Get$into$Gear$ for$the$School$Year!

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Get$into$Gear$
for$the$School$Year!$
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A$Summer$Learning$Day$Event$
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For!more!information!regarding!this!event,!
contact!Paige!Erwin!or!Brittany!Cannon!
[email protected]!
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Get$into$Gear$for$the$School$Year$0$$
A"Summer"Learning"Day"Event"
"
This%Information%Packet%can%be%used%as%a%reference%guide%for%both%
instructors%and%parents.%The%first%half%of%this%guide%offers%a%brief%explanation%
of%this%Summer%Learning%Day%event,%as%well%as%a%detailed%description%about%
the%instructions%and%activities%at%each%base.%%The%last%three%pages%are%
informational%tips%for%parents,%and%should%be%copied%and%passed%out%to%
every%available%parent/guardian.%%%
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STEM%EDmail%Blast%
STEM%Activity%Overview%
SLD%At%Home%Tips%
SLD%Tips%for%Parents%(English)%
SLD%Tips%for%Parents%(Spanish)%
Get$into$Gear$for$the$School$Year$$$
(A$Summer$Learning$Day$Event)$
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Summer$Learning$Day!is!June!20,!so!“Batter&up&and&run&the&STEM&Bases!”!!!
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To!celebrate,!Summer!Care!program!attendees!have!the!opportunity!to!participate!in!an!
interactive!baseball>inspired!learning!activity!with!emphasis!on!Science,!Technology,!
Engineering!and!Math!skills,!as!well!as!the!local!Summer!Reading!initiatives.!!At!the!end!of!the!
event,!each!child!will!walk!away!with!a!better!understanding!of!how!STEM!principles!can!be!
incorporated!into!daily!life!and!how!to!use!a!calendar!for!planning/goal>setting.!!!
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The!participants!may!be!broken!up!into!groups/teams!to!"run!the!STEM!bases",!just!like!playing!
a!baseball!game.!!The!activity!will!take!60>90!minutes,!allowing!approximately!15!minutes!per!
‘base’.!!You!may!choose!to!coordinate!the!activity!in!a!gym!in!the!shape!of!a!baseball!diamond!
or!in!separate!rooms!with!each!representing!a!base!–!whatever!is!easiest!for!you!!!Also,!if!it!fits!
your!schedule!better,!the!program!can!be!kicked!off!on!June!20!and!each!‘base’!activity!can!be!
facilitated!over!the!next!three!Friday’s,!or!any!additional!three!or!more!days!throughout!the!
summer.!!!
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All!of!the!materials!are!attached,!including!Activity!Leader’s!guides,!and!we!are!available!to!
answer!any!questions!you!may!have.!!In!fact,!we’d!love%to!stop!by!your!site!for!a!visit!on!June!20!
to!see!the!kids!in!action!!!!
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Get$into$Gear$for$the$School$Year$0$$
A$Summer$Learning$Day$Event$
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Thanks!for!participating!in!this!event,!and!for!celebrating!Summer!
Learning!Day!on!June!20th!!Now!batter!up!and!get!ready!to!"run!
the!STEM!bases!"!
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This!event!focuses!on!bringing!awareness!to!both!the!importance!of!summer!
reading,!and!understanding!the!STEM!principles.!In!this!manual,!you!will!find!a!complete!
set!of!instructions!and!templates!for!each!activity!planned.!These!activities!are!meant!to!
be!very!flexible!and!allow!you!to!have!many!options!when!deciding!which!to!participate!
in.!The!last!three!pages!also!include!reading!tips!for!parents,!both!in!English!and!
Spanish,!so!it!is!strongly!encouraged!that!you!share!these!with!all!parents!!
!
!To!represent!each!STEM!focus,!individual!"bases"!have!been!created!to!
incorporate!reading!and!baseball.!Included!in!this!manual!are!four!(4)!Base!templates,!
which!can!be!printed!and!used!to!separate!the!different!base!stations.!Depending!on!
the!location,!you!may!want!to!coordinate!the!activities!in!a!diamond!shape!(like!a!
baseball!field,)!or!you!can!even!separate!each!base!into!different!rooms.!All!participants!
can!be!broken!up!into!groups/teams,!and!each!group!will!spend!approximately!15P20!
minutes!at!each!base!(unless!you!are!breaking!up!this!event!into!more!than!one!day,!in!
which!case!you!can!spend!as!much!time!as!you'd!like!on!each!one.)!!
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As!they!begin,!each!child!will!receive!a!blank!iPad!template,!which!will!be!
incorporated!into!the!activities!at!each!base.!They!will!also!be!given!a!brown!paper!bags!
to!hold!any!items!or!papers!they!receive.!Below!is!a!detailed!description!of!each!base,!
describing!each!possible!activity!and!potential!rewards!that!may!be!received.!
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• Science!Base:!
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At!this!base,!kids!will!be!able!to!see!that!science!can!be!applied!using!easyPtoPfind,!
everyday!materials.!They!will!expand!their!knowledge!on!a!wide!variety!of!subjects,!
including!animals,!sound!effects!and!the!results!from!mixing!ingredients.!The!Activity!
Leader!will!facilitate!2P3!of!the!following!experiments,!which!are!explained!in!brief!detail!
below.!The!full!instructions!for!each!experiment!can!be!found!inside!the!manual.!
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o Alka!Rocket!–!As!seen!by!Tim!the!Science!Guy,!this!experiment!will!create!
excitement!and!teach!kids!that!each!action!has!a!complete!and!opposite!
reaction.!
o Goldfish!Guesses/Fish!Hook!Hunches!–!Two!versions!of!this!measurement!
experiment!are!included,!depending!on!which!resources!are!available.!
•
o Invisible!Ink!–!Write!a!secret!message!to!family!and!friends!using!only!one!
ingredient.!
o Color,!Light,!Heat!–!A!practical!experiment!involving!temperature!and!
colors.!!
o Sink!or!Float!–!Using!an!orange,!kids!can!think!about!how!changing!an!
object!can!affect!the!results.!
o Dominant!Side!–!Identify!your!dominant!side!by!testing!out!some!fun!
exercises.!Applicable!for!younger!children.!!
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Technology!Base:!
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This!base!will!reflect!on!the!effectiveness!of!using!technology!in!everyday!life.!For!
children!that!are!not!regularly!exposed!to!this!kind!of!technology,!it!will!give!them!a!
chance!to!familiarize!themselves!with!the!layout!and!also!have!some!fun!using!a!
resource!that!otherwise!might!not!be!available!to!them.!!
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o Using!their!iPad!template,!kids!will!be!able!to!add!“apps”!to!their!screen!
using!a!pointsPbased!system.!Each!app!is!worth!between!0P2!points,!and!
all!iPads!can!hold!up!to!10!points.!These!points!will!be!applied!at!the!
Math!Base,!where!the!number!of!points!received!equals!the!number!of!
stickers!received.!A!full!list!of!all!app!names!and!descriptions!is!included!
with!the!instructions!for!this!base.!There!will!also!be!a!free!"CreatePyourP
own"!app!option,!to!give!children!the!opportunity!to!create!and!design!
an!app!from!their!imagination.!!
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• Engineering!Base:!!
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At!this!base,!kids!will!learn!the!importance!of!play,!and!that!taking!a!break!from!
using!technology!is!not!only!okay!to!do,!but!also!encouraged.!!!
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o This!activity!starts!by!playing!Musical!Chairs,!but!with!a!few!key!
differences:!instead!of!using!chairs,!hulaPhoops!or!tape!can!be!
substituted!in;!instead!of!music,!a!story!will!be!read!to!the!kids.!At!each!
break!in!the!story,!kids!will!try!to!land!inside!the!hoops,!with!the!last!
person!being!"out."!!
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o The!game!will!continue!until!there!is!only!one!child!left;!however,!as!
each!child!gets!out,!they!will!have!the!opportunity!to!use!their!
engineering!skills!by!building!a!Cup!Tower.!Whether!they!are!using!
examples!from!famous!structures!(the!Eiffel!Tower,!Pyramids,!Empire!
State!Building,!etc)!or!using!their!imagination,!each!kid!will!be!able!to!
build!their!own!tower.!By!the!end!of!the!activity,!all!children!should!have!
a!tower!built,!creating!a!city!of!towers.!!!
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Math!Base:!
Not!only!will!basic!math!skills!be!applied!to!this!base,!but!children!will!also!have!
an!opportunity!to!exercise!time!management,!goalPsetting/planning!and!
organization!skills.!!
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o Opening!the!Calendar!app,!kids!will!receive!a!calendar!printout!for!the!
summer!months,!JunePAugust.!Using!different!colored!stickers,!kids!can!
plan!for!future!events!(1st!day!of!school,!end!of!Summer!Care!program,!
etc.)!and!set!individual!goals!(read!this!many!books!by!____).!Besides!
picking!a!goal!date,!children!will!be!able!to!count!down!the!days!until!
their!goal!is!complete,!which!reinforces!planning!and!time!management,!
as!well!as!exercises!math!skills.!!
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o Kids!will!also!color!and!fill!out!a!personalized!bookmark.!On!one!side,!
children!can!draw!out!one!of!their!goals!they!want!to!accomplish!by!the!
end!of!summer.!The!other!side!will!focus!mainly!on!their!summer!
reading!goals.!At!the!top,!children!can!write!in!1P2!of!their!favorite!books!
on!their!summer!reading!list.!Below,!they!can!keep!track!of!their!
progress!by!crossing!out!numbers!as!they!read!more!books.!!
!!!
ACTIVITIES AT HOME
SUMMER LEARNING AT HOME: IDEAS FOR PARENTS
It’s important for all children and young people to keep learning in summer. All young people experience learning losses when they do not engage in educational activities during the
summer. Ensuring your kids are learning, and having fun while learning, during the summer can
be a challenge. Below are some ways you can incorporate learning into your child’s summer while at home or out and about.
Visit your local library. Check out books from your local library and set aside time every day to
read to or with your child. Participate in a free, age-appropriate library summer program.
The “write” stuff. Encourage your child to keep a journal about the books they are reading,
their favorite summer events or activities, and the new friends they’ve made. Take advantage of free or low-cost local activities. Take educational trips to your local
museum, zoo, park, or nature center. Encourage kids to write about their trip and what they
thought about it.
Plan and plant a garden. Include your child in your gardening. Decide where to plant, measure
the perimeter, visit your local nursery, and let your child help choose plants that will best suit
your planned garden, along with supplies.
Use counting skills in every day activities and errands. Baking a cake? Let your child help count
out the number of cups of flour and tablespoons of oil, or how many minutes to mix the batter.
Do good together. Volunteer in your community and bring your child along. Whether it’s cleaning up a local park or collecting supplies for your local animal shelter, volunteering with
your children today will turn them into future volunteers.
Get active. Children are at a higher risk of weight gain during the summer than the school year.
Get out with your child. Take a nature hike, play soccer, or go for a swim at your community
pool.
Encourage creativity. Have your child write a “5 minute haiku” about something they saw while on a nature hike or a visit to the museum. A haiku is a Japanese poem written in 17 syllables
divided into 3 lines of 5, 7, and 5 syllables.
summerlearning.org/SLD
Summer Spells SUCCESS
What parents can do to keep kids sharp over the summer
Set goals and issue a challenge
Understand your child’s interests
Communicate with teachers and caregivers
Create intentional learning experiences
Engage kids with creative, low-cost activities
Sustain routine and structure
Set limits and communicate expectations
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Locate a summer program that fits your budget. Programs
offered by schools, recreation centers, universities, and
community-based organizations often have an educational or
enrichment focus.
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Head to the library. It’s a great, free resource. Check out
books that interest your child. Participate in free library summer
programs and make time to read every day.
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Focus on communication. Encourage your child to discuss or
write about the books he or she is reading, or keep a journal of
favorite events and activities during the summer.
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Play outside. Power down the TV and electronic games and,
instead, seek out or organize physical activities that contribute
to healthy development.
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Do a community service project. Teach your child how to
volunteer in your community. Cleaning up a local park or
collecting supplies for an animal shelter builds compassion for
others as well as community pride.
■
Keep a schedule. Continue daily routines during the summer
with structure and limits. The key is providing a balance and
keeping kids engaged.
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Prepare for fall. Find out what your child will be learning
during the next school year by talking with teachers at that
grade level. Many schools prepare summer packets of activities
highlighting math and reading skills for the next grade level.
Preview concepts and materials over the summer.
Take advantage of local amenities. Take free or low-cost
educational trips to parks, museums, zoos and nature centers.
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Explore and learn. If you are taking a day trip by car, choose a
place with an educational theme. Camping is a low-cost way to
get outside and learn about nature.
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Give math meaning. Measure items around the house or yard.
Track daily temperatures. Add and subtract at the grocery store.
Learn fractions while cooking.
Find out more at: www.summerlearning.org
© 2010 National Summer Learning Association. Reproduction of this original work
permitted for personal, non-profit, and non-commercial use without further permission.
Verano = ÉXITO = SUCCESS
¿Qué pueden hacer los padres para tener niños avispados en el verano?
Seleccionar metas y plantearse el reto
Una comprensión de los intereses de su niño
Comunicarse con profesores y cuidadores
Crear experiencias de aprendizaje intencionales
Entretener a los niños con actividades creativas y baratas
Seguir siempre una estructura y una rutina
Seleccionar y fijar límites y comunicar sus expectativas
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Ubique un programa de verano que se ajuste a su presupuesto.
Los programas que ofrecen las escuelas, los centros recreativos,
las universidades y las organizaciones comunitarias suelen tener
un enfoque educativo o de enriquecimiento.
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Diríjase a la biblioteca. Es un magnífico recurso y es gratis.
Saque libros que le interesen a su niño. Participe en los programas
gratis que ofrece la biblioteca en el verano y separe tiempo para
leer a diario.
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Céntrese en la comunicación. Anime a su niño a que hable o
escriba sobre los libros que está leyendo, o que lleve un diario
durante el verano de sus acontecimientos y actividades preferidas.
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Aproveche las instalaciones locales. Haga paseos educativos
baratos a los parques, museos, zoológicos y a los centros de la
naturaleza.
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Explore y aprenda. Si usted hace un paseo en coche durante el
día, elija ir a un lugar con un tema educativo. Ir de campamento
es una manera barata de salir y aprender sobre la naturaleza.
■
Déle significado a las matemáticas. Mida los artículos por
toda la casa o el patio. Dé seguimiento a las temperaturas diarias.
Sume y reste en el mercado. Aprenda los quebrados y practique
las fracciones mientras cocina.
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Juegos al exterior. Apague la TV y los juegos electrónicos y, a
cambio, organice actividades físicas que contribuyan al sano
desarrollo.
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Haga un proyecto de servicio a la comunidad. Enseñe a su niño
cómo hacer voluntariado en su comunidad. El limpiar un parque
local o llevar las provisiones para un refugio de animales desarrollan
la compasión por los demás y genera el sentido de orgullo por la
comunidad.
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Mantenga un horario. Continúe haciendo las rutinas diarias durante
todo el verano fijando una estructura y los límites. La clave está
en conseguir el equilibrio y mantener a los niños activos y
entretenidos.
■
Prepárese para el otoño. Averigüe lo que aprenderá su niño en
el siguiente año escolar hablando con los profesores del nivel de
grado correspondiente. Muchas escuelas preparan los paquetes
de actividades de verano en las que enfatizan las matemáticas y
las habilidades para la lectura del nivel del siguiente grado.
Durante el verano estudie los conceptos y los materiales previstos.
Más información en: www.summerlearning.org
© 2010 National Summer Learning Association. La reproducción de esta obra original está permitida
para uso personal, fines no lucrativos y fines no comerciales sin necesidad de un permiso adicional.