BYC 2017 week 1, Friday

Welcome to Friday!

Here's a picture as we read "Grand Old Tree," a great book about a tree's life cycle and how it is helpful to many creatures during all the phases.

Today we created

Mono prints

Lacing cards

Paper plate shakers

Wikki stix sculptures

Lots of easel painting today!

Three brushes at once!

We always have nature books to look at if kids are finished with their projects a little early.

Singing "5 little hot dogs" as we gather and head back for snack.

After projects we split into two groups.  Each group got to paint with water and check out my nature collection.  We looked at different bark, snake skin, cicadas and their exoskeletons they shed, nests, feathers, and seed pods.

Later we practiced our play and danced to some songs with our shakers we made today.

Now it is time to perform "The Three Billy Goats Gruff!"

I always enjoy the mob-style performances.  :)

Here are our wonderful helpers!  We have all had a fabulous week getting to know your children!

Have a wonderful summer and hope to see you again!

BYC 2017, week 1, Thursday

We kept busy today making

Bubble wrap prints

God's eyes

Paper bag puppets

Wall pockets (with light weight putty)

After projects we had a snack, which is when I caught this picture of our campers.

The kids worked hard on painting a rocky hillside and green meadows for our play tomorrow!

Next we learned about fossils.  The kids got to look at a bunch of real fossils through magnifying glasses.  Then we took leaves, sticks, and pine cones and made our own prints that look like fossils. 

We finished the day with some of our favorite traditional dances.  London Bridge, Ring Around the Rosie, Row Row Row Your Boat and We're Floating Down the River.

BYC 2017, week 1, Wednesday

Wednesday's projects were:

Potato prints

Weaving looms with pipe cleaners

Bean collages

Salt dough (to take home!)

Brady R. liked watching how the salt dough would slowly stretch and fall down.

Here are the kids...just walking back for snack time holding hands.  How cute!

We usually sing "We all go together and the teacher goes first."  I accidentally said "the monkey goes first," and then the kids morphed it into "the bacon goes first," as was being sung here.

I decided to take advantage of the beautiful weather and get out the parachute!

The kids are waving to their friends on the other side. 

Making a stormy sea...

Popping balls into the air..

Check out this bubble!

For the first time ever, I had the kid lie on their backs so we could "tickle" them with the parachute.  We'll definitely do this giggle-maker game again.

Tyler and Jordan read a few stories during our water break.

We practiced acting out our story next.  We have some great billy goats and trolls!

Last we danced our folk dances from Monday.  They are getting the hang of it!

See you tomorrow!  Get some rest, right!?  :)

BYC 2017, week 1, Tuesday

What a beautiful day!

Though I don't write specifically about the songs and stories we do, it is one of my favorite times of the day!  If you are looking for some fun and silly songs, look for David Landau, a local children's singer/songwriter and entertainer.  I tried out a few I learned from him today and it was so much fun!  Ask your kids about the 3 little muffins at the bakery shop!

Today our projects were:

Fold painting

Dream catchers

Paper plate masks

Salt dough (to play with and leave here)

String a bead on the dream catcher to represent a bad dream trapped in the catcher!

Emily and Tyler were students our first summer of BYC.  Now they are helpers!

After projects we took a nature walk with some mini books.  We drew the many shapes we find in nature.  Long pointy leaves, straight short needles, round leaves, round flower petals, and more.

The kids were so cooperative we decided to take a sneaky walk to the end of the driveway where we have lots of frogs!  We were super quiet and still and got to see 4 frogs!  Watch out, when the jump in the water, they squeak!

Water break, everyone!  We are sure to hydrate after a good walk. :)

Next we did some dancing to a favorite Wiggles CD.  

Captain Feathersword...here we are stalking a hawk.

I believe we are dancing like Wags the dog!

We got out all kinds of instruments to shake to "Hello Shaky Shaky."

We made a bit of a parade of it.

See you tomorrow!

BYC 2017, week 1, Monday

Welcome to Back Yard Club, everyone!

Every day at Back Yard Club we start with stories and songs. 

 

 Next the kids get to choose from a variety of art projects.  

Today's projects were:

Fold painting

Nature sticks

Mosaics

Pinch pots with clay

 

(Easel painting and drawing are available every day)

Nature sticks are a Native American tradition.  Decorate a stick (we wrapped ours with yard and perhaps hung a feather) and plant it in the earth.  This is a way to thank the earth for the gifts it gives!

After our projects and snack time, we read The Very Busy Spider.  We made giant webs with yarn and figured out how spiders catch their dinner!  We also drew spider webs with chalk on black paper.

Next we heard our story for the week, The Three Billy Goats Gruff.  Watch out for that troll!

Last, we took a whack at folk dancing!  Everyone always loves the Chicken Dance, from Germany.  We also tried a French dance called Les Salut and Seven Jumps, from Sweden.  These dances keep us hopping!

Every day ends with a last song or two at the blankets.

We had a great first day!