“Children have such vibrant minds. They need to play. They need to be creative. They need to imagine. It’s so important for their sense of self discovery.” Such wisdom from Jan Brett, American illustrator and author of beautiful children’s picture books.
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“Where the Sidewalk Ends” by Shel Silverstein is just the beginning. Let’s get out on the sidewalk and play!
Let’s start here……..
Where the Sidewalk Ends by Shel Silverstein
There is a place where the sidewalk ends
And before the street begins,
And there the grass grows soft and white,
And there the sun burns crimson bright,
And there the moon-bird rests from his flight
To cool in the peppermint wind.Let us leave this place where the smoke blows black
And the dark street winds and bends.
Past the pits where the asphalt flowers grow
We shall walk with a walk that is measured and slow,
And watch where the chalk-white arrows go
To the place where the sidewalk ends.
And before the street begins,
And there the grass grows soft and white,
And there the sun burns crimson bright,
And there the moon-bird rests from his flight
To cool in the peppermint wind.Let us leave this place where the smoke blows black
And the dark street winds and bends.
Past the pits where the asphalt flowers grow
We shall walk with a walk that is measured and slow,
And watch where the chalk-white arrows go
To the place where the sidewalk ends.
Yes we’ll walk with a walk that is measured and slow,
And we’ll go where the chalk-white arrows go,
For the children, they mark, and the children, they know
The place where the sidewalk ends.
And we’ll go where the chalk-white arrows go,
For the children, they mark, and the children, they know
The place where the sidewalk ends.
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Sidewalks Offer Endless Possibilities
A create way to keep your children moving and playing 🙂
Good chalk and a sidewalk are all you need.
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NUMBER LINE – Do simple addition and subtraction problems with children jumping to the appointed number.
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CREATE A DEFINED CHALK BORDER – Put a variety of shapes and letters. Call out things for children to find. (For example, “Stand on a letter that’s in your name.” “Jump to the shape that is the same as a ball.”)
• DRAW AN OBSTACLE COURSE – Design it before you draw it. Your children can create different components of the course. Use arrows and lines to indicate the direction of the course between obstacles.
EXAMPLE:
A FOREST OBSTACLE COURSE – complete with a swamp, a path of tall trees for weaving in and out, and a river with rocks for crossing. After the course is drawn, the children can run the course.
SILLY TASKS – dancing, jumping, hopping, turning around, jumping on 1 foot, clapping and going backwards.
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ACTIVITIES FOR PRESCHOOLERS
Walk the Lines of Colored Tape
Suggestion: I recommend using painter’s tape. Please test on a hidden area of your floor to make sure no damage will occur.
STRAIGHT LINE
ZIG-ZAG LINE
CURVED LINE
Your preschoolers will need to work on their balance as they walk the lines of tape, one foot in front of the other.
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