3rd Class 9/17/09

3rd LIFT class – September 17th

Today we started a unit study of EARS. We will be continuing our “ear” learning next week as well!

Using games, visual examples, and hands on activities- we learned some basics about sound and how our inner ear works!


By the end of class, the kids were able to point out some of the main parts of your inner ear on the picture they colored (ear drum, cochlea etc.)

A craft we did this week was making an “ear” drum. The kids did such a great job using their creativity to paint such colorful and unique drums! Every age did such a great job!
Not only is it great for them to be able to express themselves through art, (and a lot of fun to) it is also a good reminder for them of what our actual ear drum is and what it does!


THINGS TO DO AT HOME!

- Play the “what can you hear” game (especially fun outside): have the kids stand still and close their eyes and listen closely and name off every sound they can hear!

- Play some music, and let your kids march around and play on their drums!


- Have your kids describe what something sounds like! (for example: what does it sound like early in the morning/afternoon at our house)




PICTURES THAT PROVE THAT LEARNING IS FUN TOGETHER!!!!!!

2nd class - September 10th

For class this week, we learned about PORCUPINES!

First, we read about porcupines in an adorable baby porcupine documentary book and talking about some really interesting facts of these amazing and prickly rodents. then we looked at some fascinating pictures of them I had found online, and watched some videos on the computer of porcupettes (baby porcupines) playing, eating and climbing- we even got to see an adult porcupine fighting a lion!!!!

The kids had fun making those clay/toothpick porcupines they should brought home. I think we have some budding sculptors in our midst =)
We also read an cute picture book "a porcupine named fluffy" that was an instant favorite and the kids had to 'narrate' it back to me.

the kids learned so much thursday, and had a lot of fun while doing it!

In some classes we also played 'float or sink' a water game- where we learn about buoyancy through hands on fun!

What to do at home:
- Take your kids on a field trip to the zoo, and make sure to visit the porcupine there!
- Ask your kids to tell you about porcupines

Some of you asked what you might do at home to help capitalize and reinforce what we do at LIFT. Here are some suggestions that would energize and empower all of our LIFT goals for your child:

* Encourage lots of imaginative play- with "basic" toys and supplies. This has the mega benefits of developing your child's mind and abilities rather than have a toy or a game that does the creativity, thought, and work of play itself! This also means lots of outside time as well!
* Read - read - read - read!!!
* Probably the very best thing you could do to increase their attention span and develop their minds for creativity, thought, and learning (in addition to tons of reading)- is to limit any electronic device in their lives as much as possible. The less electronic media - the greater the learning, creativity, imagination, and attention span.

HERE ARE SOME PICS THAT SHOW THAT LEARNING IS FUN TOGETHER

1st LIFT class 9/3/09

On this website, I will be posting blogs and pictures of what we do in class each week along with some ideas for what you can do at home!
[This week I don’t have a camera, but our new one is on its way, so hopefully by next week I should have one to take pictures during class]

WHAT WE DID IN LIFT –
September 3rd 09

Wow. What a great first LIFT class. I am so pleased with the dynamics of each group.

I can’t wait to see all the great things that will happen in these classes.
For our first class, after warming up and getting to know each other with some dexterity and mind building card games, we dove right into some art history!

We learned about George Seurat, A French impressionist painter from the 1800’s. The kids seemed to just soak up the information like sponges.

We also had a chance in some of the classes to play an old LIFT favorite: Sox-boxes- where the kids have to use their hands to feel something they can't see and then describe it without saying what it is. Really good for practicing articulation and cross-brain thinking.

Here are some ideas of things to do at home that correlate with this week’s enrichment class:

-Go to the library and get some books about France (Seurat’s birthplace) to look at with your kids. Or find some interesting websites.

-Ask your kids to tell you about what they learned.

- Look through some Art books for fun (warning: most art books contain some nudity, so you may want to 'edit' them)


Each of your children were delights and I am looking forward to working with them!
Johanna

1st LIFT class 9.3.09

On this website, I will be posting blogs and pictures of what we do in class each week along with some ideas for what you can do at home!

[This week I don’t have a camera, but our new one is on its way, so hopefully by next week I should have one to take pictures during class]

WHAT WE DID IN LIFT –

September 3^rd 09

Wow. What a great first LIFT class. I am so pleased with the dynamics of each group. I can’t wait to see all the great things that will happen in these classes.

For our first class, after warming up and getting to know each other with some dexterity and mind building card games, we dove right into some art history!

We learned about George Seurat, A French impressionist painter from the 1800’s. The kids seemed to just soak up the information like sponges.

We also had a chance in some of the classes to play an old LIFT favorite: Sox-boxes- where the kids have to use their hands to feel something they can't see and then describe it without saying what it is. Really good for practicing articulation and cross-brain thinking.

Here are some ideas of things to do at home that correlate with this week’s enrichment class:

1. Go to the library and get some books about France (Seurat’s birthplace) to look at with your kids. Or find some interesting websites.

2. Ask your kids to tell you who George Seurat was, where he was from and what Pointillism is (the little ones might need some help remembering).

3. Look at some art books together just to enjoy ( but remember to use caution - some art books contain nudity)

Each of your children were delights and I am looking forward to working with them!

Johanna