The Arts
Author, Author
Children who enjoy writing will love this! Individual magazine, newspaper and book “publication” are the emphasis of this workshop. Students will practice various forms of creative writing and illustration, and work cooperatively in the production of a variety of written media. Lindsay Clark joins us in making hand-sewn books.
Color My World
Floral Paper Crafts
Well, it’s spring, but we all need a bit of convincing!!! The wide variety of paper craft we will be choosing from will go a long way toward renewing our hope of surviving this seemingly endless winter.
Fun with Beads
We will be making colorful beads from clay, stringing bead necklaces from natural beads, and working with beading artists.
Fun with Beads, More
Bead people and critters bring many a smile, and make your back pack easy to recognize in a crowd.
Hooked on Art!
Art is done for the wonder of discovery, the joy, the experience. It is not our goal to produce work of art based on specific directions and similar to everyone else’s work. It is to develop a familiarity with the materials (scissors, glue, paint, collage, sculpture) and a foundation for lifelong expression of creativity.
Let’s Get the Rhythm!
Rhythm is at the heart of creativity. Through movement, dance, painting, and the making of a variety of rhythm instruments including maracas, tambourines, and rain sticks, we will explore music within ourselves
Nature Crafts
We will be using materials from our backyards, collections, and refrigerators, for identification and a wide variety of projects involving fruits and vegetables, flowers, leaves, and rocks.
Paint Extravaganza
Participants will experiment with different methods of painting, with an emphasis on watercolor and acrylic as demonstrated by two local artists.
Paper Making, Paper Craft
Students will have the opportunity to experience the ancient art of paper making and creative expression through the design of various types of cards.
Puppet Theater
Children will work cooperatively to write and produce puppet show. We will construct a puppet theater, create scenery, and make puppets. Friends and family are invited for a performance at the end of this workshop
Quilling
Participants will learn to make exquisite snowflakes made by curling narrow strips of paper.
Weaving I
Children will have access to different types of looms and materials to create masterpieces sure make them proud.
Weaving II
Children will create a loom from Popsicle sticks and proceed to make a belt bound to earn the admiration of family and friends alike.
Community
Community
We will visit with productive members of the community in an effort to learn more about each other. We will play games, do puzzles, read books, dabble in art, and make music while we’re at it!
Stone Soup
Stone Soup is on the menu as we rewrite our own version of the story to incorporate our recipe into this well known tale. Students will come home with a sample of this yummy and nutritious meal.
Occupations
Friends
Fire Prevention
http://growingplacescurriculum.blogspot.com/2014/08/fire-prevention.html
Environmental Awareness
Ants
Through facts, stories, activities and observation, your child will emerge with an appreciation of the cooperation involved in an ant community.
Birds
Earth Day
Legislation, community service projects, resources, and personal
Garden Club
Learn about gardening as we dig, plant, weed, harvest, picnic, and relax in the Growing Places gardens on Main St. and at the Center. Make a flower press, corn husk dolls, painted flower pot and terrarium, while observing the growth and change that occur as we care for our special hide away.
Gardening
All the ins and outs of designing, planting, and caring for a butterfly garden. Garden bed preparation, compost, organic pest control and choice of plants are researched; community donations are solicited, culminating in planting the garden.
Great Kapok Tree
Production of a play based on the story by Lynn Cherry. Costumes, scenery, program and invitations, food and music come together into a wonderful presentation for parents and friends!
My Backyard
Rain Forest: Life, Rhythm & Art
This event encompasses art, music, people, and nature found in the rain forest.impact will be examined through writing, song, and action.
Science Craft and Experiments
Sound viewer, wind chimes, spider web weaving, butterfly net, and more will be used in our exploration of the earth, water and air.
Tree of life, Life of Tree
Plants
Seasons
Weather
Nutrition
Apple Picking, Apple Pie
Reading and writing and ‘rithmatic are very much emphasized in this unit. We will go to an area orchard for picking as a basis for this learning option. (Note: Cooking and kitchen safety are a significant portion of this class.)
Blueberries Galore
This session starts with an early morning excursion to blueberry hill, followed by the creation of various delectable delights such as jam, pies, pancakes, fruit leather, and muffins. Needless to say, about half of the berries consumed will be straight up!
Grape Jelly
Children will be involved with process of making jelly, from start to finish.
Stone Soup
Stone Soup is on the menu as we rewrite our own version of the story to incorporate our recipe into this well known tale. Students will come home with a sample of this yummy and nutritious meal.
What’s Cooking
Math and safety are emphasized as the children are rewarded by the products of their cooking efforts. We will look at kitchen safety and the many aspects of shopping for ingredients; practice and compare measurements; make a collage; discuss our impact on the environment; create our own cookbooks. An adventure to the Tops jungle will precede preparation of soup, spaghetti, salad, bread and a special treat, to be presented at a dinner for parents and students.
Self
All About Me
A child’s expression of who s/he is and now s/he sees him or her self. We use photographs of your child: as a baby, with or of family members, pets, and home. We make pages with magazine pictures expressing likes and favorites, and include various works of art. A wonderful memory book.
Family
Feelings
Friends
My Body
Senses
Increase self awareness through taste, sight, smell, hearing and touch, and the many ways our senses dictate our behavior (food, music, exercise, care of the planet…)
World Culture
Black History Month
An Afro-American Celebration: music, art, folklore, food, and influence on history and culture.
Central America
Weaving, worry dolls, Hispanic paper flowers, baskets, tree of life, story, music, food, books, rainforest video and computer games color our week. Cris Riedel, guest storyteller.
Christmas Around the World
Children will begin to develop a sense of the traditions of other cultures and times through art, music, story, and food.
Make Joy-everything you need to know to create a well-rounded holiday experience
Clowning Around
In preparation for a grand finale for the season, we will produce a small neighborhood circus. We will practice pantomime, juggling, clowning, face painting, various tricks and illusions, and more. Then we will get into the kitchen to prepare the various junk food necessary to make a respectable circus complete!
Clowning Around Neighborhood Carnival
Pantomime, juggling, clowning, face painting, balloon animal sculpture, games, and more. Family and friends are invited to the Grand Finale!
Early Pleasures and Pastimes
Step back in time to the simple pleasures of days gone by. Through play, arts and crafts, story, make-believe, and cooking activities, the children will develop a sense of the past.
First Thanksgiving
- In-depth study of Squanto, his tribe and lifestyle (through creation of a model village), and their impact on Pilgrim survival during the first critical year in the New World
- Re-enactment of the events leading up to the first Thanksgiving. Script, costumes,
scenery, food preparation.
Halloween
Masks, spiders, web-weaving, frightening food, folklore, storytelling, and song.
Native American Study
Folklore, music, art, games, puzzles and food preparation allow for a window of insight into the Native American way of life.
Rain Forest: Life, Rhythm & Art
This event encompasses art, music, people, and nature found in the rain forest.
Storytelling
The art of storytelling comes to life in your child through music, art and drama.
Valentines Galore
Children are invited to attend with older siblings and parents, and will leave with a variety of handmade Valentines for the special people in their lives. Folklore, craft, poetry and food.
World Peace
Tree Top Haven
Family Tree
Many Children know little of their family heritage beyond living relatives. We will look at different methods of obtaining family history and leaving records for future generations. Develop an interview, obtain information from public records, create pedigree charts and family group sheets, design a personal coat of arms, and more!
Scrapbook Storytelling
We will design and create a scrapbook cover; marble, spatter, sponge and otherwise decorate papers for embellishment; build stories; and learn the secrets of making the beautiful scrapbook we yearn to leave for future generations.