What We Did This Week
july 21, 2025
This week at camp in celebration of Reptile Week we had a very special visitor, Mr. Dorsey, who came to our classroom with an incredible collection of reptiles and amphibians. Our stars had the exciting opportunity to enjoy a hands-on learning experience right in our classroom.
Mr. Dorsey introduced us to a variety of cold-blooded creatures including turtles, lizards, frogs, and snakes. The children were fascinated as they learned fun facts about each animal, such as what they eat, where they live, and how they survive in the wild. Best of all, everyone got a chance to gently touch and interact with the animals under Mr. Dorsey’s careful guidance.
It was a fun, educational, and unforgettable way to bring our reptile studies to life. Thank you Mr. Dorsey for sharing your amazing animal friends with us!
july 22, 2025
Reptile Fun at summer camp!
Today, our stars got creative and slithered into the world of snakes!
Using Play-Doh and toothpicks, the children created their own snakes by rolling long, thin shapes for the body and adding fun details like patterns, “scales,” and even eyes or a tongue using toothpicks. It was a hands-on way to learn about these amazing animals while developing their fine motor skills and exploring their creativity.
What our stars are learning:
• Fine motor skills – Rolling, pinching, and placing small pieces to build a snake
• Shape recognition – Working with long, thin shapes to create a snake’s body
• Creativity – Using imagination to design unique snakes with different patterns and details
• Animal exploration – Learning about the structure and features of a snake
July 9th, 2025
Today, our stars learned how to make butter right at school! This hands-on science experiment gave them a fun, interactive way to understand how simple ingredients can be turned into something delicious. We even talked about the science behind churning the cream and how butter is made.
Ingredients for Making Butter:
• Mason jar with a lid
• Marbles
• Salt
• Heavy whipping cream
• Paper towels
• A dish to hold the butter
Instructions:
1. Fill the Jar: We filled a mason jar halfway with heavy whipping cream, added a pinch of salt for flavor, and placed 4 marbles inside to help churn the butter.
2. Shake the Jar: With the lid securely on, we shook the jar for about 10-15 minutes. The children enjoyed the shaking process while watching the cream separate into butter and liquid!
3. Squeeze Out the Liquid: After shaking, we opened the jar and found a lump of butter! We wrapped it in a paper towel and squeezed out any excess liquid.
4. Refrigerate the Butter: Finally, we placed the butter on a dish and stored it in the refrigerator to keep it fresh.
What Our Stars Learned:
• The Science of Butter: Our stars learned how churning cream turns it into butter and how simple ingredients like cream and salt can be transformed with a little science and patience.
• Cause and Effect: Through this activity, children saw how the shaking of the jar caused the cream to change into butter, helping them understand the idea of cause and effect.
• Fine Motor Skills: Shaking the jar for 10-15 minutes helped develop strength and coordination in their little arms.
• Teamwork: The children worked together, taking turns shaking the jar, fostering teamwork and cooperation.
• Cultural Learning: We also talked about how butter is used in cooking and baking, and how it is an important part of many cultures’ foods!
This butter-making experiment was a great way for our stars to explore science, teamwork, and even a little cooking! They loved seeing how the cream transformed into butter right before their eyes. Ask your child about the experiment, and maybe they’ll even help you make butter at home!
