Mamas Facing Forward Stay Home Summer Camp was a project I developed during the isolated summer of 2020. For each theme I provide a menu of options to choose from, including: virtual learning resources, easy craft & snack ideas, simple activities, books, and movies/TV.
Trust me, whether you do it for a full week or just for a day, there’s something magical about doing a bunch of activities that all share the same theme. In fact, even though my kids will be traveling and attending regular summer camp this year, they’ve also requested some Stay Home Camp – so stay tuned for a couple of new themes!! I’ve also added “field trip ideas” to themes from past years as well.
I hope these ideas will provide your family with a little fun – while at the same time making summer a bit easier for you!!
Love, Mariah
FARM CAMP!
Below you’ll find a menu of ideas for learning, crafts, activities, books, and things to watch that all focus on farms. I’ve tried to keep ideas pretty simple and make use of items you may already have – while also making it fun for the kids! I’ve also included a free printable you can hang up at home while you work on this theme.
NEW! Field Trip Ideas:
- To local playground with farm features
- To visit a local farm
- To a local farmer’s market
- To the local playground or creek with farm animal toys
- To the library to get more books about farms
Things To Learn:
- How to draw (Source: Art for Kids Hub)
- Explore together
online
- Brain POP (If your school does not provide you with a BrainPOP account already, you can request free access during school closures)
- John Deere for Kids
- Coloring sheets, drawing sheets, K-5 activity lessons, virtual field trip videos
- Farm Food 360
Things To Make:
- Cow Headband
- Recommended supplies: construction paper, scissors, stapler, glue
- Instructions: Kansas Living
- Farm Animal Puppet Show
- Recommended supplies: craft sticks, glue, crayons, scissors, tape, red paper, printer (or draw your own animals)
- Note: There’s a link to a read aloud of the book mentioned in this post in our books section below.
- Instructions: The OT Toolbox
- Farm Animal Windsocks
- Recommended supplies: construction paper, scissors, glue
- Note: There’s a link to a read aloud of the book mentioned in this post in our books section below.
- Instructions: Buggy and Buddy
- Footprint Tractor Art
- Recommended supplies: paint, construction paper, scissors, glue
- Instructions: Paint the bottom of your kiddo’s foot and have them stamp it on a piece of paper. Use construction paper to cut out tires, roof, bumper, shovel, etc. We made ours green and yellow like John Deere, but you could use any colors you like!
- Life Cycle of a Chicken
- Recommended supplies: poster board or big paper, construction paper, googly eyes, tempera paint, glue
- Instructions: I Heart Crafty Things
- Paper Plate Veggie Garden
- Recommended supplies: paper plate, paint, brown yarn, cardstock or construction paper, yarn needle, hole punch, scissors, glue, printer (if you want the veggie template, otherwise you could create your own)
- Note: If you don’t have a yarn needle, I think it would work for this craft to tape the yarn to a toothpick
- Instructions: Non-Toy Gifts
Things To Do:
- Animal Balloon Herding Game
- Recommended supplies: balloons, construction paper, tape, sharpie
- Instructions: Adventures and Play
- Animal Charades
- Recommended supplies: printer
- Instructions and free printable: Buggy and Buddy
- Corn Sensory Play
- Recommended supplies: corn on the cob
- Instructions: Best Toys 4 Toddlers
- Farm Animal Pattern Block
Mats
- Recommended supplies: printer, pattern blocks
- Free printables: Life Over C’s
- Hopping Corn Experiment
- Recommended supplies: clear glass container, popping corn, baking soda, white vinegar
- Instructions: OneTimeThrough
- Naked Egg Experiment
- Recommended supplies: raw eggs, vinegar
- Instructions: Imagination Station
- Sheep Graham Cracker Treat
- Recommended supplies: graham crackers, vanilla frosting, mini marshmallow, chocolate pieces
- Instructions: Dancing Through The Rain
Time For A Break!
- Books to read
- Big Red Barn by Margaret Wise Brown
- Charlotte’s Web by E. B. White
- Duck on a Bike by David Shannon
- Eddie’s Garden and How to Make Things Grow by Sarah Garland
- Going to Sleep on the Farm by Wendy Cheyette Lewison
- Little Blue Truck by Alice Schertle
- Old MacDonald Had A Truck by Steve Goetz
- Otis by Loren Long
- Otis and the Puppy by Loren Long
- Pigs to the Rescue by John Himmelman
- The Very Busy Spider by Eric Carle
- Documentaries to watch:
- Movies to watch:
- TV shows to watch:
- Bill Nye The Science Guy
- Season 5: Episode 5
- Reading Rainbow
- Season 4: Episode 7
- Season 5: Episode 3, 9
- Season 6: Episode 6
- Season 9: Episode 7
- Season 10: Episode 7
- Season 15: Episode 2
- Mighty Machines
- Season 2: Episode 23
- Season 3: Episode 34
- Bill Nye The Science Guy