Ho-Ho-Ho! “Secret” Holiday Learning!
by Rachel Lenahan, certified K-6 teacher
The holidays are upon us! And with that comes a break from school for students. Parents can “secretly” keep learning aliv¬¬e by incorporating fun activities and discussion while traveling, running errands, or just spending time at home. It’s easy to do and fun for the kids and parents! Here are some ways to turn every day, ordinary situations into fun learning experiences that involve math and reading skills. These activities are geared toward elementary-aged children, but can be modified for older children.
Travelling by Car
• Estimate the number of cars that pass by in ten seconds, one minute, etc.
• The License Plate Game- Find license plates of as many different states as possible.
• Give one wacky sentence that starts a story and take turns adding a sentence to create a full story.
• ABCs- Take turns stating an object you see while travelling in ABC order (A- airplane, B- bumper sticker, C- cab, etc.). For older children, make it more difficult by having each player repeat all items previously listed.
• Let your child figure out where you are on a map, or draw your route on a map and let your child follow along.
Travelling by Plane
• Estimate the number of passengers on the plane; then use multiplication or addition to determine the actual amount.
• Count the number of stores or restaurants along the way to your plane.
• Describe a place that he/she wants to visit and explain three reasons why.
• Describe a story character that loves to travel. Ask what souvenir he/she always gets in each city and why.
In the Grocery Store
• Count the number of items in your cart.
• Sort the items in the cart by type of food.
• Create a new food and describe texture, taste, color, etc.
• Identify lower and higher prices of foods you buy (in other words, have them bargain shop!)
At the Dinner Table
• Discuss the pros and cons of being home on holiday break.
• Play I Spy.
• Play 20 Questions.
• Play 5 Clues- Give five clues about an item and wait for guesses. Continue to give one clue until a correct guess has been made.
Watching TV
• WHY questions! You can never ask “why” enough! Examples: Why did the main character just do that? Why do you think the show is set in the mountains and not the beach?
• Discuss the setting of a favorite TV show. Ask what would change about the show if the setting were different.
• Count the number of commercials during the show. Discuss why advertisers make ads. Have your child create an ad for a toy he/she child likes.
The most important part of holiday break is to have fun! So have fun with your children as they continue to learn! Happy Holidays!
Rachel Lenahan is a certified K-6 teacher with six years of public school teaching experience. She is currently a stay-at-home mom to her twenty-two month-old son. She tutors students in grades 3-6 in any subject; helping students with academic issues as well as organizational issues. She can be contacted at (757) 871-0326 or rachellenahan@gmail.com.
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