What are some great OUTDOOR Summer science and art activities for preschoolers?

Question

Hi, I teach 4 and 5 year olds. I'm looking for some really great outdoor science and art activities. What can you suggest? Can you give me a description of projects/activities you have tried and what supplies or ingredients I will need? Thanks!!

Answer 1

hang a sheet on a fence or between two trees and let them splatter paint.

Answer 2

These articles have some good ideas:

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article...

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article...

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article...

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article...

Hope this helps!

Answer 3

I just poked into my website and copied a few for you!

Take EASELS OUTSIDE and let the kids paint!

NATURE COLLAGE (Art and Science)

Collect a variety of nature items:

sea shells, dried wheat, grasses, flowers, sand, rocks, pebbles, bark, twigs, seeds, and small branches.

Put these out with glue and sanitized foam trays for the children to create!

MUSICAL TREE  (an Art form)

Here is a fun summer activity.

Brainstorm with children things to hang from a tree in the yard---that will make sounds when the wind blows.

Suggestions:

Metal cans

Pie plates

Plastic bottles

Jar lids

Metal utensils

Wooden spoons

Etc.

Set out some yarn or string for children to use to hang their objects. If you don't have a tree, you could use a sturdy object outside.

ART IN THE SUN!

Materials:

•cooking pot

•mixing bowl

•large mixing spoon

•measuring cup

•plastic bag

•plastic trays or paper plates

•2/3 cup water

•2 cups salt

•1/2 cup water

•1 cup cornstarch

SUN CLAY

To prepare sun clay, place the salt in the pot and add 2/3 cup water. Stir and cook over medium heat for 4-5 minutes, until salt is dissolved. Remove from heat. Gradually mix 1/2 cup water with cornstarch in a separate container. Stir until smooth, then add to the salt mixture. Return to low heat and, while stirring, cook until smooth. The beauty of this clay is that when it hardens in the sun, it doesn't crumble like play dough. Store in a sealed plastic bag.

ACTIVITY

If possible, take this project outside. Provide children with a plastic tray or paper plate to work on. Give each child a glob of clay to model. Encourage children to search nearby for natural objects they can use to decorate their sun sculptures. Place the finished products in the sun. Predict how long it will take for the sculptures to dry.

GOING OUTSIDE---Put some chalk in your pocket!!!

Ideas...

1.....Have child lay on cement. Outline the body shape in an ACTION pose...fill in the body with realistic clothing and details. 2..... Playing a game with boundaries? Pull out the chalk to mark them on the concrete. 3....Mark off broad jumps and leaps! 4....Outline shoes. Who has the largest or smallest foot? :-) 5....Hopscotch 6....A group mural

MAKE SIDE WALK PAINT

A fun alternative to sidewalk chalk. You will need equal portions of water and corn starch. Mix well. Then add a drop of your favorite food coloring color! Paint this wonderful concoction on the sidewalk. Give it a few minutes to dry and you'll have a wonderful work of ART!



SUN PRINTS made Outside with Construction Paper...

..........Have children place colored construction paper out in the sun----Then have them put various shaped objects on the paper; such as, silverware, flowers, keys, a toothbrush, a box, etc.

Leave everything out in the sun until the colored paper fades.

When the objects are removed, you should find prints of colored shapes on the paper. Take the paper inside, so it won't fade more.

SUNBAKED S'MORES (Science & Snack)

Have children place one graham cracker sheet in a foil pie plate; sprinkle with chocolate chips, and miniature marshmallows. Cover the pie plate with tin foil, and label tins for each child.

Place outside in a sunny hot place, check after 10 minutes. They are done when the sun has melted the chocolate and marshmallow. Yummy!  

MAKE SOLAR OVENS…

Take a shoe box and line the inside with foil (shiny side showing). Then take a kabob skewer and put it through the long way. Put plastic wrap over the top and you have an oven. The most successful things you can cook are marshmallows and hot dogs. Just set outside on a sunny afternoon!!! The kids will find it great fun!

NATURE BRACELET

Need: Contact Paper

Cut contact paper into a long strip to form a bracelet. Make the bracelet so that it will be sticky side up. Go on a nature walk and let children put whatever they find (grass, flowers, feathers, sticks, pebbles, etc) on the bracelet.

Make Bird Feeders: Eight are in the forum at  

http://www.after-school-care.com/Replies...

For a lot more ideas visit : http://www.after-school-care.com/Forum.a... All directions and materials are listed in posts! :-) Directions for the outside fence paining are also on the site...http://www.after-school-care.com/Replies...

Take some time when you visit...there are hundreds of ideas :-)

Have fun!

Barb Shelby

Answer 4

I like making giant bubbles (outside) There are websites that show you how to make the soap and the wands which can make bubbles big enough to go around the girls-super fun. Also make tie dye clothes not just shirts but maybe pajama's or something like that. Or maybe make a cool pinata with them, let them paint it and have a mexican fiesta. They can eat mexican food dress up in fun clothes and listen to fun music. Then you can fill the pinata with funsurprises that they can smash out. And of course planting seeds that they can then eat later like a salad or melons.

bubble site:

http://www.5min.com/Video/How-to-make-gi...