Hommel Mangas
The summer is slipping by and I haven’t had my official GJ Summer Camp — I’ve had Cousin Camp Out with my kids and their cousins, but never grandchild camp. But times are a changing and my 27-month-old grandson is in for the Granny Janny camp of his life. Here’s the camp curriculum that I’ve planned out.
Chemistry
One is never too young or old to be introduced to chemistry. Of course, I don’t want to be one of those annoying grandmothers that crow that their grandchild is highly advanced. I admit that John doesn’t know nor cares to write out the alphabet yet, so I’ll be writing down the preliminary equation for him: NaHCO3 + HC2H3CO2. After he repeats the equation, I’ll let him combine the vinegar to the baking soda, first in test tubes so we can pretend we’re in a lab, and then in the sand pit on top of a sand volcano. If I’m feeling energetic, I’ll add some food coloring.
Physics
One of the basic principles of physics is that there are six simple machines that can make our work easier and are found in every aspect of daily life — the lever, inclined plane, wheel and axle, screw, wedge and pulley. John is well versed in the wheel and axle department since the Tillman’s business is vehicle accessories; I’m pretty sure that’s genetic knowledge. But we will play with levers by getting out my old wooden ruler and balancing it on top a round fat marker and see how far we can flip dominoes across the yard. Afterwards we’ll experimenting with gravity and buoyancy by playing “will it float or sink” in a tub of water on the back porch.
Social Studies
I’ll cover social studies by watching him put together the Unites States and world map puzzles.
Physical Education
PE will include swim lessons followed by batting practice — Grandpa Steve hung a whiffle ball from one of our garden hooks so that John can practice his batting.
Mathematics
We’ll be working on the geometry puzzle he’s mastered, in addition to counting to three as we’re in sprint position, with our our hands in a V-position behind the blue-painter tape on the kitchen floor, and on three/go, race each other down the hallway.
Language Arts
My favorite of course will be language arts where I will tell John a verbal story: “Once upon a time, there was a little boy named …” and he helps me fill in the blanks. Literature will actually be no different than non-camp days where he chooses the books he wants me to read, except that we will read them on a blanket under a tree while we have lunch, which will include the Cheerio necklace we made for fun.
Camp will end as he chooses which colors of paint to dip his paint-brush into as he paints like an artist with an easel in the field.
Or maybe, we just do one of the above this year.
Janet Hommel Mangas grew up on the east side of Greenwood. The Center Grove area resident and her husband are the parents of three daughters. Send comments to [email protected].
