some fun online classes they could take.
For light-hearted learning of a self-directed nature, the updated
Mensa For Kids website may help occupy a few summer days.
There are many branches of science...
- In recent years there has been a proliferation of online virtual dissection labs;
Animal Learn is one source which provides a list.
- Rader's
Chem4Kids and related sites (Biology4Kids, Cosmos4Kids, Geography4Kids, Physics4Kids, and NumberNut) provide an interesting overview. (Note to parents - These sites contain ads.)
- NASA
for students has a variety of information.
- If she might have an interest in birds seen in your area, there is the Cornell Ornithology website (
All About Birds) and the
Audubon Field Guide.
- Theodore Gray relates the
periodic table of elements with a vast collection of samples.
-
National Geographic,
Popular Science,
National Wildlife Federation, and
Smithsonian Institution connect science with current events, which helps children build their stores of general information for understanding the world around them, engaging in social conversation, and eventually seeing the careers and variety of job opportunities behind the scenes in each of the stories.
Beyond virtual adventures online, I often think of summer as a time to develop
hobbies or pastimes... drawing, painting, model-making, carpentry skills (a small project such as a birdhouse is great for beginners), progression of camping or outdoor skills, pottery making, sewing, knitting, cooking, baking, and other
life skills. Several projects can be combined into a themed unit... for example, planning, research, and materials selection in preparation for making a basket, bowl, or tray (from traditional basket-weaving, clay, wood construction, or a kit)... sewing a finished edge and/or cross-stitching a design on a selected piece of fabric to line the serveware, and baking a savory or sweet treat to photograph the presentation of... and enjoy. An ingredient or garnish may even be an herb, fruit, or vegetable grown in a home garden. For an additional layer of challenge, the overall effort may have a unifying element such as a color theme, design motif, or cultural homage. For the mathematically inclined, hours of effort and/or material costs can be recorded and summed, possibly using an online spreadsheet such as Microsoft Excel.
Wishing you a great summer!
