Pictures: July 15 - July 19

JAZZ DANCE with JILLIAN


GARDENING with KERRY


BOOK MAKING with LISA


CARDBOARD CONSTRUCTION with MILENA


BOCCE BALL with GRIFFIN


INSECT EXPLORERS with CAIT


CAMP OUT SONGS with SHAWN

Schedule: July 29 - August 2

Arts n Crafts Room 8	Flower Pressing Lisa
Adventure Art Room	Gnome Homes Shawn
Sport Parking Lot	Jump Rope Bridget
Science Science Room	Float Your Boat Cait
Field Games Parking Lot	Relay Race Kerry
Nature	Sibling Visits Griffin
Indoor Games Room 6	Codes Jillian

Camps: July 15 - July 19

• JAZZ DANCE with JILLIAN 
• GARDENING with KERRY
• BOOK MAKING with LISA
• CARDBOARD CONSTRUCTION with MILENA
• BOCCE BALL with GRIFFIN
• INSECT EXPLORERS with CAIT
• CAMP OUT SONGS with SHAWN

BOOK MAKING with LISA
We had a blast making books which moved into making little cards for each other! This book-making workshop was a perfect opportunity for our Preschoolers to practice, writing, knot-tying, illustration and for learning about sequences and timelines. The children enjoyed taking turns sharing their books to each other at circle at the end of our Summer Camp. Many children were able to perfect their book-making skills by spending a few days in the camp!



CARDBOARD CONSTRUCTION with MILENA
Friends were only interested in Cardboard Construction two days this week. We used a variety of cardboard materials to explore and create. Boxes, egg cartons, and tubes were all incorporated into our own creations. Some friends worked together to make a "marble track" for food, while others sat in box "cars" and "trains". It was exciting to watch as we figured out new and interesting ways to use the materials!

BOCCE BALL with GRIFFIN
Bocce Ball drew quite an audience of onlookers from the Toddler classrooms, who were very impressed with this preschool summer camp. Many of our younger friends and even teachers gathered around, sitting on driftwood outside to watch the games begin, many watched for almost the entire hour. Marking the field (or “the range”) with cones, we practiced safety. In order to be aware of our surroundings, and to not accidentally injure any friends with a Bocce Ball (which is a pretty heavy and dense ball) we made sure there was always one friend throwing or rolling a ball at a time. Before every turn we all spent some time making sure the range was clear before we threw a bocce ball. We waited for everyone to have their turn throwing before calling out “BANANAS” which was code for “Go retrieve your ball!” The taller cones were arranged such that each new arrangement presented a new challenge. The people who either knocked over a cone, or rolled a bocce ball into a cone were very excited! Friends took turns arranging the target cones in interesting ways with varying degrees of difficulty. Friends chose to come to this summer camp again and again, and eventually grew in their bocce ball throwing proficiency, once, four friends landed their ball in the cones all in a row!

INSECT EXPLORERS with CAIT

Each day this week, a different group of insect enthusiasts gathered to learn about different types of small crawling and flying creatures.  We investigated different insects and arachnids preserved in acrylic resin blocks and used the information pamphlets to learn about different types of “bugs.”  After formulating a plan of what sorts of insects to look for and where we might find them, we set out to observe (and hopefully collect) some insects.  Some, especially ants, were too small and quick-to-hide to catch in our jar.  One day, though, we found several beetles on the Oregon Grape berries, as well as a grasshopper in Teacher Kerry’s hair!  The gardeners and insect explorers got to share the creatures they found with the rest of room 8 at closing circle.  On Friday, we welcomed Carson’s mom Laura to lead our exploration and show us all of the different parts of a bugs body, explain how certain types of insects are different, and use nets to catch the bugs!

 


CAMP OUT SONGS with SHAWN
During campfire songs this week, we have been exploring traditional campfire songs, Celtic tribal songs, Native American songs, as well as modern music. On Monday, I started our time together with a quick oral review quiz of the instuments being utilized throughout the week; we looked at egg shakers and small hand drums. We then jumped into creating music with the song "Time of Your Life" by the Greenday; I used a shaker to accompany myself and the group, to keep time, and to provide and an example of multitasking. From there we moved into learning a Swahili greeting song titled, "Jambo Rafiki" (Hello and Welcome). On Tuesday we were inspired to add other instruments to our percussion options: Bells, Maracas, and tambourines. Other songs we worked with during the week include: "The Earth is our Mother"-a traditonal Native American song, "I want to hold you hand" by the Beatles, and "Island in the Sun" by Weezer.

JAZZ DANCE with JILLIAN
We had a lovely time in Jazz Dance Summer Camp this week! We learned some basic moves and talked about finding a rhythm to your movements. Depending on the day, we made up dance routines to "Unpack Your Adjectives" from Schoolhouse Rock and "You're Never Fully Dressed Without A Smile" from the musical Annie. Most of our campers stuck around for the whole week and I was impressed by how well they remembered their new moves! At the end of each class we had a freestyle jazz dance where friends boogied around in homemade costumes. I invite parents to put on some music at home and join in on the song and dance!

GARDENING with KERRY
The new, lush garden on the playground has inspired some very enthusiastic gardeners!  The first few days of class we traveled out to the parking lot to sort through seeds. We compared each one, not only to it's mature plant self, but also to other seeds.  We then decided which seeds to plant and chose our perfect spots in the planters. All the kids were such gentle gardeners. They poked shallow holes with there fingers, dropped in a single seed, and swept dirt back over the seed with a final little pat for good measure.  At the end of the week we gardened on the deck leading out to the playground. We unearthed some sad sunflowers and studied their roots. We talked about how our little seeds would open up and stretch out to form their own roots. We discussed how those roots would dig deeper into the ground to soak up water and other nutrients from the soil. We also talked about how our seeds would push up through the soil as well and eat up all the sunlight and air to make them big and strong. Now we will have to be patient gardeners and wait to see if our seeds decide to grow!

Schedule: July 22 - 26

Arts n Crafts Yard	Felting Bridget
Adventure Room5	Acrobatics Griffin
Sport Parking Lot	Kickball Lisa
Science Parking Lot	Bubbles Kerry
Field Games Science Room	50 Yard Dash Jillian
Nature Room 8	Charades Cait
Indoor Games Room 6	Circle Dancing Shawn

Pictures: July 8 - 12

GRA"FEET"IE with SHAWN 


ACROBATICS with CAIT


KICKBALL with BRIDGET


SUN PRINTS with KERRY


KNOT TYING with GRIFFIN


YOGA with LISA


CARD GAMES with JILLIAN

Camps: July 8 - July 12

• GRA"FEET"IE with SHAWN 
• ACROBATICS with CAIT
• KICKBALL with BRIDGET
• SUN PRINTS with KERRY
• KNOT TYING with GRIFFIN
• YOGA with LISA
• CARD GAMES with JILLIAN

GRA"FEET"IE with SHAWN
This week we had a blast in Gra'feet'ie! We went out back to the shade of the deck, and experimented with a new painting tool--our feet! At the beginning of each summer camp session, I introduced each tool that would be utilized throughout our time together. On Monday, we discovered something interesting about the paint we were using: undiluted, it drys very quickly and becomes rather tacky. We had a fun time brainstorming solutions to a new concern: How to get the paper removed from our feet without ripping it? Malvina offered the solution of bending down to "gently pull the paper away." We tried out her solution and found that it worked very well for us. For the rest of the week, we took time after introducing our art materials, to mix our paint with water to make the paint less tacky--while doing this we discussed color theory. Each student had the opportunity to help in setting up each creation station with paint and paper. We created around six large art pieces each day!

ACROBATICS with CAIT

This week, we explored acrobatics as ways to move our bodies in new and often collaborative ways.  While warming up, we used partner stretches to start getting used to balancing together with another person.  We talked about staying safe with our own bodies and others, and listening to what ways of moving feel good and how to back off if it hurts.  From there, the sky was the limit! Teacher Cait shared some partner acrobatics she’s learned, sometimes working with preschoolers and sometimes helping them find their own multi-person shape.  Several friends had their own balancing tricks, yoga poses, or other acrobatics moves to teach each other as well.

KICKBALL with BRIDGET
Most of the friends who joined kickball this week were friends who had enjoyed soccer in previous weeks. We started by setting out cones and marking base lines with chalk. We went over the general idea of the game making changes that fit each group. The kids really enjoyed kicking the ball and some took turns rolling it to the kicker. It was very hot on the blacktop, so fielders took breaks often to sit in the shade and stay hydrated. We had a great time moving big and practicing motor skills like kicking and catching a ball.

SUN PRINTS with KERRY
With all of the beautiful sunshine this week we were able to get outside and explore shadows and silhouettes with sun prints!  The specially treated paper reacts to UV light and casts an image of whatever you place on top of it.  Before we got started making our prints we walked around outside and collected some natural supplies that we thought would leave an interesting silhouette or had a cool shape. We then laid out all of our twigs, leaves, flowers, berries, and bark onto the pavement and designed our layouts. After the decorated paper sat in the sun for 2-3 minutes, faded from deep blue to pale blue, we quickly rinsed it off in water. The paper revealed some awesome results. I had multiple, repeat participators this week, so I think the kids really enjoyed mixing art with science in this fun, outdoor activity.

KNOT TYING with GRIFFIN
Knot tying was an adventure of discovery in the science room. We experimented with various forms of twisting and pulling. We sang a song about tying our ears in a knot and in a bow! Many friends chose to return to knot tying summer camp again and again. The bunny rabbit and the two little rats were active observers in our knot tying adventures. One day, we tied all of the ropes and ribbons and tying materials together to see if our long rope would go all the way from the front door of the preschool to the Art Studio. On another day we practiced our knot tying skills to see if they would hold when we used the pulley system in the science room. Some of us tied intricate knots and then attached them to our basket, while another friend used the pulley system to life the basket up to the ceiling. Some of the knots slid out while others held nicely. It was a great experiment to see what makes a knot slip apart and another knot to hold. Friends especially enjoyed tying bows. Inspired by the live bunny in the science room, we used rope "bunny ears" to "swing through the knot hole". After the bunny ears turned into a bow, we each enjoyed holding the other ends and pulling "on 3!" to watch that knot disappear. Each person had their own rope to form a circle and then tie together, and also worked collectively to make knots together and with Teacher Griffin. When some friends had trouble tying a knot, some of the older friends would step in with suggestions, guidance and aid. It was great watching friends assist one another in a very difficult task. After this summer camp, friends will have a lot easier time tying their shoe laces when the time comes. For the most advanced students, we practices tying a slip knot (useful for tightening around objects) and a spiral knot, often used for making friendship bracelets. The friendship bracelet knot used the figure four which we did while holding the base in place with our foot!

 YOGA with LISA

This week the children learned some classic yoga positions and some CR kid-created originals. I taught them: Downward Dog, Cobra, Child’s Pose, Table Top and Mountain Pose in the beginning of each session. The children then took turns pulling position cards from our Yoga deck and we practiced the poses. The children also enjoyed being “Yogi Masters,” teaching each other positions they already knew and creating their own poses. We also discussed meditation, breath work and talked about the phrase, “Namaste,” meaning “peace to you.” During our resting period at the end of our sessions, we thanked our bodies for working so hard and used positive affirmations such as, “I am calm” and “I am at peace.” The children asked if they could lead the guided meditations and they each took turns giving us calming phrases to say. My favorite child-created affirmations were: “I am in love with everything,” “Books-check them out!” and “I have a chalkboard at home.” We all became Yogi Zen Masters!

CARD GAMES with JILLIAN
Friends went "fishing" this week during Card Games. We practiced how to hold our own hand of cards, how to take turns, and a thing or two about having a game strategy! Throughout the camp we introduced the games Go Fish, Memory, Old Maid, UNO, and the crowd favorite, Slap Jack. We also examined cards to find matches when playing Memory, Blink, and Set. I would love to hear how friends play in the next family game night - I think you will be impressed!

Schedule: July 15 - July 19

Arts n Crafts Room 8	Book Making Lisa
Adventure Room 8	Cardboard Construction Milena
Sport Yard	Bocce Ball Griffin
Science Parking Lot	Insect Explorers Cait
Field Games Room 5	Camp Out Songs Shawn
Nature Yard	Gardening Kerry
Indoor Games Room 6	Jazz Dance Jillian