Best Brains Phoenix North Summer Camp

Monday

• Session 1: Bead Counting & Color Sorting
  • Kids use colorful beads to practice counting, sorting by color or shape, and creating simple patterns.
  • Great for fine motor skills and early math awareness.
• Session 2: Play Store – Pretend Shopping with Coins
  • Children role-play as shoppers and cashiers using play money.
  • They learn to recognize coins and bills while practicing basic addition and decision-making.

Tuesday

• Session 1: Number Bingo
  • A fun twist on classic bingo using numbers, shapes, or simple equations.
  • Kids practice number recognition and listening skills in a friendly, competitive format.
• Session 2: Shape Hunt & Build
  • Kids go on a "shape safari" to find circles, squares, and triangles around the room or playground.
  • Then they use foam or paper shapes to build fun objects like houses, robots, or animals.

Wednesday

• Session 1: Counting Relay Race
  • A movement-based game where kids run to collect number cards or objects and race back to put them in order.
  • Helps with number sequencing and active learning.
• Session 2: Time Tots – Daily Routines & Clock Games
  • Children explore time by talking about their daily routines, learning about morning/afternoon/night.
  • Using toy clocks to practice "o'clock" times.

Thursday

• Session 1: Catch the Number Ball
  • A soft ball game where kids catch the ball and shout the number closest to their hand or answer a simple question.
  • Builds number fluency in a playful way.
• Session 2: Sorting & Graphing with Toys
  • Kids sort items (like buttons, cars, animals) by color, size, or type, and use stickers or blocks to make simple bar graphs.
  • Introduces them to counting, comparing, and data basics.

Friday

• Session 1: Math Treasure Hunt
  • Kids follow a path of picture clues or simple math puzzles (like "find 3 red blocks") leading to a hidden treasure.
  • Encourages problem-solving and exploration.
• Session 2: Puzzle Time – Patterns & Matching Games
  • Kids work on jigsaw puzzles, pattern blocks, and memory cards.
  • Develops logic, visual recognition, and critical thinking in a calm, fun environment.

DAY 1 — Story Foundations & Powerful Sentences

Focus: Story structure + transition words + strong verbs
Objective: Understand story basics and write vivid sentences with flow.

Activities:

• 📚 Story Warm-Up: Read and discuss a short story (Pixar shorts or folk tales work great).
• 🧠 Mini-Lessons:
  
  • Story elements: beginning, middle, end
  • Transition words: first, then, suddenly, finally, etc.
  • Strong verbs: stomp, sprint, whisper, etc.
• 🎲 Games:
  
  • Sentence surgery: rewrite bland sentences with power verbs.
  • Story order scramble with transition words.
• ✍️ Writing Time:
  
  • Write a short scene about a character doing something exciting.
  • Use at least 5 transition words and 5 strong action verbs.

Takeaway:
Kids build sentence-level confidence and story structure awareness.

DAY 2 — Create Your Hero & Map the Journey

Focus: Character building + Hero's Triangle
Objective: Develop a compelling main character with a clear arc.

Activities:

• 🔺 Hero's Triangle Mini-Lesson:
  
  • What do they want?
  • What stands in their way?
  • How do they grow?
• 🧙‍♂️ Hero Creator Workshop:
  
  • Design your own hero (drawings encouraged).
  • Choose name, personality, goals, strengths, and flaws.
• 🗺️ Story Map:
  
  • Fill in beginning, middle, end
  • Note setting, conflict, side characters
• 🎤 Partner Pitch: Share your story idea for feedback.

Writing Time:
Begin writing the opening scene of your story — introduce hero, setting, and goal.

DAY 3 — Writing Day: Dive Into the First Draft

Focus: Drafting the full story
Objective: Begin and complete a rough draft using the story map and tools from Days 1–2.

Activities:

• 🛠️ Quick Review Warm-Up:
  
  • Choose 3 power verbs and 3 transition words to use today.
• 🧘‍♀️ Quiet Writing Block:
  
  • Dedicated time to write stories (1–2 full pages).
• 🤝 Peer Check-In:
  
  • Swap drafts or first pages and give feedback using "Two Stars and a Wish" (2 compliments + 1 suggestion).

Goal:
Complete the first full draft of their short story by the end of the day.

DAY 4 — Revise, Expand, Improve!

Focus: Revision techniques + story polishing
Objective: Strengthen writing through focused editing.

Activities:

• ✍️ Mini-Lesson: "Revision vs. Editing"
• Look for: stronger verbs, clearer transitions, vivid descriptions, and better endings.
• 🧪 Revision Lab:
  
  • Use a checklist to revise key areas:
    
    • ✔ Strong opening?
    • ✔ Hero's growth clear?
    • ✔ Action-packed verbs?
    • ✔ Smooth transitions?
• 🧑‍🤝‍🧑 Peer Workshop:
  
  • Small groups exchange feedback using color-coded highlighting (e.g., yellow for verbs, blue for transitions).

Writing Time:
Work on second draft of story, applying feedback and revision notes.

DAY 5 — Finalize & Celebrate

Focus: Final drafts + reflection + sharing
Objective: Publish and present their story with confidence.

Activities:

• ✨ Final Edits: Add a title, check spelling, format the story nicely.
• 🎨 Cover Art Time: Create a simple illustrated cover or hero portrait.
• 📚 Author Gallery:
  
  • Students display stories and walk around to read each other's.
• 🎤 Open Mic (Optional):
  
  • Volunteer to read a scene or paragraph aloud.

Course Objectives:

• Learn the basics of storytelling: characters, setting, beginning, middle, and end
• Use ScratchJr to create animations with code blocks
• Build a simple digital play with scenes, dialogue, and motion
• Work together or individually on a final animated story project
• Share their project with family and friends!

Day 1: Let's Tell a Story! 🎯

• Focus: Storytelling basics + intro to ScratchJr
• Activities:
  • 📖 Read a short illustrated story together
  • 🎭 Talk about characters, setting, and what happens first, next, and last
  • 🖍 Draw their own character (pet, superhero, or magical creature)
  • 💻 Open ScratchJr and explore how to add characters and make them move
• Mini Project: Make your character walk or jump across the screen!

Day 2: Building the World 🎯

• Focus: Backgrounds, movement, and scenes
• Activities:
  • Talk about where the play takes place (forest, castle, space, etc.)
  • Create 2–3 backgrounds in ScratchJr
  • Practice making a character go from one place to another
  • Learn to use the "Go to next page" block for scenes
• Mini Project: Create a simple two-scene story with your character moving through both

Day 3: Let's Add Drama! 🎯

• Focus: Dialogue, emotions, and sound
• Activities:
  • Practice expressing feelings through faces and voices
  • Record short dialogue or use speech bubbles in ScratchJr
  • Add sound blocks and facial expressions
• Mini Project: Create a scene where two characters talk or react to something fun or silly

Day 4: Final Project Day – Create Your Play! 🎯

• Focus: Bring everything together into one full story
• Activities:
  • Plan story with 3 parts: Beginning, Middle, End
  • Add multiple scenes, dialogue, character actions
  • Add music or background sound if time allows
  • Test and revise their plays
• Project Goal: A 3–5 scene animated digital play with movement, talking, and a complete story!

Day 5: Show Time! 🎯

• Focus: Presenting and celebrating creativity
• Activities:
  • Practice showing their project and describing their story
  • Each student presents their play to the class/family (in-person or screen share)
  • Group claps and positive feedback!
  • Receive a fun "Junior Playwright & Coder" certificate

This 1-week intensive is designed to build strong, confident speakers through engaging, Toastmasters-style training. Students will gain the tools to express ideas clearly, organize speeches, and speak with poise in front of others—all while having fun.

🧠 What They'll Learn:

• How to write and deliver persuasive and informative speeches
• Voice control, tone, and body language techniques
• How to engage an audience and overcome stage fear
• Impromptu speaking and thinking on your feet
• Peer feedback and evaluation to improve delivery

🎲 Key Activities:

• Speech Writing Lab
• Impromptu Speaking Rounds
• Debate & Persuasion Games
• Voice & Body Language Practice
• Peer Evaluations
• 1-Minute Speech Challenges

🏆 Showcase Friday
Campers will present a short speech at the end-of-week showcase

Day 1: Advanced Biology & Chemistry

• 1. Strawberry DNA Extraction
  • Activity: Students extract DNA from strawberries using dish soap, salt, and alcohol, observing DNA strands.
  • Concepts: Introduction to genetics, DNA structure, why DNA extraction matters.
• 2. Photosynthesis Inquiry
  • Activity: Use aquatic plants (like Elodea) in different light conditions. Measure oxygen output with bubbles or gas sensors.
  • Concepts: Role of sunlight in energy conversion, designing controlled scientific investigations.
• 3. Erupting Lava Volcano (with Redox Twist)
  • Activity: Create a "volcano" with baking soda, vinegar, and discuss the acid-base reaction and products formed.
  • Concepts: Chemical reactions, chemical equations, pH scale.

Monday

• Morning – My Lemonade or Cookie Stand Idea!
  • Kids dream up their own pretend cookie or lemonade stand.
  • They draw pictures of what it looks like, name it, and decide on flavors.
  • Teachers help them decorate menus with markers, crayons, or stickers.
• Afternoon – Meet My Character! (With AI Prompts)
  • Kids describe a fun character they want in a cartoon (e.g., a flying cat or cookie superhero).
  • With help, they use AI to create pictures of their character from prompts they help write.
  • Everyone shares their new character with the group!

Tuesday

• Morning – Tasty Creations & Pretend Play
  • Kids mix simple juice, fruit, or cookie ingredients (with supervision) to create sample "recipes."
  • They role-play making and selling their items to each other.
  • Focus on taking turns, counting coins, and saying "thank you!"
• Afternoon – Make a Cartoon World (AI Pictures)
  • Using their character, kids imagine where it lives (a candy forest? a rainbow rocket?).
  • With help, they create more AI images of their cartoon world.
  • Kids create a mini "storybook" with their pictures.

Wednesday

• Morning – Signs, Stickers & Stand Building
  • Kids make signs, menus, and paper money for their cookie or lemonade stands.
  • They build pretend stands out of cardboard, fabric, or tables with decorations.
  • Practice role-play selling and buying with friends.
• Afternoon – Voices & Music for My Character
  • Kids record their own voices or choose silly voices for their characters.
  • With help, they pick fun background music using safe kid-friendly AI tools.
  • They match moods (happy, spooky, sleepy) with music.

Thursday

• Morning – Business Rehearsal & Counting Game
  • Kids open their pretend stands for a class-wide "practice day."
  • They take turns being buyers and sellers using play coins.
  • Practice counting, sharing, and friendly greetings.
• Afternoon – Cartoon Clips & Sounds
  • Kids start putting their story pictures, music, and voices together with adult help.
  • Use simple animation tools (like puppet apps or slide shows) to create short clips.
  • Watch each other's cartoons and cheer!

Friday

• Morning – Big Business Day!
  • Invite another class, parents, or staff to "visit" each stand.
  • Kids sell (or pretend to sell) their cookies or lemonade with pride.
  • Everyone gets a turn showing off their stand and skills.
• Afternoon – Cartoon Show & Party
  • Watch all the finished cartoon stories on a big screen or projector.
  • Enjoy treats, give out fun awards (like "Most Creative Stand" or "Silliest Character"), and celebrate!