The Adventurers: Space Adventure

Today, we went on a "Space Adventure."  We split up into small groups and then had to complete a variety of tasks and challenges. An activity like this is a great opportunity to work on teamwork and cooperation. Interesting group dynamics can also be observed. Who is taking on a leadership role? Who compromises? Who is more a follower?

SPACE ADVENTURE

1. COME UP WITH A NAME FOR YOUR SPACESHIP AND ASTRONAUT TEAM. WRITE IT DOWN HERE:

2. YOU LANDED ON THE MOON. EACH ASTRONAUT NEEDS TO FIND 2 HIDDEN MOON ROCKS BUT LIKE REAL ASTRONAUTS YOU HAVE TO WALK ON THE MOON TOGETHER AND STAY TOGETHER IN YOUR SPACE VEHICLE (HULA HOOP). COLLECT THE MOON ROCKS IN YOUR MOON BUCKETS. 

3. REAL ASTRONAUTS LOVE THEIR PLANETS. ASK YOUR FRIENDS “WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE PLANET?” AND WRITE IT DOWN HERE:

4. THE ASTRONAUTS ARE BORED AND THEY WANT TO PLAY A PLANET TOSS GAME. USE YOUR MOON ROCKS AND TRY TO HIT THE PLANETS. WHEN YOUR GROUP GETS 30 POINTS YOU ARE READY FOR A SPECIAL ASTRONAUT TREAT.

REMEMBER: GOOD ASTRONAUTS STAY TOGETHER, WORK TOGETHER, HELP EACH OTHER AND ARE GREAT TEAM PLAYERS.

The Explorers: Scooter Board Cooperative Game (Summertime - Fun Time)

Bubble Wrap Painting: We also did some bubble wrap painting. We worked in a small group and covered the whole table with bubble wrap. We painted the bubble wrap with brushes and then made imprints by pressing a piece of paper onto the bubbles.Of course, we also had fun popping the bubbles.

Scooter Board Relay : We partnered with a friend and first filled a cup with dyed water and then placed it onto our scooter board. The scooter board had a rope attached and we had to work together to transport the filled cup from one end of the course to to the other. The objective was not to spill the cup (so we had to go slow rather than race). At the end of the course, we filled the water into a bottle. The game continued until the bottle was filled. We later added glitter and trinkets to the bottle and turned it into a treasure bottle. 

At a first glance, this game seems to be pretty straightforward but it addresses many different skills:

• Negotiating and compromising with a peer: Who fills the cup? Who can pour the cup into the bottle first?
• Impulse control: The team needs to find the perfect pace so the cup will not fall off the board.
• Cooperative Play: Pulling the rope at the same time in the same direction, checking in with the partner.

 

The Explorers: Water Bead Fun (Summertime - Fun Time)

SURFIN' U.S.A.

 “Surfboard Musical Chairs”: Today, we revisited one of our favorite Clubhouse games. We spread out surfboards that were made out of foam board (we made those many summers ago at Clubhouse) on the floor and then put on some Beach Boys music ("Surfin' U.S.A." of course) and danced around the surfboards when the music played. When the music stopped, we found a surfboard to stand on. With each stoppage of the music, a surfboard was removed and we were encouraged to share surfboards. The game continued until all surfboards were removed.

Sensory Project “Water Beads”: This is the ultimate sensory fun on a hot summer day or any other day of the year. Kids of all ages love the feel and touch of the water beads and even adults can't stop playing with the beads. It's a colorful as well as soothing activity and we could have played for hours.

What are water beads? Water beads are actually meant to be used in flower arrangements to add color and shine. They come in many different colors and can be found in stores like Dollar Tree, Michael's or  can be ordered online. They look like very small beads at first and have to be soaked in water (for up to 12 hours) to grow. Then they look like marbles but are soft to the touch. They don't dissolve when popped but then turn into something that resembles Jell-O. We made enough water beads to fill two big bins and then added sea creatures, shells, containers, spoons, etc. While exploring the water beads, we worked on sharing toys and a space and to come up with different play ideas.

Here are some interactive play ideas:

• Look for small shells that are hidden in the water beads with a friend.
• Collect water beads of one specific color in a container.
• Fill a bottle with water beads.
• Add shaving cream to the water beads.

Caution: Water beads look a little bit like jelly beans so make sure kids understand the rule of not putting them in their mouths, especially when exploring water beads with very young children or children who like to explore objects with their mouths.

The Explorers: Watermelon Smoothies (Summertime - Fun Time)

Cooking together is a great way of practicing taking turns and waiting turns, following directions, and a sequence, acquiring new vocabulary and learning how to compromise (e.g., "You can pour the juice in and I add the sugar."). It also may encourage picky eaters to try something new.

Today. we made "Watermelon Smoothies."

Here is the recipe:
3 cups of chopped watermelon

10 strawberries, cut

Juice of half a lemon

½ cup peach juice

1  tablespoon of sugar

Put all ingredients in blender and blend until mixed well.

After finishing the smoothies, we tried them. Most of us really liked them and we all thought the smoothie tasted like summer.

The Explorers: Cloud Sand (Summertime - Fun Time!)

Sensory/Science Project “Cloud Sand” : We made cloud sand today. Tip: Prepare a visual recipe so it's easy for the children to follow the steps independently.

Supplies:

-8 cups of flour
-1 cup of baby oil

Directions:
Measure ingredients with the help of a measuring cup. Pour in large container or bin. Mix the flour and baby oil together with a spoon and then your hands until the dough holds together when squeezed.  It could take 3-5 minutes of mixing.

“Sand Play”: We went outside and explored and experimented with the self-made cloud sand, e.g., using our hands to form the sand into different shapes, filling containers with shovels, letting the sand run through a big paper tube, etc. We had two bins going, one was filled with the cloud sand, one with craft sand. Since the craft sand is dry and the cloud sand more moist, both felt and behaved very differently.