Back to School Week

    SMART START'S 2022/2023 academic year has officially commenced! Our young learners celebrated the start of their studies during a fun filled "Back to School Week." 

👑The class circled at their activity table to decorate "First Day of School" crowns. Markers, crayons, jewels and school spirit were used for creating. Crowns Linked Here!

📸Students smiled brightly for their individual "Back to School" photo with a personalized board. Afterwards, a themed frame was utilized for friends to take pictures together. 

  ⭐Classmates showcased their "First Day of School Crowns" and SMART START t-shirts as they played in their outdoor classroom. 

  All are excited for another great year of learning, playing, exploring and growing at SMART START!  Our priority is to provide our preschoolers with a nurturing and educational foundation as they embark on their academic journey. We hope to instill and ignite a genuine love of learning that can last a lifetime. Children are the future, and it is essential for educators to empower the whole child in order for them to achieve their fullest potential. 

Thank you for reading all about "Back to School" week at SMART START!

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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💡

SMART Art

     Week three of SMART START’S summer enrichment program focused on the subject of art. Our young learners displayed their artistic abilities through a variety of student-led projects and activities. 

Read Below🎨

Creative classmates were provided the option to choose their own item. After selecting their muse, friends crafted with puff paint, markers, jewels, glue & glitter. The final products were flowers, beach balls & sun hats that perfectly accented each child’s individual personalities!

Fabric Puff Paint Linked Here

Imaginations intensified while coloring telescopes. This inspired an opportunity for pretend play as peers used their craft to explore the outdoor classroom. Some exciting things “discovered” were stars, spaceships, dinosaurs & pirates!

Telescopes linked here

SMART START Artists fashioned their very own masterpiece using poster board, bonkers, glue, glitter, sparkles, popsicle sticks and feathers. Although made with similar mediums, each artwork turned out exceptionally beautiful and unique (just like the children who created them!). 

Do A Dot Bonkers linked here

Preschoolers enjoyed decorating pinwheels while pre-kindergarteners designed puzzles. 

Pinwheels linked here

Puzzles linked here

To conclude the week of creativity, pupils sculpted and played with playdoh. This staple childhood pastime engages the senses and encourages hands-on constructing. The candy store and space set were the highlights at the playdoh table! 

Playdoh Candy Kitchen Linked Here

Playdoh Space Set Linked here 

Thank you for reading all about art at SMART START! 

🎨 SMART START🎨

Summer Science Week

     SMART START students were introduced to various branches of science during our summer enrichment program. Our hands-on, interactive, play based approach to STEM education enables young learners to discover and enhance knowledge through exciting and engaging activities. 

Learn more about our Summer Science Week below!

🧲FUN WITH FORCES🧲 

(PHYSICS)

Magnets are an excellent tool to teach about the concept of invisible forces and energy. Friends were fascinated as their magnetic materials magically pulled together. Others were puzzled when their magnets resisted attachment. We discussed how each magnet has electric charges that either attract or repel when placed close. Afterwards, all investigated what other classroom items were magnetic.

 Here is a link to the Learning Resources Magnet Lab

 

🧪EXPERIMENT EXPLORATION🧪 

(CHEMISTRY)

Classmates put on their white coats, safety goggles and convened in their “lab” to concoct and create. Each chemist was given a container filled with a powdery substance and instruments such as test tubes, beakers and eye droppers. All were amazed as the state of their mixture was altered as they added in new materials. Color, texture, smell and temperature were among the changes observed. At the end of the experiment, everyone had a unique matter to use for sensory enjoyment. 

🧠ALL ABOUT THE HUMAN BODY🧠

(ANATOMY & PHYSIOLOGY) 

SMART START scientists were eager to learn all that is happening inside them. Stickers were used to label posters representing organs and their functions. In addition, a storytime and other related items were incorporated to promote comprehension. All were most intrigued by the appearance and role of the brain, heart and lungs and accurately used terminology in conversations, “I’m going to remember with my brain”, “No running, my lungs are tired”, “My heart beats fast” etc. 

🦖DINOSAUR DAY🦖 

(PALEONTOLOGY)

Preschool paleontologists put on their pith helmets and aprons for the highly anticipated dinosaur dig. Peers were provided with an egg, picks, chisels and brushes to unearth their own prehistoric figurine. Species discovered were pterodactyl, ankylosaurus, apatosaurus, tyrannosaurus, triceratops and more! After a themed storytime, the outdoor classroom was searched for dinosaur eggs (water balloons!). 

Here is a link to the Dig A Dozen Dino Egg Kit (24% off on Amazon!).

🔬RESEARCH & RECORD🔬

(MICROSCOPY)

Throughout the week, the class collected small objects to observe under a microscope. The properties of leaves, crumbs, string, feathers and more were placed on slides, inspected and documented. It was surprising how many tiny insects were only made visible with the use of technology. This study encouraged pupils to question and examine the world around them and to make informed conclusions. 

Here is a link to Educational Insights Science Microscope (50% off on Amazon!)

🪐SPACE STUDIES🪐

(ASTRONOMY)

Aspiring astronauts arrived in another galaxy for an outer space inspired day. Activities included pin the spaceship on a planet, astro alphabet, star stories and moon memory match. However, the highlight of then event was the solar splash. All received an inflated planet to hold and circled around a sprinkler. This enactment of how planets orbit the sun was both fun, educational and refreshing. It was mentioned multiple times that all are grateful to the sun for these hot, summer days!

🎲GAMES GALORE🎲 

(LEARNING THROUGH PLAY)

Each unit was accompanied with a collaborative game component. Learning through play is essential for children to express their thoughts and understanding on subject matter while also challenging cognitive abilities, fine motor skills, cooperation and more. Dinosaur Escape, Operation and Melissa & Doug Human Body Magnets are class favorites (products linked above). 

We hope you enjoyed reading about SMART START’S Summer Science Week!

🔍SMART START🔎

All About Birds

    Learning in and about nature is an essential component of SMART START's core curriculum. Our young learners thoroughly embrace experiencing their education outside and exploring the world around them. The school recently engaged in a unit all about birds. These animals surround our outdoor classroom and capture the interest of our students each day.

Follow Along Below!

    To introduce this topic, the class gathered at their picnic tables to learn about the various types of birds. All were provided a poster visual and participated in a guided, interactive lesson. Cardinals, blue jays, woodpeckers and black capped chickadees were among the species discussed. 

    Afterwards, peers partnered together to investigate related materials such as a crow footprint, bird skull, nest, x-rays, models and more. In addition, the cooperative board game, "Hoot Owl Hoot" was utilized to teach about owls and the concept of nocturnal animals. Click here to purchase "Hoot Owl Hoot".

    A color by number worksheet was completed to reinforce bird identification. This activity also promoted fine motor skills, number & color recognition, cognitive abilities etc. 

    Future ornithologists were eager to use their newly acquired skills to go bird watching. Pupils put on binoculars and ventured outdoors. This natural endeavor was exciting and successful! The group overserved numerous types of birds by following their calls. Birds were located on trees, grass, fences and a few even flew right over the play structures. All concluded that sparrows were the most common creature that visits our nature classroom. Click here to purchase kids binoculars. 

We hope you enjoyed reading all about birds!

                        🐦SMART START🐦