Animal Adventure Camp - New Animal Themes Each Week

"Animal Adventure Camp"

Get ready for an exciting journey where students will be introduced to four amazing animals each week, focusing on their unique traits. 

First, we’ll learn about two animals through a slide presentation and video clips. The focus will be on the animals’ characteristics, such as appearance, movement, and habitat.

Next, students apply their newfound knowledge through engaging activities such as the "CLUES Guessing Game," exercise critical thinking in a "Would You Rather?" scenario, and conclude each class by unleashing their imagination with an indoor scavenger hunt to search for objects in the home that resemble features of the animals discussed that day.

Finally, we’ll end class by sharing what we learned or found most interesting.


-----  Here's what to expect -----

Listening Activity: Students will watch slides and video clips to learn about two animals each time we meet.  We will briefly discuss the presentation, fostering comprehension and communication skills.

Guessing Game: Through clues, students will guess which animal is being described. It's a fun way to engage critical thinking and deduction skills!

Would You Rather? We'll explore a thought-provoking question, encouraging students to express their preferences and ideas.

Scavenger Hunt: Students will participate in an indoor scavenger hunt, using their imagination to find objects related to the animals we've learned about.

Closing Discussion: We'll wrap up each class by sharing our favorite parts and something new we learned. It's a chance for learners to reflect and communicate.


----- Sample Class Format -----
Welcome Chat
Listening Activity
(1) Introduction to the two animals - slides & video clips
Checking for Understanding - Taking Turns

Listening, Thinking, Speaking Activity - “1, 2, 3… Say your answer”
(2) Clues to Guess Which Animal
I am fast and can swim over 18 mph.
I travel in groups called pods.
I live in the ocean, but I go to the surface to breathe.
ANSWER:  (Dolphin)

I’ve been swimming around since before the time of the dinosaurs.
I don’t have eyes, bones, or a brain.
I have stinging tentacles I use to catch prey.
ANSWER:  (Jellyfish)

Listening, Taking Turns
(3) Would You Rather…?
Would you rather have the ability to jump out of the water like a dolphin or change colors like a jellyfish?

Movement Activity
(4)  Indoor Scavenger Hunt - one hunt for each animal
Use your imagination to search for 2 objects that share traits or features with the animal, such as how they appear in color, size, and shape.

Example:  Dolphins
Blue or silver, rubbery, something that is smooth like a dolphin’s skin, a book or toy dolphin

Example:  Jellyfish
See-through, round, purple, book about jellyfish or other sea creatures, something that resembles tentacles

(5) Close of Class
Tell one thing you learned or thought was interesting about one (or both) of the animals today.


Week 1: "Ocean Adventures"
Week of June 4 (Tuesday & Thursday)
Dolphin
Jellyfish

Seahorse
Clownfish

Week 2: "Shielded Creatures"
Week of June 11 (Tuesday & Thursday)
Porcupine
Armadillo

Tortoise
Pangolin

Week 3: "Colorful Flyers"
Week of June 18 (Tuesday & Thursday)
Macaw
Flamingo

Hummingbird
Butterfly

Week 4: "Nighttime Explorers"
Week of June 25(Tuesday & Thursday)
Sloth
Great Horned Owl

Red-eyed Tree Frog
Raccoon

Week 5: "Survival Superstars"
Week of July 2 (Tuesday & Thursday)
Camel
Elephant

Alligator
Polar Bear

Week 6: "Tree Top Trekkers"
Week of July 9 (Tuesday & Thursday)
Lemur
Koala

Red Panda
Giant Panda

Week 7: "Speedy Movers"
Week of July 16 (Tuesday & Thursday)
Cheetah
Antelope

Ostrich
Kangaroo

Week 8: "Wildlife Wonders of America"
Week of July 23 (Tuesday & Thursday)
Bald Eagle
American Bison (Buffalo)

Elk
Grizzly Bear

Week 9: “Older Than Your GREAT Grandparents”
Week of July 30 (Tuesday & Thursday)
Bowhead Whale 
Greenland Shark 

Galápagos Giant Tortoise 
Koi Fish

*Taking SPECIAL REQUESTS for last week’s animals

Week 10: “Student Requests - Last Week of Camp"
Week of August 6 (Tuesday & Thursday)
Student Choice:
Student Choice:

Student Choice:
Student Choice: