Keep Students Engaged this Summer and Ready for Fall Learning
Summer is nearly here. For most of us, there is a feeling of nostalgia as we remember our summers spent lazing around. Drinking from water hoses, patrolling the neighborhood on bikes for hours, and spending hours outside in the sun come to mind. While some things in our world have changed and we no longer drink from water hoses, some things haven’t changed. Our kids deserve great memories of summer, as well. We want to help facilitate summer activities for kids that also help keep them learning during the lazy summer months. Here are 5 Summer Activities to Stop the Summer Slide.
1. Summer Reading Challenge
A very important way to keep students engaged in learning through the summer is to encourage daily reading. In order to build a life-long love of learning, some kids need an extra nudge. Whether you are a teacher or a parent, you can introduce a summer reading challenge, which is my number one out of my 5 summer activities to stop the summer slide. Why not encourage them with a fun Bingo summer reading challenge? This Summer Reading Challenge Bundle has a Bingo challenge for each month of summer break, reading logs, bookmarks, reading response sheets, and so many more things perfect for keeping your kids on track with their summer reading.
Students will love receiving certifcates or prizes for completing the summer challenge. It’s design to keep students reading different books, reading books in new locations, and answering questions during or after their reading. However you encourage your kids to read this summer, it will be a challenge well met. Reading over the summer will help your learners be ready for the fall.
2. Library Reading Summer Activities for Kids
Wherever you live, hopefully, there is a library within reach. Whether it’s just down the road or along the way through town on a weekly errand, the local library is an important stop. All libraries have thousands of children’s books for your child to pick from and a super easy way to get in their daily reading, and the books are all free to borrow with a library card. Most libraries offer a weekly storytime and craft, which is a great way to get extra reading time in.
Especially in the summertime, local libraries have great options for books and summer activities for kids. Many libraries offer their own version of a summer reading program to challenge kids to read during their summer months.
If you don’t have the time for a weekly stop at the library, most library cards come with free access to a Libby account. Libby allows you to borrow e-books and audiobooks that you can read on most devices. Click here to see if your local library has free Libby access.
If you don’t have a library close or your local library doesn’t have a summer reading program with summer activities, try the Internet. Search the internet for a county, state, or national library program. If you happen to live in Iowa, there is a state sponsored program for all ages to access the iREAD Summer Reading Program 2022. A quick search shows that Louisiana, California, South Dakota, and Utah all have similar programs if your home state doesn’t have one.
Even if you don’t participate in a local library reading program or find one to join through the Internet, encourage your kids to read. Reading opens doors and encourages a lifelong love of reading in our kids.
3. Summer Activities: Color by Codes
I have some fun summer activities for kids to keep what they’ve learned in school fresh. For the youngsters in lower elementary grades, they learn very well with a hands-on approach. Reading is golden, yes, but so is coloring, writing, and reviewing concepts learned during the school year.
Encourage your learners to keep their skills sharp this summer by using these summer-themed color by code activities. Within this resource, you will find trace and color summer activities to review letters, numbers, and sight words specifically designed for Pre-K and Kindergarteners.
For 1st & 2nd Graders, check out this Summer Color by Code Sight Words Bundle. If you’re still looking for a great summer reading activity for 1st – 4th graders, there is also a fun Color by Code Summer Reading Challenge.
4. Science at Home Summer Activities for Kids
Don’t be put-off by the theme of science at home. It always sounds messy, but it is worth the mess and cleanup process. I promise, your kids will love it.
- Foam Chalk Paint: With just a few, easily found ingredients, you can make a fun alternative to boring sidewalk chalk. This DIY Foam Sidewalk Paint can be made with ingredients all purchased at any grocery or general goods store. The foam is 3-D and is fun to paint with on driveways and sidewalks. Chalk is also a great way to practice writing letters, numbers, sight words, and practice counting with hop scotch.
- Giant Bubbles: Using a hula hoop or two sticks with rope tied between to make a giant bubble wand, your kids will love this summer activity. The perfect DIY mixture for giant bubbles will have your whole family entertained for hours and days throughout the summer.
- Play-Dough: Creating play-dough at home has been around since I was a kid, a long long time ago, but it is still fun for kids today. Using a simple recipe for DIY Play-Dough, your kids can have fun making all kinds of interesting sculptures (and it’s okay if some is “accidentally” eaten). Don’t forget to have your students practice their letters, numbers, and sight words with a fun playdough mat.
- Slime: Play-Dough’s more current cousin is slime. There are so many popular recipes out there for slime, chances are you already have a favorite or have tested out a few recipes to find one that works for you. If you haven’t, here are 10 types of slime to make at home for a summer activity your kids are sure to enjoy.
5. Local Bingo, Passports, or Stay-Cations
Finances are tight right now and vacations may be out of the picture for many of us this summer. If you fit into this category or you are looking for something more to do around home to teach your learners about the world around them, look into local bingo cards. Local bingo cards, or local travel passports, or stay-cations are wonderful ways to incorporate summer activities for kids at home. Check with your city, county, or state to see what is available to teach your kids about the place they call home.
For example, the state of Nebraska has a Nebraska Passport program for “Discovering Nebraska’s hidden gems.” Items on the passport include parks, museums, retail stores, wineries, and many more stops where visitors are encouraged to explore and learn something new. Each stop included on the passport has a fun stamp or sticker to mark the passport when you have visited. Many cities and states have similar programs. Check your area to see what is available. Make learning about home some of the summer activities your kids will remember the most.
Summary
Engage your learners and pursue in the way of summer activities for kids that will help educate. Encourage their love of reading, science, and history this summer with these 5 summer activities to stop the summer slide.
Don’t forget to check out my blog post all about my favorite summer read alouds!
