MAY 2019
EXPLORING
Roads, Wheels, and Signs Recipe:
STOPLIGHT SNACKS
This Month at Playworks… Between National Teacher Appreciation Week and Mother’s Day, the month of May provides wonderful opportunities to show our appreciation and recognize people who influence children’s lives on a regular basis. Each year, National Teacher Appreciation Week is celebrated during the first full week of May. It is also an important week that brings well-deserved recognition to all of the staff and teachers at Playworks—better known as “Educational Rockstars”! A teacher’s impact extends far beyond the boundaries of a classroom, and Playworks’ “Educational Rockstars” play a pivotal role in our students’ lives, inspiring a lifelong love of learning and discovery—all while making a difference in children’s well-being and long-term success. We can’t thank our “Educational Rockstars” enough for going above and beyond for Playworks learners!
Want to thank your child’s teacher? Here are a few easy ways your kiddo can show their “Educational Rockstar” some extra appreciation this month: • Make a homemade thank-you card • Write a short poem to show gratitude • Draw or paint a picture of a favorite classroom activity
important dates MAY 5-11:
National Teacher Appreciation Week
MAY 12:
Mother’s Day
MAY 27:
Memorial Day, Playworks Closed
BUILDING CONNECTIONS:
I Love You Ritual
Conscious Discipline centers on creating moments of healthy connection and true presence between parents/ educators and children. Eye contact, human touch, and playfulness are building blocks of true and everlasting bonds. Try this simple I Love You Ritual called “On Your Face.”
say the verse:
do the action:
On your face you have a nose,
Touch the child’s nose.
And way down here you have ten toes. Two eyes that blink,
Starting with your hands on the child’s shoulders, slide down their arms and then touch or point to their toes. Touch the child on the temples, next to their eyes.
And a head to think.
With both hands, gently cradle the sides of the child’s head.
You have a chin and very near,
Touch the child’s chin.
You have two ears to help you hear.
Touch both earlobes and whisper something short into the child’s ear, such as “I love you,” or “I’m glad to see you!”
Arms go high, and arms go low. [Variant: Arms go low, and arms go high.]
Grasp the child’s wrists and hold their arms high over their head. Then, bring them back down (or vice versa if using the variant line). Extend your arms and give the child a hug.
A great big hug to say hello. [Variant: A great big hug to say goodbye.]
Suggested Reading The Signmaker’s Assistant by Tedd Arnold
Educare Early Learning Classrooms
Which Way?
by Marthe Jocelyn
Road Trip
by Roger Eschbacher
Is Somewhere Always Far Away? by Leland B. Jacobs
Go! Go! Go! Stop!
Roads, Wheels, Signs + Water
by Charise Mericle Harper
This month at Playworks, students will investigate roads, wheels, and signs. Children will explore the different types of roads, features of roads, and how roads are made. In addition, the purpose of roads and how to be safe around them will also be discussed in the classroom. With roads being the main topic of conversation at Playworks, it makes sense to discuss signs and wheels as well. We will explore the different types of wheels, how they are part of our daily lives, and the many different ways that they help us achieve tasks and goals. We will also cover the many signs around us and how they are used, how they give us directions, and how they keep us safe. The infant and toddler classrooms will be studying water throughout the month of May. Water is everywhere, and it can help children learn about themselves, about movement and physics, and about communication. Whether you’re driving by a lake or pulling up to a stop sign, be sure to discuss the many things that you see while out and about with your kids this month!
Playworks department Spotlight: Customer Care The Playworks mission is to provide high-quality education and care to children, build cooperative partnerships with parents, while also providing a viable, fun, quality entertainment source for families. This wouldn’t be possible without Playworks’ customer care staff! Often called “the face of Playworks,” customer care staff are the first to greet guests with a helpful smile and the last to wish them well on their way out the door.
cus t omer c a re rol e s:
• Greet and welcome children and guests and get them where they need to be • Ensure safety and security of children by verifying authorized pickups • Book parties and group trips for guests • Answer questions about Playworks and the building • Provide exceptional customer service both in person and over the phone
Highlighted Learning Objective:
Participates Cooperatively and Constructively in Group Situations It’s never too early to encourage young ones to play cooperatively with others! Throughout May, Playworks classrooms will focus on cooperation, a skill that children will use their entire lives.
What this may look like:
Ways to support these skills:
Gives another child a ball when asked
Provide opportunities for children to play and interact with other children, staying nearby to offer redirection
Says, “It’s your turn now.”
Explain conflicts to children when they take place, describing people’s feelings and the reasons for those feelings
Invites another child to pull the wagon with them Leaves enough space for someone else to work at the table
Encourage cooperative interactions by suggesting turn-taking and sharing by modeling cooperation Coach children to use assertive (not aggressive) language Give older children (and toddlers as soon as they are able) opportunities to help at home, such as setting the table for dinner or putting away their laundry
“Wheely”
Wheels!
EVERYTHING YOU WANT TO KNOW ABOUT
What did the car’s wheel say after a long day of travel? Whew, I’m “tired!” In tune with May’s curriculum, the study of wheels and roads offers children a way to learn about the world around them. Wheels are everywhere—on buses, on bikes, on shopping carts, and even on some chairs. Wheels can be big or small and thick or tall. But what does a wheel do, exactly? A wheel’s round shape helps objects roll or move. When the wheels on a car rotate, the car moves along the ground. Wheels are used on many types of moving objects, ranging from racecars and airplanes to trains and skateboards. Wheels can come in handy for other machines, too! Let’s take a look:
Ferris Wheel
GAMES
Lots of games require a wheel for users to spin, such as Twister, Wheel of Fortune, and roulette.
Heading to a carnival this summer? You’ll probably see a Ferris wheel! Just look up high—a Ferris wheel is a tall revolving wheel with seats filled with riders!
Wheelbarrow
A wheelbarrow is a cart with a single wheel at the front and two handles on the back. People use wheelbarrows for a variety of tasks, including carrying loads of building supplies or gardening.
Potter’s Wheel
Artists often use a potter’s wheel to make beautiful pottery and bowls. Wet clay is placed on a flat, spinning disk, and the potter molds the clay as the disk rotates.
Recipe: Ingredients:
Take a break from studying roads and signs with these sweet Stoplight Snacks!
Snacks
Stoplight
• 6 tablespoons butter • 6 cups mini marshmallows • 6 cups crispy rice cereal • Chocolate frosting • Bag of multicolored candies
Directions:
Melt butter in a pan over medium heat. Add marshmallows and stir until they are completely melted. Remove from heat and stir in crispy rice cereal until completely coated with marshmallow and butter mixture. Spoon into a 9-by-13-inch baking pan and press down until flat and even. Allow to cool, coat with frosting, and cut into squares. Place multicolored candies on each square, with red candies on top, yellow candies in the middle, and green candies on the bottom.
FOCUSED EXPERIENCE:
EXPLORING WATER Throughout May, Playworks infants, toddlers, and young preschoolers will be studying and exploring water. Water is both soothing and stimulating for young children, and water play can provide them with plenty of great opportunities to explore and experiment. See how children will learn with water below!
Children will learn about themselves and others.
Children will learn about the world.
When children interact with others while they play with water, they will learn to trust and take interest in what others are doing.
Exciting discoveries will be made while playing with water, including how water moves and the way it splashes and pours.
Children will learn about moving.
Children will learn to communicate.
Hand-eye coordination will improve as children practice using simple tools, and muscle strength will be built when chasing bubbles and playing in water.
Water play often leads to questions and supports pretend play that involves increasingly complex conversation.
ries...
e n O Family-Friendly EVENTS
MAY 9
YOUNG NATIVE PRIDE
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7pm Prior Lake High School (7575 150th Street W, Prior Lake)
SMSC Youth will display their dance skills during Young Native Pride, an annual tradition showcasing Dakota culture. Performing at the local high school has been a tradition for the group for more than 20 years as a way of celebrating and sharing Dakota heritage, language, and culture.
JUNe 1
summer kickoff
SCENIC FAIRWAYS AND GREENS PRO SHOP | GPS-ENABLED CARTS THE MEADOWS BAR AND GRILLE
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, e lt im e l p ealt mhea m i s Good, wholesome food t a t n s... alt hy dieie in greor em 1 m e dieJune t a Bring the whole family to Mazopiya during their Summer forFood m e. h ifamily t thevendor whole n a tSummer in gre 1 1 –3 One 11am-3pm Mazopiya (2571 Credit Union Drive, Prior Lake)
Kickoff event on June 1, featuring local vendors, food samples, giveaways, kid-friendly activities, and more!
Sampling & Grill-Out
am
pm
KICKOFF a time.
simpl hea
in gre a tim Shop Mazopiya at mazopiya DRAWINGS Good, wholesome food & giveaways Shop Mazopiya for the whole family
952.233.9140 • mazopiya.com Good, wholesome food Shop Ma Classes atCREDIT Noon, 1pm UNION & 2pm 2571FREE DRIve, PRIOR LAKE, MNwhole family Good, w for the
KIDS
for the w
952.233.9140 • mazopiya.com ACTIVITIES
2571 CREDIT UNION DRIve, PRIOR LAKE, MN
First 100 Customers Receive a Goody Bag!
952.233.9140 • mazopiya.com 952.233.9140 • 2571 CREDIT UNION DRIve, PRIOR LAKE,2571 MNCREDIT UN
MAY 17
DAKOTAH!
A swim program designed to build confidence in the water
discounts specials and
vendor samples
giveaways, prizes, and drawings SDCS
BRAT WAGON 10am-2pm
LOTTERY KS95’S PRIZE VAN CRISCO ON-SITE 11am-1pm
Summer registration now open Register online at Dakotahsport.com
11am-1pm
SUMMER SESSION JUNE 18–AUGUST 17 952.445.5520••sdcstores.com sdcstores.com 952.445.5520 SDCS #1 | 15035 mystic lake dr, Prior Lake, MN
SDCS #1 | 15035 mystic lake dr, Prior Lake, MN
952.445.9400 • dakotahsport.com 2100 Trail of Dreams, Prior Lake, MN
Craft:
Tape Roads
Bust out your favorite toy cars and take to the floor with easy-to-make tape roads! All you need is painter’s tape, an empty surface, toy cars, and a healthy imagination for a day of endless fun.
Materials:
Directions:
Painter’s tape
Test the painter’s tape on your surface, whether it’s cardboard, a floor, or a table, to ensure the surface won’t be damaged. Once you’re sure the tape won’t affect the surface, map out roadways with tape. Roads can be as long or as short as you want—you could even make an entire room into a complex traffic system! Play with toy cars on the tape roads and have fun!
Cardboard, tabletop, or other flat surface Toy cars
Full- & part-time
OPTIONS availAble
StartS June 10
Summer Camp with xtreme adventure and xtreme fun!
atrium play
FIELDTrips
educational programs hands-on experiences Daily meals included
REgister Today! 952.445.PLAY (7529) • playworksfun.com 2200 trail of dreams, PRIOR LAKE, MN
enterprises owned and operated by the shakopee mdewakanton sioux community