|
Good Morning Canada 10 Week Summer Series The countdown is on – school is almost over. The kids are ecstatic and the parents in fear. We all have different summer memories – great times, boring times, and traveling. Summer is a wonderful time but it can certainly come with some challenges. With children out of school, we certainly face some interesting scheduling. However, with a bit of advance planning parents can ensure that they avoid bored kids and maintain their own sanity. Follow along over the next 10 weeks as Tracy Lyn Moland, author of Mom Management and expert in improving the lifestyles of Mothers, provides you with information on a variety of ways to keep your children active in the summer! Show One - Summer Camps Show One: Summer Camps Today we will be featuring two really unique new options that are available across the country – however, keep these things in mind when making summer plans for your children.
SUMMER CAMP FUN FOR KIDS School is almost out and that means parents everywhere will be looking for ways to keep their children entertained over the summer months. There are all sorts of different summer camps available. This week on Good Morning Canada, we will explore two unique summer camps. The first is a fairy camp where children dress up and live like fairies for just a few hours a day. But if the land of make believe is not for your child, how about the world of science? We will also visit a mad science camp where children learn all about chemical reactions in a fun, interactive way. Watch the show on your local CTV Station on Saturday and Sunday mornings. See PHOTOS here Show Two: Bring Social Studies to Life History – Understand the Present by Bringing the Past to Life! Children have an incredible opportunity to be a part of an information explosion. Many do not even know what a telegram is as most communicate via cell phones, messenger systems or email. I bet very few have ever written a letter – and notes in the classroom – why? You can instant messenger your friend in another room! This makes the world of history much more interesting. For children who can barely imagine that their grandparents didn’t have a TV the land of history is almost – a fantasy world. Movies like Troy, The Mummy – bring history to life. Children are fascinated. As we saw last week – science can be pretty darn exciting and you truly forget you are learning. The same thing happens when we pull social studies from the classroom and bring it to life. One of the most fascinating bits of history for me is “The French revolution” – I believe this is because I was in France, I was in the castles. The history came to life for me! This summer see if you can bring history/politics/social studies to life for your children.
Special thanks go to this weeks guests: Show Three: Hanging out at Home Hypertasking is a trend that is slowly taking over our society. People have become so caught up in the idea of being busy and on the go that they are actually becoming less productive. Our children have been caught in the wave as well. With an increase in school workloads, homework, lessons, activities, and programs there isn’t much time left. Summer is a great opportunity to allow your children (and you) to kick back, relax and break this trend. There are great activities you can do with your children but you also need to allow them time to be kids: This allows their brains to relax, their imaginations to soar and they will return to school and busyness in a much better frame of mind and much more willing to learn. Show Four: Rainy Day Alternatives "Oh, oh," you think as you look out the window at the dark clouds rolling in. Your next thought is, "What will I do with the kids all day, all week?" There are some really neat indoor things that can be done (and we won't even go to television or video games)… crafts, experiments, writing, reading, scrap booking, jewellery making, AND guess what - teachers have a few suggestions… No no no….. no….. (Why we can hear you in our heads…) not homework in the summer…
Recommended Reading Lists from Scholastic Summer Reading: Books for Younger Readers Although it's important for all kids to keep reading over the summer, it's especially imperative that beginning readers continue to practice and develop their new skills. For this group, we've selected popular picture books that parents can share with little ones and timeless beginning chapter books that kids can read on their own. Picture Books How Do Dinosaurs Say Good Night? (PreK-2)* Goodnight Moon (K-2)* If You Give a Mouse a Cookie (K-2) Love You Forever (K-2) Click, Clack, Moo: Cows That Type (K-2) Olivia (K-2)* Chapter Books Frog and Toad series (K-3) by Arnold Lobel Pass the time with Frog and Toad, best pals who are testaments to the give and take of enduring friendship. Junie B. Jones series (K-3)* Cam Jansen series (K-3) Mrs. Piggle Wiggle series (K-3) *These titles are available online in The Scholastic Store: www.scholasticstore.com Summer Reading: Books for Independent Readers For the middle grades, summer reading is all about independent reading - and independent reading is all about self-motivation. For this group, we've selected a range of novels with something for everyone: old favorites, new twists, the historical, the hysterical, the moving, and more. Magic Tree House series (2-6)* Dear Mr. Henshaw (2-6) Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2-6) Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing (3-6) Misty of Chincoteague (3-6) Because of Winn-Dixie (4-6) The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales (4-6) Bridge to Terabithia (4-6) Bud, Not Buddy (4-6) A Series of Unfortunate Events (4-7) Moonbeam Series (4-9)
by Joyce Sandilands Summer Reading: Books for Older Readers As readers get older, they can begin to forge more complex and meaningful relationships with the books they read. We've gathered together a list of coming-of-age stories, historical novels, and acclaimed classics that provide insight into the big picture issues and the everyday growing pains faced by this age group. Dicey's Song (4-7) Esperanza Rising (4-8)* Island of the Blue Dolphins (4-8) Dogsong (4-8) The Outsiders (5-7) The Moves Make the Man (5-9) Sounder (6-8) The Dark Is Rising series (6-8) Fallen Angels (6-9)* My Brother Sam Is Dead (8-9) Lizzie series - 4 historical novels for juvenile-young adult Show Five: Zoos / Animal Collections in Canada Children love animals. Summer is a great time to try new things and learn about different animals. This week we will show you how learning about animals can be fun! We will head to the Calgary Zoo where children at summer camp get up close and personal with the elephants. They take turns bathing the elephants, scrubbing the grime off their skin. Accredited zoos across the country offer all sorts of different educational programs where children can learn about conservation. Some programs are free, while others are paid programs. Visit the Calgary Zoo's web site listed below for more information. Calgary Zoo – week long camps, education programs http://www.calgaryzoo.org/
Show Six: Water Play Summer vacation is in high gear, are your children bored yet? This week in our series to help keep your children entertained over the summer, we will head to a local water park and show you how kids can spend hours splashing around in the refreshing water on a hot summer day. For more ideas on free and fun activities in your town or city, contact your local parks and recreation department. Activities can include:
Show Seven: Amusement Parks Kids love to play, teens love to play and yes, adults love to play as well. While keeping your children active this summer have some fun yourself! This week we went to Kart World where children (of all ages) can be kept active playing laser tag, mini golf, bumper boats and Go Karting! Kart World Family Fun Centre Show Eight: AIR TRAVEL TIPS FOR PARENTS Travelling by air is a lot different than travelling by car. This week on Good Morning Canada we will get some tips from the so-called Travel Lady about what you can do to keep your children entertained while flying. From toddlers to teenagers, Lesley Keyter has some great advice you won't want to miss!
Show Nine: Recreation Facilities Do you remember the local pool - rectangular and a lot of fun? We spent almost every day at our local pool. Now we have incredible recreation facilities across Canada. Individual components may vary but you can find pools, splash parks, water slides, skating rinks, skateboard parks, gyms, tennis courts, squash courts, fitness centres, biking and running tracks and trails, and this barely begins the list. Children and their parents can be kept incredibly busy at the local recreation facility. Join us this week as we attend Rock n Roll Camp where children skateboard, rock climb and snorkel. For more information visit Calgary Westside Recreation Centre orJoin us next week when we visit the Inglewood Bird Sanctuary! For more information visit Good Morning Canada
|
>
