Fun & Creative Carnival Game and Snack Ideas for Your Class Carnival Party
Looking to try something brand new for this year’s class parties? Consider a small classroom carnival party – all the fun of classic carnival games and food, just on a smaller scale!
Carnival Game Ideas:
1. Duck Pond – Fill a kiddie pool (or two large tubs) halfway with water and place numbered floating ducks inside (1, 2, and 3); the number duck a student picks should correlate to one of three prizes available (display them!). Tip: Can’t find floating ducks? Look for floating candles (kept unlit of course)!
2. Lollipop Tree – Fill a homemade “tree” with yummy suckers, marking a handful on the bottom with marker and dispersing them throughout the others. Everyone who chooses a lollipop keeps it, while those who choose a marked sucker also get a prize. Check out these homemade lollipop trees from the DIYClub.
3. Bean Bag Toss – Keep it simple for the classroom and fashion an old rug into a target with paint or duct tape. Place on the floor and give students three chances to toss a bean bag onto the rug – the ring closest to the bullseye which their beanbags land on should correlate to a prize.
4. Can Toss Game – Collect used and washed aluminum cans from volunteers and ask them to decorate simply with colored paper and markers or paint. Stack in a large pyramid on a low table and give students three chances to knock them down, with a wiffle or rubber ball. The number of cans left when there turn is over can match up to the number prize available for the game.
5. Face Painting – This station allows every student to leave with something special! Display a poster board with designs available for painting (make them simple things volunteers are comfortable with, i.e. flowers, butterflies, lightning bolts, cars). Consider having temporary tattoos on hand as well, with wet cloths for easy and fast application.
Carnival Food Ideas:
1. Popcorn Bags – Have microwavable popcorn on hand and quickly pop in the teacher’s lounge before the party. Fill small paper cones or treatbags for each student with the popcorn and let them munch as they enjoy the festivities.
2. Cotton Candy – You likely won’t have a cotton candy machine on hand, however, incorporate the theme into pastel-colored cake pops or mini cupcakes.
3. Pretzels – Yes the salty, buttery homemade version is delicious, but time-consuming too! Forgo the carb-filled snack for some healthier options amidst all the sweet carnival treats, i.e. apple and orange slices, carrot sticks, whole grain crackers with hummus.
Carnival Volunteers:
Keep the whole classroom carnival experience stress-free with online sign up sheets from VolunteerSpot! Simply set up a sign up sheet detailing volunteer needs for your carnival booths/stations, snack needs, and set up and clean up. Invite your volunteers via email and let them sign up at their convenience from their computer or mobile device. Automatic reminders will go out two days prior to the carnival party, helping parents keep their commitments!
Prize Tip: Incorporate items into the prize selection which kids can make real use of including colorful erasers and pencils, fun bands and bracelets, activity books, Madlibs, playing cards, craft supplies, and homework passes.
Thank you Carnival Savers for sharing the great carnival game ideas!
