Mad Scientists Day 1

The first day of Mad Science Camp was more fun than should be allowed at school!

This morning we learned about scientists and how they protect themselves when they are conducting experiments.  

We got our PPE on just in time to begin our first experiment with water cubes.  

We took turns pouring warm water in each bowl and began the long process of watching and waiting, otherwise known as patient observation!

Our focus today was physics.  We used these BIG words with the children and they caught on quickly. Our big project of the day was rocket building.

We used empty mini m&m containers and decorated them with tape and stickers. 

After snack, we went outside to launch them.  We poured a little water in the tube, dropped the bath tub fizzy in and snapped the top back on.  Then we ran for it!

The anticipation was more than most of us could handle!  

At first the rockets were not going very high.  We needed to regroup and make a change, just like scientists do.  We decided to try less water, and what do you know, those rockets when at least 3 feet into the air!

After our rocket launch, it was time to document and record our data in our science journals.  

We drew pictures of what happened and some wrote words to match.  W wrote, "My rocket went really high".  

Our story today was The Cat in the Hat.  That guy really knows a lot about balance and nothing about gravity!  We made our own Cat in the Hat inspired snack.  

We prepped our fruit by slicing it, then we stacked it in a pattern to match the Cat's hat.

Speaking of balance... we played a very silly game.  We had 2 dice. One listed body parts, the other objects that the Cat hat balanced in our book.  We rolled both dice and the children to balance the specified object on the specified body part.  Here E has a hat in left hand, a saucer under her chin, and her right foot on a ball.

This crew had to put a ship in their left hand, a saucer under their chins, and a ball AND a fish on their heads.  They did some serious balancing.

Our last activity of the day had us creating a group art project,SPLAT!  We tried dropping paint soaked pompoms from a variety of heights.  It was neat to see how the size of the splat changed with the height of the dropper.

Farm Camp Day 4

 Our last day of farm camp in the classroom was one for the memory books!

 It began like a normal day.  These little farmers made a circle of 92 pigs.

After story time with The Little Red Hen, we made bread together. 

Today's project in the sunshine room was crafting these funky 3d chickens.

Even though it looks like a simple craft, we were busy the whole time learning about the different body parts of the chicken.

How cute???

After we made our chickens, it was time to wash the animals.  They had gotten all dirty during our hoof-print stamping project, and needed a bath!

 

Today we finished up our Udder-Art.

In the rainbow room today they made chicken feed (aka trail mix).

 Finally, it was time for the excitement.  Mrs. Rae surprised us with a visit from one her mom's Sunny Hens.  

This is the moment right before things got interesting...

Mrs. Rae and her mom worked very hard to get Bertha preschool ready.  She had a bath, her nails done, and a healthy breakfast.  They even devised a plan that would allow our preschoolers to feed the chicken safely.  The plan was to pinch a piece of bread in one end of the clothespin and allow the child to hold the other end.  Ideally, this would have allowed the children a chance to encounter the chicken without getting pecked or germy.  

It really did seem like a good idea... until Bertha got out.  Then we learned even more about chickens.  Did you know they fly?  Well they do.  You have never seen such a kerfuffle.  Honestly, it was epic.  Please don't call PETA or CPS, no chicken or child was harmed.  You might consider giving OSHA a call though, because there are several Sunshine employees that will never be the same! 

We often joke with parents about believing what the kids say, about home and school, after-all they DO have amazing imaginations.  Today, anything they told you about a wild chicken escape, subsequent chase and capture is true.  I sure am glad there were cell phones present to capture the moment!

Farm Camp Day 3

Today was packed full of fun, so much fun that we didn't even get to all of the fun we had planned!

We had cows on our minds this morning.  We got our bodies moo-ving to a little Taylor Swift Shake It Off (Kids Bop Version) as we made butter!

We passed our bowl of heavy cream around the circle and shook it until it changed.

Then we explored the new substance-butter!

Next it was time to milk ole Bessie.

Of course I wanted a real cow with with real milk, but I have done that job and it is NO joke!

This on the other hand, was too much fun.  

You should have heard the squeals of excitement when the "milk" squirted all over the place.  Sometimes it hit the paper resulting in some amazing abstract art. 

Today we snacked like a cow.  We munched on these sweet bales of hay.

The project in the Rainbow room today was painting with tractors.  The farmers drove their tractors in the mud, then ran them across their paper.  What a fun, muddy mess!

Farm Camp Day2

Hello from the farm!  Today we rolled in the mud with the pigs.

We started our morning together with Joy Cowley's beloved  Mrs. Wishy Washy, and endearing farmer who has won the hearts of teachers and students for years and years.  

We used readers theater to act out this silly story.

Just when Mrs. Wishy Washy gets all of her animals clean, including this cow,

and this pig...

They jump right back in the mud.

To do our play we had our main characters, an orchestra section that used maracas to make the wishy-washy sound of scrubbing, and special effect engineers who blew bubbles to make subs appear. Everyone had an important part to play.

We worked up quite the appetite with all that acting.

So we made our own pink pig bagels! 

While 1/2 the group did acting in the Sunshine room, the other 1/2 made these precious pigs in a washtub in the rainbow room.  Bubble printing made this adventure even more exciting!

After snack we shared the story of The Three Little Pigs.

Then we discussed the scientific process and made predictions on whether or not we could blow certain objects with our own huffing and puffing. 

Then we worked with a partner to test our predictions.

We recorded our results using smiley/sad faces and gathered together to share what we found out.

Tomorrow we make butter and ice cream.  Stay tuned!

Farm Day 1

Summer camp is the best! It brings together old friends and new.

 This year we are adventuring down on the farm.  

Morning Choices have us making farm animal play-doh shapes and getting to know new friends.

We also spent some time dressing up our favorite vegetable: Mr. Potato Head.

G is having fun stamping characters into his story and already wonderful setting.

Gather around, its time for a whole group story! 

Today we read The Big Red Barn to set the stage for our learning this week.

Then we worked in small groups to complete 2 stations.

In the sunshine room we did farm animal yoga.  

See us kicking like a donkey?

And rolling like a pig?

Yoga was super fun, super silly, and really great exercise.

Time for centers... 

We pulled corn off the cobs at the sensory table.

We build a farm on the Lego table.

We curled up with stuffed farm animals and read books in our own big red barn.

And finally we kicked back for a little front porch sittin' at the old farm house.

After our delicious snack of tractor tires (chocolate donuts) we went outside to pull some carrots in our preschool garden.

Then we came in for one more story, Pete the Cat and Old McDonald's Farm.

In the Rainbow Room the children colored and cut out the characters from Pete's book.  Then we made little red barns.  As we sand the song with Pete, we placed each character in.  

Day one was busy, fun, and full of laughter.  This farmer is tired and ready to do it all over again tomorrow.