FEBRUARY 2020
All About
EXERCISE
Craft: Activity Dice
CELEBRATE
“I Love to Read Month” at Playworks!
This Month at Playworks…
At Playworks, we make learning fun! And what is more fun than
an entire month dedicated to all things reading and books? In recognition of “I Love to Read Month,” Playworks classrooms will be involved in activities and events that celebrate and promote literacy—all month long! First up is the Scholastic Arctic Adventure Book Fair, February 3-7, in the Playworks LINK Event Center. View the full schedule at right, and stop by and help us buy books for Minnesota Tribal Resources for Early Childhood Care through the “All for Books” program. Then, throughout the rest of the month, our staff and students have a full agenda of reading-related adventures. Who knew books could be snow much fun?
Educare Early Learning Classrooms
Exercise This month’s curriculum content centers on investigating exercise. But why is this important to our youth? Our bodies are made to move. Young children are in nearly constant motion when they are awake—they wiggle, stretch, bend, jump, run, hop, bounce, and climb. Moving making children feel capable and confident, releases tension, and builds strong bodies and minds. This month’s study incorporates all of these important topics and children’s natural desire to move. Our students will explore many types of
exercise, observe people while they are exercising, and learn about the mechanics of movement. They will also learn about the connection between exercise and healthy bodies. Throughout our investigation, students will gather data, meet interesting people, and learn how to prepare energizing snacks. This study offers many meaningful ways for children to use literacy, math, art, science, social studies, and technology to learn and represent their understanding of important concepts related to life science.
February 3:
Book Party—bring your favorite book!
February 3-7:
Scholastic Arctic Adventure Book Fair Playworks LINK Event Center Monday, February 3 • Noon-5pm* Tuesday & Thursday, February 4 & 6 • 9am-7pm Wednesday & Friday, February 5 & 7 • 9am-5pm
February 11:
Read My Shirt Day—Wear a shirt with words!
February 20:
Read a Recipe Day—Classrooms will be participating in a cooking project!
February 26:
Storybook Character Day—Dress up as your favorite storybook character!
IMPORTANT DATES February 14
Valentine’s Day
*SMSC Employees and Community Members Only
Suggested Reading Good Night Yoga: A Pose-by-Pose Bedtime Story by Mariam Gates
Oh, The Things You Can Do That Are Good for You! by Tish Rabe
The Busy Body Book: A Kid's Guide for Fitness by Lizzy Rockwell
The Day It Rained Hearts by Felicia Bond
Roses are Pink, Your Feet Really Stink by Diane deGroat
I Love You Ritual: Growing Up This is a wonderful activity for older siblings who are faced with a new baby in the family. They long for the time when they were the center of your focus. This game allows them to see themselves growing up while also allowing them to reminisce about the “good old days.” Use this poem as an opportunity to hold your child in your lap. In a soothing voice, read it aloud to your child: When you were just a baby, You did not know how to walk. You could only crawl, crawl around like this. When you were just a baby, You did not know how to talk. You could only babble, babble just like this. Now you are this big. And go to school each day. You can do many things Like walk and talk and play!
Playworks Staff Spotlight:
Lisa Havlicek How long have you worked at Playworks? 23 ½ years What is your position at Playworks? Pod 5/Children’s House Manager
Favorite part of working at Playworks: The children’s smiles when they’re running around the playground, when they jump into your arms, when they see their mommies and daddies at the end of the day. I get to play a role in their simple, joyful lives, and that’s beautiful. Favorite children’s book: Tikki Tikki Tembo by Arlene Mosel
Favorite food: Chocolate
Describe yourself in one word: Loyal
Favorite color: Blue
Favorite board game: Scrabble
Favorite animal: Dog
Highlighted Learning Objective:
Demonstrating Fine-Motor Strength and Coordination As children navigate the world around them, they are learning essential coordination skills, like using their hands for everyday tasks. Help enhance your child’s understanding of these skills by encouraging the following activities:
What This Looks Like: • • • • • •
Bats or swipes at a toy Picks up food with their fingers and puts it in their mouth Places a shape in a shape-sorter Unbuttons large buttons Tears paper Pours water into containers
Ways Parents and Caregivers Can Promote This Skill: • Provide a wide variety of fine-motor activities that interest and appeal to your child with items that are easy to manipulate by hand, and add more challenging activities as quickly as possible without causing frustration • Engage your child in activities that encourage them to use their fingers individually (e.g., finger plays, pointing at pictures) • Take advantage of self-care activities, such as handwashing and scraping plates, throughout the day to support the development of fine-motor skills
Exercise is Very Wise! Did you know that you are exercising all the time without even knowing it? Whether it’s running around outside with your friends or climbing on a jungle gym or dancing in the living room, you are exercising! Moving your body—especially during adolescence—is important for development and growth. When you exercise, you are making your body stronger.
From head to toe, our bodies are made up of muscle. Our muscles help us move around. Did you know your heart is also a muscle? It works hard every day, pumping blood and oxygen through your body. Exercise makes your heart work harder—but in a good way!
Examples of Heart-Healthy Exercises: Basketball
Skating
Hockey
Soccer
Jumping Rope
Swimming
Running/Walking
Build Stronger Muscles! Pullups
Running
Pushups
Tug of War
Bike Riding
Source: kidshealth.org
Focused Experience:
Enjoying Stories and Books February is “I Love to Read Month,” so there is no better time to read and tell stories to your child! The words and pictures are important, but most of all, spending time with you as you read aloud and tell a story lets your child know how much you value these bonding activities. Plus, reading to infants and toddlers has lots of benefits—check them out below:
□ Helps you develop a stronger relationship with your child □ Exposes your child to the basic mechanics of a book □ Encourages basic speech and communication skills □ Promotes learning about new experiences □ Your child will know that reading is FUN!
Recipe: HealthY Apple Pie Oat Bars Eating healthy is as easy as apple pie, especially with this yummy twist on a classic dessert!
ingredients:
□ □ □ □ □
1 cup quick oats 1 cup rolled oats 1 ½ teaspoons cinnamon 2 tablespoons coconut oil 1 cup applesauce
directions: 1
In a medium bowl, combine the quick and rolled oats and cinnamon.
2
Add the melted coconut oil and applesauce and stir.
3
Line a baking sheet with wax paper, and press the mixture onto the sheet in an even layer.
4
Bake at 375°F for 25 minutes or until the bars are firm but not hard.
5
Allow to cool and slice into squares.
Family-Friendly EVENTS
February 3-7
Scholastic Arctic Adventure Book Fair Playworks LINK Event Center (2200 Trail of Dreams, Prior Lake)
Celebrate “I Love to Read Month” with Playworks during the first week of February at the Scholastic Arctic Adventure Book Fair! Enjoy a book party on Monday, Special Person Day on Friday, and refreshments and activities all throughout the week!
BOWLING FUN
FOR EVERYONE! DA KOTA H ! S P O RT A N D F I T N E SS W A N TS TO H O ST Y O U R
N E XT PA RT Y !
BOWL EAT PLAY
ENTERTAINMENT SURE TO STRIKE YOUR FANCY
DELICIOUS EATS FOR THE ENTIRE GROUP ARCADE GAMES FOR K I D S A N D A D U LT S A L I K E
dakotahsport.com | 952.445.9400 2100 TRAIL OF DREAMS, PRIOR LAKE, MN
February 29
Extreme Horse Skijoring
1-4pm $10 (Free for children ages 12 and under) Canterbury Park (1100 Canterbury Road, Shakopee) Check out Extreme Horse Skijoring for a unique, fun, and thrilling family activity on February 29! This winter sport features a skier being pulled behind a horse while they dodge obstacles on the racetrack. Competitors can reach speeds as fast as 40 miles per hour as they maneuver through gates and other hurdles.
MDEWAKANTON
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We believe in natural, organic local food and products. 952.233.9140 • mazopiya.com 2571 CREDIT UNION DRIve, PRIOR LAKE, MN
2300 Tiwahe Circle Shakopee, MN 55379 952.233.9151 shakopeedakota.org
ENTERPRISES OWNED AND OPERATED BY THE SHAKOPEE MDEWAKANTON SIOUX COMMUNITY
Craft:
Activity Dice Don’t let the midwinter blues get you down—this easy-to-make activity dice will keep you on your toes, while also providing a good workout!
Materials: □ Square cardboard box, such as an empty tissue box
directions: 1.
Tape paper over the cardboard box so all sides are covered—you might have to cut the paper to size.
2. Write one activity on each side of the box, such as “Hop on one leg for 30 seconds” or “Stomp like a dinosaur for 1 minute.” Don’t be afraid to get silly! 3. With siblings or friends, take turns rolling the “dice” and performing that activity.
□ Tape □ Paper □ Scissors □ Markers
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OPEN HOUSE APRIL 27
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atrium play Daily meals included
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952.445.PLAY (7529) • playworksfun.com 2200 trail of dreams, PRIOR LAKE, MN enterprises owned and operated by the shakopee mdewakanton sioux community