Rainsticks (Moving and Grooving)

Warm-up Game “Musical Instruments”: We danced around to music. When the music stopped, we found a circle to stand on and then one of us drew a picture out of a bag that showed a musical instrument (e.g., drum, piano, violin, saxophone). We then pretended to play the instrument.

Art Project “Homemade Rainsticks”:  
We created rainsticks out of poster mailing tubes. The twist was that we worked with a partner on 1 tube, which meant we had to share and to compromise. 

Here are the detailed instructions:

• Measure aluminum foil piece that is slightly larger than the tube.
• Work with your partner, each of you holding the foil on one end and carefully twisting it. Place foil in tube.
• Fill the tube with beans (approximately 3-4 spoons).
• Seal tube with lids.
• Decorate the outside of the tubes with paint, feathers and paper scraps.
• Reinforce the lids with duct tape.
• Experiment with the rain stick by moving it in different ways. Discuss if the sound resembles the rain.  
  

Welcome Back!!! Moving and Grooving!

WELCOME BACK!!!

We were so happy to see our Clubhouse friends. Since the new theme is music and movement, we warmed up by engaging in one of our favorite movement games: The Freeze Dance.

Then, we made new placemats for this Clubhouse session by using the familiar art technique "Drip and Fold." We worked with a partner and created a collage by putting blobs of paint with Q-tips on a piece of paper (i.e., pre-cut and taped together musical instruments), folding it in half, rolling a rolling pin over it and open it up again. Fun!

Shoebox Race Car (On the Go!)

Art Project “Shoebox Race Car”: We were divided into small groups in order to start with our 2-week project. The objective was to build a race car using a shoebox. First, we decorated 4 discs (i.e., our wheels) with stickers and/or sharpies. Then, we painted a shoebox together and also attached tissue paper to the box.

Some cooperative strategies/ideas:

1. Students discuss the design of their car.
2. Students brainstorm different team names and then take a vote to determine the race car team name.

Cooperative Race “The Rope Train”: We held on to a jump rope with one hand and then started to move together as a group and pretended to be a train. We were not allowed to let go of the rope while we were running. Like our game with the hula hoops from last week, this required lots of cooperation and teamwork. After each completed turn, the player in front moved to the back and a different player took over the position of the driver.

Cooperative Relay "The Train" (On the Go!)

“Musical Chairs with a Twist: Modes of Transportation”: We played this classic game again today but added another twist. Pictures of vehicles and other forms of transportation were taped to the chairs. Each student received a corresponding picture that was attached to a stick. When the music played, we walked around the chairs. When the music stopped, we had to find our chair with the corresponding picture. 

Cooperative Relay “The Train”: We worked in teams (groups of two or three students). We held on to a hula hoop, pretended to be a train and then moved together as a group. After a practice round, we added some obstacles to go around without letting go of the hula hoop. Cooperative relays are a great way to promote teamwork and to work together for a common goal as well as to learn how to pay close attention to a partner(s).

Memory “Transportation”:  
We had fun playing this turn-taking game and tried to find as many pairs as possible. Focus and flexing our memory muscles were required. Of course, the memory cards showed different modes of transportation.

Race Car Painting (On the Go!)

Welcome back to our Clubhouse spring session. This time around, it's all about different modes of transportation.

Warm-up Game “Subway Musical Chairs” : We played this classic game today but pretended to be on a subway. At first, we did not remove any chairs but just found a seat on our "subway" when the music stopped. But then it got crowed on the subway train and the seats were limited (i.e., one chair was removed after each stoppage of the music) until it was standing room only.

Small Group Art Project “Race Car Painting”: We worked with a partner and created paintings using race cars with attached magnets, paint and paper: Raised plexiglass was covered with a piece of paper. Blobs of paint were placed on the paper as well as two race cars.  We moved another magnet against the underside of the plexi and painted with the race cars (e.g., making tracks). A very fun and interactive activity.

 

Snack Time is always very popular at Clubhouse. Today, we took the opportunity to catch up with our Clubhouse friends and to find out what they were up to during the break.

Best Friends (Rainy Day Fun and Magic)

Today was our last Clubhouse winter session. As always, we were a little sad since we won't be able to see our friends during the Clubhouse break.

CLUBHOUSE FRIENDS

We would like to thank our wonderful JCHS student volunteers: Dilara, Libby, Rebecca, Sophie and Zoe. A big shout out to you all since we could not have done it without you.

THANK YOU!!!

Drip and Fold with a Friend (Rainy Day Fun and Magic)

“Drip and Fold with a Friend”: We worked in small groups and created a collage by putting blobs of paint on a piece of paper. Then, we folded the piece of paper in half, used a rolling pin to spread the paint and finally opened up the paper again. We used eye droppers and spoons to drizzle the paint on the paper.

Some interactive play strategies:
1) Let the children negotiate where they want to place the blobs on the paper, e.g., in the fold, only on one side of the paper, on both sides of the paper. 
2) Let the children point out what animals, creatures, etc. they can make out after the paper is unfolded.

High 5

Fishing Game: We were split into two teams and played a fishing game. But there was a twist: There were questions or instructions  written on the back of the fish (e.g, go around and give your Clubhouse friends a high 5). The player whose turn it was had to either ask his teammates a question or follow the instructions.

Pirate Treasure Hunt (Rainy Day Fun and Magic)

Music Time “Hip Hop: Following Directions”: Today, we learned a new Hip Hop dance called "Following Directions" by Mark Pencil and his Friends. We all loved the dance immediately but also had to pay close attention to follow the directions correctly. The more contemporary style of the song/music is a great way to get even older students motivated to get moving.

Lyrics "Following Directions" by Mark Pencil and Friends

“I’m feeling good now! That’s what I’m talking about!”

So put your right hand in the air. Now put your left hand in the air.

Now clap your hands two times, come on, clap your hands two times.

Now clap your hands two times!!!

Put your hands on your hips. I said, put your hands on your hips.

Now stomp your feet three times, come on, stomp your feet three times.

Reach down touch your toes, now put your hands on your hips.

Reach up into the sky, stretch it out now, stretch it, stretch it, stretch it out now.

Reach down touch your toes, now put your hands on your hips.

Now reach up into the sky, stretch it out now, stretch it, stretch it, stretch it out now.

Jump, jump, jump, jump, jump, jump, jump, jump.

Now shake, shake it out now, now shake, shake it out now.

Shake, shake, shake, shake, shake, shake, shake, shake, shake, shake, shake, stop!

OK, its going to get trickier!  Listen carefully and see if you can keep up!

Are you ready? Yes!

Are you ready? Yes!

Are you ready? Yes!

Now let’s go!

Now put your hands up and put them down.

Put your hands up now put them down. Put your hands up now put them down.

Put your hands up now turn around.

Stop!

Reach to your left, now to your right. Reach to the left, reach to the right.

Reach to the left, reach to the right. Reach to the left, reach to the right.

Put your hands down. Touch your toes.

Now stand up real slow. Because we’re about to slow it down.

Shake. Slow it down. Shake. Slow it down.

Shake. Slow it down. Shake."

Pirate Treasure Hunt: Today, we turned into pirates and went on a  pirate treasure hunt. We had to complete certain "pirate tasks" in order to find the treasure. We learned quickly that it was all about teamwork and cooperation. 

• “Pirate Hats”: First, we had to turn into real pirates so we created pirate hats out of construction paper and added a skull and bones flag.

•  Walk the Plank: We partnered up and balanced on wooden boards while holding a beach ball between us.

• Find the Treasure: We looked for hidden gold coins. The gold coins could be traded in for a pirate prize.