Crayon Rubbings, Fossils and Robot Dinosaurs

For Week 2 and 3 I was away for the BGWP and wasn't able to participate with the YMCA Summer Camp Activities.  I was bummed, the BGWP was a lot of fun and I learned and practiced some new strategies, but I am an artist and will always prefer to be making or painting something.  That being said, Week 4 for YMCA Activities brings on a study of fossils.  First, we went on a Nature Walk and gathered leaves.  Then we brought them back to our activity table and using white printer paper and naked crayons (without the paper, geez!) we made Nature Rubbings.  

If you are not familiar with these, here are the steps to jog your memory:  1. take a leaf and place it face down on the table.  2.  Place a white piece of paper over your leaf.  3.  Take the paperless/naked crayon and lay it down flat, like it's taking a nap  4.  Rub the crayon back and forth over the paper and the lines and details of the leaf will begin to appear.

We talked about how this is kinda what a fossil looks like, but it's in rock or stone.

We talked about how fossils are made (thanks to Bradley, my son, and his plethora of boys' books and dinosaur knowledge).  Then we made our own fossils.  Now, the first group made theirs out of a recipe I found on the internet.  It was on the Education.com website, so I figured it was pretty legit.  However, it was a mess.  The recipe was also inconsistent, the heat from summertime didn't help and the "dough" was either sticky (like sticking to your hands and table sticky) or it was too dry and cracked and fell apart.  So, we did the best we could with what we had and I switched it up the next day.  I went to Wal-mart and got the Air Dry clay.  SOOOOOOO much better!  I know it's more expensive, but it's simple AND there's very little mess.  I also picked up some poster paint and little watercolor paint palettes to 
color our fossils.  (I know that isn't legit to all you Science Teachers, but hey, live a little!)  
The Flour and Salt Recipe Lesson Plan and info can be found here.  
This recipe makes these little "sugar cookie" patties and after a day of 80 degree heat, they still aren't dry and they are breaking apart very easily.  Just FYI.

Here are some pics:

Goo and Iced Sidewalk Chalk

For week one at the YMCA Summer Camps, we looked at substances that were or could be solid, liquid and gas.  

I found 2 activities on Pinterest that looked really fun that also matched the Standards.  The first is the Goo, you know, that goopy slimy stuff.  It was actually a LOT easier to make than I expected!  We used a bottle of generic store brand white glue, water, food coloring, borax, a bowl, spatula and then a sharpie to write the kids names on the baggies so they could take it home with them.  I also read somewhere you can add glitter to the mixture and make it sparkly (maybe next time I will try that!).

It turned out really well, super easy to make, the kids helped with each of the steps and loved playing with it.  The ages of the kids range from kindergarten to 5th grade.  Definitely a keeper!  Here are some pics:

The full recipe and ingredients and all that can be found here. 

The next activity we did was play with Iced Sidewalk Chalk.  Now, this I made at home the night before and brought it in a cooler.  The kids LOVED the ice and drawing on the black pavement of the mini parking lot we had.  They drew, they played, they made stamps with their hands and they begged for more.  This one is also a keeper!  It wasn't too bad to mix at home either and then just grab the ice cube trays and stick 'em in a cooler and you're good to go.  Here are some pics:

Description, information and the site I used is found here.  

All in all, I think Week One was a success.  The kids all had a great time, I tried to incorporate the Science behind everything, but I was also afraid I might tell them something incorrect.  So, I stuck to the basics and kept it simple.  This summer is going to be a blast!!

**Now, I am not a Science teacher, I just went through the ES and MS Standards for FCPS and did my best interpretations and then searched on Pinterest for activities that matched up.  If you are a Science Teacher, plus advise but don't criticize, and if you want, please use the activities in your classroom or at home.  I will write a little reflection after each activity and let you know if it was a flop, or a Huge Hit!  

Ode to Binkie

Under pillows

in the car

peeking from under the bed

bunny noses

little frog smiles

comforts at night

midday naptime

purple

pink

and froggy green

"I need my bink before I get mean!"

They are everywhere I put my keys

my purse

the kitchen

the kitchen sink

Car glove box

5 under the couch

washer

dryer

bubby's toy box

At night

they like to disappear

when needing them is most dear

"Where is that little thing?"

I ask around

usually I can find them abound

But they like to hide

when we need them most

I swear we have like 25!

3 in each room

just in case

in my bag, the pantry

and next to the vase

We step on them, trip and kick, but when she cries

"What the heck!"

Where are you bink?

I think aloud

Ssshhhshshshshssshhhh

--but she's out --

Don't.Make.A.Sound.........   ..  . ..    ....zzzzz

Second Chance Summer by Morgan Matson

Over the course of the 2012-2013 school year, I participated in our Faculty Book Club and oh, man!  We had a blast!  Just us girls, laughing, giggling, eating snacks and talking about these book characters.  We sometimes referred to our meetings as our "book club sleepovers".  I absolutely loved it and I can't wait to see these girls again.  

I was so excited, in fact, that I already read 1 of 2 books that we are reading and meeting up about over the summer.  This first book is called "Second Chance Summer" and it's by Morgan Matson.  It kind of takes place at a family lake house (which was interesting b/c at the time, I was with family visiting the in-laws at their house on a lake, so the setting was perfect!).  

The main character's name is Taylor and her and her family go to the lakehouse to spend time together.  She runs into some old friends and an ex-boyfriend who she "dated" when she was like 11-12.  (Do kids even do that?)  The last time she was at the lakehouse, something happened and now she has to face her old "buddies" as well as deal with a family member who has gotten really sick.  

**WARNING**  There are parts where I was holding the book up to my face really close so my son wouldn't see Mommy crying, and then when I got myself pulled together, UGH, again here come the tears.  

I definitely recommend this book, some editing errors (pet-peeve of mine), but all-in-all.....thumbs up!!  :)

Now, I can't wait for our "book club sleepover" to chat about this book, among other things.  :)