Posted: June 17, 2021
A dozen language-rich summertime experiences. During this COVID season, summer camps will not be the same for school-agers or the staff who supervise them. Here are some safe, socially-distanced activities that tap in to the joy of friendships and connecting in the good ‘ole summertime. The second of five articles.
General tips
- For ESL learners, be sure to incorporate and invite use of first-language words and conversations.
- Find shade or create a canopy of shade to make extended outside, distanced time more comfortable.
- Take as many indoor activities outside as possible, weather permitting.
- Assign each school-ager their own beach towel, water bottle, and mask. Using the oversized towel will help students space appropriately. It may help for each youth to have their own set of art supplies--scissors, crayons, chalk, pencil--and one koosh ball, hacky-sac, fidget toy, or pair of rolled socks.
- Updated guidance from the CDC--"Children's paperback books, like other paper-based materials such as mail or envelopes, are not considered a high risk for transmission and do not need additional procedures for cleaning or disinfection" (CDC, 2021).
Experiences
- Make your own book with just paper and scissors--journal observations, poetry, sketch (hike and sketch), or even sketch the clouds.
- Hero doodling and graphic novels--research authors who write about heroes (Rick Riordan and Stan Lee are two to consider). Create your own super hero persona (explore social justice issues and projects). Storyboard your graphic novel. Share the resulting comics and stories digitally or in person with peers or the community.
- Rewrite a traditional fairy tale--contemporize it (or whatever youth choose), design and make the costumes, set, and props, and then produce/stream for a virtual audience to watch. (The Paper Bag Princess could be inspiration)
- Open mic poetry readings--teach haiku, limericks, and other poetry patterns. Ask youth to write original pieces and perform them for their peers.
- Reading picnic--everyone brings their own towel and book and packed individual lunches or snacks to supplement the reading.
- Unusual uses--A person presents a well-known object, like a paper clip or a pen, and people in the group come up with as many alternate uses for the object as possible, beyond the expected, typical one. This is a GREAT equipment-free transition activity.
- Emotional pause--when reading books together, pause after the characters express feelings and invite youth to think back to times that they might have felt the same way. If comfortable, invite youth to share the reflections with their group or write the remembrance in a journal.
- Digital pen pals--set up an exchange with another OST program site, within or beyond your agency, within or beyond your state. Using appropriate digital platforms, invite youth to respond to prompts and share experiences with a partner in another location. Alternate idea: youth conduct and record digital interviews of their partner and then share the stories in a "human library."
- New endings--read aloud big books or chapter books. Create a different ending to the story. Scavenger hunt outdoors and find something in nature that can be incorporated into your story ending. Act out or describe the new ending.
- Nature stories--Give each child a bag. Have them collect nature items. Children then make up a story using the nature items as props. Children can verbally share their stories or can create individual murals that visually represent their stories. These can be displayed outside and shared (poster session style) or recorded and shared in a digital post with families.
- Read A Day With No Crayons by Liz Rusch and see what it inspires!
- Reader's theater--Some books have a lot of dialogue and can be fun to do "theater style." Hand out multiple copies of the same story book. Assign youth within the small group different characters. Make sure one person is assigned to read the non-dialogue parts as the narrator and then read the story aloud as a team. Try Breaking Cat News: Cats Reporting on the News That Matters to Cats or Skin Again.
We are very interested in what these dozen ideas might inspire in your youth. Take photos, post to your organization's social media pages, and tag Better Kid Care.
Acknowledgement
- BKC author team
- Some experiences adapted from: "Social and emotional learning activities for families and educators," Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction
Reference
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). (2021). Guidance for Operating Child Care Programs during COVID-19.
