Port Side, Pirates!

Parents, check out this great Pirate book that we are using as a resource in our Pirate camp this week.   It's a story that is also a song, plus it includes all kinds of "Pirate" facts in the back of the book.  Some of the children asked me where they could buy the book!

To learn more click on this link:

http://www.mybarefootbooks.com/BrandiLavrich

Or you can purchase it directly from Brandi Lavrich by calling (412) 600-2782 or using her email at dan-brandi@comcast.net.  If you order directly from Brandi, she offers free shipping!

Ahoy There, Mates! - Pirate Camp Day 1

Ahoy There, Mates!  Ahoy There, Friends! Let's sail in a pirate ship, let's sail in a pirate ship!

Pirate Camp is sailing into the ocean with fun and learning for all!  We have 10 pirates on board for this adventure from ages 3 to 5 years.  Here's a few highlights from today's class:

We pretended to build our pirate ship using rhythm sticks (fine motor skills, steady beat).

We learned the parts of a Galleon ship (language, literacy)

We sailed our ships around the sea hoola-hoop style using a variety of movements (spatial orientation, physical coordination)

We chose a color for our ship (creativity, literacy)

We created our own foam pirate ships and used our creativity to color our Pirate Ship Coloring Page during craft time (attention skills, following directions, fine motor, creativity)

We played with beach balls outside today (cooperative play, coordination, spatial orientation)

We had Goldfish Crackers and listened as Miss Kathy read "Port Side Pirate Ship!".  Then we learned about 5 different kinds of pirate ships (facts and pictures were included in the book).

We had center time with scarves and metal instruments as we danced and played along to pirate music.

We're looking forward to a special day tomorrow as we celebrate our own "Pittsburgh Pirates!" Our young pirates are invited to dress up in their favorites Pittsburgh Pirate gear and join us as we meet some Animal friends of the Pirates.  Plus, we'll be playing Musical Baseball during out Outside play.

Shiver Me Timbers!  It will be a deck-stomping, helm-steering, good time for all of our Mateys!  Aaaargh!

Princess Ponies - Giddy Up!

Day 4 of our Princess Camp was filled with ponies, horses, and lots of "galloping here, galloping there, galloping, galloping everywhere!"

Enjoy the pictures of the girls dancing with streamers, playing egg shakers, and making their final craft of the camp.  

Here's what parents are saying about Princess Camp:

"Thank you to you and all of your staff.  The girls are absolutely loving Princess Camp!!  They all look so adorable, and you have such great ideas for them.  Thanks for taking such good care of the girls, and for taking the time to do the pictures and the blog.  What fun!"  - Wendy Skalniak, mother of Princess Grace

"Josie is having a blast at Princess camp- love the pictures on the blog!!!  Thanks for sharing them! " - Bonnie, Mother of Princess Josie

"Thank you Kathy for all of the pictures and the updates on princess camp! Elisabeth is having a great time; she just loves "her princess camp". This has been a great experience for her. I can't believe she just turned 3 a couple of weeks ago and she is on her own in a class. You have all made her feel so welcomed and comfortable.  Thank you for making our little Princess so happy!" -  Lucinda, Mother of Princess Elisabeth

The camp was a "royal hit" for one and all -- we're already looking forward to next year.

Happy Summer, Princesses!

Princess - Teddy Bear Tea Party!

It's Day 3 of Princess Camp complete with Teddy Bears and a Tea Party.  We pretended to make cupcakes and tea using finger rhymes and chants.  (Remember - Rhymers make better readers!) We danced with our Teddy Bears and the bears helped us sing the hello song.  

We included ball exploration today with a focus on language development (labeling) and fine motor skills/eye-hand coordination/spatial orientation.

While pretending to travel to our tea party with a variety of locomotor movements, we practiced inhibitory control by stopping and starting.  "We're going to a tea party, going to a tea party, going to a tea party, a tea party at the castle."  Try singing this song at home with an "Aaaand Stop!" at the end for more inhibitory control practice.

We explored using spoons as instruments, just like the people in the Appalachian mountains.  Between the ball play, spoon play-along, and locomotor movement - we provided your child with several opportunities to work on steady beat development.

Our tea party gave us an opportunity to practice our manners, too!  Hope that plays out at home with you this week.  Let me know if your child uses the word "dainty" because we used it several times today to describe a princess.

During craft time we made tissue paper flowers and colored a tea party invitation.  It was fun for all. Enjoy the pictures!!

Tomorrow is all about princesses and their ponies.  We're looking forward to Day 4, our last day together!

Special thanks to Miss Carrie, Miss Lisa, and Miss Karen for being our assistant teachers during camp this week.

Cleaning The Castle - Princess Camp Day 2

As you can see, Day 2 was filled with Creative Play, Instrument Play, Movement, and music music music!  

We pretended to clean the castle by dusting, washing clothes, washing dishes, and more.

We decorated our "cleaning wands" using stickers and ribbon.  I look forward to hearing the stories of how those wands are being used at home to help with cleaning around the house.

We practiced our Steady Beat using bells, egg shakers, hand movements, full body movement, and locomotor movement.

Speaking of Steady  Beat, did you know??

One of the first musical skills to develop is the ability to keep a steady beat.  Of course the ability to keep a steady beat is essential for future musical experiences, but it is also important in everyday life.  Think of all we do that requires regularly paced repeated motion (a sense of steady beat!) – walking, running, riding a bicycle, cutting with scissors, bouncing a ball, playing sports, and more.  Music relies on steady beat more than nearly any other activity, making it a perfect skill-builder.  

We explored Bilibos (the bowls you'll see our friends sitting in) and Puppets during our music lesson and during center time.  It was delightful to see all the different things the children came up with.

Tomorrow is our Teddy Bear - Princess Tea Party.  The children are invited to bring a favorite bear for the tea party.  See you then!

Poof! You're a Princess!

Today was our first day of Princess Camp at Kathy's Music this summer.  The pictures tell the real story, but I couldn't resist sharing a few details.  

Our theme was "Poof!  You're a Princess!" where we all pretended to be a princess in the royal castle.

We danced with our "magical musical wands" while learning about spatial orientation and the related vocabulary labels.  We practiced our attention skills by listening to the many sounds that occur during a Princess's day (your home CD has this track included, too).  We practiced our ensemble skills while we played sticks, eggs, and bells using a favorite, "We Are Fine Musicians".  During this activity, we learned how to start and stop instrument play together, which also gave everyone more opportunities to strengthen inhibitory control.  

We made new friends (social skills).  

We learned to be independent and stay by ourselves (emotional development).  

We  made a princess crown with foam stickers (fine motor skills, following directions). 

We eat a snack and enjoyed the story of "The Frog Prince" told with a book and puppets (attention skills/cognitive development/literacy).

What's in store for tomorrow?  Day 2 - "Cleaning The Castle!"  Look out Cinderella, Snow White, and Giselle!

Kindermusik - A Key to Learning

"I would teach children music, physics, and philosophy; but most importantly music, for in the patterns of music and all the arts are the keys of learning." -- Plato

Choose Kindermusik for your child this Summer and again this Fall.  

At Kindermusik with Kathy's Music, we take Musical Learning to new heights in such a way that it impacts your child's emotional, social, cognitive, language, emotional, and musical development.  

• We have classes in June, July, and August.  Fall classes begin September 14th.
  
• We have locations in Mt. Lebanon, McMurray, Squirrel Hill, and Washington.
  
• We give you excellent classroom experiences, resources to continue the learning at home, and parent education in class and via email week after week.

Contact us at (412) 344-0535 or http://www.KathysMusic.com for a free preview class and learn why Kindermusik is a Key to Learning!