Keep Preschool Learning Fun During the Summer: Games, Lessons & Learning Resources
The Heat is On
Ah, summer! In early childhood summer programs, your days are not as structured and there are many opportunities for outdoor exploration and quiet contemplation. This season should be full of hands-on learning. This guide is full of ideas to make summer learning special. Try to plan outdoor activities so the children can let loose, but alternate with quiet activities so the preschoolers do not get too tired or overstimulated.
Teach less and facilitate more! Prepare the environment for creative fun and learning, but let the kids take the lead. Encourage preschoolers to experiment with the wonders of nature. Help them explore and discover on their own. There are many themes to engage the children during the summer months. Let’s get started with some terrfic activities for indoors and out.
Water, Water Everywhere
For as long as people have walked on Earth, they have been fascinated with water. Preschoolers love water as it engages them in fun activities and cools them off as well. There are many questions about water and a variety of ways to explain and express how water is part of our lives. Think about the fact that all living things need water, water helps things float, water goes into the air and water can change forms reversibly. These articles by our Bright Hub Education writers not only explain some of these questions but also present activities that will teach and amuse preschool children.
- Water Theme Fun for Preschool
- Water Activities for the Preschool Classroom
- Great Water Table Ideas for your Preschool Classroom
- A Great Salt Water Experiment for Preschool
- Preschool Sink or Float Activities
- An Interesting Lesson Plan About Water and the Water Cycle
- Activities for Preschool: Summer Fun for Kids
In and Around the Sea
What’s more fun than talking about the beach and its inhabitants? These articles develop children’s awareness of the sea as the home for many types of creatures, including fish and other sea life. Integrate sand into this learning unit whether at the beach or sand table in the preschool classroom. Here is a list of articles that will help in planning your lessons on the ocean and its surroundings.
- Three Under the Sea Ocean Crafts for Preschoolers
- Fun Fish Crafts for Preschool
- A Starfish Craft for Preschoolers
- A Fun Preschool Shark Theme
- Science is Beachy! Introducing a Preschool Beach Theme
- Pre K Activities: Learning About Keeping the Ocean Clean
- A Thematic Unit on Oceans for the Pre-K Class
- Fun and Interactive Dolphin Activities for Preschool
- Don’t Be Crabby Preschool Crab Crafts
- Making Jolly Jellyfish: Crafts for Younger Kids
- Fish Lesson Plan for the Preschool Classroom
- A Sand and Water Day for Preschool Students
Summer Games Outdoors and Inside
Preschool children love to play and playing games is the best way to learn the necessary skills in the emotional, social, intellectual and physical areas of development. A summer program is not an exception to the vast learning a child can receive through games. Take the opportunity to get outdoors in the sunshine for fun games and when the weather is just too hot, bring the fun indoors. Use games to teach summer themes and our Bright Hub writers have just the information you may need for your lesson planning.
- Preschooling Summer Games: Simple Tools for Outdoor Play
- Preschool Outdoor Games: Ball Games for Young Kids
- Summer Activities for Preschoolers
- Outdoor Preschool Games: Active Movement Games
- Preschool Summer Ideas: Walks
- Galloping: An Important Preschool Locomotor Skill
- Beanbag Twister Game for Preschool
- Carnival Activities for Preschool Students
- Games Using the Hula Hoop
- Bubble Blowing and Bubble Theme for Preschool
Miscellaneous Summer Activities
Beating the summer blahs can be a real challenge for many teachers. Don’t entice your students with television, movies and computers. Get them involved in summer themes that will take them away from the regular routine and give them a chance to work and play together as a team during your summer camp session at school. Here are a few ideas to start.
- How to Plan a Unique Summer Camp Preschoolers Will Love
- Preschool Summer Theme Ideas
- Pre-K Summer Safety Lessons
- Host a Luau Day for Your Preschool Class
- Slicing Up the Summer: Fun Activities with Watermelon
- How to Use a Preschool Vacation Theme in the Classroom
- Sizzling Summer Crafts for Preschool Children
- Let’s Go For a Picnic
And to Sum it Up…
Summer is a congenial season as well as a time for relaxing and slowing down the pace. With a little time for brainstorming, you’ll find the learning will just happen - stopping it may be a problem!
References
- Photo by phaewilk on Morguefile.com