Elementary Camp: Day 2

Busy busy busy... that's all I tell people at camp when they ask how I'm doing! I get so busy that I fall behind on blogging and have to make up time the next day... so here we go.

Tuesday was a big day for the campers; they got to decorate their rockets. The only problem was the day groups are all different sizes. Some are fairly large, and others are only a few kids and two counselors. I tried to even the numbers a big by dividing up day groups into teams. I wanted to make sure each kid got a chance to paint part of the rocket... the plan:
Pass out four components of rocket.
Allow 4 colors per table, making 8 colors per day group.
DO NOT pass out brushes, mixing trays, or water until after instructions are given. {those little hands LOVE to grab things off the table before you're done talking.}
Have kids retrieve water and then pass out mixing trays.
Give instructions: each person in the group has to paint at least once! No one person in the daygroup is going to be the Michaelangelo of their rocket. {direct quote}
FINALLY pass out brushes....

these guys painted... something about butter haha

Working hard! they ended up doing some sponge painting on the nose cone to make galaxies and stars.

this rocket design completely transformed before the kids left Rockland

so much detail...

teamwork!

making sure everyone is sharing

time to weave!

This has been my every day reality this week

painting painting painting away

this rocket turned out pretty cool - flames on the bottom and all sorts of decor

finished rockets!

Bead animals from the various groups..

it's a cat! and a.. thing!

this is a fox

this is a mouse - see the ears?

I made a slithery snake :)

the head of a stingray - seriously, these bead kits have random animal choices..

more shots of the rockets

This worked out really well, and the kids did a great job. Also, this activity allowed me to do some organizing and planning for Wednesday's crafts.

notice how I have to use three different schedules to make ONE day plan!?

I have taken to writing out my day plans divided by groups. The day groups rotate randomly so I have to rearrange the lists each DAY. The first hour of crafts had one day group (group 3) decorating their rockets and then they were able to work on bead animals. The second day group (group 6) wanted to work on their weaving projects after they finished painting. Group 1 are a bit older and they spent the time after painting gimping and drawing. Group 5 painted the whole time as did group 2. Group 4 worked on starting bead animals... but most importantly.. ALL GROUPS FINISHED PAINTING THEIR ROCKETS. And everyone had a turn.. and everyone cleaned up. That's all Ms. K wanted at the end of the day... phew.

Ms. K