Materials
white construction paper
scissors
white feathers
white and gold glitter
glue
hole punch
string
gold tinsel
empty toilet paper tubes (one for each child)
white paint
small construction paper wings
photo of each child's face
Instructions
1. Ask the children if they have ever been in the car when their parents went to
a drive-up ATM. Tell them that they will be making a drive-up ATM to play
with on the playground.
2. Ask the children to help you paint the refrigerator boxes. Be creative! Details
will be added later. Let the boxes thoroughly dry.
3. Away from the children, use a box cutter to cut a small slot in each box. This
will be where the children insert their ATM cards. Also, cut a rectangle the
size of the tissue box next to and a little bit below the card slot. Make sure to
cut these areas so a child seated on a tricycle can reach them.
4. Tape a heavy-duty sandwich bag to each card slot so that when the children
insert their ATM cards in the slots, the cards won't fall inside. Make sure to
tape the bags close enough to the boxes so the pretend ATM cards won't go
all the way in. They should stick out a bit so the children can retrieve their
ATM card without trouble.
5. Cut the tops off the tissue boxes and tape them to the inside of the boxes
where you cut the rectangles. These will be the money drawers. Cover the
openings with black felt.
6. Above the money drawers, draw a number pad using colorful markers. Make
the number buttons oversized to make it easier for children to see and read.
7. Encourage the children to add finishing touches to the boxes.
8. Give each child a 3" x 5" heavy stock index card. Let them use the markers to
create their own ATM cards. Help the children print their names on the cards.
If desired, add each child's photo to his ATM card.
9. Set up the ATMs on the playground. Put fake money in the "money drawers."
10. Encourage the children to use tricycles, scooters, and wagons to "drive up"
and use the ATM machines.
Tip: To make a more durable, longer-lasting ATM card, cover a wood-panel
sample tile with paper and let each child create his ATM card on it. You can get
wood panel sample tiles from your local home decorating store.
More to do Create a few "shops" around the playground. Make one that that sells dolls, for
example, or one that sells toy trucks and cars. Simply set up some small tables
with the items for sale on them and let some of the children pretend to be
storekeepers. Encourage the children to go to the ATM, and then head to a
store to spend their money. The storekeepers can go to the ATM to make a
deposit!
