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Beat the Brain Drain with Sizzlin' Summer Science

Summertime should be fun time for kids, but that doesn't mean they have to stop learning! Research indicates that students typically lose a significant amount of knowledge during the summer (over two months worth in some subject areas!) and that the average student scores lower on standardized tests at the end of summer vacation than he did on the same tests before vacation began.

What can you do to stop summer fun from draining your kids' brains? Make the most of those long, hot days with engaging activities that take summer's best activities and turn them into educational adventures!

Here are a few suggestions to get you started:

Water, Water Everywhere: Nothing says summer like swimming, splashing and slippin' and slidin' in some cool, refreshing water. Why not add some wisdom to that water play with an Adventure Science Water Splash kit? With it, kids can construct a submarine, learn about siphon science, mold boats out of clay, use water drops as a magnifier, and more. It's the perfect blend of summer fun with science exploration.

Blowing Bubbles: Bubbles are another summer classic, but did you know their properties are studied by scientists, modeled by mathematicians and emulated by architects? Experimenting with different bubble solutions and wands is an ideal introduction to the scientific method as kids make predictions and test their hypotheses along with boisterous bubble play. Check out the Bubble Builder Experiment Kit, complete with an instruction manual and everything you need to perform dozens of experiments, and Adventure Science Awesome Bubbles, for guidance in creating the ultimate bubble solution.

High Flying Fun: Summer is time for kids' imaginations to soar, and what better way than by flying kites and launching rockets? Kites, rockets and even balloons demonstrate the basic principles of aerodynamics, encouraging kids to explore the physics of lift, thrust and drag while they play. Whether your kids design and build their own kites, experiment with the science side of balloons, or have a blast with water rockets and baking soda and vinegar rockets, their minds will soar along with the summertime fun!

Bug Me!: What kid hasn't spend a sunny summer day hunting bugs in his own backyard? Our creepy crawly kits and books extend their insect safaris with bug catchers, magnifiers, and identification tools. Choose from kits like the Bug Hunt Kit and GeoSafari Bug Scene Investigators, and field guides including Pet Bugs: A Kid's Guide to Catching and Keeping Touchable Insects and 1001 Bugs to Spot.

Nature Explorations: The great outdoors is summer's classroom, with so much to explore and discover. A nature walk can take your summer scientists around the block, to the park, or into a nearby forest, and nighttime nature explorations will open their eyes to the wonders that wake after dark. (While you're up late, don't forget to look to the stars!) You can even create nature art with collages, mud prints, leaf rubbings, sun sensitive paper, a rock tumbler, and more.

Edible Experiments: All that exploration's going to make your kids hungry, but that doesn't mean the learning has to stop. With books and kits like Cool Chemistry Concoctions, The Science Chef, Science in the Kitchen, After Dinner Science, and Candy Factory, your kids will literally eat up the lessons in your kitchen chemistry lab!

At Discover This, we know every child is a natural scientist, and every day holds endless opportunities to learn. We hope we've inspired you to fill your summer with activities that will delight and educate your entire family. (We also recommend Janice VanCleave's Science Around the Year for more summer science ideas as well as activities to extend your summer of science into fall, winter and spring!)

Brain drain? What brain drain? After a summer filled with this much scientific fun, your kids will return to school in September smarter -- and more excited about learning! -- than ever.

Home > Resources for our Science Kits > Articles on Science Learning and Science Kits > Beat the Brain Drain with Sizzlin' Summer Science