Planning a Reading Sleepover Party

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I am planning a reading night sleepover. I would love ideas for activities (gr. 1-4) to keep them busy and have fun too. Organizational ideas welcome too!
Sue/IL

Hey everyone,
I was just wondering where do you have the sleep over? How do you go about the legal issues involved with having children spend the night? Do they have to have a parent present? Is it just one class or several? I am interested... and think it sounds like a great idea, but was concerned about the legalities surrounding it.
Thanks!
Cathy-MI- Grade 3

We did a sleepover several years ago with our second grade classes. Most of the teachers paired with another class - This way you could have a staff member in two places - like the cafeteria while the kids were eating and the gym for those that were finished. We slept in the library, but had access to the gym (and equipment!), cafeteria, and playground. We had pizza for dinner, and a parent brought in donuts and juice for breakfast. Of course we had midnight snacks - the kids brought these to share! Some teachers structured every minute - including art activities and outdoor games. My group had a more relaxed evening -free time in the gym/ playground, reading time after we came in, and a movie at bedtime. A lot of the kids actually slept through the night! We had the teacher's lounge and workroom set up for an adult retreat. We set up special snacks for the parents. I also had a lot of projects for the parents to help with (if they wanted to!) coloring bulletin board items, folder games, laminated items to cut out, summer project folders to collate. I was amazed at what they accomplished! I think the parents had more fun than the kids! Be sure to have the kiddos write thank you notes to the staff members who let you use their facilities! Have fun!
Lynn

In 3rd grade we did this for several years and had a great time. We had guest readers come in and read, including our mayor, the Chief of Police, the Superintendent, and business people from the community. The kids read silently and partner read. We had pizza and soda for supper and donuts and orange juice for breakfast. The kids also brought a snack to share during the evening. We played relay games (cotton ball on spoon while blindfolded) and others like that. We showed a video that went with a book, like Pippi Longstocking or Ramona. The kids all brought sleeping bags and we slept on the gym floor. The kids actually went to sleep too! We put girls on one side of the gym and boys on the other, but with 3rd graders it wasn't really an issue. There were four classes of third grade--about 85 kids. We had four teachers and a student teacher for supervision. We didn't have any parents that spent the night. Some came in to read. The children went home Friday night after school and their parents brought them back at 6 p.m. We had them picked up Sat. morning at 9 a.m. after donuts and juice. We had permission slips signed and had a couple of kids that just spent the evening and then were picked up by their parents at 10 p.m. We did notify the police that we would be there and they patrolled the area during the night.
Cindy/IL

We did a sleepover last year. We had them bring in permission slips and the rules were very clear. Many of the parents stayed overnight with us. We had about 80 kids gr.1-3. One of the teachers' husbands came in and read a good night story. Everyone slept in the gym--I think girls on one side and boys on the other. I do not remember any problems with legalities.
Sue. IL