Summer is just a few short weeks away (as if you weren’t already counting the days!). Many schools and teachers like to assign students engaging academic work to do during the summer to prevent learning loss.
is the “loss of academic skills and knowledge over the course of the summer. The loss in learning varies across grade level, subject matter, and family income.” Students, and their parents, are more likely to make this vacation summer learning a priority if it’s something they will enjoy. We’ve come up with a list of suggestions here for you that kids will enjoy.
Create a cook book: Encourage students to create a short cookbook of 5-7 recipes. Students will need to test each recipe themselves before putting it in their cookbook and should include recipes for different meals. Age level: Middle School; Skills Learned: Critical thinking, Math
Summer Journal: Suggest students to keep a journal of the activities they do during the summer. Older kids can write their entries in a journal type format, or write a report about their favorite activity; ask younger kids to write a story about their favorite thing they did this summer, whether it’s a vacation, trip to the zoo or beach, or something closer to home like a new pet. Age level: PreK through High School; Skills Learned: Writing, Reading
Nature Collection: Have students collect leaves or rocks and try to identify them using books or the internet. Or for the more adventurous, see how many different types of bugs they can photograph and identify! Age level: Middle School – High School; Skills Learned: Science
And don’t forget to keep your skills sharp this summer too! Read books, take classes, volunteer and enjoy yourself!
Read more tips to prevent summer learning loss from our blog post last summer: Tips to Prevent Learning Loss During the Summer