July 4

July 4th Theme

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Crafts & Activities

Fireworks
Use the recipe to make 3D squeeze bottle paint. Squeeze the paint out in a fireworks pattern on black construction paper and sprinkle with glitter.

1 part flour
1 part salt
1 part water
powdered tempera paint

Mix together the flour, salt, and water. Separate into squeeze containers (such as mustard) and stir in desired colours of tempera paint. Mix well, attach lid to squeeze bottle and squeeze paint onto heavy paper such as cardboard or bristle board. It will glitter when dry.
Submitted by Ruth (RUTHJRC)

Fireworks
Poke small holes in black construction paper and then use clear contact paper and cover the middle with all different colors tiny pieces of bright tissue paper. place the construction paper over the clear contact paper and tissue scraps. tape on a sunny window....looks like fireworks when the sun shines through...We use a pencil to poke the holes and I usually round them out a little more so they dont close back up when you lay it on top of the tissue paper.
Submitted by Leah (MSLEAH)

Fireworks
Use black construction paper and make fireworks using net scrubbies that you use washing your pots and pans. Mix tempera paint in a tray and add paper towels to make more of a stamp pad. The paper towel should be wet not soaking. Too much paint and it won't work. Touch the scrubbie to the paper towel and press on paper. I have gold tempera which really looks spectacular. Use white and red as well and add glitter to the paint. It is a great effect on the black paper.
Submitted by Sandy (LILBRITCHES)

Star Crowns
Pre cut stars out of red, white and blue construction paper. Give each child a long white band (about 1 1/2 to 2 inches wide) of construction paper long enough to fit around a child's head. Let each child glue (I colored my white glue with some red paint) as many paper stars on the band as they want. I also put out some red, white and blue stickers for the to put on. When dry, fit to each child's head and staple. The kids just love the star spangled crown. >>Kathy
Submitted by Sandy (LILBRITCHES)

Baton
Take a large sheet of newspaper and fold in half. Start at one corner and roll into a long stick shape. Tape. Children can color newspaper with markers/paint, etc. Attach crepe paper streamers or strips of tissue paper at one end (or anywhere)with a glue stick. Decorate with foil star stickers. Can be used for a parade, dancing, etc.
Submitted by Sandy (LILBRITCHES)

Playdoh Fun
Set out red, white and blue playdoh and let the children's imaginations run wild. Art Table... Using a black piece of construction paper, straws, and various colored paint allow the children to drop a small amount of paint onto paper and gently blow through the straw for fireworks in the sky effects.
Submitted by Sandy (LILBRITCHES)

Sensory Table
Place red, white or blue colored water in the sensory table with pitchers, measuring cups and other containers to allow the children to experience measurement.
Submitted by Sandy (LILBRITCHES)

Housekeeping
Set up the housekeeping area with items you would take along on a picnic. Have the children pretend to make sandwiches and gather items to bring with. Then allow them to imagine what they'd do while they were picnicking.
Submitted by Sandy (LILBRITCHES)

Flags
Use construction paper and a large straw to make your country's flag to wave proudly.
Submitted by Ruth (RUTHJRC)

Roman Candles
Make roman candles from empty toilet paper rolls and cover them with paper. Decorated with glitter glue. Glue on fake flames and a string fuse.
Submitted by Leah (MSLEAH)

Sponge Painting
Cut stars from sponge and dip in red, white, and blue paint and stamp onto paper. Sprinkle with glitter.
Submitted by Leah (MSLEAH)

Bulletin Board Idea
Take black construction paper and using that as background. Then take toilet paper (empty) and paint them red. Then do the children's handprints in different coloured paint... red, white, and blue. Cut the handprints out and sprinkle with glitter. Then staple to the inside of toilet paper roll (wrist part) Hanging them so the fingers hang down. They will look like firecrackers. Title the board... MY LITTLE FIRECRACKERS!
Submitted by Kim (KIDSKORNERDC)

Songs, Poems, & Fingerplays

The Star Spangled Banner

Oh, say can you see, by the dawn's early light,
What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming?
Whose broad stripes and bright stars, through the perilous fight,
O'er the ramparts we watched, were so gallantly streaming?
And the rockets' red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there.
O say, does that star-spangled banner yet wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?

On the shore, dimly seen through the mists of the deep,
Where the foe's haughty host in dread silence reposes,
What is that which the breeze, o'er the towering steep,
As it fitfully blows, now conceals, now discloses?
Now it catches the gleam of the morning's first beam,
In full glory reflected now shines on the stream:
'Tis the star-spangled banner! O long may it wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave.

And where is that band who so vauntingly swore
That the havoc of war and the battle's confusion
A home and a country should leave us no more?
Their blood has wiped out their foul footstep's pollution.
No refuge could save the hireling and slave
From the terror of flight, or the gloom of the grave:
And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave.

Oh! thus be it ever, when freemen shall stand
Between their loved homes and the war's desolation!
Blest with victory and peace, may the heaven-rescued land
Praise the Power that hath made and preserved us a nation.
Then conquer we must, for our cause it is just,
And this be our motto: "In God is our trust."
And the star-spangled banner forever shall wave 
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

Flag Poem

Although my hands are very small
I make this flag to fly for all
I might be young to understand
but know these colors are something grand.
The red, white and blue
forever to stand............
Written and Submitted by Pat (PATRICIA6558)

Recipes

Patriotic Cake
Bake a rectangle cake according to directions. Ice with whip cream and add blueberries for the stars and strawberries for the stripes.
Submitted by Sharon (GRITS4EVR)

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