Educational Program
School Updates-Curriculum
Welcome to our first edition of Curriculum Update for the Perkins web site. We hope that this resource will keep our families informed about the work that we are doing to enhance the teaching and learning opportunities for our students and teachers.
This year, a Curriculum Review Committee was formed to examine our teaching tools in all subject areas. This group has been analyzing our current curricula, exploring potential new instructional programs for Perkins, and setting priorities for curricula replacement. Our committee members have been extremely energized by this project and I look forward to providing you with updates of their progress.
As we transition in to the summer months, our teachers are now finalizing plans for Summer Fest, I have posted the informational letter that was mailed to all families on June 7th that explains our Summer Session theme and student choice activities.
Please feel free to call me at (978) 368–5214 or email me at cwing@perkinschool.org if you have any questions. Thank you for visiting “Curriculum Update” and I look forward to your feedback. Enjoy the summer!
Summer Fest
This year our summer program will invite students to explore and learn about our great country. The program entitled - “America, Land of Magic and Mystery” - will introduce our students to the myths, legends, history, and true facts that make our country so unique and spectacular. We will “travel” through the six major regions of our country:
- Pacific Coast Region
- Rocky Mountain Region
- Mid-West Region
- Great Lakes Region
- South East Region
- North East Region
In each region, students will learn the unique points of interest, industry, history, culture, art, architecture, literature, and foods.
During the third week, students will enjoy a mid-western BBQ and engage in games of the West. During the sixth week students will enjoy a “Great American Pastime” activity attending and participating in an old fashioned wiffle ball game.
In addition to the interactive educational component of our summer program, students also participate in “Kid Choice” activities each day from 12:30 to 2:10 p.m. With 34 activities to choose from, our summer program could not be more fun. Students are encouraged to identify three activity choices each week based on their interests. They have already begun to sign up for Session I, so please take a moment to review the choices below and contact my office if your child is having difficulty choosing an activity that suits his or her interest.
The conclusion of our summer program is celebrated with family and friends on Tuesday August 23, 2011 beginning at 5:00 p.m. with our annual Summer Fest dinner and project exhibit at the Janeway Building.Summer Fest Activities
- Animation – Students will be encouraged to create great ideas and plans for a stop motion animated film. They will learn how to make a stop motion movie including editing with sound and credits. Students will keep a final copy of their movie to share with family or friends.
- Aesthetically Pleasing – This activity focuses on accentuating natural beauty! In this course students will learn the basics of skin care and makeup. After being introduced to the fundamentals and products, they will then learn how to apply professional makeup; application as well as techniques. Students will discover which colors and styles best bring out facial features and also recreate different looks from different eras in history. The knowledge gained in this course will enable students to develop individual style highlighting specific features and individuality.
- Basketball - This camp stresses the fundamental skills of basketball. A typical camp day will feature games, a daily contest, a ball-handling session (every camper will have a ball in his or her hands) and a “fundamental of the day” session.
- Biking – The week’s activity will involve riding bikes with peers and staff around campus and the surrounding Main Street sidewalks. Student will enjoy exploring the area from the seat of a bicycle.
- Board Games – Students play, learn, and teach game strategies. Students enjoy Backgammon, Chess, Cribbage, Monopoly, and many other games.
- Book Club – Students will enjoy relaxing and reading books chosen based on their interest level. During the week student’s talk about the books being read, what they like, what really interests them about the book, and at the end of the week recommend their favorite book to friends.
- Creative Drama – The Creative Drama workshop engages students in a fun environment of creating drama. Students will be performing daily improvisation activities, which either build on skills they already have or introduce new performance skills and methods to acquire. Activities help increase confidence, their ability as a performer, and provide an exciting opportunity to have fun.
- Creative Writing – Students are encouraged to use their imagination, write for enjoyment, and explore the various forms of prose. Students will have a multitude of opportunities to become storytellers and authors. This group is really wonderful for students who enjoy writing.
- Cook’s Corner – Students will explore the world of cooking, Enjoy a hands-on experience during which they are the chef, and try a hand at planning and preparing some tasty treats! Students will have the chance to make a variety of mouth-watering recipes while learning some creative cooking techniques and produce their very own recipe book.
- Drawing Boot Camp – During the drawing activities students will review the basics in drawing technique, from shading to composition and still-life to final figure. Each day they will explore new materials or skills, which will kick start personal artistic development.
- Drum Circle - Students will be combining beats from different countries through group session of playing numerous percussion instruments, using hand drums, bells, whistles, shakers and kalimbas just to name a few of the instruments they will use to build various beats and songs. Students will enjoy the creative side of music and have a great deal of fun.
- Fishing - Students will enjoy a fishing activity that is exciting, and relaxing. No experience necessary, just bring a good attitude, a smile, and enjoy the outdoors while fishing at different locations near school.
- Gardening Group – This activity will instruct students about gardening, how to plant various kinds of plants, what is involved in helping them grow, and how enjoyable the process can be. Students will actually participate in small planting activities they can take with them to watch them grow.
- Golf - Students learn about the game, how to swinging clubs effectively, and hitting golf balls for the short and long game. At the end of the week students will going to a driving range to practice what they have learned.
- Green City Challenge - After learning how to build and program a robot using Mindstorm Lego’s, students will be challenged to activate a wind turbine, place a solar panel, avoid the flower lady, sort the trash, close the dam, deploy a new smokestack, or provide energy to the city using the robot you create. This challenge focuses on making the city greener.
- Guitar Lessons – This activity incorporates a brief review of basic guitar lessons and then provides students the opportunity to learn what chords are and how to play some chords from many songs they have heard before. If a student owns a guitar, it can be brought to school for personal enjoyment.
- Hiking - This activity is for students who enjoy the outdoors and nature. This summer students will be exploring several local hiking trails and spend the afternoons outdoors with friends. Sneakers are a must for this activity.
- Karaoke - During Karaoke students will have the opportunity to choose songs that they enjoy listening to, sing along with a microphone, add amplified special effects, and add their own personal touch to their recording. Some students can also choose to play along with instruments during the songs.
- Mosaics – This activity is focused on fun in a relaxing atmosphere as students create beautiful mosaic designs using sea glass, stained glass, or colored beads. Completed mosaic projects could be a wall hanging, a coaster, or paper weight. The main goal is to promote creativity and enjoyment.
- Munny Dolls - The Munny craze continues to captivate the art world, with famous artists and designers trying their hand in Munny Mania. Students will experience what the hype is about! Each participant will receive one blank Munny doll, paints, and modeling clay to design, build and display their own Munny creation.
- Natures Art Box - This activity will encourage students to explore the excitement of discovering and being creative using things found in nature. We will make things from pine cones, shells, driftwood, twigs, stones, feathers, wild flowers, and other things we find in nature.
- Nature Study - Students will explore the natural world on and off the Perkins campus. Students will collect memories and small mementos and make a nature journal to hold souvenirs, sketches, photos, poems, or notes he or she would like to keep as a record of the week.
- Ropes Course – Students enjoy this activity outside in at the edge of a wooded river bed. Students learn success in personally challenging activities such as the Mohawk Trail, The Wild Woozie, The Giant Swing and many more. Long sleeves and sneakers are a must.
- Paper Toy Party – Students will enjoy making paper toys from templates; toys we sometimes referred to as Cube E Crafts, paper models, automata or “that paper thing that some kid had on his desk.” Students will have numerous opportunities during the week’s activity to make various toys or create a specific collection.
- Puzzle Mania – Students who enjoy solving puzzles will truly enjoy this activity, there will be numerous varied puzzles to work with throughout the week. Students will also be engaged in a creative exercise of design their own puzzle.
- Skateboarding – Students will learn basic skills of boarding and then move into completing basic tricks such as gliding and learning how to complete a running start. Students of all skill levels will be able to enjoy this activity together. Sneakers are a must.
- Soccer - Players will be grouped according to age and ability so as to provide a competitive environment. Our camp is designed to instruct boys and girls in individual skills, tactics and fundamentals of team play.
- Spanish - Students learn Spanish in a fun and interactive way. Each group will learn the basics and beginning conversational Spanish enjoy practicing with peers as well as participating in fun activities.
- Swimming - Students will work on swim skills and enjoy aquatic activities such as water basketball, water soccer, treasure hunting, relay races, and creative water exploration activities of “The Americas”.
- Softball - Students will be grouped according to age and ability to provide a competitive, fun environment. This camp is designed to instruct boys and girls in individual skills, tactics and fundamentals of team play and will be fun for all.
- Tennis - Students learn about the game, how to use the racquet, and practice on an off campus tennis court.
- Walking - Students enjoy the outside and walk around campus, on our nature walkway, and along the town’s main sidewalks.
As you can see we are committed to student success and look at every opportunity to create a learning moment. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me at cwing@perkinschool.org or (978) 368-5214.
Sincerely,
Cindy Wing, M.Ed.
Director of Curriculum & Instruction