As the school year winds down, energy starts to shift. The kids are excited for summer, testing is over, and the calendar is full of countdowns and celebrations. So why not channel that excitement into something educational AND fun, like with Reading Camp activities?
Enter: Reading Camp Day—a special, themed day in your classroom filled with cozy vibes, camp-themed learning, and memory-making fun. It’s a great way to review reading skills, celebrate your students’ growth, and keep engagement high during those final weeks of school.
Today I’m sharing some easy, creative reading camp activities you can use to plan a magical end-of-year day your students will love!
Think of Reading Camp activities as a classroom transformation that doesn’t require a ton of prep or supplies. It’s a day (or even a few days!) when your classroom becomes Camp Read-A-Lot, and your students become little reading campers.
You can keep it as simple or elaborate as you want, but the idea is to:
You don’t need tents and flashlights (though those are fun!). All you really need are some creative reading camp activities and an easy-to-follow plan to sprinkle in some magic.
Here are a few Reading Camp activities to help you bring things to life in your classroom—whether you’re in kindergarten, first grade, or even second grade!
Start the day by setting the tone! Greet your students at the “camp gate” (your classroom door) with a big welcome sign. Just grab some brown butter paper and white paint to create a sign. Play forest sounds or crackling campfire audio. Turn off the overhead lights and string up twinkle lights if you have them.
Want to go a step further? Lay out sleeping bags or put out camping chairs for students to sit on during read alouds or partner reading. You can also create tents with their desks and a book on top!
One of the most exciting parts of Reading Camp are all the reading camp activities that keep your students reading, writing, and having fun—all while reviewing key literacy concepts. Here are some ideas so you don’t have to spend hours of your weekend prepping.
Every good camp needs a good story around the campfire! I LOVE using A Camping Spree With Mr. Magee as the featured read aloud during Reading Camp Day. It’s full of adventure, humor, and rich language—making it perfect for modeling summarizing.
Here’s how you can use this story:
If you want this lesson completely done for you, check out my Camping Spree Read Aloud Lesson here.
Let students pick a few favorite books and cozy up in their “camp spot” for independent reading time. You can make this feel special by letting them bring a stuffed animal, wear pajamas, or use a flashlight to read on this special day.
Want to make it extra fun? Pass out a little trail mix snack or give them bookmarks shaped like pine trees to use and enjoyas they read!
Wrap up the day by encouraging students to keep reading over the summer with a FREE Summer Reading Challenge! It’s a fun, goal-based way to motivate students to read at home (and parents LOVE it).
This is the perfect “camper gift” to send home in their backpacks.
You can grab this freebie from my blog to go along with your Reading Camp activities.
Don’t forget the treat! Wrap up your reading camp activities with a S’more Snack Mix. This makes the perfect take-home treat or end-of-day surprise to celebrate your little readers!
I have even included a little tag if you want to give this out as they leave camp for the day and head home.
If you’re thinking, “This sounds amazing but I don’t have time to pull it all these reading camp activities together,”—I’ve got you covered!
My Literacy Camp resource has everything you need to host a magical end-of-year Reading Camp Day with:
It’s low prep, fun, and completely teacher-friendly. You can grab it right here!
The end of the school year is the perfect time to do something a little different—and a Reading Camp Day is one of my favorite ways to do just that. These reading camp activities are joyful, meaningful, and help students leave your classroom with a big smile and a full heart.
Ready to plan your own Reading Camp Activities Day? Grab the done-for-you resource here and make it your easiest (and most memorable) end-of-year celebration yet!
Want to use the latest research to boost your readers during small groups? This FREE guide is packed with engaging ideas to help them grow!
I’m a K-1 teacher who is passionate about making lessons your students love and that are easy to implement for teachers. Helping teachers like you navigate their way through their literacy block brings me great joy. I am a lifelong learner who loves staying on top of current literacy learning and practices. Here, you’ll find the tools you need to move your K-2 students forward!
