Explorers (Fun in the Sun): Free Play

Connect 4 Launchers Game

When we arrive at Clubhouse, we first engage in free play with our friends. There are stations around the room set up with different activities. One of our new favorite turn taking game is the "Connect 4 Launchers." At free play, we practice how to join a game or an activity. It's a less structured time and we put our acquired and practiced skills to use, e.g., taking turns, sharing toys and materials, and staying with our friends.

We also played bowling today and used our self-made 'ocean in a bottle' bowling pins. All our hard work at Clubhouse over the last weeks definitely has paid off: We are pros in cheering, giving high 5s, and turn taking.

Adventurers: Newspaper Tent Structure (Fun in The Sun)

NEWSPAPER TENT: This highly cooperative activity was a big hit. We created a tent structure using rolled-up newspaper and tape. The focus was on teamwork to achieve a common goal. To attach the newspaper rolls two people working together were pretty much needed at all times: One person holding the newspaper roll and the other one securing it with tape. 

Here is the result:

To stay with the tent/camping theme, we also prepared S'Mores for snack. Everyone loved them.

S'MORES

Break a large graham cracker into two parts. One is for the top of your S'More and one is for the bottom.

Place one graham cracker part on a plate and top it with a large marshmallow. Put in the microwave on High for 10 to 12 seconds or until the marshmallow doubles in size.

 

Top the marshmallow with a square of chocolate and then with the remaining graham cracker part. Squeeze down until the marshmallow begins to puff out the sides of the S'More.

Adventurers: Summer Charades (Fun in the Sun)

Today, we played a games of charades. The category was "All the things you can find in the summer." Here are some of the things we acted out and guessed: octopus, sunscreen, sunglasses, swimming, hula dancing, surfing.

Charades is a great game to practice social and non-verbal skills (e.g., identifying expressions and body language) as well as to promote teamwork, to improve communication and to help with impulse control since the player(s) cannot say or blurt out what they are acting out. Its for all ages and it can be played in larger and smaller groups. Last but not least, charades promotes applying inference skills through visual clues.

Here is how we played it at Clubhouse:
A team of players drew a card out of a bag. They then acted out together what was depicted on the card, while the rest of the group guessed what it is. 

Here are some ideas how to break down the game and how to teach the game to younger students:

• Take turns drawing cards out of a grab bag, depicting summer activities or objects, and practice acting out what is depicted as a group first.
• Use a 'cheat sheet' with duplicate cards to help with the guessing.