Summer Learning Challenge Week 6

Starting week 6 of our summer, I am recognizing a need for a slow down.

We have been go-go-go for the last few weeks, with scout camps, VBS, visits to two state parks and an astronaut memorial, and theater. This week, it's about slowing down for a few days and savoring summer vacation.

My kids are tired. Tired from heat, tired from running around, tired of not enough sleep. But behavior wasn't a big enough clue for me.

Today, I was reminded at church about the need to slow down, recharge and create memories. I was given the added reminder of the need to slow down in my inbox, right as I got home.

So today, I called it.

I turned off the TV. Said we were going nowhere but the church service (and possibly the grocery, but given that it's 3:30 p.m., it will be unlikely as well). Demanded that the kids rest in a way.

My son went for the Legos; my daughter, a book. Then they came up with a creative lunch.

Next, it was an impromptu religious lesson as I shared what I'd learned about the Miraculous Medals someone was distributing during Mass. (We'll also be working on this scout patch about the Miraculous Medal, as well, but we'll be doing this at our own pace.)

I watched their interest levels, and let them move on to other ideas as I saw their interest fading. The kids are now on to painting the birdhouse built at camp and drawing pictures.

Learning to rest and pace yourself is a tough challenge in today's society. I'm glad I had the grace to get that opportunity today.

This week, our learning challenge won't be about books or math facts or whatever, I'll be listening to their interests and their hearts and guiding them through what comes naturally. Consider it unschooling or what have you, I consider it teaching them to breathe.

Summer Learning Challenge Week 5

Unconventional learning is the  plan again this week.

My oldest is going to archaeology camp through the Girl Scouts. While she's read books and played online to learn about the past,  it won't compare to a week at least exploring what it might be like to be an archaeologist. I can not wait to learn about her adventures and hope it won't disappoint.

My second grader goes to Cub Scout day camp this week as well.  The unusually warm weather may take a toll on him,  but we've scheduled some quiet downtime activities as well.

Today is Father's Day, and his dad is working.  What is my little guy excited about this afternoon?  Finally playing with his Physics Workshop toolkit he got for a birthday gift.  Not kidding.  Once he flipped through the book and saw he could make motorized machines pulleys and  more,  he decided that was our afternoon plan.  I'm thrilled it doesn't involve a TV show.

What are your learning plans for the week?

Summer Learning Challenge Week 4

Not all learning comes from books.

The reality is my great dreams of a Summer Learning Challenge didn't pan out as planned. Weeks 1 and 2 were pretty good. Week 3 was lost in the shuffle and chaos of Girl Scout camp. Even my avid reader hardly cracked open a book in her bedtime routine.

But I don't think all was lost. 

My kids learned how to make adorable poodle skirts and vests in the camp craft room. They played CSI in the math and science center. They learned to identify trees and learned about light pollution from my awesome co-leaders. And my daughter's task of "paint something?" She painted her own hiking stick (and I think herself in the process).

And with forecasted temperatures in the 90s, we nixed the idea of a weekend hike.

So if "planned" learning didn't go as planned, that is OK. There is always another time.

Week 4 Summer Learning Challenge ideas and activities:

Summer Learning Challenge for Incoming Sixth Grader: 

1. Keep taking care of your garden! It is supposed to be very hot this week; what extra steps do we need to do? Figure out what vegetables are done growing; harvest them, and plant new ones that do well in the summer.
2. Write about what makes America great for the kids' writing competition for Kids' World Travel Guide.
3. Volunteer at Vacation Bible School.
4. Sew something. 
5. Build something with your brother.
6. If it's not too hot, go for a weekend hike with mom. (Let's see if how close we can get to 100 miles on our Bicentennial Hiking Challenge this week!)

Summer Learning Challenge for Incoming Third Grader:

1. Keep taking care of your garden! It is supposed to be very hot this week; what extra steps do we need to do? Figure out what vegetables are done growing; harvest them, and plant new ones that do well in the summer.
2. Cook dinner one night.
3. Enjoy Vacation Bible School.
4. Shoot off a balloon rocket.
5. Get on ABCya and play some math games.
6. If it's not too hot, go for a weekend hike with mom. (Let's see if how close we can get to 100 miles on our Bicentennial Hiking Challenge this week!)

Summer Learning Challenge Week 3

Our Summer Learning Challenge has not been without its hiccups. Strange schedules - holiday weekends, sleepovers, tech week and an impromptu Super Sitters class- make for tired children, and getting used to a binder of "to-do's" hasn't been the easiest endeavor for my crew. But it's worth it. If I can train my soon-to-be middle schooler to review a checklist of assignments and make sure she's covered them all, this Summer Learning Challenge exercise will be worth all battles.

The funny thing is, it hasn't been all bad. My son has fallen in love with Multiplication Baseball from last week, and I've found homemade game sheets scattered all around the house. He's learning; I'm happy. #Win.

This week, we're taking it down a notch, as we have Girl Scout day camp this week. Yes, we. I volunteer, and little brother goes to hang out in the "bro" unit. I know from experience that we'll have worn-out children who will be all too eager to watch a movie when the days are done!

But we still are working on habits. Here's what's in our binder for Week 3:

Summer Learning Challenge for Incoming Sixth Grader:

1. Keep taking care of your garden! Figure out what vegetables are done growing; harvest them, and plant new ones that do well in the summer.
2. Create something with your 3D printer pen.
3. Read Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and start Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator so you know the story behind the play you want to try out.*
4. Check out an activity at the Summer Reading Program.
5. Go for a weekend hike with mom. (Let's see if how close we can get to 100 miles on our Bicentennial Hiking Challenge this week!)
6. Paint something.

*Yes, two books on a "light week" seems a bit strange, but I have a highly active reader!

Summer Learning Challenge for Incoming Third Grader:

1. Keep taking care of your garden! Figure out what vegetables are done growing; harvest them, and plant new ones that do well in the summer.
2. Read a bedtime story to mom.
3. Do a book report. 5 book reports = Gatorade!
4. Build a balloon-powered Lego car.
5. Check out an activity at the Summer Reading Program.
6. Go for a weekend hike with mom. Let's see if how close we can get to 100 miles on our Bicentennial Hiking Challenge this week!

What are your children learning this week? Share your ideas below!

Note: This post does contain affiliate links, which helps support this blog. 

Summer Learning Challenge Week 2

It's Memorial Day Weekend and our first full week of summer vacation!

It's also a crazy, busy week, as my daughter is in full-blown Tech Week with her theatre production. I feel blessed that she was accepted in the play that wasn't out until after the school year, because the 4-5 hour a night practices plus school would have been too much!

Here's what we're doing with this week's Summer Learning Challenge:

Incoming Third-Grade Boy:

• This is sis’s TECH WEEK! So it will be weird and busy. As they say in theatre, break a leg! What part of the English language is “break a leg”? _______
  (Note, my kids talk all the time about idioms. I don't personally understand it, but it's their thing. Seeing if they catch this!)
• —Make Tangrams with your sister.
• Cook a meal.
• Don’t forget to do at least 1 book report this week!
• Take care of your garden.
• Read Seaman’s Journal. (This is a book, told from a perspective of a dog who traveled with Lewis and Clark, that we got at the Lewis and Clark site in Missouri.) Write a nonfiction book report.
• Write a letter to your friend who moved out of state.
• Make a crossword puzzle for your sister.
• —Do the Lewis and Clark challenge. (OK, this is actually an online Junior Ranger program!)
• Play Math Baseball!

Incoming Sixth-Grade Girl:

• HAPPY TECH WEEK! As they say in theatre, break a leg! What part of the English language is “break a leg”? _______
• Make sure your theatre stuff is cleaned and put away each night.
• Find and pack a quiet activity in your tech week bag.
• —Work on your sewing project.
• Make Tangrams with your brother. 
• Take care of your garden.
• Pick a badge and work on it. Show mom what you did.
• Read.
• —Do the Lewis and Clark challenge
• —Pack your camp backpack.
• Get enough sleep! 

How is your summer learning going? Share your updates below!

Note: This post does contain affiliate links, which help support our family's adventures and this blog.

Summer Learning Challenge Week 1

Summer...learning? What??

I admit it. I want my kids to cherish their summer vacation at home, but I also don't want them to have their brain rot in front of a screen, either.  So this year I've instituted a weekly summer challenge to keep the kids' brains active and hopefully stave off some of the "I'm boreds."

How am I doing this challenge? Each of my kids is getting a binder with activities tailored toward their age and interests. My almost third-grader, who refuses to do AR until it's deadline time, has to focus a bit more on reading and retention. The carrot? For every five "book reports," he earns a Gatorade. Crazy, but it was just the incentive this little boy needed.

My almost-middle-schooler? She has different struggles: Follow-through and turning work in. So we're focusing on completing all the Junior Girl Scout badges she said she wanted to earn before she becomes a Cadette. I don't have to worry about the reading part, as she blew out the school record for AR points accumulated!

So between you and I, they're learning. But we won't tell them.

Week 1 Activities: Incoming 3rd Grade Boy

• —       Make sure all your school papers you don’t want to keep are recycled and the school supplies put away.
• —       Sign up for summer reading program.
• —       Read a book and finish your first book report of the summer. Remember, for 5 book reports you get a Gatorade!
• —       Take a hike with mom if the weather is good.
• —       Figure out how old our trees are in our yard! Use a measuring tape to measure around the trunk of the tree. The distance around the trunk of a tree is called the circumference. Write this measurement down on a piece of paper. The measurement of the circumference in inches is also the approximate age of the tree in years!
• —       Play “Defensive Multiplication” or another math game that’s not on the computer.
• —       Take care of your garden.
• —       Make a birthday card for Dad.

Week 1 Activities: Incoming 6th Grade Girl

• —       Make sure all your school papers you don’t want to keep are recycled and the school supplies put away.
• —       Sign up for summer reading program.
• —       Take a hike with mom if the weather is good.
• —       Organize your closet.
• —       Play “Defensive Multiplication” or another math game that’s not on the computer with your brother.
• —       Make a birthday card for Dad.
• —       Start your sewing project Grandma got you when we visited!
• —       Take care of your garden.

What are you doing with your kids to help them stay active this summer? Share your ideas below!