Hands-On Ideas for Summer Learning
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Make education fun and build lessons that last with these engaging summer learning ideas!
Summer fun can look like swimming at your local pool or eating popsicles on a hot day, but it can also be remarkably educational. With hands-on summer learning, kids receive a great opportunity to learn more about specific topics while also enjoying their time outside with family and friends.
Let’s explore some great opportunities for learning that you can enjoy with your kids during the summer!
Learn About Nature by Going Hiking or Camping
Most children spend their entire lives learning about the many amazing processes at work in nature. For true hands-on learning, you and your kids can head outside on a hiking or camping trip to see nature for yourselves. It is a great way to keep kids active, enjoy the nice weather, and learn a lot too.
These trips pair particularly well with age-appropriate lessons on nature. Consider studying local plants and trees with kids, giving them the opportunity to look for some of these creations all on their own!
Grow a Home Garden to Learn About Plants
Summer is a season of growth for many plants and flowers, making it a perfect time to grow a small home garden. Kids love diving in to play with dirt and seeds, and it can be a wonderful way to teach them about different kinds of plants and how they grow. Every day, young learners will be thrilled to run out and check on their plants, especially as they start to grow larger!
Growing edible plants and food can also be a wonderful lesson in food safety and outdoor survival too!
Get Moving Outside with Outdoor Play and Summer Sports
Active kids are healthy kids, and summer is a time when children really love being more active. Instead of typical indoor exercise, use this season as a way for kids to learn about their bodies with outdoor play and summer sports. From cartwheels in the grass to a good game of volleyball, getting outside with the family can teach kids a lot about their bodies and how they work!
Search for Different Types of Rocks Outside and Near the Water
Rocks and soil can have many surprising secrets hidden in them, and this is another great opportunity for hands-on learning with little ones. Going on an outdoor quest to explore different kinds of rocks and classifying them is very exciting for kids and allows them to learn on the move. This lesson feels like a scavenger hunt!
Explore Art Techniques by Recreating Nature
Nature is the ultimate inspiration for many of the world’s most famous art pieces, and it can inspire your little ones too. Heading out to draw, paint, or practice crafts is a wonderful way to explore famous art techniques outside. Help your child to look for inspiration in nature, and support them as they try out art for themselves.
Spend Time Staring Up at the Sky
Summer makes it easy to be outside comfortably, whether it is early in the morning or late at night. Spending time watching clouds or staring up at the stars can be a wonderful hands-on way to explore science topics, like astronomy and precipitation. With these adventures, you can help your child to learn more about the world around them!
Hands-on learning is a powerful educational tool that keeps kids focused and makes them want to learn more. These fun activities and many others can help you to elevate summer learning in your home!
Xoxo,
Mandy