APRIL 2020
CELEBRATE
EARTH DAY
Recipe:
EARTH DAY SNACK
REDUCE, REUSE, RECYCLE
Important Dates
This Month at Playworks… As we enter into spring and look forward to warmer temperatures, Playworks will be focusing on Earth Day and how children can do their part to reduce, reuse, and recycle. Students will learn why it is important to recycle and what they can do to help preserve the Earth for future generations to come. This month we will also work to raise awareness of Child Abuse Prevention Month to help recognize childhood abuse and neglect, and the importance of families and communities working together to promote the social and emotional well-being of children and families. Be sure to take some time this month to get outside with your kids and enjoy the long-waited springtime weather! Speaking of warmer weather, don’t forget about the upcoming Xtreme Summer Camp June 8-August 28. The camp provides hands-on, child-directed, and meaningful experiences through classroom interest centers, outdoor play, field trips to educational and recreational sites, and in-house educational and entertainment programs. Interested in learning more? Join us on May 18 from 4:30-6:30pm for Xtreme Summer Camp Open House.
Playworks COVID-19 Message The Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community’s first and highest priority is to keep everyone in the Community—children, members, employees, and guests—safe and healthy. Due to increasing concerns about the COVID-19 virus, the SMSC will be making the following schedule adjustment at Playworks as a precautionary measure: •
All drop-off, DSF Playcare, family play, group trips, and birthday parties have been suspended at Playworks until further notice. However, no changes have been made to contracted child care.
ALL MONTH:
Child Abuse Prevention Month
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APRIL 12:
Easter Playworks Closed
Raise Awareness for Child Abuse Prevention Month In honor of Child Abuse Prevention Month, Playworks will be helping to raise awareness about this important topic. The purpose of Child Abuse Prevention Month is to raise awareness about the prevention of child abuse and neglect. Playworks invites and encourages all families and communities to work together to promote the social and emotional well-being of children. All children deserve a great childhood because our children are our future. Every child matters; be a voice for children!
Educare Early Learning Classrooms
Creative Curriculum Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
Spring is finally here! This month, students will celebrate Earth Day through various activities. We will focus on answering questions about the environment. Why is it important to reduce, reuse, and recycle materials? Where does trash go after it is thrown away? How can we make a difference? Trash and garbage are all around us. Children are fascinated by what is in garbage cans and often pick up trash against our wishes. This natural curiosity provides a good starting point for educating them on what happens to trash after it’s thrown away, and exploring the concept of reducing, reusing, and recycling.
A study of reducing, reusing, and recycling not only offers opportunities for children to explore a topic that interests them, but also allows them to gather information, become more aware of the world around them, and solve problems. This month’s studies will allow children to observe, gather data, learn new information, and propose solutions to problems.
Protecting the Earth for Future Generations Happy Earth Day! Every April for the last 50 years, countries from around the world have demonstrated support for environmental protection and the overall health of our planet. The SMSC prides itself on being a good steward of the Earth through its various initiatives. As a careful steward of natural resources, the SMSC integrates its enterprises to care for the Earth. What does this mean and how can we celebrate? There are many things we can do to help preserve the environment, but three simple steps that we can all start to practice today are: reduce, reuse, and recycle. Let’s first explore what each of these terms mean… What is reducing? Things you can do with your Reducing means to limit the children to practice these amount of purchases you make or principles in your day-to-day life: resources you use from the very Recycling does not have to be start. Buy in bulk, avoid impulse difficult. The good news is that all purchases, take shorter showers, of us can do our part to protect turn off electronics when not the environment, and it starts with youth! If children learn from in use, and carpool, bike, or use an early age to reduce, reuse, and public transportation recycle, they will carry those good when possible. habits with them for life. With the tips below, anyone can help What is reusing? our environment for current and Reusing means repurposing future generations: an item instead of tossing it or Reduce the amount of products buying a new version. Think you buy, use, and throw away about the possibilities of a product before you throw it away; Set up a recycling and it could be reused for another composting bin—make it easy purpose. How about that to separate recyclables and old T-shirt? compost from other trash If all of us were to recycle just a few items per day that we currently throw away, we can go a long way to improving the environment for future generations!
What is recycling? Recycling is how we take materials that would otherwise be thrown in the trash and transform them into new products. It is good for people and for the environment because it reduces the amount of energy we use, improves the quality of air and water, fights climate change, and reduces the use of new raw materials.
Be on the lookout in the weeks ahead for the launch of the SMSC’s brand-new environmental sustainability initiative, Native Green!
Recycle as many cans, bottles, books, metal, aluminum, glass, newspapers, and electronics as you can Reuse things as much as you can—turn that old T-shirt into a cleaning rag! Shut off the water when brushing your teeth Unplug chargers for your cellphone when not using them Turn off lights you are not using Recycle plastic bags by reusing them when you are at the grocery store or bring reusable cloth bags with you
I Love You Ritual:
Mr.Sun
Looking to bond and have some sunny fun with your child? This interactive song will be sure to leave you both smiling as bright as the sun! Preparation and Instructions: This is a song that is sung with the child while you draw a picture on the back of the child’s hand. Sitting facing each other, begin the activity by holding the child’s hand palm-side down. You will need face paint or markers, preferably yellow for the sun.
SAY THE VERSE
DO THE ACTION
Oh Mr. Sun,
Draw a round circle on the back of the child’s hand to represent the sun.
Mr. Golden Sun,
Draw the rays of the sun radiating from the circle.
Won’t you smile down
Draw a smiling face inside the circle. Make sure the sun’s face is oriented toward the child, not toward you.
On my friend (say the child’s name)?
Show the drawing to the child.
Highlighted Learning Objective:
Remembers and Connects Experiences
As children grow older, they begin to remember more and connect experiences to things they have encountered in the past. Parents and caregivers can help enhance this developmental skill by encouraging the following activities and behaviors: What This Looks Like: Looks for food dropped from highchair. Identifies one or two objects taken away while playing “What’s Missing?”. Tells about experiences in order, provides details, and evaluates the experience . E.g., “We went to the baseball game. We sat way up high. We ate peanuts and drank lemonade. I really liked it a lot, but my sister didn’t.” Uses a few deliberate strategies to remember information . E.g., “I’m putting my book in my backpack so I’ll remember to take it home.”
Ways Parents and Caregivers Can Help Enhance These Skills: Demonstrate and explain how different experiences relate, e.g., “Your sweater goes over your head, just as your T-shirt goes over your head.” Give cues involving many senses, not just verbal cues, to help children remember and learn particular information. Involve children in “Remember When…” games and discussions, e.g., ask, “Do you remember the elephant we saw at the zoo yesterday?” Talk with toddlers about events in the immediate past, and talk with preschoolers and kindergartners about events that took place in the more distant past. Give children enough time to think and make connections before expecting an answer.
Recipe:
Earth Day Snack
Suggested Reading
Celebrate Earth Day this month with a fun and delicious treat that helps teach kids about the water and land that make up our planet Earth! Ingredients:
1 (8-ounce) package of cream cheese 1 tablespoon sugar 1 teaspoon vanilla 1 package of rice cakes or unfrosted cookies 1 cup blueberries, cut in half 1 cup green grapes or kiwi, cut in half
Directions:
What a Waste: Trash, Recycling, and Protecting Our Planet by Jess French
Recycling is Fun by Charles Ghigna
Don’t Throw That Away! by Lara Bergen
See, Touch, Feel: A First Sensory Book
1. Mix the cream cheese, sugar, and vanilla in a small bowl.
by Roger Priddy
2. Spread the sweetened cream cheese mixture onto the rice cake or cookie. 3. Create the Earth by placing the blueberries for the water and the grapes or kiwi for the land.
by Hervé Tullet
Let’s Play! Press Here
by Hervé Tullet
Focused Experience:
Playing With Toys
Toys are designed for children’s enjoyment. They are also important tools for learning. When children play with toys, they learn how to move, how things work, and how to communicate with and relate to others. Here are just a few ways that toys help your child grow and learn.
WHEN YOUR CHILD…
YOUR CHILD IS LEARNING…
Bats a ball to make it move Rolls a toy car Puts pieces on a form board Builds with blocks Snaps plastic beads together
Cause and effect Space and movement Concepts such as shapes, sizes, and colors How objects can be used Hand-eye coordination
Family-Friendly
High-Quality Colored Mulch Compost Blends | Soil Amendments
Events
IT’S TIME TO
THINK
May 18
Xtreme Summer Camp Open House
SPRING
4:30–6:30pm Playworks (2200 Trail of Dreams, Prior Lake) Join Playworks for Xtreme Summer Camp orientation and an open house on May 18. Summer campers will meet their teachers and learn about all of the fun activities that are planned!
Prepare for green grass and beautiful landscapes with the SMSC Organics Recycling Facility
SMSC
Organics Recycling Facility
952.233.9191 • smscorf.com 1905 Mystic Lake Drive S, Shakopee, MN
playworks Staff Spotlight:
Ricci-Jean Banyai
How long have you worked at Playworks? 19+ years
What is your position at Playworks? Coordinator of Pod 6 Favorite part of working at Playworks: Laughing! Kids are so funny!
Favorite food: Tacos Favorite color: Purple Favorite animal: Dog
Favorite children’s book: Love You Forever by Robert Munsch Describe yourself in one word: Reliable Favorite board game: The Game of Life
952.233.5533 • GOlFTHEMEADOWS.com 2400 mystic lake blvd, PRIOR LAKE, MN enterprises owned and operated by the shakopee mdewakanton sioux community
Craft:
Water Bottle Wind Spiral
Enliven your outdoor space this Earth Day with a fun and earth-friendly craft! Materials: Empty water bottles Permanent markers Scissors A stick String or ribbon Directions: 1. Remove the caps from the water bottles and let them dry out. 2. Remove any labels from the bottles. 3. Using the permanent markers, color the bottles with various colors and designs. 4. Cut the bottom off the water bottle and recycle it. 5. Starting at the bottom of the bottle, cut a spiral up and around the bottle until you reach the spout area. 6. Place the spout opening of the bottles on a stick. 7. Tie a string or ribbon loop to each end of the stick and hang the spiral. Enjoy it blowing in the wind!
Full- & part-time
OPTIONS availAble
StartS June 8
OPEN HOUSE May 18
ed enroll when ys per 3+ da k! wee
atrium play
FIELD Trips
educational programs hands-on experiences Daily meals included
owned and operated by the shakopee mdewakanton sioux community
Free Enrollment through june 7
REgister Today! restrictions apply