STEM Summer Activities!
School may be out for the summer (or winding down), but that doesn’t mean learning has to end! In fact, it is vital that it doesn’t. When students let their brains take a break over the summer, they can lose the equivalent of two months of their grade-level math and reading skills. To combat summer learning loss and keep those STEM skills fresh over the summer, Elenco has put together a list of super simple (and FUN!) STEM activities you can do with your children over summer break.
- Learn and Create with Snap Circuits! No surprise here– our favorite STEM summer activity is anything to do with Snap Circuits! The learning fun never ends and Snap Circuits have been used worldwide in STEM Summer camps. You can see our entire product line here, as well as purchase directly from elenco.com: https://elenco.com/brand/snap-circuits/
- Create a discovery jar. Sit down with your child at the beginning of the summer and brainstorm all of the questions or ideas your student is curious about. Maybe it is why grass is green or how space travel started. Or how many varieties of leaves exist on the trees in the yard. Then put all of the questions into a mason jar. Pull one out each day for your child to research and explore.
- Keep their math skills sharp. There are a variety of online and app based math programs for summer math learning. Try IXL.com, which offers grade-based math activities that feel more like fun than practice.
- Bug out! Did you know that insects outnumber humans 200 million to one? No matter where you live, insects are a vital part of your community and play an important role in everything from recycling waste to helping plants spread pollen. Discover what bugs live in your neighborhood, and try to identify those you haven’t seen before.
- Explore computer science.You don’t need to be a professional to create computer Apps! Help your student learn basic computer science principles with these easy-to-use computer science platforms.
- Scratch Jr. (PreK-3) – Scratch Jr. is a free App available on both iPad and Android tablets that allows even the youngest students to learn to code.
- Scratch (grades 3-9) – Scratch is a free platform for students to program interactive stories, games, and animations. All you need is a laptop and creativity.
- App Inventor (grades 5+) – This platform allows students to create their own Apps in less than an hour. To use, you’ll need two devices: a Web browser on computer, as well as an Android device. Both must be able to access the same wireless Internet network.
- Tynker (grades 4-5) – Tynker is a blocks-based programming platform available on desktops, laptops, and tablets that helps students learn to code. Both free and paid memberships are available.
- DroidScript – DroidScript lets students of all skill levels easily and quickly write Apps for Android using JavaScript. Use a PC and an Android phone, tablet, or Smart Watch. Both must be connected to the same wireless Internet network.
- Lightbot – Lightbot is an educational video game for learning software programming concepts. Paid versions ($2.59-$4.99) exist for both Apple and Android tablets, as well as Windows and Mac devices.
- Bake! It’s one of the best ways to teach young children math and science. Work on their math vocabulary and measurement skills as you measure out ingredients. And explore where ingredients come from, or how solids and liquids transform during baking for a basic science lesson. Then reward them with a chocolate chip cookie or a Rice Krispies® treat!
- Explore architecture and public works virtually! Try taking your children on a virtual field trip to your local infrastructure facilities – the waste water treatment plan, electric plant, or manufacturing plant – to learn about civil engineering and architecture. Most have free information for kids online.
- Master physics. Check out the Minute Physics channel on YouTube. These videos, set to engaging animations, make some of the most complicated science topics easier to understand.
- Grow a salad. Explore life sciences with this fun activity. Grow lettuce, cucumbers, and tomatoes in your garden or in separate pots. Students will learn the growth cycle of plants and the impact of soil, sun, water, and nutrition on plants’ growth.
- Take the egg drop challenge. What happens when you drop an egg from ceiling-height? It cracks and creates a giant mess, right? Challenge your child to engineer a vessel that will protect the egg and keep it from breaking when dropped.
- Go star gazing! Warm nights and clear skies allow for fun interstellar observation, with or without a telescope. Sky Map, built by a team of amateur astronomers who work at Google, helps Android users locate stars and planets in the night sky. NASA also provides a fun way to locate the International Space Station with its Spot The Station website.
- Help your children boost their critical thinking skills.“Instant challenges” are go-to resources for many parents and babysitters. These challenges, set to a specific amount of time, force children to think on their feet, work in teams, and use their critical thinking skills. Google ‘Instant Challenge’ for ideas, or check out some our favorites:
- Learn about microorganisms! Microorganisms are important to life on Earth, acting as decomposers in various ecosystems and playing a vital role in the nitrogen cycle. Help your child learn about the different bacteria in their daily environment and the important role each plays with this interactive game.
We hope everyone has a wonderful summer full of fun, family and learning!