Playworks PW's Playhouse December 2018

DECEMBER 2018

Imitating and Pretending Recipe:

Cinnamon Sugar Snowflakes

All Things

Winter

This Month at Playworks…

Each year, Toys for Tots delivers a message of hope—and a little Christmas cheer—to less fortunate children all over the United States. The program has been operating since 1947 and has impacted hundreds of millions of American families. So how does Toys for Tots work, and how can you get involved?

Through December 19, Playworks is a designated Toys for Tots drop-off location for new, unwrapped toys. A Marine service member then picks up these toys, and the organization sorts the gifts by age and gender. During the week of Christmas, Toys for Tots distributes the toys to children in need all over the country, with the assistance of local social welfare agencies, church groups, and other community agencies.

important dates December 13:

Educare Holiday Concert 6pm • Playworks LINK Event Center

December 24 & 25:

Playworks Closed for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day

December 31:

Playworks New Year’s Eve Party 3-6pm • Playworks Atrium

January 1:

Playworks Closed for New Year’s Day

While the Toys for Tots organization coordinates and manages these campaigns, the ultimate success of the program depends on the support of the local community and the generosity of the people who donate toys.

251 Million 548 Million

Toys Distributed to Date

Children Supported to Date

For more information about the Marine Toys for Tots Program, visit toysfortots.org.

Educare Early Learning Classrooms

Winter

It’s that time of year again! Load up on the layers, grab a shovel, and head outside—it’s time to scoop our way through the study of winter. Typically the coldest three months out of the year, Minnesota winters provide an opportunity to get students engaged in science and weather. Where does snow come from? What should I wear when it’s cold outside? How do animals stay warm? Learning all about winter offers Playworks learners the opportunity to make real connections between the classroom and the world around them.

During this study, students will also learn the reasons behind this freezing season, as well as the effects winter has on the environment.

Animals and insects also have to brave the cold—or they migrate! Check out the next page to learn more about Minnesota wildlife in the winter.

December’s investigation of winter will also encourage young learners to use literacy, mathematics, the arts, social studies, and technology throughout the month in various hands-on activities and classroom work. Get inspired by your child’s learning and ask them about winter and snow—or better yet, go outdoors and encourage them to show you!

Suggested Reading

The Big Snow

by Berta and Elmer Hader

Dream Snow

by Eric Carle

The Mitten

by Jan Brett

BUILDING CONNECTIONS:

I Love You Ritual

When a Playworks student is absent, they are welcomed back to the classroom with this cheerful chant!

SAY THE VERSE

DO THE ACTION

You’ve been gone,.......................................................Classroom-wide chant.

And you’ve been missed,.......................................Classroom-wide chant.

Where would you like your...................................A class representative uses welcome back kiss? a puppet or wand to deliver a “kiss” at the location indicated by the previously absent child.

Owl Moon

by Jane Yolen

White Snow, Bright Snow

by Alvin Tresselt

How do animals survive winter in

?

Minnesota

Have you ever wondered why you don’t need bug spray when it snows? Or why loons fly south during colder months?

Come December, the weather is usually too cold for insects, some birds, and other animals to live in Minnesota.

Seasonal changes affect our state’s critters in a number of ways. Oftentimes it depends on the animal’s dietary needs or preferred habitat in order to determine how it will survive Minnesota’s winter months. Some hibernate, others migrate, and some just choose to adapt to the cold. Let’s take a closer look:

Minnesota hibernators include many reptiles and amphibians, such as snakes, lizards, frogs, toads, and some turtles. Some Minnesota mammals that are considered hibernators are bats, chipmunks, and black bears. Even some insects go dormant and “hibernate” in winter, allowing them to withstand cold temperatures.

Highlighted Learning Objective:

Exploring the Visual Arts Visual art experiences include painting, drawing, making collages, modeling and sculpting, building, making puppets, weaving and stitching, and printmaking.

Children who engage in visual art experiences enhance their self-efficacy skills along with their thinking skills.

Children benefit from working with many different kinds of materials and having conversations about their artwork and the work of others. The more children are able to experiment with various media and discuss different ways to use materials, the more they are able to express their ideas through the visual arts.

What this looks like: Shows appreciation for various forms of visual art Shows appreciation for the artwork of peers Communicates what they see and how it makes them feel Communicates about their artwork

s

There are several different types of hibernation. Some animals that hibernate have warm fur, a thick layer of fat on their body, and sleep all winter long. Their body temperature lowers, and their heartbeat slows down. Loud noises won’t wake them up.

Hibernator

Adaptors

migrator

s

Animals that adapt to the cold are able to find food to survive all year long. They typically have a warm winter coat or thick feathers, and they do not need to store food or migrate. There are many familiar adaptors in Minnesota, like whitetailed deer, squirrels, and crows.

what about fish?

This group of animals typically has a warm body covering, but many are unable to find food in a frozen climate or have no way to store food. Most migrators have wings and can travel to other areas in the world where food can be found. You might know some of these Minnesota migrators: monarch butterflies, eastern bluebirds, and sandhill cranes.

Although the ice on top of bodies of water is cold, fish in Minnesota are great at finding warmer water near the bottoms of lakes and rivers in the winter.

Source: Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge

Suggestions for improving this skill:

Offer diverse, open-ended materials for children to explore, and include materials with different patterns, textures, and colors

Display child’s collaborative and individual art creations as much as possible

Ask open-ended questions that invite them to think about their creations and why they made particular choices

Offer child more advanced art materials, such as paper-mache or yarn and a knitting needle

Liz Swanson

Playworks staff Spotlight:

What is your position at Playworks?

Lead Teacher (Pre-K)

Describe yourself in one word: Dedicated

Favorite part of working at Playworks: Watching the children learn and grow throughout the years… daily hugs are awesome, too!

How long have you worked at Playworks?

23 years

Recipe:

Favorite children’s books: Green Eggs and Ham

by Dr. Seuss and The Bad Case of Stripes

by David Shannon

Favorite board game: Yahtzee Favorite foods: Nachos, quesadillas, and pizza Favorite colors: Green, yellow, and orange Favorite animal: Turtle

Cinnamon Sugar Snowflakes

Winter is here, and snowflakes are flying! This simple recipe is a perfect, warm wintry treat on a cold day.

Ingredients: Tortilla shells Butter, melted White sugar Cinnamon

Directions:

1. Microwave tortilla shells for about 10 seconds to soften.

2. Fold a tortilla in half and then in half again. Using a scissors, carefully cut the shell like a paper snowflake.

3. Place tortillas on a baking sheet, and use a basting brush to top with melted butter.

4. Sprinkle each tortilla with sugar and cinnamon.

5. Bake at 350°F for 5-10 minutes or until crisp. Let cool before serving.

Family-Friendly SMSC

EVENTS

December 7

DecemBRRR Dazzle 6-8:30pm Lakefront Park (5000 Kop Parkway, Prior Lake) This FREE family event draws hundreds of residents who warm the usual cold weather by joining in all the fun and planned activities.

Santa and his reindeer will be on hand for photos with children in Lakefront Park, along with many other winter-themed activities.

December 13

Educare Holiday Concert

($199 after january 15)

Promotion valid December 18, 2018, through January 15, 2019. Monthly membership fees apply.

952.445.9400 • dakotahsport.com 2100 Trail of Dreams, Prior Lake, MN

6pm Playworks LINK Event Center (2200 Trail of Dreams, Prior Lake)

Don't Trash Your Tree, Let Us Recycle it for

Playworks children will celebrate the season at their holiday concert on December 13. All Educare families are invited to this cheerful event—even Santa will make a special appearance!

FREE!

December 31

Playworks New Year’s Eve Party

Christmas Tree Drop-Off December 26–January 12 closed

3-6pm Playworks Atrium (2200 Trail of Dreams, Prior Lake)

Monday–Friday | 8am-4pm

Count down to 2019 with Playworks! The New Year’s Eve Party will include party hats, confetti, noisemakers, and games—everything you need to ring in the new year the right way. All are welcome.

Standard Atrium rates apply.

Extended Saturday Hours | 8am-Noon December 29 | January 5 & 12

Pretending is a way of learning as well as a way of playing, and it requires a great deal of thinking.

Stomping around in grown-up shoes, playing the role of a restaurant waiter, or even singing for an audience of stuffed animals show that children are developing from the sensorimotor thinking of infancy to more mature, symbolic thinking. While imitating and pretending, children are learning problem-solving skills, coordination, and more about the world around them.

December 31 & January 1

Scott County residents only. Must show ID. Trees must be free of all non-compostable decorations, tinsel, and flocking.

SMSC Organics Recycling facility

Focused Experience: Imitating and Pretending

New Year's Eve & New Year's Day

952.233.9191 • smscorf.com 1905 Mystic LAke Drive south, shakopee, MN

Ideas for Imitating and Pretending •

Ask your child to retell one of their favorite stories and add their own spin to the story’s plot or characters

•

Encourage your child to use puppets, dolls, or stuffed animals when playing—children often assign thoughts and feelings to these objects, allowing them to express their own ideas and emotions

•

Allow your child plenty of uninterrupted play time to explore ideas and enhance creativity

Craft: Snow Dough No need to wait for a snow day! Mix up some “cool” indoor snow using only two ingredients.

Materials:

1 cup cornstarch 1 cup lotion, refrigerated Small toys (optional)

Directions:

1.

2.

3.

4.

In a bowl, combine the cornstarch and lotion.

Once the dough is moldable, wash your hands and then knead the dough a bit more.

Create a snowy scene using small toys, such as cars or animals, if desired.

Store snow dough in a zip-seal bag or airtight container in the refrigerator between uses.

Tip:

More lotion will make oozy dough, while less lotion will make it more powdery.

• Arcade • Cupcakes • Fun!

BiRTHDAYS Host your next birthday party at Playworks! If you’re looking for an exciting place to host your child’s party, look no further than the Playworks Atrium. Our birthday package will make your child’s day unforgettable.

BOOK TODAY! 952.445.PLAY (7529) • playworksfun.com 2200 trail of dreams, PRIOR LAKE, MN

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