Summer Learning Opportunities

Learning resources are plentiful and easy to find. But filling your summer with loads of learning isn’t always fun…the best advice? Keep it simple.

To simplify your summer learning needs, I’ve compiled a list of some of my favorite resources. Books, online classes, educational organizations, and websites are all organized by subject themes.

Your Tools for Fun Summer Learning!

Free Summer Survival Book Summer Reading Challenge Printables for Summer Learning

Summer Unit Studies   Bingo Game for 10 Free Summer Camp Printable Kit

 

Art for Summer Learning

Books
  • Discovering Great Artists: Hands-On Art for Children in the Styles of the Great Masters by Mary Ann F. Kohl and Kim Solga features 110 art appreciation activities for kids.
  • Art Lab for Kids: 52 Creative Adventures in Drawing, Painting, Printmaking, Paper, and Mixed Media-For Budding Artists of All Ages is part of a series of books by Susan and Rainer Schwak and is full of fun ideas to help introduce art to children.
  • Art Lab for Little Kids: 52 Playful Projects for Preschoolers by Susan and Rainer Schwak is written for children ages 4-6 year olds.
Websites

Financial Fun Learning

Books
  • Money Making Ideas for Kids and Teens: Starting Your Own Business-A Guide for Teen Entrepreneurs  by Debbie MadsonFinancial Tips for Homeschoolers

 

  • The Kids’ Money Book: Earning * Saving * Spending * Investing * Donating by Jamie Kyle McGillian

  • Smart Money Smart Kids: Raising the Next Generation to Win with Money
    by Dave Ramsey and Rachel Cruze
Games
  • Monopoly is a classic and a family favorite for good reason. Have a great time with your family and develop your child’s understanding of investments and development.
  • Stock Market – The Wall Street Trading Game is a board game that introduces players to important financial concepts.
Online resources

Computer Programming and Coding for Kids

Cooking with Kids

  • 10 Snacks Your Preschooler Can Make Today – Kids Cook Real Food
  • The Joy of Cooking by Irma S. Rombauer and Marion Rombauer Becker
  • Teens Cook: How to Cook What You Want to Eat by Megan Carle and Jill Carle
  • Kids Cook Real Food is a website with courses, webinars, and free lessons for kids perfect for summer school!

Foreign Language Summer Learning Opportunities

  • Mango Languages helps users practice conversations in over 60 foreign languages
  • Duolingo is a free language learning site with a unique approach. Lessons are short and easy to fit summer enrichment opportunities into the busiest teen’s summer schedule. Even homeschool mom learns with this one!
  • Maximize Summer Learning with Foreign Language Studies perfect for high school students looking for a summer challenge.

History for Summer Learning

  • Learn about genealogy at Genealogy.com
  • From the comfort of your living room, visit the British Museum. Enjoy a virtual tour and see 4,634 artifacts housed in the museum.

Language Arts for Summer Learning

  • Summer Reading Program – grab our free printable fun summer reading challenge kit and start today!
  • Pizza Hut sponsors several fun reading challenges for kids through their Book It program. Get reading great books this summer.
  • Mensa for Kids Excellence in Reading Program is not just for Mensa members or the regular school year. Participants in this year-round program earn a certificate and a t-shirt for reading all of the books in this book challenge.
  • Create your own neighborhood Reading Challenge for a great learning experience! Help your readers establish the number of books they will read over the summer.
  • 6 Super Summer Writing Tips
Books
  • In her books Writer to Writer: From Think to Ink and Writing Magic, bestselling children’s author, Gail Carson Levine shares her secrets of great writing in this companion to the popular Writing Magic.   
  • What Do Authors and Illustrators Do? by Eileen Christelow will inspire young writers and artists as they read about the process of creating a book. Creative writing and drawing exercises are also included for the school year and summer.

Math Summer Resources

  • Time4MathFacts – perfect for brushing up on those facts during the summer!
  • Unlock Mathis an online math program that let’s you have fun with math learning this summer!
  • Quirky mathematician Vi Hart’s YouTube channel is a must-see. I guarantee, there’s nothing out there quite like it!

Nature Studies for Summer Learning

  • FREE Summer Camp at Home by Homeschool.com
  • Wildflowers, Blooms & Blossoms (Take Along Guides) by Diane Burns
  • Trees, Leaves & Bark (Take Along Guides) by Diane Burns
  • Caterpillars, Bugs, and Butterflies: Take-Along Guide by Mel Boring
  • Handbook of Nature Study, by Anna Botsford Comstock
  • Bird Watching for Kids: Bite-sized Learning & Backyard Projects by George H. Harrison

Online Tools for Summer Learning

Science for Summer Learning

Books and Magazines
  • The Horrible Science series by Nick Arnold includes titles like Blood, Bones and Body Bits, Chemical Chaos, Disgusting Digestion, Nasty Nature, Electricity Sounds Dreadful and The Terrible Truth About Time. Filled with pictures, trivia, fun facts, and science, these are books even reluctant readers will enjoy.
  • Monster Science series by Mark Weakland is written in graphic novel format and is such great fun. Using vampires, zombies, werewolves, and ghosts, Weakland demonstrates basic principles of science and makes for a great learning experience. Titles include Aliens and Energy, Bigfoot and Adaptation, Ghosts and Atoms, Zombies, and Forces and Motion to name just a few.
  • MUSE is a science and arts magazine written for kids ages 9-14. Filled with facts, jokes, thought-provoking articles, and summer learning programs. Kids with a love of science will love this magazine too.

Special Education Summer Opportunities

Books
  • Life Skills Activities for Special Children 2nd Edition, by Darlene Mannix
  • Social Skills Activities for Special Children 2nd Edition, by Darlene Mannix
  • Connected Kids: Help Kids with Special Needs (and Autism) SHINE with mindful, heartfelt activities, by Lorraine E Murray
  • Making Art Special: A Curriculum for Special Education Art, by Helen Goren Shafton
Online Resources

Summer Camp Books and Virtual Resources

Reference Books
  • Lights Out!: Kids Talk About Summer Camp, by Eric Arnold and Jeff Loeb
  • Summer Fun: The Parents’ Complete Guide to Day Camps, Overnight Camps, Specialty Camps, and Teen Tours by Marian Edelman Borden
  • The Summer Camp Handbook: Everything You Need to Find, Choose and Get Ready for Overnight Camp-and Skip the Homesickness by Christopher A. Thurber PhD
Picture Books
  • The Berenstain Bears Go to Camp, by Stan and Jan Berenstain.Kids At Home Summer Camp Kit
  • Tacky Goes to Camp, by Helen Lester. One of our favorite read-alouds.
  • Froggy Goes to Camp by Jonathan London
  • Postcards from Camp by Simms Taback
Online Resources

Travel with Kids During the Summer

Books
  • 100 Places That Can Change Your Child’s Life: From Your Backyard to the Ends of the Earth by Keith Bellows and Natalie Morales. Great encouragement to avoid screen time.
  • Travel with Children: The Essential Guide for Traveling Families (Lonely Planet Travel With Children) by Lonely Planet. Don’t worry about the homeschool schedule during the summer enjoy travel!
    Virtual Field Trips