10 Sneaky Ways to Keep Kids Learning All Summer Long
Undercover Summer School: Fun, Easy Ideas to Make Every Day Educational
I once overheard my son say to a friend, “My mom has a way of teaching me stuff without me knowing it—and making it fun.” In a homeschooling family, there are few circumstances that can’t be turned into opportunities for learning. One of the core tenets of homeschooling is that education is always happening—not just in the classroom but in the everyday world around us. Life itself is the greatest education any of us can receive.
This philosophy can really be helpful over the summer break, when children put down their books and assignments to enjoy their vacation from school. But just because your child is out of school does not mean they must stop learning. Taking breaks from formal academics is good, but learning should be a way of life! Just like my son, who said he was taught without knowing it, you can use summer vacation to foster an environment of learning around your family. I like to call this “undercover summer school.”
What Is Undercover Summer School?
The goal is to rekindle your children’s sense of wonder in a relaxed, natural way. Focus on activities where they learn by doing, observing, and exploring—not memorizing. In most cases, they won’t even realize they’re “learning.” From their perspective, they’re just having a great summer.
Here are some of my favorite ideas for stealthy summer learning…
Hands-On Museums
Some of my fondest memories are of visiting hands-on museums, both locally and while traveling. These types of museums invite children to engage directly through touch, play, and experimentation. They foster curiosity and critical thinking through interactive exhibits in science, art, history, and more. A quick online search might uncover a hidden gem right in your backyard. So, get out and explore!
Nature Walks
Nature is the ultimate textbook by which we learn everything about God’s creation. Take regular hikes and encourage your children to observe the world around them. Walk the same trail at different times of day or in different seasons and ask what changes they notice. Help them identify plants, bugs, rocks, and animals. The more they observe, the more engaged and curious they’ll become. By nurturing curiosity, fostering a thirst for discovery, and honing observation skills, we can enhance our children’s success in other academic areas (see Unveiling Genius: Enhancing Your Child’s Intelligence).
Beach Trips
Who says learning can’t happen with sand between your toes? And what would summer be without a trip to the beach?
One summer at the beach, my children and I ended up in a deep discussion about erosion as we built sandcastles and moats. A beach day offers hands-on lessons about tides, marine ecosystems, and even basic engineering. From a child’s point of view, they’re just playing—but their brains are soaking up knowledge like sponges. That’s what makes undercover summer school so fun—they learn by osmosis without realizing it!
Rainy Days
Rainy days can be some of the most fruitful learning times—if you plan them well. Instead of defaulting to screen time, bring out the board games or plan a craft session. Children can learn vocabulary through Scrabble, economics from Monopoly, or strategic thinking through chess. One summer, we were caught in a pop-up camper during a thunderstorm. We passed the time reading The Lord of the Rings aloud and playing cards—my now-grown children still remember that rainy afternoon with fondness.
Gardening
Getting your children out digging in the garden is one of the most valuable learning experiences you can offer. From planting seeds to harvesting vegetables, gardening teaches responsibility, patience, and a basic understanding of botany. Plus, you’ll build fond memories for a lifetime. Imagine the child–like delight in seeing something you personally nurtured come to fruition.
One year, we built a bean trellis shaped like a teepee—another year, we turned our whole garden into a corn patch. I threw in “lessons” in composting, and the children loved it! Our gardening experiences provided physical activity, vitamin D, and a huge sense of accomplishment on top of the science lessons.
Canning
For families who enjoy a more crunchy lifestyle, canning is a tasty way to learn science and self-sufficiency. It is a hands-on way to learn food preservation, chemistry, and nutrition all in one. We often paired our garden harvests with trips to the farmers’ market. The children would can fruits and veggies and even enter them in the 4-H Fair. Local farmers loved seeing us pass on the tradition—and sometimes gave us discounts just for that reason!
Bonus: You don’t have to stop at canning. Study other forms of food preservation such as dehydration, pickling, fermenting, and more.
Strewing
Strewing is a favorite trick of seasoned homeschoolers, particularly unschoolers. It involves casually leaving interesting books, art supplies, or tools around the house to spark natural curiosity. Think: a magnifying glass near the garden, a basket of drawing materials on the table, or a coffee table book on geology. No instructions—just quiet invitations to explore. For example, you might leave a beautiful, colorful coffee table book about Europe sitting on the table so that your children will look through it at lunch and learn about far-off destinations.
Read Alouds
Reading aloud isn’t just for bedtime—it can be a daily habit that fosters imagination, vocabulary, and a love of literature. Pick books you and your kids both enjoy. Add voices, create atmosphere, and have fun with it! Reading aloud is cozy, educational, and a beautiful way to bond. If you’d like to go deeper into read-alouds, I’ve written at length on this blog on this topic: The Joy of Reading Aloud or Reading Lists.
Field Trips
Field trips can be so much more than just the zoo or museum. Visit a bakery, a working farm, or a historical church. Almost any outing can become a field trip when you approach it with wonder and curiosity. For ideas, check out our blog post, 25 homeschooling field trip suggestions to get your mind turning.
Online Classes
Wait—didn’t I say summer was for ditching the textbooks? Yes! But not all online classes are dry or academic. At Homeschool Connections, we offer a wide range of short, fun, live & recorded summer courses focused on hobbies and special interests. Let your child pick what sparks their curiosity. Here’s a small sample:
- Photography Bootcamp
- Pirates: The Golden Age, and their World
- Creative Stage Makeup
- Woodworking
- Drawing with Art Theory
- History of Baseball
- Introduction to Chess
- Grossology
- The Dog
- and so much more!!!
Remember, the key is to let your child choose the classes that pique their interest!
In Closing
As you can see, there are countless ways to keep learning alive all summer long—without pulling out a single worksheet. Whether you’re hiking, canning, reading, or building sandcastles, summer can be a season of joyful discovery and lifelong memories. So unplug, embrace the great outdoors, and let life be the best teacher your children ever have.
What would you like to add to this conversation? To share your tips, experiences, and questions, you can join me and other homeschoolers in the Homeschool Connections Facebook Group. I would love to hear from you!
