Mix cornstarch and water in a water table to make Oobleck. Use just enough water to create a syrup-like consistency. Let preschoolers discover how Oobleck acts like a liquid when they slowly run their fingers through it, but then acts like a solid if they jab it. Make flubber out of water, glue and borax (see Resources for detailed instructions), and invite preschoolers to experiment with this substance by stretching it, rolling it into a ball and cutting it with cookie cutters. Show preschoolers the wild side of science by having an adult mix vinegar and baking soda to make a pretend volcano erupt.
Read “Wacky Wednesday” by Theo LeSieg. Help preschoolers find all the wacky things in the book. Turn the classroom into a wacky room by inviting preschoolers to take off their shoes and hang them from the ceiling or curtain rods, or place them on bookshelves or on top of art easels. Let preschoolers rearrange the furniture and turn posters upside down (with adult help). Have preschoolers cut pictures from magazines and make their own wacky collages, such as cats chasing dogs, trees that grow lollipops or cars flying in the sky.
Invite preschoolers to wear their clothes backward on Monday, show off mismatched socks on the outside of their pants on Tuesday, style their hair crazy on Wednesday, wear pajamas to school on Thursday, and wear the wackiest costumes they can find on Friday. Keep the theme going by walking backward to snack time one day or serving breakfast for lunch. For snack time serve wacky foods such as green eggs and ham in honor of Dr. Seuss or pudding with gummy worms sticking out.
Invite preschoolers to re-imagine themselves on the wild side. Trace their body outlines on sheets of butcher paper. Provide paints so they can turn themselves into wild animals with zebra stripes, giraffe spots or tiger stripes inside their outlines. Encourage students to finish off their wild paintings by adding long tails on zebras or long tongues on giraffes. Let preschoolers discover their wacky side by painting pictures holding a paintbrush between their toes, or let them finger-paint with their feet.