More Than 101 Things To Do This Summer!

Great news!  We’ve just published our  101 Things To Do This Summer list
 (yes – the entire 101 list!). Our 101 Things list is chock-full of
educational ideas to keep your children’s minds and bodies busy this
summer – and it’s a really fun resource.

And guess what? This year’s list actually has 103
items – not 101! That’s because we asked our members and
Facebook
followers to suggest additions to the list. Then we chose the most
novel/most popular suggestions.

Many of the 103 Things are suitable for kids to
complete on their own, some require parental permission, and others can
be completed together as a family. Kids can choose any activities they
are interested in and complete them in any order they’d like. The list
includes checkboxes so your kids can check them off as they complete
them.

Something else that’s great? This year’s 101
Things To Do This Summer list is featured in Rebecca Kochenderfer’s
book,

The Summertime Survival Guide for Parents: How to Create a Summer
of Wonder, Discovery and Fun!

_______________________________________

Homeschool.com’s 101/103 Things To Do This Summer
list is sponsored by

Time4Learning. Whether you use
their program for summer skill-building, to prevent backsliding or to
get ahead for next year, the Time4Learning online education program
offers your kids a productive outlet to stimulate their creativity and
promote mental exercise into the summer months.

_______________________________________

Now, onto the 103!

	1. Make your own list—what do you want to do this summer? Go camping? Swim weekly? Now share your list with your parents. This list is great, but your list might be even better! http://www.homeschool.com/Printables/PDFs/Summer_Goals_Handout.pdf
	2. Its summer, so learn about the sun!http://www.lawrencehallofscience.org/do_science_now/science_apps_and_activities/diy_sun_science (This is a free app.)
	3. With your parent’s permission, redecorate and rearrange your bedroom! You can purchase a gallon of Oops paint for a few dollars at your local paint/hardware store.
	4. Now, make a bandana pillow (or two!) for your new room. This is an easy, no-sew activity. http://www.wikihow.com/Make-a-Pillow-Out-of-a-Bandana https://acraftymix.com/blog/2016/02/02/make-a-bandana-heart/
	5. Have a cannonball competition with your friends. Read the following link and you just might win! http://www.popularmechanics.com/outdoors/sports/physics/physics-of-cannonball-splash
	6. Lie outside at night and watch the sky for shooting stars. Find out why shooting stars aren’t really stars at all. http://starchild.gsfc.nasa.gov/docs/StarChild/questions/question12.htmll
	7. While you’re out there, check out the moon! Learn about the different phases of the moon. BTW – this summer you’ll be able to see full moons on the following dates: June 9, July 9, and August 7th. http://earthsky.org/moon-phases/full-moon
	8. Decorate your flip-flops. Be creative! http://adornabelle.com/how-to-decorate-your-own-flip-flops
	9. Carve a watermelon! There are great ideas in the link below. Parental assistance may be necessary. http://www.watermelon.org/Carvings
	10. Use the fruit of the watermelon to make Watermelon Ice. Doesn’t it taste like summer?
	11. Now, how about a little watermelon science? https://homehearts.com/2014/08/19/summer-fun-activity-watermelon-science/
	12. You can make your own sidewalk chalk – then you can make your driveway your canvas!! http://www.pbs.org/parents/crafts-for-kids/homemade-sidewalk-chalk/ http://onelittleproject.com/sidewalk-chalk-ideas
	13. Run through the sprinklers or participate in the fun celebration of Slip-n-Slide!
	14. On a hot afternoon, watch a musical (or two!). Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, West Side Story and Fiddler on the Roof might be of particular interest.
	15. Get the 411 on cotton candy. There’s not nearly as much sugar in cotton candy as you might think. (If you’re not familiar with the 411 expression, google it.) http://www.cottoncandy.net
	16. Do something – anything you choose – to make you a better you!
	17. Blow bubbles with bubble gum. Have blowing contests with your siblings and learn how to blow a double bubble! http://candywarehouse.com/resources/how-to-blow-championship-bubblegum-bubbles/ http://www.answers.com/Q/How_do_you_blow_a_double_bubble (can you find the typo on this page?)
	18. What’s so special about the number nine? You can find out here: http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/education/math/the-magic-of-number-9-part-1
	19. Learn to hula hoop and discover the science behind it! http://www.ehow.com/how_5824896_hula-hoop-beginners.html http://people.howstuffworks.com/hula-hoop1.htm
	20. Try a food you’ve never tasted before. Go on…take a bite!
	21. Learn about bats and build several bat houses. http://www.batcon.org/why-bats/bats-are/bats-are-importanthttp://www.nwf.org/Garden-For-Wildlife/Cover/Build-a-Bat-House.aspx
	22. Have a piñata party. First, make your own piñata. For a wet twist, consider a water piñata. https://www.thespruce.com/how-to-make-a-pinata-1252616 http://www.kidspot.com.au/things-to-do/activities/water-balloon- pinata
	23. Read one book—or more—a week! Choose topics that really interest you.
	24. Discover what it takes to swim like a champion. http://popularmechanics.com/outdoors/sports/physics/how-to-swim-like-a-champion-according-to-science-10152645
	25. Master a cartwheel and learn the physics of tumbling. https://m.curiosity.com/videos/the-physics-of-a-cartwheel-physics-calculus-lessons-ehoweducation http://www.unc.edu/~lkessler/

	26. Make a kaleidoscope! http://www.pbs.org/parents/crafts-for-kids/diy-kaleidoscopes/
	27. Spend one afternoon of quality time with each individual in your family. Go exploring with your sister, play a game with your brother and hang out with your dad.
	28. Interview your grandparents—they’re interesting people! Find out what toys they played with when they were young, what their parents (your great-grandparents) were like, what clothes they wore and more. Make sure you record the interview. http://genealogy.about.com/cs/oralhistory/a/interview.htm
	29. Do something especially nice for Father’s Day (Sunday, June 18th). Show your Dad how much he means to you.
	30. Have a S’mores party! If you can’t roast the marshmallows over a ?re, make Broiler S’mores. Better yet, make Solar S’mores! Be sure to get permission first. http://marinmamacooks.com/2012/07/no-campfire-smores https://www.stevespanglerscience.com/lab/experiments/solar-oven
	31. Make a nail polish masterpiece (it’s cool and unique)! http://carlasonheim.com/marbling-with-nail-polish
	32. Discover the 11 Rule of Multiplication and practice it until you can do it in your head! http://www.mathblaster.com/coolmath/articles/the-11-multiplication-rule
	33. If you’re being homeschooled through the summer, give it your all!
	34. Go camping – even if it’s in your backyard! If you happen to have a trampoline, trampolines make great sleeping surfaces!
	35. Go geocaching! https://www.geocaching.com/blog/2014/04/5-tricks-of-the-trade-for-geocaching-with-kids/
	36. Tour a college campus. There are pros and cons to touring during the summer months and you can read some of these at the following link: http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/parents-forum/62655-college-tours-summer.html!
	37. Buy several pairs of inexpensive sunglasses and decorate them. Make them as wild as you want! http://www.bhg.com/crafts/kids/outdoor-projects/kids-summer-sunglasses/
	38. Learn about compound interest and start a savings account. Check out the link below. It’s pretty amazing. What Happens When You Double a Penny Every Day for 30 Days!
	39. Visit a lighthouse. You don’t have to be on the ocean to do so. There are 680 lighthouses in the United States! https://www.us-lighthouses.com/all.php
	40. Learn about bees and discover why they’re so important to our environment. Also, learn how you can protect them. http://www.onegreenplanet.org/animalsandnature/why-bees-are-important-to-our-planet/ https://www.mnn.com/family/family-activities/stories/5-ways-to-help-children-help-bees
	41. Make flower cupcakes. Yum! http://www.susanevans.org/blog/flower-cupcakes
	42. Learn to skip stones. There’s a science behind it! http://www.wikihow.com/Skip-Rocks http://discovermagazine.com/2003/aug/featscienceof
	43. Check out these fun water games! http://parentingteens.about.com/od/games/a/watergames.htm
	44. Go the entire day without electronics. Go on; you can do it!
	45. Even better, try the No Impact Week Challenge. http://noimpactproject.org/experiment
	46. Choose a day—or two—and perform random acts of kindness. See how others respond. Browse Kindness Ideas and share your stories. http://www.randomactsofkindness.org
	47. Make your own rainbow. All you need is a garden hose! http://askabiologist.asu.edu/recipe-rainbows
	48. Find out how to take a good photograph. There’s more to it than pointing and clicking. http://clickitupanotch.com/2012/07/photography-for-kids
	49. Eat some butterflies. Yes, you read that correctly! https://www.pinterest.com/pin/311663236684008059 https://www.pinterest.com/MyButterflyLady/edible-butterflies-and-caterpillars/
	50. Swing on a tire swing or a rope swing. Don’t have one? That’s an easy fix! http://www.ehow.com/how_2085185_tire-swing.html http://www.ehow.com/how_2105748_make-rope- swing.html

	51. Make friendship bracelets for all of your friends—and your siblings, too!! https://www.verywell.com/summer-crafts-for-kids-easy-friendship-bracelets-620020
	52. Attend your sibling’s game and really root for him or her
	53. The number 1089 is the centerpiece of a curious mathematical trick. Google it and impress others with your knowledge!
	54. Go somewhere fun with your family – enjoy togetherness!
	55. Try floating down a river on inner tubes. Tubing is a blast!
	56. While on your family adventure, gather everything you’ll need to make a Summer Memory Jar or a Summer Travel Chain. https://homehearts.com/2013/07/17/summer-fun-activity-summer-memory-jar https://www.homeschool.com/Top10/top10traveltips.asp
	57. Visit a museum – in your area, or while traveling. There are museums for all types of interests, such as science museums (where you can do loads of hands-on activities and experiments), history museums, art museums and even children’s museums. Check this website to find out what types are available in your area: http://www.museumsusa.org/museums/
	58. Slide down a hill! You can choose a piece of cardboard, a block of ice, or an old skateboard deck. You’ll need parental permission—and don’t forget to wear your safety gear. http://www.beafunmum.com/2015/02/grass-sledding http://www.mnn.com/lifestyle/arts-culture/stories/no-snow-sled-try-ice-blocking https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grass_surfing
	59. Make a new friend. Reach out to someone who has just moved into your neighborhood or to someone who doesn’t have many friends. This person might end up being your best friend.
	60. Think about what you want to be when you grow up and find out what type of education is required. Go online and determine the demand for the field and the starting salary. Some adults do what they love regardless of the compensation; others go into a field because of the pay. Both http://www.careeronestop.org and http://www.learnhowtobecome.org are great places to start.
	61. Make and fly a variety of paper airplanes. Learn the science behind it. http://www.diynetwork.com/made-and-remade/learn-it/5-basic-paper-airplanes https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/bring-science-home-paper-planes-drag
	62. Similarly, you can make and ?y a kite (or several kites). There are 19 kite possibilities at http://www.howtomakeand?ykites.com.  Learn about lift, drag, and gravity at http://www.gombergkites.com/nkm/why.html
	63. Find out how hot air balloons work. Depending on where you live, you might be able to go on one or at least watch one take flight. Did you know they make quite a bit of noise? http://www.howstuffworks.com/transport/flight/modern/hot-air-balloon.htm
	64. You can make your own art supplies (with parental permission). Below are links for making playdough and water colors. www.instructables.com/id/How-to-Make-Playdough-Play-doh http://happyhooligans.ca/homemade-watercolour-paints
	65. Engage in educational and fun variations of hopscotch. http://guiltfreehomeschooling.org/?p=944
	66. Bake cookies on the dashboard of your parent’s car (with their permission, of course)! Learn now/why this works. http://www.instructables.com/id/dashboard-baking
	67. Compete in a sack or wheelbarrow race.
	68. Figure out new and fun uses for pool noodles. http://quiverfullofblessings.com/2012/05/22/10-fun-uses-for-pool-noodles
	69. Or make a Tic-Tac-Towel http://www.marthastewart.com/273719/tic-tac-towel
	70. How about building a sandcastle! http://www.ehow.com/how_7470_ build-sand-castle.html
	71. Learn and tell summer jokes. http://www.bestfamilyadvice.com/summer-jokes-for-kids.html
	72. Decorate your bike… spruce it up… and ride with friends. http://www.artistshelpingchildren.org/howtodecoratebikebicyclescraftskids.html
	73. Find a mentor. Want to learn a specific skill? See if someone in the community can be your mentor. This can be a family member, family friend or someone you don’t even know yet.
	74. Be a mentor!
	75. Master a few jump rope tricks. Find jump rope videos on the internet to give you inspiration. It’s amazing what people can do with a jump rope!

	76. Have an old-fashioned weenie roast and make your own mustard. There are over 100 recipes for mustard at the following link: http://www.melborponsti.com/inxmtd.html
	77. Understand the physics behind roller coasters. They aren’t as dangerous as they seem! http://www.learner.org/exhibits/parkphysics
	78. Barter your services. Want to ride a horse? Offer to clean out stalls in return for riding time. Want to take guitar lessons? Offer to mow the instructor’s lawn in return for lessons. Get your parent’s permission and then make sure you follow through on your end.
	79. Play hide and go seek—in the dark! Turn off all the lights in the house… and play for hours. Warning: this can get a bit raucous. Parental permission is required.
	80. Visit an educational and fun farm. Can’t make it to a farm? Visit a virtual farm.
	81. Recycle something old into something new. Here is an example – http://www.homeschool.com/blog/index.php/2013/08/back-to-homeschool-my-most-favorite-crafts-project-ever/. For a project like this, you may need parental help. What projects can you think of? Think big and ask for assistance if necessary.
	82. Make bubble solution—but first, learn the optimum conditions for making bubbles. http://www.bubblemania.com/faq/solution.html
	83. Designate theme days. Blue Day, Backward Day and Funny Hair Day are just a few ideas but the options are endless!
	84. Understand the science behind fireworks. http://www.howstuffworks.com/innovation/everyday-innovations/fireworks.htm
	85. Read The Little Prince. This is a phenomenal piece of literature with multiple layers, and it’s a short read. Discover why it has been translated into more than 180 languages and why it has sold more than 80 million copies. 80 million!
	86. Learn how to whistle with two fingers. http://www.wikihow.com/Whistle-With-Your-Fingers
	87. Discover the physics behind skateboarding. http://www.real-world-physics-problems.com/physics-of-skateboarding.html
	88. Make up with someone. Go ahead—end the feud!
	89. Spoil your pet for a day. Give your dog a bath, play ball with him and take him for a walk. You can also cuddle your cat, pet your hamster or talk to your bird. Spoil your pet several times over the summer. Turn it into a habit!
	90. Find recipes that use pink lemonade as an ingredient. Here are a couple to get you started: https://www.bettycrocker.com/recipes/pink-lemonade-cupcakes/f2b726de-4fd1-4ace-a8b0-3a0cf769d02a https://www.bettycrocker.com/recipes/pink-lemonade-thins/62a94dd7-56bb-4025-a177-468247e9e24b
	91. Discover why a lightning bug (or firefly) is neither a bug nor a fly. http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/bugs/firefly/
	92. Have a Silly String fight, a water balloon fight or a pillow fight. Have some raucous fun! Make sure to get permission first.
	93. Have a neighborhood outdoor game day. Revisit 4-square; Red Rover, Red Rover; Duck, Duck, Goose; and Mother May I. Or better yet, learn some new games! http://redtri.com/old-school-yard-games/
	94. Play badminton. It’s a fun game. Compare it to ping-pong and tennis. Just because you’re good at one doesn’t mean you’re good at another. Google and find out why that’s the case.
	95. Attend a first aid class or take a free class online. You never know when this knowledge will come in handy.
	96. Plant a garden. Think fall pumpkins!
	97. You might want to build bird feeders and bird baths, as well as butterfly and ladybug feeders. Ask your parents what they’d like to attract to the garden and build accordingly. http://www.naturallivingideas.com/14-diy-butterfly-feeders/ http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/how-to-make-a-ladybug-feeder-attract- them-to-your-garden-169681
	98. Make a hammock and lounge a bit! http://www.ehow.com/how_2180458_improvise-a-hammock.html
	99. Build a fort. You can make one out of blankets for your living room or with wood and braces for a tree. If actual construction is involved, you will need an adult to help/supervise. Depending on where you live, you may even need a building permit or approval from a Homeowner’s Association. In any case, think how much fun it will be!
	100.  YOU decided! That’s right, we asked and you listened! We were looking fun/super ideas to add to our list this year, and you responded. Thanks to Heather, a subscriber to our Facebook group, we’re adding living forts to our list. What’s a living fort?  Check out this link for some general info: https://theherbalacademy.com/plant-a-magical-living-fort-for-kids/ and if you’d like to build one with sunflowers growing on the outside, you can check out this link: https://www.nwf.org/kids/family-fun/outdoor-activities/grow-a-sunflower-playhouse.aspx
	101.  Another great idea….new this year….suggested by Homeschool.com member Tamaran – make gummy bear popsicles! And FYI – you can turn this into a science experiment at the same time!https://www.diy-queen.com/2013/02/gummy-bear-popsicles https://www.homeschool.com/blog/index.php/2014/04/homeschool-science-gummy-bear-osmosis
	102. Conjure up some homemade ice cream and celebrate the fact that you’re one summer older! https://www.realsimple.com/food-recipes/recipe-collections-favorites/desserts/homemade-ice-cream-recipes
	103. Last but not least… get ready for homeschool to resume. Summer is GREAT but so is the fall!