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Learning Together Joyfully: Summertime Play

Welcome back educators, parents, care-givers and grandparents! Now that school is out, July is here and summer has arrived, parents/care-givers are on the front line making sure that their children continue to keep their minds and bodies active. Summer is a time to relax and recalibrate. Kids need time for play, movement and fun. The more laughter the better. If kids are emotionally sound when they return to school in the fall, learning and the educator’s job will be far less challenging. During the summer, open-ended free time for children to relax and explore at will is optimal. Summer is also a great time for children to deepen friendships as they play and interact with others. Encourage games and activities that involve cooperation and socializing with siblings and friends. Playing outdoors with friends and taking a break from screens, promotes curiosity, initiative, and creativity…as you and your children play, learn, grow, together joyfully!

1.  Read and Sing together 📚

Teaching the Main Idea and Details is an important skill for children to learn. A read aloud can be an effective strategy to teach main ideas and supporting details. When reading with children, modeling your thinking process out loud is key! Start by covering up the title of the book and encourage the students to look at the cover. Discuss what they see. Then ask the students for suggestions as to what they think would be a good title of the book and don’t forget to ask them WHY they chose that answer! Enjoy sharing the following books to showcase main ideas and key details.

SUMMER BOOKS: These books may be found at your school or public library or purchased at a bookstore.

  • Super Summer; All Kinds of Summer Facts and Fun by Bruce Goldstone. Summer is a season of plenty—plenty of sun and fun with people on vacation and plenty of activities in and around the water. Get ready to explore summer’s amazing abundance through vivid photos and creative craft ideas! 
  • Teddy Bear Picnic by Jimmy Kennedy. Enjoy this classic favorite story with delightful illustrations as you prepare for your family picnic! Read (or sing!) your way through this picture book adaptation of the favorite teddy-bear tale, The Teddy Bears’ Picnic.
  • Splat the Cat and the Lemonade Stand by Rob Scotton. School’s out, and Splat can’t wait to visit the waterpark, but first he needs to make some money—selling lemonade! Splat opens a lemonade stand to make enough money to buy a ticket to the Super Jump Water Park. But when Spike opens another lemonade stand right across the street, Splat is in for some friendly competition. He’s going to have to think fast to beat his rival! This book is a Level Two I Can Read book, geared for kids who read on their own but still need a little help.

  • On the First Day of Summer Vacation by Tish Rabe. When school is out, it’s time to celebrate and have some summertime fun! From catching fireflies to going to the zoo to learning how to swim are all activities to enjoy during the summer. You can even sing this book to the “Twelve Days of Christmas”. 
  • Summer Song by Kevin Henkes. Bees buzz, birds sing, and children roll in the grass and feel the heat of the summer sun. With striking verbal imagery, repetition, and alliteration, we are introduced to basic concepts of language and the summer season. The glowing paintings beautifully illustrate the wonders of summer.
  • How I Spent My Summer Vacation by Mark Teague. Most kids go to camp over the summer, or to Grandma’s house, or maybe they’re stuck at home. Not Wallace Bleff.  He was supposed to visit his Aunt Fern. Instead, Wallace insists, he was carried off by cowboys and taught the ways of the West–from riding buckin’ broncos to roping cattle. Lucky for Aunt Fern, he showed up at her house just in time to divert a stampede from her barbecue party!  Perfect for a fun summer read-aloud, here’s a western fantasy with sparkling illustrations and enough action to knock kids’ boots off! 
  • The Summer Nick Taught His Cats to Read by Curtis Manley. It’s not easy to teach a cat to read, but one boy tries anyway in this sweet and silly picture book debut that captures the challenges and rewards of learning to read. Nick loves to read books—and he loves to play with his cats, Verne and Stevenson. So naturally Nick decides it’s a great idea to teach his cats to read. But Verne and Stevenson don’t appreciate when Nick wakes them up with a flashcard that says NAP. Nick finally piques Verne’s interest with words like MOUSE and FISH. But not Stevenson’s. While Nick and Verne go to the library, Stevenson hides under the porch. Will Nick ever find a way to share his love of reading with his feline friends? 
  • One Hot Summer Day by Nina Crews. It’s summer, and it’s hot! This is a perfect book to share with young children on a hot summer day! This lively and beautiful photographic concept book is about a perfect summer day. This picture book is ideal for sharing in the home or classroom, and readers will feel the summer heat while exploring the sensory delights of summer, including making chalk pictures on the pavement, swinging on the swing set, slurping grape pops, and enjoying a cooling rainstorm. 
  • Bears’s Picnic by Stan Berenstain. Father Bear says he knows the perfect spot for a picnic, but each ideal location turns out to be a complete disaster with the family running off to find another spot to lay down their red-and-white checked tablecloth in this giggle-filled escape.
  • The Berenstain Bears Summer Fun! by Stan and Jan Berenstain.  Summer is a time to relax but it’s also the perfect season to go outside and play. This collection of three Berenstain Bears books celebrates baseball, soccer, and camp! These humorous and heartwarming stories can be enjoyed during a long car drive or a rainy summer day! 
  • Barnacle is Bored by Jonathan Fenske Barnacle is stuck on the underside of a pier where every day is exactly the same. Life is boring and he wants something  EXCITING to happen. Then one day Barnacle learns that exciting is not always better!
  • A Camping Spree with Mr. Magee by Chris Van Dusen. Mr. Magee and his trusty dog, Dee, are off on a camping trip when many things go wrong and home starts looking like a good place to be.
  • Summer Feet read by Sheree Fitch. A playful, rhyming picture book from Sheree Fitch that celebrates all things summer. Canada’s Dr. Seuss, Sheree Fitch, is back with a brand-new tongue-twisting picture book that celebrates all things summer. From those first barefoot days, wobble-dy walking over rocks and pebbles, to wandering-wild while searching for sea glass and, finally, huddled-up cozy at a late-summer bonfire, these summer feet flutter kick, somersault, hide-and-seek, and dance in the rain, soaking up all the season has to offer. With Fitch’s classic lip-slippery, lyrical rhymes and Carolyn Fisher’s bright and colourful illustrations, Summer Feet will be an instant summertime favourite.

SUMMER ACTIVITY: SKIPPING OR JUMP ROPE: Do you remember skipping as a child? Lots of friends, rhymes, and lots of fun!   Introduce skipping to children around the age of 4 or 5 and look for the immense benefits it can provide children on an emotional, mental and physical level. There are many reasons why skipping or jumping rope, a classic kids’ activity, has been around for generations and is still popular and relevant today. Skipping involves children in motor planning, strength, range of motion and concentration skills. Skipping is such a perfect example of motor planning and sensory integration.  It requires ideation (having the idea about how to move), planning (sequencing the movement), and execution (carrying out the movement). The ability to coordinate the two sides of the body involved in learning how to skip requires balance, strength, motor planning, and bilateral coordination. Bilateral coordination refers to the ability of the brain and body to process and integrate information from both sides of the brain to respond with movements in a coordinated manner. Many functional tasks and daily activities, such as feeding, dressing, and writing rely on bilateral coordination. 

Enjoy reading these books together. Check out your school and public library or bookstore to buy or borrow the following recommended books:

  • Hope Learns to Jump Rope by Amy Cancrye.  “Let me introduce you to a girl called Hope. who didn’t want to start school until she could jump rope. Hope tries to jump rope but soon realizes, jumping rope was harder than she’d ever imagined. Hope tries and tries, but is ready to give up, until she learns the secret to success. This book is a motivational story focused on the most basic of positive character traits. She displays the ability to work hard, and persevere. This is a short rhythmic story of a little girl named Hope, and her overwhelming desire to learn to jump rope, through practice, temporary failure and hard work.” 
  • The Skipping Rope Snake by Carol Ann Duffy. What can a little girl do in the jungle? Play snap with a crocodile? Join-the-dots on a leopard’s spots? Pin-the-tail on an elephant? Or just pick up a snake and skip all the way home! With its irresistible rhyme and “jungly” illustrations, this is a joyful, picture book from Poet Laureate Carol Ann Duffy.
  • Singily Skipping Along by Sheree Fitch. A “body movement multi-sensory inventive language poem” is is playful and imaginative book, asking the reader to pretend to be a tree, a whale, a spider, a cloud, and to find the many delightful ways they can move their bodies. The text uses some predictable and cumulative patterns but also includes joyful surprise patterns—and a healthy dose of nonsense—to stimulate children’s imaginations. Deanne Fitzpatrick’s hooked rug illustrations bring freedom and texture to the verse, and the result is a tactile and joyful classic Fitch book. 
  • 163 Jump Rope Rhymes: Classic Songs for Fun Skipping by Nona Kid. This songbook is a must-have for any fan of skipping! It contains 163 classic skipping songs from around the world, each one chosen for its catchy melody and fun lyrics. You’ll have hours of entertainment singing and dancing along with these timeless classics. Whether you’re a beginner or a skipping expert, you’ll find something to love in this songbook. So grab your rope, put on your shoes, and get ready to skip your way to fun! This is a collection of the most popular and classic skipping rhymes, combined with beautiful illustrations on every page. Some of the songs may even bring back treasured memories, belonging to mothers or grandmothers about their own childhood. Skipping rhymes is a perfect way to connect generations. Jumping and singing these rhymes together creates the perfect opportunity to share memories with the older generations, and even create new ones with the kids of today.
    We hope this book will bring joy and fun to your jump-rope skipping activities, as well as create wonderful bonds within your family.

Idlehearts.com

SHADOW BOOKS:

  • Moonbear’s Shadow by Frank Asch. One sunny day Bear decides to go fishing, but his shadow keeps scaring the fish away, time and time again. Bear tries everything he can think of to get rid of this pesky nuisance. And at last he succeeds—or so he thinks! 
  • What Makes a Shadow? by Clyde Robert Bulla.When you run, your shadow runs. But you can never catch it! What makes a shadow? Where does it come from? When the sun is shining, everything has its own shadow—trees, houses, cars, even clouds and planes way up in the sky. You have a shadow, too. As the sun sets, all shadows become part of a much larger one—the night! Young readers will discover what makes the shadows they see and will be introduced to the fun of making shadows of their own. This is a clear and appealing science book for early elementary age kids, both at home and in the classroom.
  • My Shadow by Robert Louis Stevenson. Inside, outside, climbing up the stairs, or jumping into bed, your shadow may be following you! He may even be one step ahead as you run down the street! Complete with a cast of the whole family, a cat, a dog, and a teddy, this story is for everyone. Little ones who are just discovering their shadows for the first time will find inspiration between these pages, while older, more experienced kids are sure to learn new ways to play with their shadows.
  • Guess Whose Shadow? By Stephen R. Swinburne. This concept book introduces children to the basics of shadows and then leads them on a shadow hunt, playing a game called “Guess Whose Shadow?” in which young ones will discover there’s more to shadows than first meets the eye. 

EarlyYearsInstitue.com

BUBBLES – Playing with bubbles seems to capture the attention of children of all ages. It is a fun energy-burning undertaking, a science experiment, a leisurely way to pass the time, and a great sensory fun project. Read the following books to encourage children to enjoy playing and experimenting with bubbles.

  • The Bubble Factory by Tomi De Paola. Joining their grandpa on a tour of the Bubble Factory, a pair of mischievous twins get into “bubble trouble” in the Bubble Boutique, Bubble Bathery, and Bubble Gummery, in a story that is accompanied by bubble solution and a wand.
  • You Can’t Kiss a Bubble by Karen A Wyle. What can you do with a bubble? Many children – and adults – find bubbles fascinating, even enchanting. And yet they’re so different from most things we enjoy, lasting only a few moments. This book, with its lovely and whimsical illustrations, looks at both the charm and the transitory nature of bubbles, and reminds us that we can take joy even in the impermanent. 
  • Bubbles Float, Bubbles Pop by Mark Weakland. What makes a bubble float? Are the bubbles in your soda the same as the bubbles in your tub? What makes a bubble pop? Discover the wonder and science of bubbles in this non-fiction book.
  • We Love Bubbles! by Vikram Madan. Did you ever have a friend who likes doing something that you find completely annoying? Well, Bobo and Pup-Pup both LOVE bubbles. Bubbles are the absolute best–on that they can agree! While Pup-Pup loves blowing them, Bobo LOVES popping them…way too much for Pup-Pup’s taste. It’s getting frustrating! Pup-Pup has a clever idea to stop Bobo from popping them. But, then Bobo gets carried away…literally! 

SONGS:

andersonvocal.com/blog

SUMMER SONGS:

SKIPPING:

BLOWING BUBBLES 

SHADOWS 

TEACHING MAIN IDEA

2. Create together: Puzzles, Crafts, Drawing and Constructing 🧩 

As summer approaches you may wish to start saving and stocking up on some of the following Items that children can use to create open-ended crafts. Your collection might include: paper bags, newspaper, paper towels, shredded paper, plastic food containers, clothes pins, cardboard boxes, tissue boxes, wrapping paper, post-it notes, coffee filters, pom-poms, various grades of paper, scissors, glue (squeeze glue in a bottle is best for hand strength development), beads, pipe cleaners, paper clips, straws, cardboard, yarn, buttons and cupcake liners – to name but a few! When you are looking for activities for your children to enjoy, consider some of the following ideas:

SUMMER ACTIVITIES:

  • Create your own Bucket List of Summer Activities – see one above for some ideas OR download this printable 75 outdoor activities for kids.
  • Play Canada Day Bingo.
  • Download this fun Summer Beach Fun activity.
  • Download the Summer Scavenger Hunt for children to enjoy.
  • Sing some of the summer songs and read some of the summer books. During reading of some of the summer books, ask questions to have children focus on the main idea and supporting facts.
  • Another reminder: Check out the Summer Reading Programs offered at your local library:

BUBBLE ACTIVITIES:

SUMMERTIME FUN: SHADOWS – The following activities teach children about light, seasons, how shadows are made and how they change throughout the day. Read more about teaching children about shadows. 

3. Explore, Engage & Interact together 🌍

TEACHING CHILDREN TO SKIP:

First, evaluate and observe the following gross motor skills needed for skipping:

  • Balance – check to make sure they can balance on either foot
  • Hopping – are they able to hop in place on each foot?  Are they able to hop forward on one foot?  Have them try to take 5 hops forward on either foot
  • Leg dominance – it may be helpful to know if they have a preferred leg for activities like hopping or kicking
  • Galloping – are they able to gallop? Can they gallop on either side?  This is more of a unilateral skill, which is often easier for kids who demonstrate difficulty with bilateral coordination skills.
  • Now watch How to teach a Child to Skip. 

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SKIPPING ACTIVITIES:

  • Read about some more Jump Rope Games your children can enjoy. 
  • Jump for joy, summer is here! It not only gets hearts pumping, but it also strengthens bones.
  • Jumping rope is the perfect summer activity. All you need is a rope and a little bit of space. Encourage kids to start jumping with these fun activities:
    • How long can you jump? Keep track of how many minutes you jump each week and see if you can increase your time each day!
    • Have a jump rope contest with your friends! Who can jump rope for the longest time without stopping? Do double-dutch with friends.
  • Play your child’s favorite song on speakers and see if they can jump the entire time.

4. Healthy Living: Movement & Nutrition 👭

MOVEMENT: Burn off some of you and your child’s energy and watch some of these movement videos:

NUTRITION: Some of the key reasons to bring kids into the kitchen are now been validated by research!

  • Cooking with children encourages them to try new foods;
  • When children cook with their families they feel proud of what they help create and they also feel like they have contributed to the family;
  • Believe it or not, kids are more likely to sit down to a family meal if they helped make the meal;
  • Parents and children spend quality time together when they are in the kitchen cooking together;
  • When kids are helping their parents or other grown-up cook or prepare a meal, they aren’t sitting in front of the television or their favorite video game;
  • When kids are actively participating in creating the meal, they are less likely to be eating junk food or less healthy foods.

Summertime means opportunities to prepare fresh lemonade for your children’s Lemonade Stand, preparing a picnic or summer snacks that children can help you prepare. Enjoy the following recipes as you pass along important kitchen skills to your children.

  • Frozen Fruity Yogurt Bites – This simple recipe can be made by children of all ages and abilities and is a great way for children to make a healthy snack. (rainydaymum.com.uk)
  • Carrot Zucchini Veggie Puffs – Another healthy way to use veggies and involve children in garden-to-table (or store) preparations. (theottoolbox.com)
  • Peanut Butter Banana Smoothie – with just 5 ingredients, this protein-packed treat can be made by you and your child any day of the week. (insanelygoodrecipe.com)

SUMMERTIME NUTRITION: Consider having your children assist in creating these simple snack ideas when going on a picnic or to enjoy during a longer drive.

  • Ants on a log – this is a fun way to get children interested in “playing” in the kitchen and eating their veggies. (healthylittlefoodies.com)
  • Fruit Swords – a healthy snack of local fruit either picked from the garden or purchased from the store that is easy to prepare. (raindaymums.co.uk)
  • Frozen Fruit Kabobs – These are perfect for children to cool down during the hot summer months. A healthy alternative to popsicles, this is a recipe that younger kids can easily make. Use fresh fruit that your child loves, but also consider introducing children to new fruits such as kiwi, star fruit, mango or pineapple. (Sugaraunts.com)

PICNIC & ROAD TRIP IDEAS:

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5. Reflect: Thoughts of the Day about Learning 💭

ABOUT PLAY:

SummerShowArt.com

(BC MOE Handbook – Play Today P.38.)

Peakaboobeams.com

NUTRITION:

Cookinggods.com