Summer Enrichment 2024

While summer is a fun time to relax and travel, it's also a great time to prepare for the next school year as well as learn something new! Keeping students engaged during the summer also prevents the "summer slide" where students forget some of the things they learned during the school year. If you need ideas to keep your children busy or want to keep them in learning mode, check out some of the ideas below! However, if the only thing your child does this summer is read, then that's perfect! Read all kinds of books, read with someone, to someone, and so on!

The MENSA Foundation has developed this reading program to encourage the joy of reading. Students earn a commemorative certificate in recognition of their achievement. Select a list from the grade-level links listed at the bottom of the website. Remember to read to the level of your ability or interest, regardless of your age or grade level.

The San Antonio Public Library is offering people of all ages opportunities to read, learn, explore, and connect. The summer library program is June 1 - July 31, 2024. Join SAPL for activities, challenges, and summer fun! Explore offerings for children, teens, and adults!

Keep learning with Wonderopolis this summer! Wonderopolis is a great way for curious learners to explore topics and learn new things. By actively engaging with Wonderopolis during the summer, learners can foster their love for learning, develop critical thinking skills, and nurture their curiosity in a fun and interactive way. Here are a few ideas on how to use this amazing resource:

• Set a Wonderopolis Summer Challenge: Explore a certain number of wonders each week.
• Keep a Wonder Journal: Document experiences, questions, and reflections.
• Start a Wonderopolis Book Club: Discuss and share insights on chosen wonders.
• Conduct Wonderopolis Science Experiments: Explore science concepts through hands-on experiments.
• Participate in Wonderopolis Wonder Camp: Engage in daily wonders, activities, and discussions.
• Collaborate on Wonderopolis Projects: Work with peers on projects inspired by wonders.
• Connect with Wonderopolis Online Community: Interact with curious minds and join discussions.
• Engage in Wonderopolis Writing Challenges: Write stories, poems, or essays inspired by wonders.

Erich's Puzzle Palace is a great website with (what seems like) an unlimited number of logic puzzles and brainteasers. Scroll through the puzzles to find something of interest or click on the top links to sort by math puzzles, word, grid, as well as easy or hard.

Keyboarding skills are a valuable life skill that students can begin learning at any age. While many students are used to devices with touchscreens, they also should learn how to use a traditional keyboard and mouse. Below are some great websites that students can use over the summer to practice learning the location of keys and typing skills.

http://www.abcya.com/typing_rocket.htm

https://www.typingclub.com/

http://www.bbc.co.uk/guides/z3c6tfr

http://www.abcya.com/keyboarding_practice.htm

http://www.abcya.com/keyboard.htm

https://powertyping.com/

Arcademic Skill Builders offers a collection of quality games for sharpening math and language arts skills. Arcademics combines the excitement of video games with educational content to produce exciting, focused activities. Check out their free games on the bottom of the webpage.

The Problem Site is loaded with great games for students. Some of the games are traditional "hang-man" style games, some of the games are traditional games with a twist, and some of the games are completely new. Each game is designed to help students develop problem solving skills. The games are categorized as word games, math games, or strategy games.

Brain Bashers offers visitors a nice selection of word games, logic games, and puzzles. Brain Bashers is updated regularly with many games that change daily and new games added every week

Brain Teasers are wonderful for your brain! They stimulate our brain cells, improve concentration, as well as increase problem solving and critical thinking skills.

There are some amazing coding resources for students. One of our favorites is Code.Org. This is a great option for students getting started on their own. You'll learn the fundamentals of computer science with drag & drop blocks. Students will love to create their own drawings and games.

The 5 Clue Challenge gives learners the opportunity to receive 5 clues and use what they know to make an educated guess about what the clues describe.

Google Map Treks is a great tool for students that would like to explore! Google Map Treks lets you journey beyond the road and see the world from every angle from your home!

Winning Words is the developer of seven free word games for students to play on their iPads. All of the games use the same style as the classic Memory card game. Those games are Synonym Match, Homophone Match, Compound Word Match, Singular and Plural Match, Verb Match, and Double Letter Match.

Crash Course is a YouTube channel that hosts a series of educational videos on a wide range of topics, from science to history, which can engage and challenge gifted children.

TED-Ed offers original animated videos that cover a broad spectrum of topics, creating an online learning environment that's informative, enriching, and fun!

Khan Academy allows you to learn almost anything for free. Khan Academy has over 10,000 videos and explanations at your fingertips in math, science, economics, history, and much, much more. You can sharpen your skills or learn something new!

Checkout MENSA for Kids' Virtual Gameroom! MENSA provides many games online or you can check out their recommended list of board games.

The DoSeum is more than a children's museum! It's a space inspired by the power of play and each experience is fueled by hands-on learning! Check out the summer calendar of events.

The Science Mill, located in Johnson City, is a family destination offering fun, interactive learning for all ages. The Science Mill experience starts students on the path to learning more about science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). Check out the summer calendar of events.

Kids' Camps offers full-day programs for participants currently in Pre-Kinder through 6th grade. Campers enjoy fun-filled days of enrichment activities, character building, outdoor play, and social interaction. Each week is planned around a special theme. Camps are offered during extended holiday breaks.

1. Read EVERY day! Read non-fiction, fiction, ebooks, poetry, newspapers and read out loud! For most children, twenty minutes is an appropriate amount of time to read for a child who is an independent reader.
2. Cook with your children. This is one of the best ways to integrate math, reading, and following directions. Let your child design the menu too! Help your child put together their favorite recipes in a cookbook.
3. Plant a garden. Your child will gain responsibility and pride as they watch their plants grow and thrive.
4. Take a field trip to a museum, zoo or local park with walking trails. Keep a journal about your travels.
5. Learn a new word each week! Hang it on the fridge and see who can use it the most times throughout the week.
6. Family Game Night!
7. Play quick games with flashcards like Math War or Concentration to keep math skills sharp.
8. Listen to Audio Books during your road trip.
9. Take pictures and make a summer scrapbook.
10. Create an obstacle course to encourage your child to use their imaginations and stay physically active! Pull items out of your garage (buckets, broomsticks, lawn chairs, balls) and let your child's imagination take over!
11. Increase creative brain power with music! Crank up some music to boost creative thinking and brain power. Now is also a great time to learn how to play an instrument like the piano, guitar or even the drums!
12. Did I mention READ?! If your child does nothing else this summer, make sure he/she is reading!