Summer Slide can easily be prevented. Keep your kids’ brains sharp with fun, engaging activities.
Project: Bake a Cake
We all know HOW to bake a cake, but we tend to overlook all of the teachable moments. Summer is the time to stop rushing through the steps and really look at what we’re doing. Buy a cheap cake mix and let the learning begin!
Tips:
– Let the kids do the measuring, talk about fractions. Pause for a moment and use water to show them that it takes 4 1/4 cups to fill 1 cup. Talk about parts of whole. For older kids, you can challenge them to use different combinations of cups. i.e. instead of using the 1/2 cup they can figure out that they can use the 1/4 cup twice.
– States of matter- all kids should understand that matter is “stuff” and that it exists in different states. Talk about the change that takes place when the cake bakes, going from a liquid to a solid.
– Oil and water don’t mix- Ignore the instructions and put the oil and water in the bowl first. Let your child stir it and watch what happens. Explain that they have different densities.
Even reluctant learners will enjoy and engage in this activity. You could even pair it up with a good book– Froggy Bakes a Cake is one that came to my mind. Reading a book is a great way to pass the 40 minutes it will take for the cake to bake! The end result is happy kids, full tummies, and active brains.
What projects are you dong this summer to beat Summer Slide?
