What Are You Doing This Summer?

Congratulations on making it through this school year!

 

 

I don't know about you, but it usually takes me about a week of being a total slug before I'm ready to think about what's next. 

 

Then it's time to get going. What is next?

 

If you're working with children this summer, it's best to build community with some teamwork games! Check out this blog post: Working at Summer Camp? Or Summer School? How to Get Started!

 

If you're working with children this summer, it's GOT to be fun! Whether you're teaching summer school, tutoring, or working summer camp or day care, you've got to do something to get those kiddos to "buy in!" For most, themes are the way to go! The image below brings you to a blog post with many ideas for bringing a camping theme to your program. See Camping Week!

 

Another fun theme that has plenty of ways for summer learning fun, take a "trip" to the beach! Seashore Week!

 

 

Whether or not it's an Olympic year, you can have your own Olympics. Boy, do the kiddos love this one! Academic Summer Games: A Celebration of Learning!

 

 Looking for a little something to get you started? This post shares 6 different freebies that will get you going for summer learning fun! A Few Summer Freebies!

 

No matter what your plans are this summer, there's no doubt that pampering yourself is in order!  Here are 5 things you'll want to think about doing this summer: 5 Summer "Must Dos" for Teachers

No matter what you're doing this summer, I hope that it is spectacular!

 

 

A Few Summer Freebies!

Ah, summer! Isn't it a wonderful time of year? 

Summer is the time of year most people enjoy going to the beach, going camping, or maybe just hanging out with friends. It's a great time to be outside!

 

If you're still in school, or if you're working with kids during the summer, you're probably looking for things to do with the kids that also allows you to enjoy the summer! 

Well, I've got a few resources for you, and guess what... they're all free!

If you're into the beach, here are a couple of resources related to the seashore:

Seashore Writing Paper 

Because sometimes you just need to write about the ocean!

 

 Does it Float? 

A Science Activity with a Seashore Theme!

 
 

 For those who enjoy camping, here are a couple of freebies for you:

Frog Life Cycle: 

Learn about the life cycle of the frog!

 

 Mapping With a Camping Theme: 

Practice Mapping Skills at "Happy Days Campground!"

Here's a fun way to get the kids excited about learning during a time of year when they all want to play:

Academic Summer Games:

Team Building along with learning fun! 

 

 

Speaking of Team Building, here's a freebie that's all about learning to work together!

Team Building Games and Activities:

6 different games with a "work together" theme! 

 

 

I hope these freebies give you a little more time to enjoy the summer weather!

The "Summer Games" are Complete!

I made it through the last week of school by celebrating the Academic Olympic Summer Games. (See THIS POST)

 

 

We had an exciting week, starting with our Opening Ceremonies!

We marched up and down each hallway with our flags and banners. The Olympic torch led the parade, and the American flag was at the end. (The USA was the "host country"!) Other countries include: Japan, Italy, France, Mexico, and Canada. (It just so happens I had flags to represent those countries, and a very old CD that has the National Anthems of each country, which was needed for the medal ceremonies! We came back to the classroom, read the Academic Summer Games Oath and Creed, and said that famous phrase: 

"Let the Games Begin!"

I wish you could see the pride in their faces!

We had many medal competitions during the week. Yes, medals were given daily for behavior, plus there were competitions in sight word reading, math facts, group scoot games, memory games, and brainstorming games. We recited the creed daily, along with the Pledge of Allegiance and our school's promise!

For a freebie copy of this, and a few other related items, check out this resource: 

 

Their banners and some of their medals:

Canada!

France and Italy!

Japan and Mexico!

Honestly, there were double this many medals by the Closing Ceremony!

I think everyone's favorite part was when we had medal ceremonies, which was a lot!

Yes, I actually let the kiddos stand on desks!

Again, I wish you could see the pride in their faces!

Finally, it was time to "sail home", from the U.S.A. back to Japan, Italy, France, Mexico, and Canada! The children made ships from milk cartons and various "S.T.E.M." materials and set sail.

I confess, I didn't get any pictures of the real ships they decorated. This photo was from a Summer Themed Week we had a few years ago, that you can read about HERE. Their ships were far more colorful and elaborate! I couldn't be prouder!

A few other "Olympic related" resources that might interest you:

 

Academic Summer Games Activities: Team Building

Academic Summer Games: Math Task Cards

Academic Summer Games: No Prep Activities

Let the Games Begin!

We had the first day of our Academic Olympics today, and we all had a great time!

We started with our Opening Ceremony first thing in the morning. The children were dressed in their country's color, and carried their banners and flags. I also had my teacher assistant carry the Olympic Torch and an Olympic flag. The countries lined up in alphabetical order, just like they will in July in London. I carried the American flag at the end of our parade, after all, that's where the "host nation" always goes. We marched up and down all the hallways. Many of the other students and teachers peeked out of their classrooms to wish us well.

When we got back to the room, we made a big circle with all the countries. Each academic athlete touched the Olympic flag while they recited the Olympic Oath and the Olympic Creed. (I copied these almost word for word from what they use at the Olympics, with a few slight changes. I added the word "academic" in front of sports, and I left out the part about performance enhancing drugs.)

After the Oath and the Creed, I had all academic athletes shake hands with each other and say the words: Let the games begin!

We held several contests today! The team events we had:

• brainstorming
• math puzzle 
• banner design
• reading endurance (they earned points for the team if they were focused on reading when I checked)
• Group phonics scoot

Then we also had a couple of individual events:

• reading with expression (Judged in 4 categories... volume, expression, clarity, and presentation)
• math facts (both addition and subtraction)

Then we had medal ceremonies! I let the first place winners stand on chairs, and as that country's national anthem played, I placed medals around their necks. I still get all goose bumpy when I think of their faces as I placed the ribbons around their necks... they even did that little "head dip" to allow me to get the ribbon around them, and they picked it up and looked at it proudly, just as I've seen Olympic athletes do! (I'm a sucker for ritual, and the kids really loved it!)

Well, it was a VERY busy day, and we still have more tomorrow! I wanted to share a couple of papers I made up for my Olympics, just in case you get any inspiration for end of the year activities, or summer fun! Explore the image or HERE for your freebie!

For a more complete resource, explore HERE.

 

Looking for a little more Academic/ Olympic fun? Try these No Prep activities with a Summer Games theme!

 

How do you keep the excitement going while keeping academics in focus?