Hobbies And Interests
Magic Potions
Teach preschoolers about basic color mixing with this simple game. Prepare several clear plastic cups with colored water -- add some food coloring to make cups of red, yellow and blue water. Explain to the children that they are going to use some wizard magic to change the color of the water. Take a cup of yellow water. Have one child wave a magic wand over the cup and have the children say some magic words as you pour the blue water into it. As if by magic, the yellow water will turn green. Repeat the process with red and yellow water to make orange, and red and blue water to make purple.
Wizard Bingo
Give each child a piece of paper with a wizard face drawn on it in basic outline. Use a circle for the face, a triangle for the hat and a star shape on its peak. Have two small circles for eyes and semi-circles for the ears and mouth. Cut shapes from colored construction paper to match the size of the shapes on the template. If six children are playing, cut six of each shape. Place all of the pieces in a bag or box. Have the children sit around a table with their template in front of them. Play one round at a time. Have each player take a colored shape out of the bag and place it in the correct place on her template. Continue to play in rounds. If a child takes a duplicate piece, she must replace it in the bag and miss that turn. The first player to complete her wizard shouts "Bingo!" and is the winner.
What's the Time, Mr. Wizard?
One child is chosen as the wizard. He stands with his back to the other children who line up about 10 feet away from him. The children call out, "What's the time, Mr. Wizard?" He turns and calls out a time, such as two o'clock, then turns his back again. The children take two steps toward him then call out again. Each time they take the same number of steps as the time he calls. When the children get close, instead of calling a time, the wizard says, "Spelltime!" and chases after them. He then pretends to put a spell on the child he catches, who becomes the new wizard.
Wizards and Elves
This is a game for the playground. Divide the children into two teams: wizards and elves. Have the teams stand 4 feet apart. The teacher calls out either wizards or elves -- the team she calls is the chaser team, and they must chase the other team to their predesignated safe area. If any player is caught, she must join the other team.