Do you teach preschool during the summer? Or are you the kind of parent who likes to throw in some educational activities between popsicles and swimming lessons? I’m the latter.
Try these summer learning activities for preschoolers to keep your preschooler engaged in learning while also having loads of summer fun!
These activities for preschoolers are sure to be as good as summer preschool because they are such fun activities!
Summer Activities for Preschool to Keep ’em Learning
Summer learning activities for preschool have never been so easy!
Ok, so I’m that mom who, every year when fourth-quarter report cards come home, takes a look at her children’s strengths and weaknesses and immediately sets to work devising a summer plan to keep learning.
I’d love for our district to move to a modified year-round schedule, because I’m that parent who’s afraid her kids are going to forget everything they’ve learned over the year.
I mean, I can tell one of my kids not to use their shirt as a napkin and two seconds later they’re wiping their face on their sleeve. So, what does that say about long division?
Ok, so maybe I don’t give my kids enough credit, but I certainly don’t think there’s anything wrong with partially filling our summer days with learning activities.
FAQs About Teaching Preschoolers in the Summer
Lessons for preschoolers in the summer are mostly the same as during the other seasons. Preschoolers still need to learn literacy, math and prewriting skills, as well as science concepts and social-emotional skills. All those things remain important.
But summer learning activities open up additional themes that we might not teach during the traditional school year. Some topics that are best learned during the summer are swimming and water safety, fire safety, and bike safety. You can also do a dessert theme, a watermelon theme, or an ice cream theme!
A good way to teach preschoolers about the summer season is to show them a calendar and explain that summer occurs during the months of June, July, and August in the Northern Hemisphere, or December, January, and February in the Southern Hemisphere.
Then you can talk about the weather that we experience and the activities people enjoy during the summer. Remember that summer can feel different based on where you live, so try doing some science experiments, stem activities, and loads of sensory activities, too.
There are many themes that preschool teachers can cover during the summer. Think about it…what do you like to do in the summertime?
Some popular summer themes for preschool include ocean theme, beach, sports, ice cream, camping, transportation, desert, zoo animals, and gardening. You can teach about dinosaurs, around the world, construction, bubbles, insects, or flowers and trees.
Summertime Learning Activities for Preschoolers
They’re just happy, summer themed activities that are downright fun!
Some are free printables for summer and others are hands-on activities using basic household materials. They are funs things to learn during the summer using hands-on, fun-filled summer themed materials. From art projects with pool noodles, these activities for kids are great for summer camp, or add them to your lesson plans for preschool.
Related
Printable Activities for Summertime Fun
If you're looking for some fantastic print-and-go learning activities for summer, then you've come to the right place! This list has some really fun printable activities that will have preschoolers reviewing math and literacy concepts as well as fine motor skills.
Summer Color-By-Code Printables
These Summer Color-by-Code printable pages are a great way for kids to practice literacy and math skills this summer. They cover number and letter recognition in a fun way!
Summer Prewriting Cards +7 Fine Motor Activities
If you're looking for fine motor or pre-writing practice for your preschooler this summer, try these ice cream themed worksheets. Not only are they great for tracing practice, but they can also be used with small manipulatives and playdough.
Summer Number Identification Worksheets for Preschoolers
Preschoolers will have fun practicing number identification with these summer sunglasses coloring worksheets. This free printable also teaches preschoolers how to count on their fingers and with tally marks.
3 Summer Themed Beginning Sound Activities for Preschoolers
Here are some cute popsicle puzzle printables that are perfect for summer. They're a great way for preschoolers to review beginning sounds in a fun, hands-on way!
5 Summer Learning Activities + Free Ice Cream Cone Measurement Cards
There are five summer learning activities that kids will love with these free ice cream cone measurement cards. Some ideas for these cards include putting them in numerical order, measuring length with manipulatives, and playing a matching game.
FREE Summer Pattern Blocks Printable Mats
These summer pattern blocks printable activities are a great way for preschoolers to work on math, writing, and letter knowledge during the summer. Simply download, print, and set up with colorful pattern blocks for a low-prep activity.
Editable Summer Four-in-a-Row Games
This summer themed four-in-a-row printable game is a fun way for preschoolers to practice learning this summer. The best part about this printable is that it's editable, which mean you can customize it for any learning goal like math or literacy.
Giant Summer Color-by-Sight Word
This giant summer color-by-sight word is a super cool learning activity that kids will love. Preschoolers will have fun practicing sight words while coloring this poster-sized printable! What .fun way to practice sight words with older kids this summer!
Building S'mores Beginning Sound Activity for Preschoolers
Nothing says summer more than s'mores! Preschoolers will have fun practicing beginning sounds and tracing letters with this building s'mores printable activity.
Hands-on Learning Activities for Summer
Summer is the best time for preschoolers to explore hands-on learning activities. These fun summertime learning activities for preschoolers feature crafts and activities promote a variety of learning such as art concepts, science, fine motor skills, and sensory input. And the best part is most of them can be taken outside!
Dyed Beans Summer Sensory Bin
This brightly-dyed beans sensory bin just screams summer! Preschoolers will have so much fun scooping and pouring the beans in and out of cups. They won't even realize they're practicing important fine motor skills!
Try a Sink or Float Water Sensory Bin This Summer
Take your learning activities outside this summer with this sink or float water sensory bin. Preschoolers will have a blast experimenting with different objects and playing in this simple water sensory bin.
Summer Math That's Perfect for a Preschool Ice Cream Theme
This ice cream cone math activity is the perfect summer learning activity. With this activity preschoolers will practice number recognition, counting, and fine motor skills.
Ice Cream Summer Art Project
Nothing says summer more than ice cream cones! This fun ice cream art project is a cool way to celebrate summer while getting creative. It's also a fun way to work on fine motor skills!
Summer Alphabet Relay Obstacle Course for Preschoolers
Summer is a great time to get outside and move your body. With this summer alphabet relay obstacle course, preschoolers will work on their gross motor skills and also practice letter recognition.
Magic Fizzing Popsicle Paint
These magic fizzing popsicle paints are an awesome summer science project for kids! Nothing would be more fun than spending a summer day outside doing an art and science project!
Sandcastle Texture Summer Art Project
This sandcastle texture art project is a great activity for kids to create in the summer. With this project, preschoolers will explore colors and textures as they make a collage masterpiece.
Orange and Lemon Playdough - The Imagination Tree
Citrus scents and flavors always remind me of warm summer days. Preschoolers will have so much fun playing with this orange and lemon playdough while being surrounded by summertime aromas.
These fun summer learning activities are sure to keep your preschoolers having fun and learning all summer long. With a variety of activities like sensory play ideas, and arts and crafts that cover topics like science, literacy, and math, your kids will never be bored!
Kids learn by having fun, and that’s true for older children, too. From process art to summer worksheets to help children keep up on skills, be sure to save this post for later!
I’m Sarah, an educator turned stay-at-home-mama of five! I’m the owner and creator of Stay At Home Educator, a website about intentional teaching and purposeful learning in the early childhood years. I’ve taught a range of levels, from preschool to college and a little bit of everything in between. Right now my focus is teaching my children and running a preschool from my home. Credentials include: Bachelors in Art, Masters in Curriculum and Instruction.
