FasTracKids Presents: Fabulously Fun Back 2 School Back 2 Fun Carnival
Carnivals are FUN! Many FasTracKids schools and centers hold Carnivals every year because they are fun, involve the community, and can help to increase enrollments. We’ve collected the best ideas to help you plan your Back 2 school Back 2 Fun event and make your new school year a grand success!
Carnival Basics Offer a variety of booths and activities attractive for all ages. Good publicity and signage drives attendance. Start spreading the word 4�6 weeks before your event. At the carnival, hang brightly colored signs identifying booths: What to think about : Rentals Sponsorships Publicity Games Booths Raffle or Auction Music and Entertainment Setup/Cleanup
Where should we hold our carnival? You can hold your carnival anywhere that is safe and has enough room. Either indoors or outdoors Any area that's safe for kids In a space that is big enough to fit all your booths and activities A park A playground A school Need Permission? Need Permits? Plan ahead!
What else can we do besides games? A carnival isn't complete without at least a few good shows. Feature your community talent! Some ideas:
Magic Show Puppet Show Talent Contest Skateboard Freestyle Demo Dance Performances Short Play Choral Groups Local Bands
Magic Show
Face Painting:
Activities: Some ideas:
Coloring Station Diva Center –paint nails, glitter hair, face painting, etc Decorate a flower pot and plant a seed Water Balloon toss Photo Booth
Chalk mural Temporary hair coloring, hair braiding Balloon dartboard Corn Hole Toss Silly Photos Guess how many pennies in the jar – closest number wins the jar! Fishing booth Ring toss Dime toss Water gun targets Balloon Pop Relay Fun fortune�teller
More Carnival Ideas! http://www.gamesandcreations.com/html/ list_of_carnival_games.html http://www.carnivalsavers.com/ freeboothideas.html
https://www.ptotoday.com/pto-today-articles/article/1088classic-carnival-activities https://www.teachpreschool.org/2010/08/07/fun-gamescarnival/
Highlight the FUN of FasTracKids Goals and Life Lessons Games With Friends
Earth Science Islands
Ready, Set Travel Trip to China Lesson plans available for in the classroom learning station activities and fun activities connected to the lesson that do not use Learning Station Lesson plans found on Support Site
Fun for Rent! You don’t need a big budget to have a successful carnival; however, adding a few well‐selected rentals can increase ticket sales and expand the fun What to think about : Bounce castle Giant slide/ Water slide Photo booth Pony rides Petting zoo Dunking Booth Lazer tag Go carts Test your strength –hammer game
Spreading the Word! Having a big turnout is key for your Carnival fun‐raiser! Getting people to show up takes planning and effort. Fliers. Hand out information about your carnival at school or congregation and to everyone you know. Include the date, time, location, what kinds of things you’ll have at your carnival! Newspapers, newsletters and local websites. Ask your local newspaper, congregation, or school newsletter to run a free announcement about your carnival. Posters and Banners. Make colorful signs that tell people about your carnival. Tell the date, time, location and all the things you’ll have: “Games! Prizes! Food! Entertainment! Silent Auction! etc.” The more posters you put up on telephone poles, at school and at nearby businesses, the better. Social Media - see our social media guide Word of mouth. Tell all your friends and their parents
BOOTHS In addition to the fun and entertaining activities you will have for the children it is important to include booths or stations that showcase FasTrackids. These can include: I AM SMART BOOTH Help parents and children identify what kind of “smart” they are by taking the FLPA. Once complete they will receive a certificate, take home sheets and a Instagram Frame photo opportunity to share on social media. FASTRACK® CAREERS BOOTH Have children dress up in different “career” outfits using different props (stethoscopes, fireman hats, construction vests, etc.) and post their Instagram Frame photo to your social media. PROGRAM STATION Use lessons from the Back to School folder to demonstrate the learning experience of FTK. Options available for Learning Station or no Learning Station. INFORMATION BOOTH Make brochures (available on Support Site) available. Read for the Record, Program Brochures and any center/school related information should be included. Have sign-up sheets available at EVERY BOOTH.
Carnival Event Timeline These are suggestions from FasTracKids International and should be customized to fit your market's event needs. The “Completed Action” column can be used as a checklist for your event.
Week Number
Event Action Planned
4 weeks before event Finalize event date and location
(school, center, community center, etc…) Finalize what booths, activities, shows, games and FTK related presentations you will have at your carnival event Create goals for: number of people that will attend Number of new family contact information to receive Establish a budget for the event, including staff and outside resources Download marketing assets (see Support Site for files) Customize downloaded “Back to School” assets, “carnival event” assets Print marketing materials Start inquiries for entertainment, local talent and items that will need to be rented for your carnival Start inquiries on any sponsorships or partnerships for your event Start initial email campaign for FTK Families: send event announcement email to all families on your email list
3 weeks before event Book entertainment, local talent, rent equipment. Contract with outside vendors, catering, party supply rentals, etc… Finalize any sponsorships or partnerships for your event Publish event webpage on your website, include registration form Create a Facebook event for your carnival, including a fun picture as your event banner Share webpage link and announcement of event on social media Contact Newspapers, newsletters, local websites or blogs to pitch coverage for your event. Place ads in local papers, radio stations, local tv, etc. (see support site for video) Consider a Facebook post "boost campaign" for your event using an advertising budget Ask local businesses and organizations to supply fliers for your event Hand out fliers, mail postcards, door hangers, send children home with materials Follow up with FTK Families about their interest in attending, including any who have registered on the website
Completed Action?
Carnival Event Timeline These are suggestions from FasTracKids International and should be customized to fit your market's event needs. The “Completed Action� column can be used as a checklist for your event.
Week Number
Event Action Planned
2 weeks before event Share any press or public relations coverage using your website and social media Share student or parent testimonial videos about FasTracKids, sneak peek video of carnival events and Learning Potential Assessment information on social media channels Continue Facebook event post boost campaign (if applicable) Contact any current FTK families who HAVE NOT registered either by phone or email Confirm number of staff and attendees Adjust any orders per new numbers Continue advertising campaigns
1 week before event
Print any FTK information, coupons or other materials for families Print video and photo release forms for families to sign (use these as marketing for your center) Consider running a Facebook Live video feed of the event or just recording video with a plan on what to shoot. Inform staff in meeting Meet with staff to assign go over responsibilities, times, goals, etc.. Continue advertising, especially on social media (Facebook boost campaign, as an example) Share any press or public relations coverage using your website and social media Share student or parent testimonial videos about FasTracKids, sneak peek video of carnival events and Learning Potential Assessment information on social media channels
Completed Action?