Summer At the Strauss ECE

The hot dreaded summer is coming; yet we don't dread the summer here at the Strauss ECE.  Our Summers are filled with excitement and lots of exploration.  This Summer we will be taking an imaginary trip to many places.  First we will discover all the different ways you can go; bus, train, plane, car and boat. Then we will visit places like China, The rain forest , Israel and even outer space.  The Summer will also be full of water play with sprinklers, water tables, bubbles and more.  We always love the Summer here at the Strauss ECE.  Take a peak of what the Summer will be like.

Strauss ECE Summer Program 2012

“My Summer Vacation”

Children will have a wonderful summer vacation at the ECE.  They will learn about different modes of transportation and visit places such as Israel, Mexico and even outer space.  This will be one summer vacation they will surely not forget.

May 30^th – June 8^th   Modes of Transportation

This week children will learn about all different types of transportation.  They will sing wheels on the bus, take an imaginary train and airplane ride and explore physics with wheels, gears and ramps.  They will drive trucks through sand and mud, make wheel prints with paint and fly paper airplanes!

June 11^th  - June 22^nd Trip to Israel

Children will take an imaginary trip to Israel.  They will taste glida (ice cream), learn about the Dead Sea through exploring with salt and water.  They will learn about desert life and climb Mount Sinai.  They will visit the Wailing Wall and build their own wall out of blocks.  Children will take a ‘visit’ to a shook (farmers market) and really know what it feels like to be in Israel.  They will sing and listen to Hebrew songs and even learn some Israeli dancing.

June 25^th – 29^th China

Children will explore China by learning all about their culture.  They will mimic Chinese writing and learn some Chinese words.  They will strengthen their fine motor skills by picking things up with chopsticks.  They will also learn the art of folding paper by doing origami.   Children will visit the Great Wall of China and create their own wall with boxes and blocks.

July 2^nd – 6^th Mexico

Children will experience Mexico through speaking and learning the Spanish language.  They will have a fiesta with Mexican food, piñatas and music.  Children will make maracas and learn about the Hispanic culture.

July 9^th – 13^th Rain Forest

Children will learn all about the rain forest.  They will learn about the different animals and plants that live there.  They will enjoy the sounds of the rain forest by creating a rain stick.  They will taste different local foods and make a rain forest trail mix.  They will learn about the different layers of the rain forest and how rain is created.  Children will enjoy making beautiful butterflies out of watercolors while learning about the cycle of a butterfly.  They will enjoy exploring the rain forest and all of its beauty.

July 16^th – 25^th Outer Space

Children will take an imaginary trip to space.  They will learn about astronauts and space ships.  They will learn about planets, moons and stars.  They will sing twinkle, twinkle little star and create their own constellations.  They will explore with moon sand and learn about the phases of the moon.  Children will have the opportunity to look into space through telescopes and create their own space pictures.

Teacher in-service days will be held July 26^th – 31^st and the 2012 school year will start Aug. 1^st 2012. 

Child Friendly Passover Lunch Ideas

You might be thinking here we go again.  Passover is coming up and I don't know what to serve my child for lunch.  I have complied a list of ideas .  I hope this takes some of the stress away so you can enjoy this symbolic holiday.

- Yogurt (you can even put fresh fruit or chocolate chips in it)
- cottage cheese
- tuna salad (roll it up in lettuce like a lettuce wrap)
- Hard boiled eggs
- egg salad (on matzah or wrapped in lettuce)
- olives
- nuts (no legumes like peanuts)
- veggie sticks (carrots, celery, bell peppers)
- fresh fruit (or fruit cup in juice)
- tahini (you can dip matzah or veggies in it)
- potatoes (sweet, baked, mashed, hash browns, fries, etc)
- smoothies
- apple sauce
- Cheese sticks or cube cheese
- Celery with cream cheese or almond butter
- cucumbers
- quinoa
- quinoa or egg pasta

and of course there is Matzah
 - Matzah with almond butter, cream cheese, hazelnut spread, butter
- Matzah pizza (tomato sauce, cheese and toppings such as pineapple, olives, peppers, etc)
- Matzah Cheese sandwich
- Matzah with cream cheese and jelly sandwich
- Matzah ball soup

and there are many items you can find in the Kosher for passover section of your grocery store, such as chips, cookies, matzah, matzah crackers, soups and more.