Peter Pan Early Learning Centers

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Peter Pan of Westmont

Peter Pan
Early Learning Centers

Nature Explorers ~ Curriculum Highlights

Each day we will collect our special "Nature Backpacks" and hike outdoors for some earthy adventures. This wonderful program, with in-depth weekly units, is in addition to our regularly scheduled summer curriculum for all children 3 years and older. Each child will have the opportunity for daily hands on nature experiences. As they collect nature treasures, children can save them in their personal "Nature Pot" and have a "Show ‘n Tell" to take home at the end of their day. This summer is sure to be a Season of Discovery!!!

"Love A Tree" Our "Love A Tree" unit will help us plant some strong "roots" on which we will begin examining the nature in our own backyard. During this week, we will develop a wonderful tree journal about one very special tree in our yard. Our fun filled activities will include:

	~ Naming Trees	~ Collecting Samples
	~ Discovering "Purposeful Parts"	~ "Bag a Leaf" Experiment
	~ Comparing Tree Measurements	~ Identifying the Age of a Tree
	~ Making Bark and Leaf Rubbings	~ Visit "Log’s Life" Hands-on Garden
	~ Discovering Who Lives in a Tree	~ Examining Vein Structures

"Beaks, Feet, and Feathers"

There’s sure to be a lot of chirping about our next unit, "Beaks, Feet, and Feathers." We’ll be exploring beaks, pruning feathers, and waddling on webbed feet. Our imaginations will take flight as we:

	~ Go on a "Bird Hunt!"	~ Create Salt Dough Nests
	~ Identify Local Birds	~ Discover a "Bird’s Menu"
	~ Concoct a "Bird Restaurant"	~ Create a "Feeding Frenzy"
	~ Sample "Hummingbird Nectar"	~ Read a "Bonnie Blue Bird" Rebus Story
	~ Build a Bird Bath	~ Compare Beaks, Bills, and Feet

"In One Forest" Pack up the trail mix, we’re hiking through our next unit, "In One Forest." We’ll need our flashlights this week, as we discover Radical Raccoons, Outrageous Opossum, and Awesome Owls. It’s sure to be a "Hoot" as we:

	~ Sing "Who Are You?"	~ Play "Where’s My Tree?"
	~ Write an Owl Story	~ Perch like a "Wise Old Owl"
	~ Create "Fly Away Wings"	~ Hunt for Pine Cones
	~ Play "Leaping Squirrels"	~ Estimate Acorns
	~ Create a "Possum Pouch"	~ Run "Possum Relays"

"Rocks and Minerals" During our "Rocks and Minerals" unit, we will become Junior Geologists. We’re sure to strike "gold" as we go on a "Rock Hound Expedition." Come join us as we dig-into this fun unit. We will:

	~ Identify 3 Main Types of Rocks	~ Play "Do you see the Rock I See?"
	~ Describe and Classify Rocks	~ Conduct a "Rock Swap"
	~ Sing "Jewels, Jewels"	~ Play "Shake, Rattle, and Roll"
	~ Create a Rock Necklace	~ Experiment with "Hard as a Rock"
	~ Make Mud Pies	~ Experience "Bubbling Stones"

"Ants and Worms" The soil is home for many little creatures. During our "Ants and Worms" unit, we will march and squiggle our way around our back yard. We’ll creep and crawl through enriching activities like:

	~ Creating a Worm Vivarium	~ Identifying Earthworm Parts
	~ "Slippery When Wet"	~ "Who’s Afraid of the Dark?"
	~ Singing "Earthworms"	~ An "Ant E. Social" Experiment
	~ "Calling All Ants"	~ "Ant Obstacle Course"
	~ Label different Ant Types	~ "The Life Cycle of an Ant"

"Pond Life" It’s time to ready the camping gear and pack up the canoe. This week we’re off to explore "Pond Life." We’re sure to make a splash when we:

	~ Conduct Sink/Float Experiments	~ Sing "Into the Lake"
	~ Discover How Fish Breathe	~ Create a "Water Knot"
	~ Display "Duck Characteristics"	~ Record "Leap Lengths"
	~ Sing in a "Frog Chorus"	~ Play "Big Turtle"
	~ Paint with "Snail Slime"	~ Visit "Rocky Look See"

"Starry Summer Nights" We’ll gather the ingredients we need to make S’mores, as we gaze into our next unit, "Starry Summer Nights." Our friends will be feeling downright nocturnal as we:

	~ Discover Star Facts	~ Sing "A Star Is Bright"
	~ Concoct "Moth Broth"	~ Enjoy some "Cloud Watching Fun"
	~ Compare Crickets to Grasshoppers	~ Learn about "Glowers and Flashers"
	~ Play "Little Firefly"	~ Do some Shadow Dancing
	~ Sing Campfire Songs	~ Go on a "Moonlight Hike"

"Soaring Seeds" Our next unit, "Soaring Seeds" will have us reaching new heights, as we compare a wide variety of seed topics. We’ll look at some as tiny as a sesame and some as large as a coconut. Our green thumbs will surely grow with some knowledgeable activities like:

	~ A "Seedy Experiment"	~ "Growing A Sock"
	~ Comparing "Hidden Seeds"	~ Grow "Weightlifting Super Seeds"
	~ Travel "Every Which Way"	~ Make our own "Greenhouse"
	~ "Sprouting Sponges"	~ Sequence "The Garden Story"
	~ Play "Scoop the Seeds"	~ Sing "I Love Dirt"

"Flowers and Weeds" There are many different types of gardens, but flowers are always a favorite with our young botanists. During this week’s "Flowers and Weeds" unit, we will discover 10 important garden facts as we:

	~ Solve "A Science Mystery"	~ Make a "Plant Power" Growing Box
	~ Discover Plant Parts	~ Sing "I’m A Little Flower"
	~ Go on a "Follow-Your Nose" Hike	~ Create a Watering Can
	~ Conduct a "Stem Experiment"	~ Read "Planting a Rainbow"
	~ Sequence "The Story of a Seed"	~ Identify "The Parts We Eat"

"Garden Friends"This week we’ll be looking under rocks and digging under logs to discover some "Garden Friends." We’ll use our magnifying glasses to examine all the friends that fly, creep, and hop around our garden. We’ll be busy "Bugs on the Go" as we:

~ Create a "Creepy Crawly Pit" ~ Apply for "Bee Jobs"

~ Practice "Pollination" ~ Sing "Five Little Bees"

~ Play a "Giant Wingspan Game" ~ Become "Web Weavers"

~ Become a "Roly Poly Caterpillar" ~ Compare Moths to Butterflies

~ Discover Lady Bug Symmetry ~ Conduct many "Bug Investigations"

"Nature in My Yard" We have spent a wonderful summer exploring nature together. Now it’s time to discover how we can expand our themes to the "Nature in My Yard." We will spark a Lifelong Interest in Nature as we:

~ Discover "Nature’s Balancing Act" ~ Protect our Habitat

~ Play "If ..., Then..." ~ Create "Clean Mud"

~ Decorate a "Mudcloth" ~ Enjoy a "Wet and Wiggly Day"

~ Weave a Yarn Sculpture ~ Observe a "Wild Spot"

~ Build a "Wildlife Shelter" ~ Encourage Conservation

Join Us! ~ Become a "Nature Explorer"!

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