It’s time for my French summer camp!  Tomorrow I set up my room, and then the fun begins on Monday.  This year, I’m offering something new–a Madeline camp for rising K-2.  I’m going to use my tried and true French camp program “Passport to French Fun.”  My campers always have a BLAST preparing for an imaginary trip to Paris on the last day of the session.  Only this time, we’re heading to Paris for Madeline’s birthday party!

Every day of camp, we’ll do a little something to get ready for the trip.  We’ll learn a lot of French expressions, play French games, and sing French songs during daily language circle time.  Also, I’ll read a different Madeline book every day and make a Madeline craft.  Here are the craft ideas I have so far:

One of my favorite web sites, DLTK’s Growing Together, has a cute toilet paper roll Madeline craft.

These coloring pages are from a great site I just found and bookmarked–educationalcoloringpages.com.  I might print some images onto cardstock and create bookmarks for the kids to color.

I am LOVING these adorable Madeline hats made from paper plates and bowls at Familyfun.com!  (I’ll have a boy or two . . . think they’ll mind terribly?)

And here’s my own original contribution:  we’re going to make “An old house in Paris that was covered in vines.”  I’ll have the kids cut out a house shape from brown paper grocery bags.  We’ll glue on white paper windows and fabric scraps for curtains.  Maybe we’ll add several small construction paper blue squares for a shingled roof, too. Since it IS camp, we’ll head outside to look for a little nature to glue on as vines.  Should be cute!

EDITED TO ADD:

Madeline Camp was a great success!  The toilet paper roll Madelines were very cute, but we actually cut the body even shorter, maybe 3 inches or so.  I read somewhere that there is often bacteria on toilet paper rolls, so we cut up a paper towel roll.

The hats were ADORABLE!  We had to attach ribbons on the sides so that they did not slide off.  The boys had an alternate project:  tiger masks!

From Day 1, the kids were asking and asking to make an Eiffel Tower.  We blinged out some craft foam with glitter, sequins, and jewels!

The bookmark came out cute, too.  We attached a string of bleu-blanc-rouge pony beads.

Here’s a photo of some of our projects.  You’ll also see the kids’ passports and envelopes holding their airline tickets and souvenirs.

Passport to French Fun

Summer camp season is almost here!  For umpteen years, I’ve offered one-week summer day camp sessions in French, and this year is no exception.  I LOVE it!  I love the freedom of spending an entire afternoon on a project if the kids are into it.  I love playing outside.  I love arts & crafts.  I love showing children how to prepare simple French foods and introduce them to some new specialities.  It’s simply a wonderful time for kids to explore language and culture, either for the very first time or as a way of keeping up skills over the summer months.  This year, all of my campers will be brand new to French.  And I get the privilege of making their first experience exciting, memorable and fun!

The secret to my success is making camp an imaginative trip simulation.  All week long, we prepare for the big trip to Paris on the last day of camp.  My littlest campers really believe we are going!  And that last day of camp, I take my role-playing seriously.  I only come out of character in order to switch hats and become a new character.  (Group leader to flight attendant to pilot to customs agent . . . . )   I’ve given the airline safety instruction spiel so many times I think I could moonlight as a flight attendant!

I’ve finally gotten around to consolidating my decade or so of tried-and-true camp/enrichment lessons, activities, games, and printables into a curriculum guide.  This 30-page download has it all!  There is some nice money to be made teaching during the summer months or year-round in enrichment programs.  If that’s something you’d like to do, this ebook is worth the investment!

Check out Passport to French Fun today!

Image credit: clipart.com

Children learn language best when they are active and engaged in play.  Stock your home or classroom with these supplies to make language learning games and activities lots of fun!

Inflatable Earth Globe Beach Ball 16″ Diameter

Koosh Ball Large

Tachikara 8.5 in Soft Rubber Playground Balls – Scarlet

Spectrum Beanbags-5 Inch

Pacific Play Tents Playchute 10′ Parachute (Colors and Designs May Vary)

Jump Rope (Assorted)

SSG Color My Class Cone Covers Numbers 1-10

Twister

Play-doh Case of Colors

Children’s Activity 14″ x 14″ Square Juggling Scarf Kit

Pkg (4) Fly Swatters. Flexible Plastic, 18 Long with a 4 x 5 Striking Area.

Surround your children with French games, puzzles, and toys to encourage play in the target language!

FRENCH BOARD GAMES & TOYS

Mille Bornes Collectors Edition

Flippit French Version

eeBoo Kids French Set – Bingo/ French Flash Cards

Scrabble Crossword Game (French Version)

Scrabble Slam Card Game (French Version)

Scrabble Apple (French Version)

French Flash Cards

Magnetic Poetry Kids’ Magnetic French Kit

FRENCH PUZZLES

France Giant Puzzle

EiffelTower 3D Puzzle – 37 Pcs.

Puzz 3D Notre-Dame de Paris Puzzle, 952 pcs

Arc de Triomphe, Paris, France Classic Treasures 1000-Piece Puzzle

Puzz 3D Normandy House

551pc. Puzzle-The Artist’s Garden at Vetheuil, Claude Monet, French(1840-1926)

Claude Monet Double Sided Jigsaw Puzzle

BOULES DE PETANQUE

8 Boule Polished Alloy Set

Playaboule Glo Boules – Bocce / Petanque Set

For years, I have recommended Concordia Language Villages to my students. These summer immersion camps are absolutely amazing. A number of years ago, I had the good fortune of participating in Concordia’s Teacher Seminars and earning graduate credit. I spent three weeks in Minnesota learning about immersion techniques and visiting the Villages. I came home with a treasure trove of games, songs, and hands-on activities that I observed at the French Village, Lac du Bois. I also spent a day in the Norwegian Village, experiencing the life of a camper who does not know a word of the language. (THE most fun! When I wanted to eat, I learned fast.)  In all, there are villages offering instruction in 15 different languages.  While in a village, campers are completely immersed in the target culture.  Villagers go through customs, exchange their money, and are surrounded by language.  Don’t even get me started on the authentic cuisine . . . soooo delicious!

My students who have spent a few weeks at Concordia Language Villages return to school in the fall with improved language skills and enthusiastic stories to tell.

Scholarships are available to send some lucky campers to Concordia Language Villages this summer.  The photo and essay contests are open to students ages 7-18, but the deadlines are quickly approaching.  (Most end on May 15.)  Visit this link to find out how to apply for  scholarships worth $500-$1300 to the French, German, Italian, Korean, Portuguese, or Danish Villages.

Good luck!

Photo Credit: clarita at http://morguefile.com/archive/display/231612