A summer trip to the beach can provide educational opportunities for kids.
Parents and children usually think of summer as a break from school. However, summer provides many opportunities for less formal education. Hold an informal summer school and take advantage of fun summer activities to enrich a child's education. Creative parents can plan these lessons ahead of time while also seizing teaching opportunities when they present themselves during the summer months.
Beach School
Take a trip to the beach together and have a treasure hunt for different colored rocks and shells. Have your child organize her collection by size, color or shape. Observe different wildlife you see, such as birds, fish and insects. Bring crayons and paper for your child to use to color a picture of each animal seen. Later, use the Internet to look information on each animal she drew.
Budget a Summer Outing
Plan a summer outing together, but have your child help budget expenses for the trip. Have him make a list of all items you might spend money on. Afterward, discuss other items he may have forgotten, such as the gas it will take to get to the destination.
Book and Movie Adventure
Choose a book to read together that has also been made into a movie. When finished reading the book, borrow or rent a video projector and watch the movie from the book outside. Use a large white bed sheet for the screen. Invite the neighbors over to watch the movie with you.
Night Sky Lessons
Plan to camp out in your yard or at a local campground on a clear night. Find an open spot and use a telescope to study the night sky. Look at the moon, stars and planets if visible. Ask questions about the differences between planets and stars and why the moon is necessary.
Visit Historical Sites
Plan outings to historical sites, such as Civil War battlefields, museums and cemeteries. Take children to cemeteries where relatives are buried and share stories to teach them about their family history. Relate the family history to what was happening in the world during that time, such as the Great Depression and World War II.
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