Summer Learning

Resources for Teachers

Summer learning isn’t confined to the classroom—or any building at all! In fact, a lot of the best learning this time of year happens outside, from summer camps to backyards. And it doesn’t have to be overly structured either. Hands-on activities, real-life experiences, family adventures, and educational toys and games all help kids and teens keep their minds sharp during those long, lazy summer vacation months. Check out our huge roundup of resources to support summertime learning anytime and anywhere!

Summer Reading & Writing

Most experts say that daily reading is one of the most important activities for kids, and that goes for the summer months too. Try these fun ideas for practicing literacy skills like reading and writing at home or in summer learning programs.

Summer Reading List printable and books for 2024, including Get a Grip Vivy Cohen and Boxitcts.

Summer Reading Lists for Pre-K to Grade 12

150+ options for all ages.

Ode To Kool-Aid by Marcus Jackson...You turn the kitchen tap's metallic stream into tropical drink, extra sugar whirlpooling to the pitcher-bottom like gypsum sand...

Poems About Summer for Kids

Student-friendly poems for all ages.

reading challenge and scratch off reading task

Best Summer Reading Programs for Kids

Kids read books and earn rewards!

Summer Vocab Words (Free Printable)

This year’s hottest word list.

Summer read-aloud books called Come On Rain and Fireflies.

Books About Summer for Kids

The perfect read-alouds for the season.

Summer Word Search Bundle (Free Printable)

Free printable activities to keep kids busy.

Fascinating Summer Facts

Keep the learning going.

Summer Quotes for Kids

Inspiration for warm and sunny days.

Funny Summer Jokes (Free Slides)

Chill out with some laughs!

Best Reading Websites

E-books, phonics learning, and more.

Writing Apps for Kids

Practice handwriting and composition.

How To Do a Summer Story Walk

Inspiration for warm and sunny days.

How To Get Students To Love Summer Reading

Tips from teachers.

Color-as-You-Go Reading Challenge (Free Printable)

Fun reading activities for any season.

Collage of new books for June 2025, including Blue and Lovesick Falls

Best New Books Coming in June

New reads for lazy summer days.

New Books for July 2025 including Everyday Bean and Light

Best New Books Coming in July

Spice up your summer reading list.

Best New Books Coming in August

Be the first to check out these new reads.

FEATURED RESOURCE

Free Printable Summer Reading Logs

Keep track of summer reading with these fun logs, which include a bingo challenge and more ways to inspire a love of books all season long!

Summer Outdoor Learning

Whether you’re working at a summer program or looking for ways to entertain kids at home, these activities, games, and projects are just what you need.

A collage of pictures of teacher approved outdoor toys for kids

Educational Outdoor Toys

Teacher-approved for learning and fun!

Outdoor Science Experiments and Activities

Turn the world into your own science lab.

Summer activities for kids feature image

Best Summer Activities for Kids

Boredom-busting activities, inside and out!

Educational Kiddie Pool Games

Fill it with sand, water, bubbles …

60 Splash-tastic Water Activities for Summertime Fun and Learning including create a rainbow and water balloons on a trampoline

Water Activities for Summer Learning

Keep cool and have fun!

Kids doing outside activities, including selling lemonade and playing water balloon volleyball.

Outside Activities for Kids

Take the fun outside.

Outdoor Games for Kids

Daytime and nighttime options.

Pile of colorful water balloons for games and activities.

Water Balloon Games and Activities

Water you waiting for?

Fun Bubble Activities for Kids

Paint with bubbles and much more!

Active Math Games and Activities

For kids who think math is boring.

Scavenger Hunts for Kids (Free Printables)

Dozens of creative ideas.

What Is Geocaching?

Plus, fun ways to enjoy it with kids.

Solar Oven Science Project (Free Printable)

Cook using the power of the sun!

An instructor on a video screen with a worksheet in the foreground

Giant Bubble Experiment (Free Printable)

Astonish kids with enormous bubbles.

Beach Ball Games for Kids

Indoor and outdoor fun.

Summer Camp Ideas & Activities

Whether you’re pitching a tent out in nature or hosting a summer day camp, these games, songs, and activities will ensure you’ve got a bunch of happy campers!

Summer Camp Ideas for Kids and Teens

Nature is the best playground.

Fun and Easy Summer Camp Games

With free printable scorecards.

Fireside Camp Songs for Kids

“Make new friends, but keep the old …”

Camping Activities for Kids

Adventure awaits!

Funny Camping Jokes for Kids (Free Slides)

For giggles around the campfire.

Spooky Campfire Stories for Kids and Teens

Scary(ish) Campfire Stories (Free Printables)

Age-appropriate tales for thrills and chills.

Summer Sports & Travel Learning Activities

It’s time for road trips, picnics, and more! From sunny days at the beach to afternoons at the ballpark and beyond, try these resources for summer games and family fun.

Grand Canyon Facts for Kids

It can be filled with clouds?

Beautiful Beach Quotes for Kids

Write a special message in the sand.

Best Songs About Summer

Load up your playlist for road trips and parties.

Baseball Movies for Kids

Batter up for family fun!

Fascinating Facts About Sharks

Just in time for Shark Week.

Shark Books for Kids

These reads are jaws-ome.

Educational Shark Videos

Learn all about these magnificent creatures.

Family Movies for Every Age

Plus fun activity ideas.

Disney Trivia Questions and Answers (Free Slides)

Perfect for a family road trip.

Dinosaur Movies for Families

Jurassic Park is just the start.

The rings on the Olympic flag are related to the five continents.

Olympics Facts for Kids

The ultimate summer sporting event.

Summer Learning at Home

Learning at home over the summer doesn’t have to be hard or boring! Set aside 15 to 20 minutes a day for reading or math practice, then work in some creative educational activities that feel more like play at least a few times a week.

Easy Science Experiments

They all use materials you probably already have on hand.

Collage of service learning projects including community art projects and Habitat for Humanity

Service Learning Projects for Pre-K to Grade 12

Give back to the community and spend the summer learning too.

Where Did My Allowance Go? Game (Free Printables)

Fun to play at home, with practical financial literacy skills built in.

Tweet from Phyllis Fagel about the importance of play

The Case for Unstructured Summers

Experts believe free play is just as important as planned activities.

Language Learning Over the Summer

Help them retain the world languages they’ve been learning.

Sort and Count Coins Activity (Free Printable)

Grab a handful of change and get started!

Calculate the Cost Activity (Free Printable)

Fun and easy real-world learning for any age.

FEATURED RESOURCE

Easy Ways To Fight Summer Slide (Free Printable)

Research shows that many students lose a significant chunk of what they’ve learned during the school year in the summer. Fight summer learning loss with these easy ideas to reinforce reading and math skills at home.

Summer Holiday Activities

Commemorate Juneteenth, Father’s Day, and the 4th of July with kids using these inspiring ideas, books, activities, and more.

Examples of Juneteenth activities including designing posters and inviting guest speakers

Inspiring Activities To Celebrate Juneteenth

Learn about and participate in this historic day.

4th of July Crafts and Activities

Celebrate the stars and stripes!

Juneteenth Activities (Free Printables)

Reading passages, project ideas, and more.

4th of July Books for Kids

Fun reads about Independence Day.

Juneteenth Quotes for Kids & Teens

“There is still so much history yet to be made.”

Hilarious 4th of July Jokes (Free Slides)

They’re sure to go off with a bang!

Fascinating Statue of Liberty Facts

Boost your Lady Liberty knowledge.

Hilarious Dad Jokes for Kids (Free Slides)

Warning: These jokes are seriously cheesy.

Father's Day crafts for kids including a popcorn canvas art that says, "There's no butter pop than you" and a tackle box with Swedish Fish that says "Hugs and Fishes to you dad. Happy Father's Day!"

Best Father’s Day Crafts

Celebrate the father figures!

all about my dad father's day questionnaire on blue background with stars

Father’s Day Questionnaire (Free Printable)

Free, simple, and fun.

Inspiring American Flag Facts

Three cheers for the red, white, and blue!

Summer Arts & Crafts

These summer-inspired crafts, coloring pages, and drawing ideas will keep kids entertained and inspire their creativity indoors and out.

Collage of printable summer coloring pages.

Summer Coloring Pages (Free Printables)

Adorable animals enjoying the season.

Fun, Easy Summer Crafts for Kids

Fun for home, school, or camp.

30-Day Summer Drawing Challenge (Free Printable)

Every kid can be an artist.

66 Free and Easy Directed Drawing Activities Anyone Can Do

Directed Drawing Activities (Free Printables)

Easy enough for anyone to do.

Best online tutorials, brain break drawing exercises, and drawing warm-up activities.

Best Websites for Drawing

Support for teachers and students.

Nature Crafts and Activities

Take inspiration from the great outdoors.

Ice Cream Coloring Pages as an example of inexpensive gift ideas for students

Ice-Cream Coloring Pages (Free Printables)

I scream, you scream, we all scream for coloring!

Summer Learning Resources for Teachers

Teaching summer school or working as an educational camp counselor? These resources will make your summer easier and give kids a fun boost as they prepare for a new school year.

Summer Learning

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