Who wants to be inside during nice weather? No one! Get your student outside this summer with fun summer activities that not only burn off some of that energy but also keep learning going during break with outdoor educational activities.
You don’t have to be a teacher to lead a field trip or be educational. Parents can do this too by planning ahead and having multiple activities available if you have several different grade levels of students in your family. Get outdoors and learn together.
Here are some ideas to get you started:
Scavenger Hunt (elementary grades) – Get your little one moving with an interactive hunt. Hide clues and secret items along a planned route (watch out for bugs)! A hunt can incorporate learning about nature and problem solving, or you can be inventive and hide items relating to a subject area like science, history, or language. Think hidden objects that teach phonics rules or next-location clues written in math problems.
Nature Spotting (middle school grades) – Your tween is all into Facebook and texting, right? Open his world with nature spotting. Go for a hike or walk nearby and document (on a phone or tablet if you like) what flora and fauna you discover. After returning home, research the animals and plants you found together and make a nature journal (online or offline) to share (yes, even on Facebook) with friends and family.
Photography (high school grades) – OK, so your busy teenager has “like” no time this summer for learning. Not! Stop time from flying by taking a photography class together (either with a professional or a skilled acquaintance). Find or borrow a camera and learn the basics of photographing nature, aperture settings, exposure times, and frame composition. Document summer memories you’ll enjoy after he’s moved out of the nest.
Celebrate summer by getting outside in nature and learning with your student. These activities are just the tip of the iceberg so get creative. Whatever you do for learning outside, remember to take a hat, water bottle, and SPF sun block!
What was your favorite summertime outdoor learning activity as a child?