Whether you’re vacationing or staycationing for spring break, we bet you could use a list of activities to keep your kiddos engaged during their time off from school. Here’s a list of some of our favorites for 4- to 12-year-olds. Our aim is to keep them learning while having fun!
Have your child make a list of zoo animals and create a “book” of fun facts about them – pictures included! Take the book to the zoo and use it to provide scavenger hunt clues. For example, if you said, “These are the largest carnivores on land,” they would say, “Polar bear!” and find the exhibit. It’s a great way to learn about the animals, as well as to practice reading maps.
Remember how much fun it was to send and receive letters? Relatives will love finding a note from your child, of course, but it’s also fun to think of others to surprise. Who does your child interact with on a regular basis? School teachers, dance or karate instructors, babysitters, neighbors, and school friends would be delighted get mail! To make this activity even more interesting and meaningful, your child can design their own stationery.
A couple of totally free destinations in Chicago and San Francisco might reveal the artistic side of your child!
On Chicago’s west side, the Garfield Park Conservatory offers a splendid display of plants and flowers in their two acres of indoor space. Take a sketchbook and pencils to record favorite species!
In San Francisco’s Mission District, the Balmy Alley murals may inspire storytelling, so take a notebook to jot down those creative ideas! The murals are always changing, making this a fantastic place to keep on your “must visit” list.
Baking and cooking require both math and executive functioning skills like following directions, planning, organizing, and time management. Working in the kitchen also offers opportunities to think creatively and make mistakes – two things that are often stymied in school.
Let your child flex their ownership muscle and plan a day’s outing. It could be as contained as an afternoon in the park or as extensive as a day touring a city (even your own). Depending on their age, they can create all or pieces of the door-to-door itinerary: choosing the activity, researching the location and price, scheduling in a meal, and coordinating transportation (e.g. take the el or Metra in Chicago; map out driving directions). Tip: discuss any non-negotiables like cost limits before they get to work!
On the Playdough to Plato website, you’ll find a huge variety of science projects appropriate for younger children (and some that even the big kids will enjoy). We really like bridge building because kids can modify their structures to make them stronger – gets them thinking like a scientist! The rainbow jar project is an easy activity that beautifully illustrates the concept of density.
We hope you’ll get as much out of these activities as your child. We’d love to hear about your experiences!
Kim has a bachelor’s degree in public administration from University of Arizona, a master’s degree in special education from University of Illinois at Chicago, and a master’s degree in educational leadership from American College of Education. She previously worked as a teacher for fourteen years, and as a tutoring director for Nurturing Wisdom—we’re excited to have her back on the team! Learn more about her below.
My favorite class in high school was…geometry (although I prefer algebra) because my teacher, Mr. Warwick, was organized and explained the concepts in an engaging and understandable manner. He made me feel confident when asking questions and was always open to teaching material in a variety of ways.
I loved UIC because…it allowed me to explore Chicago and meet incredible people while working in a variety of schools and educational programs. The Graduate College of Education had teachers that provided real world context and were very supportive to students’ individual goals.
On a day off, you’ll find me…at a sporting event for one of my four daughters, floating down the DuPage River, or at the dog park with my dog, Daisy.
What sets Nurturing Wisdom apart is… the individual care we take with the families we work with and the strong team behind each tutoring decision, including tutoring plans, curriculum, and tutor matches.
Sarah graduated from Marquette University with a bachelor’s degree in education and sociology, and she’s completed coursework in childhood literacy and museum studies. After nine years as a fifth grade teacher in Wauwatosa, Portland, and Chicago, Sarah initially joined NW as a tutor. Learn more about her below!
A tip I’d give to a student to make the most of tutoring would be… that you get out of it what you put into it. If you put in time and energy, and bring a positive attitude, you’ll achieve so much!
I loved Marquette University because… it put me on the path to teaching, introduced me to amazing, life-long friends, and made me fall in love with Milwaukee.
On a day off, you’ll find me… taking a long walk to a coffee shop, chatting with friends, or going on a bike ride and cooking while listening to my latest podcast obsession.
What sets Nurturing Wisdom apart is… that everyone on the team is a life-long learner at heart, and that we care about the whole student. Everyone is dedicated to getting to know families in order to find a great fit for students and tutors.
Shannon has a degree in marketing from Creighton University. After working in the business world for over five years, she decided to go back to school to get her master’s degree in elementary education from Quincy University. Learn more about her below!
My favorite book is… The Sun Also Rises by Ernest Hemingway. This is an amazing book that made me want to travel and see more of the world.
My favorite subject in school was… history because I loved learning more about the world and how the past helped shape who we are today.
On a day off you’ll find me… hanging out with family and friends. In the summer, usually doing something fun outside.
What sets Nurturing Wisdom apart is… it’s team approach to tutoring as well as it’s individualized curriculum! Both the team approach and the curriculum make tutoring and learning more fun and efficient.