Counseling
by Tricia Pinneo
April 24, 2007
Summer break is approaching fast. For many of us, we look forward to doing outdoor activities, going on vacations, and/or just being able to spend more quality time with our families. Students also look forward to not having the pressures of school and activities, going on trips or to summer camp, and spending time outdoors. While there are many fun things to do during the summer months, there is still a lot of unscheduled time. The idea of having more time sounds great, until boredom sets in. Below are some activities to keep kids busy, and are also educational.
- Take a nature walk: collect leaves, rocks, etc. and then look up more about them in books or on the internet
- Make a scavenger hunt: use skills they have learned in school such as “take 3 + 5 steps west to find the next clue” or “look for an object that has a cylinder shape for you next clue”
- Go to the library and let your child pick out books they would enjoy reading
- Write a book: help your child write and illustrate a book
- Do science experiments: you can find simple experiments on the internet
- Have game night: play cards and games to help with not only academic skills, but also following rules
- Visit any of Nebraska’s national parks or museums – for more information go to www.ngpc.state.ne.us or www.nebraskamuseums.org
- Play educational games on the internet such as at www.funbrain.com, www.pbskids.org or www.discovery.com
I hope you found an activity or two your family can use. The students will be bringing home a sheet with more ideas. I will give it to them in the last weeks of school. Please consider these as they help reinforce student learning from one grade to the next, and also make learning fun.
