Find BooksActivitiesGames
Reading Rainbow
Parents & Teachers
About Reading RainbowAbout LeVarContestPrintable Song Lyrics

Three Days On A River In A Red Canoe

Language: English

Two children and their mothers have some wonderful adventures on their camping trip. This exciting story gives practical hints on how to tie knots, put up a tent and cook a delicious outdoor meal. LeVar encounters fun and excitement as he goes camping with a group of young friends, and then shares his experiences of an African vacation where he rode a raft down the white water of the dangerous and uncharted Zambezi River.

 

Here are activities to do after watching this episode:

Backyard Camping

If you want to camp out, there’s no better place to start than your own backyard. It can be fun for the whole family, or camp out with a friend.
You will need a few things to get started. Here are some easy and inexpensive ideas.

Tents and Sleeping Bags

If you have a tent or can borrow one -- great! If not, make one. Throw a blanket, sheet, or tablecloth over a clothesline. Weight down each corner. Choose a flat area to pitch your tent so you won’t be rolling down a hill! Have your tent opening facing southeast, so the rising sun will wake you in the morning.
If you don’t have a sleeping bag, create one with a blanket. Fold the blanket. Use large safety pins or simple stitching to close the blanket and shape the sleeping bag. Fold up one end and shape the sleeping bag. Fold up one end and pin or stitch as well. Leave the other end open for you to crawl inside. The stitches can be removed later.

Equipment

If you forget something, you can always run back inside the house, but here are some ideas for you:
• containers of water
• flashlight and extra batteries
• snacks and something for breakfast (in a sealed container)
• games to play
• warm clothing

 

Your Raft

You will need:
• Styrofoam trays
• toothpick
• clay
• paper
• scissors

Directions:
1. Press a lump of clay in the center of the tray.
2. Cut out a paper sail.
3. Poke a toothpick through the sail.
4. Stick one end of the toothpick sail into the lump of clay.
5. Have fun arranging boat races in a tub or pan of water. Blow your boat to make it move.

After Nightfall

When it’s dark outside and you are snug in your tent, what shall you do?
• sing songs
• play musical instruments
• tell ghost stories
• play word games
• check out the stars to find constellations.

 

Check out some of these books on your
next trip to the library:

  • Anno’s Journey by Mitsumasa Anno
  • Worlds To Explore: Handbook For Brownie And Junior Girl Scouts by Girl Scouts of the U.S.A.
  • Today We Are Brother And Sister by Arnold Adoff

READING RAINBOW has a resource library that includes teacher guide materials as well as reading programs for use in the public libraries. You can download these resources from GPN at:
www.gpnresources.com

If you would like more information about READING RAINBOW or if you would like to learn more about other educational products please visit the GPN web site.

Books | Games | LeVar | Contest | TV Times | Parents & Teachers
http://www.pbskids.org/readingrainbow
© 2007 Educate Media-Reading Rainbow, LLC. All rights reserved. | PBS KIDS Privacy Policy