The Best Sneaky Learning Ideas for Kids this Summer

Hooray for the end of the school year!! Whether you homeschool or send your kids to school, Mom’s all around the globe love when the time comes for school to end. But there is no need to slow down the learning! I have a few learning ideas for kids this summer that you MUST check out.

Even though we are ready for slower starts to the days and time to play outdoors, or do family outings, or sipping lemonade on the porch and enjoying each other, I am also thinking about sneaking in some learning.

Here I have some simple, fun ways for kids to observe and explore topics of interest to them.

If you have followed me any length of time, you know I am a lover of unit studies! I enjoy digging deeper into a topic and really getting a chance to learn all we can about it.

Check out this post to see How to Create Simple Unit Studies that Inspire

Every summer I go back and forth about how MUCH learning to require my kids to do, we always take a full break first.  They have plenty of outdoor and imaginary time, plus family trips and always reading.  

My daughter with special needs really does require continued review and practice to maintain her learning. My other kids though expect me to be a bit more creative in the summer months and they start to get a little bored without a regular routine around week two. 

Reuse Resources you Already Have

Several years ago I decided that summer is a perfect time to review fun topics and units we have already covered and explore some new ones.  There have been quite a few in our many years of homeschooling now and I have taken all the resources to put together our “Creative Exploring Bags”!

This is the PERFECT way for you to utilize all the printables, books, hands-on activities, and flashcards that you have accumulated over your years of home learning.  

I don’t know about you, but I often hold back on creating so many hands-on items since I feel they won’t get adequate use.  

Not Anymore!!!

Creative Exploring Bags

I pulled out ALL my prior curriculum books and correlated activities and made our “Creative Exploring Bags”.  Using Jumbo ziplock bags, I filled each with items for different topics such as Anatomy, US Geography, Dinosaurs, Birds, the Beach, etc.  

You can do this even if you don’t homeschool but want some fun, self -directed exploring and learning!  

I pulled out EVERYTHING I have for these topics and even created some new activities.  What I have tried to accomplish is enough hands-on things with books to look at and compare so that my children will be able to sit quietly and recall what they have learned while playing and further exploring.

Head to my Pinterest Homeschool boards for more great ideas.

Just to give you an idea of what is in the bags here is a look at a few…

Exploring the United States

In the US Geography bag, I have our US Atlas, USA magnetic map/puzzle, States & Capitals flashcards, and several smaller books that are quick reads or bright photos for my non-readers. The kids will pour over the different maps of the states and learn about the animals in those states too. Usually, we end up with some road trip requests even!

Interested in World Geography? Head to this post.

Exploring Insects

What kids don’t love bugs??? This “Insect Exploring Bag” has colorful books and reading books, counting & beginning sound clip cards, even a bag of plastic bugs with a magnifying glass. There are several games/matching/tracing pages for the kids to use a dry erase pen and sort by size bug cards. (insect printables from Homeschool Creations and cards from A Moment In Our World.)

Check out this Unit Study on Wiggly Worms too!

Exploring the Kitchen

In the “Kitchen Exploring Bag,” there are some fun printables I found at A Moment In Our World. These teach kitchen safety, kitchen appliances and tools, and measurements with measuring cups and spoons.  Plus, I added some actual cups and spoons with dry beans to test it out with questions I made answering “How many 1/2 Cups in 1 whole Cup?” and the like.

I created over a dozen different “Creative Exploring bags” with the intention to rotate them each week. These are easily stored in large canvas storage totes similar to these. We place them in the family room and it does not look too “cluttery”.  

Are you inspired to pour through your book shelves and get some topics grouped together?

Let me know what you do for the summer.  What summer learning ideas for kids do you have ready to go?

Best,