Pictures: August 19 - August 23

JEWELRY MAKING with BRIDGET


PUPPET MAKING with JILLIAN


SLACKLINING with GRIFFIN


WATER WORKS with KERRY


TUG-OF-WAR with SHAWN


NATURE PAINTING with LISA

Camps: August 12 - 16

PUZZLE MAKING with LISA

Puzzle making was a fun project and throughout the week our groups explored different varieties and styles of puzzles. Our first couple of days, Preschoolers cut shapes from paper and glued them to cardstock making their own designs. They we discussed the number of puzzle pieces we’d like to cut our puzzle into. We experimented with 3, 4, 5 and 6 piece puzzles and talked about who we would like to have try our puzzles when we took them home. Isaac decided to make his puzzle into 3 pieces so his little sister Maya could try it at home. Matea created a puzzle with more pieces two days in a row to try and stump her Dad! Toward the end of the week, we experimented with using contact paper to cover our colorful shapes and designs. This turned into a great science lesson about static electricity when we found that our foam shapes magically floated up toward the contact paper. During the end of our hour, we worked together to build large puzzles after I divided all puzzle pieces between each camper. We all worked on using our words and asking questions to work together and finally complete our group puzzle.

OBSTACLE COURSE with KERRY
All of room 6 was our oyster this week. I let them have free reign on everything they could think to use, cockroaches excluded, no matter how nicely they asked. We built tracks from mats, trampolines from pillows, mazes with blocks, caves with silks and tables. Their imaginations went wild, and every day was different. One day we built what could be considered the preschool version of Gotham City. We all wore capes and became super heroes. As I was the last to pick my alter ego, and all the greats had been taken, I had to settle for Super Pumpkin Girl. We raced through our mini city stopping for pumpkin seed snacks when we needed a break. 

FRISBEE with CAIT
This week, we found a myriad of ways to play with frisbees.  We explored different ways to throw them (front- and back-hand, as well as various tosses) and tried to aim them into a goal.  As well as trying throw along a line, or as far across the parking lot as we could, we played with bouncing frisbees off of the ground and the walls.  They also make interesting hats, and can be fun to balance on your head!

GOOP with SHAWN
Creating our own sensory experience, many friends joined in to mix, mold, and make goop. Some days we created a silly putty like substance, while on others we focused on creating oobleck with cornstarch, water, and food coloring. We would start each day by discussing as a group what type of goop we would like to create, and what materials we will need to make it. While the putty was exciting to personalize with an individual color and small amount, the oobleck brought a partner and larger group aspect to the experimentation, often letting the substance drip over a neighbors hand, mixing colors with a partner, or showing how slippery it makes the containers. Goop was an exciting material to create and manipulate for our preschool friends!

SLACKLINING with GRIFFIN
This week we had the most popular summer camp of ALL time! Slacklining in the yard. It was so popular that we extended the camp another week so that more friends would have the opportunity to try this, physically and mentally challenging task. We tied the line to the fence in the school yard and took turns walking across the slackline. It took a great deal of focus to balance our bodies and walk the line. Each person was given varied amounts of support to scaffold their ability to strengthen their core and improve their balance. Some friends wanted to hold a shoulder while others preferred one or two hands. Friends worked on putting one foot in front of the other in a heel-toe style, and others took a sideway-stance shuffling their feet side to side. Some friends worked so hard to maintain their balance so intensely that they broke out into a sweat from the physical challenge that walking across the slackline presented. Toddlers in the yard watched with awe as the preschoolers completed their summer camp task. Friends waited in line patiently to have many turns to go across the line throughout the hour. I sincerely encourage parents to head to a climbing gym and give friends more opportunities to work on this skill.

BOARD GAMES with BRIDGET
Many thanks to the David family who brought in board games for us to play. The most popular were Candy Land, Chutes and Ladders, and the Hungry Hungry Caterpillar. A few kids had played board games before and enjoyed helping others learn them . For other kids it was a brand new experience. It was great practice in preschool skills like taking turns, and listening to directions, counting, and color identification.

DANCE with JILLIAN
I have had the opportunity to teach a dance camp several times this summer and this week I was so impressed by how well the campers remembered the songs and routines! Specifically, we incorporated some new songs and moves - stomping around to "We are the Dinosaurs" was a big hit - and friends requested old favorites like "You're Never Fully Dressed Without a Smile" and "Unpack Your Adjectives."  Each day we began with a dance warm up and talked about the importance of stretching. Depending on the day we worked on ballet, jazz, or musical theatre dance steps and then chose a song to make up a dance to! At the end of each class friends put on costumes, practiced their new technique, and taught me a few new moves as well!  

Pictures: August 12 - August 16th

PUZZLE MAKING with LISA

OBSTACLE COURSE with KERRY

FRISBEE with CAIT

GOOP with SHAWN

SLACKLINING with GRIFFIN

BOARD GAMES with BRIDGET

DANCE with JILLIAN

Schedule: August 19 - August 23

Next week is the last week for summer camps. It has been an amazing journey and we had a ton of fun. We will be taking a two week break following summer camps wrapping up to spend a little extra time with our soon-to-be kindergarteners, and another week welcoming new friends that will be joining our classrooms. Our next term of Ateliers will begin September 9th. More information on the atelier program will be coming soon. For now, our last week of summer camps will include...

JEWELRY MAKING with BRIDGET
PUPPET MAKING with JILLIAN
SLACKLINING with GRIFFIN
WATER WORKS with KERRY
TUG-OF-WAR with SHAWN
GARDENING with CAIT
NATURE PAINTING with LISA

Camps: August 5 - August 9th

SIDEWALK ART with JILLIAN
In Sidewalk Art we learned creative ways to decorate the parking lot! We started with simple sidewalk chalk and experimented drawing trees, tracing our shadows, and designing our own hop-scotch courts. Then friends were asked to dip their chalk in water and we explored the vibrant colors that wet chalk can create! Finally we talked about color and used paint to discover how we could make new colors by mixing primary colors. Combining our paint with soap and water we created Sidewalk Paint and added even more decorations to the street. By the end of the week  we had explored the many variations of sidewalk art and the black pavement had been given a colorful makeover!

FORT BUILDING with BRIDGET
Fort building was very popular this week. We used various classroom materials to build our forts like tables, chairs, mats, rugs and silks. It was a great opportunity to work together building and problem solving. After forts were built we had time for some dramatic play. Some children became families in their forts. Some invited neighbors to dinner. One day all the forts were destroyed by an invasion of dinosaurs. It was a very exciting week.

POTATO SACK RACE with LISA

This week in our Summer Camp we set up mats and pillows to make a track. Friends decided to pretend that the carpet was hot lava and the pillows were “hot stones” or “lava rocks” and the children challenged each other with jumping over them! We used pillow cases as potato sacks and took turns cheering each other on and counting times. During the last half of our Summer Camp, I invited children to design their own tracks for each other and children came up with creative ways to make their track more challenging. Some friends had each other crawl on their stomachs with the pillowcases on and the trickiest challenge was moving across the mats by crawling on their backs, keeping the bags from slipping off!

KNOT TYING with KERRY
 In Knot Tying we played with ropes of all weights and lengths to discover new ways to, well, tie knots. I have been crocheting, knitting, doing macrame and even sailing since I was a kid, so I know a thing or two about knots.  We mastered the simple overhand knot and learned to tie a slip knot. The slip knot was useful in our dramatic play throughout the week while we pretended to climb cliffs and sail the open sea. It was used to secure boats to shore, to help lift bodies up to mountain tops and even as handcuffs for a captured pirate (me). For those less interested in the adventure side of knots, I was able to teach some simple macrame. We made necklaces and bracelets that the participants were very proud of.

SLEUTHING with TERESA
Our master mystery solver mode was turned on for Sleuthing summer camp. Each day friends were faced with a different mystery to solve; the case of the missing turtle lovie, the disappearance of the shoes, water bottle vanishings, blanket banishment, and even an entire silk rack gone. We put on our thinking caps to either search for clues, create suspect lists, and deduce who the culprit could be. It was exciting to interview teachers for information regarding our mystery. On days when the answer was seemingly obvious, like finding our

DRUMMING with SHAWN
Drumming was a blast this week as we beat out our rhythms on a variety of materials. After exploring our standard drums, we examined the room for other options to create sound. Some friends found that canisters and pans work well, while others used the surfaces around them to drum. 

Pictures: August 5 - August 9

SIDEWALK ART with JILLIAN

FORT BUILDING with BRIDGET

POTATO SACK RACE with LISA

KNOT TYING with KERRY

SLEUTHING with TERESA

DRUMMING with SHAWN

Schedule: August 12 - 16

Summer Camp	With Teacher
Puzzle Making	Lisa
Obstacle Course	Kerry
Frisbee	Cait
Goop	Shawn
Slacklining	Griffin
Board Games	Bridget
Dance	Jillian

Pictures: July 29 - August 2

FLOWER PRESSING with LISA

GNOME HOMES with SHAWN

JUMP ROPE with BRIDGET

FLOAT YOUR BOAT with CAIT

RELAY RACE with KERRY

CODES  with JILLIAN

SIBLING VISITS with GRIFFIN

Camps: July 29 - August 2

• FLOWER PRESSING with LISA
• GNOME HOMES with SHAWN
• JUMP ROPE with BRIDGET
• FLOAT YOUR BOAT with CAIT
• RELAY RACE with KERRY
• CODES with JILLIAN
• SIBLING VISITS with GRIFFIN

FLOWER PRESSING with LISA

I had a lot of fun with friends exploring flowers and creating arrangements for pressing. Our first flower pressing experience began by picking three flowers, discussing our favorite flowers and pressing them in-between cardboard squares. We moved on to different methods toward the end of the week and made some beautiful and amazing work. The children were very interested in dissecting flowers and buds so we ended up creating petal arrangements, then covering our displays with clear contact paper. Friends seemed to enjoy this method more than having to wait a couple weeks to see their dried flowers, pressed in card board. We were even able to make a beautiful display which you can check out on Classroom Eight’s nature table.

GNOME HOMES with SHAWN


JUMP ROPE with BRIDGET
 This week we had jump rope out on the black top. We started out with some skill practice and then moved on to some exploration. We practiced finding safe space for jumping so we would not jump into walls or friends. Then we practiced swinging the ropes over our bodies and stepping or jumping over them. We also played a game of snake where we would wriggle the rope back and fourth and practice jumping over it. Jumping takes a lot of energy and so when friends needed a break they would take a turn wiggling the rope for jumpers. Once friends were able to move safely with ropes they could start to explore different ways of moving over them or with them. We also started to learn some jumping songs and chants.

FLOAT YOUR BOAT with CAIT
Many friends joined us multiple times this week to create a new and exciting boat each day. We used materials from SCRAP like foam pads, corks, caps, and wood to create a boat that will float on the water. After we've designed our boats, we took some time to test out their ability to stay afloat by filling the boat with rocks and other heavy objects found in the science lab. Some of our boats are now on display at the front desk if you want to check them out!

RELAY RACE with KERRY
 This week, relay races turned into more of a decathlon. We were able to pull out the trikes, jump ropes, and a bunch of other materials to make a unique course each day for the kids to run through. Hopping over ropes one day led to tight rope walking the next. I was impressed with the creativity the kids showed while designing their course and their determination to finish the course as a team.

CODES with JILLIAN
 This week in CODES we explored how to write in code and how to decode what is written! We worked with three basic codes involving numbers and letters and used the KEY of each code to write out our names and simple messages. For example, JILL in number code looked like "10 9 12 12." Each friend had the opportunity to write their name in code and when "Sibling Visits" summer camp came visit - we got to teach our friends! In addition to coding our own names we read about other famous codes in Top Secret by Paul B. Janeszko and Mysterious Messages by Gary Blackwood. In these books we practiced the famous cipher alphabet and considered how pictures can represent code as well!

SIBLING VISITS with GRIFFIN
Sibling visits brought a lot of joy and excitement as we took some time to visit the siblings in other classrooms. We took many trips to Room 9 to visit our toddler brothers, sisters, and their classmates. Friends were looking forward to showing them how preschoolers focus during clean-up time, and  helping to put on shoes, line-up, and walk to the yard. When visiting our infant siblings in Rooms 1 and 2, we took some time to talk about playing gently and how to let the babies explore while we are in the room. For many sibling visits was a wonderful opportunity to show off how awesome family can be!

Schedule: August 5 - August 9th

Arts n Crafts Parking Lot	Sidewalk Art Jillian
Adventure Room 6	Fort Building Bridget
Science	Sleuthing Cait
Field Games Room 8	Potato Sack Race Lisa
Nature Science Room	Knot Tying Kerry
Indoor Games Room 8	Drumming Shawn

Camps: July 22 - July 26

• FELTING with BRIDGET
• ACROBATICS with GRIFFIN
• KICKBALL with LISA
• BUBBLES with KERRY
• 50 YARD DASH with JILLIAN
• CIRCLE DANCING with SHAWN

FELTING with BRIDGET
We had a great time in Felting this week. We used wool roving to create art. We explored both needle felting and wet felting. Needle felting involved using sharp barbed needles poke and compress wool combining colors and textures. Children explored how flat they could get the fibers and enjoyed the softness of the wool. Some kids decided their creations would be "lovies" because they were so soft. Wet felting uses warm soapy water to roll, soak, and squeeze the wool into shape. There were no pricked fingers with this method, but a few puddles on the art studio floor. We really enjoyed exploring a material that was new to everyone, and I had many kids who came back multiple times.

ACROBATICS with GRIFFIN
Acrobatics was a great workout for friends who chose this summer camp. I’m sure many of you had children sleep very well following this aerobic workout. Each day we spent a fair amount of time warming our muscles up with various stretches. We stretched our legs, reached to the sky and touched our toes, stretched our arms and warmed them up with arm circles. We did slow head circles too, in order to loosen our neck muscles. We did pencil stretching on the floor, lunges to stretch our hip flexors,  various forms of modified jumping jacks, and many friends were very flexible and during the “butterfly” stretch, they were able to touch their nose to their toes. Some friends, who have done gymnastics, provided some suggestions for stretching of their own. After a series of stretching and floor warm ups, we moved onto the much more complicated summersaults. We practiced standing tall with our arms to the sky, bending forward and having our hands and feet slightly apart. The concept of tucking the chin to allow for the roll was difficult for some, while others could roll away on their own. Everyone was successful with a spotter. The next acrobatic trick was the tri-pod. We practiced this against a wall at first and then some were able to scaffold and move away from the wall. We put one knee on each elbow with our bottoms highest in the air. After practicing the tri-pod, we kicked our feet into the air and enjoyed the feeling of being completely upside town. Our brained flooded with healthy oxygen from the blood rushing down with gravity. We practiced this a few times before we moved to walking along the “balance beam” of masking tape on the floor. The final group of acrobatics campers had the rare opportunity to practice cartwheels with a spotter. They were all able to follow the markings on the ground to place their hands correctly and the spotter held their hips behind them to assist their legs to fly through the air to land on their feet. Following the cartwheels, we practiced high knees and back kicks to use when we had a turn on the trampoline. Friends counted to twenty while someone jumped on the trampoline. We maintained our rotation and then took turns practicing the various kicks on the trampoline. Friends learned spotting techniques of holding your hand up, elbow and knees bent and legs on in front of the other in a stable position. Before getting on the trampoline friends asked: “Spotters ready” and spotters replied: “Ready”. After all of our acrobatic adventures we sometimes had time to stretch and do a warm down. Friends felt very proud of their personal acrobatic successes. Each person challenging themselves on a different level.

KICKBALL with LISA
For our kickball summer camp, preschoolers helped set-up our bases, home plate, cones, and used chalk to create our path. We worked on counting our points, taking turns, and being great cheerleaders for eachother. It was a very hot week, so we made sure to hydrate and cool down at the end of each game. Towards the end of the week the children earned extra points for doing victory dances inspired by two Room 8 friends. We had a ball.

BUBBLES with KERRY
Who doesn't love bubbles?! This week we got our fill of this soapy past-time. The kids were given the opportunity to create their own bubble makers with string, straws, and pipe cleaners. We played around with a few ideas about the best way to engineer an efficient tool, and then mixed up our bubble solution. We used dish soap, water, and a dash of corn syrup. After we finished up with our homemade wands we broke out the old fashioned, plastic wands. We had so much fun getting messy and feeling the the wide-eyed joy of watching a bubbles float into the sky.

50 YARD DASH with JILLIAN
We had a blast this week with the 50 Yard Dash (which actually became the 40 Foot Dash)! Friends learned about measurement, the importance of stretching before exercise, and how, when racing, the fastest time is the smallest number! Several friends took the camp for the whole week and I was impressed by how significantly their times improved day by day. Each camper got three chances to perfect the dash on their own and they took their turns very seriously. I loved seeing the stances and strategies friends took on for their solo dashes - we were very committed! Every dash ended with a group race and their encouragement of one another really made my heart smile. This summer camp was a great outlet to run around and cheer in the sun that became the highlight of my afternoons!

CIRCLE DANCING with SHAWN
Circle dancing brought a lot of new ideas about dance to our preschool summer camps. We spent a few moments before beginning each song to discuss how we should dance. Some friends wanted a specific style of dance like ballet or partner dancing, and others decided how to use the circle - going around, only on the outside, or only on the inside. Each song was upbeat, active, and brought a lot of inspiration to have a "dance party." One day we decided to use the benches to make a stage circle outside the carpet circle to dance on. Many were interested in adding costumes, capes, and silks to our dance, so we incorporated these towards the end of the day with our last 3 or 4 songs.

Pictures: July 22 - 26

FELTING with BRIDGET


ACROBATICS with GRIFFIN


KICKBALL with LISA


BUBBLES with KERRY


50 YARD DASH with JILLIAN


CIRCLE DANCING with SHAWN