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3 Dinosaur Stem Activities Elementary Kids Will Love

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This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

I have 3 dinosaur stem activities elementary kids will love. Also, look at my page How To Homeschool Elementary Students Like A Pro.

Also, look at my post Awesome Preschool Dinosaur Unit Study With Kids Who Love Dinosaurs.

Engage young learners with the fascinating world of dinosaurs through these three hands-on STEM activities.

They are designed to encourage scientific inquiry, technological design, engineering skills, and mathematical thinking.

3 Dinosaur Stem Activities Elementary Kids Will Love

Too, dinosaurs are fascinating to learn about. And learning about dinosaurs is the perfect way to learn about STEM.

And when kids get hands-on learning the results are powerful.

For instance, hands-on activities like building a model fossil or digging up a DIY excavation site make abstract ideas tangible.

Next, look at more how to homeschool elementary students tips.

HOW TO HOMESCHOOL ELEMENTARY STUDENTS TIPS

DINOSAUR BOOKS FOR KIDS

Next add some of these books to dinosaur stem activities elementary kids will love.

15 Books for Kids Crazy About Fossils and Dinosaurs

Your dinosaur loving kids will love some of these books and resources for a fun dinosaur unit study.

Kids learn best when they can touch, build, and experiment. Hands-on STEM activities allow them to see cause and effect in real time.

DINOSAUR STEM ACTIVITIES ELEMENTARY KIDS WILL LOVE

Now, look at these stem activities for elementary kids.

1. DINOSAUR FOSSIL DIG: UNEARTHING THE PAST

This activity introduces the basics of paleontology and the process of fossil discovery.

You will need:

  • Large container or designated area filled with sand or soil
  • Small plastic dinosaur skeletons or individual dinosaur bones
  • Brushes of different sizes (soft paint brushes, small cleaning brushes)
  • Magnifying glass
  • Small shovels or spoons
  • Small containers or trays for sorting discovered fossils
  • Optional: Small informational (flashcards) for different types of dinosaurs
3 Dinosaur Stem Activities Elementary Kids Will Love

Begin by discussing what fossils are and how paleontologists discover them. Show pictures or videos of real fossil digs to generate excitement.

Fill the sensory bin with material to create different layers of soil with sand, potting soil, small pebbles, etc.

3 Dinosaur Stem Activities Elementary Kids Will Love

Bury the plastic dinosaur fossils in the sand or soil, ensuring they are hidden at various depths.

Provide your child with brushes, magnifying glasses, and optional small digging tools. Instruct them to carefully excavate the “fossils” as if they were real archaeological finds.

Emphasize the importance of gentle brushing to avoid damaging the specimens.

3 Dinosaur Stem Activities Elementary Kids Will Love

Once a fossil is unearthed, encourage the children to examine it closely using their magnifying glasses.

Have them describe its shape, size, and any other notable features. If using informational cards, guide them in trying to identify the type of dinosaur the fossil might belong to.

3 Dinosaur Stem Activities Elementary Kids Will Love

For older children, provide notebooks or paper for the children to draw their discoveries and record any observations, such as the location where the fossil was found (if you created layers), its size, and any initial thoughts about what type of dinosaur it might be.

Discussion Questions:

  • Where did you find your fossils? Were some deeper than others?
  • What tools were most helpful for the excavation? Why?
  • What different types of dinosaurs (or bones) did we find?
  • What can we learn about dinosaurs from their fossils?
  • How is this activity similar to what real paleontologists do?

STEM Connections:

  • Science: Paleontology, fossils, adaptation, extinction, Earth’s history.
  • Technology: Tools used in excavation (real and simulated).
  • Engineering: Planning the excavation strategy, designing tools (if extended).
  • Mathematics: Measurement (size of fossils), counting the number of different fossils found.

Extension Activities:

  • Discuss the timeline of dinosaurs and different geological periods.
  • Research different types of fossils and how they are formed.
  • Create a display of the “discovered” fossils with labels.

2. DINOSAUR FOOTPRINT MEASUREMENT: TRACKS THROUGH TIME

This activity focuses on measurement, comparison, and drawing inferences from evidence, similar to how scientists study trace fossils like footprints.

Objective: To develop measurement skills, compare sizes, and understand how footprints can provide information about the size and movement of dinosaurs.

You will need:

  • Construction paper
  • Markers or paint to draw dinosaur footprints of various sizes and shapes (consider different types of dinosaurs like a large sauropod, a three-toed theropod, etc.)
  • Rulers
  • Non-standard measuring tools (e.g., blocks, toy dinosaurs)
  • Notebooks or paper and pencils for recording measurements
  • Optional: Pictures or diagrams of real dinosaur footprints
3 Dinosaur Stem Activities Elementary Kids Will Love

First, create a variety of dinosaur footprints on paper or cardboard. Ensure there are differences in size and shape to encourage comparison.

3 Dinosaur Stem Activities Elementary Kids Will Love

Cut out footprints.

3 Dinosaur Stem Activities Elementary Kids Will Love

Discuss how scientists study dinosaur footprints (trace fossils) to learn about how dinosaurs moved, their size, and even their behavior. Show pictures of real dinosaur tracks.

Provide rulers, measuring tapes, and non-standard measuring tools. Instruct them to measure the length and width of each footprint. Encourage them to use both standard and non-standard units.

3 Dinosaur Stem Activities Elementary Kids Will Love

You can also have your child order them from largest to smallest.

3 Dinosaur Stem Activities Elementary Kids Will Love

Have the child record their measurements in their notebooks or on the provided paper, noting which footprint they are measuring. Encourage them to label the footprints (e.g., Footprint A, Footprint B) or guess which dinosaur might have made it.

Discussion Questions:

  • Which footprint is the longest? Shortest? Widest? Narrowest?
  • How do the measurements compare when using different units (standard vs. non-standard)?
  • Can we order the footprints from smallest to largest based on our measurements?
  • What might the size of a footprint tell us about the size of the dinosaur?
  • Do the shapes of the footprints look different? What might this suggest about the type of dinosaur? (e.g., three-toed vs. oval)

Extension Activity:

  • Have the children measure their own footprints and compare them to the dinosaur footprints.
  • Create a life-size dinosaur footprint using chalk outside and have the children measure it.
  • Discuss how scientists use trackways (multiple footprints in a sequence) to learn about dinosaur speed and behavior.

STEM Connections:

  • Science: Paleontology, trace fossils, animal movement, adaptation.
  • Technology: Measurement tools.
  • Engineering: Designing ways to accurately measure irregular shapes.
  • Mathematics: Measurement (length, width), comparison, data recording, estimation, units of measurement.

Finally, look at this last hands-on activity.

3. BUILDING A DINOSAUR HABITAT: ENGINEERING FOR SURVIVAL

This activity challenges children to think like engineers as they design and build a suitable environment for a dinosaur, considering its needs for survival.

You will need:

  • Building blocks (various sizes and types)
  • Play Doh or modeling clay
  • Natural materials (rocks, twigs, leaves, small plants, moss)
  • Small toy dinosaurs (representing different types with varying needs – herbivore, carnivore, aquatic, flying if applicable)
  • Shallow containers for “water sources”
  • Optional: Construction paper or fabric for creating different terrain
3 Dinosaur Stem Activities Elementary Kids Will Love

First, begin by discussing the basic needs of living things: food, water, and shelter.

Talk about how different dinosaurs had different diets and lived in various environments. Show pictures of different dinosaur habitats (forests, swamps, plains).

Assign your child a specific type of dinosaur to build a habitat for. Provide some basic information about its diet and potential environment.

Encourage the children to plan their dinosaur habitat before building.

Ask them questions like:

  • What does your dinosaur eat? How will you provide food?
  • Does your dinosaur need water? Where will the water source be?
  • What kind of shelter does your dinosaur need? (e.g., shade, protection from predators, a nest)
  • What kind of terrain would be suitable for your dinosaur?
3 Dinosaur Stem Activities Elementary Kids Will Love

Provide the building materials and allow the children to construct their dinosaur habitats based on their plans. Encourage creativity and problem-solving.

Once the habitats are complete, have each child or group present their creation. Ask them to explain why they designed their habitat in a particular way and how it meets the needs of their dinosaur.

3 Dinosaur Stem Activities Elementary Kids Will Love

Discussion Questions:

  • Do you think your dinosaur would survive in this habitat? Why or why not?
  • What challenges did you face while building? How did you solve them?
  • How could you improve your habitat?

STEM Connections:

  • Science: Dinosaur diets and habitats, ecosystems, survival needs.
  • Technology: Tools and materials used for building.
  • Engineering: Design process (planning, building, testing, improving), problem-solving, structural design.
  • Mathematics: Spatial reasoning, size and scale (relative to the toy dinosaurs).

Extension Activities:

  • Discuss the concept of extinction and how changes in habitat can affect survival.
  • Research the specific needs of different dinosaurs.
  • Create food sources for the dinosaurs using playdough or other materials.

MORE DINOSAUR ACTIVITIES FOR KIDS

Easy Human Body Crafts For Elementary Featuring A Tongue Project

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This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

Forget worksheets, human body crafts for elementary students are wonderful activities to learn about anatomy in a creative way. Also, look at my page How To Homeschool Elementary Students Like A Pro.

Too, I have this Human Body Crafts page for more hands-on ideas. And this Beautiful Human Body Lapbook and Fun Unit Study.

From paper taste buds to recreating a yarn brain or discovering internal organs by mapping them on a t-shirt there are many fantastic crafts out there to help teach your child about every part of the human body.

Easy Human Body Crafts For Elementary Featuring A Tongue Project

I have a super simple tongue craft today using just a few sheets of construction paper, no special supplies, just a low-prep idea for mom and fun for the kids.

Did you know that they disproved the tongue map? While it was once believed that certain areas of the tongue had taste buds to detect sweet, sour, bitter, and salty they now say that the entire tongue has taste receptor cells to detect flavor.

But certain areas may be more sensitive to specific tastes. The tip of the tongue is particularly receptive to sweetness, while the sides are more attuned to sourness and saltiness. The back of the tongue is where bitterness is most keenly detected.

Next, look at more how to homeschool elementary students tips.

HOW TO HOMESCHOOL ELEMENTARY STUDENTS TIPS

BOOKS ABOUT THE HUMAN BODY FOR KIDS

16 Human Body Books & Hands-on Resources

Add a few of these fun resources whether you do a couple of lesson plans about the human body or a unit study.

Next, look at some facts about the taste buds.

6 FUN FACTS ABOUT TASTE BUDS

  1. The average person has between 2,000 and 10,000 taste buds.
  2.  Some people have an unusually high number of taste buds and are known as “supertasters.” They are more sensitive to bitter tastes and may find certain foods, like broccoli and coffee, overly intense.
  3. Each individual taste bud contains between 50 to 150 taste receptor cells.
  4. Taste buds have a remarkable ability to regenerate. Even if they are damaged, they can usually grow back within a few days. However, some taste buds stop being replaced as people age, which leads to a decrease in taste sensitivity.
  5. Taste buds aren’t just on your tongue, they are on the roof of your mouth, your throat, and even your esophagus.
  6. You don’t taste spicy foods, when food “ tastes” too spicy, it’s actually stimulating the pain receptors in your mouth and not the taste buds.
Easy Human Body Crafts For Elementary Featuring A Tongue Project

Then look at more human body crafts for elementary kids.

EASY HUMAN BODY CRAFTS

The idea here with this project is to focus more on the fact that the taste buds are responsible for detecting flavor and learning what those 5 are.

KIDS HUMAN BODY CRAFTS

The 5th flavor we haven’t mentioned yet is Umami- A savory or meaty flavor found in things like mushrooms, tomatoes, aged cheeses, seaweed, and soy products.

For younger children like preschoolers you might want to focus on the original 4 to keep it simple and easier to understand.

While there are five basic tastes, our perception of flavor is much more complex than that. Flavor involves a combination of taste, smell, texture, temperature, and even our emotions and memories.

Saliva also plays a crucial role in taste perception. It dissolves food molecules, allowing them to interact with the taste receptors.

PAPER TONGUE PROJECT

Along with our paper tongue project you will want to gather up some items that fit the sweet, salty, sour, bitter, and even the umami to taste test.

Dig into the refrigerator and pantry to find limes, sugar, salt, vinegar, and whatever else.

Try blindfolding your child and see if they can tell you what each flavor is.

Easy Human Body Crafts For Elementary Featuring A Tongue Project

You will need:

  • Colored construction paper
  • Scissors
  • Glue stick
  • Marker
Easy Human Body Crafts For Elementary Featuring A Tongue Project

First, cut a sheet of pink construction paper into a general tongue shape.

Easy Human Body Crafts For Elementary Featuring A Tongue Project

Trace the tip and back of the tongue to create a taste bud “patch” for the front and back of the tongue.

Easy Human Body Crafts For Elementary Featuring A Tongue Project

Cut out 2 different colors into an oval shape with a flat end like this to add to the sides.

Easy Human Body Crafts For Elementary Featuring A Tongue Project

Label each one with a marker, be sure to turn them the way they will be placed so they don’t end up with upside-down lettering.

Easy Human Body Crafts For Elementary Featuring A Tongue Project

Glue each piece down into place.

Easy Human Body Crafts For Elementary Featuring A Tongue Project

Now you can have your child place different food items near what taste receptors( taste buds).

How to Make a Humpback Whale & More Zoology Activities for Elementary Students

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This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

Look at this long list of zoology activities for elementary students, including a fun air-dry clay humpback whale great for learning about the parts and purposes of whales. Also, look at my page How To Homeschool Elementary Students Like A Pro.

Also, look at my page Oceans Unit Study and Lapbook for more hands-on ideas.

Zoology is the branch of biology that studies animals. It encompasses various aspects such as animal behavior, physiology, anatomy, classification, and distribution.

How to Make a Humpback Whale & More Zoology Activities for Elementary Students

There are many sub-branches within zoology like Entomology (insects), Herpetology (reptiles and amphibians), Ichthyology (fish), Ornithology (birds), and Mammalogy (mammals).

Imagine an animal as long as a school bus swimming gracefully in the deep blue sea, that’s a humpback whale.

These incredible creatures are the gentle giants of our oceans, and they have many fascinating secrets to share. Let’s dive in and discover more about these magnificent mammals.

Next, look at more how to homeschool elementary students tips.

HOW TO HOMESCHOOL ELEMENTARY STUDENTS TIPS

BOOKS ABOUT WHALES FOR KIDS

8 Whale Books for Kids

Choose a few of these ocean themed books to go along with your study of the Oceans. Whether you're looking for a spine for a unit study or literature, you'll love this roundup.

Next, look at these humpback whale facts to add to zoology activities for elementary students.

HUMPBACK WHALE FACTS

Humpback whales are enormous, they typically grow to be between 40 and 60 feet long, which is about the length of a large school bus.

Their bodies are mostly dark gray or black, but they have unique white patches on their bellies and the undersides of their long flippers.

These flippers can be up to 16 feet long, which is longer than most cars. They use these powerful flippers to help them steer and move through the water.

If you look at a humpback whale’s head you’ll notice some bumpy knobs. These are called tubercles, and each one has a small hair growing out of it. Scientists believe these tubercles help the whales sense their surroundings and may even improve their swimming.

They also have a broad, knobbly head and a series of pleats, or grooves, on their throat that can expand when they feed.

Humpback whales are found all over the world. They can be found in all the major oceans, from the icy cold waters of the Arctic and Antarctic to the warm, tropical seas closer to the equator.

And they undertake incredible journeys each year-During the summer months, they migrate to colder waters where food is plentiful.

These waters are full of tiny creatures like krill and small fish, which the whales need to eat and build up energy.

How to Make a Humpback Whale & More Zoology Activities for Elementary Students

Then at more zoology activities for elementary kids.

15 ZOOLOGY ACTIVITIES FOR ELEMENTARY STUDENTS

  1. Learn How to Create a Homeschool Zoology Unit Without a Curriculum and Cute Fox Craft to make your own unit.
  2. How about a Free Kids Insect Unit Study┃ How to Make Clay Insects?
  3. Combine history and zoology as you learn about Daniel Boone Explorer Black Bear Unit Study and Fun Edible Bear Poop.
  4. Put together a Bug Eye Mask to get a bug’s eye view on the world as you learn about the different types of eyes in the bug world.
  5. Do You Enjoy Learning About Animals? This  FREE Zoology Game can be used for bingo, memory, or go fishing.
  6. Hands-On Butterfly Identification Activities for Kids
  7. Encourage bugs to visit your yard with a How to Make a Bug Hotel Craft: Fun Craft for Kids to observe them closer.
  8. Learn about Animal Houses: Engineering Game for Kids and encourage your child to use problem-solving and planning skills to make functional animal houses.
  9. Gross and loads of fun, an Owl Pellet Dissection Activity [Free Printable Worksheets] is a unique way to study owls prey, and identify bones of small creatures.
  10. Turn recycling into a Fun Kids Hands-on Egg Carton Sea Turtle Life Cycle Activity
  11. Earthworms fall under the category of Annelida (segmented worms) and this awesome Earthworm Study Kids Activities deserves mention.
  12. Discover Pond Life for Kindergarten Activity Build a Fun Beaver Dam for a fun hands-on activity that encourages thinkers.
  13. Hop Into Action with the Reptile vs. Amphibian Skin Test – Using Hard Boiled Eggs.
  14. Learn How to Make Plaster Casts of Animal Tracks, a great way to preserve the prints you find along the nature trail.
  15. Here you will find 8 Animal Camouflage Activities and Resources & Fun Camouflage Art to research how and why animals need to use this skill.

Finally, look at how to make this fun humpback whale.

HOW TO MAKE A HUMPBACK WHALE

You will need:

  • Air-dry clay
  • Clay tools or popsicle sticks
  • Water
  • Paint
  • Paintbrushes
How to Make a Humpback Whale & More Zoology Activities for Elementary Students

First, shape the body by rolling a large piece of clay into an oblong shape for the whale’s body.

How to Make a Humpback Whale & More Zoology Activities for Elementary Students

Create the tail by flattening a smaller piece of clay and then shape it into the distinctive fluke of a humpback whale. Attach it to one end of the body.

How to Make a Humpback Whale & More Zoology Activities for Elementary Students

 When you are adding additional clay pieces like the tail above and flippers below, it helps to use a tool like this to score both pieces before joining them together.

Then use water on your fingertips to smooth them seamlessly.

How to Make a Humpback Whale & More Zoology Activities for Elementary Students

Roll out two smaller pieces of clay to make flippers, molding them into elongated shapes and attach them to the sides of the body as pectoral fins.

How to Make a Humpback Whale & More Zoology Activities for Elementary Students

Use clay tools to add details like eyes, a mouth, and the grooves on the whale’s throat. Add texture with light markings.

How to Make a Humpback Whale & More Zoology Activities for Elementary Students

Use a small amount of water to smooth out any rough areas, this gives your clay a very nice texture and dries pretty quickly.

So that your whale is not laying completely flat you can prop it up on your tools or a piece of waxed paper as it dries.

Allow the clay to dry completely, it may take several days. Paint if desired to add detail and allow it to dry.

How to Make a Humpback Whale & More Zoology Activities for Elementary Students

Add details like the ‘tubercles’ or spots on the whales nose with a small brush or tip of the paint bottle.

How to Make a Humpback Whale & More Zoology Activities for Elementary Students

Exciting Scavenger Hunt: Beach Theme Activities Elementary Kids Will Love

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This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

A visit to the beach can inspire many fun beach themed activities elementary aged learners will enjoy. Also, look at my page How To Homeschool Elementary Students Like A Pro.

Also, look at my page Oceans Unit Study and Lapbook for more hands-on ideas.

From science experiments to beach themed letter matching and even scavenger hunts there are plenty of ideas to challenge their body and mind.

Exciting Scavenger Hunt: Beach Theme Activities Elementary Kids Will Love

Some of this learning can take place on the beach, collecting and discovering the names of seashells with a field guide and observing tide patterns.

Then, some of these activities can be done before or after a beach visit to extend the learning experience.

For example, you can make sand slime or edible seashells, play a math game or do STEM experiments.

I have a fun scavenger hunt idea you can make to surprise your child with, or you can make it together and take it on your next trip to the beach.

But first I’m breaking down some of these other great beach learning ideas into all of the categories you might want to incorporate for your elementary child, pull a few from each and embark on a wonderful mini unit together.

Next, look at more how to homeschool elementary students tips.

HOW TO HOMESCHOOL ELEMENTARY STUDENTS TIPS

BEACH THEME ACTIVITIES ELEMENTARY KIDS WILL LOVE

If I could tell you to purchase any book to supplement your beach themed learning it would have to be Ocean Anatomy, it is perfect for learning about animals, tides, shells, sand, and so much more.

Exciting Scavenger Hunt: Beach Theme Activities Elementary Kids Will Love

SCIENCE

MATH

  • Dry Erase Addition Practice with a Beach Theme
  • Calculate the distance between points on the beach.
  • Estimate the volume of sand needed to fill a bucket.
  • Measure the depth of the water at different points.
  • Beach Ball Math
  • Observe and draw geometric shapes found in nature (e.g., shells, waves).
  • Calculate the area of a sandcastle base.
  • Measure the angles of shadows cast by objects on the beach.

LANGUAGE ARTS

  • Describe the sensory details of the beach experience (sight, sound, smell, touch).
  • Write a story about a day at the beach.
  • Compose a poem inspired by the ocean.
  • Keep a journal of observations and experiences.
  • Learn and use new words related to the ocean and beach environment.

LOCAL HISTORY

  • Research the history of the local beach area.
  • Learn about the people who lived in the area in the past.
  • Understand the significance of the coastline to the community.

GEOGRAPHY

  • Map the coastline and identify geographical features.
  • Learn about ocean currents and their impact.

COOKING

ARTS & CRAFTS

SENSORY FUN

GAMES

Just look at one of the wonderful topics inside Ocean Anatomy.

Exciting Scavenger Hunt: Beach Theme Activities Elementary Kids Will Love

BEACH THEME SCAVENGER HUNT

You will need:

  • Popsicle sticks
  • Fine tipped paint markers
  • Sealant spray
  • Small bucket
Exciting Scavenger Hunt: Beach Theme Activities Elementary Kids Will Love

First, you want to brainstorm a lot of items you might see at the beach.

For toddlers you want to keep it very simple and you can increase the difficulty for older kids to make it  more challenging objects.

Or make the challenge to use less common colors, for instance a pink polka dot bikini as opposed to just a bikini.

A few items to get you started for some fun beach theme activities elementary kids.

  • Sailboats
  • Sand buckets
  • Dolphins
  • Beach umbrellas
  • Jet skis
  • Swimsuits
  • Sunscreen
  • football
  • Pickleball
  • Volleyball
  • Sunhat
  • Sand Dollar
  • Beach wagon
  • Kites

You don’t need super drawing skills, just make a very simple drawing of whatever the object is and then write it as well onto one end of a wooden craft stick, allowing it to dry.

Try drawing with a pencil first until you are happy with your drawing.

Exciting Scavenger Hunt: Beach Theme Activities Elementary Kids Will Love

You could also print pictures out, laminate and glue to the sticks if you really don’t want to draw them on.

Once your drawings are dry, coat both sides of the popsicle stick well with 2-3 coats of a sealing spray, with a little care your scavenger hunt pieces will last you long past the season.

Exciting Scavenger Hunt: Beach Theme Activities Elementary Kids Will Love

Store in a sand bucket or a seashell bag so that it can do double duty at the beach.

Exciting Scavenger Hunt: Beach Theme Activities Elementary Kids Will Love

Exciting Summer Learning Activities for Elementary Students Who Love Hands-On

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This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

Would you like a fun list of summer learning activities for elementary students covering all the major categories of learning? Also, look at my page How To Homeschool Elementary Students Like A Pro.Also, look at my post Free Summer Unit Study For Kids for more activities.

I have gathered some fantastic ideas for you.

And to encourage your child to choose a fun learning activity every day I’m giving you some suggestions for how to put together a summer learning basket.

Some items you already have around the house and some can be picked up inexpensively.

Exciting Summer Learning Activities for Elementary Students Who Love Hands-On

Before summer even begins, gather up a bunch of the following items so that you can rotate the basket often to keep it interesting.

Too, put something from each category in the basket and change it out every day or just a few times a week.

Whether you homeschool year round or you want to avoid the “summer slide”, taking advantage of fun summer themes is a good way to subtly work in learning throughout the summer season.

Next, look at more how to homeschool elementary students tips.

HOW TO HOMESCHOOL ELEMENTARY STUDENTS TIPS

SUMMER READING BOOKS FOR KIDS

You can do a hodge podge basket or go with some themes like gardening, cooking, beach day, camping, bugs, rainy days, etc.

Occasionally include some items like sunscreen and a new towel for beach days and a fun summer themed candy just for a treat.

Now, here are some fun books to your summer reading. They pair nicely with summer learning activities for elementary students.

13 Books About Summer to Read to Kids and For Kids to Read

Grab some of these fun books about summer to add to a summer unit study or to learn about the change in the season.

A neat summer bucket list like this Summer Bucket Jar would cover a lot of these learning topics and is great for ideas when you run out.

SUMMER LEARNING ACTIVITIES FOR ELEMENTARY STUDENTS

Now let me show you some summer learning activities for elementary students as well as some items you can put into a summer learning basket.

READING & WRITING

Exciting Summer Learning Activities for Elementary Students Who Love Hands-On

MATH & PROBLEM SOLVING SUMMER LEARNING ACTIVITIES FOR ELEMENTARY STUDENTS

  • Play board games that involve math (e.g., Monopoly, Yahtzee)., check out Gameschooling: The Best Math Games for Your Homeschool.
  • Cook or bake together, measuring ingredients.
  • Go on a scavenger hunt focused on shapes and numbers. Upper elementary can look for more complex shapes for geometry.
  • Practice telling time using analog and digital clocks.
  • Work on puzzles together (jigsaw, logic puzzles).
  • Play games in the fresh air that challenge their mind, this Outdoor Yahtzee, can help strengthen addition and multiplication skills as well as number recognition for younger children.

SCIENCE & EXPLORATION

ARTS & CRAFTS

PHYSICAL ACTIVITIES

SOCIAL & EMOTIONAL LEARNING FOR SUMMER

  • Volunteering in the community, focusing on others and giving back to the community brings so many amazing life lessons with it.
  • Free Homeschool Community Service Planning Record
  • Learn about different cultures through books paired with fun hands-on activities.
  • Reflect on daily experiences and express feelings through journaling.
  • Learn to work through some challenges with Social Development Board Games.
  • Hammock– A great spot to sit and relax while regulating big emotions.

Every basket will look different and yours can be a metal tub, a big wicker or plastic laundry basket, a canvas tote, or whatever works for you and your family!