The Explorers: Hip Hop (Rainy Day Fun and Magic)

Hip Hop "Following Directions by Mark Pencil and Friends": This new dance game has quickly become one of our favorites.

 Here are the lyrics:
“I’m feeling good now! That’s what I’m talking about!”

So put your right hand in the air. Now put your left hand in the air.

Now clap your hands two times, come on, clap your hands two times.

Put your hands on your hips. I said, put your hands on your hips.

Now stomp your feet three times, come on, stomp your feet three times.

Reach down touch your toes, now put your hands on your hips.

Reach up into the sky, stretch it out now, stretch it, stretch it, stretch it out now.

Reach down touch your toes, now put your hands on your hips.

Now reach up into the sky, stretch it out now, stretch it, stretch it, stretch it out now.

JUMP JUMP JUMP

Jump, jump, jump, jump, jump, jump, jump, jump.

Now shake, shake it out now, now shake, shake it out now.

Shake, shake, shake, shake, shake, shake, shake, shake, shake, shake, shake, stop!

OK, its going to get trickier!  Listen carefully and see if you can keep up!

Are you ready? Yes!

Are you ready? Yes!

Are you ready? Yes!

Now let’s go!

Now put your hands up and put them down.

Put your hands up now put them down. Put your hands up now put them down.

Put your hands up now turn around.

Stop!

Reach to your left, now to your right. Reach to the left, reach to the right.

Reach to the left, reach to the right. Reach to the left, reach to the right.

Put your hands down. Touch your toes.

Now stand up real slow. Because we’re about to slow it down.

Shake. Slow it down. Shake. Slow it down.

Shake. Slow it down. Shake."

 

Painting with Different Painting Tools: Since we had a very good time painting with different kitchen sponges last week, we expanded the idea and explored painting with different tools (e.g., kitchen brushes, kitchen spatulas). The most fun brushes (provided by nature) were the pine needle branches we used. They not only made interesting patterns but smelled good.

The Explorers: Drip and Fold with a Friend (Rainy Day Fum and Magic)

"Now clap your hands two times."

Music Time “Hip Hop: Following Directions”: Today, we learned a new Hip Hop dance called "Following Directions" by Mark Pencil and his Friends. We all loved the dance immediately but also had to pay close attention to follow the directions correctly. The more contemporary style of the song/music is a great way to get even older students motivated to get moving.

 

 Looks like a BUTTERFLY!!

“Drip and Fold with a Friend”: We worked in small groups and created a collage by putting blobs of paint on a piece of paper. Then, we folded the piece of paper in half, used a rolling pin to spread the paint and finally opened up the paper again. We used eye droppers and spoons to drizzle the paint on the paper.

The BIG REVEAL

Some interactive play strategies:

1) Let the children negotiate where they want to place the blobs on the paper, e.g., in the fold, only on one side of the paper, on both sides of the paper. 
2) Let the children point out what animals, creatures, etc. they can make out after the paper is unfolded.

 

    STOMP ROCKET OBSTACLE COURSE Since the weather was beautiful today (no rain in sight) and we had not played with our beloved stomp rockets for a while, we decided to create an obstacle course with the stomp rockets at the end. We partnered with a friend and went through the obstacle course together: One task was to carry the bin with the rockets through a path of hula hoops requiring a lot of teamwork.

The Explorers: Sponge Painting (Rainy Day Fun and Magic)

“Sponge Painting”: We worked in small groups and created a collage using different sponges (e.g., scrubby sponges, kitchen sponges in a sock). We dipped the sponges into paint first and then painted with them on a big piece of paper. It was interesting to experience the different textures. The activity is great for students who don't like to be very messy since the sponges can be handled in a way that the fingers don't get covered in paint.

Board Game "Zingo": No matter what the weather is like outside, board games are a great activity at any time (rain or shine so to speak). Today, we paid extra attention to talking turns appropriately and to communicate with our friends during the game.

The Explorers: Vinegar Playdoh (Rainy Day Fun and Magic)

Music/Movement Time "Bop 'Til You Drop": We had a lot of fun practicing our "Bop ' til you Drop" movement song again. This movement/music game has quickly become one of our favorites. 

Lyrics to "Bop Til You Drop" by Greg and Steve:
"Come on everybody. Move and then stop.  We are gonna play a game called "Bop til you Drop."
Bounce, come on and bounce. Bounce, come on and bounce. Bounce with every ounce.
Jumpin' and a 'jivin'. Movin' and groovin'.
Bop til you Drop. Shhh! Time to stand up.


Float. Let me see you float. Like a feather in the wind you must float.
Go high and low. Go with the flow. 
Bop til you Drop. Shhh! Time to stand up.


Jiggle, come on jiggle. Jiggle, it's time to wiggle.
Jiggle until you giggle. Jiggle, go waggle wiggle.
Bumpin' and a'bopin'. Filppin' and floppin'.
Bop til you Drop. Shhh! Time to stand up.


Slow motion. Move in low motion. Under the ocean.
Just like you're in space. A slow and steady pace. 
Bop til you Drop. Shhh! Time to stand up. 


Spin, come on and spin. Spin, come on and spin.
Spin until you grin. Spin around again.
Twistin' and a'turnin'. Whirlin' and a twirlin.
Bop til you Drop. Shhh!
And that's the end."

Small Group Sensory Project “Playdoh": Today, we tried a new recipe to make playdoh. We all worked together and took turns measuring, stirring and kneading. After we had created a perfectly smooth dough, we used cookie cutters to make different shapes and objects. We also used small animals and pressed them into the dough. The imprints reminded us of our fossils (see 11-09-2011).

Here is the recipe (Resource: Mary Ann Kohl "Mudworks"):
3 cups of flour
1 cup of salt
1 cup of water
1/4 cup oil
2 tablespoons vinegar
food coloring

Measure and mix all ingredients in a bowl and knead. The smell of the vinegar makes it less tempting to confuse the playdoh with a cookie dough.