Five-Minute Film Festival: Nine Boosts for Late-Summer Learning
Wow, it’s been a busy summer. August completely snuck up on me — and for many parents and educators, it’s nearly back-to-school time. After all the June chatter about summer slide and learning loss, even the most well-intentioned parents have probably let their kids zone out in front of the television. But in a matter of weeks, we need to have those little learners ready to re-engage in their education and start a whole new year.
So, I have pulled together some resources to get kids excited about learning again. Skip the worksheets — consider these ideas a way to prime the little ones for heading back into the classroom, without losing the joy and freedom of the last few weeks of their break. Maybe they’ll find these activities so fun, they’ll stay engaged in learning outside the classroom well into the fall!
Video Playlist: Late Summer Learning Boosters
Keep watching the player below to see the rest of the playlist, or view it on YouTube.
Welcome to Wonderopolis! (01:44)
The National Center for Family Literacy puts together this website and offers daily emails with thought-provoking questions to send your kids on a journey of discovery all year ’round. Sign up at the Wonderopolis website.
Start A DIY Club! (01:13)
DIY.org is one of the coolest free online communities for kids I’ve ever encountered. It offers projects that encourage kids to learn all kinds of new skills and share their work, individually or by forming clubs. Learn more from their guides for parents and educators.
Exploratorium: Changing the Way the World Learns (02:10)
Late summer is a perfect time to visit a local children’s museum. In the San Francisco Bay Area, we’re so lucky to have the Exploratorium, but check out the Association of Children’s Museums to find one near you.
How Kids Can Learn From Apps, Websites & Games (02:15)
So you’re unable to peel your child off that device? Common Sense Media offers quick tips on choosing the best games and apps for learning. Use their database of reviews or mobile app to find information by title.
The Bubbleologist – The Code (01:52)
One way to get a constant stream of learning prompts is to follow a great curator. Check out The Kid Should See This website orTwitter feed – Rion Nakaya’s collection of not-made-for-kids videos for kids.
Book Domino Chain World Record (03:01)
I couldn’t resist including this epic domino book chain that the Seattle Public Library did to promote reading and going to the public library. Keep those kids with their noses in books all year!
Homemade Geyser Tube – Sick Science #149 (01:06)
Got a bored kid? Turn them on to Steve Spangler’s YouTube channel or his website for messy and mystifying science experiments you can do at home with basic materials. Bonus: Ted-Ed flip on Mentos + Coke geysers!
Audri’s Rube Goldberg Monster Trap (04:07)
Want to have your kids learn hands-on physics while keeping them busy for hours? Build a Rube Goldberg machine! Edu-curator Larry Ferlazzo has a great resource page – this video is a favorite.
Student Writing Center 826 Valencia (02:06)
If there’s an 826 Writing Center near you, get there quick. They offer writing workshops for kids in 8 cities around the US. Each one is connected to a unique storefront — like the Bigfoot Research Institute in Chicago or the Brooklyn Superhero Supply Co.
More Ways to Boost End-of-Summer Engagement
I hope you’ve been inspired to get up and do some fun activities in these last weeks of vacation. Here are more resources for keeping kids engaged outside of school — all year!
Links for Summer Learning and Summer Slide
- National Summer Learning Association
- Articles tagged with “summer slide” on MindShift
- “Encouraging Year-Round Learning,” by Sarah Caron, SheKnows Parenting
- “#EdTechChat – Prevent Summer Slide with Digital Tech,” Getting Smart
- Summer Learning, Crafts & Activities – Pinterest Board by WeAreTeachers