Summer is knocking at our door!

Many of us have already transitioned into the mode of linen and sun hats, and kids are awaiting their days of adventure .

But like many teachers and parents, you may wonder what to do with all this extra (and amazing) kid time on your hands… especially if your work schedule doesn’t slow down nearly as much theirs does. At FLY, we see these days of play and wonder can also be a time to seal in some of the amazing skills studied throughout the year. Just because the school year closes, learning certainly doesn’t have to! We’ve compiled a list of TWENTY wallet friendly games that can keep your child reaffirming their knowledge through practice and play- the FLY way! No iGadgets Necessary! Here are FIVE favorites, straight from our newsletter exclusive, now yours to Download FREE: “FLY’s Wallet Friendly Fun!”

Lesson 1: READING WRITING AND PHONICS — Activity # 2: Stop, Drop, and Spell!

A twist on our FLY Favorite, Stop, Drop & Pose, this game is great for our more active youngsters, whether they’re just learning the letters or are skilled spellers! Turn on your favorite Summer songs for a dance party- when the music stops, everybody drops. Flip over a flashcard or choose a word or letter of the alphabet from memory, see who can create it using just their body the fastest!

Lesson 2: MATH AND SCIENCE — Activity #7 on our list: Home Science Experiments

Make your kitchen into a laboratory, complete with aprons and goggles.  There are so many great reactions to play with.  Favorite recommendations from this past year are:

– Make Fragrance using essential oils, baking soda, and a coconut oil base. 

– Sugar and Salt Crystal making: http://chemistry.about.com/cs/growingcrystals/a/aa012604.htm

– Milk Paintings Explosion.  Use a shallow plastic plate and fill with a thin layer of any milk. Add a few drops of food coloring and mix around to create beautiful swirls… this is entertaining to start!  Then, the magic happens!  Dip a cotton swab in a tiny bit of dish soap,  drop it into the milk and POW! See what you create  Don’t look away because it happens fast…

create the rules for sure-fire fun!

Lesson 3: LET’S GET PHYSICAL!!!— Activity #11:  Olympic Games!

Probably, the most played in my own childhood… this is an opportunity to string endless challenges together to highlight everybody’s gifts!  Create a mini competition highlighting brawn (three legged race, swim tests, jump rope), brain (puzzles, trivia, math problems) and creativity (creative diving, pictionary, charades) in every game. If it’s one kid flying solo (or you want to diffuse arguments) have everyone race against the clock, against gravity or even kids vs. grownups. As a team, everyone can win!

Lesson 4: MY COMMUNITY— MY WORLD — Activity #13: Paper Mache Planets

Messy and WILDLY informative!  I love making a paper mache globe to be used in various creative learning ways. Start by blowing up a balloon and tying it tight. Create paper mache (1 cup flour to 2 cups water, heated to a low boil, then cooled). Using long strips of newspaper, layer the balloon with lots of paper mache “glue” one or two times.  The top layer will be white computer paper so no print shows through.  Draw the continents, Create the Earth, and you have your very own globe to learn on. You can also create a whole galaxy, adding the Sun, Moon, and the rest of our Milky Way Planets!

Lesson 5: ARTS IMMERSION  — Activity #18: Musical Madness

What kid doesn’t love to rock and roll? Or at least shake, rattle and roll!  Create your own rock band with simple instruments from around the house.  Create shakers out of paper cups, a banjo out of a box and rubber bands, or a drum kit out of Tupperware and spoons  Put on some music and have kids practice getting into rhythm.  Stomp your feet, sing out loud and have a rockin’ good time!

Take  these one Activity at a time… or string them together for a whole day of Home- School- Play fun from FLY Learning Arts…

Hungry for ALL Twenty Activities?  Download Your FREE PDF Here! 20 Wallet Friendly Activities

For MORE FLY Fun, Subscribe to the FLY Side!   Do You have some awesome games and activities to add?  Join the conversation by leaving a comment below.  Share with your networks and put the wind beneath this movement toward whole body, heart happy education! Wishing You the VERY BEST of Summer Fun!

On Light,

Haley