Use paints for luau art projects.
Preschoolers love art projects. For a Hawaiian theme, you can do several luau art activities that will provide many opportunities to discuss the various features of the traditional luau. All of the activities listed below can be culminated with a simulation luau at the end of the teaching unit.
Leis
Take old egg cartons and cut apart the sections. Have the preschoolers paint the individual pieces. When they are dried, the children can string them together on yarn to wear around their necks.
Hula Skirts
Cut strips of construction paper and have the kids write their names in the center. Then punch holes in the ends and tie yarn into the holes. This will make the waist band of the hula skirt. Next glue streamers cut from crape paper to the inside of the waist band.
Fire Sticks
Add to the luau look with fire sticks. Simply glue red, yellow and orange streamers onto the end of empty paper towel rolls. The children will enjoy dancing about in their hula skirts waving their handmade fire sticks.
Sand Footprints
This fun activity is a little messy, but if you have towels, dishpans and adult help, the mess is worth it. Have the children dip their feet in glue and then step on a piece of paper. Clean their feet immediately, then sprinkle sand over the glue. It will take a couple of days to dry, because of the amount of glue used. You can use the footprints during your luau to guide students around the room from one activity to another.
Hawaiian Print Shirts and Dresses
To decorate the room, make Hawaiian print shirts and dresses that you can string on yarn and hang around the room. Simply cut shirt and dress shapes from construction paper, then let the children dip flower-shaped sponges into paint and press the images onto the clothing. When the paint dries, staple the shapes onto a long piece of yarn to make a decorative garland.
Pineapples
For another room decoration, cut a pineapple shape out of brown or yellow construction paper. Have the kids glue yellow tissue paper squares onto the pineapple shape. Then they can add wadded up balls of green tissue paper to glue onto the yellow squares. Add green and brown cutouts that the kids can glue to the tops of their pineapples.
Tags: construction paper, around room, glue yellow, kids glue, luau activities, pineapple shape