Homeschooling parents are often accused of turning ordinary events into learning opportunities – even in the summer! Here in Illinois, summer months are often hot and humid. Even out here in the central region, away from big bodies of water, it is unusually pleasant to have a hot day that isn’t muggy. For my husband who grew up in Oklahoma, humidity adds another level to the summer heat. (It also means I have to listen to him say Jooo-lie instead of our midwestern July.) It gave me some ideas for summer learning to explore:
Keep a daily calendar of the temperature and humidity. Add any amounts of rain or perhaps how many days without rain. This is essentially a garden journal. Refer to it again next year and make comparisons. Maybe use a farmer’s almanac or refer to the weather news to find average temperatures. Now we are studying weather!
Observe animals when bad weather is coming. Do the birds get quiet? Does your outside cat want to come inside? Do you find storms scary? Maybe learning more about weather patterns will help kids understand what is happening. Animals often sense changes in the atmosphere. How do they do that? Now we are studying animal behavior!
The importance of staying hydrated is a good lesson. As kids are running around playing sports and just playing around, they sweat! What is sweat? Why is it important? What happens if you don’t replenish liquids? Is sweat the same as tears? Think of as many questions as you can, then investigate the answers. Now we are learning how your body regulates temperature!
Summer is a fun time to play in the water, whether a pool, splash pad, sprinkler, or even with squirt guns. Use three clear measuring containers, and place one in the sun, one in the shade, and one in the house. Predict what will happen to the water in each. Observe, and then document your observations. Why do you think the water evaporated more quickly in one than in others? Now we are observing a physical change!
Here is an interesting question. Why can some people tolerate working and playing in the heat longer than others? Why are light eyes often more sensitive to sunlight than dark eyes? Within your own family and friends, ask them when it becomes unpleasant to be out in the summer heat. How did people stay cool before air conditioning was invented? Now we are learning some anthropology!
I bet you can find all sorts of informal, curiosity-based learning opportunities this summer! Kids tend to remember learning that they initiate (just like we do). If you usually have a more structured learning environment, summer may be a way to dabble with exploratory learning in a way that feels like low stakes for you. You may even find your teaching style taking a surprising turn. ~Sara
