below (it is 5” X 3”). • Place in a can or box with other cards of songs your children love! • In transitional times (waiting to go outside or wash hands, etc.), pull out your song box or song can (I use a decorated coffee can!). • Shuffle the cards in your hands saying “Shuffle, shuffle, shuffle” and your children yell “STOP”! • When they yell stop, whichever card is on top is the one you sing! The kids LOVE this!

Each month you’ll receive one of these cards that correspond with the song poster for the month to add to your Song Card Collection! On the next page, you’ll find the Song Poster! Print and laminate for use over the years! Daddy Song

he's the best.

My Daddy is a great one.

D-A-D-D-Y

And Daddy is his name-o! © Preschool Plan It www.preschool-plan-it.com As a member of The Preschool Plan It Teacher Club—I have a special offer for you! I have created a FULL WEEK’s Version of this packet! It will allow you to plan a full week’s theme around Father’s Day! That’s one less week of planning YOU need to do! The full pack includes: • A Weekly Plan that lists the activities for each day and suggestions for changes to your Dramatic Play, Easel, Sand & Water Table and Writing Interest Learning Centers for the week • 5 Daily Lesson Plans: that detail the activities from the Weekly Plan for each day including instructions. The Daily Lesson Plans include detailed plans for each day for each interest learning center. • Color Shirt Match Game: Instruction on how to use as a color match game as well as how to program them to teach letter and/or number concepts. • Father’s Day Coupon Book Gift: Instructions and Printables • Father’s Day Placemat Gift: instructions and printables • Dad Trail Mix Gift: Instructions, rebus spoon printables • Decorate a Tie: Art idea and instructions • Family Glyph: Group time suggestion and math graphing glyph for small groups This pack sells for $4.00. It is YOURS for $2.00! 50 % Off the FULL WEEK Father’s Day Resource Pack! Click here to learn more! Enter FATHERSDAYCLUB in the discount code box upon checkout! Thank you so much for being a member of The Preschool Plan It Teacher Club!! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Stay in Touch! Like Me on Follow Me Facebook On Pinterest! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Check out the selection of themes on my website! You’ll find them on the PRESCHOOL THEMES PAGE!

Have ideas for future Teacher Club Themes? Click Here to send me a note! Thanks! ~~Miss Cheryl

Disclaimer: You may print and use this product for your own personal or classroom use, however, you may NOT post this on your blog, website or other place for free distribution. Please direct others interested in my free downloads to become a member by joining at: Preschool Plan It Teacher Club! © Preschool Plan It www.preschool-plan-it.com