Reading Under the Stars

Looking for a new way to incorporate reading into summer adventures? Plan a backyard campout where you lay out and read stories together by the light of a fire pit or lanterns. Or, better yet pack up and go on a real camping trip with your books. Don’t let Colorado weather ruin plans. This can be easily be set up in the house as well if the weather is uncooperative. A weekend of any variation of this will be a highly memorable thing for your children. It combines so much fun along with education that they may not even realize is happening.

You could even plan a theme for the evening. Tell ghost stories, make it a Disney book night, or family favorites. Find children’s books about camping while they are experiencing it. Get some s’mores going to add to the excitement. Pitch the pop-up tent and have the puppies and stuffies join you. Try to fit as many blankets and pillows in the tent to make it extra comfortable for the ultimate reading fort.

Whether you’re backyard camping or great outdoor camping you can plan a reading discussion for the following night as well. The next day take the kiddos on a hike. Have them write down or draw the things that they see on their hike. Bring along a wilderness book to see how many of the same things they encountered during their day. They will be so excited to talk about it and learn more about what they saw. This is a simple and fun way to unplug with the whole family for a night or the whole weekend!

-Ms. Brooke
Lead Pre-kindergarten teacher
Curriculum Coordinator
Literacy Coordinator