Military Party or Lesson Plan for Early Elementary or Preschool

Act like privates while training at boot camp, paint camo-style hats, set up a tent, battle using army men, and more! This party plan is geared toward 2-7 year old children. I created this to do as a two hour "play date" with a few friends. It would also make a fun birthday party. Just add a military-themed cake! Use this fun activity plan for a birthday party, "play date," or with your classroom, family, or homeschool co-op group!

*Tell children to come wearing military-related clothing. If they bring toy weapons, immediately set those aside for later as they can become a huge distraction during other activities.*

1. Read and discuss 2 Timothy 2:3-4.

2. Discuss what obedience means.

3. Help children to set up an indoor tent using sheets and chairs. (Use camo-colored sheets if you have them.)

YOU WILL NEED:

• chairs and bed sheets or blankets

4. While children sit under the tent, read Captain Cat by Syd Hoff, which is a cute easy-to-read picture book about a cat who wanders onto an army post and adopts a military life style. This book is a great way to introduce the military way of life to younger children. All the children (ages 18 mo. - 7 years old) enjoyed this book.

YOU WILL NEED:

• Captain Cat by Syd Hoff

5. Use pictures from books to show military uniforms & helmets. Point out the various colors of camouflage. Ask the children why they think camo comes in different colors and shades.

6. Give each child a pre-folded newspaper hat. (You can find easy directions at catholicicing.com.) Have them paint the hat camo-style using the colors they think would be appropriate for our back yard.

YOU WILL NEED:

• newspapers or cloth to cover the table, pre-folded newspaper hats, paints, & sponges (which work better than paintbrushes)

7. If the weather is nice, take the children outside for "basic training" which can include jumping jacks, crunches, push-ups (or at least attempt them), marching, jumping through tires (hula hoops work well as tires), and jogging in a line with each person getting a turn at leading. You can also include rifle/sword drills using sticks, baseballs bats, or toy rifles/swords.

8. Come inside for trail mix and water.

YOU WILL NEED:

• trail mix (check for peanut allergies ahead of time if serving trail mix with peanuts), cups, & napkins

9. Read Drummer Hoff by Barbara Emberley & emphasize obeying orders from those in authority. The book is a classic children's book that is short enough to keep the attention span of even the youngest of children. It's about the process of setting off a cannon and goes through everyone who is involved. It has lots of rhyming, only a few words on each page, and gorgeous wood-cut illustrations.

YOU WILL NEED:

• Drummer Hoff by Barbara Emberley

10. Sing I'm in the Lord's Army. Allow children to wear their camo hats if they have dried.

11. Let children play with army men. Encourage them to have the army men obey military commands.

YOU WILL NEED:

• army men

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Would you like to teach this way every day?

I use KONOS Curriculum as a springboard from which to plan my lessons. It's a wonderful Christian curriculum and was created by moms with active children!