Camping preschool lesson plans

Camping themed preschool lesson plans. Arts and crafts, games, math, science, group time activities, songs and snack ideas.

Theme Goals: To introduce different ways of camping: in the wilderness, at a site, on a lake. Who has ever been camping? What do you do when you go camping? What things do you need? How is it different from staying in a hotel? What games do you play? Where do you sleep? How is food usually cooked?

Related Pages
Fish
Birds
Bugs, Bees and Butterflies
Froggy Fun
Teddy Bears
Beach Fun
Acorns
Water
Sports
Outside Activities
Night and Day/Space

Books from Amazon.com
Amos Camps Out
Otto Goes to Camp
Lucille Camps In
Plantzilla Goes to Camp ...
Cowboy Camp
Arthur Goes to Camp
Hello Muddah, Hello Fadd...
Danny and the Dinosaur Goes to Camp

Camping song
A Camping We Will Go
A Camping We Will Go
Hi Ho the Derry-O
A Camping We Will Go

We will pitch the tent right here
We will pitch the tent right here
Hiho the derry-o
We will pitch the tent right here

Going Camping by chicky
sung to "Mary had a little lamb"
I am going camping, camping, camping
I am going camping,
With my family

Sing your Favorite Campfire Songs

Make a Tent
Set up a tent in your room, or cover a table with a large blanket and pretend to go camping.

Pajama Day
Have the children wear pajamas to school one day and bring their sleeping bags to sleep on or in.

Nature Sounds
Obtain a nature sounds tape. Ask the children what makes the sounds. You may also find ones that have animal sounds on them.

Flashlight Day
Have the children bring in a flashlight. Turn off the lights and have them lay on the floor and shine their flashlights around the room.

Flashlight Stars
Obtain a metal canning lid and a flashlight. Use a hammer and nail to make holes in the lid. Tape the lid over the flashlight and viola, stars!

Easy Smores Snack
Spread marshmallow cream and fudge frosting on graham crackers for some easy and tasty smores with no campfire.

Fishing Snack
Place goldfish crackers on a blue napkin (as a lake or pond). Have the children dip pretzel sticks (fishing pole) into peanut butter (bait) and then touch the peanut butter to the goldfish.... HEY I caught one My toddlers loved this snack.

Art Ideas
Provide your child(ren) with a piece of paper and paint. Have them use the following items instead of a paint brush:
Sticks and branches from outside
Leaves
Worms (yes real worms) of for the squeamish use yarn!
Or make a collage from the sticks and leaves found outside.

Talk about Fire Safety
Talk with your children about fire safety. We don't play with fire, matches, lighters. Practice stop! Drop! and Roll!

Lincoln Log Fire
Make a pretend fire with lincoln logs and tissue paper.

Lincoln Log Painting
Allow the children to use lincoln logs to paint with. Roll them in the paint and roll on paper or press on the paper.

Stone Jar
For older children. Fill a small jar with large stones. Ask each child to guess how many stones are in the jar. For younger children, limit the number of stones to less than ten. Record each child's guess. Count the stones. Stone Jar for School Agers Provide three identical jars with pre-counted stones of 20, 30, and 40. Label these jars 20, 30 and 40. Place 20 to 40 stones in a fourth identical jar. Allow the children to examine all four jars before they guess. Record the children's approximations. Count the stones.

Stones, Rocks, Sticks, leaves
Supply the children with these different materials for a sensory experience.

Camper May I?
Played just like Mother May I? The child and parent stand at opposite sides of a room. The child asks if he/she may: take so may step forward. i.e. "Mother may I Please take three baby steps forward?" the answer would be either, "Yes you may," or "No, you may not." The child wins when they reach you. Encourage the use of descriptive words, such as little, big, huge, tiny, and giant. You can also play this with a group of children. The winner would be the one who reaches you first.

Camper Says:
Played just like "Simon Say" except the teacher says "Camper Says." With younger children, do not make children sit out... just say "camper didn't say."

Vote and Graph it
Would you rather sleep in a tent or a camper? Graph the results.

I want to go camping because
Have the children finish the sentence. Record their answers and post around the room.

Beans and Franks
Serve the children beans and cut up hot dogs for lunch.

Nature Walk
Go out for a nature walk. Have each child pack a sack lunch in their backpack. Walk to the park or some place where you can eat lunch. Have a picnic.

Dramatic Play Ideas
Add lincoln logs for a fire, fisherman's equipment, backpacks, sleeping bags, tents, play lanterns, pretend fishing poles, nets, camping hats, camouflage clothing, boots, bandannas and a play flashlight to your dramatic play area.

Sand and water table
Add buckets and shovels to the sand table. Add fish, ducks and frogs to the water table.

Paper Tube Star Viewer
Obtain empty paper towel or tp rolls. Secure black paper, wax paper or masking tape over one end. Use a sharp pencil to make holes in one end. The child will view from the other end while looking at a light, they will see stars.

Star Art
Supply the children with black or dark blue paper. Obtain star stickers. Allow the children to decorate their paper with the star stickers.

Glowing Stars
Buy glow in the darks stars for the ceiling.

Crickets
A lot of pet stores carry feeder crickets. Obtain a few for the children to observe. (Frogs eat crickets)

Make Your own Trail Mix:
Supply the children with healthy ingredients to make their own trail mix. Go for a walk and stop to eat the trail mix for a snack.

Easy Binoculars
click here to see an image of this project- image submitted by Julia
Glue two tp tubes together. Wrap a piece of construction paper around the tubes an attach a piece of yarn. Have the children decorate with paint or stickers.

Nature Walk Bracelets
Place a piece of masking tape around your child's wrist, sticky side out. Explain to the children that if they find something interesting, (acorn top, twig, stone etc) they can place it on their bracelet.

Nature Walk
Take a plastic bag with you on your next nature walk. Encourage your child to collect leaves and small sticks, and acorns, and put them in the bag. (You can go on a nature walk in you back yard too.) Ask your child about each item they choose to put in the bag. You could also have them create a collage with the objects they collected.

Nature Sort
Take a plastic bag with you on your next nature walk. Encourage your child to collect leaves and small sticks, and acorns, and put them in the bag. (You can go on a nature walk in you back yard too.) Have the children sort the items they have collected. After sorting, they can order a few of the rocks from smallest to largest, and order the twigs from shortest to longest.

Baking Smores
Preheat your oven to 250 degrees. Place one graham cracker square for each serving on a baking sheet. Place a marshmallow and piece of chocolate on top of the cracker. Place the baking sheet in the oven for about 5 minutes or until the chocolate starts to melt. Place another graham cracker square on the top and allow to cool for 1 minute. Serve warm.