Summer Fun: Day Three

Oh, What Do You Do in the Summertime?

Purpose: Help children understand that the sun is warmest during the summer and we are able to do many fun things outside during the day.

Materials:
1. summer clothing, items (sunscreen, shorts & t-shirts, sunglasses, hat, swim gear, beach stuff, etc.)
2. summer books
3. construction paper fish with paperclips, magnet fishing pole
4. bowls
5. spoons, measuring cups
6. ice, water

Learning Activities:
1. Start with an opening song and prayer

Sun is shining all around (stand up and make a circle with your arms over your head.)
on the rooftops (make a roof shape with your hands)
on the ground (bend down and touch the floor)
Sun is shining on my nose (touch your nose)
On my head (touch your head)
and hand (wave hands)
and toes. (touch your toes)

2. Read books about the sun, summer. (We read a book about going to the beach as well as some non-fiction books about weather and the universe that featured sections about the sun/summer.) Talk about some of the reasons we have summer and how the sun plays a role.

3. Talk about summer time. Explain that the weather gets hot and the sun shines very brightly. Introduce your child to summer attire-sunglasses, sin hats, sun dressed, sandals, shorts, etc. "These clothes help us stay cool on the hot, summer days." Talk about sunscreen and the other summer/beach-related items and their importance for summer days/activities. Let your child practice wearing different items, pretend to go to the beach....lay out a beach towel, etc.




4. Explain that during the summer when it is warm and sunny outside, we get to do many fun activities. Have children list some of the things they would like to do in the summer. Stand up and sing the song, "Oh, What do you do in the summertime," (LDS Children's Songbook) acting out the activities as you say them.

Oh, what do you do in the summertime, when all the world is green?
Do you fish in a stream, or lazily dream on the banks as the clouds go by?
Is that what you do? So do I!

2. Oh, what do you do in the summertime, when all the world is green?
Do you swim in a pool, to keep yourself cool, or swing in a tree up high?
Is that what you do? So do I!

3. Oh, what do you do in the summertime, when all the world is green?
Do you march in parades, or drink lemonades, or count all the stars in the sky?
Is that what you do? So do I!

Words and music: Dorothy S. Andersen, b. 1927
© 1964 by Dorothy S. Andersen. This song may be copied for incidental, noncommercial church or home use.

5. Go Fishing. Make fishing rods using a piece of string or yard and tie a magnet to the end of it. (I couldn't find string, so I used a long piece of floral wire. It actually worked out well because it could be bent and shaped, but was still pretty strong. I also didn't have an separate magnet that was strong enough, so I used on of those magnet clips.) Make paper fish shapes in various colors, adding paper clips. (You could add numbers or letters to each fish and laminate them to be used again.) Spread out a blanket for "the stream" and have your child go fishing.




After a fish is caught, have your child put it in a bucket or pail. When all the fish are caught, release them and fish some more!! (You can also practice counting/colors/letters/size depending on the type of fish you make.


6. Ice is Nice: After all those fun activities out in the hot sun, your child will need something to help him cool down. You can talk about how the sun is hot and how we can swim or play in the water to keep ourselves cool (referencing the song.) You can demonstrate how the sun gets hot by letting your child play with ice. (I originally planned to do this outside, but it's been raining off-and-on today, so I spread out a beach towel and let Kyle play in the living room.) I set up three different-sized bowls. One had "tools" of a spoon and measuring cups, one had ice cubes, and one had water. I just let him play and investigate. He started by stirring up the water and playing with the ice.

He liked tasting, too!


Eventually, he started pouring from one bowl into another, mixing the ice and water and watching what happened. He literally kept himself entertained for a half-hour!

For even more ice-related fun, place an ice cube in a cup and place the cup outside in the sun while you're playing. Keep checking on the ice cube and observe it getting smaller and smaller until it is completely melted. The sun is hot!

You could also freeze a small bath toy in a cup of water. During bathtime, put the ice cube in the water and watch it melt until the toy is revealed.


Summary:
Review some of the fun activities we can do during the summer time and outside in the sun. Sing more sunny and summertime songs. Let children read sunny and summertime books. Go over word cards.