Guilford County Schools ACES Program
Weekly Theme: Flower Power – More Activities
Koosh Ball Dandelions
-Construction Paper
-Green Marker
-Miniature Koosh Balls
-Yellow liquid tempera Paint
Directions: Have children draw stems on the paper, and then have them dip the mini
koosh ball in the paint and lightly press the koosh ball at the top of the stem. They'll
have a field of dandelions!
Soda Bottle Flower Prints
- Plastic soda bottle
-Paint
-Paper
-Paint brushes.
Directions: The children can create their own flower prints by painting with the bottom of
soda bottles. Dip the soda bottle into a shallow pan of paint. Then press it onto a piece
of paper. Now make a stem and leaves using a paint brush.
Stop and Smell the Flowers
-Baking cups/Cupcake holders
-Markers
-Glue,
-Paper
-Cotton ball
-Cologne
Directions: Have children make flowers by coloring baking cups with markers and gluing
them on construction paper stems and leaves.
Spray cotton balls with cologne or air freshener, and have the children glue a fragrant
cotton ball to the center of each "blossom." When the flowers are dry, display them on
the wall or a bulletin board and invite visitors to "stop and smell the flowers."
Flower Jars
Have children place small amounts of clay in baby food jar lids. Give them small dried or
silk flowers to arrange in the clay. Screw the lids to the jars. Put the jar with the lid on
the bottom---and tie a ribbon around the necks of the jars. Make nice gifts!
Popcorn Cherry Blossoms
Put POPPED popcorn and pink powdered tempera paint in a baggie and shake. It
makes great cherry blossoms for a spring art project! They look real.
July 2009
1
Activity ideas obtained from ACES staff and public domain materials
Guilford County Schools ACES Program
Button Flowers
Materials Needed:
Cardstock paper or stiff paper
Scissors
Pipe cleaners
Buttons
1. Cut out flowers from different colors of paper. Choose buttons that match your
flowers.
2. Center a button with the middle of your flower. Poke a pipe cleaner through your
flower so that it comes up and through the first hole of your button, then poke it down
through the next hole in the button and through your flower.
3. Twist the short end of the pipe cleaner around the long end, directly under the flower
and button.
Encased Dried or Silk Flowers
You will need:
Baby Food Jars w/lids (cleaned)
Play dough or other type of clay
Various straw flowers or fake flowers in small sizes.
1. Press a small amount of play dough onto the lids underside.
2. Push flowers or other objects into the play dough; you can also put in miniature
decorations if desired-- You can add as much as you want as long as you can still
attach the lid back onto the jar.
3. You also have the option of adding fake moss filler to the remainder of the exposed
play dough.
4. Leave the lid exposed to the air overnight so the play dough will dry out.
5. In the morning fasten the lid back on. (The jar stands upside down with the lid at the
bottom...It will look like an enclosed vase with flowers.)
Gardening Relay Race
You'll Need:
Small children’s watering cans
2 Buckets of water
Small plastic glasses
How to Play:
Divide the guests into two teams and have them form two lines. Place a bucket of water
at the front of each line and an empty watering can about ten feet away. Give each
player an empty plastic glass.
When you say, "Go!" the players at the front of each line must fill their glasses with
water by dipping them in their bucket. They must then run to the empty watering can
and pour their glass of water inside, then run back and tag the next team member. The
child who is next in line should have their glass filled with water and be ready to run.
Continue the race until one team completely fills their watering can.
The first team to fill its watering can to the rim with water wins.
July 2009
2
Activity ideas obtained from ACES staff and public domain materials
Guilford County Schools ACES Program
Flowerpot Toss
Need:
Three empty flowerpots
Plastic toys or stuffed animals in bug shapes. Another option is to
colored baby socks-- fill them with dry beans and tie them
closed with a piece of ribbon. Choose red socks as ladybugs, green socks as
grasshoppers, and yellow socks as bees.
Green construction paper
Sidewalk chalk (optional if the game is to be played outdoors)
Cut a large leaf shape from the green construction paper. It should be
large enough for a child to stand on with both feet. If necessary, cut two
leaves and staple them together at the base.
If playing the game outdoors, use sidewalk chalk to draw a flower shape
on the driveway with three stems of differing lengths. Place a flowerpot
at the top of each stem to represent the flower, and place the paper leaf at the very
bottom.
Have each child take a turn standing on the leaf and tossing the bugs into
the flowerpots. Award one point for landing in the closest pot, two points
for the middle pot, and three points for the farthest pot.
Caterpillar in the Garden
Divide your kids into several teams. Line the children up in columns, one child behind
the other, at the start line. Have each child put his or her hands on the waist of the child
in front of them, forming a "caterpillar."
When you say, "Wiggle!" each team must run, staying connected, to the finish line. If a
team becomes disconnected, they must stop and reconnect before continuing. The first
team to the finish line wins.
The Spring Flower Game
Depending how many children you have--form teams. You can have anywhere from 3
teams to ????? Teams are in their groups and one end of the play area.
Players in teams have designated flower names such as: TULIPS, DAISIES, ROSES,
DAFFODILS, LILACS, etc.
Two or three persons are "It" in the middle of the area. "It" calls out the names of the
flower (Example - tulip) All tulips must run to the garden at the opposite end of the area
without being caught.
When "GARDEN" is called, everyone must run to the opposite end. Penalty for being
caught is to run all around the garden. (Remember to change the "it" people)
A Great Flower Art Project
http://www.enchantedlearning.com/crafts/flowers/handprintflower/
July 2009
3
Activity ideas obtained from ACES staff and public domain materials
Guilford County Schools ACES Program
How Do Plants Drink?
Cut a large celery stick in 1/2 lengthwise 3/4 way up from the bottom. Do not remove
the leaves. Place each side of the stalk in a cup of water colored with food coloring use 2 different colors. As the plant drinks, the stalk and leaves will change color. You
can also do this activity with white carnations only don't split the stem.
Dramatic Play Idea
Set up a Flower Shop or a Garden Center.
Gardening Relay Race
You'll Need:
Small children’s watering cans
2 Buckets of water
Small plastic glasses
How to Play:
 Divide the guests into two teams and have them form two lines.
 Place a bucket of water at the front of each line and an empty watering can about
ten feet away.
 Give each player an empty plastic glass.
 When you say, "Go!" the players at the front of each line must fill their glasses
with water by dipping them in their bucket.
 They must then run to the empty watering can and pour their glass of water
inside, then run back and tag the next team member. The child who is next in line
should have their glass filled with water and be ready to run. Continue the race
until one team completely fills their watering can.
July 2009
4
Activity ideas obtained from ACES staff and public domain materials