School Holiday Groups Recap July 2023!
The Write Stuff
Our youngest group attendees were back again for a week of fun, fine motor and friends after being at big school for 6 months now! During our week together, we focused on how to hold our pencil and building up those tiny muscles in our fingers while also working our big muscles when we created our obstacle course. We read our social story books about concepts such as the size of the problem as well as learning to be a detective to find those hidden rules. It was such a fun week to see how much our littlest friends have grown since they came to Big School STARS in January.
We can't wait to hear about how the next 6 months of their first year of school goes.
Make n Create!
Lots of making and creating was happening during our school holiday group. With a focus on building fine motor strength and social skills, our kids worked super well in teams to use their imagination and problem solving skills to create a contraption that would protect an egg from cracking when dropped! We got to see their own unique styles with decorating and creating paper mache hot air balloons and DIY robots with recyclable materials! As well as some fun movement activities to work on our listening and team work skills like Simon says, the Human Knot & Human Hungry Hippos!
Teenage Dirtbags
Over the 5 days, the Teenage Dirtbags alongside Maddie and Lauren, braved the cold weather to practice essential daily living skills with a mixture of jokes and sarcasm at 'Maddie's Magnificent Shop", enjoyed a delicious lunch, and challenged themselves in a game of lawn bowls in the howling winds in Branxton.
Individually and collaboratively, our teens worked through appropriate clothing choices for varying weather conditions and events, decision making of ingredients for basic meal preparation, planning, budgeting of items and money management in order to have the correct money to purchase the clothing items and food items from Maddie's store.
With all the ingredients purchased, the teenage dirtbags went to work following their planned recipes to prepare their lunches and delicious hot chocolates on a rainy Wednesday afternoon.
Next, we worked through learning the rules, techniques and challenges of lawn bowls in order to be prepped and ready for a girls vs boys game on Friday afternoon. When Friday rolled around, Mother Nature decided to bring on the howling and freezing winds, but it didn't stop the game of lawn bowls. The teenagers absolutely smashed Maddie, Lauren and Molly in the game, where it always seemed to be 'the balls fault' impacting our game.
The teenage dirtbags were then able to put their decision making, money management and communication skills into action with the purchase of some afternoon snacks and drinks. As a group we enjoyed our goodies over a quick card game in the warmth and rounded the week with an attempt at the chocolate claw machine with everyone sharing in a chocolate each.
We can't wait to do it all again, with new challenges, new skills and new friendships being made.
We are always building and growing our groups; any recommendations or ideas to continue to support our children are welcome.
If you would like more information, please give us a call on 0477 708 217 or email admin@exploreandsoar.com.au