Just because school is out for the summer doesn’t mean that learning has to! After a somewhat painful spring in the classroom, distance learning might not be over just yet! For those of you who are looking to continue educating your students or your children over the summer, I’ve put together some great ideas to help you continue learning over the summer! Here are some of my best ideas for continued learning through the summer months.
Take Virtual Field Trips
Field trips are an excellent opportunity for your students to learn hands-on concepts, experience new cultures up close, and learn more about the topics discussed in class. Just because class isn’t in session, doesn’t mean that you can’t take a field trip! Museums all over the country are offering free virtual visits, and even some national parks are offering virtual tours. While you can’t physically visit these places, you can still take all these places without being there in person.
Free Websites
Interactive websites are an excellent way for you to continue learning with your students and with your own kids! They can visit these websites to keep learning over the summer as long as they have access to a computer or phone.
- Discovery Kids: Your kids can play games and learn more about history, space, and other science topics.
- NASA Kids Club: Your kids can learn about NASA and space through interactive exploration from their computers.
- National Geographic Kids: They have great videos, games, and more about nature and the wilderness!
- PBS Kids Lab: Your kids can play educational games and do educational activities from their computer or through the mobile app.
Summer Reading
Summer reading is a staple of summer learning, but you can get a little creative with it if you want! Instead of heading to the bookstore to get books, look into ebook versions or audiobooks.
Another great way to encourage your kids to read is by using a reading log tracker! These can be fun and motivating for your kids, and keep them reading during the summer. For younger kids, I recommend finding a reading log they can color. This will make reading a more rewarding experience for them, and a fun art activity they can do.
There are plenty of ways to get your kids reading without putting a single book in their hand! Have your kids watch TV with closed captioning on, read the directions on their newest board game, or even write up the grocery list for mom before going grocery shopping. You can also have your kids read recipes while you are cooking dinner for more practice.
Do a STEAM Activity
If you want to encourage learning over the summer, why not make it fun? STEAM activities are an excellent way for your kids to practice science, technology, engineering, art, and math fun and hands-on. You can have them do a science experiment, code their own robot, build a skyscraper out of LEGOS, make an art collage, or play a fun math game right at home.
You don’t have to use this during social distancing or even quarantine! These ideas would still work well during the regular school year too.
