Percy Jackson and The Olympians: The Lightning Thief - Camp Half-Blood Outdoor Relay Races
"It’s one of the most memorable days of the school year that students talk about for years to come!"
If there’s one thing to know about us, it’s that we love playing games, having fun, and celebrating learning! Our favorite read aloud of the year, by far, is Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief. It’s an action-packed crowd-pleaser full of references to Greek mythology. There’s even an illustrated edition filled with images to aid visualization! We usually save this book as our final read aloud of the year, so students head into summer with a series they are excited to continue reading! It’s also a longer read aloud, so waiting helps ensure students are ready to sit and listen for extended periods of time.
Throughout the book, we do research projects about the gods and goddesses and read some of the traditional Greek myths, so students understand references and make connections to events in the book. As the book is nearing completion, we start having students choose their favorite gods and goddesses, and eventually, we ask students to select their top three favorites. We tell them that a special event is coming up, and students will soon be sorted into cabins at Camp Half-Blood. We pick a day to announce their new “godly parents” and start telling students about our Camp Half-Blood Competition, where students will compete with other cabins in various outdoor relay race events.
When the book is finally finished, we are ready to celebrate! We have eight outdoor events and one indoor quiz testing students’ minds and bodies. We love watching student excitement as they talk about our beloved read aloud and work together to complete various challenges! It’s one of the most memorable days of the school year that students talk about for years to come!
If you are interested in hosting your own Camp Half-Blood Competition and want to view our relay races, check out Teachers Pay Teachers! Everything you need is there, including instructions, diagrams, signage, certificates, extension activities, and more!
Note: You may need to purchase materials or ask for donations to make the day a success. We tried our best to use items teachers can easily find or borrow (plastic baskets, cones, pennies), but there are a few items that we purchased for a small cost on Amazon. Luckily, these items can all be reused year after year!
Warning: It’s a tiring day, but it’s full of fun! We choose to combine our classes, so we run the relays with 50 students at a time. If we have access to paraprofessionals, parent volunteers, or specialists, we often ask them to stop outside and join the fun! You might benefit from a whistle and a megaphone, too!