Ice Cream Theme: Preschool Crafts and Activities
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Curious About Ice Cream

Introduction:

In this ice cream theme lesson the preschool students will read Curious George Goes to an Ice Cream Shop and work on several activities using logical reasoning and math skills.

Materials Needed:

  • Oak Tag
  • Scissors
  • Glue
  • Markers, Crayons, or Paint
  • Colorful Construction Paper
  • Glitter
  • Hot & Cold Pictures (see below)

Prior Knowledge:

Before starting the lesson read Curious George Goes to an Ice Cream Shop, by H.A. Rey & Alan J. Shallack. While reading or afterwords ask students questions such as:

  • Have you ever been to an ice cream shop?
  • How many different kinds of ice cream can you think of?
  • What is your favorite topping for ice cream?
  • Quick show of hands: Cup or cone?
  • The man with the yellow hat brought George to the ice cream shop because he finished his chores. Do you get rewarded at home for doing chores or helping mom and dad? How do you get rewarded?

Activity One:

Teach:

Explain that each ice cream flavor is a different color. For instance Vanilla is white and Raspberry is red. Tell your students that you will be working with patterns today using ice cream flavors. Explain what a pattern is by stating that it is when you place items in a certain way so that they repeat. Give an example of patterns by lining up two colored crayons. For instance use two blue crayons and two red crayons. Now make a pattern on the desk to show the students: red, blue, red, blue.

Procedure:

Allow students to choose two different colors of construction paper. Print out the ice cream scoop stencil here and allow students to trace two scoops on each colored paper….so that they have four “scoops” of ice cream. Students will now:

  • Cut the four scoops of ice cream
  • Glue the scoops into a pattern on top of the cone worksheet below.
  • Color the cone.
  • (Optional) Place sprinkles(glitter) on their ice cream.

Assess the children and ensure that they are creating patterns successfully. This activity will help them to use their motor skills as well as expand upon their basic mathematical knowledge of patterns. They will also be able to show off an ice cream craft project at the end!

Activity Two:

Teach:

Explain to students that while ice cream is cold, other items are hot. Ask students to name items which may be cold. Now ask students to name items which may be hot. Are all of these items foods or can they be something else (such as a hot day or a cold day)? Discuss.

Procedure:

Bring in several pictures of items which would be considered hot or cold. Some good pictures can be:

  • Hot Dog
  • Ice Cube
  • The Sun
  • Snow

Use these pictures to assess the kids and to see if they understand the difference between hot and cold. This activity will help students to expand on their knowledge of estimated temperature as well as use logical reasoning skills.

Activity Three:

Teach:

Explain that you will now create a tally chart for the class. Ask if anyone knows what a tally chart is or a chart in general. If no one volunteers this information explain that tally chart is used to help people count items. Teach children how you tally up results using lines.

Procedure:

Explain that each class member will choose an ice cream flavor preference between Vanilla or Chocolate. The teacher will then tally the results up on the chart.

  • Have chart prepared before hand.
  • Draw chart to show two choices (Vanilla and Chocolate) using both words and a small picture or drawing of each color.
  • Go around the classroom and ask each student to state their preference.
  • Teacher marks down each student’s response.
  • Count up each choice with the students and write the results on the bottom.
  • Ask students, “Which choice was more popular?”

This activity will help the students to expand on their counting skills as well as their logical reasoning skills.

Extend:

A nice ending to this ice cream theme would be to have an ice cream party with two different kinds of ice cream. The teacher will scoop four small scoops into each child’s cup…making a pattern!

Cone Stencil

Ice Cream Theme and Craft - Preschool References

Curious George Goes to an Ice Cream Shop, by H.A. Rey & Alan J. Shallack