A girl is seated at a table outside looking up at a tree as she draws with a pencil.

Start a photo or drawing collection of flowers, leaves, butterflies, or birds in your area. As you look through the photos or drawings, consider what is similar or different between the specimens in your collection. #SummerLearningMN

Two children wear helmets while biking across a field.

Go hiking or biking and incorporate skill-building games like “Trail Tag” or “Animal Moves”—move like a bear, frog, or deer). ☀️🧠🏃🏾 #SummerLearningMN #PhysicalEducation

A dad and his daughter smile together while mixing batter in the kitchen.

Make a family recipe and share with your child where it comes from or tell a story about why the recipe is important to you and have members of your family each describe how a favorite place makes you feel. #SummerLearningMN #SocialStudies

Girl points something out to mother and father while on a hike in the woods.

On walks or drives, talk about the physical features that you notice around you. If you are out and about and see a historical marker, read it and talk about it with your child. #SummerLearningMN #SocialStudies

A boy lays on the grass while listening to music on his headphones.

Create a summer playlist together - Build a family playlist with songs from different genres, cultures, or time periods. Talk about instruments or rhythms in each one. #SummerLearningMN #Art

A young boy excitedly holds a seedling plant in his hands.

Warm months are a great time to plant some seeds and watch them grow! Observe the seeds and record your observations in a notebook or draw pictures as the plant grows! What do you notice about how it changes over time? Share your ideas with friends and family. #SummerLearningMN

A girl puts on a performance for her mom and siblings.

Creating something together as a family can be fun in the summer – and it is also an opportunity for learning! Don’t worry about the final product—enjoy the process of exploring, taking risks, and playing with art materials, songs, dancing, and more. #SummerLearningMN #Art

A teenage girl and a young girl read through a children's book together.

Buddy up with someone younger than you and read them a story, then draw pictures together about what you read. #SummerLearningMN #EnglishLanguageArts

A leaf rubbing on paper with leaves and a pencil. Or artwork of leaves stamped with paint on a piece of paper that is sitting in the crook of a tree.

Nature has been inspiration for countless artists – including kids! ☀️🧠🎨Go for a walk and collect leaves, rocks, or flowers to draw or paint at home. Kids can also try nature rubbings or make eco-friendly sculptures. #SummerLearningMN #Art

Parents sit on a couch with their young child between them laughing together.

Share stories every day. Tell family, folk, religious, or cultural stories. Ask your child to describe their day or tell a story they know or create themselves. Practice rhyming together. Take turns creating an oral story together, one sentence at a time. #SummerLearningMN

A young girl collects rocks on a beach

Take photos or make drawings of interesting rocks that you find and use books, online resources, or apps to identify different types of rocks and how they are made. #SummerLearningMN #Science

A young girl kneels at a coffee table writing in a notebook.

Have a favorite story or imaginary world? Write your own fan fic stories based on the characters or setting of your favorite book! ☀🧠 📚 #SummerLearningMN #EnglishLanguageArts #MNAcademicStandards

A small ship in front of the Lake Superior Maritime Visitor Center, a museum in Duluth. The Aerial Lift bridge is behind the ship.

Pick news stories to read or listen to with your child and talk about them together–ask questions and listen to their thoughts. Or consider visiting a museum or historical site. ☀️🧠🗺️ #SummerLearningMN #MNAcademicStandards #SocialStudies

Kids do a lunge pose in a yoga class.

Create a family or neighborhood “30-Day Movement Challenge” where each day includes a skill such as jump rope, crab walk races, yoga poses. ☀️🧠🏃🏾 #SummerLearningMN #PhysicalEducation

A family looks at a map while out on a hike together.

Look at a map (on a phone or computer is just fine) together before you travel and talk about the route you plan to take. #SummerLearningMN #MNAcademicStandards #SocialStudies

An adult adding paint to a child's hand.

How are you and your family artists? ☀️🧠 🎨🎵 A valuable part of learning and connecting in the arts is what we pass down and share through families and communities. #SummerLearningMN #Art

A dad reads a book to his daughter.

Start a family or neighborhood book club: choose a book to read and talk about together. #SummerLearningMN #EnglishLanguageArts