Looking for a creative way to bring families together to celebrate literacy in your classroom or school but not sure where to start? We’ve got a fun and easy-to-follow plan for you. Check out the Camp S’More Literacy Event outline below, courtesy of Carla Cameron, Inclusive Practices Coordinator at Connect Charter School.
Bonus tip: Involve your students in the planning—they’ll be excited to help!
At our Camp S’More Family Literacy Event, families will engage in the following types of literacy experiences:
- Read something together
- Write something creative together
- Do an oral language activity
- “Make and take” something to use at home
- Play an interactive game
- Learn about family literacy in the community
The goal of the event is for parents/guardians/caregivers and students to:
Read together:
- Tongue twisters: Read in different “camping” ways (ex: say it like a scared camper…)
- Tent and flashlight reading (campfire stories)- Gym
- Make a snack while following a procedural text (S’mores) or write about the s’more using 5 senses
- Sight words (words on stars, find them with flashlights)
Write something creative together:
- Poetry- poem templates (camping-themed) for families to write a poem together based on models.
- Silly stories: Camping Mad Libs
Engage in oral language activities together:
- Play oral campfire games
- Sing campfire songs
Make and Take:
- “Let’s do S’more Reading!” bookmarks
- Grades 3/4 : Make story retelling cubes
- Grades 5/6 : Make comprehension Cootie Catchers (nonfiction and fiction versions)
Play interactive games:
- Making words (build letters/words with baby marshmallows and record on a template)
- Play Boggle or Minute to Win it themed literacy games
Family Literacy in the Community:
- Calgary Public Library
Other ideas:
- Prizes (books, bubbles,flashlights, bookmarks, pens, pencils, notepads etc.)?
- Family photo booth
- Map “punch card” (return to enter prizes)
Resources to share with families about the importance of literacy:
- Development of a Writer (3 Writing Tips for Kids that Do Not Like to Write)
- The Importance of Reading Aloud to Your Child at All Ages (Reading Aloud Build Brains & Bonds & Why We Should All Read Aloud to Kids & Diversity Book Picks)
- How to Read Productively with Your Child
- The Importance of Talking to Your Kids, Storytelling, and Playing Oral Games
- A Playlist for the Car to Boost Literacy Skills
- How Do Songs and Singing Promote Language and Literacy Development? Check out Jack Hartman
- Every Kid Needs a Champion