Question

Hi moms!  Since my kiddo likes schedules and likes to be busy, im making a summer schedule for him.Hi moms! Since my kiddo likes schedules and likes to be busy, im making a summer schedule for him. Its going to involve a little bit of schoolwork type workbooks from dollar tree, amazon etc, a little screentime work like lexia/dreambox/zearn etc. Then I decided that each week will be a theme of some sort, where well do activities pertaining to the topic of the week. So far I have 1. Space (planets, rocket ships, aliens etc) 2. Fourth of July (learn state names, capitals, other age appropriate stuff about the USA and such) 3. Sports themed to go with what wouldve been Olympics week- this will be 2 weeks long and focus on different sports. 4. Animals- I may split this into farm and wild animals making it 2 weeks long, and maybe do the Lake Geneva safari tour thing, and a farm visit if there are any open. 5. Insects- this I dunno because I dont like bugs lol but its a topic 6. Camping- TBD Does anyone have any other theme ideas? Maybe we can brainstorm and come up with fun ideas for the kiddos! Edit- my kiddo is 8 but im open to all themes and can work it into age appropriate activities

Answer 1

Volcanos (and various other science experiments). There are some great kits out there which use common kitchen items that create a chemical reaction.  

Comments

@karleen678 oh good idea!  

Answer 2

Cooking/baking, medieval, architecture, magic, rainforest, weather

Answer 3

Awesome! Are Lexia and Dreambox from school? Do we still have access over the summer?  

Comments

@gainless I was wondering this too!  

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@gainless im going to ask his teacher and find out! He gets to keep his chromebook over the summer so I am hoping the logins will still work!  

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@owner awesome! I hope so too. My daughter loves both of those sites

Answer 4

Recommend for 50 states using pic collage app. Here's one I did using web search feature cancun

Answer 5

Many museums now offer virtual tours

Comments

@aesculapius oh thats a great idea!  

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And the aquarium

Answer 6

For sports check out library sports illustrated based on sports of choice. Can watch YouTube videos athletes who inspire or have tips on visualization or ways to improve nutrition or endurance

Comments

@aesculapius thats a great idea! We may do 2 days per sport so that would be great to focus on each sport!  

Answer 7

Maybe add in an art and or music week. A hero’s week could be cool!  

Comments

@multifoliate we will be doing arts every week with the theme! But the music theme is awesome because he loves music

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@owner I have a music school. We teach 500+ kids online every week!  

Answer 8

Also starting a small garden is always fun  

Comments

@multifoliate were working on one now! If it starts growing then well work on more for sure!  

Answer 9

What age? Could do a good themed week and incorporate a farm visit and cooking.  

Comments

@clippers9 hes 8! I definitely would love to incorporate a farm visit, that would be a good idea!  

Answer 10

Ocean could be another good theme.  

Answer 11

Water themed - sprinkler, water balloons, some experiments with water/ice. Paint with water

Answer 12

•Geography/Travel, •Finances/Taxes (never too early to start, my son was pissed about taxes on Legos  •Inventors •Learning about trades (electricians, iron workers, carpentry, plumbing, etc) •Our government branches and how they work •National Monuments (Like Mt Rushmore etc) • 7 Wonders of the World •Architecture

Comments

@ufo527 awesome ideas! He’s obsessed with geography so we will definitely focus on these!  

Answer 13

Dream board Photography Art Music

Answer 14

Amazing. all I ever did was go to the beach everyday. wonder if centennial will open!  

Answer 15

Abolition of slavery (we found a lot of amazing local connections to the abolitionist movement at the St. Charles and Downers Grove Museum (and their graveyard downtown) last year and of course there are so many great books about it we had planned to study WWII more in depth this summer - trip to Holocaust Museum and Cantigny and the new exhibit at Naper Settlement, toy soldiers, so many good books, but who knows what will be open geography - we had planned to follow a country closely in the olympics caterpillars (we raise caterpillars almost every summer) frogs (we have a pond and like to bring tadpoles in to raise and then release back into the pond) mythology (we've done a lot of norse and celtic and fairy tales) sewing knitting woodworking

Comments

Kit RM im holding out a little bit of hope that some of these open up so we can check it out!  

Answer 16

Not sure your child’s age but environmental/recycling, science (various science experiments), gardening/plants/how things grow. Construction (Home Depot used to have a construction kit that the kids would come and build something may be able to see about a take home kit ‍♀️ also cardboard boxes can be constructed into great things with a little imagination. I would also suggest a book list with reward for completing summer reading goals. Side note, insect lore has lots of great tools as well as butterflies, ladybug and ant habitats. Amazon has praying mantises egg hatching kits as well. Lots of good stuff with insects!  

Answer 17

Thank you for all the ideas! Please keep them coming! Im going to write them out and add ideas of worksheets or crafts to go with them and post a master sheet when im done!  

Comments

@owner that’s awesome! Thanks!  

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@owner this would be so awesome! My husband is currently temporarily laid off and I told him to do this exact research project in combination to keep our kids with the online learning as well over the summer. He looked at me with a blank stare. I’m leaning on him to help with this since I’m working from home full time and i don’t have the bandwidth. I would love it if you could share what you are putting together  

Answer 18

What an awesome idea!  

Answer 19

The Morton Arboretum is opening on June 1. You have to be a member and make an appointment to keep it less crowded. I think June 15th otherwise. Membership is like $100 for a year but you get in free all year and free parking. They have trees and bushes, etc in different categories and you can learn all about the history, etc. Also get outside away from those screens! Beware that the bathrooms are not going to be open!  

Answer 20

Scavenger hunts on walks in forest preserves. find 15 leaves, 1 flower, 10 pine cones, 6 small sticks, 4 flat rocks etc. then take them home and use them for art. older kids can be given glue, scissors, paper and paint and then be told to be creative. younger kids can be given paint to paint with the objects. we are going to try and visit 5 different forest preserves and make 5 different collages. then my husband is going to be the judge and award one picture the first place prize! We will showcase the winning picture in the front window of our house. gets you out of the house. seeing new places and is challenging at the same time!