Ice Cream Theme and Activities


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July is National Ice Cream Month. Of course, you can do an ice cream theme any time during the summer. Just be aware of children's allergies or dietary needs when eating ice cream and sundaes.

Ice Cream Songs and Fingerplays

Take Me Out For Some Ice Cream (Tune: Take Me Out To The Ballgame)
Take me out for some ice cream,
Take me out to the store.
Buy me a triple scoop jumbo cone.
I won't share, I'll eat it alone!
For its scoop, scoop ,scoop up the ice cream--
Give me three kinds I adore!
For it's one, two, three, scoops to go
At the ice cream store!

5 Ice Cream Cones
Five little ice cream cones so good to eat.
The first one said, "I'm a summer time treat."
The second one said, "It's such a hot day."
The third one said, "I'm melting away."
The fourth one said, "Don't lose your top."
The fifth one said, "Oh dear , ker-plop!" (Place the last cone upside down.)

5 Ice Cream Cones
Five ice cream cones at the ice cream shop
But no one wanted to buy them with vanilla on top
One little icecream took some time to think
He mixed in some bubblegum and turned himself to pink
Little (child's name) came along and took that yummy ice cream home

Four ice-cream cones at the ice cream shop
But no one wanted to buy them with vanilla on top
Then one little icecream knew what he should do
He mixed in some blueberries and turned his flavor to blue
Little (child's name) came along and took that yummy ice-cream home

Three little ice creams at the ice cream shop
But no one wanted to buy them with vanilla on top
One little ice cream was a smart little fellow
He mixed in some lemonade and turned himself to yellow
Little (child's name) came along and took that yummy ice cream home

Two Little Ice Cream cones at the ice-cream shop
But no one wanted to buy them with vanilla on top.
One little ice-cream got an idea in his head
He mixed in some raspberries and turned his color to red.
Little (child's name) came along and took that yummy ice-cream home

One little ice-cream at the ice-cream shop
But no one wanted to buy it with vanilla on top
Alone and sad, he really wanted to go,
So he mixed in all the colors and made his shade rainbow!

Ice Cream Art Activities

Shaving Cream Ice Cream Art
Mix equal parts of shaving cream and glue (you can also add a few drops of tempera paint: brown for chocolate ice cream; pink for strawberry ice cream). Give the children a piece of construction paper and let them 'scoop' some paint onto their paper. Using a brush, spoon, or their fingers, have the children spread the paint around. When they are done, add a brown triangle construction paper 'cone.' It will resemble a dropped ice cream cone. Kids can have a lot of fun adding sprinkles or being creative with the project.

Make Pretend Ice Cream Sundaes
Buy disposable plastic bowls and glue cotton or fiber fill in the bowl to look like ice cream. Put brown and red paints in squeeze bottles. Let children drizzle paint over the cotton to look like chocolate or strawberry sauce. Kids can also add sprinkles and glue a red pom pom ball on top for a cherry. Add a plastic spoon on the side.

Ice Cream Math and Science

Flavor Graphing
During Circle Time, ask children to name what their favorite flavor of ice cream is. Graph the results. Talk about what the flavors are the most popular and least popular.

Scoop Colors and Counting
On a flannel board, place a felt ice cream cone. Pass around felt scoops of different colors. Have each child add their scoop to the ice cream cone and name the color of their scoop. When everyone has added a scoop, have the children count how many scoops there are.

Make Ice Cream in a Bag
1 small ziploc bag
1 large ziploc bag
1 tablespoon sugar
1/2 cup milk
1/4 teaspoon vanilla
6 tablespoon salt

In each small bag add the milk, vanilla, & sugar; seal the bag. Fill the large bag half full with ice; add salt. Place the small bag inside the large bag and seal. Shake until mixture is the consistency of ice cream takes about 5 minutes.

Ice Cream Melting Experiment
On a hot, sunny day, go outside with a plastic bowl, metal pie tin and a glass dish. Put one spoonful of ice cream on each and one spoonful on directly on the sidewalk. Have children predict which ice cream will melt first. Talk about results after ice cream is all melted.

Ice Cream Motor Skills and Movement

Ice Cream Relay
Give each child an ice cream cone and have them run to the opposite side of room or playground, where you will have a container of balls (the size of ball pit balls). Have the child balance the ball on the ice cream cone and go back to their starting place. Play continues until each child has a turn.

Ice Cream Snacks

Ice Cream Sundae Bar
Give each child a scoop of ice cream in a small bowl. Invite them to make sundaes by adding such toppings as chocolate sauce, nuts, whipped cream, sprinkles, chocolate chips, etc.

Ice Cream Truck Visit
Contact a local ice cream truck to stop by and allow children to get an ice cream treat.

Ice Cream Sandwiches
In a large bowl, mix a container whipped topping and half of a package of any flavor pudding. Freeze this mixture for a half hour. After the "ice cream" has chilled, let children spread it between two graham crackers.

Ice Cream Parlor Prop Box Ideas

  • Ice cream scoops
  • Paper ‘cones’
  • Empty ice cream tubs
  • Play money/cash register
  • Apron and hat
  • Order pads/pencils
  • Wipe-off board ‘menu’
  • Empty whipped cream spray cans

More Ice Cream Resources