# data[].attributes.body
Is your child struggling with number recognition? Sometimes all it takes to learn something new is a little incentive—that’s business talk for, "Turn it into a fun game and they’ll practice for hours." Here's a great way to go fishing for numbers that will feel more like play than counting practice!

Click HERE for a full set of directions for this activity.

# data[].attributes.body
Make your painting shimmer with a background of aluminum foil! This interesting metallic surface creates a totally different look than painting on regular paper or canvas. Colors will pop off the background while your child enjoys mixing colors and experimenting with new materials.

Click HERE for a full set of directions for this activity

# data[].attributes.body
Ask a child if they want to practice the alphabet and you'll likely get snubbed. But ask if they'd like to play letter detective? You might hook yourself a fish.

This game helps kids practice their letters, test out their vocabulary knowledge, and get some writing under their belts all at the same time. You only need is a magazine, a big sheet of paper, markers, glue, and a willing participant to get the sleuthing started.

# data[].attributes.body
Children are naturally inquisitive and therefore make excellent scientists. This activity satisfies any child's curiosity while teaching them about looking closely at nature (and looking in to plant life / biology).  Click HERE  and look for:

Botany for Kids: Flower Dissection.

This wonderful page will show you and your child a careful and scientific way to look at all the important parts of a flower. Just be sure you don't accidentally pick your neighbor's  prize-winning Geraniums!

Click HERE for a diagram of a flower that can be printed and completed by your scientist

Here's that web page link again.

# data[].attributes.body
Sorting and categorizing is an essential math skill for identifying patterns and organization. Here are a couple super-simple sorting activities for your student going into Kindergarten that you can do anytime at home!
1. Sort at least 10 items
in your house by
color or shape.
2. Sort 10 items from your
pantry/fridge into
categories: healthy vs. treats

Here's some more!!

1. Putting away silverware

2. Sorting laundry to be washed

3. Putting away own laundry (sorting into appropriate drawers)

4. Sorting groceries according to where they go (refrigerator, pantry, or cabinet)

5. Putting away toys

6. Sort mixed veggies (who says you can’t play with your food?)

7. Pictures to be placed into a photo album (by event or topic)

8. Sorting crayons by color or length

# data[].attributes.body
Early literacy skills are probably the most important development for your preschooler, so what better way to teach them than with this fun arts and crafts activity? Make an alphabet tree collage! Cut out the pieces of a tree and glue them together, writing each letter of the alphabet on the leaves! Your child will have fun improving their fine motor skills, learning essential reading and letter recognition skills, as well as basic math skills like shape.

Click HERE for a complete set of directions for this activity

# data[].attributes.body
Pack a water bottle, bring some gardening gloves, and take a STEM hike! Take this show inside OR outside, get some fresh air, go for a hike, learn something, AND get some weeding done!

Click HERE to go to a Youtube playlist with some sample STEM hike ideas to get you started.

Caution: *Please* consult with someone who is trained in understanding which plants are safe to touch and explore if you are not sure. NEVER let your child touch anything in nature without adult supervision. Never let your child taste things he or she finds outside without supervision.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
by Jessica Schaefer? If STEM learning is important in the classroom, it?s important outdoors. But here?s the glory: It?s even easier outside. Far from the busy box of a traditional classroom, outside, things get real. Balls don?t stop at the edge of the gym; things that fall, break; water and wind create changes everywhere. The biggest value of STEM learning outdoors is that it already exists. You cannot play outdoors and miss it - you can?t skip it, fail it, or forget to study it. It is readily, and freely, available. STEM - Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math - and all without a computer, counting blocks, or even electricity? Yes, it?s true. But the concept of STEM is more than an acronym to those who subscribe to it; it is a philosophy and a way of encouraging kids to think outside the box. Math overflows into art, art into science, science into math, and in the outdoors, these things come together in front of our faces in an always-changing laboratory.

For example, bigger rocks make bigger splashes, forest paths create simple networks, sticks over a river build a simple bridge with a question about how much weight it might hold. Children are naturally inquisitive and outside spaces are a great place to witness ?that natural passion. Stuck for ideas? Here are a few fun activities that capitalize on STEM concepts already apparent in the outdoors:

Pull weeds For littles: Let them pull, touch, even taste when appropriate. Talk about each plant - where does it grow, does it like shade or sun? What does it look like in various stages?? For middle grades: Identify plants you find. Do they all belong there? How does each plant ?move? and later grow in new places??For the bigger kids: Identify invasive species in your area. Discuss the impact of these plants and what can be done to prevent future damage.What they?re learning: the science of plants - plus how plants travel and the impacts on our ecosystem.Back it up with: the app "What?s Invasive?" ,a community data collection site.

Back it up with: the Get swingingFor littles and middle grades: throw a rope over a branch and gather various objects to tie to one end. See how fast different things swing. For tweens or teens: make the same stick swing at two different speeds and at two different arcs (hint: hanging it long way versus at a "T" will make a big change!) Time and measure your swing and make some guesses - will a rock go further or faster? Does it matter what size? What if you swing on the rope? What they?re learning about: pendulums and the science of motion. Pendulum app by Exploriments?

Harness the sun?For all: Collect leaves: some dry, some fresh, dark ones and lighter ones. Place a leaf in a safe zone (try a cool firepit, sidewalk, or baking tray) and use a magnifying glass to concentrate the light of the sun into a tiny point. Hold steady - you should soon see a bit of smoke as the sun?s energy burns a hole in the leaf. What types of leaves burn easier? Why? Remind kids about the power of fire - forest fires can start because of discarded water bottles or broken glass - and now you know how!?What they?re learning about: Energy.?Back it up with: this YouTube crew uses a really big magnifying glass to do the same thing.?Ask: It?s cool to make things burn using the sun - but how could we use this power to solve problems? Check out this simple solar cooker explained by Moses in Uganda from SendACow.UK.

?Get from point A to B, and back again:For the littles: Make a map of your area in the dirt - a pebble might represent a bigger rock or a building, pine needles can make a path or a stream. Plan out your path on your mini map and then walk it! For the middle grades: Using the same map, make a few set points. How many routes can you make between all three points? What is the quickest way to get too all three? What happens when you add a fourth or fifth point? For the bigger kids: Draw your maps to scale on paper and plan out a series of points. Find routes that connect all the points - what is the best route to hit them all? Does it help make it faster if you add points in between? What they?re learning: mapping, spatial sense, ? and networking! Computers use this same technology to complete tasks. Back it up with: different maps, new places, and lots more exploring!
Jessica Schaefer is an explorer turned stay-at-home mom, where she tells tall (but true) tales of her adventures to her two girls. The Schaefers have recently moved from Florida to New Jersey, where they enjoy the change of seasons while growing their online store, Biddle and Bop.
The very best way to encourage STEM learning outdoors is to let kids get curious. Encourage questions, help find answers, and go back out again, tomorrow. You are building critical thinkers who will grow up not just with a passion for STEM skills, but with the drive to make a difference in their backyards and around the world.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
by Jessica Schaefer? If STEM learning is important in the classroom, it?s important outdoors. But here?s the glory: It?s even easier outside. Far from the busy box of a traditional classroom, outside, things get real. Balls don?t stop at the edge of the gym; things that fall, break; water and wind create changes everywhere.

# data[].attributes.body
Recognizing numbers is tough in part because written numbers take your preschooler into the world of abstract ideas. A 9 can stand for 9 balls, 9 apples or even 9 houses. In addition to the abstract ideas they represent, she still has to learn to tell the curving lines of an 8 from a 6 or a 3 and the straight line of a 1 from a 7. Turn this tough task into a game where observation pays off.

Click HERE for a full set of directions for this activity

# data[].attributes.headline
Setting Up Your Emerging Student's Writing Journal

# data[].attributes.subject
Setting Up Your Emerging Student's Writing Journal

# data[].attributes.body
Getting your child started on a writing journal will set him or her up for success with writing in the future.  Visit the website below and watch the YouTube video linked here to get some initial guidance on how to help your child set up a writing journal.

pre-kpages.com

Preschool Journals - Easy Tips!

# data[].attributes.body
Let’s get moving!  Exercising every day keeps your child healthy and happy. Here's a chance to exercise your body while strengthening your brain!
Try jumping jacks, reaching up
high and touching your toes,
bouncing a ball, or
jumping on one foot.
Count as you go. See if you can get to 10, 20 or even 30!

# data[].attributes.body
It's an engineering favorite! This STEAM challenge can be assembled with paper rolls, tape, and a wall, and it looks super cool once constructed. Young minds will delight in dropping the colored pom-poms (any small round object will work fine!) through the tubes and watching them come out the other side!  See how creative your child can get.
Click HERE to go to the website busytoddler.com for a complete set of directions.  Have fun!

# data[].attributes.body
Hopscotch is a classic game for children and with a little imagination, can be made into a learning activity.  Visit the website Guiltfreehomeschooling.org and read about some wonderful variations to this timeless activity. You may even find a challenging version for the older student in your home as well!

Get fit and learn some math! Is there a better way to spend a summer afternoon?

# data[].attributes.body
Get your preschooler ready to write! Warming up with fine motor skills practice gets your child's muscles and brain ready to write. Click on the link to see four easy activities that use materials you already have at home!

Click HERE for Fine Motor Skills Warm Ups

# data[].attributes.body
Mindful breathing is great practice for all ages! This is an great activity to do by yourself or with a sibling or parent.
1. Find a relaxing place, sit comfortably, and set a timer for 1 minute.
2. Breath deeply in and out while paying attention to any sensations you notice or sounds you hear.
3. Take another slow, deep breath. Imagine the air going down deep into your lungs, and then back up.
4. Take one more deep breath, hold it for a moment, and then release it.
Repeat until your minute is up!  You should feel relaxed and more aware.

# data[].attributes.body
The alphabet is all around us!  Here is a great activity that can last for days.  Go on a treasure hunt in

your home and find items

that begin with each letter

of the alphabet. Find multiple objects for some letters!

Click HERE for an alphabet recording sheet.

You do not need to go to the Holiday Educationist website.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Holiday Educationist - Educational Apps for Kids

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Fun to play games and reinforcement exercises that increase cognitive abilities.

# data[].attributes.body
Write ABC’s on sticky notes, index cards, or use puzzle pieces,  and have your children arrange them in alphabetical order.  After putting the letters in order,  say a word and have them find the letter that begins with that sound. For example, the parent says apple, and your child finds the A.  Mix the letters up and have your child put them in order again.

Click on the link for printable alphabet tracing pages - just choose the letter you would like your child to practice!

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Tracing the letter A worksheet. Simple worksheet giving practice tracing the letter A, upper and lower case. Free | Printable | K5 Learning.

# data[].attributes.body
This activity offers a great way for your student entering Kindergarten to practice counting and number recognition. It's easy to make with materials you have around the house and will give you hours of practice!

Click HERE for a full set of directions for this activity.

# data[].attributes.body
Here is a twist on Peace Rocks. This activity can help students learn to observe and recognize different emotions.  The materials are similar to that of Peace Rocks (clean stones, preferably with smooth surfaces and paint or markers). After you round up some rocks, give each one a facial feature with your paint. Make eyes, noses, & mouths in different expressions and then set them out. The idea is that students can create faces with them.  It's a great way to express or recognize emotions while being artistic and creative!
Please visit this website for a full explanation of the activity:
https://whereimaginationgrows.com/emotions-story-stones-for-kids/

# data[].attributes.body
Sparkly, glittery water is sure to attract little eyes. This alphabet bottle is fun to make and a great activity to keep your child busy either inside on a rainy day or traveling in the car. The craft helps kids recognize letters in a creative way, and is also a great time to start a quick conversation on recycling.
Click HERE for a full set of directions for this activity.

# data[].attributes.body
Embrace the cold (on a hot day) with chilly ice paint! Kids love to swirl the melting paint over paper, creating beautiful designs. They'll practice their color recognition and counting skills while observing paint go from a liquid state to a solid state, then back to liquid again.

Click HERE for a full set of directions for this activity.

# data[].attributes.headline
Department of Education: Summer Learning Hub

# data[].attributes.subject
Department of Education: Summer Learning Hub

# data[].attributes.body
Choose your own summer learning challenge courtesy of the Connecticut State Department of Education.  Choose from activities such as Tech Ed  Bingo Challenge, Social Studies Ambassador,  Story of Me Learning challenge and more!  Links to the Governor's Reading Challenge and the Commissioner's Math Challenge also located on this page.

Please click HERE to be taken to the Department of Education Summer Learning Hub page. This has not been updated yet for 2026, but feel free to use the 2025 ideas. Enjoy your learning!

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.provider_name
CT.gov - Connecticut's Official State Website

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Summer Learning Hub

Welcome to the Summer Learning Hub! A place to choose your own Summer Challenge.

WHY: The summer learning challenges offer K-12 students engaging options and opportunities to assist in sharpening essential college, career, and civic knowledge while better poising them for academic success in the fall.

WHO: The summer learning challenges offer K-12 students engaging options and opportunities to assist in sharpening essential college, career, and civic knowledge while better poising them for academic success in the fall.

WHEN: The Challenges begin June 12, 2020, with Reading and Mathematics. Over the next month, additional challenges will be released pertaining to a variety of topics.

HOW: The challenges will be introduced by a memo to superintendents and kept on the website for stakeholder access. Challenges include a mix of plugged and unplugged activities that students complete to assist in answering an array of essential questions including: What career am I most interested in pursuing? What role do I play in my community?

OUTCOME: Students will be engaged in high-quality, standards-aligned activities to assist in sharpening essential college, career, and civic knowledge while better poising them for academic success in the fall.

Learn more with a PD Playlist:
Career and Technical Education Bingo Challenge - New! Social Studies Ambassador Learning Challenge - New! Story of Me Learning Challenge - New!

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Welcome to the Summer Learning Hub! A place to choose your own Summer Challenge. WHY: The summer learning challenges offer K-12 students engaging options and opportunities to assist in sharpening essential college, career, and civic knowledge while better poising them for academic success in the fall.

# data[].attributes.body
It’s that time of year to encourage your students to participate in CONNECTICUT READS, the 2026 Governor’s Summer Reading Challenge!  Click the link to be taken to  Governor's Summer Reading Challenge page.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.provider_name
CT.gov - Connecticut's Official State Website

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Overview

It's that time of year again to encourage students to participate in CONNECTICUT READS, the 2022 Governor's Summer Reading Challenge! To support summer reading, the Connecticut State Library's statewide eGo eBook platform is now available through many local public libraries, and provides access to digital resources for all ages. For a list of local public libraries currently offering eGo, visit https://egoct.org/.

Information on the 2022 Summer Reading Challenge Suggested Summer Reading

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
It's that time of year again to encourage students to participate in CONNECTICUT READS, the 2022 Governor's Summer Reading Challenge! To support summer reading, the Connecticut State Library's statewide eGo eBook platform is now available through many local public libraries, and provides access to digital resources for all ages.

# data[].attributes.body
The Charter Oak Children's Book Award has 4 fiction and 4 nonfiction book choices. Check out the website for past nominees and winners and find them at your local library or independent bookstore!

# data[].attributes.body
Durham Public Library’s Youth Summer Reading page! We have many awesome types of activities this summer. Check out our page for more information. Even includes a bingo board for adults so the whole family can participate!

# data[].attributes.body
Levi Coe Library’s Youth Summer Reading event page! We have many awesome types of activities this summer. Visit their Facebook or Instagram page or check out our page for more information.

# data[].attributes.headline
CT State Library - PebbleGo & interactive books

# data[].attributes.subject
CT State Library - PebbleGo & interactive books

# data[].attributes.body
PebbleGo, PebbleGo Next and a variety of Capstone Interactive books are available June 1-August 31 as part of the CT Governor's Summer Reading! Link - then click on the large blue-ish/purpleish PebbleGo graphic on the left.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
CT State Library - Division of Library Development - Pebble Go