This cute palm tree goes well with a tropical theme in preschool, but it's also useful for a "Chicka Chicka Boom Boom" unit. In the story, the letters of the alphabet climb up a coconut tree and do various activities, making a "boom boom" noise along the way. Kids love this rhyming story, and you can be dramatic with your "boom boom!" when you read it.
You'll need to provide your child with an empty 16 ounce water bottle and brown paint. Fill the water bottle with rice or beans (to hold it steady), then have your child paint the outside with brown tempera paint. Screw the lid on tightly, then let the paint dry. Cut several 5 inch by 5 inch squares of green tissue paper. Lay the squares on top of each other, turning each one a little. Place the stack of squares on the top of the water bottle cap, then secure with a rubber band. If you want, you could also have your child glue brown pompoms near the top for coconuts. If you're using this with "Chicka Chica Boom Boom," let your child bang the coconut tree on the table as you get to the "Boom Boom!" parts of the story.
Nothing says "tropical" like a Hawaiian lei, and these leis are great for enhancing fine motor skills. You'll need some white string, Hawaiian-looking silk flowers and colorful plastic straws. Cut the straws into bits that are about 1-1/2 inches long and set aside. Pull the flower part off of the silk flowers (if they have stems) so that all you have is the flower without buds. Cut a piece of string about 16 inches long, then have your child start stringing the flowers. He can string one or two at a time, then he'll string on a piece of straw, followed by more flowers and another straw. Have him do this until the string fills up, then tie it in a knot for him. If you don't have silk flowers on hand, Crayola recommends cutting flowers out of paper. (see references 1)
Guests can help decorate your tables for your next luau with these pineapples, then they can take them home as a keepsake. For each person, you'll need a pineapple, yellow tempera paint, green construction paper, a rubber band and hot glue. Pour some of the yellow paint into a paint try, then have participants roll their pine cone around in the paint, covering the tips completely. While that dries, have them cut "fronds" out of green construction paper. They can gather the strips of paper together and twist to hold (secure with the rubber band), then hot glue them to the top of the pine cone, fluffing them out to look like the top of a pineapple.