AUGUST 2019
Recipe:
xylophone cakes
Back-to-School checklist
celebrating the
Joys of Music
This Month at Playworks…
Don’t miss the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community’s (SMSC) annual Wacipi on August 16-18, a contest Pow Wow showcasing Native American music, dance, arts and crafts, and plenty of delicious food options to boot—all for free admission! On the following weekend—August 22-24—head over to Canterbury Park for another family-friendly outdoor event, the SMSC-hosted Indian Horse Relay. With exhilarating action, the event showcases Native riders racing bareback in regalia, leaping from horse to horse in a daring feat of athleticism. The event provides an avenue for excitement, passion, and history to come together for a weekend of family fun.
With summer beginning to approach its end, the month of August is the perfect time to take advantage of the warm weather and squeeze in a last batch of outdoor activities and events. Around the local area, there’s plenty to keep you and your family busy in the weeks ahead! Connect with your local community and police department during National Night Out on August 6, or check out Family Fun Day on August 10 at Lakefront Days in Prior Lake.
Meanwhile at Playworks, Xtreme Summer Camp will be celebrating another successful season at the Advanced Explorers Graduation and Summer Bash on August 14 from 3:30-5:30pm. Whether you join us for a summer event, bring the kids to a local park, or relax in the backyard, take the time to get outside with your family and friends this month and enjoy all that the local area has to offer while the weather is still nice. Dig into this month’s issue of Playhouse for more fun activities, crafts, and recipes to help you and your family make the most of your summer.
Suggested reading Violet's Music by Angela Johnson
Rin, Rin, Rin, Do, Re, Mi
How Will I Get to School This Year?
Countdown to Kindergarten
Annabelle Swift, Kindergartner
by José-Luis Orozco
Zoogie Boogie Fever! by Sujean Rim
by Alison McGhee
by Jerry Pallotta
by Amy Schwartz
IMPORTANT DATES august 6:
National Night Out Go to natw.org to find a community event near you!
Playworks Staff Spotlight:
Michelle Wilhelm
august 14: Advanced Explorers Graduation and Summer Bash 3:30-5:30pm • Playworks LINK Event Center For a full list of Xtreme Summer Camp events, visit playworksfun.com!
Educare Early Learning Classrooms
Music + Getting Ready for Kindergarten
Introducing music to children from a young age is an invaluable part of their academic, social, and emotional development. Even as toddlers, kids express their enjoyment of music, smiling and dancing when they hear songs performed, and making music of their own as they learn to create sounds with a variety of objects and instruments. When the preschool years arrive, music often becomes a bigger part of a child’s life, as they begin to understand how music is made, experiment with musical instruments, and learn new songs.
To highlight this important part of a young child’s life, this month Playworks’ Educare classrooms will explore different music experiences,
encouraging children to experiment with and create new instruments, interview musicians, and identify their musical preferences. As they investigate music-making, they will also use and develop skills in literacy, math, technology, and the arts. With kindergarten right around the corner for many Educare students, the study of music in August is timely as it can also help children emotionally prepare for the big life changes ahead. If your child is preparing to enter kindergarten this fall, we encourage you to come talk with our many qualified Educare teachers about how you can help support them through this important milestone in their life.
How long have you worked at Playworks? 2 years What is your position at Playworks? Educare Manager (Pod 1–Pre-K) Favorite part of working at Playworks: I absolutely love listening to the sound of kiddos calling to me with the name they gave me: “Myshell!” Followed by great big hugs of course! Favorite children’s books: The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein Describe yourself in one word: Energetic Favorite board game: Left Center Right (dice game) Favorite food: Vanilla frozen yogurt with rainbow sprinkles Favorite color: Yellow Favorite animal: Dog
Highlighted Learning Objective:
using symbols and images to represent something not present Thinking symbolically helps children to communicate and is a key element in expanding a child’s imaginative capabilities. As symbolic thought attaches meaning to concrete objects, it allows young learners to associate a certain object or person with abstract ideas, such as emotions and feelings.
What this Looks Like: •
Recognizes people, objects, and animals in pictures or photos
•
Draws or constructs, and then identifies what it is
•
Plans and then uses drawings, constructions, movements, and dramatizations to represent ideas
•
Represents objects, places, and ideas with increasingly abstract symbols
Ways to Assist with this Development: • Provide opportunities for children to learn about diverse symbols and their functions, such as language, gestures, letters, photos, drawings, and videos • Point to pictures while reading stories together, calling attention to what the pictures mean • Collect data about your child’s classroom routines, such as attendance, transportation to school, or snack choices—graph or otherwise present the information by first using concrete objects, then pictures, and then abstract symbols • Match play props to the family backgrounds and developmental characteristics of children
Focused Experience:
imitating and pretending
If you spend any length of time around children, you are likely aware of just how imaginative they can be in their play, interactions, and activities. While it may be tempting to assume these make-believe games are just silly childhood follies, they are in fact very important to a child’s development and thinking capabilities. In fact, the
process of pretending indicates that a child is moving from the sensorimotor thinking of infancy to more mature symbolic thinking, as they experiment with different social roles and develop new skills. So the next time your child is building a hideout in the living room or playing dress-up with your clothes, give them the time and space to practice this vital developmental activity—or better yet, join in the fun!
Quick Tips for
BACK SCHOOL!
With nighttime campouts, later-than-normal bedtimes, and unlimited play, summer break is the season of relaxation and family fun! Without a little bit of planning, the transition back to a school-year schedule can garner some “But I’m not tired!” tantrums from your kids. To make the changeover as smooth as possible for you and your family, check out these simple tips:
1 2
Start reestablishing sleeping habits a few weeks before school starts. Ease into the new schedule by gradually getting children to bed earlier and up in the morning at a certain time.
Talk about school! Listen to your child’s questions or concerns as the school year approaches and share your insights and encouragement.
3
Encourage independence. Embolden your child to take on tasks so they learn to take care of themselves, like picking their outfit for the day, getting dressed on their own, and cleaning up after meals.
4
Schedule appointments. Preparing for a new school year can mean doctor visits, teeth cleaning, eye exams, haircuts, or all of the above! Spread out appointments leading up to September to avoid last-minute stressors.
5
Have a little fun! Make sure your child got the most out of their summer. But as the new school year begins, maintain household bonding by reading together, making dinner as a family, or playing a board game.
Back School checklist Preparing for a new school year is usually a busy time for many families! Avoid needless stress by following this back-to-school checklist to get the new school year off to a healthy and successful start:
□□ Set bedtimes and establish a routine sleep schedule □□ Practice good hygiene habits
□□ Stock up on healthy snacks for lunch or after school □□ Schedule necessary appointments and make sure vaccinations are up to date □□ Check out clubs and activities available to your child to keep them involved and active □□ Purchase school supplies
FamilyHandshakes Building Connections:
Conscious Discipline is a comprehensive classroom management program based on current child development research and developmentally appropriate practices. For a fun family bonding activity, give this I Love You Ritual a try!
1
Greet the child with a big smile and a handshake.
2
Holding the child’s hand, say “We are going to play a handshake game. After I shake your hand, I am going to add another movement to the handshake.”
3
Give the child another handshake, and then raise your thumb and touch it to the child’s thumb.
4
Repeat the two-part handshake, and then add another movement—perhaps sliding the hands apart or giving a high-five.
5
Repeat: shake hands, touch thumbs, etc.
6
After the child has gotten the hang of the game, ask them to add the next movement, repeating the process as desired.
7
Ask other family members to join in the game—with practice, the handshake could become a special family ritual for saying hello or goodbye!
Recipe:
xylophone Cakes
Treat your taste buds with these colorful bite-size xylophone cakes!
directions: 1. 1 2. 2 3. 3 4. 4 5. 5 6. 6
Slice the pound cake into small rectangular pieces about an inch thick. Add a spoonful of frosting to each plastic sandwich bag. Add 2-3 drops of food coloring to each bag, alternating the colors as desired, and mix into the frosting by squishing the plastic bag in your hands. Cut a corner of the plastic bag and squeeze a strip of each color of frosting on the top of each piece of cake. Garnish each stripe of colored frosting with two M&M candies. Create mallets by topping two pretzel sticks with mini marshmallows.
ingredients: □□ □□ □□ □□
Pound cake Pretzel sticks Mini marshmallows Colorful button-shaped candies □□ Vanilla frosting □□ Food coloring □□ 4 plastic sandwich bags Create more colors for your xylophone by combining different food colorings!
Family Fun Day at Lakefront Days
9am-10:30pm Lakefront Park (5000 Kop Parkway, Prior Lake) Prior Lake’s 36th Annual Lakefront Days Celebration will take place August 8-10 in beautiful Lakefront Park. Expect fun-filled activities for the whole family on Family Fun Day! Features include $5 unlimited wristbands, inflatables, yard games, a parade, a kids’ dance, and a pedal pull competition.
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August 16-18
2019 SMSC Wacipi
Friday 7pm | Saturday 1pm & 7pm | Sunday 1 pm SMSC Wacipi Grounds (3212 Dakotah Parkway, Shakopee) Now featuring free admission for the whole family, enjoy a weekend of Native American food, dancing, and culture at the SMSC Wacipi this August! Throughout history, Wacipi, or Pow Wow, was a gathering time held at the end of a season, to celebrate a good hunt, or to recognize a positive event. Today, Wacipi is a celebration of life. All ages are welcome.
August 22-24
Indian Horse Relay & Indian Market
Thursday & Friday 6pm | Saturday 5pm Canterbury Park (1100 Canterbury Road, Shakopee) Come together for a weekend of family fun during Indian Horse Relay at Canterbury Park. Some of the country’s best Indian relay racers will compete during the races, which provide an avenue for excitement, passion, and history. Plus, don’t miss the youth relay and maidens race, taking place each night! At the Indian Market, you can find handmade Native American crafts, jewelry, beadwork, and more.
AUGUST 16, 17 & 18 GRAND ENTRY
FRIDAY 7PM SATURDAY 1PM & 7PM SUNDAY 1PM
NEW! FREE ADMISSION WATCH THE ACTION LIVE AT
SMSCWACIPI.ORG!
SMSC WACIPI GROUNDS ARE LOCATED AT:
3212 DAKOTAH PARKWAY, SHAKOPEE, MN 55379 • SMSCWACIPI.ORG
PUBLIC EXHIBIT NOW
OPEN
Visit shakopeedakota.org to learn more about the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community, Dakota culture, and Hoċokata Ti, the SMSC’s new cultural center. 2300 Tiwahe Circle Shakopee, MN 55379 952.233.9151 shakopeedakota.org
Craft:
RAINBOW
Create your very own singing rainbow on a stick in a matter of minutes! This inexpensive and entertaining craft will bring music to your ears!
Materials: □□ Pipe cleaners
□□ Unsharpened pencils
□□ Small jingle bells
□□ Duct tape
directions:
1
Take 5-6 pipe cleaners and thread a few jingle bells onto each.
2
Twist the ends of the pipe cleaners together to create a circle.
3
Wrap the circled pipe cleaners around an unsharpened pencil starting from the top.
4
Secure the end pieces of the pipe cleaners to the unsharpened pencil with duct tape.
5
Give the rainbow stick a shake and hear it sing!
• Infant–Pre-K • School-Age
EDUCARE
Educare is our contract child care program, featuring high-quality, developmentally appropriate programs for children 6 weeks to 12 years of age. Full-time and part-time care is available—call for more information!
ENROLL TODAY! 952.445.PLAY (7529) • playworksfun.com 2200 trail of dreams, PRIOR LAKE, MN
enterprises owned and operated by the shakopee mdewakanton sioux community