We’re in the height of summer, and as you continue to have what we hope is a restful and restorative break, we wanted to pop in (👋) and share ways for you to feed your brain while you’re away from school.

Below you will find suggestions from Beaver faculty and students to learn, move, connect, nourish, and be. The list includes indoor and outdoor options—as well as a variety of ways for you to engage with the world around you, try new things, practice self-care, and tap into your curiosity!

But before we jump into the list, here’s a refresher on the different elements that make up “Feed Your Brain” and the impact they have—mentally and physically.

• Learn: Choose how and what you want to learn. Read, watch, listen, or do something new or connected to what you want to learn more about so you can add to your fund of knowledge. Prior knowledge helps you acquire and learn new information and improves your capacity for problem-solving.
• Move: Exercise improves brain health, enhances focus, strengthens memory, improves mood, and reduces stress. (Read this fact sheet or listen to this TED Talk to learn more.)
• Connect: Make new friends or strengthen existing relationships by sharing a common interest, developing a sense of purpose, learning new skills, and staying active physically and/or mentally.
• Nourish: Cooking can enhance cognition by improving one’s memory, fine motor skills, attention, and ability to sequence and anticipate. Learn more about the seven ways cooking can boost brain power; try to choose foods linked to better brain health!
• Be: Choose activities that help you slow down to have a calmer and clearer mind. This also will help improve concentration, memory, and decision-making. Examples include meditation, which decreases stress and increases focus; reading for pleasure, which increases brain connectivity and builds empathy; writing, which improves creativity, problem-solving, empathy, and self-monitoring skills; and listening to music, which elevates mood, reduces stress, and stimulate memories.

Are you ready to Feed Your Brain this summer? Let’s do it!

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

• Learn or practice a language with Memrise or Duolingo

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!
• Stay connected with Mr. Rohn and his wife to learn more about their adventures along the Appalachian Trail. Visit trekkingsketches.com to read their travel, hiking, and adventure blog, or follow them on Instagram!

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
• Book lists for teens

Write

• Write a short story, poem, novel, or whatever you like.
• Share your talents as a writer by exploring publishing options at Grub Street, New Pages, Stone Soup, or Teen Ink.
• 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 Brain Games to enhance the power of your brain