Summer is here, and lot’s of parents are looking for Summer is here, original places to take children during the summertime can often be difficult for many parents. If there’s a way to link vacation activities with what children learn in schoolhistory, geography, math, the environment, technology – all the better.
Dr. Rick Bavaria, senior vice president of education outreach for Sylvan Learning, suggests the following destinations that mix summer learning with fun. Each of the suggested Summer Learning destinations below has a tie-in to school subjects such as science, history and technology, and also offers opportunities for some great back-to-school stories to share with classmates!
The Newseum, the “museum of news†in Washington, D.C. is highly interactive, has lots of fascinating exhibits that will appeal to all ages in any family, and covers all facets of news, from up-to-the-minute headlines, to sports, to the most intriguing stories of the past. You can even be a television journalist on the set of your own news program.
If you’re visiting San Francisco, a trip to Alcatraz gives you an up-close and personal view of the infamous penitentiary where bad guys like Al Capone spent years of their lives. There’s plenty of history to learn about and plenty of things to do. Get “locked up†in one of the prisoner cells, roam the island, and visit the mess hall. The boat ride from the city is fun, too.
Kids love the Art Institute’s renowned collection of Impressionists and Post Impressionists – especially Van Gogh – as the art is especially accessible and familiar to them. There are also other world-famous, iconic paintings like American Gothic and Nighthawks that everyone will recognize. Visit the website ahead of time, find in the “pathfinder floor plan†section the sights you don’t want to miss, and learn about some other exhibits you may not know about.
Sports Arenas
Kids enjoy summer travel centered around visiting major sports arenas in the U.S. and around the world. Many children enjoy putting together photo albums of their visits to baseball and football pro sports stadiums, college arenas, and even overseas sites for soccer and cricket. Kids of all ages particularly enjoy sports arenas and learning about games, the players, and the history associated with these places.
Hershey’s Chocolate Museum, Pennsylvania-
Hershey’s Chocolate Museum in Hershey, Pennsylvania will make your mouth water. Who can resist a museum of chocolate, on Chocolate Avenue, no less? Learn about chocolate’s history, its manufacture, its fascination. There’s even a Chocolate Lab for hands-on learning. Yum!
State parks-
Most state parks have lodges and cabins you can rent. Spend some family time in beautiful natural surroundings. Hike, swim, fish, or kayak! Tell scary or funny stories around a campfire. Learn about local plants and animals. Take pictures and make maps of your adventures. Keep a family nature journal, recording the activities you’ve had, and the interesting plants and animals you’ve seen. Discuss environmental issues. Google your state’s name and “state parks†for lots of information and suggestions.
Outdoor concerts-
Most communities, cities, towns, and states have summer music programs, many of them free. Concerts range from old-fashioned Sousa marches and patriotic music to more contemporary sounds. Local colleges, universities, music schools, and even high schools often have free concerts. Google your state or community and “outdoor concerts†to learn about times, prices, and venues.
Parents looking for additional resources can visit the Parent Resources section at www.SylvanLearning.com
