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
MAMMALS CAMP
Below you’ll find a menu of ideas for learning, crafts, activities, books, and things to watch that focus on pirates and mermaids. 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.
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NEW! Field Trip Ideas:
- To the nature and science museum
- To the zoo or pet store to talk about which animals are mammals
- To the library to get more books about mammals
Things to Learn:
- How to draw (Source: Art for Kids Hub)
- Explore together online
- Britannica Kids
- National Geographic Kids
- Wild Kratts
Things to Make:
- Clay animals
- Recommended supplies: modeling clay or play dough
- Instructions: make as many mammals as you can think of from clay or play dough
- Farm Animal Windsocks
- Recommended supplies: construction paper, scissors, glue
- Instructions: Buggy and Buddy
- Finger Puppet Giraffe
- Recommended supplies: yellow cardstock, cream colored cardstock, brown paint, googly eyes, markers, hole punch, scissors, glue
- Instructions: iHeartCraftyThings
- Hand print or footprint mammals
- Origami Whale
- Recommended supplies: square paper, (optional: scissors, markers, glue stick)
- Instructions: Red Ted Art
- Pasta Noodle Lion Craft
- Recommended supplies: bow-tie pasta, spaghetti noodles, yellow paper, orange and black sharpie or paint, glue, googly eyes
- Instructions: Crafty Morning
- Sock seal pups
- Recommended supplies: socks, stuffing, white felt, googly eyes, black puff ball
- Instructions: Tippytoe Crafts
Things to Do:
- Animal Pancakes
- Recommended supplies: pancake mix (I love Kodiak because of the extra protein in provides my kids!), strawberries, blueberries, bananas, chocolate chips
- Instructions: BuzzFeed
- Hungry Human Hippos
- Recommended supplies: skateboard, laundry basket, small balls
- Instructions: A Thrifty Mom
- Magic Milk Investigation
- Recommended supplies: whole milk, food coloring, dropper or pipette, dish soap
- Instructions: Science Sparks
- Make a milkshake!
- Recommended supplies: milk, ice cream, blender
- Instructions: Kiddy Charts
- Mammal Charades
- Recommended supplies: we’re going to put these cards into a bowl and use them to get our game of charades started!
- Instructions: take turns pretending to be different types of mammals and see if you can guess what they are!
- Mammal Special Characteristics Worksheet
- Recommended supplies: free printable
- Instructions: Keeping My Kiddo Busy (there are links to some great mammal videos here too!)
- Zoo Mammal Checklist
- Instructions: First, go through your list and cross out any animals that are not mammals. Then visit your local zoo and check off the animals on the list as you see them!
- Preschool: Still Playing School
- Bigger Kids: Kids Answers
Time For a Break!
- Books to read
- A Mammal is an Animal by Lizzy Rockwell
- Amanda the Mammal by Linda Ayers
- Born in the Wild: Baby Mammals and Their Parents by Lita Judge
- Is a Camel a Mammal? by Tish Rabe
- Mama’s Milk by Michael Elsohn Ross
- Mammal by Eyewitness books
- Mammal Takeover! by Abby Howard
- Mammalabilia: poems and paintings by Douglas Florian
- Documentaries to watch
- Movies to watch
- TV shows to watch
- Bill Nye the Science Guy
- Season 1: Episodes 3; 7; 20; 23
- Season 2: Episodes 2, 8; 14; 23
- Season 3: Episodes 1 (mammals); 12 (marine mammals)
- The Magic School Bus
- Season 1: Episodes 2; 3; 2
- Season 2: Episode 12
- Season 3: Episode 9
- The Magic School Bus Rides Again
- Season 1: Episode 11
- Bill Nye the Science Guy
