Turn a Mayday craft into a learning activity. Give each child a long strip of newsprint paper. Help the children print the numbers from one to 30 along the bottom edge of the newsprint. Tell the children that there are 30 days in May. Provide several flower catalogs for the children to cut up. They should find and cut out 30 flowers from the catalogs. Have them glue a flower picture above each number. Display the children's artwork around the classroom or have the children roll their strip of newsprint to look like a scroll. Tie the roll with a ribbon for the children to carry home easily and share their art and their counting skills with parents.
Have the children make cone-shaped vases from wrapping paper or wallpaper samples. They should trace a circle, such as a paper plate, onto a piece of colorful wrapping paper or wallpaper sample. Have them cut out their circles and fold them in half with the printed side out. Show the children how to roll the half-circle into a cone shape. Tape each cone at the seam to hold. Tape a piece of yarn onto two opposite places along the open edge of each cone to form a handle. To make each flower for the vases, preschoolers should tape a paper cupcake liner onto the top end of a straw. They can make one or more flowers to fit into the paper vase. Have preschoolers take their Mayday flowers home or make several to give to friend, neighbors or other adults in the preschool building.
Toy-like crafts are always a hit with preschoolers. Have the kids make spinners that look like Maypoles. Punch holes around the edges of a paper plate. Have the children thread a colorful ribbon or narrow strip of crepe paper streamer in a hole and tape the end of the ribbon or paper to the plate. They should put a ribbon or streamer into each hole and let them all hang downward. Tape a paper towel tube securely onto the center of the inside of the plate. The children should hold the paper towel tube and twist it to see the ribbons or streamers dance around the Maypole.
Make copies of a crown pattern for the children to cut out. Have them color their crowns. If desired, provide plastic flowers, pom poms or foam flower shapes for the preschoolers to glue onto their crowns. They can wear their crowns while singing favorite spring songs or marching in a parade down the hallway.