Focusing on a theme can make the day more fun and activities easier to plan. Some these I have used over the years include the circus, the environment, celebrations and, my personal favorite, transportation. Transportation is a theme to which children relate well - they are usually eager to talk about cars, trucks, planes, trains, boats and family vacations. For example, creating and decorating airplanes and looking at pictures of cars can help children learn about different shapes and colours. Even toddlers can participate by drawing and colouring at the table with the big kids .
Older children can build boats with old pieces of wood and nails.
Once painted, the boats can be taken to a nearby stream for launching, thereby providing the opportunity for a discussion about science. Children also love to role play. It's interesting to watch the older children dress up and act like Mom and Dad taking the family on vacation, while the smaller ones pretend to be the babies and family pets. Be sure to provide an empty suitcase for the children to pack. A trip to the grocery store and a discussion about what to take on a camping trip can give the children an idea of what's involved in planning an excursion.