Children can create their own leis with tissue paper flowers.
A Hawaii-themed unit at a preschool is a good choice when the weather warms up or if children are curious about this exotic 50th state located in the middle of an ocean. Provide preschoolers with a variety of art projects that introduce them to aspects of Hawaii's geography, climate, culture and customs.
Floral Sponge Painting
Flower-shaped sponges make for a colorful art project celebrating all the tropical flowers found in Hawaii. Use specialty flower-shaped sponges or cut sponges into flower shapes. Spread paint on plates and put a few different flower-shaped sponges into each color of paint. Kids can stamp the flowers onto white or colored paper to make their own Hawaiian flower gardens.
Tissue Paper Lei
In Hawaii, people wear leis made with real flowers at parties and for special occasions. Preschoolers can make their own imitation leis with tissue paper instead of flowers. Kids should cut circles or scalloped flower shapes out of different colors of tissue paper. The teacher can help punch a hole in the center of each flower. Kids can then crumple them a little to give them volume and thread the flowers onto a piece of yarn or string to make a lei. If desired, cut small straw pieces to thread onto the yarn between the flowers and space them out.
Grass Skirts
Hula dancers in Hawaii wear grass skirts, and preschoolers can make their own imitations with brown paper grocery bags. Start with a flattened paper bag for each child, wide enough to fit around the child's waist. Roll the top of the bag down a few times to make the waistband and tape it in place. Have kids draw patterns with markers on their brown paper bags. Help the preschoolers make parallel cuts from the bottom edge to the waistband to make it look like a grass skirt. Use tape to hold each child's skirt on.
Tropical Fish
Hawaii has hundreds of miles of coastline because it is a chain of islands. Preschoolers can invent their own tropical fish that they might expect to find in Hawaii. Start with a basic outline of a fish shape for each child. Give the child markers, glitter, glue and colorful crepe paper streamers to add to the fish. If needed, show a few photos of real tropical fish for inspiration.
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