It’s summer time! Are you going on a summer road trip with your kids? Check out these FREE Printable Summer Road Trip Activities:
FREE DreamWorks Printable Summer Road Trip Activities
July 3, 2017 By
Digital Media Academy Camp Registration Now Open! Save Up to $250
October 28, 2016 By
It seems like summer was just yesterday but the truth is, it’s almost November and next summer will be here before you know it. It’s never to soon to start planning for next summer. Digital Media Academy is celebrating their shiny new website and an exciting new summer camp lineup with deep discounts on all of our course offerings now through November 4th!
Save up to $250 during the Launch Sale and discover exciting new summer camps and courses for your kid or teen ages 6-17. Since 2002, Digital Media Academy has set out to be the thought-leader in tech education for kids, teens and adults at prestigious universities across the U.S. and Canada.
In addition to summer camp programs, DMA offers year-round learning via DMA Online and powers tech ed programs through its curriculum licensing program around the globe. DMA instructors and curriculum developers include industry professionals and outstanding technology educators, with a driving passion for inspiring, teaching, and mentoring.
What will you create this summer? Don’t wait – the Launch Sale ends November 4, 2016!
Balanced Experience
DMA camps offer more than sitting in front of a screen all day. The DMA learning experience strikes a balance between tech time and social time; sending our campers home with new tech skills and confidence and new friends.
Top-Notch Staff
The DMA staff is an impressive group of industry professionals and tech educators who are passionate about sharing their knowledge and experience. Small staff to student ratios keep learning personalized and ensures that no one gets left behind.
Project-Based
Students learn by getting hands on and collaborative in search of solutions to relative, real world problems. Infused with design-thinking methodology, our courses teach students to lead with empathy, test and retest through prototyping, and work as a team to get results.
Safety Matters
Your child’s safety is DMA’s top priority. All DMA staff are trained and certified in CPR and First Aid. Our security procedures ensure that our students are safe on campus, in the classroom, and online so that you don’t ever have to worry.
Learn more here:
FREE PRINTABLE SUMMER ELECTRONICS RULES
June 20, 2016 By Leave a Comment
The first week of summer vacation started just as I thought it would with my kids being lumps playing on their phones, watching tv, and playing on the computer. I let them have some down time for the first week without pestering them about chores, early bedtimes, or anything else they have to deal with during the school year. THAT was week one. They had their break from all responsibilities. I figure everyone deserves a break from responsibilities, right?
I don’t want them to get out of the habit of doing chores and using their brains so enter my SUMMER ELECTRONICS RULES. There are a variety of tasks/chores my girls can do to earn electronics time. Each chore is worth 15 minutes of electronics time and they can save up and carry over electronics time if they want. Once they earn electronics time there are several things they need to do before they can cash in electronics time such as reading for 30 minutes, doing a physical activity for at least 15 minutes, etc.
I purposely included educational websites as one of the tasks my girls have to do before they can cash in electronics time because playing on the computer doing educational games helps take away their urges for playing on electronics so much but they are still learning. So far both my girls have responded well to my “RULES”. The each did a few chores already and are working towards being able to cash in their electronics time. My older daughter has been drawing in her sketchbook for over an hour, hasn’t bothered her sister, and is entertaining herself without electronics. WIN! My younger daughter read for 30 minutes, played on the computer on a math website for well over 30 minutes, vacuumed the floor, brushed the dog, and is about to go outside for some exercise and fresh air. Once they get their tasks done they will be able to cash in their electronics time or they can save it up for another day.
They must do the tasks (reading, physical activity, etc.) BEFORE they can cash in electronics time. TASKS cannot be carried over to other days and must be done on the day they want to cash in the electronics time. I’m keeping track of their electronics time on a Google Spreadsheet because I can access it from my computer or my phone. I was going to give them popsicle sticks for every 15 minutes of electronics time but my girls are older, didn’t really need the tangible stick as a reminder, and they both told me not to waste the sticks.
Grab your own printable copy of my
SUMMER ELECTRONICS RULES!
Print them as is or since they are a Google Document you can copy and paste it into Word and edit it to meet your needs. 🙂
Make sure to check out my list of 10 Ways to Keep ‘Em Learning All Summer Long!
Summer Learning Fun at IMACS Hi-Tech Summer Camp- Enter to Win a Week of Camp!
March 9, 2015 By 10 Comments
Disclosure- We received a week of IMACS Summer Camp for each of my girls to facilitate our review. All opinions are 100% our own.
For over 20 years, IMACS has been giving South Florida students an outlet for reaching their highest potential in math, computer science and logical reasoning and they have the success stories to prove it. They have five locations, three of which – Boca Raton, Plantation, and Weston – offer the IMACS Hi-Tech Summer Camp. My girls and I had the opportunity last summer to experience the IMACS Summer Camp for ourselves and it was an amazing experience. IMACS Summer Camp is made up of 3 different academic programs- Logic Puzzles, Electronics, and Computer Programming and Virtual Robotics. Logic Puzzles has team games, group interactions and friendly competitions. Electronics is “hands-on” as students build projects that they keep. Computer Programming and Virtual Robotics contains self-paced, virtual challenges.
Electronics
The Electronics class is a self-paced class in which students follow the lessons of the workbook in order and complete various projects. There are worksheets after each project to check for understanding of concepts. During each lesson there are also stopping points where the students must stop and have the instructor check their work up to that point. 
The students learn real world symbols for electronic components to make circuit designs such as the symbol for battery, light bulb, and wire. 
I love that the students aren’t just putting together cool projects but they are learning and gaining real world experiences. The projects are all engaging and I was amazed at all the skills my girls were learning. I never would have thought my 10 year old would be using wire cutters and other tools. She gained so much confidence from this class. All of the tools and parts are provided for the students and care is taken to keep the students protected as they are monitored and must wear protective gear such as goggles to keep their eyes safe. 
I really enjoyed watching the students interact with each other and help each other with their projects. It was nice seeing students not only learn from the instructor and self-discovery, but also by teaching concepts to the other students. Older students get to do more advanced projects that include learning skills such as soldering.
Logic Puzzles
In the Logic Puzzles class the students work in teams, groups, and pairs to complete various types of logic games and puzzles. They start off with 2 “String Games” as a whole group. A string game consists of two strings on the white board that overlap like a Venn Diagram. There are several pieces that get put on the board either in one of the sections of the string or on the outside of the string. The students take turns trying to figure out what the “rule” is for that game based on where the items are placed.
In the logic puzzles class they also play board games that require logic and thinking skills such as Othello. They play these games usually in pairs for about 30 minutes of the class as the teacher walks around the room and instructs the students on game play and strategy.
Another part of the class are the critical thinking puzzles that are shown on the overhead projector. This is usually about 45 minutes of the 2 hour class. Here’s an example of some critical thinking puzzles:
Computer Programming and Virtual Robotics
In the Computer Programming and Virtual Robotics class students learn introductory programming and problem-solving skills.
IMACS sessions run from June 8 through August 21, 2015 with weekly sessions (Monday through Friday). Students can enroll in one or more weeks of full-day camp or individual 2-hour classes. IMACS has classes to accommodate almost all students, from first graders through even the most talented 12th graders. Students can choose to enjoy a full day of camp in which they would take all 3 classes or they can choose to enroll in individual classes. Each session is one week long for both full day camp and individual classes. Costs for the full-day camp range from $420 to $564 per week and individual class costs range from $90 to $289. Parents who enroll their child by April 1st will receive a 10% early registration discount. Multiple class and sibling discounts of 10% are also available for any full day and individual programs within each session.
IMACS camp is flexible. You choose the weeks you want and they do not need to be consecutive. This is great for scheduling your summer the way you want. New campers are welcome each week. There is no registration fee and no supply fee. Need to drop your child off early? For campers starting at 9:15, early drop off is available from 8:00 to 9:15 at no charge!
Full Day Camp
Entering Grades 3–8: Campers benefit by participating in all three IMACS summer academic programs: Logic Puzzles, Computer Programming & Virtual Robotics, and Electronics. Campers are totally immersed in fun-filled academic pursuits such as playing strategic logic games, designing and building electronic devices, and programming computers.
Entering Grades 9–10: Students will have the tremendous benefit of studying three IMACS courses: Computer Science, Logic for Mathematics, and Electronics. This is an intellectually stimulating program for outstanding students. An aptitude test is required to properly place your child. Call IMACS to schedule an appointment.
The Full Day camp is 9:15 – 4:15. Early drop-off for full day campers begins at 8:00am at no additional charge. Lunch is 11:15 – 12:00. There are small breaks within each class and between classes.
Individual ClassesEntering Grades 1–12: Campers may enroll in individual classes. Each class meets Monday through Friday for two hours each day (except for campers entering grades 1 or 2).
Logic Puzzles- (Entering Grades 1-8)
Entering Grades 1–2: Games! Puzzles! Fun! (But don’t tell your kids that they are learning how to reason and are developing a love of mathematical thinking.)Entering Grades 3–8: Mysteries of pure logic are presented in fun, compelling stories. Painstakingly designed, this class leads campers from elementary deductive reasoning to skills that exceed those of most college graduates! Team logic games, exciting tournaments, and, as in every IMACS class, new challenges each week!
Computer Programming & Virtual Robotics (Entering Grades 3–9)
Campers don’t merely use the computer in this course. They write computer programs! Using the programming language LOGO, developed at MIT, campers are challenged by projects designed by the IMACS Curriculum Development Group. With individualized guidance, campers develop basic programming and problem-solving skills. Campers can also apply these skills in the IMACS Virtual Robotics Lab, where programmable, configurable robots exist in a virtual world that contains the physical realities of friction, acceleration, and conservation of momentum. Campers showcase their triumphs on their personalized IMACS web pages.
Electronics (Entering Grades 3–10)
These classes introduce campers to the fascinating world of electronics. Campers learn about electrical components such as resistors, diodes, LEDs, capacitors, transistors and integrated circuits and use them to design and construct fun projects. Courses are tailored according to age and ability so that each camper is able to advance as far as his or her interests and abilities allow. Campers may keep the electronic devices that they build.
Computer Science (Entering Grades 7–12) Aptitude Test Required
Students pursue an academic, university-level computer science course. The IMACS curriculum has been used in prestigious programs such as Duke University’s Talent Identification Program and Johns Hopkins University’s Center for Talented Youth. Students work with interactive tools available only at IMACS and are taught by highly qualified and trained professionals. This class goes well beyond a traditional introductory course, introducing advanced concepts such as recursion, functional programming, object-oriented programming, and artificial intelligence. Contact IMACS to find out if this class is appropriate for your child.
Logic for Mathematics (Entering Grades 8–12) Aptitude Test Required
Logic for Mathematics is an unparalleled course in pure mathematical logic. Designed for the most talented secondary school students, it is the envy of university mathematics courses everywhere! This multimedia class improves upon our world-renowned Elements of Mathematics curriculum. Contact IMACS to find out if this class is appropriate for your child.
Want to Learn More About IMACS?
Students and parents have an opportunity to experience IMACS for themselves at free IMACS Summer Camp Open Houses in Boca Raton, Weston, and Plantation. Open House attendees have a chance to win a raffle for a free week of full-day camp. At every open house, IMACS will hold two raffles–one for a free week of Full Day camp (for students entering 3rd grade and above) and one for a free week of Primary Logic Puzzles (for students entering 1st and 2nd grade). For more information on the raffles and to RSVP for an Open House in Boca Raton, Weston, or Plantation, visit www.imacs.org/freesummer.
Attend an Open House:
March 14 – Weston
March 28 – Plantation
April 11 – Boca
April 18 – Weston
April 25 – Plantation
May 9 – Boca
May 16 – Weston
May 30 – Plantation
For more information go to www.imacs.org/summer to learn more about their summer camp. You may also reach IMACS at 954-791-2333, 561-470-1178, or parentrelations@imacs.org.
IMACS is giving away a week of full-day camp to one of my lucky blog readers. This is a $564 value!!!
Enter below:
Summer Hairstyles For Girls
July 29, 2014 By Leave a Comment
Summer is still in full swing! I’m not sure what the weather is like where you are but here in South Florida it is H-O-T! The hotter it is, the more my girls try to find ways to cool off including getting their hair off their neck. I have to admit we’ve been in a bit of a hairstyle rut lately. Ponytail after ponytail is getting old around here and we were looking for inspiration. Along with wearing suitable clothing for recreational activities, girls’ hairstyles should be taken into consideration this summer, too. Cozy Friedman, kids’ hair authority and owner of Cozy’s Cuts for Kids salons in New York City, provides many practical and effortless hairstyles for kids to enjoy what is left of their summer days in her book. I can’t wait to try some of these styles on my girls. Parents rely on Cozy Friedman and Cozy’s Complete Guide to Girls’ Hair to style their kids tresses for the summer heat. Whether it be a basic bun or looped pigtails, Cozy’s Complete Guide to Girls Hair provides parents with hairstyle ideas for their kids to for any occasion, even when it comes time for back to school.
Here are some fun styles from her book:
The Basic Bun
This simple way of scooping hair up always makes girls feel grown-up, and most importantly, getting hair off of her face and neck during the hot summer months!
Don’t make the bun too tight or severe; a softer style is not only prettier, but also more comfy.
Step 1: Starting with damp hair, comb through to smooth and remove tangles.
Step 2: Gather hair in a loose ponytail. Position the ponytail where you want the bun to be on the head: low at the nape, middle of the head, or high on the crown. Secure with a ponytail holder.
Step 3: Twist the ponytail into a tight rope, coiling it around itself at the base.
Step 4: Tuck the ends of the coil into the ponytail holder at the base. Then secure the bun by pushing bobby pins into the hair at the bun’s base on all sides. The thicker the hair, the more pins you’ll need. Lightly spritz the bun with hair spray to lock in the style.
Looped Pigtails
Super-simple and super-cute –the looped pigtails shows off your little one’s cute face while keeping them cool!
Step 1: Starting with dry hair, comb or brush the hair to smooth and detangle it. Part the hair down the middle of the head.
Step 2: Hold the hair from one side of the part and make a low ponytail below the ear on that side, using a cute ponytail holder. When you pull the hair through the holder for the final time, don’t pull it all the way through: Leave the ends stuck in the holder to form a loose loop below. The longer the hair, the larger the loop will be.
Step 3: Repeat on the other side of the part. Use your fingers to make the loops about the same size on both sides.
Loose Braid
Braids are not going anywhere! An easy but chic style for longer hair, and so on-trend!
Step 1: Starting with dry hair, brush it smooth and detangle it.
Step 2: Using a fine-tooth comb, divide the hair into three equal sections: right, left and middle.
Step 3: Hold the right section in your right hand and the other two sections separately in your left. Cross the right section over the middle section and hold with your left hand. The original right section is not the middle section.
Step 4: Now cross the left section over the middle section. The original left-hand section is now the middle section.
Step 5: Continuing alternating right and left sections over the middle, until you reach the end of the hair. Secure with a ponytail holder.
FREE Summer Learning and Fun For Families Online With Camp Wonderopolis
May 24, 2014 By Leave a Comment
Looking for some great, educational activities to keep your kids busy this summer? Camp Wonderopolis has got you covered. Camp Wonderopolis is going to be bigger and better and even more awesome than last year!
How could Camp Wonderopolis get any better, you ask? Let us tell you.
- Set up your full Camp account with your own username and avatar.
- This year is all about science (hello, EXPERIMENTS!), and here are the worlds we’ll be exploring:
- Wonder Zoo (Zoology)
- Wonder Amusement Park (Physics)
- Wonder Woods (Biology)
- Wonder Laboratory (Chemistry)
- Wonder Dig Site (Geology)
- Wonder Observatory (Astronomy)
- For every Wonder you master, you’ll earn a Wonder Card. That’s right… WONDER CARDS! Can you collect all 42?
- There are even going to be prizes for the most WONDERful photos and videos shared by campers.
So, what are you waiting for?! Preregistration is now open. Sign up today for your spot in Camp Wonderopolis, and we’ll see YOU in just a few weeks!
Explore. Imagine. Laugh. Share. Create. Learn. Smile. Grow.
Welcome to Wonderopolis®, a place where natural curiosity and imagination lead to exploration and discovery in learners of all ages. Brought to life by the National Center for Families Learning (NCFL), our Wonders of the Day® will help you find learning moments in everyday life—ones that fit in with dinner preparations, carpool responsibilities, a stolen moment between breakfast and the bus, or within school curriculum and education programs.
Wonder is for everyone. It can happen anywhere and at anytime. Connecting the learning we do in our schools, our homes, and our communities, Wonderopolis walks the line between formal and informal education. Each day, we pose an intriguing question and explore it in a variety of ways. Our approach both informs and encourages new questions, sparking new paths of wonder and discovery in family and classroom settings.
Wonderopolis is generously supported by funding from the Verizon Foundation, and we are a proud Content Partner of its Thinkfinity Community. A free online professional learning community, Thinkfinity provides access to over 60,000 educators and experts in curriculum enhancement, along with thousands of award-winning digital resources for K-12—aligned to state standards and the common core. Here, educators connect and collaborate through themed groups, blogs and discussions, sharing resources, and best practices that support 21st century teaching and learning. Camp Wonderopolis follows a new model this year, enabling programs, families, and individuals to customize their experience to their own particular needs. Campers will explore different tracks of science and build their vocabulary, background knowledge, and literacy skills along the way.
When you register as a Camper (kids of all ages) or a Counselor (parents, library staff, teachers), you will be able to:
- Select your own avatar
- Follow your own path through six tracks of scientific exploration
- Engage in Wonder lessons and test your learning to earn Wonder Cards® (42 in all!)
- Check out what other Campers are doing and share your own experiences on the Wonder Wall
- Keep track of your Camp activities on your personal dashboard (Counselor dashboards will track individual and groups of Campers—perfect for parents, libraries, and summer learning programs)
- Try out fun, hands-on activities with everyday items
- Compete in photo and video contests for a chance to win Camp prizes
Be sure to pre-register now, and stay tuned for more details in the coming weeks!
– See more at: http://wonderopolis.org/camp-early-registration/
