This is a collection of birthday ideas from a variety of sources. Enjoy!

Click on a link:

Alternative Birthday Songs

Birthday Books

Birthday Backpack Ideas

Ways to celebrate at school

Simple gifts to give each child

Birthday Prop Box

 

 

 

 

 

Alternate Birthday Songs

 

Tune---Old McDonald had a Farm

Taylor Larson has a birthday.
Hip,hip,hip,hooray!
And on her cake she has 10 candles.
What a happy day!
With a puff, puff here,
And a puff, puff there
Here a puff,
There a puff,
Everywhere a puff puff.
Taylor Larson has a birthday.
Hip, hip, hip, Hooray!

from a 1986 fall issue of Creative Classroom

 Tune--"Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star

Twinkle, twinkle goes this song.
It's your birthday all day long.
Last year you were ____ years old.
This year you are ______ we're told.
Happy birthday, little star.
Now we know how old you are.

from a 1986 fall issue of Creative Classroom

 Tune: The Farmer in the Dell

The birthday child is you.
No one else will do.
Today's the day
You're _____ years old.
So birthday cheers for you.

from a 1986 fall issue of Creative Classroom

 Happy Birthday in Chinese

students sing (phonetically)

zunee shen ree qwa lee

zunee shen ree qwa lee

zunee shen ree qwa lee

zunee shen ree qwa lee

 

Birthday Book List

For more information or to purchase the book, click on the book or title for a link to amazon.com.

 

The "M&M's" Brand Birthday Book 

This book will be in the Birthday Backpack along with a fun size pack of M&M's to complete the activities in the book.

 

Moira's Birthday

 

The Secret Birthday Message

 

Happy Birthday, Everywhere

Birthday celebrations from 19 countries.

Carl's Birthday

 

The Berenstain Bears and Too Much Birthday

 

Jimmy's Boa and the Big Splash Birthday Bash

 

Arthur's Birthday

 

Birthday Happy, Contrary Mary

 

Clifford's Birthday Party

 

A Birthday for Frances

 

Lyle and the Birthday Party

 

It's My Birthday

 

Karen's Half Birthday

 

Birthday Backpack

Each child gets to take home the Birthday Backpack on their special day. The contents of the special backpack vary, but could include:

TO BRING BACK TO SCHOOL:

Birthday Books to read with their family - I will include the M&M's Birthday Counting Book with M&M's to use for counting.

Class graph to graph their favorite book - this will go home repeatedly so that each child can add their choice

A journal page to write how they celebrated their birthday (to be added to their memory book)

A disposable camera to capture of picture of the child and their family on their birthday - any photos taken will be included in their memory book.

TO KEEP AT HOME:

The Class Birthday Card Book- each student makes the birthday child a picture and labels it with what they wish for them for their birthday. These are bound into a book.

Their Birthday Puzzle - as a gift from me I stamp their name and a birthday wish onto a blank puzzle.

 

Ways to Celebrate at School

Display a special flag or banner each morning that someone has a birthday.

 

Hang a special birthday pillowcase over the back of the birthday child's chair for the day.

 

Let the birthday child keep a special birthday bear at their spot.

 

Have the birthday child decorate a crown to wear for the day.

 

Hold up candles to signify the birthday child's age. (add a little learning with counting 1:1, making them into a pattern, etc.)

 

Have the children form a circle around the birthday child and hold their hands up high, waving their fingers for candle flames as they sing.

 

Sing the second verse - how old are you now - and then clap the child's age.

 

Invite the child to bring a snack to share.

 

Encourage the family to send a Birthday Bag for the local food shelf that includes the "fixings" for a birthday cake - cake mix, frosting and candles.

 

Encourage the family to donate a book to the classroom or school library in honor of the child's birthday.

 

The teacher can eat lunch with the Birthday Child. Make it more special with a birthday placemat or table cloth. Better yet, invite Mom or Dad to come eat lunch with their child.

Simple Gifts for the Birthday Child

a pillowcase

a puzzle

a book

a treat bag

party favor

dollar store treasure

Happy Meal toy

special classroom privilege

 

 

 

Birthday Prop Box


The items in this prop box are to be taken out each time that a student is celebrating a birthday. The box can come out a day in advance so that children have time to decorate and make cards or it can come out the day of the birthday. It is intended to be used as a special addition to the Housekeeping Center.


Possible Prop Box Items:

an assortment of party hats
streamers and tape
pinata
a birthday table cloth
paper for birthday cards
a sign that reads "Happy Birthday, To: and From:."
crayons and markers
envelopes
a name card for the person celebrating
candles, regular and numbers
a cake mix
mixing bowl
spoon
frosting container
cake pan
apron
paper plates
napkins
cups
plastic silverware
gift bags
small empty boxes
wrapping paper
scissors and tape

 

 

 

 

All non-credited text and materials copyright of Patsi Kugler, 2001.

This page went online July 24, 2001