Outdoor Activities To Get Your Kids Moving Through The Seasons

Play gives children a chance to practice what they are learning.

Fred Rogers American television personality Mr. Rogers Neighborhood 19282003

WINTER

Snow mural
What Youll Need: Plastic spray bottles; empty ketchup containers, anything

that will squirt, spray, splatter, or spritz water; at least five types of food coloring. Directions: Take the tops off of the containers, and fill each with tap water. Open one food-coloring bottle and add between five to 10 drops. Screw top back on plastic bottle. Shake to distribute food coloring. Repeat process for each plastic bottle until all are filled with many different colors. Take bottles outside with your kids. Ask they to predict patterns different bottles make, and or color when mixed. How can they change the colors/ or patterns? Does getting closer to the snow make a difference?

 Items needed. 100 milk cartons, food coloring, snow shovels, spades,

buckets, spray bottles of water, and excited little helpers ( battery powered light optional)

Have the class collect milk cartons all year long, an igloo about this size take about 200 bricks. Wait for the weather to give you at least a few inches of snow that will stay around for a few days. One day one have the children fill the cartons with water and food coloring let them sit out side all day. The next day lay clear the area you want to start building your igloo of snow with you snow shovels. Pile that snow aside to use as cement the igloo. have the children place the bricks in a circle as equally space apart as they can. Then pack snow in all of the gaps and over the tops of the bricks. Use the spray bottles to keep the snow damp enough for the snow to stick together. Then add the next layer of bricks. After a few days of team work the children will complete a fun rainbow igloo.

Winter Experiments
Try some experiments outside to illustrate physical differences

dependent on temperature. Ice experiments: Try to see how you can get ice to break (we like to drop it on our patio, or stomp on it). See if salt stops water from freezing. Get 2 similar containers. Put plain water in one, dissolve salt in water in another, freeze gelatin, and see which freezes. You can also observe the time it takes for the water to freeze. Snow experiments: Bring snow inside. Leave some on the counter, put some in the refrigerator, some in the freezer. Compare the rate at which they melt. Measure the snowfall.

Snowman Relay Race

What better way to get outside and enjoy the snow than this twist on a

winter time classic? Supplies: Three hats, three carrot noses, six buttons for eyes, three licorice whips for mouth, and any other fun accessories you would like to have for you snow man just make sure there are three of them. Divide your children into three teams and then and make sure the teams each have a task to do. The first runner of each team build the head, and then runs back and tags the next runner, the next runners build the body, and run back and tag the next person. Each runner adds something to the snowman, and then runs back to tag the next person. The first team to complete a snowman wins!

 Bubble Recipe: 6 cups water 4 cups liquid detergent 1 cup corn syrup (Karo, etc.) Optional : Add a drop of food coloring to make rainbow bubbles! 1. Work with your child to make or buy bubble solution and wands. If you

opt to make your solution, note that the longer it sits, the better the bubbles will be. So make it the day before. 2. Invite your child to blow bubbles (or blow 'em for him if he's too small). Help him catch the bubbles on the wands before they hit the ground and watch them freeze Have your students experiment with the frozen bubbles. Get them to poke them to see if they pop. Breathe on them to see if they thaw. Catch several on one wand and watch them crystallize together.

SPRING

The Run Around

One person gives directions such as run to the big tree, touch the bark, and come back, or run over to the slide, go down one time, and come back or run around the tree three times. Great not only for gross motor skills, but for listening and following directions. (codenamemama.com)

Hot Potato

Put a medium sized ball in the center of a circle along with a child chosen to be in it. The child who is it pushes the ball with his or her feet, trying to get it out of the circle. The other children try to stop the ball with their feet. Once the ball is out, another leader is chosen. The ball is called the hot potato ad the children will enjoy trying to keep it in the oven. (preschoolrainbow.org)

Hop in the Hoops

Different colored hoops are needed for this activity. Place lots of different colored hoops around and open space. Demonstrate how to run or walk around the hoops. Give the children directions on what to do with the hoops then let the children take over giving the directions.

Precise Jumping and Landing

Old tires are needed for this activity. Use the arms to balance as you stand on the tires. Jump off and on the tires. Try jumping from one to the others, go backward, use a timer, make up routine etc.

Run to the Ribbons

Brightly colored ribbons are needed for this activity. Cut the ribbons 2 inches in length and tie them to trees, door knobs etc Have the children run to each on saying the color. See how fast they can do it. Tell them to go to multiple colors and see if they remember the sequence.

Balloon Kites
Large round helium balloons and kite string is needed for this activity. You may also ties streamers to the balloon if wanted Tie the string to the child's wrist and let them run around flying the kite balloon.

Animal Games and Movements

Tell the children to act like certain animals and let the children give ideas of animals also. Slither like a snake Hop like a bunny Waddle like a penguin Spring like a kangaroo

SUMMER

Divide the group into at least 3 teams and have the teams rotate through the following three energizer stations in 10-15 minute segments. Have one adult at each station at all times to facilitate the groups. The purpose of these stations is to get the children to complete fast paced, fun warm-up activities. The facilitator call out these movements while the students are continuously jogging in place. Wiggle your fingers Now wiggle your fingers, writs and forearms Now wiggle your fingers, writs, forearms, elbows and shoulders Now wiggle your fingers, writs, forearms, elbows, shoulders and rib cage Now wiggle your fingers, writs, forearms, elbows, shoulders, rib cage and hips Now wiggle your fingers, writs, forearms, elbows, shoulders, rib cage, hips and knees Now wiggle your fingers, writs, forearms, elbows, shoulders, rib cage, hips, knees and head!!! Challenge the students to continue with as many movements as possible at a time.

Bucket Brigade
School age outdoor activity Supplies needed: 2 bottles of water per team small bathroom size paper cups Divide the students into teams of 5 to 10 players. Each team will be given two water bottles, one full and the other empty. Each player will receive one cup. The teams line up front to back in a row sitting on the floor. The person in front will hold the full water bottle and the last person on the team will have the empty water bottle. On go, the first person in line will pour water into his cup and then without turning pour his cup of water into the cup of the player behind him. Each player will pour his cup of water into the cup of the next player. The last player will then pour his cup of water into the water bottle. As soon as the first player passes his water he can refill the cup and start passing again. They will continue until all the water is out of the first bottle. The team will the most water in the bottle at the back of the line is the winner. Created by R. Scheel, Fun-Attic ,Inc.

Partner Fitness
Have each child find a partner in the group and complete these tasks as the staff calls them out. High five right hand Hive five left hand Low five right hand Low five right hand High ten both hands Low ten both hands Backwards high ten with hands held high Backwards high ten with hands held low Tunnel ten (feet apart back to back, reach hand between legs and hit low ten) Bring sole of right shoes together Bring sole of left shoes together Touch right elbows together Touch the left elbows together Touch both elbows together

Supplies needed: Large piece of paper One die per team Write the following things on a large piece of paper that all the children can read. Running in place #1 Hopping on the one foot #2 Jumping up and down #3 Leaping side to side #4 Spinning in a circle #5 Imaginary jumping rope #6 Divide the children I to teams of about five and have them stand in a single file line. Give each team one die. Students hold hands in the line to simulate connecting an electrical circuit. The last person in the row holds the die with his free hand. Give a signal, yell Current on and the students pass the current from first person in line to the last by squeezing hands. When the last student in line hand is squeezed they yell, Current off and rolls the die. The student then informs the others of the number and that team must do the posted activity that goes with the rolled number. Children should perform that activity for about 30 seconds each time.

Electricity Game

Students will act out the following fitness song to the tune of The Twelve Days of Fitness. One idea is to write out the song and display it on a poster. Demonstrate each movement for the students. On the first day of fitness my trainer gave to me: 1 stork stand (balance on one foot) 2 scissors (feet apart then cross in front, feet apart, then cross in back) 3 muscle poses (flex biceps, etc.) 4 jumping ropes (imaginary ropes) 5 hula hoops ( act out hula hoping) 6 kicks to the front 7 jabs/punches 8 jogs in place 9 side stretches 10 knee lifts 11 raise the roofs 12 jumping jacks

5 Food Groups Game

In the gym or on the playground area assign five different section of the area , name each of them on of the five foods groups (fruits, veggies, grains/bread, dairy, meat). Give children 30 seconds to a minute to run around the gym or playground, while you stand in the middle. Once you yell stop each child will need to be in one of the food group sections. At that point call out a food and help the children to determine what food group that food falls under and the children standing in that section of the gym are out. Repeat this over again until you receive a winner. You may also have the children right heart friendly foods on separate pieces of paper and draw them upon yelling stop to determine what food to call out

FALL

 Spread four different color Hula Hoops on the ground. Instruct children

to move around without touching the hoops. Kids are only allowed to run, skip or crabwalk until the teacher yells hoop! The teacher should close her eyes as she counts to three. The kids have to find a Hula Hoop to stand in. With his eyes still closed, the teacher yells one of the colors, and everyone in that group is out. Play again and instruct children that they can only jump up and down around the floor until the teacher says, Hoop! Repeat the process again using another physical activity until all of the kids are eliminated.

Blanket/Parachute Volleyball
This is an interesting rendition of volleyball that children will have fun

playing. Split up your class into teams with a minimum of four players. Lay a blanket or parachute out on the ground for each team and have the team members pick up their blanket. Place a volleyball in the center of one of the team's blankets. The team with the volleyball lowers and raises their blanket, making the ball become airborne. The opposing team tries to catch the volleyball in their blanket and shoots it back to the other team. If the opposing team fails to catch the ball, the team that served the ball earns point. Whichever team earns the most points wins the game.

 Choose 5 shapes you want your preschooler to become more familiar with, such as

triangles, circles, rectangles, squares, diamonds, ovals, stars, pentagons, or cubes. Write 10 simple instructions, each one on a small slip of paper. Try to incorporate color, shape, and direction. Here are a few ideas: Put your left foot on the pink triangle Hop to the yellow pentagon Walk backward to the blue square Put your right hand on the purple circle Hop on your left foot to the green diamond Place the slips in the small paper lunch bag. On the pavement outside, ask your child to draw the 5 shapes with sidewalk chalk in the corresponding colors you used to create the instructions. Remember, the shapes need to be large, so youll want to guide your childs chalk work. Ask your child to pull a slip of paper from the bag, and get twisting and turning, or hopping and running! Encourage your preschooler to help read the instructions. Take this activity to another level by letting your child make up movements for you to carry out. No written directions needed, just let the child be control and have fun.

 Choose one person to be "it." Like regular tag, the person who's "it" runs around and tries to tag the other

players. If he succeeds in tagging someone, that person becomes "it." If a child is about to be tagged, she can avoid becoming "it" by shouting out a safe word. The first safe word is any word that starts with the letter A. The next safe word starts with the letter B, and it continues on through the alphabet. If a child can't think of a word before she gets tagged, or if she says a word that starts with the wrong letter, then she becomes the next "it." If you want to mix it up, try a different version of the game. Pick one letter to use through the whole game, and every safe word needs to start with that letter, no repeat words allowed. How many different words can you think of that start with B? After the first few words, it gets trickier and trickier, and laughs are sure to follow.

Pumpkin Roll
Give each child a pumpkin, and see who can reach the finish line first

by rolling his pumpkin across the lawn with his feet. Alternatively, if you live in a hilly area, place some round pumpkins at the top of a gentle slope and watch them roll down. Younger children can also take turns following the pumpkins' path by rolling through some leaves.

 What you need: Two monster-themed bags, either paper or fabric Some dried beans, to weigh the bags down and help keep them propped

open Any fall-related items kids can transfer from one bag to the next (we chose foam eyeballs) This is a kid-friendly version of running lines, which is a fabulous fitness tool to increase agility, speed, and endurance. In this case, choose an ageappropriate distance between the monster bags. Because my little monsters are seven and nine, we spaced our bags about 25 yards apart. Begin with all of your fall items in one bag. Time your children, one at a time, to see how long it takes them to transfer all of the eyeballs from the first monster bag to the next. They are only allowed to transfer one item per trip.

 What you need: Nine Halloween cutouts, or sidewalk chalk Felt or self-adhesive numbers Hot glue gun This is a favorite! We found adorable pre-made spider webs at a crafts store,

but you can use your imagination and create any shape (leaves, spiders, skulls) for your hopscotch board. Good old fashioned sidewalk chalk works if you prefer to draw your own. We glued numbers (felt ones work best) on the webs, and were ready for play!

Children need the freedom and time to play. Play is not a luxury. Play is a necessity.

Kay Redfield Jamison Contemporary American professor of psychiatry

References
Outdoor Fall Games and Activities for Children http://kids.lovetoknow.com/wiki/Outdoor_Fall_Games_for_Children Play Alphabet Tag http://www.education.com/activity/article/play-alphabet-tag/ Fun Fall Fitness for Kids http://www.momtastic.com/health-and-beauty/active-lifestyle/105929-fun-fall-fitness-for-kids
"Nana Brown's: Kids Craft - Snow Paint." Nana Brown's. blogger, 15 Mar. 2012. Web. 13 Mar. 2013. http://nanabrowns.blogspot.com/2012/03/kids-craft-snow-paint.html "How To Build a Rainbow Igloo Using Milk Cartons | Bored Panda." Bored Panda - the only magazine for Pandas. cloudtix, 7 Jan. 2013. Web. 13 Mar. 2013. http://www.boredpanda.com/rainbow-igloo/ Chong, Kayla. "Winter Fun: Make Frozen Bubbles | Winter Fun | Parents Connect." Parenting Tips & Advice for Moms | Parents Connect. Nickelodeon, 20 Oct. 2012. Web. 13 Mar. 2013. <http://www.parentsconnect.com/parenting-your-kids/winterfun/brrrr_bubbles.html>.

Outdoors http://fun.familyeducation.com/activities-center/toddlers-preschoolers-K12children.html
23 Gross Motor Games and Activities for Preschoolers You Can Play with Two or More People http://codenamemama.com/2011/08/11/gross-motor-games/ Outdoor Play Activity Theme http://preschoolrainbow.org/preschool-outdoor.htm Top 10 Outdoor Winter Activities http://familyeducationcom "Playing Outdoors in the Winter (A-E) The Pleasantest Thing." The Pleasantest Thing . N.p., 25 Jan. 2013. Web. 13 Mar. 2013. <http://www.pleasantestthing.com/2013/01/playing-outdoors-in-winter-e.html>.

Created by:
Lisa Little
Lead Teacher 2 to 3 lmlittle56@gmail.com

Mecca Andrews-Hill
Drug Free Communities Coordinator addiesgreat7@gmail.com

Farah
Teacher 4-5 farahnking@gmail.com

Amber Peterson
Early Childhood Curriculum Coordinator afisher24@att.net