Sure, summer is fun. But even though school isn’t in session, it doesn’t mean the learning has to stop—especially when it comes to science! We spoke with a few education experts who shared tips on creating fun summer science activities that kids can do at home or when they’re out and about in the community. After all, summer is a great time to encourage kids to explore, analyze, prioritize, and synthesize, all while using their passions and natural surroundings!
And for older kids, summer can be a great time to take courses or brush up on subjects in preparation of the new school year. Another good idea is for kids to use this free time to learn something new or take a class focused on something totally different.
“Taking the time to combine elements of learning with your passions can also make learning more accessible during the summer,” Cory Plough, dean of academy at the Laurel Springs School, based in California, said. “For example, if you are interested in coding, you can teach yourself the basics of a new coding language over the summer.”
Keep the Learning Going
Rebecca Mannis, Ph.d., a learning specialist who runs Ivy Prep Learning Center, Manhattan, shared some tips to keep the science learning going over the summer. The best way to encourage kids to learn is to foster their passions to get them thinking.
“Lose the science project kit and instead invest in a year’s subscription to National Geographic Magazine or National Geo Kids,” Mannis said. “You also get access to their apps. The information, maps, and engaging visuals have something for all learners and serve as a springboard for discussion and expanding world views. Pop the mag in the beach bag, place it at the breakfast table or stow in the back seat of the van for a cheap, real-time immersion into lands far away.”
Summer Science Activities To Do At Home And In The Field
Here are more tips from Mannis on fostering science learning over the summer, along with some creative ways to conduct fun experiments!
- Find a few engaging materials and find an easy, user-friendly space to experiment. Head on the Staten Island Ferry, St. George, with some WikiStix and a clipboard. You and your kid can estimate the time it takes to get to Manhattan as you shape the WikiStix to create waves akin to the ones breaking off the side of the boat.
- Find a relaxing, shady place with access to water and easy, cheap tools for water play. Examples: The bottles from hotel shampoo samples, rubber balls, plastic spoons and similar items. As your kiddo collects leaves and mixes them with soap bubbles, he can experiment with what famous psychologist, Jean Piaget, found about object permanence and comparison of measuring cups. And it’s a chance for kids to see if they can make discoveries by trying things out in different ways, hypothesizing and trying varied approaches till one sticks.
- Follow your kids’ leads, doing so with open-ended questions. So, if your child comments about the animals in the zoo on a hot day, you can ask them, “How do you think they manage?” Or, “If you were going to speak with the designer of the aquarium, what would you recommend as a way to help the animals have more shade? Why do you think that the birds are playing over there even though there’s a person ready to feed them?” These are opportunities to encourage your child to make connections to articulate his or her ideas and develop critical thinking based on surrounding information.
At-Home Science Challenge: Osmosis
After doing some science field work, challenge your child with this at-home experiment that’s all about the movement of water molecules, courtesy Stephanie Gold, academic department chair of sciences at the Laurel Springs School.
“This lab is meant to demonstrate the concept of osmosis by showing movement through a cell membrane,” Gold explained. “Once the shell of the egg is dissolved, a membrane is left that allows water to move from an area of higher concentration to an area of lower concentration–osmosis. During the lab, the egg increases in size, showing that water moved from the jar into the egg.”
Cell Transport Hands-On Lab Report
Materials:
- Raw egg
- String or thread or yarn
- Ruler
- White vinegar
- Tap water
- Syrup
- Jar with lid (like a mayonnaise jar or something big enough to put the egg in)
Procedures:
- Before beginning the experiment, record at least two observations of the raw egg in your lab report.
- Wrap the string around the center of the egg to determine its initial circumference. Measure the string and record the initial circumference in centimeters (cm).
- Gently place the egg in the jar and completely cover the egg with vinegar. Use the lid to seal the jar and note the time. This will be considered the “start time” of the experiment.
- After approximately 24 hours from the start time, carefully remove the egg from the jar of vinegar. If the shell has completely dissolved, exposing the inner membrane, move on to the next step. If not, return the egg to the vinegar until the shell has completely dissolved.
- Record at least two observations of the egg.
- Measure and record the circumference of the egg, being sure to measure it in the same way every time you measure circumference.
- Pour out the vinegar and rinse the jar. Then fill the jar about half full of tap water.
- Gently place the egg back into the jar, making sure it is completely covered with water. Use the lid to seal the jar.
- After a total of 48 hours from the start time, carefully remove the egg from the jar of water.
- Make two observations of the raw egg, and measure and record the circumference.
- Gently place the egg back into the jar, making sure it is completely covered with water. Use the lid to seal the jar.
- After a total of 72 hours from the start time, carefully remove the egg from the jar of water.
- Make two observations of the raw egg, and measure and record the circumference.
- Complete the data and conclusion sections of the lab. Then complete the “refining the experiment” section.
Data and Observations:
Record your observations from the experiment. Don’t forget to include at least two detailed observations and the measurement of the egg’s circumference in centimeters.
| Time (hrs) | Observations | Circumference (cm) |
| 0 |
|
|
| 24 |
|
|
| 48 |
|
|
| 72 |
|
Conclusion:
Be sure to address each bullet in the conclusion of your lab report.
- Was your hypothesis correct? Why or why not?
- How much did the egg change in size? (answer should be in centimeters)
- Evaluate the lab and data collected. What type of transport occurred in this lab? Explain your answer, including evidence from your experiment to support your explanation.
Refining the Experiment:
Continue this experiment by removing the egg from the water and covering it in syrup. Be sure to allow at least 24 hours before making your observations. Handle the egg very carefully!
- Predict what will happen to the egg and syrup system.
When refining your procedures describe the following:
- How will the change in the syrup and within the egg be measured or identified?
- How will you determine when homeostasis has been reached in your egg and syrup system?
Be sure to address each bullet in the conclusion of your lab report:
- Was your hypothesis correct? Why or why not?
- How much did the egg change in size? (answer should be in centimeters)
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