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Best Friends

Week 2: July 7 – July 11

Unleash your creativity with colorful art projects, messy masterpieces, and gallery-worthy creations!

🎨 Art Explosion

  • 9:00 – 9:30 AM | Morning Meeting & Icebreaker
    ➔ Speech Therapy Focus:

    • Practice introductions ("Hi, my name is ___ and my favorite color is ___!")

    • Express feelings using drawing (Draw Your Mood) and describing it aloud.

    • ➔ Executive Functioning Focus:

    • Review the schedule for the day with visual supports.

    • Set personal goals ("Today I will...") — practicing planning skills.

  • 9:30 – 10:30 AM | Main Art Activity: Mural Planning Session
    ➔ Social Skills Focus:

    • Group brainstorming: sharing ideas respectfully, listening, turn-taking during discussion.

    • Negotiating and compromising to decide on the mural theme together.

    • ➔ Executive Functioning Focus:

    • Breaking down mural creation into small steps (sketch, background, characters, details).

    • Assigning jobs/roles (planner, drawer, color chooser).

    • ➔ Speech Therapy Focus:

    • Using descriptive language ("I will draw a giant green dragon with sparkly wings!")

    • Practicing sequencing words ("First we sketch, then we paint...")

  • 10:30 – 10:45 AM | Snack & Sensory Break
    ➔ Social Skills Focus:

    • Unstructured conversation practice during snack.

    • Optional conversation prompts on the table: "What's your favorite thing to draw?"

    • ➔ Sensory Regulation Focus:

    • Use of sensory tools (fidgets, stretch bands, gentle music) to reset.

  • 10:45 – 11:30 AM | Mural Creation - Part 1
    ➔ Executive Functioning Focus:

    • Following multi-step directions ("First paint the background, then add small details.")

    • Managing materials and workspace independently.

    • ➔ Speech Therapy Focus:

    • Narrating what they're doing ("I'm painting the waves now!")

    • Asking for help appropriately ("Can I borrow the blue paint, please?")

    • ➔ Social Skills Focus:

    • Encouraging positive peer interactions (complimenting others' work, sharing materials).

  • 11:30 – 12:15 PM | Outdoor Play & Movement
    ➔ Social Skills Focus:

    • Cooperative games: taking turns, following group rules.

    • Option for sensory play with chalk art outside (team chalk murals).

  • 12:15 – 12:45 PM | Lunch & Social Time
    ➔ Speech Therapy Focus:

    • Structured lunch conversation starters ("If you could paint anything, what would it be?")

    • Practicing asking and answering open-ended questions.

    • ➔ Social Skills Focus:

    • Encouraging table manners, joining conversations

  • 12:45 – 1:30 PM | Mural Creation - Part 2 & Fine Details
    ➔ Executive Functioning Focus:

    • Finishing tasks started earlier (task persistence, time management).

    • Self-monitoring: checking for unfinished sections.

    • ➔ Speech Therapy Focus:

    • Describing fine details ("I added tiny silver stars around the dragon!")

    • Giving positive feedback to peers ("I love the colors you chose!")

  • 1:30 – 2:15 PM | Reflection & Group Discussion
    ➔ Speech Therapy Focus:

    • Sharing and presenting parts of the mural verbally.

    • Structured reflection questions ("What was the easiest part? What was the hardest?")

    • ➔ Executive Functioning Focus:

    • Reflecting on personal goal set earlier: "Did I achieve my goal today?"

    • Planning one improvement for tomorrow.

    • ➔ Social Skills Focus:

    • Active listening while others share.

    • Encouraging polite feedback ("I like how you...")

  • 2:15 – 2:30 PM | Movement & Brain Break
    ➔ Sensory and Regulation Focus:

    • Yoga stretches named after art supplies (e.g., "Brush Stretch," "Canvas Curl").

    • Quick dance party with rhythm and following directions.

  • 2:30 – 3:00 PM | Closing Circle & Share Time
    ➔ Speech Therapy Focus:

    • Recap highlights verbally ("My favorite part of today was...")

    • Practice clear speaking and storytelling.

    • ➔ Social Skills Focus:

    • Compliment circle: one kind thing to say about a teammate.

    • Preparing questions for tomorrow’s art activities.

Kids in Art Class

Day in the Life of an Art Explorer!

🎨 A Day in the Life of an Art Explorer

(Monday: Collaborative Mural Day)

The sun shines warmly through the big windows as I walk into camp, excited and a little nervous.
At 9:00 AM, we start with Morning Meeting. I find my seat on the colorful carpet and say hello to my friends. We each share our names and our favorite color. I tell everyone I love turquoise. We stretch our arms to "wake up our brushes" and talk about what we'll do today: create a huge mural together!

At 9:30 AM, we jump into planning our masterpiece. We sit in a circle and brainstorm ideas. Some campers want a space theme; others suggest an underwater world. We vote and decide on a magical forest! I raise my hand to suggest adding a rainbow river, and everyone loves it. We make a list of jobs: some will draw trees, some rivers, and some magical creatures. We work together, practicing taking turns and making sure everyone has a role.

After our hard work, it's time for a quick Snack Break at 10:30 AM. I grab my snack and chat with a new friend about our favorite animals to draw. Then we stretch our arms and fingers to get ready to paint!

At 10:45 AM, we finally begin painting the mural! I work on the rainbow river, using lots of swirling colors. When I need more blue paint, I remember to ask nicely: "May I borrow the blue, please?" I notice how everyone shares materials and compliments each other's work.

At 11:30 AM, we take a break to head outside for Outdoor Play. We play a game where we pretend to be living statues — a perfect game for little artists! I draw a flower with sidewalk chalk and admire the mural we're creating inside.

By 12:15 PM, it's lunchtime. We sit at the picnic tables and chat about our favorite things we've painted. I practice asking my table buddy what she painted today and listening carefully to her answer.

At 12:45 PM, it's time for the final touches on our mural. I add some glitter to the rainbow river and tiny butterflies in the trees. We all admire how different parts of our mural come together like puzzle pieces.

At 1:30 PM, we gather for Reflection Time. I share that the hardest part was painting tiny butterfly wings, but I felt proud when I didn't give up. We all clap for each other’s hard work!

After a brain break at 2:15 PM where we stretch and dance to silly songs, we meet again at 2:30 PM for our Closing Circle.
I share one thing I loved about today: working as a team to create something beautiful.

As I head home, I can't wait to see what colorful adventures tomorrow will bring!

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