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
HUMAN BODY CAMP!
Below you’ll find a menu of ideas for learning, crafts, activities, books, and things to watch that focus on the human body. I’ve tried to keep these 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 the local science center
- To the local gym or rec center to learn about all the different types of exercise a human body can do
- To a sporting event or dance performance
- To the library to get more books about the human body
- Maybe even bring your child with you to a medical appointment and talk about what happened!
Things To Learn:
- How to draw (Source: Art for Kids Hub)
- Explore together online
- ABCYa
- LiveScience
- National Geographic Kids
- PBS LearningMedia
Things To Make:
- Brain hemisphere hat
- Recommended supplies: printer, paper or cardstock, scissors, clear tape or white glue
- Instructions: Ellen McHenry’s Basement Workshop
- Human Body Worksheets
- Recommended supplies: free printable
- Instructions: itsybitsyfun
- Paper Bag Lungs
- Recommended supplies: paper bags, markers, straws, tape
- Instructions: A Mom’s Take
- Life-Size Human Body Organs
- Recommended supplies: free printable
- Instructions: Adventure in a Box
Things To Do:
- Circulation Game
- Recommended supplies: printer, card stock, scissors, clear packing tape, colored pencils, white glue, thin cardboard (like cereal boxes)
- Instructions: Ellen McHenry’s Basement Workshop
- Ear Model Anatomy Science Project
- Recommended supplies: balloon, cardboard roll, tape, cardstock, shoe box, wooden spoon, large plastic bowl, small bowl of water, straw
- Instructions: 123Homeschool4Me
- Food Taste Test
- Recommended supplies: muffin tin, foods to taste (salty, sour, sweet, etc.)
- Instructions: Create. Play. Travel.
- (Heart) Beat the Clock
- Recommended supplies: 2 large dishpans or bowls, 1 gallon of water, ¼ cup measuring cup, watch or timer
- Instructions: Primary Theme Park
- Human Body Play Dough Mats
- Recommended supplies: play dough, free printables (If you want the mats to be reusable I recommend laminating them or covering them with packing tape!)
- Instructions: 123Homeschool4Me
- What is Blood Made Of? (Sensory Bin)
- Recommended supplies: sensory bin, red water beads, ping pong balls, red craft foam
- Instructions: I Can Teach My Child
Time For A Break!
- Books to read
- A Germ’s Journey by Thom Rooke, MD
- A Kids Book about Covid-19 by Malia Jones
- Amazing You! Getting Smart About Your Private Parts by Dr. Gail Saltz
- Good Enough to Eat: A Kid’s Guide to Food and Nutrition by Lizzy Rockwell
- Me and My Amazing Body by Joan Sweeney
- My Amazing Body: A First Look at Health and Fitness by Pat Thomas
- My Five Senses by Aliki
- Parts by Tedd Arnold
- The Magic School Bus: Explores the Senses by Joanna Cole
- The Magic School Bus: Inside the Human Body by Joanna Cole
- Why I Sneeze, Shiver, Hiccup, and Yawn by Melvin Berger
- Your Fantastic Elastic Brain by JoAnn Deak, PhD
- Documentaries to watch
- Movies to watch
- TV shows to watch
- Bill Nye the Science Guy
- Season 1: Episodes 4; 7; 17; 20
- Season 2: Episodes 3; 8; 14; 20
- Season 3: Episode 9
- Season 4: Episodes 2; 16
- Season 5: Episodes 3; 11
- Reading Rainbow
- Season 1: Episode 13
- Season 4: Episode 9
- Sid The Science Kid
- Season 1: Episodes 12; 13; 15; 16; 18; 20; 33; 34; 35; 37
- Season 2: Episodes 24; 26
- The Cat In The Hat Knows A Lot About That
- Season 1: Episode 34a
- Season 2: Episodes 1b; 9b; 12a; 15b; 19b; 20a
- Season 3: Episode 11a
- The Magic School Bus
- Season 1: Episodes 2; 3
- Season 2: Episode 2
- Season 3: Episode 9
- Season 4: Episodes 6; 9
- The Magic School Bus Rides Again
- Season 1: Episodes 6; 11
- Season 2: Episodes 5; 12
- Bill Nye the Science Guy