Summer Fun!

Great ideas for Summer Fun!

1. Summer Memories Diary: One of the biggest complaints from teachers is that children tend to lose academic skills during the summer. A great tool to keep reading and writing skills in good shape during summer vacation is a diary. It's fun to put together and easy enough for any age child to enjoy doing. The base can be a regular school notebook or a scrapbook-photo album. Start each day with an entry of the plans for the day's events. When your adventurers return home, they can add pictures and notes on the best parts of the day. The pictures can be crayon drawings or prints from a digital camera or anything in between.

2. Museums: If you live close to an area with a museums, you may find that there is a summer program for kids to learn about subjects they display. Art museums may offer opportunities for hands on art work while natural history museums can lead kids to discover the world they live in and the cultures of other people. Local historical museums and societies may offer exploration of the history of your town or state through summer programs. Museums do normally charge a fee that covers materials and other costs.

3. Public Library: Your local public library may offer a summer program...and most are not just about reading. Many libraries do offer summer reading classes or story hours, but you'll also find guest speakers of interest to many different age groups. If your town doesn't have a library, check your closest mall for a bookstore. The large chain stores and many small mom & pop book stores allow kids to spend time reading and even organize activities to introduce them to the wonderful world of books...

4. Zoo: Your local zoo can be a lifesaver during the dog days of summer. Besides providing hours of exploring and visiting exotic animals, most zoos are part of an umbrella "Zoological Society" that is involved with protecting endangered animals and conservation of the areas where they live. Many zoos offer classes and activities for kids to help them learn more about animals and the environment. The fees may include donations or membership fees to the zoo in addition to the cost of supplies, but the hours of fun with a purpose are well worth the cost.

5. Crafts: Summer is a wonderful time to take on crafting projects. If your little princess has been asking for a backyard playhouse, building one together is a fantastic experience. You don't have to be a professional. There are plenty of easy to follow, inexpensive kits available. Do you have any crafting skills you'd like to pass on to your kids? Learning to sew, knit or crochet is fun for boys and girls...so is woodworking and pottery! Simple projects are fun even for the youngest crafters. Hand painting tee shirts can keep toddlers busy for hours. Be prepared for a mess. That's half of the fun!

6. Gardening: If you have a yard or some space on a sunny windowsill, you have the perfect setting for a kids garden. Take some watermelon seeds and watch them sprout and grow. Whether you get watermelons or not is irrelevant...the fun is in watching the vines spread out and grow. Older kids may want to grow vegetables, herbs or flowers in a real garden plot. Check out info on container gardens if your space is limited or you think weeding will be an issue for your young farmer.

7. Just Have FUN! Catch fireflies, look at the stars and the moon, go on a picnic, fly a kite, take a trip to Chattanooga and see the INCLINE, Lookouts Baseball, Aquarium, and enjoy time with family and friends!

**Make sure that your child is still Reading, Writing, and completing Math problems. Often, students fall behind during Summer Vacation because we are busy and do not do any learning activities. Having fun in the sun can still mean that your child is continuing his or her learning and builing their vocabulary and academic skills for the next grade!