Go Texan Day Activities For The Preschool Classroom

While the focus of February tends to be hearts and love for the rest of the country, for Texas it means one thing: Go Texan Day!

As the rodeo begins to start up with trailriders starting their journey, Go Texan Day is a staple across Texas. The preschool classroom should exude the western rodeo theme. Do get on your cowboy hat, dust off your boots and play that country music for a memorable week in your class. Here are a few suggestions.

Homeliving
Let the kids dress up for Go Texan Day along with you! Build a pretend campfire and let the kids help make trail mix. Be sure to allow the kids to pour in different items such as cereal, marshmallows, chocolate chips, peanuts, etc. Then stir. Get a big clean trash can or bag to mix it up in. Be sure to send home little baggies full to take home.

A second activity in the homeliving/drama center is to place stuffed horses. Have the kids brush their hair with brushes, feed them carrots and water the horses with buckets. The kids will love pretending to take care of the horses.

Sensory table
The possibilities are endless for the sensory table. You can take sand and wet it to a mud like consistency. Then place pigs in the mud for the kids to play with. You can also place tractors and farm animals as an option. Another option is to visit a Texas store or HEB and get rodeo themed macaroni. The kind I use every year has wagon wheels, state of Texas and star shaped macaroni. Another idea is to place blue bonnets in the table. Remember it against state law to pick them from the highway! I learned that the wrong way! J

Art
Art is always my favorite during this time of the year. A simple activity is to make a blue bonnet out of fingerprints. You can do this by drawing a black stem then placing the kids' fingers in blue paint or stamp pad. Place the prints on both sides of the stem. Another fun activity is to make bandanas. Go to your local fabric store and buy cream colored or red colored sheets of fabric. Cut in triangle shape. Then take sponge shapes and dip in paint. The kids love making something they can wear. We did a star and a horse and a Texas. They turned out really cute.

Games
What could be more fun then having stick horse races on the playground. Be sure to have prizes such as medals. Another fun activity is throw the bean bag in the cowboy hat. You can also have the kids try to rope a stuffed horse or stick. Kids love pretending to be cowboys and cowgirls. Another fun game for this age is Old MacDonald Had a Farm. Kids try to guess what animal makes each sound.

Blocks
Place a barn and tractors in the block center. The kids will love taking animals back and forth to the barn.

Music
You can go with the classics, "Deep In the Heart of Texas," "Old McDonald Had a Farm," and "Walk the Lonesome Trail." Another fun activity it to play freeze dance to country music. The kids will be giggling the entire time.

These are just a few suggestions. Enjoy the break from the norm. Yeehaw! Happy Go Texan Day!