Ideas for Summertime Learning

This is what Works for Me during the summer:

I like to keep my kids learning during the summer. It gives them something to do and keeps their brains active. Here are some ideas for summertime learning:

• Learn to do something outdoorsy - like fish.
• Go to a camp: outdoor, church, computer, science, drama, etc.
• Visit educational sites while traveling.
• Write in a journal and write letters while traveling.
• Go camping and take along a nature activity book.
• Real Aloud as a family.
• Ride bikes, hike, and swim.
• Explore a pond and do pond experiments and activities.
• Kids help plan the trip and navigate with the map.
• Get a job or volunteer - hand's on learning.
• Go on a mission trip to a foreign county.
• Take pictures with a digital camera.
• Make an obstacle course in the back yard.
• Plant a Garden
• Go to music, food, and cultural festivals.
• Go to the county fair and visit the animal barns, the historical pavilion, and other exhibits.
• Join the Summer Reading Program at your library.
• Read magazines in the shade of a tree.
• Visit a national park.
• Practice flower arranging with wild flowers or ones growing in your yard. Then draw a picture of your arrangement with colored pencils.
• Start bird watching.
• Stargaze and track the moon phases.
• Look at tidal pools along the ocean.
• Start a business.
• Do solar or other science experiments and activities.
• Put on a play in your backyard.
• Learn to cook.
• Learn to draw.
• Listen to Adventures in Odyssey online.
  
• Do the Kids Love Jesus website.

Do you have any more summertime learning ideas?

My Other Works for Me Wednesday Ideas:

• Learning Experiences at Church
  
• Kids Make Their Own Birthday Cakes
  
• 10 Steps to Multiplication Memorization
• Save Time When Cooking Hamburger

Save Time When Cooking Hamburger

Works for Me Wednesday Meme

This is what works for me:

I cook 4+ pounds of hamburger (or 10 pounds of chicken thighs) all at one time. When the meat has cooled, I freeze it in individual 1 - 2 pound bags. When a recipe calls for a pound of meat, all I have to do is thaw 1 bag of meat and add it to the recipe. It saves me time, because I don't have to cook meat individually and clean a pan each time.

Frugal Easter Ideas

Easter Egg Cookie Cutter
Last year, I wanted to make Egg shaped sugar cookies with the kids. However, I didn't want to have to buy an egg shaped cookie cutter. I discovered that the opening of an empty tin can shapes into an oval very easily.

Easter Gift
Since I have 5 children, we decided not to do Easter baskets. I feel that the total cost is more than I want to spend. Instead, we buy a group gift for the kids - like a DVD or game.

Easter Egg Hunt
It is our tradition to have an egg hunt on Easter. We reuse the same plastic eggs every year. Each egg gets a few pieces of candy or a coin put inside. To keep it fair, we divide up all the findings at the end of the hunt.

Easter Candy
If you want to give your kids candy for Easter here is a way that will cost less. The day after Halloween, buy some of the leftover bagged candy bars at 1/2 price and freeze them until Easter.