25+ Fun Summer Learning Resources for Homeschoolers
This article is all about the best summer learning resources for homeschoolers!
You’re not alone if you are completely sick of hearing “but Mommmm I’m boreddd” by the second week of summer.
We all need a break, even from homeschooling.
But we don’t want to have to start over and risk all they’ve learned getting forgotten once we get back to our regular schedule, right?
That’s where these 25+ summer learning resources come in!
Grab some ideas below about hands-on activities, summer books to read, and more to beat the heat (and avoid that dreaded summer slide) during your summer break!
Need to Avoid the Summer Slide?
Why Homeschoolers Need Summer Learning Resources
Although homeschool burnout is a natural part of the process that can definitely happen, I think doing zero educational activities can cause that dreaded summer slide.
That’s why I think keeping little brains engaged with intentional, low-pressure learning is key.
Even if you’re taking a summer vacation, you can still sprinkle in educational activities (without prepping a ton of lesson plans)!
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Summer Learning Resources for Homeschoolers
Today we’ll be covering:
- screen-free summer learning activities
- outdoor adventures
- engaging unit studies
- book lists and summer reading activities
Let’s get into these awesome summer learning resources and see how you can totally avoid the summer slide without pulling out a single worksheet!
Summer Learning Resources #1: Reading Activities
- DIY Summer Reading Bingo: Make your own or grab a free printable online.
- Book-Based Scavenger Hunt: Choose a book and create a hunt based on the story.
- Library Passport Challenge: Visit different library branches and “stamp” your visits.
- Audiobook + Activity Pairings: Listen to a summer story inside (or in the car) while building with LEGO or drawing.
- Book Club in a Basket: Include the book, themed snacks, discussion prompts, and a related activity in a basket.
💡 Pro tip: Check out your local library’s summer reading program or Scholastic’s Summer Reading Home Base.
Related: Homeschool Reading Curriculum for Struggling Readers: 15 Best With Pros and Cons
Summer Learning Resources #2: Screen-Free Summer Learning Ideas
- Nature Journaling: Head to a local park and draw what you see.
- Hands-On Science Kits: Try out ready-made volcano kits, bug-catching sets, or crystal growing.
- Backyard Birdwatching: Use an free learning app while watching birds, such as Merlin Bird ID, for added fun!
- Outdoor Poetry Prompts: Write a poem based on what you hear, smell, or feel, using outdoor poetry prompts to get you started.
- Sidewalk Math Games: Throw on the sunscreen and use sidewalk chalk to create math patterns, arrays, fractions, number sequences, and more outdoor math games.
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Summer Learning Resources #3: Nature Study + Outdoor Learning
- Wildflower Hikes: Bring along a field guide, or reference the free Wildflower Search website.
- Bug Camps + Ant Farm Projects: Observe insect life up close. If doing this irl isn’t your thing, check out one of my favorite YouTube channels, AntsCanada!!
- Weather Tracking Station: Chart (hopefully not blistering) temps, identify clouds, and track rainfall.
- Garden Journal: Record what you plant, how it grows, and what you harvest.
- Tree Rubbings + Bark Study: A classic summer activity with few resources. Collect leaf samples, explore textures, and learn about different types of trees, leaves, and their attributes.
Related: 5+ Best Homeschool Nature Study Activities to Try Now!
Summer Learning Resources #4: Creative Summer Activities
- Watercolor Nature Walks: Bring your paints along for plein air painting.
- Journaling Challenge: Use a summer writing prompt list each day! Challenge yourselves to write each day for a month.
- Make-Your-Own Puppet Show: Write a script, or use a list of script ideas to get you started, and perform for the family. Bonus: Create a set out of cardboard to add a STEM/STEAM element to this activity!
- Create Sun Prints: Use special sun print paper + outdoor materials like leaves to create beautiful sun prints.
- Simple Nature Crafts: Think flower crowns, leaf prints, and shell collages.
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Summer Learning Resources #5: STEM, Unit Studies, and Real-Life Learning
- Ice Cream Science: Learn about states of matter while making ice cream in a bag!
- Lemonade Stand Economics: Budgeting, pricing, marketing, and customer service skills practiced in real life!
- Ocean Unit Study: Combine ocean-themed books, crafts, and field trips to the aquarium or beach to bring your ocean unit study to life.
- Simple Engineering Challenges: Build a marble run, bridge, catapult, or try another STEM building challenge.
- Backyard Ecosystem Exploration: Study soil, worms, and critters under rocks.
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Bonus: Active Summer Ideas for the Whole Family
Bonus ideas that are just for fun this summer for your whole family, but, with a little creativity, even these ideas could lead to more summer learning!
- Try Out an Active Challenge: Give the 1000 Hours Outside challenge a try. Although it’s meant to be started in January, give it a shot and see how much you can rack up this summer!
- Outdoor Play: Check out a new, local park or head to the pool for some family bonding time that keeps you cool.
- Project Learning Tree: Give these activities a try that are designed to get your kids active outdoors and teach them about the environment, with a focus on trees and forests.
- National or State Parks: Find a national/ state park near you and take a day trip there together.
That’s All of the Summer Learning Resources!
You don’t need worksheets, screens, or stress to make learning stick this summer.
Hopefully these summer learning resources will spark some creativity, learning, and family fun this summer!
You’ve got this! Hope you have some fun and learn in the sun! 😎
Before You Go, Comment Below!
Which summer learning idea will you be trying first with your homeschoolers?
I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments!
Plus, let me know what other summer learning resources and activities you have in mind for the summer.
I’m always updating my blog posts with your suggestions, so I’d love to add to this post with your input and some great, new ideas.
For everything homeschool, we can PlanIt! ❤