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Learning Together Joyfully: Last Days of Summer

Welcome back educators, parents and grandparents. As August approaches, and school is nearing, there is still time to enjoy those last days of summer. The Summer Olympics are happening in Paris and you may be spending family time watching some of the events. Sometimes, the circus is in town and you can enjoy some quality family time. Whatever preparations you make in August, enjoy your family as you play, learn and grow together.

Quick Links

Use these links to quickly navigate to specific sections within this blog!

  1. Read and Sing Together
  2. Create Together: Puzzles, Crafts, Drawing and Constructing
  3. Explore, Engage & Interact Together
  4. Healthy Living: Movement & Nutrition
  5. Reflect: Thoughts of the Day About Learning

1.  Read and Sing Together 📚 

To improve students’ reading comprehension, teachers might consider introducing the seven cognitive strategies of effective readers: activating, inferring, monitoring-clarifying, questioning, searching-selecting, summarizing, and visualizing-organizing. This article includes definitions of the seven strategies and a lesson-plan template for teaching each one. Download the chart.

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BOOKS ABOUT THE OLYMPICS:

The Summer Olympic Games are an exciting world event of athletics and national pride. Get your kids excited about the different Summer Olympic sports by reading children’s the following books to build up their background knowledge and anticipation for these exciting athletic events. The summer Games are often favorites, especially gymnastics and swimming.  The Olympics is also a high-interest topic for students. The summer Games are a perfect theme for the end or beginning of a school year, and it’s a great theme for summer school, as well. In honor of the event, we’ve created a list of books to help you introduce children to the history and traditions of the Olympics as well as some inspiring Olympic athletes. You may wish to find these at your school or public library or purchase them.

  • G is for Gold Medal: An Olympics Alphabet (Sports Alphabet) by Brad Herzog. From the first games held in ancient Greece to the cultural extravaganzas of recent years, there have been some incredible and amazing events and milestones in the world of Olympic sports. Now in G is for Gold Medal: An Olympics Alphabet, writer Brad Herzog showcases those athletes and events that not only set sports records but also impacted history and world views. Learn the meaning behind the five interlocking rings featured on the Olympic flag. Cheer on American Jim Thorpe as he won the pentathlon and decathlon at the 1912 Olympics in Stockholm, Sweden, only to lose his medals later. Read how the man dubbed as the “world’s laziest high jumper” won the gold in 1968 and later had a jump named after him. All these moments and more are brought to life in G is for Gold Medal. Brad Herzog has written travel and sports books for readers young and old. His books with Sleeping Bear include the best-selling H is for Home Run: A Baseball Alphabet. Brad lives on California’s Monterey Peninsula. Doug Bowles has been a freelance illustrator for more than twenty years. His books for Sleeping Bear include One Kansas Farmer: A Kansas Number Book and S is for Sunflower: A Kansas Alphabet. Doug lives in Leawood, Kansas.

  • What Are the Summer Olympics by Gail Herman. Back in 775 BC, athletes from all over Ancient Greece came together to compete in various games. The contests were held every four years and winning athletes brought honor and respect to their homelands. The tradition of the Olympic Games faded over time until 1896, when they were brought back to life. The first modern Olympics were held in Athens, Greece, with over two hundred athletes from fourteen countries. Today, nearly three thousand years after the first Games, the Summer Olympics attract one hundred thousand top athletes from over two hundred countries. Billions of fans around the world cheer on their national teams to bring back the gold.
  • What Are the Paralympic Games? By Gail Herman. As the Opening Ceremony for the 1948 Summer Olympic Games commenced in London, a similar sporting competition was taking place a few miles away. But the men at Stoke Mandeville weren’t your typical athletes. They were paralyzed World War II veterans. The games at Stoke Mandeville were so successful that they would eventually lead to the Paralympics. Participants from all around the world vie for the gold medal in a variety of sports, including archery, basketball, swimming, speed skating, and ice hockey. Author Gail Herman highlights their achievements, describes how these athletes train–both mentally and physically–for the games, and gives the reader a better understanding of what makes the Paralympic Games one of the world’s most viewed sporting events.
  • Ancient Greece and the Olympics: A Nonfiction Companion to Magic Tree House #16: Hour of the Olympics by Mary Pope Osborne and Natalie Pope Boyce. The #1 bestselling chapter book series of all time celebrates 25 years with new covers and a new, easy-to-use numbering system! Getting the facts behind the fiction has never looked better.  Track the facts with Jack and Annie! When Jack and Annie got back from their adventure in Magic Tree House #16: Hour of the Olympics, they had lots of questions. What did the ancient Greeks wear? What did they do for fun? Where were the very first Olympics held? How are our modern Olympics similar to the ancient Olympics? Find out the answers to these questions and more as Jack and Annie track the facts. Filled with up-to-date information, photos, illustrations, and fun tidbits from Jack and Annie, the Magic Tree House Fact Trackers are the perfect way for kids to find out more about the topics they discovered in their favorite Magic Tree House adventures. And teachers can use Fact Trackers alongside their Magic Tree House fiction companions to meet common core text pairing needs.
  • Tae Kwon Do! By Terry Pierce. We’re off to Tae Kwon Do class, where we’ll learn to kick, spin, box, jump, and even break a board! We’ll also have fun in this simple Step 1 book. Perfect for kids who are both learning to read and learning Tae Kwon Do or another martial art.
  • National Geographic Kids Everything Soccer: Score Tons of Photos, Facts, and Fun by Blake Hoena. Score! Finally, a book that explains everything about soccer — a favorite team sport played by millions of kids around the globe. From patches of dirt to gleaming turf, soccer is a game for all. Meet soccer’s superstars. Learn the rules. Get kitted up, get out on the field, and show off your fancy footwork.  Each book in the National Geographic Kids Everything series has more than 100 pictures, an explorer’s corner with from-the-field anecdotes and tips, fun facts throughout, maps and infographics, an illustrated diagram, a photo gallery, cool comparisons, a behind-the-scenes photograph, an interactive glossary, and more.
  • DK Readers L2: I Want to Be a Gymnast by Kate Simkins. Inspire your aspiring young gymnast with this thrilling book about gymnastics. Join Hannah and Jessica at the gym and watch them learn the beam, bars, and vault. All it takes is a little boost of confidence! Stunning photographs combine with lively illustrations and engaging, age-appropriate stories in DK Readers, a multilevel reading program guaranteed to capture children’s interest while developing their reading skills and general knowledge.
  • My First Book of Basketball: A Rookie Book (A Sports Illustrated Kids Book) by The Editors of Sports Illustrated Kids. This book from Sports Illustrated Kids, coaches young kids through the game of basketball with a visual retelling of a professional basketball game—from the jump ball to the game-winning basket! Dribbling, passing, traveling, shooting, dunks, and more are all explained using a fun mix of Sports Illustrated action photography, simple text, a full glossary of terms, and awesome graphics. Illustrated “Rookie” characters—a girl, Gabby, and a boy, Sprat—appear on every page, providing fun facts and simple explanations to help kids better understand the game. Perfect for emerging readers from preschool up, My First Book of Basketball is meant to be a shared reading experience between parents and their little rookies before, during, and after the game.
  • Swimming and Diving by Allan Morey. Once every four years, the best athletes gather at the Summer Olympic Games in tests of speed, strength, and teamwork. Learn about the most popular events and how they captivate audiences around the world. High-impact photography will engage readers, while the carefully leveled text will help struggling readers be successful. Presents information about swimming and diving in the Olympics including different types of swimming strokes, different diving events, and synchronized swimming.
  • Track and Field by M.K. Osborne. Every four years, athletes gather to test their strength and speed against the world’s best at the Summer Olympic Games. This updated series explains the most popular Olympic sporting events to young readers who are eager to watch the excitement. Includes a table of contents, Q&A boxes, glossary, further resources, and index. This updated book for elementary readers presents information about the track and field events featured at the Olympics, including running, jumping, and throwing events. Includes a table of contents, Q&A boxes, glossary, further resources, and index.
  • Volleyball by Matt Doeden. Once every four years, the best athletes gather at the Summer Olympic Games in tests of speed, strength, and teamwork. Learn about the most popular events and how they captivate audiences around the world. High-imapct photography will engage readers, while the carefully leveled text will help struggling readers be successful. Presents information about volleyball in the Olympics including rules for playing, and overview of indoor and beach volleyball, and well-known players such as Misty May-Treanor and Kari Walsh Jennings.
  • The Story of Simone Biles: An Inspiring Biography for Young Readers by Rachelle Burk. Simone Biles has been called the greatest gymnast of all time, winning five Olympic and 25 World Champion medals by age 22. Before she wowed the world with her incredible gymnastics skills, Simone was an energetic young girl who dreamed of becoming a top gymnast. She trained for hours every day and made many sacrifices to pursue her goals. Explore how Simone Biles went from being a kid growing up in Texas to an Olympic athlete who has won more gymnastics medals than anyone in history.
  • Curious George and the Summer Games by H. A. Rey. George is curious about all the field day Summer Games, but what sporting event will he compete in? Every year, the town has a Summer Games field day, and George wants to join in on the fun, especially if the prize is a medal! But what is the perfect Summer Games event for a little monkey? When George finds a sport that he loves and is a natural at, he must practice, practice, practice. With some teamwork and cheering on the contestants, George is ready to make this the best Summer Games!
  • Dream Big, Little Pig! By Kristi Yamaguchi. An inspiring figure skating book inspires kids of all ages to never give up and always dream big with Dream Big Little Pig, the New York Times bestselling ice skating picture book from Olympic gold medalist Kristi Yamaguchi! Poppy is a pig with big dreams. She wants to be a star! But she soon discovers that’s not as easy as it sounds. It’s only when Poppy feels the magic of gliding and sliding, swirling and twirling on ice that she truly believes in herself: Poppy, star of the rink! This book is the perfect book to inspire little girls with big dreams. It makes a wonderful ice skating gift for girls!
  • Dream Big: Michael Jordan and the Pursuit of Olympic Gold by Deloris Jordan. Long before he became a professional All-Star basketball player, Michael Jordan had dreams of winning an Olympic gold medal—and with dedication and perseverance, that’s exactly what he did. This heartwarming picture book, written by Michael’s mother and illustrated by Barry Root, gives a rare glimpse into a sports hero’s childhood and emphasizes the role that good values play in success. An ideal companion to the New York Times bestselling Salt in His Shoes, this is an inspirational story for sports fans, go-getters, and anyone with big dreams!

  • Hour of the Olympics by Mary Pope Osborne. No girls allowed at the Olympic Games! That’s the rule when the Magic Tree House whisks Jack and Annie back to ancient Greece. But when Annie tells Jack to go to the games without her, he knows she’s up to something. Will Annie find a way to see the games? Or will she get herself—and Jack—into Olympic-size trouble? Find out in Hour of the Olympics.
  • You Wouldn’t Want to Be a Greek Athlete! by Michael Ford. Get ready…as a young boy growing up in Athens, your father has high hopes that you’ll enter the Olympic games. It’s demanding! This interactive series will enthrall young and reluctant readers (Ages 8-12) by making them part of the story, inviting them to become the main character. Each book uses humorous illustrations to depict the sometimes dark and horrific side of life during important eras in history.

  • The Boys in the Boat – The True Story of an American Team’s Epic Journey to Win Gold at the 1936 Olympics by Daniel James Brown. The New York Times bestselling young readers adaptation of this book, with bonus content including an author Q&A and never-before-seen photographs. Out of the depths of the Great Depression comes the astonishing tale of nine working-class boys from the American West who at the 1936 Olympics showed the world what true grit really meant. With rowers who were the sons of loggers, shipyard workers, and farmers, the University of Washington’s eight-oar crew was never expected to defeat the elite East Coast teams, yet they did, going on to shock the world by challenging the German boat rowing for Adolf Hitler. 

CIRCUS BOOKS: Children may gravitate toward the costumes. From Dr. Seuss to Miss Bindergarten, these vibrant stories will whisk children away to a world filled with circus performers, daring acts, and much more. These books will be a perfect addition to any Circus theme unit. No outing at home or in the classroom is complete without a read-along. Hey there, circus enthusiasts! Are you ready to embark on a thrilling adventure under the big top? Whether your child is interested in the lion tamers or enjoys the skills of a tightrope walker, there’s a circus book that will be sure to grab their attention! From Dr. Seuss to Miss Bindergarten, these vibrant stories will whisk children away to a world filled with circus performers, daring acts, and much more. These books will be a perfect addition to any Circus theme unit. Hope you enjoy the following titles. You may wish to find these at your school or public library or purchase them.

  • If I Ran the Circus by Dr. Seuss. Young Morris McGurk’s has a BIG imagination. He wants to turn the vacant lot behind Sneelock’s Store into the Circus McGurkus—the most colossal, stupendous, tremendous show in the world! Here you’ll be entertained by bizarre creatures like the Drum-Tummied Snum, the Juggling Jott, and the Harp-Twanging Snarp, and fantastic circus acts performed by Sneelock—a sleepy shopkeeper whom Morris images as the daredevil star of his big top! This is Dr. Seuss at his best, celebrating youthful imagination and creating a fantasy world that will delight and transport readers of all ages.
  • Harold’s Circus by Crockett Johnson. From the treasured creator of Harold and the Purple Crayon, Crockett Johnson, comes another adventure for Harold and his magical purple crayon. One night Harold, with his trusty purple crayon, goes for a walk on a tightrope. Down he falls into a circus complete with trapeze, clowns, and lion tamers. A must-have for every imaginative child’s bookshelf.

  • Peter Spier’s Circus by Peter Spier. Come join the circus as Caldecott Medal-winner Peter Spier takes you for a look under the big top! The circus is coming to town! Take your front row seat to see how a circus runs—from setting up the tent to performing center ring. Go soaring through the air on the flying trapeze and see how performers from all over the world come together to put on a show. With showbiz excitement that only the circus can create—and Peter Spier’s signature humorous details waiting to be discovered on every page—this book is a guaranteed ticket to fun and adventure.

  • Circus Caps for Sale by Esphyr Solbodkina. More caps for sale! Pezzo, the hardworking peddler, is still selling caps in this delightful sequel to the beloved caps for sale. But what is that amusing performing elephant up to? Where have all Pezzo’s caps gone? Will Pezzo get them back? Esphyr Solbodkina’s classic artwork and timeless story are as endearing as ever in this new paperback edition.

Sandy’s Circus: A Story About Alexander Calder by Tanya Lee Stone. As a boy, Alexander? Sandy? Calder was always fiddling with odds and ends, making objects for friends. When he got older and became an artist, his fiddling led him to create wire sculptures. One day, Sandy made a lion. Next came a lion cage. Before he knew it, he had an entire circus and was traveling between Paris and New York performing a brand-new kind of art for amazed audiences. This is the story of Sandy’s Circus, as told by Tanya Lee Stone with Boris Kulikov’s spectacular and innovative illustrations. Calder’s original circus is on permanent display at the Whitney Museum in New York City.

  • Circus by Lois Ehlert. Simple text and brilliantly colored cut-paper illustrations take children into a big top of circus excitement starring leaping lizards, marching snakes, whistling parrots, and the tumbling Zucchini Brothers. “A tour de force. After some exuberant preliminaries, a colorful master of ceremonies welcomes readers to ‘the greatest circus on earth.’ They are then treated to a series of double spreads depicting an array of performers: Hugo, the world’s biggest elephant; the Pretzel brothers; Samu the tiger; marching snakes and leaping lizards; the flying Zucchinis; a lion and his tamer—and of course, cotton candy, snow cones, and a lovable clown.”
  • The Painted Circus: P.T. Vermin Presents a Mesmerizing Menagerie of Trickery and Illusion Guaranteed to Beguile and Bamboozle the Beholder by Eallace Edwards. The weird and wonderful artistry of award-winner Wallace Edwards brings you The Painted Circus, a showstopper of a book where the eye is tricked, bamboozled, hoodwinked and flimflammed ? but finally rewarded when all mysteries are revealed after the grand finale! P.T. Vermin, ringmouse extraordinaire, ushers patrons into the Big Top to behold 22 astonishing stunts, including Norwegian Marching Ducks, the Spectral Sphere and the Flying Fishtastics, each featuring an eye-opening optical illusion. It’s all here — fabulous phenomena, impossible objects, moving patterns, visual distortions and topsy-turvy geometric illusions! Each page encourages kids to get into the act by solving the visual puzzles in every image — and they will delight in spinning, flipping, tilting and making funny faces at the book as they do so. Entertainment for the whole family, Wallace Edwards’s tour de force is a work of art that will leave readers spellbound by the power of perception and the magic of imagination.
  • Paddington Bear at the Circus by Michael Bond. The circus has come to town! Paddington Bear and the Browns have front-row seats, and they can’t wait to see the show. Inside the circus tent there’s a ringmaster with a top hat, a very, very tall clown, a band … and a funny-looking man hanging from a rope above Paddington’s head. Always willing to lend a paw, Paddington rushes off to save the trapeze artist. The circus is turned upside-down, but the show must go on – and it does, thanks to a surprise performance by Paddington Bear. Paddington Bear has charmed readers for nearly forty years. Now another generation of fans can join the beloved bear from Darkest Peru on a variety of adventures written by Michael Bond and beautifully illustrated by artist R.W. Alley.
  • The Circus Ship by Chris Van Dusen. When a circus ship runs aground off the coast of Maine, the poor animals are left on their own, but they soon win over the wary townspeople with their kind, courageous ways. So we’ll do the critters blend in so that when the greedy circus owner returns to claim them, villagers of all species conspire to outsmart the bloated blowhard. With buoyant rhymes and brilliantly caricatured illustrations evoking the early nineteenth century, Chris Van Dusen presents a hugely entertaining tale about the bonds of community—and a hidden-pictures spread for eagle-eyed readers of all ages.
  • Lola the Lollipop Fairy by Tim Bugbird. Lola the Lollipop Fairy is an amazing circus performer! The lollipop fairies have a good time performing for their fellow fairies and their show has always been very popular. But disaster looms for Lola’s circus when a rival entertainment park comes to town and threatens the fairies’ future. Find out what happens as Lola works hard to create a dazzling show that will amaze their audience and make their circus popular again. The illustrations are delightful illustrations and this book has wonderful rhyming text combines to make this a super story just perfect for reading to kids.
  • If You Ever Want to Bring a Circus to the Library, Don’t! (Magnolia Says DON’T!) by Elise Parsley. If you see a poster that says “You Can Do Anything at the Library!”, it is NOT giving you permission to put on a circus! But Magnolia doesn’t see any problem with setting up her own big top. She’s got a lot of gusto and one mean human cannonball routine. So what if her greatest show on Earth won’t fit between the bookshelves? Elise Parsley’s boldly expressive illustrations perfectly complement this mostly-librarian-approved guide on how to be everything BUT quiet in the library!
  • A Day At The Circus by Maryanne J. Lawrence.  Join Carl and Cindy on their adventures. The circus has come to town! Dad buys tickets for Cindy, Carl and himself. It turns out to be a very memorable evening. Who in the circus does Cindy want to be like? What makes them all laugh the most? Find out what happens. This picture book is perfect for a bedtime story while your child listens and for children who have just started reading independently. It can also be used to boost a reader’s confidence as they follow the storyline and colorful illustrations.
  • Dumbo Deluxe Step into Reading (Disney Dumbo) by Christy Webster. The lovable elephant Dumbo takes flight in this Step 1 deluxe Step into Reading leveled reader! Based on the Disney animated classic film Dumbo, and just in time for the March 2019 theatrical release of the new live-action Dumbo, this book is perfect for children ages 5 to 7–and it comes with over 30 stickers! Step 1 readers feature big type and easy words. Rhymes and rhythmic text paired with picture clues help children decode the story. Step 1 is for children who know the alphabet and are eager to begin reading on their own. Disney Dumbo, a tale of a beloved, big-eared elephant who overcomes his fears and teaches that our differences are what make us great, is an animated classic for all ages.
  • The Secret Circus by Johanna Wright. THE GREATEST little show ON EARTH. The secrets of Paris revealed from the ground up. Beneath the sparkling lights of Paris is a circus so secret that only the mice know how to find it. Floating by balloon across a Parisian cityscape they travel to the grand performance, where tiny acrobats form mouse pyramids and giant house cats are tamed. Wright’s simple expressive lines over glowing textures make this a captivating and adorable book debut, not to mention one great show.
  •  Sidewalk Circus by Paul Fleischman. Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls! Step right up and witness an astounding assemblage of tightrope walkers, strong men, sword swallowers, and clowns. The Garibaldi Circus is coming soon, but for those with clear eyes, the performers may already be in the ring. So get ready to sharpen your vision and look very closely — a show like you’ve never seen is about to begin! The creators of Weslandia are back in the spotlight with a spectacular, wordless picture book that shows the transformative power of imagination.
  • You See a Circus, I See… by Mike Downs. A young acrobat shows his friends around the big top, but all is not as it seems. His uncle, the strongman, always manages to lose their wrestling matches. The scary-looking tattooed man is a regular Joe who likes to pull funny practical jokes. And the daring trapeze artists make their son do homework just like everyday parents! Lively watercolors capture the excitement of the circus and the coziness of home.
  • Skippyjon Jones Cirque de Ole by Judy Schachner. In his newest adventure, the irresistible Skippyjon Jones swings out of his closet and into the spectacular Cirque de Ole, where his pals, the Chimichanga gang, perform feats of derring-do. There are many acts to see, but only Skippito the Strong can perform the trickiest stunt of all. Judy Schachner’s vivacious art and riotous text make for mucho read-aloud fun. Come one, come all–with Skippyjon Jones as the circus star, the Greatest Show on Earth just got even better! 
  • Clifford At the Circus by Norman Bridwell. Read all about Clifford’s BIG ideas! Classic Clifford reissued! It only takes a little to BE BIG! The circus is in town, but everything is going wrong. Emily Elizabeth and Clifford offer to help. Clifford and the circus acts WORK TOGETHER to save the show–and the day!The BE BIG campaign invites everyone, big and small, to take action and raise awareness for how CLIFFORD’S BIG IDEAS can make the world a better place.
  • Miss Bindergarten Plans a Circus With Kindergarten by Joseph Slate. Miss Bindergarten is planning a circus and all of her kindergarteners are in on the fun! Everyone is busy preparing: painting posters, practicing somersaults, and making popcorn balls. When at last the big day arrives, there will be a parade, complete with clowns and stunts, from baton twirling to “high-wire” walking. And for the grand finale, Miss Bindergarten will give the audience a spectacular, show-stopping act!
  • Circus Shoes by  Noel Streatfeild. The author spent time with a travelling circus to achieve authenticity in this story. Well, you can almost smell the greasepaint and sawdust. Rather than being sent to separate orphanages, sheltered siblings Santa and Peter run away to Cob’s Circus where their Uncle Gus performs on the trapeze. Peter learns to ride and to understand animals, and Santa learns to tumble, but they need to persuade their uncle to like them and decide to keep them. Though old-fashioned, this tale is vivid with colour and spectacle, and the atmosphere so well-captured.
  • Circus of Thieves on the Rampage, 2 by William Sutcliffe. Who doesn’t enjoy a fast-paced caper? This story is full of quirky illustrations, colourful characters, and funny footnotes. Often conversational, Sutcliffe frequently addresses the reader as he relays the shenanigans leading up to circus legend and aerialist supreme, Quennie Bombazine’s cunning plan to catch her nemesis, Armitage Shanks, while at the same time reuniting Hannah and Billy with their circus father. I would say that for reluctant readers who enjoy visual prompts and more of a comic-style format, this would be perfect.

SONGS: Relaxing music (music with a slow tempo or low pitch) can help children feel calm. Research has shown that it can help reduce stress and anxiety around medical and dental procedures. Music is also a powerful tool for children with anxiety. It can help regulate emotions and provide a much-needed break from stress.

VIDEOS – CIRCUS

OLYMPICS:

2. Create Together: Puzzles, Crafts, Drawing and Constructing 🧩 

OLYMPIC CRAFTS: 26 July to 11 August 2024. The Olympic Games are always exciting and are filled with fun learning opportunities. They’re a great way for kids to experience various cultures and countries around the world and to celebrate athletic accomplishments of all kinds.

3. Explore, Engage & Interact Together 🌍

OLYMPIC ACTIVITIES:

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4. Healthy Living: Movement & Nutrition đź‘­

MOVEMENT:

YOGA: It is exciting to do yoga with children. There are so many benefits. Yoga for kids can improve balance, strength, endurance, and more.

  • Benefits of yoga:
    • Improved coordination and balance.
    • Improve flexibility and strength.
    • It will also help with body awareness and self-confidence.
    • But most importantly it will help calm them down, relieve anxiety and reduce stress.
    • It can also help to control energy intake.

CIRCUS MOVEMENT: The Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus began in 1919. Two shows merged to form this one. Its signature big top red and white tents went away in 1957 when they started using permanent venues like sports stadiums and arenas.

  • You can try these engaging circus-themed learning activities for children to liven up your Circus Unit:
  • Balancing Act:
    •    Materials: Balancing beam or tape on the floor, stuffed animals or bean bags.
    •    Instructions:
    •    Set up a balancing beam or use tape to create a line on the floor.
    •    Place stuffed animals or bean bags along the beam or line.
    •    Encourage children to walk along the beam while balancing, picking up each stuffed animal or bean bag as they go without falling off.
  • Animal Toss:
    • Materials: Plastic hoops, stuffed animal toys.
    • Instructions:
    •    Arrange plastic hoops in a circle on the floor, representing different “cages.”
    •    Place stuffed animal toys around the room.
    •    Invite children to stand behind a designated line and take turns tossing the stuffed animals into the “cages.”
  • Clown Counting:
    •  Materials: Clown-themed cutouts, numbered cards.
    •  Instructions:
    •   Place clown-themed cutouts around the room, each with a number written on it.
    •    Give each child a set of numbered cards.
    •    Ask the children to find the clown cutouts and match them with the corresponding numbered card.
  • Juggling Numbers:
    •  Materials: Bean bags, numbered cones or buckets.
    •  Instructions:
    •   Set up numbered cones or buckets in a row.
    •   Give each child a set of bean bags.
    •    Encourage children to juggle the bean bags while walking along the row of cones or buckets, aiming to drop each bean bag into the bucket with the corresponding number.
  • Circus Storytime:
    •    Materials: Picture books about the circus, stuffed animals or puppets.
    •    Instructions:
    •    Gather children in a circle and read a circus-themed picture book aloud.
    •    Use stuffed animals or puppets to act out parts of the story or to engage     children in interactive storytelling.
    •    Encourage children to discuss their favorite parts of the story and ask questions about the circus.
  • These activities combine fun with learning and are perfect for engaging children in a circus-themed educational experience!

CIRCUS WORKOUTS VIDEOS:

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NUTRITION:

Olympics Food:

5. Reflect: Thoughts of the Day About Learning đź’­

CIRCUS:

SUMMER OLYMPICS: