Taking a pretend journey to the African savanna is a great way to get outdoors. Make animal masks and learn about different animals that live on the savanna, some of which are lions, zebras, antelopes, rhinoceros, elephants and monkeys. Children can decorate cardboard oatmeal containers with crayons or stickers and use them as African drums. Listening to African music during rest or snack time will expose toddlers to music of a different culture. You can make an African necklace by cutting the interior circle from a paper dinner plate and cutting a slit through the remaining paper rim so the "necklace" can slip around the toddler's neck. Allow the children to color the necklace or help them attach pre-cut construction paper triangles to the necklace.
Travel back in time to the days of the wild, wild west cowboys and Indians with this pretend adventure. Make tipis, also called teepees, from sheets painted with Indian symbols. Pull the sheets over desks or chairs. For cowboy attire, purchase inexpensive straw cowboy hats and bandanas at dollar stores or in bulk from import stores. Stew or beans served from a large enamelware pot can simulate the "chow wagon." Use a big metal ladle for a fun effect and let kids eat their food from metal coffee mugs. Toddlers will enjoy listening to old cowboy songs or dancing to music featuring fiddles.
Take a trip to the orient. Arrange the chairs in two rows in the classroom and board the "airplane." Place Panda Hide and Seek by hiding a stuffed (or several) panda. Eat rice and veggies. Use big wood doctor tongue depressors in the place of potentially hazardous (to toddlers) chopsticks. Allow children to color a white paper lunch sack then use a hole punch to punch holes in random patterns all over the sack. Put a battery-operated LED flame light inside. Tie the top of the sack together with ribbon and hang the "paper lanterns." Turn off the lights and watch the lanterns light up the classroom.
Set up large tents inside or outside. Make a fake campfire from logs, a lantern and red, orange and yellow crumpled tissue paper. Sit around the "campfire" and sing songs (with a guitar would be great) and eat S'mores that have been made ahead of time. Hot dogs (cut up into small pieces) and beans can complete the pretend camp-out. Let the kids take nap time in the tent for an additional camping experience.