I need project ideas for a group of four-year-olds?

Question

I work with a group of 8 four year olds(boys and girls) and I'm running out of project ideas. I need things that they can do mostly by themselves, and "look childmade". The longer the project takes the better.

Pretty much all they can do is color, paint,stickers, and a little bit of gluing

Answer 1

Let them make individuals pinatas. You blow up a balloon and have strips of paper and a pan of liquid starch ready for them.

Day 1: They can take the strips, dip them into the starch and cover the balloon with those. Put them aside to dry.

Day 2: You cut holes in the top and pop the balloons. They can paint designs on the pinatas. Put them somewhere to dry.

Day 3: You put out a bunch of small toys, candy, etc for them to fill the pinatas. Or just confetti if you are on a budget. The kids can even use their safety sissors to cut up colored paper to put in them. This could possibly take the whole day. Personally, I like the confetti idea better.

Day 4: You have a pinata party and everyone gets covered in confetti. The kids will love it.

Very little actual work or expense for you and the kids will have a ball.

Answer 2

I really like playing pretend. Make salt dough or pretzel dough and let him make animals and people. Then bake them while you watch a movie!

Recipes:
4. Pretzel animals: In a big bowl mix together 1 package yeast, 1.5 cups warm water, 1 tablespoon sugar, and 1 tablespoon salt. Stir in 4 cups white flour and 2 cups of whole wheat flour, knead on a counter dusted with flour until the dough is smooth. Shape into animal shapes, brush with a beaten egg and sprinkle with a little salt. Bake in the oven for 15 minutes at 425 degrees.

1. Salt dough: If you haven't already experienced salt dough, you will be more than happy with this new discovery. It was a real mainstay in my house for many years. Together you and your child can mix up the dough, then you can set him to work molding, sculpting, rolling and cutting, pounding and squishing.

The recipe:

1 cup flour
1/2 cup salt
a little less than 1/2 cup water
Mix flour and salt, add water until mixture holds together like dough, knead.

This dough will keep in the refrigerator for a few days if stored in plastic.

Once the final shape has been decided, bake it in a warm oven (200 to 250) until dry. Thicker pieces will take longer and may be better air dried. Once dried they can be painted. Some great ideas are: hand impression plaques, cookie cutter ornaments, animal sculptures, beads, and free form shapes.

Answer 3

I figured that inexpensive would be good, too.Finger painting, I loved that when I was a kid. Making musical instruments, then playing them in a band. Making paper hats, the newsprint ones or the paper plate ones. You color them, put holes is them, tie a string. Too bad it isn't Xmas, stringing popcorn keeps them busy a long time, especially if they have some salted popcorn to eat. while doing that..My group loved fingerplays and silly songs to learn. Six Little Ducks and Ten little Squirrels would keep them quiet and busy for a long time. We would have to do each one 2 or 3 times. We liked the cigar boxes that you glue macaroni on, endless time figuring out the pattern of the mac on the box. Teacher has to spray paint it later, but worth it for the peace and quiet.
If you are looking for projects that can be made into a gift, we used old coffee cans, spray painted them, and glued old buttons on them for keepsake boxes.. I still have mine.Don't ask how old it is. Know somebody with a kiln? Pot making. and they might have some color that they do not like that they would give you. I threw mine away, but my friends still have theirs.They were bright primary yellow. Bet that was somebody's leftovers.
Make a scrap-book for each one. They could color, write a poem, make the cover, string the yarn through it to bind it. You could take a group picture, make copies[it would not have to be on good paper] and include that. Or take a pic of each kid, and download it onto paper. Maybe have them learn a new song and put a copy of it into each book. Buy some cheap stickers to embellish with.
Paper flowers on pipe cleaners, or check out Martha Stewart. She has animals out of pipe cleaners that are cute, but maybe too advanced for 4 year oldsshe has flower patterns, too.

Answer 4

Make leaf creatures! What is a leaf creature, you may ask...
1. go on a hike and collect interesting leaves and other stuff from mature.
2. smoosh them
3. forget about the smooshed stuff for about a week
4. take the smooshed leaves and other stuff our of it's smoosh home and glue them on cardstock, making interesting creatures.
5. after the masterpieces are done, either laminate them or cover them with contact paper.
6. let the kids glue on googly eyes.

It turns out so cute!!

Answer 5

I just did some decorating of pots with my kid. Get those cheap terra cotta pots and let the kids go wild with paint, string, felt, etc.

Also painting rocks is a lot of fun and very cheap!

Answer 6

do a treasure hunt mark the answer on a sheet of paper and it with you the more the better. p.s who ever find the most things get something like three pieces of candy, cake, etc.

Answer 7

Let them use their imagination. Give them some boxes and crayons, markers and some paper and glue. Give them a theme to work with or let them come up with it on their own....My kids have always come up with some awsome and unique things.

Answer 8

Make floam picture frames. Have them color white floam with markers. Cut it up in pieces and glue it together. Also, Make stuffed paper bag dolls. You have to make them with paper bags and staples, but they can stuff with newspaper and decorate to their hearts content!

Answer 9

Ever try finger painting?

Answer 10

just a couple of sites: