August 29, 2016, 08:31:03 AM


Author Topic: Zero Budget Summer Camp Ideas  (Read 1458 times)

Offline gaelynwrites

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Zero Budget Summer Camp Ideas
« on: June 24, 2016, 10:55:02 AM »
So I've been given the challenge of creating a summer camp that uses only the resources I have in the classroom. Zero budget.

What are some activity ideas you all have that I may be able to throw together to create an entertaining and semi-cohesive summer camp?

Offline yirj17

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Re: Zero Budget Summer Camp Ideas
« Reply #1 on: June 24, 2016, 11:01:56 AM »
What grade level and how many students do you expect? And for how long.

I did a film making camp with my middle schoolers before. They just used their cell phones to record and the school computers to edit together their projects. I implemented a lot of theatre activities throughout as well.

Offline gaelynwrites

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Re: Zero Budget Summer Camp Ideas
« Reply #2 on: June 24, 2016, 11:24:29 AM »
Oh, sorry. I am working with elementary school kids. All grades 1st thru 6th. It's a five day camp. But each block I only have to fill about an hour. No more then 10 students I believe.

Offline Azzy

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Re: Zero Budget Summer Camp Ideas
« Reply #3 on: June 24, 2016, 11:33:49 AM »
you could do a Dr. Seuss camp.  You can find the books scanned online and such, and there are activities related to those using only paper and such. you could tweak some stuff, but for the most part, very little resources,

Offline glb0b

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Re: Zero Budget Summer Camp Ideas
« Reply #4 on: June 24, 2016, 11:36:09 AM »
What grade level and how many students do you expect? And for how long.

I did a film making camp with my middle schoolers before. They just used their cell phones to record and the school computers to edit together their projects. I implemented a lot of theatre activities throughout as well.

Do you have any materials for this camp on here? I am probably doing this topic with my 5th and 6th grade elementary students this summer. I have some ideas, but not enough to fill the allotted time. So I am looking for more ideas - especially the theatre activities.

To answer the OP, drawing and colouring activities are fun for the younger students and the same for the older ones with some writing thrown in.

For younger students I usually do a book based camp, each day a different story and vocab/games/activities associate with that. There is a big long thread on here with good story books to use.

Offline yirj17

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Re: Zero Budget Summer Camp Ideas
« Reply #5 on: June 24, 2016, 11:55:50 AM »
What kind of resources do you have in the classroom/school? Do you have stuff like colored paper and glue and craft type supplies? Markers/crayons/colored pencils?

You could try throwing in some theatre games (http://www.bbbpress.com/dramagames/). Depending on the levels of your students, activities can be chosen/adjusted accordingly.

If you have a knack for it, simple origami can be a cool lesson, and all you need is paper (colored or extras like googly eyes/markers are just icing on the cake :). One time most of the students in a class were gone for whatever reason so my coT told me to do something else instead of the lesson I had planned (which in itself is a thing for the rant thread but I digress) so I just taught origami the whole period. Lol. And you don't have to worry too much about verbal instruction as it's very visual. This might be better for the older level students, but it depends on your students' maturity. I did this with grade 6 but I could see it working for my grade 5s and 4s. Maybe for my grade 3s. Depends on what you choose to teach them.

You could do lessons on holidays and simple related crafts. I've done a Christmas lesson before and the activity was making Christmas cards. I did buy some stickers out of pocket though, but those were cheap and I don't have many students so they went a long way. I had also made Christmas themed stamps from erasers.

If you have the time, you could also make themed board games for the students to play. Or create a basic template and help them make their own board game which they can then play. Whenever I do Bingo I have my students make their own game board so they can choose where to put what instead of preprinting. I've only done this as young as grade 3 though (it took one whole class period to finish the boards and then play).

Depending on the grade level, you could also have the students rehearse and perform a short skit. Use whatever is in the classroom to make props/costumes (like paper hats or paper accessories or signs).

Offline gaelynwrites

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Re: Zero Budget Summer Camp Ideas
« Reply #6 on: June 24, 2016, 11:56:57 AM »
My materials are extremely limited. I have the standard coloring supplies. Though my supply of construction paper is limited. I have some bean bags, domino, magnetic alphabet tiles, 2 squeaky hammers, and some assorted dice of varying size and style and balloons.


Offline Mr. Pink

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Re: Zero Budget Summer Camp Ideas
« Reply #7 on: June 24, 2016, 11:58:31 AM »
OP SRSLY BRO. you couldn't click two links?

Lesson Plans ---> Summer/winter camp lessons.

because i'm so kind i'll post the direct link here so you only have to click once.

http://www.waygook.org/index.php/board,31.0.html

the vast majority of materials in there requires no budget and no materials - simply a printer to print stuff like workbooks out on and a computer with PPT.

Offline yirj17

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Re: Zero Budget Summer Camp Ideas
« Reply #8 on: June 24, 2016, 12:04:17 PM »
What grade level and how many students do you expect? And for how long.

I did a film making camp with my middle schoolers before. They just used their cell phones to record and the school computers to edit together their projects. I implemented a lot of theatre activities throughout as well.

Do you have any materials for this camp on here? I am probably doing this topic with my 5th and 6th grade elementary students this summer. I have some ideas, but not enough to fill the allotted time. So I am looking for more ideas - especially the theatre activities.

To answer the OP, drawing and colouring activities are fun for the younger students and the same for the older ones with some writing thrown in.

For younger students I usually do a book based camp, each day a different story and vocab/games/activities associate with that. There is a big long thread on here with good story books to use.

http://www.bbbpress.com/dramagames/ or just use the keywords "theatre games" or "drama games" or "improv games" when googling. Maybe add in "for kids."

I haven't posted any materials from my winter camp here because it was a bit specific to my background experience-- one day was spent on basic stage combat (which I do not recommend unless you've had training nor would I encourage it for elementary school level. Even middle school was a bit of a stretch but my students were pretty mature and well behaved) and another was spent on stage makeup.

I believe there are plans posted by others for film making camps already though.

Offline yirj17

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Re: Zero Budget Summer Camp Ideas
« Reply #9 on: June 24, 2016, 12:10:13 PM »
My materials are extremely limited. I have the standard coloring supplies. Though my supply of construction paper is limited. I have some bean bags, domino, magnetic alphabet tiles, 2 squeaky hammers, and some assorted dice of varying size and style and balloons.

Honestly, as long as you have access to a printer, you'll be just fine. You can use plain white printing paper for crafts if need be. But yes, there are tons of resources on here as well-- many people have had to do camps on zero or tiny budgets, so it's not unusual!

Offline glb0b

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Re: Zero Budget Summer Camp Ideas
« Reply #10 on: June 24, 2016, 12:12:53 PM »
Thanks that drama link has some good ideas, it is very helpful.

And there is no way I am doing combat with my students!!


Offline castowers

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Re: Zero Budget Summer Camp Ideas
« Reply #11 on: June 24, 2016, 01:42:15 PM »
If you're willing to buy some paper for the kids, this is a great Stained Glass Art project that someone recently posted on here:

http://artfulparent.com/2012/08/kids-stained-glass-art-project-with-index-dividers.html

I did animal habitat dioramas with grade 5 & 6 this year. I spent about 10,000 won on a bunch of construction paper for both my ES and MS. I used A4 paper boxes that your school will have plenty of and assigned them (or let them pick) an animal. We went over different animals and where they live. One group did an ocean animal and the other a jungle animal. Easy, fun and takes up a good amount of time. Just need paper, scissors, tape and an A4 box per group.

If your school will let you watch movies/ video clips, you could play some of The Lion King and use the paper crafts attached. My elementary and middle school students loved these.

This is a really great lion project as well. I didn't use paint, just a solid color paper for the background and printed and cut out lion faces. The kids just glued the lion head and mane onto the paper.
http://www.thatartistwoman.org/2011/02/march-lion-or-lamb-art-project.html

Offline barbbui

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Re: Zero Budget Summer Camp Ideas
« Reply #12 on: June 27, 2016, 11:47:00 AM »
I did  a make your own scavenger hunt . Ss were put into teams. The brainstorm the first day and the do the hunt the next day.

I  collected the group brainstorming worksheet combined the  best ideas. I also added a few of my own for fun like human pyramid, planking,etc.

Note: Some materials came from this site. I  just updated/ changed to fit my class.
« Last Edit: June 27, 2016, 02:21:14 PM by barbbui »

 

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