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
INSECT CAMP!
Below you’ll find a menu of ideas for learning, crafts, activities, books, and things to watch that all focus on insects. 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 playgrounds with insect features
- COLORADO: Maple Grove Park; Romans Park
- To a nature area to search for live insects
- To the natural history museum
- To the library to get more books about insects
- To the local botanic gardens to see if you can spot insects
Things To Learn:
- How to draw (Source: Art for Kids Hub)
- Explore together online
- Amateur Entomologists’ Society A to Z of insects
- Brain POP Insects (If your school does not provide you with a BrainPOP account already, you can request free access during school closures)
- BugFacts.net
- Discover Life in America: Virtual Fireflies Event (the second half was recorded on a live stream from Great Smokey Mountains just last week on June 1!)
- Ecological Society of America: An ant’s eye view of sand
- Insectarium and Butterfly Pavilion: Facebook Live Creature Feature
- National Geographic Kids
- Explore different types of insects
- PBS Learning Media “What’s an Insect?”
- Physical Sciences Laboratory: The Buzz about Bees (& other Pollinators)
Things To Make:
- Butterfly Symmetry Craft
- Recommended supplies: paper, scissors, Tempra paint
- Instructions: The Artful Parent
- Easy Bug
Headbands
- Recommended supplies: paper bag, pipe cleaners, scissors, tape
- Instructions: Happy Hooligans
- Name Bugs
- Recommended supplies: paper, scissors, markers/crayons/something to decorate with
- Instructions: No Time For Flash Cards
- Painted Blotto Creations
- Recommended supplies: paper, paint, brushes
- Instructions: the Imagination Tree
- Paper Plate Bugs
- Recommended supplies: paper plates, paint, construction paper, maybe googly eyes
- Instructions: Craftulate
- Thumbprint Bugs
- Recommended supplies: paper, stamp pads, markers
- Instructions: Toot’s Mom Is Tired
- Very Hungry Caterpillar Craft
- Recommended supplies: construction paper (green, red, black), googly eyes, scissors, stapler, glue
- Instructions: The Spruce Crafts
Things To Do:
- Ants on a Log Snack
- Traditional ingredients: celery, peanut butter raisins
- Instructions and suggestions for ingredient variations: Healthy Little Foodies
- More ideas: Good Housekeeping
- Beautiful Bugs Playdough Mats
- Instructions and free printable: picklebums
- Bug Scavenger Hunt
- Free printable: Preschool Powol Packets
- Catch A Bug Game
- Instructions and free printable: picklebums
- Cosmic Kids All About Bugs Yoga
- YouTube video: Cosmic Kids
- Dirt and Worms Treat
- Recommended supplies: Oreo or chocolate cookies, chocolate pudding, gummy worms, zip lock, toy hammer, bowl, containers for serving
- Instructions: No Time For Flash Cards
- Insect Bingo
- Free printable: Gift of Curiosity
- Melting Insect Painting
- Recommended supplies: ice cube tray, tempra paint, insect toys, large paper
- Instructions: Crayon Box Chronicles
- Spiderweb Game
- Recommended supplies: laundry basket, yarn, spider or insect toys, clothespin or tongs
- Instructions: Fun Learning For Kids
Time For A Break!
- Books to read
- Bee: A Peek-Through Picture Book by Britta Techentrup
- Bugs by Nancy Winslow Parker and Joan Richards Wright
- I Love Bugs! By Philemon Sturges
- Miss Spider’s Tea Party by David Kirk
- Some Bugs by Angela Diterlizzi
- Ten Little Caterpillars by Bill Martin Jr. and Lois Ehlert
- The Icky Bug Alphabet Book by Jerry Pallotta
- The Icky Bug Counting Book by Jerry Pallotta
- The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle
- The Very Lonely Firefly by Eric Carle
- We Dig Worms by Kevin McCloskey
- Documentaries to watch:
- Movies to watch:
- TV shows to watch:
- The Magic School Bus
- Season 1: Episode 12
- Season 2: Episode 5
- Season 3: Episode 1, 3
- Bill Nye The Science Guy
- Season 2: Episode 11
- Season 4: Episode 6
- Reading Rainbow
- Season 5: Episode 1
- Season 6: Episode 2
- Sid the Science Kid
- Season 1: Episode 2, 30
- Season 2: Episode 9
- Wild Kratts
- Season 1: Episode 9, 12, 32
- Season 2: Episode 4
- Season 3: Episode 4, 19, 20, 23
- Season 5: Episode 10, 16
- Season 6: Episode 6
- The Magic School Bus