Summer camp ideas needed-"Communication" is the theme

[hmwnick]

I am in the early phase of planning a summer camp (1st time ever) for my 4th & 5th grade students (max.40) & am looking for some additional ideas. "Communication" is the overall theme & here's what I have so far:
sign language, morse code, hieroglyphics, & braille. Please share any additional ideas you might have.

I live in a rural area & my students do not have much to keep themselves engaged during the summer.

I will be making my proposal to the school board in Feb. or Mar.

As always, thanks to my creative DIS friends!:thumbsup2

Rebecca

 

[bapcap]

One of the obvious forms of communication...the phone (regular type & cell). It's surprising how kids at that age have no idea what a "rotary or dial" phone is or looks like or that phones used to be big, clunky and only in one color...black

 

[lindalinda]

2 way radio, text messaging, fax, satellite communications.

 

[TurboKitty]

You might also look into PECS (Picture Exchange Communication System) that many children with autism use.

Semaphore (the flag thing) might also be a lot of fun for them.

 

[SDFgirl]

You could play charades or pictionary. Both use a lot of non-verbal communication.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Foreign language.
Spanish, French, etc....

CB (trucker) radio, ham radio's, SETI, whales, animals, pony express, telegraph & western union!

 

[Forevryoung]

I'm specializing in Augmentative and Alternative Communication (getting a masters in speech language pathology)- I could generate a bunch of ideas for you if you give me a chance to think.

One quick one- Do a lesson on pictures as a form of communication- then ask them to draw their own. Start off with easier ones like "smile", "sad", "balloon", and then get harder like- how would you depict "what" or "please" (pick complex concepts they use every day)... Have them go around the room and share their pictures with eachother and have them explain them.

I can help you put together a whole lesson on alternative forms of communication if you want- pm me

Don't forget writing as a form of communication either.

 

[Liberty Belle]

Sounds like fun!

Some other ideas:

Photojournalism
Newspaper writing
cryptogrophy
interpersonal communication
pen pals
public speaking and presentations

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Newborn babies
insects like ants, bees, etc...
non-verbal like reading body language
polygraph tests
EKG's/EEG's
Biofeedback
Ultrasound
Sports!!!! Like all the "baseball signals"

This is too much fun!

 

[golfgal]

Have them make up their own language, either written or spoken. Assign a symbol or sound to each letter of our language and have them tell or write a story in that language. There are fonts on your computer that are symbols if you want to go that route.

 

[CEDmom]

These are a little off the wall but how about smoke signals and carrier pigeon. You could also go into messengers - bike messengers of today and pony express of yesteryear.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Have them make up their own language, either written or spoken. Assign a symbol or sound to each letter of our language and have them tell or write a story in that language. There are fonts on your computer that are symbols if you want to go that route.

Oh yea...you have Pig Latin and Op language (those of you old Zoom watchers know OP language)