My brother turned70 recently and I’ll tell you a funny story about him. On his big day he could go any place orhave anything he wanted to eat. Jack chose to go to his local convenience store and have a Coke and ahotdog. I think it’s in our genesbecause my siblings and I all love junk food. We’re all very health conscious and try to eat things thatare good for our bodies, but when it’s a special day we’ll choose potato chips,Coke, and a hotdog every time! Jack’s birthday was September 5th and he told me that fromnow on every month on the 5th day he was gong to splurge and have ordo something special. I like theidea of celebrating each month, don’t you?
I think it’simportant to celebrate children’s birthdays in your classroom as well. If you go to my website you’ll find aYouTube or Teacher Tube video you can watch with an idea that won’t cost you athing and there’s not one ounce of sugar in it. But it sure is a sweet idea!
When a child has abirthday you let them choose friends to be the candles on their cake. If they are five years old they selectfive friends; six years old six friends, etc. The candles/friends stand around the birthday child and thenthe rest of the class makes a human birthday cake by holding hands and standingaround them. Say this chant:
Todayis child’s name birthday.
Let’smake her/him a cake. (Circlearms to make a bowl.)
Stirand mix and mix and stir, (Pretendto stir.)
Theninto the oven to bake. (Pretendto put cake in the oven.)
Here’sour cake so nice and round. (Circle arms.)
We’llfrost it with icing white. (Spreadfrosting with palm.)
We’llput age candles on it. (Holdup fingers.)
Tomake her/his birthday bright.
After singing thetraditional birthday song, let the birthday child “blow” out the candles. The candles slump to the floor whenthey are blown out.
What else can youdo?
*Make thetraditional paper birthday crown for the child to decorate.
*Make a “HappyBirthday” book. Each child in theclassroom draws a picture of something they would like to give the birthdayfriend. A simple sentence like “Mywish for you is_____.” could be added to the page. The birthday child decorates a large sheet of constructionpaper in which the pictures from their friends can be stapled to make a book.
*Give the birthdaychild one special wish. She canchoose a game, book, song, friend to sit by, etc.
*Spray paint achair gold and decorate with fake jewels. The “Fancy Nancy Chair” can be used for birthdays and other classroomcelebrations.
Hint! Be sure and celebrate summer birthdaysin May.
