Camp Learn-A-Lot Week 4 - August 13th, 2015

An Eventful End of the Week

The Henry Ford Museum

Week 4 of Camp Learn-A-Lot has been jam-packed with cool and exciting learning experiences for the students. First, the campers got to witness an animal show about wild creatures from the Creature Conservancy, and then, they had the chance to take a journey through time at the historic Henry Ford Museum. I only wish I'd had this many amazing opportunities in my school days! This Wednesday, August 12th, the entire Camp made the trip to Dearborn and arrived bright, early, and ready to explore. From 10:00am to 11:30am, the staff and students toured the common area of the museum, which is broken into roughly five sections that cover the history of the United States: America's beginnings, the civil rights movement, aviation, technological and cultural advances, and how cars have shaped our lives. The halls were lined with beautiful vintage cars, full-scale airplanes, and an enormous locomotive; there was even a remodeled, fully-functioning diner from 1946 serving lunch, at which yours truly enjoyed a quick cup of coffee! 

The exhibits were interesting and interactive; the students launched paper airplanes, played with the controls of some pretty impressive machinery, worked on building a full sized Model-T from the nuts and bolts, and even sat on the bus in which Ms. Rosa Parks refused to be denied her civil rights any longer. After lunch in the Michigan Café, campers were treated to the movie "Secret Ocean." Our camp members did not simply watch life in the oceans, they experienced it in remarkable IMAX 3D. They were encapsulated in the magnificence of different sea creatures, and learned the importance of conservation efforts to preserve all sea life: did you know that 50-70% of the oxygen we breathe, comes from the oceans? Incredible! Thank you so much to the Henry Ford Museum for having us, and allowing us to give our students an incredible learning experience.

Romulus students building a Model-T

Sitting at the controls of a mechanical masterpiece

Sitting on the Rosa Parks bus

Fun at the IMAX… in 3D!

Splatter Day #2

Splatter day is always a labor of love: tutors spend the entire morning preparing the stations and filling water balloons. This Friday was the second "Splatter Day"of the 2015 Camp season. Activities included the regular water balloon toss, hose limbo, and the ever-popular water slide, but this time… we had something extra special in store for our campers. Our friends at the fire department visited us in their truck and let the fire hose loose to help our campers beat the heat. The students had a blast running through the spray, and thank the fire fighters for being so generous. 

Classroom Business

This week, along with many outside learning opportunity, much progress was made in the traditional classroom setting as well. Students continue their work with math facts in hopes of improving post test scores next week, and preparing them for their next school year, only a couple weeks away, now. Some classes have even practiced long division, averaging, and charting with the information they collect from performing experiments. And in another math-science connection, campers have worked with the symmetry and asymmetry of living beings. We continued this week with the study of plants and animals, studying social/herd behavior, plant growth and root systems, sense receptors, and how the five senses contribute to survival. A few classes even did an experiment where students were blind-folded, and had to use their sense of smell to guess the odor! (The students felt a little silly in their blinds, but they giggled and had fun guessing.) The lower grades also worked on identifying different types of vegetables and making a model of pollination. This blogger has personally seen some of the projects and animal behavior presentations our students have been working on, and know the parents and guardians attending the science showcase next Wednesday, August 19th will enjoy them too.

Students test their smelling skills in a blind experiment 

Third graders research an animal for their presentation next week

First graders work to identify different vegetables

Parents and Guardians:

Next week is the last week of Camp Learn-A-Lot! Some important dates to remember are Wednesday, August 19th from 5:00 - 6:00pm, there will be a Science Showcase and BBQ for the parents/guardians of Camp students. Please join us for free hot dogs, chips, drinks, and a chance to see your student's classroom and projects. Also, on the last day of camp, Thursday, August 20th, there will be a field trip to Turtle Cove for all students. Please send them to school with a swim suit, towel, and any other necessary swim gear. Thank you!

Camp Learn-A-Lot Week 4 - August 11th, 2015

Conservation Through Education

The Creature Conservancy is a non-profit organization located in Ann Arbor that is dedicated to rescuing abandoned and non-releaseable wildlife. At their facility they provide aid for animals like kangaroos and macaws that are not native to the region, but may have been purchased as pets and abandoned due to lack of knowledge about how to care for them. So, the staff rehabilitate, socialize, and use them to educate the community. The people at the conservancy were kind enough to pay the students of Camp Learn-A-Lot a visit this week, and give them an up close look at some beautiful and rare animals. The campers were introduced to a unique albino alligator, Spike the Scarlet macaw, Mango the Burmese python, Viola the giant Virginia opossum, and Poco the sloth. 

Some were overjoyed to see such amazing creatures so close, while others, including the adults, were simply terrified (especially by the python). During the show, the care-takers displayed the animals, shared interesting facts and insights about each, and answered student questions. For example, did you know that opossums are marsupials, not rodents, and are in fact the only marsupials in North America, or that the macaw has the intelligence of the average 3-4 year old? Pretty amazing, right? The crowd was engrossed in the presentation and shocked and awed by the crazy cool creatures. The staff said that our campers were so quiet and cooperative that they deserved a bonus, and were able to pet a baby Boa constrictor and an armadillo. Overall, the students had an amazing time and learned a lot of good information relevant to our topic these next few weeks: animal and plant structures. Hopefully, the presentation and information inspired a few future conservationists!

                                               

All in a Day's Work

As we begin the fourth week of camp, focus in the classroom has shifted from sight words to math facts, but science remains a major topic of everyday discussion. Work continues to be done, especially using the new card/board games, on the math skills critical for success. Games like "Splat!" and "I sea 10!" help the staff to review addition, subtraction, etc. with the students in a way that is fun and entertaining. For example, in "Splat!," someone holds up a number, and if you have a mathematical expression that would equal that number, you yell "Splat!" and turn your card over. As for our topic of biology, students this week have been studying the growth and reproduction systems of plants and animals, food chains/webs, and the social behavior of animals that live in packs or herds. All is well, and progressing smoothly, this week at Camp Learn-A-Lot!

A tutor and her students play a multiplication game

Tutors prepare the board for a lesson on food webs

    

                                                                     

    

Camp Learn-A-Lot Week 3 - August 6th, 2015

Camp Learn-A-Lot Week 3: The Saga Continues

Yankee Air Museum

Wednesday, August 5th, Camp Learn-A-Lot's fifth graders flew solo to the Yankee Air Museum. Clad in Romulus colors, and after a short trip through the gift shop, students were treated to a detailed tour of the museum by the knowledgeable staff. They sat in the cockpit of a vintage fighter jet, saw America's most fearsome aircraft in their entirety, learned the ins and outs of engines, and interacted with a display honoring women in aviation in wartime. Students also looked at equipment representative of each period of war in America: the uniforms, medals of honor, and aircraft. After their private look into history and aviation technology, the campers moved to the conference room for lunch where they watched a film about the Thunderbirds, a specific branch of the Air Force that performs stunts and has just acquired their first female pilot. It was a moving piece, and inspirational to young women looking to become pilots, or even simply to take up an untraditional profession. The afternoon consisted of the most interactive portion of the field trip. Campers built and launched paper rockets, used their body to control a character in a motion sensing game, and became pilots themselves in a flight simulator. It was a powerful and impactful learning experience, and certainly a lot of fun!

Romulus students exploring the control room of a vintage airplane

One of the guides explains the parts of a jet engine

A student being instructed on the flight simulator

Campers showing their skills on the motion sense game

5th graders with their paper airplanes

The Science Spectacular

Since the update on Tuesday, the students of Camp have engaged in even more exciting experimentation and scientific exploration. Again, this week is focused on the structures of plants and animals, and as a result, all over the building, you can find potted plants sitting on window sills, in classrooms, and hiding in the hallways; campers are observing their growth and testing what conditions are ideal for maturation. They continue to build models of plants and animals, and discuss adaptations, such as thorns or scaly skin, that help living things thrive. One third grade class is even in the process of creating a diorama that details the entire life cycle of an organism. An experiment the students really enjoyed was "Plant Guts," because they got to dissect different vegetables and scrutinize the smell, touch, and appearance of the structures inside. 

2nd graders potting plants

Student showing her work on the parts of plants

Observing some "Plant Guts"

 ATTENTION: Parents and Guardians

The Splatter Day or "Wacky Water Day" scheduled for Wednesday, August 20th has been rescheduled to Thursday, August 13th, which is next week. Please send them with swimming gear on this newly named date.

Camp Learn-A-Lot Week 3 - August 4th, 2015

Camp Learn-A-Lot Week 3: Classroom Heroes

In anticipation of this week's field trip to the Yankee Air Museum, the 5th graders, and in fact, all other grades, have been rigorous in their instructional time studying science. Each morning, most classes have a "Do-Now" or "Bell ringer," that poses a scientific question and opens the class for discussion on the day's topic. The first weeks of camp, students learned and experimented with the states of matter: What are the phases of matter? Does changing the state change the mass? How can we best move from solid to liquid, and liquid to gas? And now, in our third week of camp, the focus has shifted to the biology of life--to the plant and animal structures that fuel life. Campers of all ages and grade levels have investigated the subject. Just this week, experiments have included a three part dissection of a lima bean, observations of the germination of beans provided with differing levels of water, and an exploration of structures specific to birds and other mammals. Students are even bolstering their creative skills and working as groups to craft a fake flower they believe could survive in the arctic tundra.

3rd graders led through the dissection of a lima bean

Tutor and students use craft supplies to model a plant

First grader with her drawing of animals and their structures

Teacher discusses seed germination observed with students

As well, both staff and student have remained vigilant about learning and maintaining their sight words and math facts. For example, the first graders start their day with an involved review session of key words. Using the Smart Board, the teachers and tutors lead the class in saying, spelling, and writing the words to cement them in their minds, and prepare them for the English requirements of the upcoming school year. For every class, flash cards and games have become an engaging way to learn and review, and campers are making improvements at every turn, like the second graders advancing from a focus on addition to subtraction. At Camp Learn-A-Lot, students are active members in their education as they prepare for the future.

Tutor tests a student on sight words to ensure she is improving

And of course, after testing, experimentation, and instructional time, our campers love to have fun! They love Village time, when they can relax and play tag, draw, build with Leggos, and bond with their tutors/teachers after a long day of learning. 

IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENTS:

• The Camp Learn-A-Lot blog will no longer be hosted singularly by blogger.com. I will continue to post from this website, but there is now also a blog built into the district website. You can find it by going to romulus.net and clicking on the Camp icon, or go directly to the blog using the following link: www.romulus.net/camp-learn-a-lot

• The 5th grade field trip to the Yankee Air Museum is tomorrow. If you have not already, return the permission slip and please send your child to school in their official Camp shirt. 

Camp Learn-A-Lot Week 2 - July 30th, 2015

Camp Learn-A-Lot Week 2: A Very Special Splatter Day

Splatter Day

Wednesday, July 29th, Camp Learn-A-Lot put on its first "Splatter Day," formerly "Wacky Water Day," of the 2015 season. On the beautiful, hot, and humid day, campers played outside in their swim gear. Stations included a water balloon toss, hose limbo, sprinklers, red-light-green-light with water guns, and a fan favorite, the water slide. Many a great photo came from campers splashing their way down the slide, as you will see below. The next "Splatter Day" will be August 19th, so please send your child to school with a towel and swim suit or extra pair of dry clothes, so they can share in the fun. Otherwise, our campers will continue to enjoy their regular Village time, playing games like musical chairs, hula-hoop, and agility course with their friends after their lessons. 

CSI: The Investigations

Throughout the program, students will be exposed to our CSI words, such as "evidence" and "anthropology," and have put them to good use already in their group activities and frequent classroom experimentation. This week alone, the 3rd graders tested the amount of energy transfer that occurs in a collision with ramps and toy cars, the lower grades experimented with the amounts of friction found between the floor and different types of shoe soles, and the upper grades created a solution to discover whether or not dissolving solids, or changing their state of matter, will change their mass. Camp Learn-A-Lot is quickly becoming an essential tool for the next generation of up and coming scientists. 

Upcoming Events:

• Wednesday, August 5th: Field Trip to Yankee Air Museum from 10:15am to 1:25pm (5th graders only)
• Wednesday, August 12th: Field Trip to the Henry Ford from 9:00am to 1:25pm (All students)
• Wednesday, August 19th: Splatter Day - please bring swimming gear AND Science Showcase/BBQ for Parents from 5:00pm to 6:00pm 
• Thursday, August 20th: Field Trip to Turtle Cove from 10:30am to 1:25pm - please bring swimming gear AND Last Day of the Program

Thank you for reading, and please join us next week for information and important updates, posted every other day during the school week. The weekly newsletter will also be sent home every Monday.

Camp Learn-A-Lot Week 2 - July 28th, 2015

Camp Learn-A-Lot Week 2: The CSI Team Ventures Out

The Hands-On Museum

It is yet another busy and beautiful week at Romulus Community Schools' Camp Learn-A-Lot. Bright and early this past Monday morning, the entire school was buzzing with excitement, preparing to take a trip to Ann Arbor's Hands-on Museum.

The campers, proudly representing Romulus in their maroon and white camp shirts, had a blast traveling through the different layers of the museum. Four floors of interactive stations allowed students to learn about and experiment with concepts of physics, geology, math, music, technology, and characteristics of light.

The super sleuths investigated how to launch a rocket with pressurized air, the workings of simple and complex machines, how light and sound travels in waves, and how refraction bends and distorts images. I doubt our campers realized all they were learning - they were having too much fun! Among our students' favorite exhibits were the Country Store, a peak into life in the 1930s, Pure Michigan, a collection of samples of fish and rock native to our area, tornado building, and of course, the water floor. Overall, a successful trip of fun, adventure, and knowledge.

                                                Business As Usual

Back in the classroom, and back to business, our students are continuing their learning journey with frequent experimentation, group activity, and work with sight words. For the first two weeks, focus will be placed on the sight words, common words appropriate for grade level, and the last few weeks of the program will be dedicated to math facts. And, as always, Camp Learn-A-Lot's kids are having a great time under the summer sun while they learn. This week's "Village" stations so far have included musical chairs, limbo, frisbee, and an agility course. 

                                       For Parents and Guardians

A newsletter was sent home with your student detailing the activities of the first week of camp and more, and also included a calendar on the last page. Please review the upcoming events detailed in this newsletter and continue to go over the materials sent home with your student every day. As well, Wednesday, July 29th is a "Splash" day, formally known as "Wacky Water Day," so please send your child to school with a swim suit or an extra pair of dry clothes.

Camp Learn-A-Lot 2015: Just The Beginning

Camp Learn-A-Lot 2015: Just The Beginning

Overall

Welcome teachers, students, and parents, to another wonderful summer of fun and adventure at Romulus Community Schools' Camp Learn-A-Lot! Following 2014's "superhero" spectacular, this year's camp will belong to the super sleuths. Our theme is CSI--for Camp Science Investigators--and both student and teacher will journey through the world of scientific investigation and inquiry. Campers will examine scientific principles such as matter, the energy of motion, and velocity with the eye of a crime scene examiner, as well as learn the terminology of those in the criminal justice profession, all the while having loads of fun too. Students can look forward to regularly scheduled "Village" time, Wacky Water Days, and field trips to places that excite and engage. It's shaping up to be an amazing year of summer camp!

Training Week

Beginning the week of July 13th, teachers and tutors alike began their training to become the ultimate "Camp Science Investigation" team. The staff were busy unpacking supplies, decorating the hallways according to theme, and preparing classrooms for our brilliant students. The focal point of the teachers' training was the curriculum, which focuses upon vital skills such as identifying key words or "sight words," and math facts, but has also been re-vamped to encompass the theme and hands-on learning experiences. Concurrently, the tutors learned how to play games such as "Splat!," "Tri-Facta," and "I sea 10" to share with the kids and help them improve their basic math and English skills. The Camp Learn-A-Lot teachers and tutors are now ready and excited for the students to arrive, so the educational journey can begin.

First Week of Camp

The sun has shined brightly on the first days of Camp Learn-A-Lot at Wick Elementary, not only in weather, but in mood. Students arrived ready to learn, were escorted by our tutors to enjoy a healthy breakfast in the cafeteria, and sang along to the camp theme song--a remix of Survivor's "Eye of the Tiger"--during the morning meeting. The principal of the program, Mrs. Johnson, and lead teacher Ms. Dickson, led the assembly to prepare and excite the students for class. The first portion of class has been dedicated purely to instructional time with math, English, and science, however, along with required pre-testing and math/English review, has been engaging group experimentation. Science kits have been ordered and delivered, and our campers are putting them to good use. Throughout the halls, you'll see students measuring the distance a toy car travels down a ramp to study velocity. You will see 5th graders investigating matter with balloons and the mixing of liquid and solid components. You'll also see children using their critical thinking skills to build a slingshot, or other structure, from a random assortment of items, with their teammates. And after a delicious lunch served by Camp's excellent staff, our campers enjoy "Village,": a time to unwind and have fun with classmates. Activities so far have consisted of volleyball, soccer, kick-ball, musical chairs, crafts, Legos, and many more. One would not be surprised to find student and staff engaged in a playful tug-of-war, or enjoying a game of catch with one another. It's been but a few days, and already the campers love their teachers and tutors. Each day a new set of stations are assembled, and each day is more creative and more incredible fun, than the last. And on a more informative note, parents of campers should also be aware of a few important documents that have been sent home with your student, including an emergency card and transportation information. Please review the materials and return the emergency information to the school as soon as possible. Thank you for reading, and I will see you next week with a new installment of Camp Learn-A-Lot news!