AUGUST 2020
Craft: Critter plush ALL ABOUT
tubes and tunnels camping word search PLAYWORKSFUN.COM / PLAYHOUSE
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THIS MONTH AT August is here...
Playworks
and we have all things backto-school on the brain for our Playworks families! We know that there are still some uncertainties with what the upcoming school year will ultimately look like. At Playworks, we are ready for distance learning and e-learning, or a hybrid of both, alongside inschool learning. With mid-summer comes Minnesota heat, so we will be enjoying swimming at Dakotah!
Sport and Fitness this month. Our younger students have been enjoying the splash pad as well. As August rolls through, Playworks is looking forward to having some form of celebration for the students, complete with fun games and activities to enjoy. Stay tuned for further details.
practices. As an extra safety measure, all visitors are being screened upon entering Playworks. Our commitment to the well-being of our families remains our top priority—and we thank you for your continued patience and support.
To do our part to help flatten the curve and to keep our families as safe and as healthy as possible, we are continuing to implement and enforce enhanced health and safety
Suggested Reading
important dates
Tunnels!: With 25 Science Projects for Kids by Jeanette Moore
AUGUST 19 Playworks Carnival* 10am-Noon Playworks
Subway: The Story of Tunnels, Tubes, and Tracks by Larry Dane Brimner The Tunnel by Anthony Browne
*Exclusive event for Playworks-enrolled families
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PLAYHOUSE / AUGUST 2020
camping
word search
Camping with kids is a great idea for a summer family vacation. Nature delivers a fun, sensory experience for kids of all ages. Prepare your fellow campers by challenging them to complete this word search with 15 hidden camping-themed words. The words can be positioned in all directions— horizontally, vertically, diagonally, frontwards, or backwards. CAMPING WORD SEARCH
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BACKPACK
FLASHLIGHT
PICNIC
THIS LITTLE FINGER GOES NIGHT-NIGHT I Love You Rituals provide a unique bonding experience between you and your child. Holding your child’s hand, say the rhyme below while you wiggle the designated finger and make the appropriate noises. During the last line, give your child a kiss and tuck them into bed. This little finger on the end
BOAT HIKE
SUMMER
CAMPFIRE
SUNSCREEN
LANTERN
I LOVE YOU RITUAL:
CAMPSITE MARSHMALLOW TENT
goes cluck, cluck like a baby hen. The next little finger on the hand goes [make a musical noise] like a big brass band. This tall finger goes tick tock,
COMPASS OUTDOORS
WILDLIFE
just like mommy’s alarm clock. This little finger points to you and says, “I love you, yes I do.” The last little thumb goes night-night, and says, “Kiss me so I will sleep tight!”
Answers on page 7.
PLAYWORKSFUN.COM / PLAYHOUSE
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BEAT THE HEAT
While Having a Blast! Are you missing the cooler days of early summer? Don’t sweat it—that inevitable August heat wave doesn’t have anything on these cool outings! Get out and about, or ramp up your at-home entertainment with these kid-friendly, indoor and outdoor activities.
Adventures Away From Home
Stay Home, Stay Cool
WATER-INFUSED OUTINGS: Have some fun in the sun, with a water source to help keep you cool. Those 80-90°+ days are much more enjoyable at the beach or pool where you can dive into the water to cool down. Not a fan of swimming (or fish)? Check out your local splash pad for just enough water play to take the edge off those scorching hot summer days.
OUTDOOR FUN + HOME WATER PLAY: If staying home is your preference, find some shade for story time or an outdoor picnic. On those especially hot days, be sure to add water to your outdoor escapades—get out the kiddie pool for a refreshing dip in the water, or the water table for some splashing fun. Want to ramp up the outdoor water play for older kids? Invest in a backyard lawn waterslide for an affordable sliding adventure!
AC-INFUSED ENTERTAINMENT: Don’t feel guilty for avoiding the sun on particularly hot and humid days. Enjoy getting out of the house while still relishing in the comfort of AC by enjoying a walk around the mall, grabbing some ice cream, or visiting a friend or family member. Although many businesses are closed—or have reduced hours/restrictions due to COVID-19—countless places are offering virtual experiences or at-home programming from their websites or social media platforms!
INDOOR ACTIVITIES: Crafts, stories, movies, oh my! Good old-fashioned fun for rainy days also applies to those of unbearable heat. Grab a Pinterest-inspired craft, try a new baking recipe, start a friendly competition with a board game, or play charades. The options are endless!
Craft:
Critter plush
Who doesn’t love a soft, squishy critter to cuddle with? Try this DIY plush craft to make your own!
MATERIALS: • Colored felt • Googly eyes, buttons, string, or other decorative materials • Markers • Glue • Scissors • Paper • Plastic needle • Yarn • Cotton balls
STAFF SPOTLIGHT:
Katie McFarland How long have you worked at Playworks?
Four years What is your position at Playworks?
Teacher’s Aide Favorite part of working at Playworks:
Seeing the students learn and grow Favorite children’s book:
The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle Describe yourself in one word:
Calm Favorite board game:
The Game of Life
INSTRUCTIONS: 1. Draw a critter shape on a piece of colored felt.
Favorite food:
Pickles Favorite color:
2. Carefully cut out the critter on two pieces of back-to-back felt.
Orange
3. With an adult’s help, sew together the two pieces of felt using a plastic needle and yarn. Leave a small gap on one of the edges—stuff some cotton balls into your critter and then sew the edges shut.
Favorite animal:
Whale
4. Decorate your critter—give it some eyes, a smile, or some hair. Get creative! 5. Using the paper, make a nametag for your critter. What’s its name? Favorite food or hobbies? The possibilities are endless!
PLAYWORKSFUN.COM / PLAYHOUSE
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HIGHLIGHTED LEARNING OBJECTIVE:
tubes and Tunnels
Using critical thinking skills, students will enjoy building and creating with tubes and tunnels to learn more about the world around them—and possibly come up with a few new uses for them!
WHAT THIS LOOKS LIKE: • Talks about where tubes and tunnels are in relationship to the things around them. • Rolls tubes around on a surface and decides which tube rolls best. • Plays freely with tubes, perhaps making a telescope, blowing through them, forming a stack, etc.
WAYS PARENTS AND CAREGIVERS CAN HELP ENHANCE THESE SKILLS: • Ask questions to encourage your child to look for tubes and tunnels around your home. - Do you think there are any tubes in the kitchen? - Can you find a tunnel in the backyard or at the park? • Talk about what tubes and tunnels are used for and about characteristics they have. • Provide an assortment of all kinds of tubes to play with and examine (e.g., wrapping paper rolls, straws, empty toilet paper rolls, etc.).
FOCUSED EXPERIENCE:
Tasting and Preparing Food While children taste and prepare food, they have the opportunity to strengthen their social-emotional, physical, cognitive, and language skills. Learning about themselves and others, younger kids are eager to practice skills that enable them to feed themselves, while older kids learn to work cooperatively with others in preparing simple foods. In the process, children also develop personal care skills such as washing their hands, serving themselves, and cleaning up after themselves.
WHEN YOUR CHILD… Tears lettuce or washes vegetables Spreads apple butter on a cracker Fills a quart pitcher with cups of water Fills a muffin tin halfway to avoid overflow Uses cooking vocabulary 6
PLAYHOUSE / AUGUST 2020
YOUR CHILD IS LEARNING… About moving and using muscles To coordinate hand-eye movements Mathematical thinking Problem-solving skills Communication skills
FAMILY-FRIENDLY
events
AUGUST 19 Playworks Carnival
10am-Noon Playworks (2200 Trail of Dreams, Prior Lake)
Playworks-enrolled families are invited to join us for a day full of fun, food, and games! Events and activities subject to change. Please call ahead to confirm or visit the website for the latest scheduling updates.
Visitors are encouraged to wear face masks and practice social distancing when attending events.
S TA R T YOUR FITNESS JOURNEY Month-to-Month Memberships Free Group Fitness Classes 24-Hour Access Personal Training Swimming and Skating Lessons On-Site Deli and Juice Bar HydroMassage and so much more!
D A K O T A H S P O R T. C O M
952.445.9400 | 2100 Trail of Dreams, Prior Lake, MN 55372 O W N E D A N D O P E R AT E D B Y T H E S H A K O P E E M D E W A K A N T O N S I O U X C O M M U N I T Y
Camping Word Search Answers M
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952.233.9140 • mazopiya.com 2571 CREDIT UNION DRIve, PRIOR LAKE, MN
Recipe:
School Bus Snacker The wheels on this bus don’t exactly go “round and round,” but they sure are delicious! Get into the back-toschool spirit with this sweet school bus snacker—good for all ages!
INGREDIENTS: • Yellow icing • Graham crackers
• Square-shaped cereal pieces • Chocolate cookies
INSTRUCTIONS: 1. Spread yellow icing evenly across graham cracker. 2. Place square-shaped cereal pieces—for the windows—near the top of the (horizontal-facing) graham cracker.
enjoy!
3. Place chocolate cookies at the opposite end—or the bottom—of the graham cracker for the wheels.
Make your own yellow frosting by adding yellow food coloring to vanilla frosting!
• Playtime • Family Play • Groups & Parties
Learn Play PLAY HERE. Party PLAY TODAY! here.
Playworks is the best place to PLAY. We offer a variety of hourly child care services, family play, and more. Our child care is both flexible and fun for children 6 weeks to 12 years of age.
2200 Trail Of Dreams, Prior Lake, MN 952.445.PLAY (7529) • playworksfun.com