This engaging group of activities will keep your kids active and learning all summer long with hands-on activities and experiments, interactive games, reading and writing activities, educational videos, and podcasts.
Play it as a game or encourage your kids to complete one row or column each week to get them ready for the next school year.
Teaching Tips
Positives
The activities encourage creativity, critical thinking, and hands-on learning.
You can print the black and white sheet for kids to color in or add a virtual sticker to each space once the activity is completed.
Additional Prerequisites
You will need access to the internet and a device for some of the activities.
Some projects require materials or outdoor space to complete.
You will need to come up with a method for selecting the activities.
Differentiation
Make this sheet a Bingo, pin the tail on the donkey, or Tiddlywinks game to select the activities.
If your kids are excited about the build-your-own “green” vehicle game, try to set up one of their creations using real materials to test it out.
Consider watching the jungles video prior to going to the zoo or botanical gardens, to increase their engagement and apply their learning.
After the rake video, have kids use a small broom or rake to help clean up grass clippings or dead leaves in their yard or nearby green space.
The food taste-tests can be expanded to a variety of fruits, grains, and vegetables to try over the summer. Try having your kids help you prepare them in different ways and then tell you how it changes the flavor.
Have your kids use a graphic organizer for the reading assignments and have them tell you what the story was about when they are finished.
Scientist Notes
This summer learning challenge contains fun activities that will let 3rd-5th graders understand the impact of climate change on polar bears and the cascading effects of carbon emissions on transport, energy, agriculture, wildlife, biodiversity, etc. On that account, this resource is recommended.
Standards
Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS)
ESS2: Earth's Systems
3-ESS2-1 Represent data in tables and graphical displays to describe typical weather conditions expected during a particular season.
4-ESS2-2 Analyze and interpret data from maps to describe patterns of Earth’s features.
ETS1: Engineering Design
3-5-ETS1-3 Plan and carry out fair tests in which variables are controlled and failure points are considered to identify aspects of a model or prototype that can be improved.
LS1: From Molecules to Organisms: Structures and Processes
4-LS1-1 Construct an argument that plants and animals have internal and external structures that function to support survival, growth, behavior, and reproduction.
LS2: Ecosystems: Interactions, Energy, and Dynamics
5-LS2-1 Develop a model to describe the movement of matter among plants, animals, decomposers, and the environment.
PS3: Energy
4-PS3-2 Make observations to provide evidence that energy can be transferred from place to place by sound, light, heat, and electric currents.
Common Core English Language Arts Standards (CCSS.ELA)
Reading: Foundational Skills (K-5)
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RF.3.3 Know and apply grade-level phonics and word analysis skills in decoding words.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RF.4.4 Read with sufficient accuracy and fluency to support comprehension.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RF.5.3 Know and apply grade-level phonics and word analysis skills in decoding words.
National Core Arts Standards
Music: Standard 1 - Generate and conceptualize artistic ideas and work
MU:Cr1.1.4b Generate musical ideas (such as rhythms, melodies, and simple accompaniment patterns) within related tonalities (such as major and minor) and meters.
Visual Arts: Standard 1 - Generate and conceptualize artistic ideas and work.
VA:Cr1.2.5a Identify and demonstrate diverse methods of artistic investigation to choose an approach for beginning a work of art.
