When May finally rolls around, most testing windows have closed. Your student behavior is at an all-time high. You find your own nerves are frazzled. They just don’t want to follow directions. Nothing is working. Why not totally switch thing up? End of the Year Camp totally changes behavior because it’s all new!
When the kids got there in the morning, they choose their area. They could not go to the same area twice in a row. Choose tents only once per week. They read on the floor. We used clipboards for writing time. They were allowed to bring a sleeping bag or pillow that had to go home each day. We had class sets of flashlights we used. I hang white Christmas lights from the ceiling.Everything changed. It was such a blast! I do not spend long hours making camp. We did it together.
The Camp Schedule
The camp schedule is fairly simple. We have two recesses each day.
- Science is working in the garden.
- Read-to-Self is done in the camp areas.
- Writing Workshop is research for the projects.
- The area group chooses a different book tub each day.
- Crafting is different each day. It includes making the camp scenery.
Camp Behavior
On the first day of Camp, we had a big class meeting. We decide the rules and write them on brown butcher paper, sign it, and put the sign on the door. Camp is a privilege, not a right. Basically, 3 strikes and you are out. Each day starts over. I keep a couple of desks in the book corner. Once you leave Camp Learned A Lot, you go back to the regular class work for the rest of the day.
The Campfire
I ended up using a tin tub. We used paper towel rolls or pool noodles and covered them with brown butcher paper to make the logs. I get some smooth rocks (one per student) to put around the “fire” for $10 from Home Depot. We paint these with names & symbols later. The kids make the flames from the scrap box. We meet here for morning meeting.
The Tents
We usually have room for 2 tents. I borrow them from parents. Or, you can buy the smallest tent at Walmart for around 15.00. The kids choose a book tub for the day for the tent sitters. They usually need more light to write, so they move to the outside. If you have tables, you can make tents by draping plastic table cloths over the top. During Covid, we used individual plastic table cloths over the desks.
The Woods
I have one huge tree in my classroom year round. I start there. For End of the Year camp, the kids help make pine trees from green and brown and green butcher paper for the wall near the big tree. You don’t need a lot. I make just 2-3. Start with a twisted trunk. Cut the green paper about 18″ x 6 “. The kids twist the branches, I cut them and staple them on willy nilly. These are made during crafting time. If you want exact instruction on a deciduous tree, go here.
The Stream
I make a long windy river from blue construction paper and tape it to the tile floor. I set up a picnic table cloth by it with baskets and books. When they choose that area, they get to make 3 fish “in the river”. I usually borrow small camp chairs and set them up here.
Outdoor Science
Unless it rained, we did an outside activity once per day (not recess). My school had a garden, so we would work there. Time goes so fast when your’e outside! It was usually in the morning because of the heat. We would also do Science experiments or just do bubbles. The kids LOVED it!
