Educational, Fun Ways to Sneak in Academics over the Break or Anytime!
Math:
● Play board games and cards that involve numbers, such as Monopoly, Rummy, and Yahtzee.
● Double a holiday recipe and have your child make it or help make it by telling you the conversions.
● Cut a pie or other treat into pieces and identify the fractions, having your student make sure each person in your family gets his or her equal share.
● Play online math games like Dragonbox.
English Language Arts:
● Make a trip to the library for some books to read over break.
● Sit by the fire taking turns reading your favorite winter books to each other.
● Play word games, such as Scrabble, Boggle, etc.
● Keep a journal writing in it each day (gratitude, summary of events, hopes for the new year).
Science:
● Track the temperature for each day and make a graph.
● If you travel, keep a journal of the different climates, landscapes, etc.
● Keep a moon journal and record lunar activity.
● Do some experiments.
● Tryout some free coding sites online.
Social Studies:
● Make a video of your grandparents telling their childhood memories. Interview them about how their lives were different when they were children.
● Create a family tree with regions where people are from/live.
● Do an internet search to learn about how holidays are celebrated around the world. Make a Venn diagram or table to compare and contract the occasions.
Arts:
● Make holiday crafts, cookies, or gifts for others. Hand-made gifts are the best!
● Sing your favorite winter songs.
● Perform skits or play your instrument for your visiting family members.
● Have 7th or 8th graders sing you one of the holiday carols that they learned.
Physical Fitness:
● Go sledding, build a snow sculpture, or have a snowball fight.
● Walk through a neighborhood with great winter lights.
● Attend an open gym, fitness class and try something new.
