"Camping" Campout at Preschool

CAMP-OUT!! CAMPGROUNDS!! 
CAMPFIRE!! S'MORES!

Summer-time fun!!! 
Are you going camping this summer? I grew up on cross country vagabonds from one national park to the next! 
Are you planning an adventure for the big holiday weekend? 
Are you in charge of a summer program? 

You've come to the right spot for inside-inspiration!!

All of the photos in today's post were taken during my two day residency at Sutter Park Elementary School at the end of last month. I LUV making my Author Illustrator School Visits to see such exciting fun as what I have to share with you today. They were making the 'transition' to summer for their students by having an entire building of camping fun. This program is the consolidated housing for the entire Worthington School District's children with special needs. They also have many typically developing children serving as peer models. 

I always judge a program by asking myself if I'd want my WonderPeeps enrolled. You can guess there's a hearty "YES!!!" in response to this amazing program. The building is filled with amazing teachers and their inspirational imaginations galore. I only had enough time to snap photos in four classrooms, so you'll see four different 'campfire' adaptations as we progress around their building. 

I don't know who gets credit for this next oh-so-clever piggy back song. These words were hanging on the blackboard, just above the campfire seating. Please leave me a comment if you know who deserves the credit and I will happily come back and edit with the proper attribution. LUV LUV LUV it!!!!

Evening EDITOR'S UPDATE!!!!! I feel like a 'real' blogger now. This is a first. I had no idea where this resource originated this afternoon when I posted this article and now before bed, Laura has left the direct link in a comment below. It turns out that this song (and the vocabulary sheet down below) are available for FREEEEEEEE people!!! Go to HomeSchool Creations by clicking right here. What a fantastic resource from last summer! Thanks to Laura for bringing us the site and a special tip of the hat to Jolanthe for creating such a clever pack and making it available for free!

This room serves children who are focusing on the very basics of communication. 

Distinguishing between day time and night time is one goal for their camping unit. 

No camp out is complete until the S'mores are roasted. 

Whether or not you're headed on a cross country adventure with sleeping bags as your best companion, or you're looking to create some summer time fun in your family room -- I'm sure that these images have you filled with ideas. The creating of a 'tent' by draping blankets over the furniture is a time honored classic that never goes out of style, needs no batteries and is an invitation to explore uncharted territories in depth. 

My next post (click here) will feature the bug sculptures that the students created. You'll want to see those I promise! What's your favorite 'camping' memory? 

-- Debbie --