MacBeth's  Opinion

Trip at sunset, Martha's Vineyard

Summer is traditionally "time off" from school.  But of course, learning takes place all the time.   Here are some suggestions for summer learning without  worksheets or burdensome lessons:  

 

New!  Have a Moominsummer with the Moomintrolls!

• Visit unusual places

  Storybook Travels will take you on a virtual tour (or a real one if you like) to places like Hannibal MO, London, NYC, California's Channel Islands, and more--over 30 destinations from your favorite stories.

We found Gepetto's workshop in Italy with this book!

Also:  How the Heather Looks: A Joyous Journey to the British Sources of Children's Books Like the title says...beautiful narrative.  Read how the author tracks down the elusive Arthur Ransome and finds out where Swallows and Amazons really takes place.

• catch frogs or toads

  Read about a famous literary frog!

• pick berries (be careful of bears!)

  Sal finds blueberries, and her mother, in Maine

• camp

  The famous pig gets back to nature

• grow a bean teepee

 

• climb trees (maybe a famous tree!)

• sit under a shady tree on a sunny day

• hike (bring water)

 

• look under a rock

 

• catch fireflies

 

• listen in the evening--what birds sing last?

  East, Central:    West:

  

• wade

 

• hike to an island at low tide

 

Libby and Annika with cousins Kelsey and Brianna on "private" island

• dry seaweed/pondweed on blotter paper and frame it...or eat it!

• visit a lighthouse

 

or spend the night in a lighthouse!!

• cook outside using a Dutch oven

 

• race snails, feed snails, eat snails!

 

• track the weather

 

• watch a spider spin its web and catch dinner

 

• run under the sprinkler (plain or fancy)

 

• look for rainbows 

 

• walk on dew-covered grass in bare feet

 

• roll down a hill

 

• make "windy things" with online instructions from the Franklin Institute

 

• learn to sail

 

• plan an archaeological dig in your own back yard

 

• walk along a railroad (carefully!) or stone wall

 

• look for geodes

 

• Imagine! (Finnish Troll Tales are the best for any season!)

 

• play "new games"

 

 Looking for more traditional games?  Try these:

• build a ropes course

• plant a Mary Garden (off site)

• Camp!

 

Non-fiction and reference books for summer learning and activities:

The Complete Book of Decorative Knots includes lanyard knots (remember summer camp?) and much more!  Great rainy day activity.

  Cooking in the Outdoors A good, basic guide.

  The Field and Forest Handybook Follow up to the Boys' Handy Book

The Outdoor Handy Book: For Playground Field and Forest  More from Dan Beard

Need Field Guides?  Click here!

More Summer books?  Click here!

Thinking of camping?  Click here for MacBeth's Equipment opinion.