Is summer slide a real thing for children? Some people may argue it isn't but as a teacher I will always debate on the side of the summer slide being VERY real. Summer will be here before we know it, so what can we do? We've worked so hard with our students to watch them grow and blossom. How can we help parents keep the momentum going over the summer? We want them to enjoy their summer and take a break from school but also keep their minds sharp! Today I'm going to share some of my favorite activities to help students avoid the summer slide.
Feel free to share this post with parents and send home this FREE printable BINGO challenge to help your students stay on track to starting the next school year on TOP! Click Here to Download
Tip #1 - Read, Read, Read (for fun)!
I know what you are thinking. Why should we ask children to read over the summer if they are getting a break from school. Well, they can read and have tons of fun doing it! Here are some fun ways to read over the summer! Keep in mind, reading doesn't ALWAYS have to be reading books!
Read in new places like at the beach or by the lake.
Create a scavenger hunt and have your child read and solve the clues. For younger kids, have them find sight words. Once they read the word you can tell them where to look next.
Read a book that is also a movie and celebrate reading with a movie night!
Go to the library and find books that are about a topic your child LOVES. Sometimes in school topics are limited, so let them have some freedom when they read. Libraries can be fun, summer "field trips".
Tip #2 - Explore
Have you taken the time to explore the local state park, or a landmark near you. Exploring nature or cities can lead to a lot of educational experiences. Here are some tips to make your explorations even more educational.
Use a map when you travel or take a hike. Talk about north, south, east, west. Let your child determine which way you need to go. Talk about other landmarks near you or states that border your state. There are so many things a child can learn through reading a map.
Do a little research before your trip and learn about the local plants, animals, weather, etc.
After you explore, have your child write about their experience and some things they learned.
Tip #3 - Calculate Everything!
We don't want to burn children out, but there are so many ways we can keep kids actively engaged in math every day and they won't even realize it!
Older children can help you budget. When grocery shopping talk about costs and estimate what the total bill will be as you add items to your cart. Younger kids can count the items you buy and sort them into categories.
When on nature walks count the animals you see, take pictures and sort them into categories, estimate the distance you will walk and how long it will take.
Have your child complete chores or tasks each day where they can earn money (real or fake). Have them use this money to pay for the movies, new toys, a trip to the water park, etc. Teach them to calculate expenses and make decisions about what will be purchased.
One of the best ways to practice math is using playing cards, playing Yahtzee or dice games, Monopoly, or almost any board game! Make sure you encourage your child to count spaces, count dice, add or subtract as needed, count money, etc.
Tip #4 - Experiment
Children love to experiment and make observations. This is such a fun way to get in some learning activities. I love searching for new experiments.
Have you made elephant toothpaste? If not, it is always a fun experiment. Check out these instructions! Click Here
Plant some new plants and watch them grow. I love planting sunflowers and recording observations as they grow. We even measure them for some added fun.
Baking- Well, it isn't necessarily an experiment but you can bake new items and practice measuring, predict how it will taste, and enjoy some special treats.
Tip #5 - Write All About It
Kids need to keep writing even over the summer. Do we need them to write essays or book reports? Nope, but have them keep a journal about their summer fun! Click here to download this free journal cover.
Let's Stop the Summer Slide
Summer slide can be slowed down if we keep kids engaged. Let's not let our kids slide and fly off the end, but let's help them have a smooth slide into the next year. These are only a few suggestions out of so many possibilities! Get outside to explore, experiment, and have some fun while doing so!
Worksheets and Practice Material are not bad to also incorporate, but make sure to keep it fun and enjoyable! Check out this set of literacy and math worksheets for kindergarteners. They are also great review activities for the end of the year!
More Learning Activities:
