Back Yard Club: Week 1, Friday

Look who visited before camp this morning! A couple of sandhill cranes. I definitely saw one grab something delicious to eat. It was probably a frog! The frogs burrow in that area of the grass and leave mud mounds as evidence.

Speaking of visitors, a couple days before BYC started I spotted a swallowtail butterfly.

First time I'd seen one in our yard. These are the simple joys nature provides. :)

Here we go...

Today's project choices were:

painting your putty sculpture from yesterday

fingerprint art

telescopes

salt dough free play

(Easel painting became do-a-dot art, it dries faster for Friday!)

Today we became rocket ships, hence the pointy tops!

Counting down from 10...

3...2..1... blast off!

Today we read a book called Look and Listen. We put these ideas into practice in small groups and went on a nature walk with our "telescopes" we made earlier today. We heard bugs whirring, cicadas screeching, and birds chirping. We saw butterflies (can you see the monarch butterfly at the top of the next picture?), bees, leaves with paths where bugs chewed through the center layer, and wild iris seed pods. Also puffy white wild onion flowers and bright orange butterfly weed.

We practiced our play with our scenery today!

Next we danced! We did some dances from earlier this week and added one called Les Salut. In this one we bow to our friends as we walk into the center of the circle, and the second time we go in we listen and FREEZE until the music picks back up!

Then it was lunch and show time!

I always enjoy making scenery from the freestyle painting. Occasionally a play will lend to some "coloring in" style painting as well, as with the dresser and boat. I love seeing what happens!