Summer Fun ~ Part 2

July was full of exploration and imagination. During Safari week, the children studied animals from around the world and learned about the importance of camouflage. They explored how to classify animals by traits such as diet and activity patterns — carnivore or omnivore, diurnal or nocturnal — and how these differences help animals survive in the wild.

In Paleontology camp, the children examined how fossils and crystals form over time. They made impressions out of salt dough, cracked open their own geodes, handled real fossils, and studied the similarities and differences between creatures living today and those from millions of years ago.

Our final week turned to the world of Princesses and Superheroes, giving the children a chance to explore history, mythology, and storytelling. They designed their own crowns, capes, and masks, wrote original comics and fairytales, and learned about castles and knights, along with an introduction to Greek mythology. Along the way, they practiced sequencing and imaginative writing as they built their own stories from start to finish.

No explorer, paleontologist, or superhero-in-training skips workout day! Each day included physical training exercises that built strength, focus, and cooperation. The children also took part in water balloon and beanbag activities that encouraged teamwork and coordination.

Every day was filled with loads of learning, including daily instruction in handwriting, reading, and math. The children enjoyed many new lessons as well!

Wishing you all a restful break. We look forward to seeing you in a few weeks!

Summer Fun ~ Part 1

Our June has been filled with adventures of all kinds! 

We started the month with Pirate Camp. One of the first orders of business on Monday morning was to complete our pirate ship. The children then drew maps, created pirate flags, and bedazzled cutlasses and spy glasses. We learned how to safely walk the plank, build forts, and perform water attacks. We also learned quite a bit about geography, cartography, world landmarks, flags, and languages.

In Art Camp, we explored a wide range of techniques — painting, drawing, cutting, pasting, and coloring our way through all kinds of projects. We had some fun with our versions of Warhol and van Gogh as well as a mixed-media, layered seascape. 

In Camping Camp, we pitched a real tent right in our classroom! The children learned basic survival skills, and we dove deep into the animal kingdom — discovering what makes a carnivore, herbivore, or omnivore, and learning the difference between diurnal animals and their nocturnal counterparts. We learned the names of North American birds and mammals and practiced identifying them both by sight and by their tracks and calls.

Though summer camp is very art-heavy, we still manage to get quite a bit of learning in! Every day, the children explore the classroom and spend some time working on reading, writing, and math activities. 

We also manage to squeeze in song and dance daily and picnics on the slightly cooler days.

I hope you all enjoy your Fourth of July, and I can't wait to see you in a week!!