SMART START Superheroes!

Summer Enrichment Week 6: Superheroes!

SMART START superheroes enjoyed days of play-based activities full of imagination and inspiration.  Our young learners are fascinated by all things "superhero" and were eager to learn how they can be heroic students. A fun and exciting way to teach and instill character values into the next generation! 

Fly along with us below!

🎨Classmates decorated their own masks and capes using puff paint, bonkers, jewels, fabric markers and stickers. 

Fabric Puff Paint Linked Here     Do A Dot Bonkers Linked Here   Adhesive Jewels Linked Here

📚Superhero studies continued with an interactive outdoor storytime. We discussed numerous daily actions that anyone can do to make the world a better place. Using kind words, sharing with others, telling the truth and working together were some ideas the class shared. Our school's S.M.A.R.T (service, mindfulness, achievement, respect & trust) character building blocks were highlighted.

🦸The group geared up in masks and capes to embrace their inner superhero. Peers motivated one another by showcasing their heroic poses, moves and skills. Some favorite superpower phrases included "I am kind", "I will try my best", "We can do it together" and "Let's be friends with everyone."

Capes & Masks Linked Here

🖉 A themed worksheet was completed to reinforce our teachings. Using a template, pupils drew themselves as a superhero and with assistance wrote their heroic name, superpower, individual qualities and who they would like to help. We were most impressed with the thoughtfulness and diligence each child put towards this assignment. Classroom Tables Linked Here

📙To conclude this unit, SMART START received an "Excellence in Children's Literature" certificate for our first published children's book and activity book, Courage is Contagious: Codas and the Coronavirus. Our young learners who contributed to the characters of Codas and his friends were thrilled to hear about the award and beamed with pride. Courage is Contagious was inspired by the resiliency of our class and students across the world as they navigated changes in learning throughout the pandemic. We hope that Codas and his superhero crew empower all children to express their thoughts, feelings and emotions while also finding ways to overcome fear and life's challenges. 

(New book in the Codas series coming soon! Helping is Heroic: Codas and the Community)

Courage is Contagious: Codas and the Coronavirus Book Linked Here 

Courage is Contagious Activity Book Linked Here

We hope you enjoyed reading all about superhero week at SMART START!

🦸SMART START🦸

Crop to Classroom

 Summer Enrichment Week 4: SMART Snacks!

Our young learners were introduced to the concept of, "Garden to Table/Farm to Fork" or as we call it at school, "Crop to Classroom!" Students embraced this topic through hands-on, experiential learning activities. 

View Below!

🌱The importance of "grow what you eat" was emphasized while gathering produce and herbs from the school garden. The group harvested tomato, zucchini, carrots, blueberries strawberries, mint, basil and eggs from the class chickens. All assist in tending to the garden and chickens each week and were excited to reap the benefits of their hard work! 

🍳Culinary skills were challenged as classroom chefs cracked eggs, sliced fruit and chopped vegetables in preparation for a special breakfast. Pupils were then provided the opportunity to scramble the eggs in a frying pan. Once complete, all enjoyed the picnic they created in their outdoor classroom. Our sectioned plates and no spill cups linked here! 

🍅The next SMART snack was school-made hummus and vegetable charcuterie boards. Preschoolers enhanced their hand to eye coordination and fine motor abilities while additional produce and herbs were picked, washed, peeled and chopped. Friends had fun smashing chickpeas and adding the necessary ingredients to make hummus. We discussed the numerous benefits of eating fresh fruits, vegetables and making our own meals. 

Incorporating the education of life skills is a core component of our curriculum. It is essential to present these teachings in a realistic setting that promotes independence. This allows children to try new things and feel confident in their own capabilities. These early childhood experiences can positively impact one's academic journey and instill a lifelong love of learning. 

🍽SMART START🍽

Construct & Create

Summer Enrichment Week 4: Construct & Create!

SMART START's indoor and outdoor classrooms transformed into a hands-on worksite. Our young learners were motivated and inspired to embrace and develop their interests to design, collaborate and invent.

🚧 Read About Our Activities Below! 🚧

👷Eager engineers put on their hard hats and got to work constructing and creating. Pre-Kindergartners challenged fine motor skills and cognitive abilities inventing with K'NEX & Legos while preschoolers enhanced hand to eye coordination stacking blocks. All were most impressed with the towers, robots, castles, cars, ships and more! K'NEX Set Linked Here

🚀 Collaboration and cooperation were put to the test as classmates assembled their very own spaceship. Cardboard boxes, tablecloths, markers, paper and measuring tapes were among the supplies used. Older peers acted as the "project managers" and fully accepted the leadership responsibility. All assisted one another with measuring, coloring and taping while also positively sharing and welcoming ideas. A perfect opportunity to reap the benefits of a multi-age learning environment. Once complete, the class piled aboard their ship and imagined their takeoff into space.... 3,2,1 BLASTOFF! Hard Hats Linked Here

🏡Budding builders practiced scissor skills and letter/sound identification through a cut and paste worksheet. Each child "built" their own unique house using "H" as the foundation. All envisioned what it would be like to live inside the homes they created. Afterwards, a pretend playhouse was built using jumbo building blocks. Melissa & Doug Jumbo Building Blocks Linked Here

💦A 90-degree day calls for water play! Friends free played with toys to construct with while cooling off and splashing around on the Slip N Slide Splash Pad. A great way to incorporate everyday summer fun into themed curriculum. Slip N Slide Linked Here

🍦To conclude this unit, students enjoyed a "Build Your Own Sundae" treat. Each received their own bowl of ice cream and an array of "building materials" such as bricks (fruit snacks), rocks (M&Ms), mud (hot fudge) & cement (whipped cream). Delicious! Caution Tape Linked Here

Thank you for reading all about Construct & Create week at SMART START!

💡SMART START💡