daily activities

NEXT DAY

Circus At Home

Big Top Circus Show

The big day is finally here! You'll take everything you’ve learned in this adventure and put it all together to premiere your first circus performance. But first, you'll need to put the finishing touches on everything, like posters, programs, and even tickets. What will you call your circus? You may choose to do a live performance for family or make a video to send to loved ones near and far. Sure, we're staying home—but the show must go on.

DAY 5

what you’ll need

Your Camp Kinda toolkit
Miscellaneous art supplies (sequins, pom-poms, whatever you've got!)

PRINT THIS PAGE

FOR PARENTS

Ask About Today

What's one circus secret you learned today?

Dinner Discussion

What was the most challenging part of putting on your circus show? What are you most proud of?

Skip the Ads

Unfortunately, online videos often start with short advertisements. Remind your campers to click the "Skip" button as soon as they can to move ahead to the video.

explore

15-30 minutes

Have you ever been under a "Big Top," a huge tent that contains many (though not all) kinds of circus shows? Now's your chance.

Circus Down Under

Start with a virtual tour of the Lennon Bros. Circus in Australia. What does it feel like under the tent? How might you recreate that in your living room? Click and drag your mouse to explore.

Raise the Roof (On the Tent)

Go behind the scenes at Cirque du Soleil to see what it takes to lift up the Big Top tents.

Remember: Online videos often start with advertisements. (Annoying, we agree!) Click the "Skip" button as soon as you can to move ahead to the video.

Circus Tech

Circus acts can seem like they come from another time, but many of today's circuses rely on cutting-edge technology and engineering for their magic. Let's take a look at the technical side.

Holographic Elephants?

Circuses don’t travel with large animals anymore, so some have adapted by creating holographic elephants instead. Read about the technological advancements that have helped circuses become more animal- and environment-friendly.

create

60-90 minutes

A professional show includes posters, programs, and tickets, too. Entice your audience by creating visual accompaniments to your performance.

Come One, Come All!

Start with a poster for your show. Check out these vintage circus posters for inspiration, and watch the video to learn how to make some circus-style letters. Remember, your poster needs to tell the audience the name of your circus, where it will be, and at what time. The rest is up to you!

Got the Tickets?

Don't forget that your guests will need tickets to enter, too. Draw them and cut them up so everyone can have one. What's the price of admission to your show: your choice for dinner? Ice cream for everyone?

Final Tricks

It's show day, so use this time to rehearse your skills one more time. If you think you're really ready, return to this amazing list of at-home circus tricks and pick one more to focus on.

move

30-45 minutes

Showtime!

The Greatest Show on Earth...Yours!

It's time for your circus debut! Before the show, watch this clip from The Greatest Showman to get pumped. With all the work you've put in, your show is sure to be everything you dreamed of!

When you're all warmed up and in costume, invite your family to their seats, hand out the programs, and if you plan to film your show, get the camera ready. Then it's time for the show to begin.

Need an Audience? Your audience doesn't have to be in the same room. Don't forget to invite grandparents or other remote family and friends to watch your show via Zoom or FaceTime.

PREVIOUS DAY NEXT DAY