I can’t believe summer is just around the corner. It seems like just yesterday I was waking the kids up for the first day of the school year. My children are as different as night and day when it comes to school and learning. My son absolutely can not wait until summer, he is your typical teenager who wants to watch TV, play games and sports, and do everything except go to school. My daughter has always enjoyed school and loves to learn. Like me, she thrives on knowledge. They say that young girls are taught that “math and science are for boys”. Well, no one told my daughter that, if you ask her what her favorite core subject is she will say math (behind Art).
While the schools ask that your children read during the summer I strongly agree it is just as important for them to avoid the “summer slide” by working with mathematics and science. Besides what is more fun than math and science? This is where STEM education comes in, focusing on STEM activities.
STEM is an acronym for the fields of science, technology, engineering and math. Discussion of STEM-related programs has become a presidential priority because too few college students are pursuing degrees in these fields.
So the question is how do help your kids beat the “summer slide” and enjoy STEM activities during the summer?
Tips for Preventing the Summer Slide & promote STEM activities
Bake
Believe it or not, baking involves a lot of math. Find a yummy-sounding recipe and double it! This means a lot of mathematical skills are involved in figuring out the correct measurements and measuring out those ingredients. In this way, you can sneak in some STEM activities while having fun.
Crafts
The internet is full of great ideas to help motivate your child to embrace science. Crafts are a great way to infuse science into your child’s project. From discovery jars to sand volcanoes, there is something out there for every child. These activities are part of what makes STEM so engaging.
Apps
With technology comes new ways to help educate your child. There are thousands of apps that incorporate math and science. Just find a few your child loves, download them, and let them play (and learn) away! These apps make incorporating STEM activities into everyday learning easy.
Summer Camp
Instead of your traditional camp how about trying a STEM camp like Camp Invention? Camp Invention is a nationally recognized summer program that focuses on all things STEM like creativity, innovation, and real-world problem-solving. It’s a great way to integrate STEM activities into fun summer experiences.
If your children have never been to Camp Invention then you will want to send them. Camp Invention is a week-long camp where kids get hands-on experience in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. If your children have been to Camp Invention in the past do not fear because each year they update their activities so that each year is unique and fun. Camp Invention programs are taught by educators who reside in your community and serve more than 94,000 students each year in over 1,400 camps across the country.
To find a Camp Invention camp near you simply follow this link: http://bit.ly/1hTo6HQ and be sure to follow Camp Invention on Facebook and Twitter.
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