To help our students use their summer effectively and prepare for the fall, we want to share a list of activities and opportunities for students to feed their brains while away from school.
The list includes options that are indoor and outdoor, as well as a variety of ways for students to engage with the world around them to feed their brains!
Please note: This list is merely a sampling to inspire students to think creatively and get started.
LEARN
General knowledge
- Learning something new with Khan Academy
- Check out free classes from Coursera, edx, Lynda, and Khan Academy
- Visit a museum or take a virtual tour of a museum
- Learn, play, and give back with Free Rice. (Each correct response in the game sends a financial payment to the World Food Programme (WFP) to support its work saving and changing lives around the world.)
Math skills
- Focal points for 6th, 7th, 8th grades
- New Math: 6th grade | 7th grade | 8th grade
- Sharpen & develop your math brain
Language skills
Code
- Learn to code in p5
- Code
MOVE
- Go for a swim
- Ride a bike
- Do yoga
- Get active and save lives with UNICEF Kid Power
CONNECT
- Volunteer in person or remotely for an organization
- Interview friends and family and make a podcast
- Connect with nature through Mass Audubon’s in-person and online nature-based programs. Nature Walks and the Firefly Watch Community Science Project are two of the many options!
NOURISH
- Cook something!
- Plant some vegetables, herbs, or flowers in your yard or a planter
Design & create
- Paint, draw, or make art
- Woodworking and DIY Furniture
- Build and fly your own kite
- Design your own board game
- Build something out of found objects
BE
Relaxation & mindfulness
- Take a mindfulness break
- Go for a nature walk
- Color
- Take a beach day
- Visit a public museum, garden, or park
Read
- Read a book
- Read a book from the ProjectLIT recommended list
- Do a summer reading challenge
Write
- Write a short story, poem, novel, or whatever you like
- Keep a diary or journal. Write down feelings throughout the day
- Keep a gratitude log. At the end of each day, write down what you are thankful for
Listen
- Play music in the house to shift or influence the mood in your home
- Listen to a Podcast
Bonus: Exercise Your Brain
- Play these Brain Games to enhance the power of your brain