Summer Camp Week 6

Miss Roo

On Sunday night I asked Riley what this week was going to be and she replied without hesitation: "Lego Mania!" When I pressed her (assuming she was just making something up) she insisted, "Lego Mania, mom we'll play with just Legos!" The calender reveled it was "Game Show Mania." Hence the confusion, Roo has never seen a game show. When we tried to describe it Roo said, "You mean like Wild Kratts on the Kindle?" We told her no, that was a game not a game show. Then she said "Oh, like Wild Kratts on Netflix." We explained that was a show, but not a game show at which point she got bored and left. I had a few moments of feeling old at that point, who watched Game Show Network? I loved those cheesy 70's shows.

They learned about being good sports, trying new things, working as a team and playing fair this week. Riley explained how team apple won and got to pick from the treasure box and then later team orange (her team) won and "only got stickers." We discussed how we should be happy for our friends when they win. She was super sweet about it.

Isaac

Isaac spent some time watching documentaries about storm chasers and making a robotic hand. He also finished the library's summer reading challenge and collected his invitation to the end of the summer party! We also saw a rather impressive magic show at the library this week. It was quite humorous and the magician explained some tricks to teach some scientific concepts. Isaac also wrote an interesting story about living in a colony Mars that I quite enjoyed.

Week Six Video Wrap Up

Weekly Wrap Up Questions
1. What did you learn that you didn't know before?
2. What was the worst part of your week?
3. What was the best part of your week?
4. What was your favorite meal?
5. What was the weather mostly like?
6. What was your favorite activity/project?
7. How many books did you read?
8. What were they called?
9. Which book was your favorite?
10. Where are some places you went this week?

Sorry about my shaky camera work, gang.

Disney Reveal Scavenger Hunt

We decided to take the kids to Disney World for their first time ever, but we didn't want to just tell them. We kept it a secret until the night before. They knew we were leaving, but not where we were going. I gathered Disney related shirts, toys and stickers from party store and Disney store clearance sales and hid them away for the reveal. It was two birds really because it made finding out exciting and eliminated the need to visit any gift shops on Disney property (Amen!). I wrote a list of cute rhyming clues. Mike helped me fine tune and re-write them so that they led to each other.

There were three clues per child and then one clue to follow together and the answer card. I just used bright colored index cards (pink for Roo, green or orange for Isaac and yellow if it was for both of them). I also stuck a Disney character sticker to each one. The first clue was in plain sight when they came through the door. I had told them when I picked them up from camp/school we were going to do a scavenger hunt to find out where we were going on vacation. The first clue led to Isaac's first prize and a clue for Riley. They alternated from there and we tried to pick hiding spots that befit the item: Monster cup in the bed, Rapunzel shirt up high, etc.

The Hunt

Isaac's First Clue:

Isaac, it is time to flee to your lair,
to the place where you might go to get forty winks,
Be careful if you lay your head down not to scare
any lurkers that might have been having a drink.
Location: His Bed
Prize:
Monsters Inc cup

Roo's First Clue

If fun and fashion are what you seek,
You'll find this bucket in your seat.
Location: Her chair at the table
Prize:
Minnie's Bow-tique Bucket (to hold markers, etc in the backseat)

Isaac's Second Clue:

Before you find out where we're going,
you'll have to find this book.
In the place you'd go to find a towel
is the first place you should look.
Location: Towel shelf in the bathroom
Prize:
Monster's Inc Look & Find Book (Where's Waldo style)

Roo's Second Clue:

One of the furry friends you know has
a headband you'll love with a pink and white bow
Location: The teddy bear on her bed was wearing it.
Prize:
Sparkly Minnie Mouse Ears Headband

Isaac's Last Clue:

First find the throne, and open the lid.
Balloons fly high, so check the back on instid.
The granter of wishes won't be making a splash
but please take him with you to your big summer bash.
Location: Toliet Tank
Prize:
Oz the Great and Powerful Shirt

Roo's Last Clue:

Riley, Riley,
Let down your hair
I'm on top of the lamp!
And your almost there.
Location: Diningroom lamp (with a nice sturdy chair next to it for her to climb up and reach)
Prize:
Tangled Shirt

Clue for Both

Now BOTH of you slink down to the ground
where toys can look you in the eyes,
go to the beast that makes the most sound
there you'll find your last surprise.
Location: Leeloo's Crate
Prizes:
Slinky Dog Toys (from Toy Story)

Answer Card:

Tomorrow, it's time to say goodbye
to Leeloo and our Little Brown House,
and spend some time
at the happy home
of Mickey and Minnie Mouse!
DISNEYWORLD!!

I was really impressed how well the kids did following the clues! I got some smart cookies. Despite the Disney prizes and stickers on the cards not even big brother figured it out before he read the answer. This is the sign I made using a paper towel roll to stamp Mickey heads.

Thanksgiving Fun & Games

Kids out of school for a week? All your go-to activities canceled because of the holiday? No problem. God bless the internet. I went to Crayola first for some games and coloring pages, then I downloaded a free teachers packet of pre-K Thanksgiving activities. Last but not least, I Googled some big-kid Thanksgiving themed puzzles.

After breakfast, I gave them a basket of crayons and some game pieces to color. I cued up A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving and used the quiet time to do dishes, then I let Roo practice her new cutting skills and grabbed our counting bears for "bingo markers". Ready, set, play!

Game Time

Bingo went really well, I was surprised at Miss Roo's aptitude. We did play bingo at a recent Fancy Nancy event, so it wasn't completely new. I made sure they each had a different card (there are 5 different cards to choose from on the Crayola site). Then I cut duplicates of each card into individual pieces and tossed them in a cup. Isaac won, but we played until Riley had a Bingo too. Everyone was a good sport.

We also played Thanksgiving memory. If you're playing with a big kid, glue the pieces onto card stock before you cut them apart. The printer paper is pretty see-through. Riley got frustrated because she kept picking up the two closest to her, but I think she finished with 3 matches.

After the games I sent them out back to run around while I made lunch. After lunch it was nap/quiet time. Then I had individual activities for each of them. Riley did a "T is for Turkey" tracing sheet and a cut and paste matching letter sounds sheet. I gave Isaac a Thanksgiving word scramble and cryptogram.

Isaac solved his puzzles and Roo got most of her letter sounds right. Mostly I was impressed by how long her attention span has gotten. What a big girl. On top of which, she cut and pasted like a pro! Then my turkeys played until dinner. We had squid ink pasta and calamari, they gobbled it up.