Each year, American families gather to observe Independence Day and other patriotic holidays. They "ooh" and "ahh" at the brilliant fireworks that light the night sky. They jump at the thunderous explosions that echo from the hills and make children's hearts pound with excitement, and sometimes fear.
Learning After School Can Be Fun
Summer holiday celebrations often include picnics, cookouts, and camping. Young children can safely participate and have a blast with these fun family ideas, including kid-tested arts, crafts and science activities that encourage parents and children to work and play together. They'll have so much fun, they won't even notice they are also getting an education after school!
Bag Boomers: Large Motor (muscle) Development
Decorate white or brown paper lunch bags with red or blue paints, crayons or markers. Add red, white and blue streamers. Inflate as you would a balloon, twist the top and tape securely. Young children enjoy tossing them in the air, catching and popping them with their hands.
Popsicle Painting: Self Expression
Give your child a paper plate and red and blue Popsicles. Drag the Popsicle around the wavy edges of the plate so they can feel it "bumpity-bump." Then create a cool design by "painting" with the Popsicle on the plate. Lick the drips!
Exploding Triangles: Science Activity
This activity teaches children about surface tension-the way things stick together on the surface of the water. Fill a shallow pan about half full with water. Cut a red, white and blue straw into three equal lengths. Carefully place each straw on top of the shallow pan of water to form a triangle. Use a toothpick to scoot the edges together. Don't sink the straws or you'll break the tension. Dip the toothpick into liquid dish detergent, and use it to drip one drop into the center of the triangle. Don't let the toothpick touch the water! Watch the triangle explode! Wash the container each time to remove soap residue.
Glitter and Glue Firework: Creative Craft
Use tacky glue or thicken white glue with cornstarch. Squeeze or drip glue designs on aluminum foil. Keep your hand moving; globs of glue will not dry. Sprinkle glue with colorful glitter and allow the glue to dry completely. Peel from the foil and punch a hole into the design. Next, punch holes into the rim of a paper plate. Tie the razzle-dazzle firework designs to the plate with string or thread.
Stars and Stripes: Art Activity
Glue Popsicle sticks or tongue depressors into a star shape and give children washable markers or small brushes and paint, to color the star red, white and blue. When it's dry, tie a bell to the bottom. Glue paper to the center and print, "LET FREEDOM RING." Add curling ribbon or paper streamers.
Star Predictions: Pre-math, Counting and Estimating
Cut a white star from an 8½ x 11" sheet of paper. Give each child a pile of smaller red and blue stars. Ask the children to predict how many small stars they think they might need to fill the inside area of the larger star. Encourage each child to count as he pastes the stars on. Ask him to predict whether he used more red or blue stars. Count them together to see if he is right.
Linda O'Connell is an early childhood teacher and freelance writer in St. Louis, Missouri.