Summer is the perfect time to do fun and educational activities without the pressure of formal lessons! Kids can take time to explore things they enjoy and absorb learning through a wide range of summer activities. Here are some summer activities that double as learning opportunities, organized by theme so you can choose what best fits your family’s preferences!
In central Illinois, our local farmers have been busy planting with their tractors and equipment. By May, the fields already have a tinge of green. People are planning their home gardens, too. Around our office you hear talk of trying new vegetables and there are more than a couple seed catalogs in the lunchroom. It seems everyone is “itchin’ to grow” something, and planting season is a perfect time to take advantage of a learning opportunity with your children!
The beginning of May brings many bright colors, new life springing forth, birds chirping merrily, and exuberant Mariachi music! Wait, what!? On the fifth of every May, many Mexicans celebrate the commemoration of the Battle of Puebla. This holiday is conveniently called Cinco de Mayo (5th of May). This unit study explores the culture, history, traditions, language, and more surrounding this festive holiday! Make sure you have plenty of tortillas, a few sombreros, and a good internet connection. As we dive into the historic holiday together, enjoy the many links provided that will take you to videos, activities, and further information.
Considered one of the most recorded Christmas songs of all time, the story of The Twelve Days of Christmas is quite an interesting one. Often regarded as a cumulative song, The Twelve Days of Christmas is written so that each verse builds on the previous verses. Cumulative songs are excellent teaching tools for children as they sharpen memory and sequencing skills, increase attention span, and lay a foundation for early language skills and vocabulary. Let's learn more about this song in today's unit study!
If you ask a young child what the Christmas season is all about, you probably won’t hear them say spelling or history or extra homework. Most kids would be happy to skip schoolwork altogether once December rolls around. According to my kids, any and all “school” has a way of crushing the Christmas spirit. How can we have any fun if we have to do math?? But even if you do put your formal lessons aside, that doesn’t mean there still isn’t learning going on, even if it looks different from your usual routine.
With the holiday season fast approaching, we look forward to a break from our typical busy routines, and to time spent together with family and friends. Hopefully this means MORE cozy mornings and LESS rushed evenings. More time around the table or fireplace – steeped in conversation or playing games together. Sounds perfect, doesn’t it? But somehow it feels like you just “blink” on Thanksgiving, and suddenly – it’s the middle of January! A little planning now can help us make the most of the time – nurturing relationships, creating memories, and all the while, boosting brain skills!
Family traditions at Christmas are important because they create lasting memories, strengthen bonds, and provide a sense of stability and belonging. They bring us together, allowing for shared experiences and deeper connections with our loved ones. When it comes to making memories, there are truly so many options! Let me share with you some Christmas traditions from my own family, as well as some ideas for yours.
Homeschooling during the holidays doesn’t need to be stressful. It can be a joyful time if you adapt your schedule and mindset to focus on making wonderful memories while still learning. Putting in a little thought ahead of time will save you from feeling overwhelmed so you can still have productive school time while also enjoying the magic of the holidays. With careful planning and a healthy mindset, you can enjoy this special time of year without all the stress.
It’s that festive time of year again! This has always been my favorite time of year. When I look back at my childhood, my fondest memories were the fun traditions my family made together during the holidays. Children find comfort and bonding in these traditions and it generates a special joy around the home. Now my kids are all grown up but they still enjoy the traditions we made together and really look forward to the holidays. I believe it is because we come together as a family unit, enjoy fun activities together, and most of all look outside ourselves. I would like to share some ideas as well as some of our favorite traditions my family began years ago!
Enjoyed by families for generations, Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade made its debut in 1924 to celebrate and show off the opening of their World’s Largest Store in New York City. Offering a whopping 1 million square feet of clothing, household goods, and children’s toys, the newly expanded store stretched across an entire city block and loomed 11 stories tall to accommodate the brisk business experienced in the early 1920s. Over a century later, the parade has only grown in notoriety and popularity. In this unit study, take some time to learn about America's favorite parade as it enters its 99th running!
