Camp Out! * In this activity, children will engage in extended dramatic play, language development and socialization. Materials needed Sleeping bag for each child Small camping tent Camping equipment Lincoln logs (to make pretend fire) Colored tissue paper (to make pretend fire) What to do 1. Notify parents of your activity. Ask them to provide a sleeping bag or bed roll for their children. This will be kept at school for one week. Ask them also to provide any camping gear such as mess kits, canteens, flashlights, backpacks, etc. 2. Set up the play area with the available equipment. 3. Talk about what is needed when we go camping and demonstrate the camping equipment. Talk about the children's own camping experiences. 4. Act out things families do when they are camping (setting up tent, fishing, cooking, roasting marshmellows). 5. Compare camping out to being in one's own house. 6. Read the children a story while they snuggle in their sleeping bags or bed rolls. 7. Allow the children to use the camping equipment during free lay time. * More to do Lay a trail throughout the building or playground for the children to follow. At the end, have a special treat or game. Make hot dogs and beans or campfire stew for snack time. * Related book: The Berenstein Bears Go to Camp by Jan Berenstein * The second week in my camping unit is about the night the moon and the stars. I have hanging from my lights gold stars and a moon on the wall by the tent. At the begining of the week I write a note to the parents that we are going to have a PJ PARTY and the children should bring their PJ"S and a soft sleep toy on friday. When we have the party we have popcorn and watch a video." Barney Campfire sing-along". Of Coarse I wear my PJ"S too. * Color with glow-in the -dark Crayons * Make star gazers out of toilet paper rolls and wax paper * Make stars and ask the children what they wish for and hang them above the camp fire * Make a mural "in the dark dark Daycare" To coraspond w/" In the Dark Dark Woods" * Make an Owl Mask * Talk about night workers LIST THEM * Talk about Night Animals. And what they do * What do we do in the day and what do we do at night * Where do they sleep. Compare different animals * Graph what the kids sleep with.. * List moon and star facts. * Ask the kids what they do before they go to bed * what is night * Make paperbag knapsacks, fill with small *hiking* type treats and go on a neighborhood hike * Sing songs around the campfire * Take *quiet time* and story time on sleeping bags around a pretend campfire * Make s'mores for a fun treat * Books: Good Night Moon Papa get the moon for me Moon Cake Night Noises Night Animals * Music A Camping We Will Go (tune: the Farmer and the Dell) A cmping we will go A camping we will go Hi ho we"re off to the woods A camping we will go (Child's name) will bring the tent Oh ______will bring the tent Hi ho we're off to the woods A camping we will go (Child's name) will bring the food ________will bring the food Hi ho we're off to the woods A camping we will go Continue with other supplies and change the children's names Prentend to sit around the campfire. Sing campfire and favorite songs. Good lead into fire and match safety. Change dramatic play area into a camping area: backpacks, sleeping bags, hiking boots, sweatshirts, flashlights, cooking tools, a tent etc. Take a hike and colletct leaves, pebbles, twigs, pine cones etc. Provide glue and sturdy oaktag. Encourage children to create a collage using materials found while hiking. Camping safety: Discuss the following: -Always put out the fire before going to sleep or leaving the campsite -Swim in safe areas and with a parent -when wlking or hiking away from your campsite, always have an adult with you -always were a life jacket in the boat Cooking: S'mores Books: When Peter Was Lost in the Forest by Hans Peterson Bambi's Fragrant Forest by Felix Salten Bailey Goes Camping by Kevin Henkes Curious George Goes Hiking by Margaret Rey and Alan Shalleck Camping in the Mountain by Lucille Wood * How about gathering a bunch of sticks and put them in a pile and pretend to start a fire for cooking hot dogs or s'mores Another recipe for S'mores - melted marshmallows and a mini Reese's Peanut Butter Cup between 2 graham crackers - or put a marshmallow between two Oreos. Also - I don't know where to get them, but you can purchase 'stars' that you put on the ceiling in a bedroom. When you turn out the lights they glow in the dark - You could name a "star" for each child in the class. * Bag Owls Loosely stuff a bag full of crumbled newspaper. Bring the top together & fold the two puter edges in toward the center & glue to form a point. Fold the point down. Cut eyes & feet from construction paper & glue to the owl. Big grocery bags will make grandfather owl, small candy bags turn into baby owls, & all sizes between are the flock.