It’s summer break, but you can plan activities for your kids to continue learning while having fun. No matter what age your kids are, they can learn outside the classroom throughout the summer. This can include scavenger hunts, crafts, and teaching outdoor lessons and skills. Kids thrive on routine, and planning summer activities can provide them with an altered routine to fit your summer schedule. You can incorporate math and reading skills if desired, or stick with the theme of nature as your classroom.
Depending on the age of your kids, think about what you want to teach them this summer and what could be beneficial for them to learn. Have them take part in a discussion about it and get their feedback on activities they would like to do. Whether you have a vacation planned or plan to stay local, take advantage of being able to get out in nature with your kids and turn the outdoors into a classroom.
Plan an outdoor scavenger hunt that can lead to a craft. Think of what is abundant outside where you live. This could be pinecones, sticks, branches, nuts, seeds, leaves, and flowers. Objects like rocks and shells can be included, depending on your location. Give kids a ‘nature box’ to gather their items in. Kids can also write down other items they find, and include them in the box. Let kids know that they will be making a craft with these items, and have them take part in the idea for it.
Make crafts using materials gathered from the scavenger hunt. Depending on the items gathered and how many of each, there are plenty of different crafts that can be done. Rocks and shells are great for painting. Pinecones, sticks and branches are great for gluing together to build something. This can also become a S.T.E.M activity, and you can incorporate food and other household materials.
Practice making a campfire and have s’mores. If your kids don’t know how to start a campfire on their own, summer is the perfect time to teach them or have them take part in helping to start one. If you want to go the more natural route, you can have them gather the supplies outside, and add these items onto the scavenger hunt list. This can be done in a backyard, or on a camping trip. Get all of your supplies ready to roast marshmallows on sticks they find and make s’mores!
Incorporate science and make homemade ice cream in a bag. Teach your kids about the role salt plays when making ice cream in a bag, and how it lowers the temperature of the ice and freezes the ice cream mixture. You can explain how the mixture will turn into ice cream, and have kids help shake the bags and watch the liquid turn into ice cream. There are different recipes to follow with variations of cream and/or milk. For flavors, you can make it simple by using vanilla extract or other flavor extracts. Don’t be afraid to get messy and turn this science lesson into an ice cream sundae station!
Scavenger Hunt
Here is a possible list to follow for items to put on your list. There are plenty of items kids can look for on a nature walk. Don’t forget to keep in mind a craft idea to make afterwards, or multiple different crafts.
- Pine cones
- Pine needles
- Sticks and twigs
- Branches
- Leaves
- Flowers
- Rocks
- Shells
- Acorns
- Seeds
- Different species of trees
- Different species of birds
- Squirrels
- Bird feathers
- Bugs
Build a bird feeder. This would be a great small project for an older kid, but younger kids could still help play a role in making it. If you are not experienced with making something like this, you can start with a basic design and watch tutorial videos. You can also make a complex design and turn this into a longer summer project for you and your kids. This is also a great opportunity to incorporate the math skills of measurement. You can also have a discussion about the importance of being precise and accurate with measurements, and having patience in order for the project to turn out correctly.
Another great project for older kids would be a research assignment. Let your kids decide on what they want to research by having them pick something that interests them. This could be a species of tree that grows in your area, or a bird or other animal that is seen often. By choosing something found in your area, this can make the idea of a research assignment more intriguing for kids. Maybe your kids want to know more about a big tree in your yard or more about the birds they hear in the morning. If you get them interested, you can incorporate reading into a fun, summer activity. Bring books and a computer outside to add to the experience of an outdoor classroom.
There are so many ways to incorporate learning outdoors. If there’s a thunderstorm, turn the weather into a science lesson. If you go on a road trip, turn the planning for the trip into a life skills lesson on the cost of gas, time management, and making reservations. Take advantage of the on-the-spot opportunities that your kids don’t always get during the school year. Make the summers even more special for you and your kids while providing them with alternative ways to learn outside the classroom.
Science Experiments
There are plenty of science experiments that you can plan this summer for kids of all ages. Find ones that interest your kids and plan to gather the materials needed. You can plan for a combination of quick, simple experiments, and longer, more complex ones.
Outdoor Classroom
- Make homemade ice cream
- Build a bird feeder
- Build an anemometer to track wind speed
- Make a barometer in a bottle
- Make your own rock candy
- Make eggshell geode crystals