During the summer months, we continue to provide our toddlers with a prepared environment that encourages independent exploration and movement. The children will work with developmentally appropriate Montessori materials to satisfy their inner impulse for learning.

The transition class is geared towards those new to Montessori and those transitioning from the toddler class to the primary class. When the children initially enter the primary classroom, the Montessori trained teacher will introduce them to all the different areas of the classroom. The students will experience what a typical schedule is like in the primary classroom, with the benefit of a smaller teacher/student ratio than in a typical primary class. The students will experience the full work cycle including circle time and independent work time. The smaller class size will help the younger students get accustomed to becoming more independent with snack and lunch time, in addition to toileting and using the bathroom on their own.

Our Summer Camp Program is for children ages four and over. During the summer, we carefully put away many of our Montessori materials, and turn our attention to a variety of exciting, weekly themes. These themes offer a fun way to focus on special areas of interest that we are not able to delve into during the school year. Please take a moment to look at the various themes we will feature this summer.

Please note that we will consider COVID and evaluate the feasibility of field trips and outside speakers as we get closer to the time.

Our students will celebrate our Nation’s Birthday by celebrating family, community, and the traditions that make our nation special. We will learn about the history of how our country was formed and the importance of the Declaration of Independence. We will talk about how our country is based on a common idea that people should have the freedom to live the way they want and to work and earn money the best way they can. These freedoms have inspired people from all over the world to come to this country and become “Americans”. We will introduce a variety of monuments and landmarks in our nation’s capital that proudly
commemorate our nation’s history. Campers will learn what the symbols of our nation’s flag mean, while making their very own flag. As the holiday celebration approaches, they will prepare food and make noisemakers, pinwheels and fireworks inspired art for the party.
We will end the week with a birthday bash with patriotic party games and food!

Aloha! Students will experience a week-long study of Hawaii, learning all about the history,
music, customs and natural landscape, animals and cuisine of our 50th state. Students will learn that Hawaii is an archipelago of eight major island formed by Volcanic Activity. They will also be introduced to the plant and animal species of the islands. Our Music teacher will be on hand to teach Hawaiian music and help the children learn to play the ukulele. The children will make
leis and grass skirts, along with preparing food, music and dance activities in preparation for our own colorful luau party to end the week.

Presentation: The week will also feature a special presentation by a member of a local Hula Dance troop. 

We will celebrate Planet Earth this week! We will investigate many different aspects of nature as we experience the sights, sounds and textures of the outdoors. We will explore, soil, water, seeds, animals and insects. We will get outside, prepare garden beds and plant seeds, using rain water to help them grow. We will look for animals and insects in our backyard. We will make crafts such as seed bombs, bird feeders, nature art, pressed flowers and more. We will introduce the concept of “Reduce, Reuse and Recycle” and learn practical ways we can help keep Planet Earth healthy for many generations to come.

Field Trip – Our week will end with a visit to a local park for a guided nature walk.

A folktale is a story passed down verbally from generation to generation. Each storyteller adds something new to the stories, making them more interesting and fascinating as the ages pass. Different folktales bear the characteristics of the culture, folklore and customs of the people from which they originated. Storytelling gives children the unique opportunity to learn about new places, develop empathy for new cultures, while also learning about story structure, and encouraging creative thinking and dialogue. This week we will explore different type of stories and the many ways they are told through words, pictures, dance, music, puppetry and more! We will explore classic folktales from around the world and take turns telling stories of our own created through various word and prop prompts.

Presentation – Our week will conclude with a visit from one our favorite storytellers, who will share stories and songs of hope, courage, victory and joy, using a drum and other instruments to bring his magical stories to life.

A mosaic is a piece of art or image made from the assembling of small pieces of colored glass, stone, shells, beads or other materials. Since ancient times, mosaics have mesmerized humans with their dazzling colors and distinctive aesthetic. Mosaic art stretches back to Mesopotamia in the 3rd millennium BC and extends to exciting contemporary works as well. After studying ancient and modern mosaics, our young artists will design and create their own, with a variety of materials, both individually and as a group.

Field Trip – We will visit a local art gallery to gather ideas and inspiration for our own mosaic artwork! 

Tokyo, Japan will host the Summer Olympics this summer, where athletes from all over the world will compete for the Gold! This exciting tradition started in Ancient Greece and brings countries together for friendly competition every four years. As the spotlight shines on this unique country, we will learn all about Japanese culture, geography, customs and celebrations. We will learn about Taiko drums, the Shishimai Lion Dance and the art of Mochi Rice pounding.  We will bring the Olympic spirit to life by playing a variety of sports featured in the Summer Games, such as archery, basketball, karate, table tennis and track/field.

We will hold our own MCDBC Olympic Games, beginning with a colorful Opening Ceremony.

 

Have you ever thought about the kitchen as a science lab? This week we will use everyday kitchen items to create and observe chemistry at work! Cooking is a perfect combination of math and science, as we measure, weigh and combine our ingredients. Baking is an
endothermic reaction, meaning when you add heat to something, it changes. We will probe deeper and explore how different ingredients affect our final product. What happens when we leave out the oil or the baking powder? How does the appearance and taste change? We will investigate how chemistry is involved as we make our own bread, butter and ice cream. We will also experiment with colorful, fizzy and explosive reactions. Grab your apron and your beaker, it is time to cook up some science in the kitchen!

Field Trip – Our week will culminate with a visit to a local restaurant’s kitchen to see how they use science to make delicious food for their customers.  

Are kids too young to code? The answer is no! We will work at the child’s level to lay a foundation so they can begin to think like a computer programmer at a young age. In simple terms, Coding is telling a computer (or website or app) what you want it to do. Learning to code helps children develop new ways of thinking by breaking up big problems into smaller steps. We will explore the beginning concepts of coding, not by using a computer, but by playing coding games in a fun, interactive way such as solving treasure hunts, mazes, story sequences, puzzles and building blocks. We will work on mastering sequencing, pattern recognition and if/then conditional logic. We will sharpen our logical thinking and problem
solving skills as we build persistence, resilience and determination – all important skills in today’s world.