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[kev7161]

In July I will be starting a 4-week "English Village program where I will have two sets of students for 3 hours each for 5 or 6 days a week. That is somewhere between 60 to 72 lessons I need to deliver - - - and when I say "lessons", I mean activities, games, songs, etc. For those that have never taught one of these summer camps, usually you don't want to do standard textbook type lessons. This is a chance for kids to have fun, relax, and use their English in a non-stressful way.

So, here's a couple of ideas I have and what are some fun things you like to do in your summer camps?

1. Food: Kids love food (as do I). I like to compare meals between US and China. How different are they? How much the same? I also brought a bunch of menus for the kids to look at so they can compare variety, food types, prices, etc. We also talk about the major food groups and which foods belong in which groups (I generally make a game of this - - part one - think of as many vegetables/meats/fruits/etc. as you can. Which team can come up with the most? Part two - now categorize these into the proper groups.). Then I have a bunch of old magazines the kids can go through to clip out pictures of food and drink. They get to create their own menus. It's amazing the prices they'll put down. "One egg" - $5.00! And then we talk about being in a restaurant and the kids group off and write skits about going out to eat. Finally they perform them. This generally takes a couple of days to complete.

2. Obviously, the first thing we do is introductions, interviews, ask the teacher a question. We also make nameplates for their desks and then I ask them to think of descriptive words about themselves using the letters of their English names. (Ex.: Kevin Kind, Energetic, Very Handsome, Intelligent, Nice - - - not necessarily true!)

Of course, I have several other ideas, but I know there is a well of ideas out there amongst our posters. Care to share some with me and the others?

[Roger]

Much more fun than such traditional classroom activities would be taking your learners out on errands, or on the sportsground.
Comparing foods? Not my cup of tea!

[kev7161]

Sadly, I'm not very sports oriented and if it is hotter than H E L L!!!!! - - - no thanks. I'll survey the students about going shopping though.

[oprah]

Looking for input for Summer camp ideas...
I liked Kev letters to describe kids names. I use music, and somtimes over do it but it is easy for me. I do not do interviews.. not interested in all those personal questions they like to ask.. I am a teacher , profession,
I would be interested in what others do in their summer camp. Last year we went to western restaurant in Yangshou. taught the kids how to eat spagetti and other things.. using western utensils. We also made cookies.

[Sekhmet]

I'm doing a summer scool at the moment in Egypt. I've been told I have to include at least some technical English work, even though the school is just for kindergarten and grades 1-3!!!! So I'm trying to use themes for each week.

The students are divided into 2 groups depending on their age, so I get to differentiate, but mostly I'm using craft ideas mixed in with stories and games.

For example, this week we're doing about Bugs, so the kids are making bug masks, doing a little bit on adjectives ( ), and playing games like Bug Hunt. I'm not entirely sure if this is the way forward, since I've never done a summer school before, but the kids seem to enjoy it!!!

Not sure if thats helpful...

[kev7161]

I actually do like the ideas of themes. You can certainly do "english-oriented" lessons and activities while interspersing with music, art projects, games, and so on. As previously posted, I already have a couple of days planned for the theme of "food" - - now I need to come up with about a dozen more!

[smalls]

This summer, I am teaching a Science Experiments and crafts class. Each lesson has some vocabulary, and then the students read each step and follow the directions as they go. They learn new vocab, practice their reading comprehension, and of course speaking and listening. E.g. Make your own compass, make your own lava lamp, Pinatas, etc. All of this can be found on the internet, and all you need to do is convert it into an ESL lesson. Each kid is given a doctors badge and a white coat. The kids liked it in Korea, we will see about China.
I also spend a lesson or two teaching movies, about a few minutes clip about each kind of movie, some words for each, and see if they can even understand (of course cover up the subtitles.)
Another, create your own country, its flag, laws, etc. I usually do these activities with intermediate children.