These are brainstormed ideas for kids of all ages. Please adapt them appropriately.
Weekly Ideas:
1. Create a 10 word crossword puzzle. Make interesting and challenging hints below each row/column of your puzzle in order to give assistance to the person who will fill in the correct answers to your puzzle.
2. Write a fantastic letter (not an email) to someone special. You may also send a packet full of fun treasures to your recipient. Go to the post office to decide on options for delivery, cost of stamps/postage, packaging etc.
3. Make interesting journal prompts for the remainder of the month. Write them on a piece of paper to staple into your journal for reference.
4. Find an article from a newspaper that you feel is interesting. Read the article with an adult and summarize what you have read on a piece of paper. Attach the original article and write a personal response to the article.
5. Look for an old family photograph. Write an interesting story to correspond with the photo. Your story may be realistic or fictional. Attach the photo (which will be returned) or make a photocopy of your picture.
6. Plan a grocery list with your mom or dad in order to create a meal or family snack. Estimate what your food will cost. Accompany your parent to the store to record actual prices and check your estimates. Were they close? Attach your estimate page.
7. Take an inventory of your family’s emergency preparedness kit. Do you have all of the needed supplies to keep your family safe in the event of an emergency? If you discover that you do not have a kit, make a list of necessary materials and ask to assist your parent in making a kit.
8. Find a special family recipe with a parent. Copy the recipe on a piece of paper and learn the story about why this is a special memory. Discover the story of the recipe…if you want, try making it.
9. Explore an interesting kid’s website to share with the class. Remember to always have a parent with you when you search the net. Learn about and practice the activities on your own and then prepare yourself to demonstrate your findings with our class using the laptop and SMARTboard in class.
10. Research some interesting facts about an animal of your choice.
11. Try an unusual food at a restaurant and write about your experience.
12. Enjoy a lovely day at the beach with your family. Look for interesting shells, collect a few and research your shells to discover what kind of shells they are, where they are found and what creatures call these shells home.
Monthly Ideas:
13. Read an ongoing chapter book with your parent. Write questions for a book chat after each chapter. Ask your parent to read the chapter alone and then quiz them on some of your questions. Try to find your book on a CD and enjoy this special time together.
14. Plan a weekend family “getaway.” This can be a day trip or an overnight. Find a map and highlight your route. How much gas do you think you’ll use? Recommend the kind of accommodations that you would like…(camping, hotel etc.) and go online to check availability, pricing, ticket availability etc.) Bring a trinket home from your adventure.
15. Write a book to read to your classmates. Include chapters, a hard cover for your book and an interesting setting, people, plot, adjectives, outcome etc.
16. Learn how to play a new instrument or practice one that you are already learning (piano, guitar, bamboo flute, spoons etc.) Practice your instrument for a month and record your practice schedule and the results of your diligent practice.
17. Create an interesting art/craft project. What materials did you use? How long did it take you? Where do you keep it? Did people like your art?
18. Organize an interview with a person that you know (not a parent) who is in an interesting profession. See if you can shadow them for a short time during the day. Have them take a picture or two of you in that job setting. What did you think? Are you ready to apply?
19. Research a new song, dance, art or game from another country. Learn about the history and practice in order to teach it to our class.
20. Build a Lego village, character, robot or other idea. Take a photo to show your class or make a detailed drawing of your creation. Record how much time you spent on your project.
21. Plant a vegetable or flower garden. Water your garden each day, pull the weeds, check the quality of the soil and record the progress of your garden in a journal with daily observations for one month.
22. Build something with wood and nails. Make sure to work with a parent on this project. Plan. Purchase materials. Set a work schedule and enjoy building!
23. Complete a puzzle with over 100 pieces. (you may have a little help)
24. Come up with a “stand” to set up and sell a treat in front of your house.
Many kids choose to sell Lemonade. You may have another idea for a refreshing road side treat. Design an enticing sign, prepare your treat, set up your stand, estimate how many people you think will stop to buy your treat and how much money you will make. Did your stand make a profit? Were your sales higher than your cost to prepare your treat? Did you meet some interesting people? Most importantly, did you have fun? (A parent must be with you at all times, while you sell your “product.”)