Mom-It Monday: Summer Activities for Homeschool
Introduction
Hello and welcome back NEO Homeschoolers! Mom-It Mondays usually focus on us mamas, but today I want to talk summer. Sunshine, beach days, outdoor playgrounds, the smell of sunscreen & sweat... Summer is on its way in here in northeast Ohio, and all kids, including our homeschooled kiddos are itching to be done with school and spending their days outside with friends. So, I thought today we'd look at some fun ways to infuse a little learning into our kids' summer fun. Ready? Let's go!
Summer Activities for Homeschoolers
Summer is a great time for hands-on learning and outdoor exploration, and these activities have summer fun and exploration written all over them!
Outdoor Exploration
Nature Scavenger Hunt: Get the kids outside and exploring their world with themed lists (e.g., bugs, flowers, rocks, etc.) of items for them to find. If you're like my mother-in-law, and hope to teach your kids the names of various flowers and trees, this is a great way to make that learning fun!
Backyard Science Experiments: From DIY volcanoes to solar ovens, Google has a plethora of science experiment ideas to encourage scientific exploration and learning in your own backyard. Or, if you prefer ready-made kits for this kind of thing, National Geographic and Discovery make excellent science kits which are sold at both Walmart and Target, as well as on Amazon. I, personally, used some of the National Geographic kits as a nanny, and my nanny kids LOVED them!! I definitely plan to use the kits as part of my daughter's homeschool experience, especially during summer.
Stargazing Nights: Because what kid doesn't love an excuse to stay up late? 😉 Pick a clear night and head out to where the street lights are few and the stars are numerous. Then, let the learning begin as you identify constellations, look for and identify planets, or explore Greek myths related to the stars. Need some help with this? Look for night sky apps in your phone's app store.
Educational Field Trips
Historical Sites & Museums: Perfect for that rainy summer day or family day trip, many museums and historical sites offer summer programs as well as hands-on learning opportunities. Some great places in northeast Ohio include: Great Lakes Science Center, Hale Farm, Northern Ohio Railway Museum, Cleveland Art Museum, and Cleveland Natural History Museum... among many others.
Local Farms or Zoos: A great way to learn about animals or agriculture - even both, depending on the farm you visit! 😉- zoos and farms provide kids with tangible learning through up-close encounters and the ability to see the product of hard work on a farm. If you're interested in bringing a Christian perspective to your zoo trip, check out the book, "The Complete Zoo Adventure" by Mary & Gary Parker. Available on Christianbook.com, this book provides devotionals for you to go through prior to your zoo trip as well as Biblically sourced information on the different animals seen at a zoo. There's also a similar field trip book about aquariums for more animal-centered learning.
Factory or Business Tours: Give your kids an up-close look at how various products are made with a family trip to tour a factory or business. From bakeries to pottery, or even Hershey's in Pennsylvania, taking a tour of a factory or business provides great insight into the world of manufacturing, art, or food prep. Plus, there's always the chance of getting free samples, and if chocolate's involved, I know I'm all about those free samples! 😋
Creative & Hands-On Activities
Summer Reading Challenge: Need some motivation to keep your kids reading during the summer months? Head to your local library and ask about their summer reading challenge, or create your own and make it a family event. Then, head to the library or book store and get started picking out what summer reading adventures your kiddos will take.
Looking for a fun way to encourage reading and learning while on the road this summer? Check out The Reading Bug podcast, "Reading Bug Adventures" in your podcast app. Perfect for elementary aged kids, this podcast takes kids on a new adventure every week... From Ancient Rome to the Wild West, your kids will have a blast learning with Lauren and her friend, the Reading Bug. Plus, all books referenced in the podcast can be found listed on the website under that particular episode, so the learning can continue long after the episode is over. {Note: I'm not sure if this podcast is still being produced, but there are dozens of episodes available from previous years, so still worth checking out.}
Themed Art Days: Have a history buff or art fanatic for a kid? This activity will be right up their alley! Have them pick a cultural or historical period and then learn about that period as you work to create art pieces related to that particular period in time.
DIY History Reenactments: Another activity for the history buffs out there, this focuses on recreating historical events using your creativity and acting skills. Have the kids dress up and act out historical events as a play at a family get-together, or just do it as a family unit with the challenge of giving every member of the family a part to play... even the dog. 😜 Most importantly, have fun with it!
Community & Co-op Activities
Still meeting with your co-op during the summer? Check out these group activities for some summer co-op fun with learning built in!
Group STEM Challenges: Encourage the scientists in your co-op or homeschool community with a STEM challenge. Break the kids into groups and have them design a bridge or build a rocket for launching. Then, have fun watching the pride - and possibly silliness - break out as their projects get put to the test.
Service Projects: A great way to build a sense of compassion, and instill the value of giving back, service projects such as neighborhood clean-ups, serving in a soup kitchen, or bake sales can help kids learn how big a difference their hard work can make in the world around them.
Outdoor Theater: Want to encourage some aspiring actors or actresses? Put together a play or puppet show and have the kids perform it in a backyard or local park for an audience of proud family members.
Conclusion
Summer brings with it the promise of days spent outside and nights filled with fireflies and crickets. It can also be a fantastic opportunity for continued learning and creativity! This summer, I hope you're able to bring some new excitement to your kids' education through activities that bring the outdoors, fun, and learning together. Thanks for reading! If you want more Mom-It Monday content, head to this page and check out previous posts where I focus more on the mom side of things. Want to check out local events? Head over to my Homeschool Happenings page for monthly lists of homeschool friendly events and field trips. Finally, if you're a long time follower and you love my content, would you consider helping me grow this community by sharing this blog with your homeschool friends? Thank you in advance! Happy summer & happy learning, NEO Homeschoolers!! 😄