by Cheryl Abney

Created on: August 15, 2010

Summer vacation gives you opportunity to enjoy memorable learning experiences with your children. With the impact of the current economy, finding recreation close to home may be the best bargain around. 

Whether a day trip to visit beach or woods, you can carry out the following activities using birds, trees, rocks or shells as your topic of interest. Consider walking along a beach, participating in one of the following activities:

(1) Take a bird or shell book along to help identify the types.  If it’s your own copy, you can write the date and place on the page when different types are identified.  Otherwise, create a chart to record the information. Your child could be encouraged to draw the bird or shell picture on the chart. Display it on your refrigerator or their bedroom wall for future updating.

(2)  Collect a variety of shells, sand, driftwood, maybe even a discarded bottle cap, to make a collage together.  Identify and label the types of shells.

(3)  Carry a metal detector and hunt for buried treasure. A collage or decorative bottle would be ideal for displaying your finds until replaced by the next excursion’s finds.  As coins are found, have your child identify their individual value and keep a tally of the total value.

(4)   Provide a camera to snap their favorite sites. Get the pictures printed and work together on a photo or scrapbook page. Personal placemats can be created using photos and postcards on construction paper sandwiched between clear contact papers.

Summertime is the perfect time to visit small towns in your area.  Wherever you visit, stop in at local shops and eateries to get a flavor of the town.  Together with your child, read any information provided on the history of the area and ask them questions that peak their curiosity and expand their knowledge. 

(1) If a building date can be found, do the math to determine the age of the building or site where you’re dining.  You can also help your child figure the total amount of the food bill, figure and add tax, and determine how much tip should be given at 10%, 15% and 20%.  This can be an everyday activity to build math skills when shopping together.

(2) Play imagination with your child while waiting on the food.  Ask what type of business they would open at that site and how it would be decorated.

(3) Use an on-line search engine to find interesting trivia about your destination

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