Easy Learning This Summer with Toys

Go with the Flow and Head Outdoors

If you are able to, enjoy the warm weather and take your lessons outside, or bring the outdoors into your classroom. Introduce your young students to a kid-friendly microscope and let them investigate everyday objects up close. Set up an “exploration station” for students to use on their own throughout the day, or share the images on a computer screen or projector. Together, you can check out leaves, rocks, dirt, and anything else your kids can dream up. They can continue their exploration of these and other items whenever they play outside.

Outside means bugs, but bugs don’t have to be yucky. In fact, they can be pretty cool. Let your students investigate different insects in a designated bug viewer. Your kids can watch a day in the life of a bug, including mealtime, bedtime, and other daily activities. After observation time is over, you can have a big release celebration as you let the bugs back into their natural habitat.

Kids Like to Move it, Move it

This should come as no surprise to you, but children like to move around. Kids need as much physical activity as possible, so take advantage of their need to wiggle! Younger kids can really benefit from active games that make them listen carefully and follow directions. You can find toys that provide specific instructions, similar to the classic game “Simon Says.”

Create fun games with bean bags. You can get bags that feature letters, numbers, shapes, and more. Have children toss the bean bags to each other while coming up with words that start with the letter on the bag. Or, practice addition and subtraction with numbered bean bags. These are a great option for a variety of ages because you can easily adjust how you use the bean bags to focus on a specific subject matter.

It’s Game Time!

Board games and puzzles can be great to have on hand for days that are less busy or when inclement weather brings recess indoors. Have games on hand that focus on reading and math skills, but are also fun and visually appealing. Games and puzzles also encourage kids to play with others and teach them sportsmanship.

Create a fun space where children can stretch out a bit for optimal enjoyment. This space can also double as a reading area if you have story time. Bring games into the classroom that have kids practice reading, word building, and math skills. Make sure any puzzles you have are appropriate for the age level of your students, but not too easy. Puzzles can help children with problem solving, memory, and motor skills.

Use Your Imagination

Sometimes kids just need to show off their creative side. Playdough or Playfoam is a great outlet for this. Your students will love constructing different shapes and objects out of the squishy substances. Art projects are usually a favorite among younger students and enable them to freely express themselves.

Puppets are another fun option for the classroom, and you can have students make up stories along with you. For special events, treat your students to pens with puppet heads on the top. You can have playtime in the classroom, and afterwards they can take their pens home to continue the fun later.

Try New Things

Just like you would tell your students, don’t be afraid to try new things! You are learning, too, so experiment and figure out what works best for you and your students. There are some great companies out there that focus on games and toys for the classroom. Check out some of the options available to you and get inspired.

Kathleen Taylor is an sixth grade English teacher and writer for Educational Insights, an award-winning designer of educational toys. She lives in Los Angeles, CA with her two pugs, Lana and Ava. In her free time, she enjoys pilates and scrapbooking.