A Rainbow of Colors: Silent Art "Rainbow Collage" (The Adventurers)

Today, we practiced different types of non-verbal communication (see silent art project) and continued to sharpen our friendship skills (e.g., listening to each other, helping each other).

• Rainbow Beach Ball Toss: Questions were written on the colored sections of a beach ball (e.g., “What games to you like to play?”/”What is your favorite color?”). Students stood in a circle and passed around a beach ball while music was playing. The student who had the ball when the music stopped chose a rainbow color and answered (or asked a friend) the corresponding question written on the beach ball. 

• Silent Art “Rainbow Collage”: Students were divided into small groups. They used different art materials (e.g., paint, glitter, tissue paper) to create a rainbow collage. One team member gave the other students in his group non-verbal directions (e.g., pointing, securing attention by tapping on shoulder) what art materials to use, whose turn it was, etc. 

Mateo is giving non-verbal directions to his friends.

A Rainbow of Colors: Gelatin Fun (The Explorers)

• Music Time: Our rainbow half circles were arranged in a way so that two students were facing each other. When the music played, students danced around the rainbow circles. When the music stopped, they found a rainbow color to stand on. The students then came up with different types of greetings (e.g., waving, shaking hands) and greeted the partner they were facing.
• “Gelatin Rainbow Fun”: Students used eyedroppers to inject rainbow colors into a gelatin mold. We observed and experimented how the water colors spread out in the gelatin. We also explored the material further with popsicle sticks and spoons. The activity was a huge success.

 

  

•  Rainbow Relay "Rainbow Sparkle Bottle”: Students went through an obstacle course together and carried a cup of water. At the end of the course, they topped off a bottle with the water.  The bottle was filled with glitter and turned into a magic sparkle bottle. Teamwork was required to make the bottle sparkle and everyone did a fantastic job being very careful while carrying the cup of water through the obstacle course.

A Rainbow of Colors: Rainbow Sparkle Bottle (The Adventurers)

Today, it was all about teamwork and cooperation. 

·        “Parachute Play”: We played with the parachute and focused on learning our friends’ names, e.g., trading places with a friend, trying to roll a beach ball to a specific friend.

·        Small Group Art Project “Rainbow Sparkle Bottle”: Students created a rainbow of swirling colors by filling small plastic bottles with light corn syrup, water and glitter. Students were encouraged to help each other to complete this project.

How to create a Magic Sparkle Bottle:
Fill bottle about 3/4 (or less) full with corn syrup (light corn syrup works best).
Add glitter.
Fill the rest of the bottle with cold water.
Tape the bottle cap.

Nicco with his glitter bottle.

·         “Fly to the Rainbow”: Students partnered up and completed an obstacle course together. Cooperation was required (e.g., carrying a beach ball together). At the end of the course, they activated stomp rockets and pretended that the rockets would reach a rainbow.

Working Together

A Rainbow of Colors: Plexiglass Painting (The Explorers)

Today, we focused on greetings, turn taking and sharing materials as well as working together.

“Rainbow Plexiglass Paintings”: Students applied dabs of paint (rainbow colors) with the help of Q-tips onto a piece of paper. When the paper was covered with colorful dots, a piece of plexiglass was placed onto the paper. The paint spread and interesting patterns appeared. The students were encouraged to move around the paint by applying pressure to the plexi with their fingers. 

•  “Rainbow Color Scavenger Hunt”: Students dug for different colored objects in the sandbox and matched their found objects to the corresponding color of a rainbow.

A Rainbow of Colors: Rainbow Musical Chair with a Twist (The Adventurers)

One of today’s main goals was to get to know our new Clubhouse friends and to have a good time! 

Music Time “Rainbow Musical Chairs with a Twist”: Half circles (colors of the rainbow) were spread out on the floor. The students danced around the circles when the music stopped they found a color to stand on. One student pulled a color patch from a bag and the corresponding colored circles were turned over. A question was written on the backside of the circle (e.g., “What’s your favorite color?” “What games do you like to play?”). The students whose color was called answered the question and then removed their circles. The game continued until all circles were removed.

Small group Art Project “Rainbow Marble Painting”: Students inserted paper into a cardboard mailing tube. They added paint and mixed primary colors to create all colors of the rainbow. They added marbles and shook the tube. The marbles created beautiful patterns that resembled a rainbow. The paintings will be used as placemats throughout the winter session. 




BIA Handshake: We practiced our new handshake during the closing ritual. Two students partnered up and followed a variety of hand movements to our rainbow chant "Red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple - it's a rainbow!"

Welcome back, Explorers!

We were so excited to see our Clubhouse friends again. Most of our friends returned for the winter session. 7 students are enrolled in the Explorers group. 

Clubhouse staff: Last minute preparations!

• “Rainbow Musical Chairs”: Half circles (colors of the rainbow) were spread out on the floor. The students danced around the circles; when the music stopped they found a color to stand on. One student pulled a color patch from a bag and removed the half circles in that color. The game continued until all circles were removed. At the end, the students gathered and worked together to arrange the half circles into a rainbow.
• Small Group Art Project “Rainbow Marble Painting”: Students inserted paper into a cardboard mailing tube. They added paint (colors of the rainbow) and marbles and shook the tube. The marbles created beautiful patterns that resembled a rainbow. The paintings will be used as placemats throughout the winter session.

Our rainbow placemats

•  “Fly to the Rainbow”: Students partnered up and completed an obstacle course together (e.g., balancing a spoon with a plastic egg through hula hoops). At the end of the course, they activated stomp rockets and pretended that the rockets reached a rainbow. The stomp rockets were a big hit.

Winter Clubhouse 2011