What We Did This Week
August 6, 2025
Today, our stars explored the wonderful world of rhythm through a hands-on musical activity using tapping sticks! With a metronome keeping the steady beat, our stars practiced tapping in time—starting slow, then building up to faster rhythms. Each child focused their listening ears and moving hands to stay in sync with the beat.
This activity not only brought music to life, but also helped strengthen important developmental skills through movement and sound.
What our stars are learning:
• Rhythm & Timing: Following a steady beat helps develop a strong sense of timing, which supports early literacy and math skills
• Listening & Focus: Tuning in to the sound of the metronome encourages careful listening and attention
• Motor Coordination: Tapping both hands together builds coordination and body awareness
• Self-Regulation: Waiting for the beat and adjusting to different tempos teaches patience and control
August 7, 2025
taste testing at summer camp!
Activity:
Children try a small bite of each food and help sort it into the correct taste category. As they explore the flavors, they use descriptive words to talk about what they taste and how it makes them feel (e.g., “That’s tingly!” or “It makes my face scrunch up!”).
What they’re learning:
• Taste Recognition: Identifying and distinguishing flavors
• Descriptive Language: Expressing sensations through words
• Comparison Skills: Understanding how tastes differ and where they come from
Sweet:
• Apple slices
• bananas
Sour:
• Lemon slices
• Sauerkraut
Salty:
• Pretzels
• Salted crackers
Bitter:
• Dark chocolate
• Kale
Spicy (Mild & Kid-Friendly):
• Mild salsa
• Pepper jack cheese (small cubes)
July 30th, 2025
Today, our stars had a blast during Parachute Games—a playful and energetic activity that brought the whole class together in teamwork and fun! Using a large, colorful parachute, we imagined we were in a big sports stadium with cheering fans all around.
Our stars worked together to shake the parachute like a roaring crowd, bounced a soft ball high into the air, and practiced taking turns running underneath as the parachute floated down. The giggles were non-stop, and so was the learning!
What our stars are learning:
• Cooperation: Working as a team to move the parachute in unison
• Rhythm & Coordination: Following movement patterns like shaking, lifting, and lowering together
• Upper Body Strength: Using their arms and shoulders to control the parachute
• Imaginative Play: Pretending to be at a sports event built creative thinking and excitement
Parachute games are more than just fun—they teach children how to move together, communicate without words, and celebrate each other’s efforts
