What Are Some Fun and Educational Summer Activities for Elementary and High School Students?
by Julie Diamond, OCT
Summer is a time to relax and take a break from the school routine. However, it’s also a fantastic opportunity to learn new skills, explore interests, and have fun.
Here’s a comprehensive guide on how to make the most out of your summer, balancing enjoyment with learning, with specific resources and examples for elementary and high school students.
1. Embrace the Outdoors
a. Nature Walks and Hikes:
Exploring the natural world can be both educational and rejuvenating. Use the Seek by iNaturalist app to identify plants and animals. Participate in local citizen science projects through NatureWatch Canada. Or try geocaching by downloading the free app here.
b. Gardening:
Gardening teaches patience, responsibility, and the basics of botany. Start a small garden using resources from KidsGardening or Growing Minds.
Grow food outside and connect it with creating meals in the kitchen for a fun introduction to cooking.
c. Star Gazing:
Summer nights are perfect for stargazing. Use apps like SkyView to identify constellations and planets. Watch Crash Course Astronomy on YouTube for high school-level astronomy lessons.
2. Dive into Reading
a. Summer Reading List:
Create a summer reading list with books from the TD Summer Reading Club. Join a virtual book club through your local library, such as the Oakville Public Library.
b. Audiobooks and Podcasts:
Explore audiobooks with free options on LibriVox. Younger students can enjoy CBC Kids Storytime, while high school students might like The Secret Life of Canada.
3. Explore Arts and Crafts
a. Drawing and Painting:
Use websites like Art for Kids Hub for step-by-step drawing tutorials for younger students. High schoolers can follow more advanced tutorials on Proko.
b. DIY Projects:
Find DIY project ideas on The Artful Parent for elementary students and Instructables for more complex projects suitable for high school students.
4. Develop New Skills
a. Cooking and Baking:
Elementary students can start with simple recipes from Yummy Mummy Club. High school students can explore more advanced culinary techniques on Tasty.
b. Coding:
Introduce younger students to coding with Scratch. High school students can take free courses on Codecademy.
c. Music:
Learn a musical instrument with online lessons from MusicNotes. Elementary students might enjoy Chrome Music Lab and, one that our grade 3 students just discovered, Incredibox. High school students can use JustinGuitar for guitar lessons.
5. Engage in Physical Activities
a. Sports:
Join a local sports team or try virtual sports camps through Sportball. Watch instructional videos (many are FREE!) on CoachTube for high school students.
b. Yoga and Meditation:
Younger students can follow along with Cosmic Kids Yoga. High school students can use Yoga with Adriene for more advanced yoga routines.
c. Dance:
Take dance classes on GoNoodle or ‘Danny Go’ on YouTube for elementary students (my personal fave!) or Steezy for high school students interested in various dance styles.
6. Travel and Explore
a. Local Adventures:
Explore local museums and historical sites virtually through Google Arts & Culture. Check out National Geographic Kids for younger students and Atlas Obscura for high schoolers.
b. Road Trips:
Plan educational road trips and use Roadtrippers to find interesting stops. Learn about each destination using Canadian Geographic.
c. Volunteer Work:
Find volunteer opportunities suitable for all ages on Volunteer Canada. Participate in community service projects or virtual volunteering activities. Brainstorm some ideas about how you and your family can give back to your local community - from picking up litter at the community park to donating non-perishables to your food bank.
7. Online Learning and Courses
a. Online
Students can take free courses on Khan Academy Kids.
b. Language Learning:
Use Duolingo for both elementary and high school students to learn new languages in a fun way. High school students can also use Rosetta Stone for more comprehensive language courses.
c. Skill-Sharing Platforms:
Explore courses on Skillshare for creative skills like photography and graphic design.
8. Foster Creativity and Critical Thinking
a. Writing:
Start a journal or blog using Storybird for elementary students and WordPress for high school students. Participate in writing challenges from NaNoWriMo Young Writers Program.
b. Puzzles and Games:
Engage in brain-challenging activities on Coolmath Games for elementary students and Chess.com for high school students.
c. Science Experiments:
Conduct simple science experiments using guides from Science North for younger students. High school students can explore more advanced experiments on Exploratorium.
9. Social Connections and Networking
a. Join Clubs or Groups:
Elementary students can join virtual groups on National Geographic Kids.
b. Attend Workshops and Seminars:
Younger students can find educational webinars on PBS Kids.
10. Reflect and Plan
a. Track Your Progress:
Keep a journal or create a digital log using Day One for high school students. Younger students can use printable trackers from Teachers Pay Teachers.
b. Stay Flexible:
While it’s good to have a plan, stay open to new opportunities. Sometimes the best experiences come from spontaneous activities and exploring new interests.
Summer is a wonderful time to break free from the usual routine and explore new interests and passions. By combining fun activities with learning opportunities, you can make the most of your summer break. Whether you’re exploring the great outdoors, diving into a new book, developing a new skill, or simply spending quality time with loved ones, there are countless ways to enrich your summer.
So, make a plan, set some goals, and get ready for a summer full of fun and learning. Enjoy the journey, and remember that the best learning often happens when you’re having the most fun.