Circus: Day Five

Let's Go to the Circus

Field Trip Day: Take the children to a circus, if one is in town.

If not, hold a pretend circus:
*Set up a real tent (canopy).
*Serve peanuts or popcorn
*Toss fresh peanut shells all over the floor for drama
*Have children decorate flag-shaped banners and balloons for hanging in random locations.
*Children can pretend to be animals and or circus performers:
1. Tigers can jump through hoops (in advance, children can glue various sized pieces of crepe paper squares to the rim of a hoola hoop).
2. Strong Men can lift barbells (cut barbell shapes from thick styrofoam then paint them or use cardboard tubes).
3. Horses can gallop around in a circle.
4. Tightrope Walkers: Children can walk across a balance beam carrying an umbrella above their heads. They can walk forward, backwards, sideways, etc.
5. Lions: One child can be the "tamer" and others can be the lions. The tamer can direct the lions to do various things like sit on a stool, etc.
6. Elephants: A group of "child" elephants can lumber to the center of the ring on all fours and do things like hold up one foot, etc.
7. Dancing Bears: A group of "child" bears can "dance" around in the center of the ring.
8. Child "clowns" (in make-up) can act silly as they run through the audience or ride around on tricycles with crepe paper streamers attached to the handlebars.
9. One child, who is very verbal and not shy, could be the Ringmaster (with your assistance).
Very simple costumes: All the children can decorate headbands in advance using sequins, stars, and glitter.