summer activity jar

Here are directions on how to make a family activity jar.  I came up with the idea after doing some reading about summer learning with children.  To start with, I made a list of 70 learning activities, some in each of the areas of science, math, literacy, and social studies.  (There are a few just for fun activities, too.)  Then I wrote each idea on a strip of paper.  After that,the activities strips can be put in a jar or container with cover.  The idea is for the family to choose a slip of paper each day and completes the activity.  I made the activity ideas fairly simple...most do not take more than a paper and pencil, a map, or a book.  Most activities would be completed in under 15 minutes.

Here are a few ideas I used-

• count how many pairs of shoes each person in your family has
• read four books by the same author
• listen to some music from when your parents were young
• learn some words or phrases in another language
• make shadow pictures on the wall using a flashlight and your hands
• call an aunt or uncle
• list 20 or more foods that are grown in Minnesota

This takes a little preparation initially, but then the daily learning activity is ready and you don't have to think about something new each day or week.  My guess is doing this would lead to more learning in other parts of the day, whether it was child or parent directed.

If you decide to make one of these for your family and need ideas, let me know and I would be willing to share my list with you. 

This is the first post in a series about summer learning with children.  Check back each Tuesday throughout the summer for more ideas.

My Pet Wants a Pet

My Pet Wants a Pet by Elise Broach and illustrated by Eric Barclay is an entertaining book for preschool and elementary aged children.  A boy wants a pet and his mom finally lets him get a puppy.  Then his puppy wants a pet, so the puppy gets a cat.  After a while, the cat gets a bird, the bird gets a worm, and the worm gets a flea.  The flea doesn't get a new pet, but decides the puppy is his pet.  The mother is not at all happy until the boy figures out a way to make her feel included.  Most children would enjoy this story because it is about pets, but also because the impossibility of pets owning pets.

Marigold and Daisy

Marigold and Daisy by Andrea Zuill is a new book I found at the library.  Marigold, a snail, becomes an older sister to Daisy.  Of course, life changes.  Daisy gets so much attention, and Marigold is jealous.  Marigold tries to think of a way to solve the problem, but it just gets worse because Daisy wants to be everywhere her older sister is.  When someone decides to pick on Marigold and Daisy defends her, Marigold decides a little sister isn't so bad.  Any child who has a younger brother or sister would enjoy this book.  It was a good story, but I think it also appealed to me because snails are rarely found as main characters in a book.

And Then Comes Summer

And Then Comes Summer written by Tom Brenner and illustrated by Jaime Kim is a perfect celebration of summer.  Flip-flops, parades, lazy days, lemonade stands, fireworks, ice cream trucks, vacation and camping all show up in this book.  The illustrations made me want to enjoy summer immediately, though the first time I read it was in March.  It is a book that children will enjoy and make adults wish for the idyllic summer days of their childhood.

Up in the Leaves

Up in the Leaves by Shira Boss and illustrated by Jamey Christoph is a new book I stumbled across at the library last week.  Bob Redman is not someone I had heard of, but after reading this book I want to know more about him.  As a boy, Bob lived in New York City.  He loved the outdoors and climbing trees.  One summer, he decided to build a tree house in one tree in Central Park.  It was discovered and taken down.  He did that again, and again, and again, making each one more complex.  Finally, he got a job offer to work in the park taking care of the trees.   This picture book is based on Bob's youth and written by his wife.  One girl read the book and thought it was a little sad (Bob's tree houses kept getting taken down).  A younger elementary boy liked the book-he seemed intrigued by the boy's persistence in building tree house after tree house.  This book could be used as a good discussion starter for students eight and older.   

How to Have a Good Day