Summer is in full swing! Yet during the leisurely days of summer, students can lose some of the important academic gains made during the school year. Although most youngsters enjoy the freedom summer brings, there are plenty of ways to keep them engaged in meaningful activities that slow down summer learning loss.
In addition to the wide array of enrichment activities provided by the Carlsbad Education Foundation and summer camps sponsored by the City's Parks and Recreation Department, students can take advantage of on-line activities that encourage creativity, exploration and thinking.
Summer learning is like gravity. It can happen all around us even when we might not know it's there. To that end, parents can guide their children to meaningful websites that make learning feel less like a requirement and more like fun. Since students love their devices, why not take advantage of a few proven "hot spots" to keep our students busy during their days off.
Wonderoplois
www.wonderopolis.org
Wonderopolis explains some of the wonders of daily life, such as: Why do catfish have whiskers? or Who invented Karaoke? Students can spend time in camp what-a-wonder or surf through a variety wonders-of-the-day. Spanning dozens of categories, this website from the National Center for Family Literacy allows kid to discover and imagine almost anything.
Pass the Plate
tv.disney.go.com/disneychannel/passtheplate
Sponsored by the Disney Channel, Pass the Plate offers nutritious recipes, healthy food facts and good snacking tips from all over the world. Instead of simply telling kids to eat healthy, Pass the Plate uses videos and other interactive features to show students how to prepare their own healthy food.
ReadWriteThink
www.readwritethink.org
This website created by the National Council of Teachers of English is a goldmine. From mobile apps to blogging projects, this site offers a wide range of afterschool resources that will keep K-12 students focused on English Language Arts all summer long. With mobile apps like Word Mover students can create "found poetry" while sitting on the beach.
Science NetLinks
www.sciencenetlinks.com
Whether listening to podcasts, getting ideas for an experiment, tuning in to the latest science news, or talking directly with a scientist this website is like a visit to the museums in Balboa Park without fighting I-5 traffic. Geared to younger and older children alike, these resources from the American Association for the Advancement of Science may just steer students into a career in science.
NGA Kids
www.nga.gov
The National Gallery of Art (NGA) website is interactive and inspiring. Students can create animated portraits, abstract paintings, collages, or sculptures by experimenting with different artist media. Photo Op is a digital photo-editing program where students can drop and drag their own photographs into a masterpiece. If photography isn't one's cup of tea, they can design a self-portrait on Pixelface, an interactive drawing board or texturize and set in motion 3-D shapes using the Twirler.
If you still haven't found what you're looking for, Great Websites for Kids has dozens of recommendations that will interest youngsters of all ages. By the time students finish their virtual summer learning tour, school will be back in session on Aug. 28.
In addition to the wide array of enrichment activities provided by the Carlsbad Education Foundation and summer camps sponsored by the City's Parks and Recreation Department, students can take advantage of on-line activities that encourage creativity, exploration and thinking.
Summer learning is like gravity. It can happen all around us even when we might not know it's there. To that end, parents can guide their children to meaningful websites that make learning feel less like a requirement and more like fun. Since students love their devices, why not take advantage of a few proven "hot spots" to keep our students busy during their days off.
Wonderoplois
www.wonderopolis.org
Wonderopolis explains some of the wonders of daily life, such as: Why do catfish have whiskers? or Who invented Karaoke? Students can spend time in camp what-a-wonder or surf through a variety wonders-of-the-day. Spanning dozens of categories, this website from the National Center for Family Literacy allows kid to discover and imagine almost anything.
Pass the Plate
tv.disney.go.com/disneychannel/passtheplate
Sponsored by the Disney Channel, Pass the Plate offers nutritious recipes, healthy food facts and good snacking tips from all over the world. Instead of simply telling kids to eat healthy, Pass the Plate uses videos and other interactive features to show students how to prepare their own healthy food.
ReadWriteThink
www.readwritethink.org
This website created by the National Council of Teachers of English is a goldmine. From mobile apps to blogging projects, this site offers a wide range of afterschool resources that will keep K-12 students focused on English Language Arts all summer long. With mobile apps like Word Mover students can create "found poetry" while sitting on the beach.
Science NetLinks
www.sciencenetlinks.com
Whether listening to podcasts, getting ideas for an experiment, tuning in to the latest science news, or talking directly with a scientist this website is like a visit to the museums in Balboa Park without fighting I-5 traffic. Geared to younger and older children alike, these resources from the American Association for the Advancement of Science may just steer students into a career in science.
NGA Kids
www.nga.gov
The National Gallery of Art (NGA) website is interactive and inspiring. Students can create animated portraits, abstract paintings, collages, or sculptures by experimenting with different artist media. Photo Op is a digital photo-editing program where students can drop and drag their own photographs into a masterpiece. If photography isn't one's cup of tea, they can design a self-portrait on Pixelface, an interactive drawing board or texturize and set in motion 3-D shapes using the Twirler.
If you still haven't found what you're looking for, Great Websites for Kids has dozens of recommendations that will interest youngsters of all ages. By the time students finish their virtual summer learning tour, school will be back in session on Aug. 28.