Today was our first day of BYEC -- and we had a lot of fun! About 20 kids came, including some older one who came to help with the younger ones (thank you!), and despite being still in the midst of this massive heat wave, we were able to play and explore in the back yard all morning.
After some practice of using our senses to explore, and starting our individual "Explorers' Kits," we divided into teams for some scavenger hunts. Our story today was about the life of John James Audubon (the bird guy), and it wasn't quite as exciting for the kids... hopefully tomorrow's lesson about the Vikings will be more gripping! But they did enjoy going around with their magnifying glasses and finding things to draw in their mini-notebooks, as Audubon used to do.
Actually, a few of the kids were just so creative, they found alternate uses for the magnifying glasses, and apparently started burning leaves. As soon as I got wind of it, believe me, that was extinguished -- in all ways. :) Interspersed with several "cooling off" activities -- involving squirt guns, and eventually the garden hose -- we played several rounds of Sardines, Black-Cat and Hide-n-Seek. I forget how much energy kids can have -- even on hot days!
Some of my favorite summer memories as a kid center around a whole bunch of kids playing games in our yard all day long -- including the ones above, as well as Capture the Flag, Spud, Soccer, and our made-up game of "Capture." I'm thankful that our kids are having the opportunity to play these kinds of yard games with a large group. More kids = More fun!
Hopefully the rest of the week will be just as exciting.... although perhaps a tad less hot.
After some practice of using our senses to explore, and starting our individual "Explorers' Kits," we divided into teams for some scavenger hunts. Our story today was about the life of John James Audubon (the bird guy), and it wasn't quite as exciting for the kids... hopefully tomorrow's lesson about the Vikings will be more gripping! But they did enjoy going around with their magnifying glasses and finding things to draw in their mini-notebooks, as Audubon used to do.
Actually, a few of the kids were just so creative, they found alternate uses for the magnifying glasses, and apparently started burning leaves. As soon as I got wind of it, believe me, that was extinguished -- in all ways. :) Interspersed with several "cooling off" activities -- involving squirt guns, and eventually the garden hose -- we played several rounds of Sardines, Black-Cat and Hide-n-Seek. I forget how much energy kids can have -- even on hot days!
Some of my favorite summer memories as a kid center around a whole bunch of kids playing games in our yard all day long -- including the ones above, as well as Capture the Flag, Spud, Soccer, and our made-up game of "Capture." I'm thankful that our kids are having the opportunity to play these kinds of yard games with a large group. More kids = More fun!
Hopefully the rest of the week will be just as exciting.... although perhaps a tad less hot.
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