If school is out for the summer where you live, check out these fun activities to help the kiddos have fun at home while also learning. We have activities for holidays, sunny days, rainy days and even virtual travel—so no reason to be bored this summer!
Celebrate Juneteenth
Now that Juneteenth is officially a federal holiday in the United States, it’s the perfect time to observe Juneteenth as a family. Juneteenth celebrates the freedom of the last group of enslaved people in the United States. Here are some resources to learn more.
- Blogger and crafter Karimah Henry wrote an excellent article this month for PBS Kids suggesting 5 Ways to Celebrate Juneteenth With Your Family. Check it out!
- You can also learn more about the holiday in this video from eMediaVA.
- PBS Parents also curated a list of 7 Books for Celebrating Juneteenth to help kids learn about the holiday.
Celebrate the Fourth of July
Independence Day | All About the Holidays It's the Fourth of July! Learn about the history of our country's most famHow did explorers Lewis and Clark celebrate Independence Day in the 1800s? This video segment depicts their journal entries from May 1804 to September 1806 and answers this question.
Priceless Science: Numbers surrounding the 4th of July The 4th of July has some some pretty explosive numbers behind it! Condiments, personal flags, the cost of the Macy's fireworks show, a new propane grill, and sparklers for every person in the state of Virginia are just a few numbers you should know.
Fireworks! Name That Shell The way a firework shell is designed and assembled determines the shape and color of a firework display. Choose a video clip and try to identify each firework variety in this interactive activity from NOVA.
Sunny Days - Get Outdoors
Five Ways to Explore the Outdoors with Elinor Wonders Why Exploring the outdoors is a hands-on way of learning about the environment and the world around you. In Elinor Wonders Why outdoor activities are common amongst the curious trio Elinor, Ari, and Olive. Here are 5 activities that will assist you in exploring your creativity, curiosity, and most importantly the outdoors.
Explore your neighborhood’s plants, animals, weather and more with over 150 unique missions in this downloadable app.
- Hundreds of tips to help your family talk about nature and science
- New missions and achievement badges that unlock as you use the app
- Digital tools to help your family observe and interact with nature
DIY Paper Bag Kites Build a paper bag kite with your child and learn more about lines, sides and angles!
Make Sun Prints In this activity, observe the sun's energy while also experiencing nature and making art!
Rainy Days - Have Fun Indoors
Ocean Guide In this online, interactive field guide, your child can learn more about animals, plants, and non-living items that can be found in the ocean.
Create an Upcycled Fish You can use this craft to teach your children that trash can be used in new and creative ways. Reuse a paper plate and toilet paper roll to create this cute upcycled fish!
Discover Pitch with a Water Xylophone Investigate ways to create different sounds by creating your own water xylophone.
Fun with Magnets Discover why magnets attract and repel in this collection from eMediaVA. Also learn about the Earth's magnetic field.
Explore Sound What is the loudest possible sound? What about the quietest thing we can hear? And what do decibels measure, anyway? Or, if your kids are older, check out this Physics of Sound video from Crash Course Physics.
Cook Up Some Edible Slime Explore the properties of different ingredients while creating tasty edible slime.
Shadow Play Use a flashlight to explore blocking light and creating different sizes of shadows.
Get Away, Rain or Shine - Virtual Travel
Take your family on a virtual field trip! With this collection from eMediaVA, you can visit the Grand Canyon, Yellowstone National Park, Niagra Falls, the Grand Tetons and more.
Find more learning activities at eMediaVA.org.