Bumblebees 2011 Jul-Aug Newsletter.pdf - The Gillen Brewer School

The Bumblebee Buzz
Fun in the Sun!
July-Aug ust 2011 News
The Bumblebees spent a lot of time outdoors this summer climbing, running, skipping, hopping,
throwing, and catching. Naturally in the hot weather, water exploration became a big
focus of our summer curriculum. The outdoor environment allowed for water play both similar
and different from those at the water table inside the classroom. Out on the roof terrace,
some Bumblebees enjoyed running through the sprinklers, while some preferred to use
the sprinklers to fill up buckets and bottles for pouring and emptying. They attached plastic
pipes in various configurations to the sprinkler nozzle and explored different ways water
flows. Filling up spray bottles and spraying each other was also a big hit. The Bumblebees
used sponges and paintbrushes, pretending to wash the equipment and paint the walls outside.
They also enjoyed pouring water down the slide to turn it into a water slide.
Bumblebees Buzzing Around the City
The Bumblebees went on many trips this summer.
We visited neighborhood playgrounds, as well as playgrounds across Central Park on the
West Side. The Bumblebees enjoyed rides on the M86 bus. At the Wild West Playground on
West 93rd Street, the Bumblebees floated boats down the stream that flows through the
center of the playground. They also climbed on new playground equipment and enjoyed rides
on the tire swings. At Safari Playground on West 91st Street, they climbed on top of and
looked inside of the big hippo sculptures. The Bumblebees also visited The Swedish Cottage
Marionette Theater for a production called, “The Secret History of the Swedish Cottage.”
It was a fairy-tale inspired by the real history of how the Swedish Cottage in Central Park
was brought over from Sweden to NYC. Afterwards, the Bumblebees commented that the
dancing gnomes and the giant octopus were their favorite characters.

Mixing It Up:
On the roof top, several Bumblebees became interested in mixing sand and water together.
They pretended they were making magical potions and cakes. We expanded the theme of
mixing into our small group work in the classroom. The Bumblebees experimented with mixing
sugar and water. They noticed that the sugar dissolved or disappeared when they stirred.
They also noticed that after adding a lot of sugar, it began to collect at the bottom and did
not disappear anymore. Another day, the Bumblebees mixed flour and water together and
noted the differences. This time, the mixture became cloudy, milky, and eventually really
thick. The Bumblebees pretended to make milkshakes. On their own, during Choice Time, they
thought of other materials they could mix with water, such as shaving cream and food coloring.
They exclaimed that they were making ice coolers and offered their ice coolers to the
teachers.
Hi From OT
The Bumblebees have been enjoying exploring different playgrounds
in NYC. Here are some other great outdoor activities to promote
gross motor and fine motor development. These are simple activities
that you can do with your child over summer vacation.
Draw with chalk on the sidewalk or at the playground:
-Draw large shapes and have your child jump from shape
to shape.
-Draw a long line with many twists and turns and have
your child walk along the line without stepping off (you can also draw a small
version and have your child use his or her finger to follow the line).
-Have your child draw freely using small pieces of chalk to foster a more mature
grasp.
Bring different size balls to the playground and practice throwing and catching with your
child.
Do animal walks, such as crab walks, bear walks, slither like a snake. (These are great to do
at the beach, but also can be done at the park or even in your home.)
Enjoy your summer vacation!
Sarah

Hello from Speech: The Bumblebees have turned into Shutterbugs!
Yes it’s true! The Bumblebees have been very busy snapping pictures of each
other during Choice Time. The children have been using VTech Children’s digital
cameras that were donated to our school. These cameras have easy to push buttons for
zooming in and out and take real pictures. They are colorful and durable, too, so when they
take a spill, they don’t break. During the break, you may want to take your budding
photographer out with one of these kid friendly cameras or you could also buy a simple
disposable camera instead. If you’re interested in getting a camera made for children, VTech
and Fisher Price seem to be the leaders in kids’ cameras, but look on the internet for the best
deal because prices vary widely. Once you’ve printed your pictures, you can make a little book
with your child; sharing the book with friends and family will provide opportunity to support
your child’s ability to retell a story or verbally share a recent event. Taking pictures and
creating a book is also a confidence building interactive activity that will provide long lasting
memories. Enjoy! -Holly
More Summer Fun
Silly Hat Day
Mask Day
Gaby from The Art Farm
brought a parrot!
Families, thank you for joining us on trips, ice cream so-
cials, and at the playground. We had a wonderful
summer! Enjoy your vacations!
-The Bumblebees
Swimming at Asphalt Green
Our Classroom Ant Farm
Summer Theme Days
July 12th: Silly Hat Day
July 19th: Pajama Day
July 26th: Favorite Color Day
August 2nd: Tie-dye Day
We all scream for ice cream!
August 9th: Sunglasses Day