Learning at Home: A List of FUN Educational Activities for the Whole Family
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The Big Picture
There are many ways to make learning at home fun, whether it is summer break or a weekend.
Let’s start with a cleanup plan first!
Keep a timer handy. It helps kids understand when something is over (like reading for 20 minutes), or it is fun for a “beat the clock” kind of activity, or do a 10-minute tidy-up!
Here is a long list of FUN Learning Activities for the Whole Family…
This first one is MY FAVORITE. I put it first so that you would not miss it. You could use this video to inspire your kids to draw their own version of the machine in the video. You may even allow them to create their own machine with of course with specific parameters set by you ahead of time.
The video is Ok Go- This to Shall Pass – Rube Goldberg Machine and once you have seen it, the inspiration begins. (There are other videos to see from Ok Go as well.) Have fun but be sure to know ahead of time how much creative license you are willing to give the kids! Can they use marbles and dominoes, but maybe not the paint and TV?
Post a “Learning of the Day” on the fridge.
Math Problem of the day such as “How many different ways can you make 32?” Mathopolis can help with some ideas.
Word of the day. What does it mean? Have kids write it in a sentence. Check Wordthink.com
Foreign language word of the day. Use Google Translate.
Sign language word of the day. Google Images is a helpful resource.
This day in history.
Write a letter to…
Grandparents or friends from school.
READ! READ! READ!
Teach others a skill by writing a “How to” blog or do a “How to” video.
How to tie a shoe, blow a bubble with bubblegum or make a sandwich
Cooking and baking
Give the kids a measuring tape and turn them loose.
Poem writing
Support your cultural or religious traditions with some related activities.
Teens
What are your teens interested in?
How can you encourage learning for them?
I have come across two great learning apps that are great for adults and teens.
You can check out the intros to the classes they offer for free, but there are app fees, Which are well worth it for a family to share.
Skillshare is similar to YouTube, but classes offer downloads and opportunities for student work to get reviewed by the course teacher. You can watch classes or opt to complete the projects they offer.
There are hundreds of classes, from calligraphy to cooking, from how to start a blog to how to write a resume.
The Masterclass app has videos by famous people on how they do what they do. They are fun, engaging, and packed with advice and tips.
This may also be a great time for teens to create a resume or practice filling out a job or a college application.
Check out At-Home Educational Activities Teens and Tweens Will Love for more ideas.
Art, Music, and P.E.
Art
Learn a new craft. The Skillshare app mentioned earlier is a great resource, and of course, YouTube is as well, as long as parents monitor, depending on age.
Make collages out of random scraps, magazines, junk mail, etc, that you have around the house.
Have kids trace objects on paper and color them in.
Just draw!
Create a comic strip.
Sketch out a favorite story.
Create a drawing to match the music you are listening to
Make a map
Sculpt with Play-Doh or make your own Play-Doh.
Study an artist or a favorite book illustrator. Learn about their techniques. Try to create art like theirs. Write a review or admire it and have a conversation about their art. Look at art from your favorite books! Here are some artists to check out if you need a start…
Pete Goldlust, I LOVE his carved crayons!
And, of course, some classics like Claude Monet, Pablo Picasso or Vincent Van Gogh
Music
Play a variety of background music.
While kids play
When they are studying
During dinner
Look up the lyrics to songs and sing along.
Let kids create a music video.
Burn off some energy with a dance party. Play some great dance music and let them bring their best moves!
Freeze dance. Stop the music, and they have to freeze in their dance pose. Start and stop the music until they are tired!
P.E.
Go outside!
Tag and the thousands of variations
Jump rope
Hopscotch
Ride bikes or skateboards
Basketball, soccer, baseball, etc
Online fitness videos such as GoNoodle
Create an obstacle course
Create a circuit with stations. (jumping jacks, toe touches, downward dog, etc) Let the kids use a timer and time each station for a minute or roll some dice to see how many they need to do at each station.
Be a playground tourist. Visit playgrounds in your city or town that you have never been to. Maybe check out another elementary school playground?
General Fun
Whether you use boxes, furniture, blankets or pillows, making forts is always a hit. Kids can play games, read, sleep, do homework in them. You can use hair ties to secure sheets and blankets. Think outside of the box here! Let the older kids and dads loose and see what they come up with!
Imaginative play. Think anything from letting them create puppets and host a puppet show to set up a desk for a kid’s newscast. Restaurants, library or teaching schools are good “go-to” options as well. Maybe they could open a zoo or museum? Dress up is a great activity as well.
Save all the used toilet paper rolls for matchbox car tunnels, pirate telescopes, or tape them together for a marble rollercoaster?
Get out the board games, cards, and puzzles.
Kids could also create their own games. Use an old piece of cardboard or poster board and some assorted parts from other games.
Check out some Coffee Table Inspiration for more activities.
Print of some word searches or crossword puzzles. You can have kids create their own for each other to do with graph paper.
Staying in for meals? Set a fun table for dinner and add candles or leftover fun napkins from parties.
Have a Family Happy Hour.
Help with Household Chores
Set up a scavenger hunt for the kids (use sticky notes to make it easier) and add a few chores in-between clues.
Vacuum the hall, or make your bed before going to the next clue.
Be sure to have something fun waiting at the end of the hunt! Maybe a coupon for extra screen time, or a cookie, or a new book?
Have kids go through toys and select some to sell in a garage sale or donate. Let them wash toys while taking a bath, or older kids could wash them in a sink.
What learning successes did you have during remote learning? What will you keep for a rainy day or for when boredom sets in?
If you found some good ideas in this article, share them with other parents you know so they can use the list as needed.