June was a full month at Early Childhood Learning Academy. Each theme brought something different to the classroom and the yard, and together they made for a June that our families and teachers will be talking about for a while.
Week 1: Ocean Life
We started the month with a deep dive into ocean life. Children learned about sea creatures large and small, from the tiniest fish to the largest whales, through stories, hands-on crafts, and classroom activities that brought the ocean right to Gunston Way. Our teachers set up sensory bins, led group art projects, and read books that sparked questions and conversations across our classrooms. By the end of the week, our children could name more ocean animals than most adults, and they were genuinely proud of it.
Week 2: Weather and Seasons
Week two took our children outdoors and upward, looking at the sky, noticing weather patterns, and talking through the four seasons in a way that connected to their own experiences. They learned why it rains, what makes clouds form, and how plants and animals change across the year. Our morning outdoor time was especially rich that week, with children pointing at clouds, feeling the air, and drawing connections between the natural world and the science concepts we were covering inside. It was a week that made them more observant, and that observation is something they carry forward.
Week 3: Summer Fun and Beach
By week three, our children were fully in summer mode, and the beach theme matched their energy perfectly. The classroom became a beach-day headquarters, with sand art, sun-and-water science, and movement games that kept everyone active and laughing. Children practiced counting with shells, sorted objects by size and texture, and made beach-themed art that we were proud to display. It was one of those weeks where the learning and the fun were completely inseparable, which is exactly how we like it.
Week 4: FIFA World Cup Week
Our final June theme brought the world right into our classrooms. The FIFA World Cup is being played across the United States this summer, including right down the road at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, and that proximity made it the perfect moment to explore flags, countries, and the sport that connects more of the world than any other. Children made flags by hand, learning the colors, shapes, and meanings behind each one. They explored the countries competing in the tournament, discovered where those nations sit on a map, and talked about past champions and Levi’s Stadium. For children who have driven past Levi’s Stadium with their families, that detail landed with a particular kind of joy. It was a week of crafting, geography, history, and pure excitement.
We are so proud of what our children accomplished this June. Each week brought new questions, new discoveries, and new connections, and our teaching team brought the same care and intention to every single day. We are looking forward to what July has in store, and we are grateful to every ECLA family who made June as full and joyful as it was.
