Flag Day-June 14th

June 14th FLAG DAY

I love patriotic holidays and even though we don't get this day off it is still good one to celebrate.  Here are some fun things to do.  I really like the idea of making a family flag to teach how flags represent a group of people and what they stand for.

• Learn American Flag Etiquette.

www.brownielocks.com has a flag information site with audio for "Grand Old Flag"

www.ehow.co.uk/american-flag-etiquette

• Flag coloring page:

www.familycrafts.about.com/cs/independenceflag/l/blcoloramflaga.htm

• Make a family flag:

Use your imagination. There are so many ways to do this.Michaels Craft store has some project ideas:
#25311a or e05331 that can be adapted.
They also sell foam pennants and embellishments

My local Kinkos can print photos onto fabric, check out your local office supply store.

Use fabric paint that comes in tubes or pens.
Use iron-ons printed from your computer.

Size and durability depend on your choices.

Symbolically or realistically (using drawings or photos) on your flag:
Ideas you might include:

1. Number of family members
2. Pets
3. Favorite foods
4. Favorite pastimes
5. Favorite books
6. Favorite trips and outings (even locally)
7. Favorite colors
8. Favorite games
9. Family friends
10. Traditions
11. Special events or happenings

• Fun Flag Holder Craft

Materials:

United States Flag on a 8- 12 inch long dowel
Styrafoam cup or waxed paper cup (that will peel off)
Red or white beans (can use a mix of both)
White school glue that dries clear
Small paper plate
Aluminum pie pan
Scissors

Step 1 Fill cup with beans then empty beans into pie pan
Step 2 Add enough glue to coat all the beansStep 3 return beans to cup, packing tightly into cup to prevent air pockets
Step 4 invert cup onto paper plate
Step 5 insert flag into bottom (now top of cup)
Step 6 let sit for at least 24 hours till glue sets
Step 7 peel cup off beans and trim paper plate to fit bottom of flag stand. The plate should be secured to the beans by the glue used on the beans.

Display the flag on a table or in a window year round or just on special flag days.
We had one made in Cub Scouts and it lasted for 10 years.

Visit Preschool Corner for more ideas of great things to learn and do with your kids.

Donut Day - June

I love any excuse to have a good donut so when my mom sent me this story we had to do it. (I barely got this picture before he had downed the whole thing in record time.)

The first Friday in June is National Donut Day. The holiday was proposed by the Salvation Army, in 1938, to honor their "serving ladies" and to raise funds for the needy in Chicago.  The Salvation Army created "huts" in France during the first World War. It had rained for 63 days and the solidiers were very discouraged. The "huts" were staffed by 4-6 women, who made coffee and other baked goods for the soldiers. They were the only women allowed on the battle field. The hot donuts were a big hit with the tired soldiers.  Legend has it that this was the origin of the term "doughboy" to describe soldiers. But the term has been found as early of 1846 in the Mexican American War.

Here a few ideas to celebrate donut day.

• Check with your local donut store to see if they are participating in either giving away free donuts or donating matching funds to the Salvation Army if you buy donuts.
• Make your own easy donuts from canned biscuits. www.ehow.com/how_4695785_donuts-canned-biscuits 
• Discuss the history of the Salvation Army that has the red kettles we see at Christmastime. www.salvationarmyusa.org 
• This is also a day to discuss helping our soldiers and volunteeing.
• Buy store bought donuts and enjoy!

We also reviewed the sounds and writing of the letter O since it is a donut shape.

For more ideas visit preschool corner.