Parachute fun

 

Parachute fun! Funshine Express.com often offers ideas of games and activities to play with a parachute. We often used just a sheet or blanket.

 

 You can imagine my preschoolers delight when Funshine Express sent a real parachute!
We have used it a handful of times inside- today was the first day we played with it outside.

I am still recovering-- slowly from throwing out my back.
Blah!
You would think I was 100 years old! I'm not.
But I feel like this year I have been riddled with injury and illness.
I am so grateful for my monthly Funshine Express curriculum monthly kit. Funshine also has supplementary supplies... like parachutes, puzzles and other educational supplies .

Wiggle Activities

There is one part of our preschool day- my kids LOVE.
Wiggle Time

I think it is so important- to get wiggles out- especially if you expect little ones to sit still for any length of time.

My Preschool Day routine- goes as follows:

Writing time
Craft (this gives plenty of time for paint and glue to dry)
Wiggle Time
Circle Time
Stations
Snack
Story time

If we do our wiggle time outside- I switch things up a bit. We are ready for drinks of water after a good workout, so I have them sit again at the table and pass out snacks then.

In Funshine Express Monthly Curriculum Guide they  include daily activities they call "Movers and
Shakers"

 

 

These activities often require things you have around the house- if that.

Sometimes you don't need anything-- just active bodies- lol.

I love- love- love these ideas!

It is so nice to have a new game, stretch, or activity to do with the little ones every day!

NOT just great crafts.... Large Motor Activities

So it seems like-- I tend to just share the cute crafts that Funshine Express offers in their preschool curriculum kits.

In the monthly Curriculum guide that comes in each monthly curriculum box, Funshine Express supplies daily lesson plans. I love to read- what they suggest and then modify to my preschool group. Every day they suggest a large motor activity. Funshine calls it "Movers and Shakers" Activity.

This activity Funshine calls Balancing Buddies. They suggest using two beams side by side- and the children hold hands and help each other balance. To introduce this activity- use used one beam on the first day- and then two on the following day. They loved the modification!

Another game they enjoyed was called Mirror, Mirror. Children play in partners. One makes a silly face or motion and their partner/mirror has to copy.

They often suggest modifications to common games many of these little ones already know. For example this next activity called Musical Share Chairs. You start the game- like the traditional game of musical chairs- but as you remove chairs... the children must "share" the remaining chairs-- until their is only ONE chair left. When that happens they must work together to try and share it! I love this modification! Traditional musical chairs- eliminates chairs and children as you play- often causing sad children. My little ones loved this modification- and it was fun to see their problem solving skills.