Wednesday was Water DayJ. The Little School playground and grassy area between the fence and Parish Hall were “wet and wild” today. Wading pools, a sprinkler, and bubbles were just a few of the added outdoor activities. The campers “painted” The Little School’s bricks with real paint brushes and water. They decorated the shoes they painted yesterday with “beautiful junk”. Did you know the finger muscles are associated with memory? Using our fingers during learning activities helps boost our ability to remember what we are learning. During the “Creep and crawl” art project the campers used finger paint to create a picture while creeping and crawling their fingers back and forth across the paper. Keeping with our theme, today’s story was Wacky Wednesday by Theodore Le Sieg. The campers learned the rhyme “Dirty Old Bill”:

"I know a man named Dirty Old Bill. He lives in a house on Garbage Hill. And he never takes a bath and he never will. P.U.-wee! Dirty Old Bill!"

We talked about the steps we use to take a bath/shower (sequencing). We also discussed how saying “P.U.” might hurt someone’s feelings. Most campers knew “Open Shut Them”:

Open shut them                                                       Creep them crawl them

Open shut them                                                       Creep them crawl them

Give a little clap                                                        Right up to your chin

Open shut them                                                       Open up your little mouth

Open shut them                                                       But do not let them in

Lay them in your lap.

The campers brainstormed - what “opens” and “shuts” and thought of eyes, doors, and windows. They demonstrated the difference between “creep” and “crawl” and talked about which way of “traveling” is easier and faster.

 

“Boom Boom ain’t it great to be crazy?” The campers arrived – in the rain – on Thursday. Some dressed as “Wacky” as the teachers and counselors - with mismatched shoes, different colored socks, clothes on backwards or inside out. Some dressed in their brother’s clothes, one like “Fancy Nancy” and one like a Pirate. Some even wore pajamas to camp…The rain only lasted about an hour - time enough for Circle Time and Indoor activities. After discussing “crazy” means doing things differently from how we normally do them the campers participated in some of these “crazy” activities.  They laid on their backs and created art work on the underside of tables (future Michelangelo’s?)  Some stood on the floor and made designs on the top of the table. They sang and moved to "Down by the Bay" then designed construction paper watermelon slices, adding the appropriate number of seeds (Numeral Recognition/Counting.)  A popular activity was "Dot Art" - using bingo markers to create circle designs. Several photocopied pictures of each camper were available to glue on paper so the campers can remember their friends from Little School Summer Camp 2010 - Wacky Week.

Week 2 – June 21-24 – Animal Antics

Monday began with the question - “What do we know about elephants?” Using the campers’ answers and a few facts found after a little research, a web was constructed. Some fun facts we discussed included African elephants have larger ears than Asian elephants. Elephants walk on their toes. The soles of their feet are made of thick elastic pads that flatten with each step. They are so big and weigh so much that the pad gives them a bounce in each step. Elephants use their trunks for many things - to eat, to spay water on to keep themselves cool, and even to paint. Some elephants paint for minutes and others for hours. Some elephants wrap their trunks around the paint brush while others hold it inside their trunk. One elephant’s painting sold for $39,000. After discussing what color elephants are, the campers listened to the story Elmer by David McKee. As we sang “One elephant went out to play” the campers “called on another elephant to come” to Center Time with them. Center Time was divided between indoor and outdoor activities because of the heat. Inside the campers stomped to “Colonel Hathi’s March” (“The Elephant Song” from the Jungle Book CD) while wearing the elephant feet they designed from brown grocery bags and elephant ears made from construction paper. They “Fed the Elephant”, matching the correct # of peanuts to the number printed on the elephant.  Outside the campers painted individual elephant shapes with duplo blocks and glued fabric scraps onto a larger elephant for a group art project, creating The Little School’s colorful Elmer. At the easel the campers painted like an elephant holding long paint brushes (with their hands since people don’t have trunks.) The campers discovered what it was like to walk through a “spider’s web” which was constructed on the deck. After lunch the campers experienced what it was like to pick up objects like an elephant, wearing socks that covered their arms and hands.

The Monkey and the Crocodile by Paul Galdone started Tuesday off to swinging good time. Topics for discussion during Center Time included where monkeys and crocodiles live and how each of them moves. They participated in a flannel board story of “5 Little Monkeys jumping on the Bed”. Focus was on fine motor skills as the campers used scissors to cut out monkey masks, pick up pom poms with clothespins (crocodiles), played the game “Barrel of Monkeys”. They had the opportunity to design their own crocodiles using toothbrushes, green paint, and clothespins. Roller Art (creative expression) led to unique designs (mini paint rollers dipped in orange and blue paint on white paper.) Animal bowling and animal skin rubbings (paper covering animal skin designs rubbed with crayons) added to discovery opportunities. After lunch the campers moved to the music of “There were 10 in the bed and the little one said “roll over, roll over”…” as 10 campers at a time lie on the “bed” (a long white sheet of paper) and “rolled over”. 

Campers arrived ready for water day as the temperature reached the high 90’s to 100 today. Just like last week’s water day, wading pools, a sprinkler and bubbles were available. 2 sensory tables filled with water as well as a bucket of water and real paint brushes added to the fun. A favorite was “finger painting” with shaving cream. Today’s animal(s) can be found in the desert, where water is scarce. Circle Time began with a discussion about camels (Dromedary, Arabian, Bactrian, Asian, one hump or 2 humps.) Pictures of real camels were available for the campers to view as we discussed how camels can go for days without water and food since a camel’s humps are fat which allows them to go without eating. Water is conserved in a camel’s body cells and in its stomach. Camels have really long legs to keep their big bodies high off the hot ground. Even when a camel sits down its belly doesn’t touch the ground. Camels have pillow-like callus under their chest to balance and make it comfortable on the sand, even when it’s hot in the desert. Camels have very hard skin on their knees to protect their knees when the camel rests on them. We talked about a few differences between a horse and a camel (both can be ridden but you definitely need a saddle to ride a camel. Camels are smarter, can carry more weight than horses, and don’t need shoes.) We moved to the music of “Alice the Camel has 5 humps…” (Reinforcing counting) We also talked about a type of lizard that can be found in the desert called an iguana and sang “The Iguana in Lavender Socks” by Pam Schiller. During Center Time the campers had the opportunity to paint socks lavender which, after they dry, will be created into a collage which will be available to view in The Little School. Since the iguana plays her guitar when she is happy, poster board guitars were available for sponge painting. Painting camels by rolling golf balls in a tray rounded out today’s activities. After lunch the campers used their listening skills as they heard Pamela Camel by Bill Peet.

Favorite stuffed bears and other animals accompanied the campers today. After listening to Goldilocks and the Three Bears by Emma Chichester Clark in one classroom and The Bear Went over the Mountain in the other class they participated in a variety of indoor and outdoor activities. The sandbox was open and the bikes were available to ride today, along with the usual swings and climbing structure. Campers painted with glue and sprinkled coffee grounds to create “Textured Bears”. Some painted bear shapes with paint. (Creative Expression) Yellow curling ribbon, googly eyes, paper plates, and Popsicle sticks were just a few things available to create Goldilocks Puppets. Indoor activities included lacing bears, Bear Bingo, and Sequencing 3 Bears Game (Cognitive Development/Math). Just like the 3 bears, the campers tasted “porridge” for snack. Each camper was given a small cup of powdered baby rice cereal and water to stir and taste. Some chose to add a little unsweetened applesauce to their mixture. Most campers decided they like the applesauce without the porridge better. Jim Henson’s Goldilocks and the 3 Bears DVD entertained everyone during lunch until carpool time.

Week 3 – June 28 – July 1 – Funky 4^th

The weather was PERFECT today – no rain, low 80’s, very little – if any – humidity. The Little School’s outdoor classroom was very busy. Circle Time began by taking attendance, as it has been throughout Summer Camp 2010 – holding up each camper’s name strip. Some recognize their names right away. Some need to hear the letters of their names called out. Others need a little help from their friends. (Name Recognition/Identification)  One camper wearing a t-shirt with an American flag was kind enough to help with today’s topic. We counted, as a group, the number of stripes on the flag on his shirt. There were thirteen “horizontal” stripes, representing the 13 colonies that were the first states in the Union. Other names for the American flag are the “Stars and Stripes” and “Old Glory”. The American flag has a blue rectangle bearing 50 white stars – which represent the 50 states in the Union. We discussed where we all live, some Chesterfield, some Ballwin, and some Wildwood. All of these are counties in St. Louis which is in the state of Missouri. So one of the stars on the American Flag represents the state we live in – Missouri. Campers used their listening skills during Hats off for the Fourth of July by Harriet Ziefert and Gustaf Miller. The Little School playground was very busy with the bikes, sandbox, swings, and climbing structure. (Gross Motor Skills) Centers were set up on the picnic benches outside where campers laced blue and red mostaccioli into necklaces or bracelets and made designs on construction paper stars with markers. These stars will be strung together and hung in the classroom throughout the week. (Fine motor Skills) Indoors, the campers worked their hand muscles building shapes with play doh, designed masterpieces using Bingo dot markers, and used their handprints to create a group art project – The Little School’s American flag – which is hanging in the classroom window for all to see. Some campers were amazed to watch their designs come alive as they held a crayon on a paper plate, letting the record player do all the work… The colors red, white, and blue were also a part of snack time – strawberries, blueberries, and whipped cream. We sang “Happy Birthday” to Dylan, who is 4 today, during lunch and the campers enjoyed a special cookie in honor of his birthday. The day ended with the Pledge of Allegiance with the help of the Big Book by Bill Martin, Jr. Everyone put their right hands on their heart and faced the America flag.

LIBERTY means FREEDOM. Brainstorming during Tuesday’s Circle Time led us to 2 structures in our country that have the word “Liberty” in the title. Many of the campers have seen, or heard about, the Statue of Liberty which stands on its very own island in New York Harbor. After seeing pictures, we counted the number of points on her crown and talked about how each point stands for the continents and seas found on the earth. Not many campers were familiar with the Liberty Bell. Pictures show a crack on the bell which, while no one really knows the real reason why the crack appeared, they do know it  cracked the first time the bell was rung - when the signed the Declaration of Independence. Today’s book - Happy Birthday America by Mary Pope Osborne – referred to a parade, with fireworks, which will be a part of Funky 4^th week at The Little School. Center Time involved creating Statue of Liberty crowns (applying star stickers to shapes cut from poster board) and Statue of Liberty Torches (rolling newspapers into a cone shape and stuffing them with red and yellow tissue paper for the flame.) A science experiment was also part of today’s snack. Campers discovered when they dropped raisins into a cup of Sprite, the raisins moved up and down in the cup. Constructing their very own “Liberty Bell” involved following directions. (Write name and the word “Liberty” on a 3^rd of a paper towel tube. Punch holes on the top and bottom of the tube. Cover a cup with aluminum foil. Draw a “crack” with marker on the foil. Thread a jingle bell on to a pipe cleaner.  Push the pipe cleaner through the top of the cup, through the holes in the paper towel tube and back down again. Twist the pipe cleaner to hold it in place.)

Water Day is something to look forward to at The Little School. Today was a little cooler than the previous 2 Water Days during Summer Camp 2010. A sprinkler, wading pools, bubbles, shaving cream and lots of water were added to The Little School’s outdoor classroom today. After listening to Happy 4^th of July, Jenny Sweeney! by Leslie Kimmelman the campers headed outdoors. In addition to water activities the campers were busy with Patriotic Bead Patterning - stringing red, white, blue beads onto pipe cleaners. (Classification) They were amazed to find designs resembling “fireworks in the night” after they painted black construction paper with glue then sprinkled gold, silver, red and blue glitter on top. Shower scrubbies dipped in red and white paint created different looking fireworks on blue construction paper.  

Campers arrived Thursday with their bikes, trikes, scooters, big wheels, and other various riding toys to prepare for a 4^th of July parade. They gathered in a circle around a tricycle to begin the day at Circle Time. The various parts (wheels, spokes, pedals, handlebars, seat) of the tricycle were identified and the use of each was reviewed (pedals for making it go, wheels handlebars for steering, seat for sitting, and brakes for stopping.) Bicycles and tricycles were compared. Everyone lay on their backs pretending to pedal a bike. Bike safety was discussed after listening to The Bear’s Bicycle by Emily Warren McLeod. Wearing helmets, staying to the right, and using the brakes were 3 lessons the bear learned in the story. The campers were very anxious to begin Center Time when they decorated their riding toys with crepe paper, ribbon, flags, and stars. Each camper was given his/her photo (taken earlier in the week) to hang on their riding toy. Fine motor skills were used to staple, punch holes, and attach star stickers to create windsocks and foam visors. The parking lot in front of The Little School was blocked off so the campers could ride their bikes, trikes, scooters, and big wheels in small groups. The campers followed directions and everyone was safe as they paraded from The Little School to the Ascension Elementary School parking lot where parents were asked to park for dismissal.  

The Little School would like to welcome Deacon Henry Purcell to Ascension Parish. Thank you for visiting us during Summer Camp this week and spending time with the campers, counselors and teachers. We look forward to seeing you again during camp next week. We invite you to join us during the school year as we celebrate special Feast days or any day you are on campus and can stop in just to visit.

Week 4 – July 6 – 9 “Imagine That”

 

Summer Camp was outside all day today since the thermostat read 87 degrees indoorsL There was a nice breeze outside so we ate lunch outside today too. Thank goodness the air conditioning repairman’s truck followed the parents through carpool line at noon. The rest of the week should be a little cooler inside…

Many campers arrived dressed in the color of the day – RED – to stay with today’s theme - Little Red Riding Hood. Circle Time began as usual with attendance (as the campers recognized their names when name strips were held up) followed by The Little School’s “Good Morning” prayer. Some very helpful campers held up puppets of Little Red Riding Hood, her mom, her grandmother, the woodcutter and, of course, the wolf for visual clues as everyone used their listening skills during the story of “Little Red Riding Hood.”  Some follow up questions referring to Stranger Danger were reviewed:

• Strangers are people we do not know.
• Some strangers are nice, some are not. Listen to your mom and dad.
• Little Red Riding Hood could have taken someone safe with her when she went through the woods to visit grandmother.
• What should Little Red Riding Hood have done instead when she heard a strange voice inside grandmother’s house?
• It’s OK to scream when you don’t feel safe like Little Red Riding Hood did when she saw the wolf dressed in grandmother’s clothes. The woodcutter heard her.

Campers worked in small groups during Center Time. Some played a Math Game rolling a dice and moving the correct number of spaces to reach grandmother’s house.  Green construction paper was at both the easel and one of the tables, with a variety of paint brushes and several different colors of paint, to create “wildflowers” for grandmother. Crayons, craft sticks and cut outs of a wolf face were available to construct a wolf puppet. Outdoor ball painting was very popular. Deacon Purcell assisted some of the campers who painted tennis balls with red paint then rolled them down a trip of butcher paper, creating some unusual designs. Red capes, baskets and glasses were available for dress up to act out Little Red Riding Hood’s trip to grandmother’s house.

 

Water Day is always exciting for the campers and when it was raining as the campers arrived we were wondering if we were going to need the sprinkler today. The campers gathered indoors to hear the story of Jack and the Beanstalk written by Maggie Moore. A picture of GIANT was hanging on the wall from floor to ceiling so after discussing the story of Jack 2 means of measurement – height and weight – were discussed. By the end of Circle Time the rain stopped. Water Day rules were reviewed before we headed outside to find the wading pools filled, sprinkler set up, and shaving cream and bubbles ready to be created into designs. Campers painted a green beanstalk on a very long sheet of brown butcher paper. They were reminded that Jack’s beans were “magic” beans which grew very tall, very fast. The little School doesn’t have “magic beans” but each camper had the opportunity to plant lima beans to take home and nurture.  In the story, Jack’s family didn’t have much money, which is why Jack ended up with the magic beans. So the campers painted their very own “tennis ball can bank” to help them save their money. After lunch each camper and counselor were measured with a ruler as they stood next to the giant. Their height was recorded next to the picture of the GIANT. They were able to see who was tallest and who was the shortest. Next each camper and counselor stood on a scale to see how much they weighed. Several campers commented that either they (or their grandparents) have scales in their bathrooms. Each camper received a green leaf documented with both their height and weight. They lined up – shortest to tallest - and hung their leaves on the beanstalk they painted earlier - lowest to highest.

“Rain, rain, go away” was silently chanted by the teachers as car doors were opened and campers were greeted this morning. Centers were set up in the classroom because of the spot showers which occurred off and on for about the first 45 minutes. Since turtles move very slowly campers were encouraged to “Turtle Talk” - saying words slowly, articulating each sound for phonemic practice. Most campers heard of a “turtle” but not a “tortoise”. Tortoises and Turtles are both “reptiles”. Tortoises live on land and turtles live in water. Hurry Up and Slow Down by Layn Marlow ended with the words “Let’s read the whole book over again” which is what many campers wanted. Today, like every other day at summer camp, campers rotated in small groups from one center to another with their counselor. Indoor centers offered play doh (green, of course, for the color of turtles) to strengthen fine motor skills. Another “turtle activity” involved painting a bowl with green paint and gluing its head, tail and legs to the underside of the “shell”. Tomorrow (after the paint dries) the campers will add designs to the “shell”. The other half of the story involves a HARE – not to be confused with what is on our heads (hair) - but like a rabbit or bunny. The words “hare” and “hair” are “homophones”. They sound exactly the same but are spelled differently and mean 2 different things. Campers had the opportunity to decorate a HARE with bingo dot markers. Outdoors the campers could choose between the bikes, play structure and swings. The sandbox was closed today due to the rain. Campers made a visit to Jesus in the Little Church while an obstacle course was being set up outdoors. Each camper was given an egg to carry with them as followed the “Bunny Trail” to deliver the eggs into the baskets that are the same color as the egg (color recognition.) They crab walked, walked backwards, hopped like a bunny, walked slowly, tried to keep their balance as they walked heel to toe on a rope, jumped 5 times on a mini trampoline, and crawled through 2 hula hoops before placing their egg in the corresponding basket. Campers went through the course an average of 6 times. During lunch, campers listened to The Tortoise and the Hare by Janet Stevens narrated by LeVar Burton from “Reading Rainbow”.

 

How do you feel about today being the last day of Summer Camp 2010? Campers arrived ready to explore their feelings with Snow White and the 7 Dwarfs. Another book about feelings (with fun monster masks the campers could try on) is called Glad Monster, Sad Monster by Ed Emberley and Anne Miranda. Each monster is a different color that represents specific emotions (glad, sad, loving, worried, silly, angry and scared.) The campers in the yellow room listened to and interacted with this book today. Since it appeared as though it would be a rainy morning, campers headed outside for gross motor time on The Little School playground as they arrived. They played a little longer than usual before Circle Time in case it rained the rest of the morning. Campers visited Jesus in the Little Church and prayed “The Little School Morning Offering”: God, my Father, I give to you today my whole self – my eyes, my ears, my mouth, my hands, my feet, and my love. Jesus, be with me all through the day. Amen.  

As campers gathered for Circle Time they were told they would really have to use their listening ears since today’s story would be a little different from the Snow White movie or story that some of them might have seen or heard before. Campers participated in an abridged (and not scary) version of Snow White and the 7 Dwarfs (where Snow White fell asleep after she took a small bite out of the apple.) Each camper held up a different character puppet as they listened. Some centers were set up inside again so they rotated in small groups from the playground to the indoor activities. Play doh was available as well as the weaving board, and small legos. Campers practiced their math skills by rolling a dice and covering the correct amount of crowns with jewel markers. After reviewing how many dwarfs there are, each camper received a number “7” made out of poster board and counted out 7 items (pompoms, golf tees, feathers, beads, material scraps, etc.) to glue on it. Many enjoyed the “Mirror Experiment”. Some wrote their names (others needed help with this) on a piece of paper. When the campers held it in front of the mirror they were amazed at how different the letters changed. They looked at their face in the mirror making sad, happy, scared, bashful, and grumpy faces and then drew their face on the paper as they looked at themselves in the mirror. Some drew different designs and were surprised to see the designs transform as they moved the mirror around on and by the paper. Some discovered they could see the back of their heads if they used 2 mirrors. After lunch “Walter the Waltzing Worm” played and the campers used their listening skills and followed directions as they “waltzed” their worms made of felt over the body part indicated by the music on the CD.

 

It’s amazing to think this is the last day of Summer Camp 2010! To those campers moving to different places or entering kindergarten in a few weeks, please come back and visit us at The Little School! To the rest of you, we look forward to seeing you at Open House on Thursday, September 2^nd.