Have your volunteers dress up as clowns or balloon-animal makers.
School carnivals are fun ways for a school or school groups to earn money while also promoting a sense of community and school spirit. Planning a carnival involves more serious tasks like organizing a committee and planning a budget, but it also requires selecting a theme. Your theme may be specific to your region or the season, or it may invite the kids to escape into their imaginations for a few hours. The theme gives your carnival an identity and drives the selection of games, food and other entertainment.
Haunted Carnival
Most fitting for autumn and Halloween, spooky-themed carnivals might involve a haunted house or traditional carnival games and attractions with a macabre twist. Consider the age groups you expect to attend when making your plans. Children vary widely in how well they tolerate being frightened, so you should take into account providing something that is comfortable for everyone. Bobbing for eyeballs, pumpkin-carving contests and Halloween-themed prizes add to the atmosphere, and consider serving seasonal foods, like pumpkin soup and apple cider. In the classroom, build anticipation for the carnival by having students read stories by authors like Edgar Allan Poe, learn about the historical and mythological origins of ghosts and witches and investigate real-life weird science, like carnivorous plants.
Mardi Gras
Set in the midst of the winter doldrums, Mardi Gras--which traditionally occurs the Tuesday before Lent--offers a much-needed excuse for festivity. Mardi Gras traditions include parades and music, so consider having each class create a float for a school parade and featuring performances by school music ensembles. Instead of earning tickets at the games, hand out beads or doubloons, gold coins that are tossed to the crowd during Mardi Gras parades. A station for making masks lets students join in the festivities and show their spirit. In the classroom, students can learn about the history of Mardi Gras and its connection to many cultural festivals around the world.
Luau
As the school year draws to a close, a luau-themed carnival heightens anticipation of the fun summer months ahead. Luaus are traditional Hawaiian feasts, so consider including a tasting area for traditional foods and tropical-themed concessions. Hula hoop and limbo contests get the kids active and offer the opportunity to win prizes. Hula hoop tosses also make inexpensive games, or try a treasure dig in a sandbox to see who can find the prize first. Instead of wristbands or admission tickets, have students collect a lei at the gate. In the classroom, students can learn about Hawaii's statehood, appreciate the influence of Native American traditions on our modern culture and perform science experiments with fruit juices or flowers.
County Fair
As summer gives way to autumn, county fairs around the country showcase the best fruit, baked goods and livestock that the heartland has to offer. County fair-themed carnivals offer lots of inexpensive ideas for games, such as milk bottle ring toss and bingo. For an easy fundraiser, recruit intrepid teachers willing to take a shaving cream pie to the face if students raise enough money. Traditional carnival food is easy and appropriate for this theme, as is a farm animal petting zoo. Continue the county fair tradition by having students display their artwork or bring desserts for each other to try, awarding blue ribbons to the favorites. Relate what you're teaching in the classroom to the carnival with pie fractions or a lesson on the history of farming in the U.S.
Tags: Mardi Gras, learn about, classroom students, classroom students learn, having students, Hula hoop