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Homeschooling 101: Making Summer Fun and Educational

by Jessica Parnell | Jun 30, 2017 | 3 min read

Wow, summer is already here and in full swing! But what do you do now? If you’re stuck on this question like I’ve been in recent years, I’m here to help! There are many things to do in the summer that are simultaneously fun and educational. Learning doesn’t have to be boring or dreadful, especially during your break from school! You may not even realize that you’re learning something new while completing such enjoyable activities!

With that being said, today I’m sharing a few activities that you and your family can try out this summer if you’re looking to have fun while also learning in the process.

  1. Grow a Garden: Growing a garden is a great opportunity for you, your family, and your friends to come together and bond. And since it’s summer, you can pick from a variety of in-season fruits and vegetables to plant. “What’s so educational about gardening?” you may be asking. Well, by growing a garden, you’re learning the importance of feeding your body healthy foods while also benefiting the earth and nature around you! In addition to healthy eating, you’re also learning about where the food you eat daily comes from and how these items grow! Make sure you research each plant to know what kind of habitat they need and how much water you need to give them.
  2. Take a Road Trip: What’s better than some spontaneous road-trips with your family and/or friends?! Wherever you’re headed, along the way you can learn about the different locations (towns/cities) you’re in, when they were founded, and who founded them. There’s also a good chance that you’ll run into a famous place, like a sports stadium or museum! In addition, during pit-stops you can learn about the popular, well-known food of each state, as well as the state-bird, and why it was chosen! If these trips are not so spontaneous, you can even research ahead of time. That way you can look for those popular birds and know where you want to eat to try the most authentic food.
  3. Visit Important Landmarks: Traveling to different national parks and visiting historical landmarks is probably one of the most interesting things on this list! Whether you’re staying local or going far, taking a trip to a famous natural landmark can be both fun and educational – you get to learn about the history behind it while also taking in the beautiful, scenic view.
  4. Create a Scrapbook: This summer will fly by. Why not create a scrapbook of all of the memories and trips you take! If you love adventure and do a lot of traveling – no matter how many trips you go on or places you visit – creating a scrapbook to log all of it into is a great way to reflect on the amazing memories you’ve made. (It can also be used for your portfolio.) Just grab your art supplies and get creative! You can also research those places, learn more about them, and add that information into the scrapbook. Overall, this is another fun learning project to try out!
  5. Visit a Local Farm: I realize this is similar to growing your own garden, but for those who enjoy the outdoors or can’t grow their own garden, this is next in line! Visiting a local farm is a great way to spend time with your family. I love going to the farms in my area because of the fresh, natural atmosphere, and also since I’m able to pick the fruit and enjoy it later! Additionally, you can go to a local bakery that offers pies, cakes, and other desserts made with ingredients from your local farm! There’s nothing better than supporting local businesses, learning about the growing-process of fruits and vegetables, and enjoying them, too!
  6. Build a Bird House: This is something I have always personally loved doing during the summer months. The construction of a bird house is also not just a “guy” thing, girls can do it, too! You can build a bird house from a kit, or from your own materials, and decorate it the way you’d like. But birds can’t live without food… So you can also build them a bird-feeder, or buy one, and set it up next to their new house! These are two fun projects that can aid in your learning about building, working as a team, and the main subject – birds! Once a bird lives in the home, you can research the type of bird and learn more about their habits and bird calls.

How are you planning to learn this summer?  Tell us in a comment below!

Jessica Parnell
Hello everyone! I’m Jessica Parnell — mom, homeschool evaluator, teacher, and CEO of Bridgeway Academy. In my 20+ years of experience as a homeschool mom and evaluator, I have had the privilege of meeting homeschoolers that take a variety of approaches to their education. It is their many stories and successes that inspire me in my own homeschooling and I love to pass on the knowledge that I have gained from them to other homeschooling families. The one constant that always remains true is that there’s no such thing as a “cookie cutter child.” Each child is fearfully and wonderfully made and as a result, learns and functions differently. It’s our job to ensure that we’re raising each child to fulfill their individual purpose and when we can teach in a way that inspires them, we are on our way to homeschool success. When I’m not writing or teaching my children, I like to ski, write and participate in triathlons. I graduated from Kutztown University with a Bachelor of Science in Education and a Masters in English and I am currently pursuing a degree in Neuroleadership.
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