Have you ever thought of doing science camp activities in the science classroom for the last few days of school?
Let’s be honest, by the end of May and the beginning of June, it’s not just the students trying to survive to the end of the school year, but you are too!
There are no more pencils in the class, markers are missing their lids, and everyone is just antsy for summer break.
So, why not lean into the chaos? You can still bring to WOW Factor, make sure learning is happening, but do it in such a sneaky way, your students won’t realize it!
For the last week of school, why not have a bit of science camp!! The theme? – You’ve crash-landed on a deserted island!
This “camp” will include five days of easy, themed, low-prep or no-prep activities that your students will love, but you don’t have to stress about it!
Each day, your students will work in teams to adapt, escape, and survive on this deserted island. They will use their science knowledge, to just maybe, make it of the island and make it home!
So, while you’re working on surviving until the end of the school year, might as well try to survive on this deserted island!
Science Camp Activities for the Last Few Days of School
Let’s go over an overview:
- 5 days
- Theme – You’ve crash-landed on a deserted island
- Time needed: 30-45 minutes each day
- Prep: almost none!
- Topics covered: engineering design, weather, ecosystems problem-solving, energy
- Materials: paper, markers, basic classroom supplies, STEM supplies
Don’t forget to play survival music the whole week! You can make this as simple or a complicated as you’d like, but my goal for you is to give you an easy no-prep, but super awesome way to end the year!
Day 1: A Storm is Coming!
Scenario for Students: So, you’ve made it to this deserted island (SO not the plan!), but now you are soaked and stranded. A huge storm is rolling in. You have 20 minutes to build a shelter before this storm blows you away.
Materials: paper, masking tape, index cards, string, or any other “STEM” materials you may have on hand
Task: In groups, provide students with the materials. Students are to work together to create a model of a strong shelter. This can be around 12 inches tall or so. This shelter must withstand “wind” – this can be a fan or you can even huff and puff to see if their shelter will fall down!
Time: Give students 20-25 minutes to build, 5-10 to test and share
Extension: Redesign and test again!
Day 2: We Need Water!
Scenario for Students: You’ve made it through the storm, but now you need some water. You find some, but it’s murky. How can you and your team make it drinkable?
Materials:
No-prep version: paper
Prep version: coffee filters, sand, gravel, cotton, cups, water, plastic bottles, or other materials
Task: First, you will need to let your students watch a video or two about water purification like this one, or this one, or even this one!
No-prep version: Let students sketch out their own design using only items that they could find on the island.
Prep version: Let students build a simple filter with coffee filters, sand, cotton, and whatever else you want to provide. Then, test it out!
Time: 10 minutes to watch and discuss, 15 minutes to design or build, 5–10 minutes to share
Extension: Let students create and perform an infomercial skit for selling their island water filter.
Day 3: Weather Survival Tool
Scenario: You’ve already been through a storm, but you are learning quickly that weather changes FAST on this island. It could be blazing hot one day and then torrential rain the next. You will need to build a model or a prototype of a tool that will help you survive the weather.
It can be a portable shade structure, a wind-powered fan, solar oven, rain catcher, a sun hat, an umbrella, a poncho, etc.
Materials: paper, tape, index cards, string, foil, cardboard, or any other STEM type materials
Task: Students will work in their group to create a tool model of their choice.
Time: 5-10 minutes to draw a tool or brainstorm and 20–30 minutes to design or build
Extension: Students can create a logo for their new invention. They can even give a “Shark Tank” pitch.
Day 4: In Need of a Rescue!
Scenario for students: You spot a rescue plane! They can’t see you unless you send a signal. What can you design, build, display, or act out to get rescued?
Materials: markers, aluminum foil, paper scraps, paper (or maybe nothing if they are acting something out)
Task: Students will work in their group to create the ultimate rescue signal.
They can create a poster, build a model, use movement, or something else! Once they are finished, they can present it to the class and explain why this would help them get rescued.
Time: 5 minutes to brainstorm, 15–20 minutes to create, 10 minutes to share or demo
Extension: You can have students research real signals for help, or to be silly, you can have students create their own “rescue dance” they could perform after they are rescued!
Day 5: You Survived!
Scenario for students: You survived the week! Can you survive one last challenge?
Materials: DIY Charade Cards
Task: Students will split into teams. You can play a fun game of charades to celebrate their survival! They will be acting out some island survival scenarios!
Here is a list of the cards you can create:
- Collecting rainwater
- Running from a wild animal
- Building a shelter in the wind
- Waving down a rescue plane
- Starting a fire with sticks
- Cooking over a campfire
- Looking for plants to eat
- Filtering mucky water
- Trying to catch fish in the water
- Using leaves as an umbrella
- Watching for lightning
- Hiding from a storm
- Feeling sunburned
- Stomping on a huge spider
- Sleeping under your shelter
- Getting bitten by a bug
- Celebrating being rescued
- Swatting at mosquitoes
- Carving something with a rock
- Using a coconut as a cup
- Drawing a map in the sand
- Making a leaf hat
- Looking through binoculars
- Eating bugs to survive
- Roasting something over a fire
Have fun with this! It’s the final day of science survival camp!
Time: As long as you’d like!
Extension: Give out awards like “Best Team Spirit”, “Best Island Engineer”, or “Most Likely to be Rescued”.
Enjoy the week!
This is an amazing resource. I can’t wait to use these ideas. Thank you for sharing.