Welcome to American Girls And Their DOGS Book Camp 4 Kids!

Dear Friend,                                                                                
I am so excited to welcome you to the American Girls and Their Dogs Book Camp 4 Kids!  We are sure to have an incredible week of reading, playing, crafting and making new friends.

In order to make the most of our time together, please bring an art box containing the following items:

Glue
Crayons
Scissors

Get ready for a “doggone” fun time next week!  I will meet you at Crossview Covenant Church, June 21st from 1-3pm.  Be ready for a GREAT time!

Your Book Camps 4 Kids Teacher,
Mrs. Van Osdel

P.S.  There is a map below for your parent or guardian.  The church is located right next to Dakota Meadows Middle School.

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I think dogs are the most amazing creatures; they give unconditional love.  For me they are the role model for being alive.  ~Gilda Radner

Outer Space Learning Fun!

We are Learning and Having a BLAST!  ;)

Creating an Amazing Solar System

We are having fun that is Out-of-This-World!  

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It is one small step for man, and one giant leap for mankind.

~Niel Armstrong

Magic Tree House Space Adventure CRAFT

Believe it or not, The Magic Tree House Book Camp 4 Kids is 1/2 over!  Whew!  Time flies when you're having fun!  ;)  We have had a GREAT time reading, learning and creating with the 20 boys and girls who are joining us this week.  I already have to send out a BIG thank you to my helper - "Grandma Linda."  She has been a life saver - and the kids absolutely adore her.  ;) 

Here is a craft that was a HUGE hit today:

Rockets!

Materials:
a film canister (the white ones work best with a lid that fits inside the canister)
water
alka seltzer
paper rocket template

Steps:
Create your own rocket using the template - tape it onto the canister.
Fill the canister 1/4 full of water.
Place 1/2 of a tablet of alka seltzer in the canister. 
Place the cap on quickly.
Place the rocket on the ground and wait - it will soon BLAST OFF!!!  ;)

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The meek shall inherit the Earth. And the rest of us will go to the stars.
        - Omni Magazine

Fun While LEARNING! :)

The Book Camps 4 Kids program was founded on the philosophy that learning should be FUN.  Motivation is one of the biggest components of life-long learning and it is often the most difficult thing to inspire.  At Book Camps 4 Kids, we use current, popular books with fun themes to inspire students.  We then "sneak" fundamental reading practice into their daily routines at each camp.  Listed below are the specific components each camper will be exposed to EACH day at camp:

1.  Independent Reading
2.  Partner Reading
3.  Fluency Practice
4.  Non-Fiction Response to Reading (this promotes comprehension)
5.  Comprehension Skills (compare/contrast, main idea/detail, descriptions)
6.  Retell
7.  Connections to real world, self and other texts

Each one of these components is a research based reading skill necessary for students to become successful, independent readers.  The best part for teachers and parents?  The kids are having so much fun at camp that they don't even realize they're really becomming better readers in the process!  ;)

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The worth of a book is to be measured by what you can carry away from it.  

~James Bryce