Activities for Elementary School Students

No summer is complete without setting up a table on the front drive and ambushing unsuspecting neighbors taking their morning stroll. It is an American kid’s right of passage to operate a summer lemonade stand.

But why not take it one step further this summer? My son and his business associate manufactured sugar scrubs, lip balms and bath bombs. Together, they worked on a little business plan, and presented it to me (aka the bank). I love that the activity forced them to plan ahead, ‘cause this bank was not about to drive back and forth to Walmart every time they forgot an ingredient.

In addition to being educational, this activity was also wonderfully time consuming and provided our kids with hours and days of fun. As parents, we were minimally involved – the promise of financial reward motivated the kids, and we had a hard time convincing them to quit their business – they wanted to keep reinvesting and growing their earnings. They soon started planning their venture for the following summer.

I have taught mathematics for some 30 years, but there is one skill which is near impossible to teach – and that is logic. If this à then that. Working though a problem from beginning to end in a logical sequence is not a gift which is bestowed on the average person. The ONLY way I can think to develop such a skill set, is to present kids with logic puzzles from an early age. Printing one of these pages out when my son gets bored helps dampen his boredom, and provides me with a few moments of sanity to regroup and think of something else to occupy him.  Click here for logic puzzle printables.

Did you know that a student who reads 20 minutes a day will be exposed to 1.8 million words per year and is more likely to score in the 90th percentile on standardized tests?  Compare that to a student who reads 5 minutes a day, getting exposure to 282,000 words per year and a likely score in the 50th percentile on standardized tests or to a student who reads 1 minute a day, getting exposure to 8,000 words per year and a likely score in the 10th percentile on standardized tests (Source:  Scholastic).  What a difference!! 

Encourage your kids to aim for reading at least 20 minutes a day for FUN - not just for high scores.  Below are links to activities and book lists that may be of interest to your kids:

Lexington County Public Library is holding its "Imagine Your Story" 2020 Youth Summer Reading Program (June 1 - July 31).  There is also an Adult Summer Reading Program!  Tracking participation is easy and online.  Consider downloading the READsquared app to track reading and more.  (Although the physical library buildings are currently closed, they are offering curbside pick-up and e-books are available for many titles.)  Click here for more information.

Richland County Public Library has a list of recommended reading for all ages. Click here to access the list.

South Carolina Book Awards (2020-2021) nominee titles can be accessed here.