Dear CBA Families,
We wanted to thank you for helping to celebrate all of our staff last month during teacher appreciation week. We are so grateful that we get the privilege of taking care of your children and helping them grow each and every day. All of your kind words and thoughtful gifts meant so much to us!
This month we say goodbye to another amazing school year. We wish all of our Pre-K graduates (and their parents) the best of luck as they make the transition to kindergarten in the fall. We know each one of our graduates will do amazing and we will miss having them here!
On June 5th we will officially begin summer camp. Along with summer camp comes “Water Play Wednesdays”, weekly visits from Kona Ice, and various other exciting in house field trips and activities. Our teachers are also continuing to teach our Links to Learning curriculum and have come up with some amazing activities to engage your children in this summer. Please see the summer camp calendar for all of the events that we have planned.
As a reminder, we only apply sunscreen before afternoon outside time. If you choose to provide us with some, you must complete the mandatory permission form. Also, all students must wear closed toe shoes every day, including water play day. On water play days, students must be brought in in their water play outfit with a cover up or shirt and shorts over it. We will help them change after water play. We also suggest checking your child’s cubby to ensure they have at least two extra changes of clothes that are warm weather appropriate.
We look forward to a fun and learning-filled summer with our students and, as always, please do not hesitate to reach out to us with any questions or concerns. We appreciate each one of you!
Sincerely,
Kristie Salmon,
Lindsey DeLair
From the Education Department:
From splashing in puddles to playing with water toys, children love exploring the world of water. It may get messy, but the benefits are worth it. Water play serves as an excellent tool for promoting fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination, and sensory awareness, as well as opportunities for social interaction, taking turns, and sharing materials.
Our teachers leverage the fun of water to reinforce a variety of skills. For instance, students explore the science of melting ice cubes in the warm sunshine. We engage them in critical thinking by asking questions like, “What do you think will happen when we put the ice cube in the sun?” or “How long do you think it will take for the ice cube to melt?” Then, we discuss the results and encourage the students to reflect on the properties of water and the effects of temperature.
In addition to exploring the science of melting ice, we offer opportunities for students to engage in activities that tap into their desire to imitate grown-up tasks. For example, teachers may encourage them to participate in an interactive toy car wash using a bucket of soapy water, toy cars, and a clean towel to dry. This activity reinforces fine motor skills, while instilling a sense of responsibility and independence.
Continue the learning at home with these fun water activities that can be customized for children of any age.
1. Water Obstacle Course
Set up an obstacle course in your backyard or a safe outdoor area using different water play stations. Include activities like crawling under a sprinkler, tossing water balloons into a bucket, and stepping over shallow trays of water. This activity promotes gross motor skills, coordination, and following instructions.
2. Ice Excavation
Freeze small toys or figurines in ice using plastic containers or ice cube trays. Once frozen, place the ice blocks in a large tray. Equip your child with tools like spray bottles filled with warm water, spoons, or toy hammers to melt and excavate the toys from the ice. This engaging activity encourages your child to apply problem-solving skills as they discover new ways to release their frozen treasures.
3. Floating Boats
Foster creativity and engineering skills while experimenting with buoyancy this summer. Challenge your child to design and build their own boats using materials like foam sheets, plastic containers, popsicle sticks, and tape. Once their boats are complete, provide a small tray or inflatable pool filled with water for a boat race. Encourage your child to use straws to create wind to make their boat move across the water.
4. Water Painting
Looking for a mess-free art activity this summer? Provide your child with large paintbrushes and a bucket of water. Go outside and let them “paint” on a sidewalk or fence using the water. Watch as their art creations appear and then disappear in the heat.
This entry was posted in Denver. Bookmark the
permalink. Both comments and trackbacks are currently closed.
June 2023 News
Dear CBA Families,
We wanted to thank you for helping to celebrate all of our staff last month during teacher appreciation week. We are so grateful that we get the privilege of taking care of your children and helping them grow each and every day. All of your kind words and thoughtful gifts meant so much to us!
This month we say goodbye to another amazing school year. We wish all of our Pre-K graduates (and their parents) the best of luck as they make the transition to kindergarten in the fall. We know each one of our graduates will do amazing and we will miss having them here!
On June 5th we will officially begin summer camp. Along with summer camp comes “Water Play Wednesdays”, weekly visits from Kona Ice, and various other exciting in house field trips and activities. Our teachers are also continuing to teach our Links to Learning curriculum and have come up with some amazing activities to engage your children in this summer. Please see the summer camp calendar for all of the events that we have planned.
As a reminder, we only apply sunscreen before afternoon outside time. If you choose to provide us with some, you must complete the mandatory permission form. Also, all students must wear closed toe shoes every day, including water play day. On water play days, students must be brought in in their water play outfit with a cover up or shirt and shorts over it. We will help them change after water play. We also suggest checking your child’s cubby to ensure they have at least two extra changes of clothes that are warm weather appropriate.
We look forward to a fun and learning-filled summer with our students and, as always, please do not hesitate to reach out to us with any questions or concerns. We appreciate each one of you!
Sincerely,
Kristie Salmon,
Lindsey DeLair
From the Education Department:
From splashing in puddles to playing with water toys, children love exploring the world of water. It may get messy, but the benefits are worth it. Water play serves as an excellent tool for promoting fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination, and sensory awareness, as well as opportunities for social interaction, taking turns, and sharing materials.
Our teachers leverage the fun of water to reinforce a variety of skills. For instance, students explore the science of melting ice cubes in the warm sunshine. We engage them in critical thinking by asking questions like, “What do you think will happen when we put the ice cube in the sun?” or “How long do you think it will take for the ice cube to melt?” Then, we discuss the results and encourage the students to reflect on the properties of water and the effects of temperature.
In addition to exploring the science of melting ice, we offer opportunities for students to engage in activities that tap into their desire to imitate grown-up tasks. For example, teachers may encourage them to participate in an interactive toy car wash using a bucket of soapy water, toy cars, and a clean towel to dry. This activity reinforces fine motor skills, while instilling a sense of responsibility and independence.
Continue the learning at home with these fun water activities that can be customized for children of any age.
1. Water Obstacle Course
Set up an obstacle course in your backyard or a safe outdoor area using different water play stations. Include activities like crawling under a sprinkler, tossing water balloons into a bucket, and stepping over shallow trays of water. This activity promotes gross motor skills, coordination, and following instructions.
2. Ice Excavation
Freeze small toys or figurines in ice using plastic containers or ice cube trays. Once frozen, place the ice blocks in a large tray. Equip your child with tools like spray bottles filled with warm water, spoons, or toy hammers to melt and excavate the toys from the ice. This engaging activity encourages your child to apply problem-solving skills as they discover new ways to release their frozen treasures.
3. Floating Boats
Foster creativity and engineering skills while experimenting with buoyancy this summer. Challenge your child to design and build their own boats using materials like foam sheets, plastic containers, popsicle sticks, and tape. Once their boats are complete, provide a small tray or inflatable pool filled with water for a boat race. Encourage your child to use straws to create wind to make their boat move across the water.
4. Water Painting
Looking for a mess-free art activity this summer? Provide your child with large paintbrushes and a bucket of water. Go outside and let them “paint” on a sidewalk or fence using the water. Watch as their art creations appear and then disappear in the heat.