This post is a little different from our weekly Montessori education articles.  I wanted to share with you a few summer time activities to use in your classroom, summer camp program, or your home environment.  All of these activities are simple, low cost, fun, and brings joy into your summer schedule.

Beach in a Box Work

All children love to play in a sandbox.  In the Texas heat, our time outdoors during the hot summer days is sometimes limited.  So why not bring the outside, inside?  Create your own indoor sandbox. 

Simply use a large, low plastic box with a lid and place sand in it.  Go to the dollar store and purchase some simple sandbox toys.  Place the box on a table or on the floor.  At our school we took a plastic wading pool and filled it with sand in our multi-purpose room, but at home, we made a small one from a plastic container.  I have used plastic letters and allowed the children to “write” words in the sand for a more meaningful learning experience.   Another favorite activity with our sandbox was to purchase cheap “gold coins” from a party store and then bury them.  Allow a few children to “dig” up the coins and then count their “treasure!”  This indoor sandbox will always be a busy area!

Indoor or Outdoor Pool Noodle Activities 

Anyone who has taken a child swimming probably has a pool noodle or two laying around!  I have a list of about twelve different activities with pool noodles for the summer.  I thought I would share a few of my favorite!  First cut the pool noodles in two with scissors.  Then give everyone a half of a pool noodle to use with each of the various activities:

1. Pool Noodle Balance- Give each child a half of a pool noodle and demonstrate how to balance the tube horizontal in the palm of their hand, then vertically in the palm of their hand.  You can also try to balance it on your neck, head, or sit on the floor and balance it on your knees or ankles.  These are large motor skill activities!

2.  Pool Noodle & Balloon Batting- First blow up enough balloons for everyone and place them in a plastic trash bag for easy storage.  Balloons will stay filled with air for months!  Demonstrate to the children how to stand in one place and just “tap” their balloon with their pool noodle.  The object is to keep it in the air without it falling to the ground while staying in the same place.  Teach the children to “tap” up!  The children can then count how many times they “tap” their balloon before it falls to the ground.  Yes, this can get a little noisy but it is great fun in an indoor play area.  Adults enjoy this activity as much as children!

3. If you prefer you can use one balloon between two children and they can “bat” it between themselves. 

Another variation is to use a small light weight beach ball instead of a balloon. 

Crayon Melt Canvas

This last activity was shown to me by a parent, and the children loved it so much that I do it every year!  In this activity the students will work together to create a beautiful wall hanging for the classroom or a child’s room. Take a blank white canvas and glue a box of crayons across the top.  Allow them to dry overnight.  Then stand the canvas up over a plastic trash bag.  (This is to keep the melting crayons from melting on the flooring!) Allow the children to take turns using a hair dryer and directing the air flow over the crayons.  In just a while stand back and watch the magic of how wax melts! This is a simple and fun project and one that looks very professional!

These are just a few of my favorite summer time activities.  Whatever you do remember to enjoy it, be creative, and have FUN!  When you are having fun the children are too!