Preschool Camping Lesson Planning Ideas
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Use the ideas on this page to plan your camping lessons!
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Paint a Campfire
- Materials: Paper plates or cardstock, yellow and red washable tempera paint or fingerpaint, paintbrushes, gluesticks, brown construction paper for logs
- Preparation: Set up the paints and paper at a small table (optional: cover the paper with newsprint to handle messes). Have smocks nearby for children to put on.
- Procedure: Lead this activity with a book that talks about campfires such as When We Go Camping by Margriet Ruurs. Next, ask children if they have ever experienced a campfire. Allow time for children to share their experiences. Be sure to ask open-ended questions about their experience such as "What did you like about the campfire?" Next, Invite children to create a campfire on their paper. Provide the colors red and yellow separately so they can experience mixing the colors. Children may choose to glue on brown construction paper for logs or simply have their entire paper filled with fire.
- **Teacher Tip: If you set this up as a fingerprint invitation; have some blank white cardstock on hand, when children are done invite them to make a handprint onto the paper before they go wash, you can stick it in their portfolio, give to parents as a keepsake, or save for a teacher or child created gift for parents.
Campfire Songs
Set up around a pretend campfire in the learning environment and sing fun songs.
Be prepared with a list of songs that children can choose from and invite children to share new songs or even create fun new tunes.
Be prepared with a list of songs that children can choose from and invite children to share new songs or even create fun new tunes.
Rock Sculptures
Part of camping fun is exploring all the new and interesting objects that can be found in nature.
Make rock sculptures; take photographs of the creations to share with family/friends, to display on the wall and add to portfolios for 3d art representation.
Make rock sculptures; take photographs of the creations to share with family/friends, to display on the wall and add to portfolios for 3d art representation.
Create a CANOE
Collect some long boxes and invite preschoolers to decorate and pretend to use as a canoe. Once complete use in a dramatic play invitation to pretend to fish or boat down a river.
Create Trail Mix
Set up an invitation to create trail mix for snack one day. Place items into separate bowls with a small measuring cup in each. Children will put a small scoop of each item in their bag.
Camping Collage
Make collages using items in nature, take photos of the collages and return the items to where they were found when finished. This also helps children to learn the importance of caring for our earth and being respectful to nature as well as others.
More Ideas
Galaxy Dough from Growing a Jeweled Rose
Lantern Craft from Making Learning Fun
Hand print Campfire from the Measured Mom
Binoculars Craft from Cupcakes for Clara
*Night Sky Art from My Nearest and Dearest
Paint with Marshmallows from Fun-A-Day
Lantern Craft from Making Learning Fun
Hand print Campfire from the Measured Mom
Binoculars Craft from Cupcakes for Clara
*Night Sky Art from My Nearest and Dearest
Paint with Marshmallows from Fun-A-Day
*Campground Dramatic Play
Set up an Indoor camping space, or campground using our Campground Dramatic Play pack. Add a tent, Camp Chairs, Pretend Trees, Sleeping Bags , Trees, Backpacks, Camping Pots and Pretend Foam Marshmallows.
Here are some fun camping spaces shared by our Community Members.
Here are some fun camping spaces shared by our Community Members.
Cheryl V.
Adventurous Learning
Adventurous Learning
Erica's Educare Learning Center
Erica's Educare Learning Center
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Erica's Educare Learning Center
Erica's Educare Learning Center
Erica's Educare Learning Center
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Pretend Fishing
Set up a pretend fishing station, here are a few ideas:
- Use magnetic rod and fish sets like this one to set up a fishing invitation in your water table.
- Set up a large curtain and pair with a long stick with string or pretend fishing pole, attach a clothespin at the end. Invite children to "cast" the line over the curtain. On the other side clip a fish cutout with a letter on it. When children reel it in they identify the letter.
- Make pretend canoes from old boxes, set on top of a large blue blanket or rug. Spread around some pretend fish on the floor for children to fish for.
Camping Word Wall Cards
Word wall cards can be used in many different ways to support language and literacy for preschoolers.
Add these to the writing center, use with gross motor games, hide around the room for children to discover and more!
This set of cards is included in the PKPF Camping Preschool Activities pack.
Add these to the writing center, use with gross motor games, hide around the room for children to discover and more!
This set of cards is included in the PKPF Camping Preschool Activities pack.
*Camping Literacy Cards
Add some Camping inspiration to your writing center with these literacy cards included in the PKPF Camping Preschool Activities pack.
In addition to tracing, children can use them to create fun camping stories! Place all the cards face down. Start a story about camping "One day I went camping..." then have children draw a card and add to the story using the card as inspiration.
In addition to tracing, children can use them to create fun camping stories! Place all the cards face down. Start a story about camping "One day I went camping..." then have children draw a card and add to the story using the card as inspiration.
Lantern uppercase/Lowercase Matching
Invite your preschooler to practice letter recognition skills.
Flip a lowercase letter lantern card, then find the matching uppercase letter on the mat. This activity can be used as a file folder game, dry erase (laminate or use dry erase pouch), with a sensory bin, or as a simple table activity.
This set is included in the PKPF Camping Preschool Activities pack
Flip a lowercase letter lantern card, then find the matching uppercase letter on the mat. This activity can be used as a file folder game, dry erase (laminate or use dry erase pouch), with a sensory bin, or as a simple table activity.
This set is included in the PKPF Camping Preschool Activities pack
A Camping Spree with Mr. Magee by Chris Van Dusen
Curious George Goes Camping by Margaret Rey, H.A. Rey
Moonlight Animals by Elizabeth Golding
Sun Up, Sun Down by Jacqui Bailey
*When We Go Camping by Margriet Ruurs
S is for S'mores: A Camping Alphabet by Helen Foster James
Summer Days and Summer Nights by Wong Herbert Yee
Froggy Goes to Camp by Jonathon London
Pete the Cat Goes Camping by James Dean
Fred and Ted Go Camping by Peter Eastman
Leaf Rubbing
Nature Collections
Encourage children to explore the outdoor area around your pretend campsite. What kind of collections can they make from items found in nature? How many different types of materials can they find? **Teacher Tip: Make the campsite a toy free zone. Encourage children to find ways to entertain themselves using the materials provided for the campsite along with items found in nature.
Bring collections children have made at the campsite into the classroom for further observation. Pine cones and interesting rocks bring a lot of opportunities for discovery in the classroom.
Bring collections children have made at the campsite into the classroom for further observation. Pine cones and interesting rocks bring a lot of opportunities for discovery in the classroom.
Nature Walk
Go for a nature walk, bring along magnifying glasses and paper bags. Children can investigate different plants and natural objects they find. They can bring bag items that have fallen to the ground for further investigation and for your classroom nature collection.
*Pine Needle Discovery Bottles
Pine Needle Discovery Bottles from Teach Preschool
Nocturnal Animals
This is a great week for teaching about the Animals that come out at night.
This free Nocturnal & Diurnal Storytime activity is a fun sorting game for children to explore after reading a good book about animals.
This free Nocturnal & Diurnal Storytime activity is a fun sorting game for children to explore after reading a good book about animals.
More Ideas
Another fun Science activity this week is learning about Animal Tracks. Check out this Free Animal Tracks Printable Activity from Deceptively Educational.
Marshmallow Roasting counting mats 1-10
What could be more fun to count than marshmallows??
Pair these counting mats included in the PKPF Camping Preschool Activities pack with white pompoms, cottonballs, the included printable marshmallow counters or even real marshmallows for some counting fun.
Pair these counting mats included in the PKPF Camping Preschool Activities pack with white pompoms, cottonballs, the included printable marshmallow counters or even real marshmallows for some counting fun.
Camping Adding and Sorting
Challenge children to each find 5-10 objects around your pretend campsite. Add all the objects to one big container. Start sorting through the items. For each item encourage a class discussion of what the object could be used for at the campsite. Allow time for children to brainstorm ideas. Next, start sorting the items. You can sort by type, color, texture, or usefulness Challenge the children to think of ways they would like to sort the objects.
Camping Shape Matching
Invite your preschooler to play this fun matching game!
Match-up campfires to the same shape tent to work on shape recognition skills.
This activity is included in the PKPF Camping Preschool Activities pack.
Match-up campfires to the same shape tent to work on shape recognition skills.
This activity is included in the PKPF Camping Preschool Activities pack.
Play Card Games
Playing cards while camping is something I always enjoyed as a child.
Card games are a great way to teach children all kinds of different skills! Pull out a deck of cards and teach preschoolers old favorites. Check out this blog post, Card Games for Early Learners for new and fun ways to teach preschoolers through card games.
Card games are a great way to teach children all kinds of different skills! Pull out a deck of cards and teach preschoolers old favorites. Check out this blog post, Card Games for Early Learners for new and fun ways to teach preschoolers through card games.
Add Pretend Trees, and Scraps of Fabric, Tape and Popsicle Sticks and Tape for building Tents. Add woodland animals, and natural elements such as pine cones, Stones and small twigs to the building space. Provide the children with Dark Fabric to practice creating a night time back drop. Small flashlights make a fun addition as well. You can also add a variety of small world camping sets to your space.
Fantastic Fun and Learning
Be sure to check out this adorable camping inspired small world space was created by Fantastic Fun and Learning.
Act Out Going on a Bear Hunt
Going on a Bear Hunt is a great opportunity to get to move using their whole body.
Set up an elaborate invitation to swish through the grass and climb pretend mountains or use imagination. Be sure to encourage children to create the sounds as they go through the motions to work on oral language development.
Set up an elaborate invitation to swish through the grass and climb pretend mountains or use imagination. Be sure to encourage children to create the sounds as they go through the motions to work on oral language development.
Camping Obstacle Course
Set up a pretend campsite outside:
- Materials: Small backpacks, reusable bags, or plastic grocery sacks, assorted camp equipment such as tents, flashlights, pretend lanterns, small logs (be sure they are safe for little hands), empty milk jugs filled with water, and sleeping bags.
- Place the gear needed for the campsite on one side of the yard. Invite children to bring the gear over to where the campsite is on the other side of the yard. This will give little bodies a big workout and support them as they work on collaboration and assigning roles.
Make Dough Nature Prints
Make Play Dough Nature Prints
- Materials: Play dough, items found in nature
- Setup: Place the items in your dough center or set out an invitation to play by placing all the items on the table.
*Camping Scavenger Hunt
Set up a scavenger hunt! Provide clipboards along with a list of objects for children to find
- Tip: To promote literacy, use both words and photos for the items to be found on your scavenger hunt. Encourage pre-writing skills by adding a check box next to each object.
Camping Around the World
Explore camping around the world. Do some research on what people in other places do when they go camping. Are their differences? Share your findings with your group during circle time.
You can lead this discussion by asking students what they do when they go camping. There are lots of common activities, however many families do things just a little different.
You can lead this discussion by asking students what they do when they go camping. There are lots of common activities, however many families do things just a little different.
Nature Sensory Bottles
Set up an invitation to create nature sensory bottles, or calm down bottles. Simply set out the bottles along with items your students have found in nature. As children are creating their bottle you can start a dialogue about when children might want to use their calm down bottle. Conversations such as these are a good time for you to reflect on how children are progressing with their emotional development. Are they using proper terminology for their feelings (angry, mad, happy, excited)? Can they think of a variety of solutions to problems? Can they recognize situations when they might need to take time by themselves to calm down? Have some post-its nearby so you can jot down anything important to include in assessments.
Contribution
Preschoolers are learning how they can contribute to the communities they are engaged in. This may include at home, the classroom community, and when they are in public spaces.
While camping it's important that everyone pitches in since there is so much to do!
Talk with children about how they can contribute when camping, and how they contribute to their community everyday.
While camping it's important that everyone pitches in since there is so much to do!
Talk with children about how they can contribute when camping, and how they contribute to their community everyday.
Educator Resources: Group Activities, Circle Time, and Parent Engagement
Tent Assembly
- Use teamwork to set up a tent
- Materials: You will need a variety of materials to create tents in a creative way. Suggestions: Sheets, Silk Scarves, Fort Clips or Beach Towel Clips, Tape, Cardboard, Newspapers, Towels, and Clothespins.
- Setup: Sort the materials into containers, provide ample space for this project
- Procedure: Split children into 3 different groups. Each group will choose the materials that they think will be best for building a tent. Once materials are collected children can get started. Allow freedom for children to try their ideas out, they may try to hang a towel with scotch tape...such a fantastic learning opportunity!! Be there to support them during this time. You can gently guide by asking questions like "Did your idea work?" "What could you do differently?" "What else could you try?" "what do you think happened?" Walk them through their process so they can problem-solve.
- Close: Once the materials are put away bring your group together. Allow everyone to share something about the experience. Encourage everyone to share something they tried that was successful, as well as something they tried that didn't work out so well.
Roll a S’more game
This is a fun game to play independently or with someone else!
Roll the playing cube, identify the shape and add ingredients to the s'mores on the mat!
This game is included in the PKPF Camping Preschool Activities pack.
Roll the playing cube, identify the shape and add ingredients to the s'mores on the mat!
This game is included in the PKPF Camping Preschool Activities pack.
Play Tic Tac Toe
Play tic-tac-toe using sticks as the frame and pinecones and rocks as the playing pieces.
Participate in a group song
Set Up: Show your students a back pack, explain there are a lot of things you can bring with you on a camping trip!
Sing this song to the tune of "Clementine"
I'm going Camping, I'm going camping
I'm going Camping by the lake.
I will bring along my flashlight
that is something I should take.
Variations:
sleeping bag, fishing pole, pillow, water bottle, boots, sunscreen,
bug spray, towel, swimsuit, etc.
Sing this song to the tune of "Clementine"
I'm going Camping, I'm going camping
I'm going Camping by the lake.
I will bring along my flashlight
that is something I should take.
Variations:
sleeping bag, fishing pole, pillow, water bottle, boots, sunscreen,
bug spray, towel, swimsuit, etc.
- Ask parents to sign up to donate items for the a s'mores trail mix.
- Invite parents to help setup your pretend campsite
- Ask parents to loan your classroom some camping gear for exploration.
- Host a s'mores social! Mix it up a bit and create s'mores ice cream sundaes instead of roasting marshmallows.
Resources for Pre-K at Home coming soon!
