FOR OLDER ELEMENTARY STUDENTS
Go for a Measurement Scavenger Hunt
Arm the players with rulers and a list of sizes (like two inches or thirty centimeters) and challenge everyone to find one object that has that measurement within the time limit. See who can find the most items from the list.
Try Munchable Math
Use a bag of colored candies to review math concepts such as fractions, addition, subtraction, percentage and ratio. Sort the candies into color groups and calculate the fraction of red candies in the package (number of red candies on top and total number of candies on the bottom) or total the number of candies of two or three different colors. Find out how many blue candies there are compared to green ones (ratio) or calculate the decimal fraction to tell what part of the group is yellow.
Get Dramatic
Choose a favorite book or story and write a script, complete with stage directions. Try putting on a play or a puppet show. Or, write character descriptions on blank cards, like “an old woman” or “a two year old child,” then play charades and act out the given part.
Make a Museum
Pick a topic and create a museum display using models, pictures, magazine articles, books, newspapers and write-ups by your student. You can set a number of facts to discover or set up an area with a certain size to fill, such as a table or a corner of a room.
Try Being the Teacher
Challenge your older student to choose a book and read it, then write comprehension questions for YOU to answer. Be sure to request an answer key so you can check your work.
FOR TEENS
Dream Up a Shopping Spree
Give your teen a large amount of play money (or just a figure on paper), a few catalogs, and a task to accomplish within their budget, such as redecorating their rooms or planning a party. See how well they can manage their money to accomplish their goals.
Start a Family Newspaper
Whether simply writing on paper or using a publishing computer program, making a newspaper can be quite entertaining. Encourage your teen to include common newspaper features, such as comics, advice columns, advertisements and editorials as well as news articles, all about your family.
Create Puzzles
Have your teen try a hand at puzzle-crafting. Quarter-inch graph paper works well as a base for word search and crossword-type puzzles, or plain notebook paper works well for secret codes. You can give a word list to your student, or let him or her create one for a favorite subject. Remind your teen to make an answer key, then take a shot at solving their creations.
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No matter what age group your child belongs to, you can keep the brains active all summer long with just a teensy bit of coaxing. Play thinking games now and reap benefits this fall when school starts!
