A nine-hour intersession day will expose a weak theme by 10:30 in the morning. “Science Week” is a label. “Build a chain-reaction machine and run it in front of the group on Friday” is a camp.
These 12 themes come from programs Kodely runs in schools. Each one has a finished product, because kids come back on day two when they have something to finish.
This post is for you if
- You need break-week themes for TK-6 and your site teams are out of ideas
- You are planning winter, spring or summer days in your ELO-P calendar
- You want enrichment that families will choose over staying home
01 / What makes a theme work for nine hours
Under Education Code §46120(b)(4)(B)(i), each of your 30 nonschool days needs at least nine hours of in-person expanded learning. A good theme has to carry that much time. We look for four things:
- A visible finish. Kids can point to what they made.
- Stages. The theme breaks naturally into plan, build, test and revise.
- Movement. The project gets kids out of their chairs, or pairs well with a physical block.
- A reason to show someone. A showcase gives the week an ending.
02 / Six themes for TK and kindergarten
Remember the 10 to 1 ratio for transitional kindergarten and kindergarten under §46120(b)(5)(D). Short blocks and hands-on materials matter more at this age than an ambitious project.
1. Tiny Architects
Children build castles, villages and futuristic cities with blocks, clay and recyclables. Finish: a mini city to showcase.
2. Bug and Butterfly Detectives
Students search for insects, learn how butterflies grow and make small bug habitats. Finish: a mini bug habitat.
3. Puppet Play and Storytelling
Students make puppets from felt and paper, then perform classic and original stories. Finish: a mini puppet show.
4. Market Day Explorers
Children make bookmarks or bracelets, set prices and “sell” them in a pretend marketplace. Finish: the marketplace itself.
5. Junior Scientists
Young learners try magnets, simple circuits and bubbling reactions while learning cause and effect. Finish: a magnetic maze.
6. Eco Explorers
Students plant mini gardens and test how soil, sunlight and water change growth. Finish: a mini garden.
03 / Six themes for grades 1 to 5
7. Rube Goldberg Engineering Lab
Students use ramps, levers, pulleys and dominoes to make a simple task hilariously complicated. Finish: a machine of their own design.
8. Mini Med School
Students learn about the human body and first aid, practice bandaging “patients” and listen to heartbeats. Finish: “surgery” on a piece of fruit.
9. Junior Shark Tank
Students invent a product, build a simple prototype and pitch it. Finish: the pitch session.
10. Circuit Creators
Students build circuits with batteries, LEDs and switches, then make light-up cards and wearable pins. Finish: a light-up greeting card.
11. Stop Motion LEGO
Students build sets, plan a story and animate it frame by frame on iPads. Finish: an animated film of their own.
12. K-Pop Dance Troupe
Students learn choreographed routines and work on rhythm, formations and performance. Finish: a showcase for friends and family.
04 / How to build a week from one theme
| Day | Focus | What the group has by 5:00 |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | Explore and plan | A team and a sketch |
| Tuesday | Build version one | Something that almost works |
| Wednesday | Test and break it | A list of what to fix |
| Thursday | Rebuild | A finished product |
| Friday | Rehearse and show | A showcase for families or another group |
Pair each theme with a movement block, such as flag football, in the afternoon. A full day of one activity is too much for most kids, however good the activity is.
Frequently asked questions
How long should one intersession theme last?
One theme per week works well for most elementary camps. It gives students time to build, fail, fix and finish. For a two-day or three-day break, shorten the project rather than rushing a full-week version.
Can a camp use a different theme each day?
It can, but daily changes often increase prep and leave nothing to finish. If your days are scattered across the year, a stand-alone one-day project is a better fit.
Are these themes allowable under ELO-P?
ELO-P funds support expanded learning programs broadly, and §46120(d)(3)(A) refers to “program enrichment activities.” Check each cost against your own plan. Our allowable expenditures checklist is a useful place to start.
Want a week built for your sites?
Send us your break dates and grade bands. Kodely will come back with themes, staffing and materials for each site. Read how we run expanded learning for the details.
Give us 20 minutes. On a call. That is it. Book a time here.