'Educational' things to do with DS (6) during the holidays

[fruitstick]

DS is just finished year 1.

Last year, I didn't do anything in the holidays apart from some reading. However, I'm becoming a bit more neurotic this year and think I should put some time in on his maths etc during the school holidays.

DS is a very outdoorsy, energetic boy and also very reluctant to do anything he doesn't want it do. It is all going to go horribly wrong if I try and sit him down and do work sheets.

Any ideas of what I can do that isn't going to feel like work but might have his times tables licked by the end of the summer? Likewise with handwriting.

Cooking- practice doubling and halving recipes, if we have 3 kids how many sllices of bread do we need to make sandwiches etc.

We'll be doing the NT 50 things list(although we've done most),NT days(we have a pass),zoo(we have a pass),loads of beach days,local Museum days(free),camping etc and the library challenge.

However as it's 6 weeks we'll also be keeping the old brains ticking over.

Going to secure dd 7's no bonds to 20 and keep the times tables for all 3 going. They'll fill out a diary whilst camping also send postcards. They'll read masses,always do. Maybe a few CPG workbooks(if we have time)to keep things ticking over. Will also try to play UNO and Monopoly a lot and do a bit of h/w practise with dd(joins as she worries).

I think in 6 weeks there is room for balance.

Hi fruitstick:

think many of suggestions - especially joining a library reading challenge - are great ideas.

museums, historic sites, etc... all great ideas.

If the school asks the children to keep a scrap book - have him get really involved with this - have him collect things and encouraging him to do a lot of the writing.

If no school project - then send postcards (and don't forget last year's teacher) + aunties/ uncles/ grandparents/ school chums/ etc...

Multiplication tables start in Y1 - so one thing you can start working on is learning the tables. 0 and 1 are great fun - anything x 0 is 0 and anything x 1 is itself. the next 3 are x2, x5 and x10. They should have been doing a lot of counting by 2, 5 and 10 in school but if not do so at home. All sorts of multiplication practice available for free on-line as well:

woodlands junior school has some great help here: www.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/maths/timestable/index.html

I'd also advise things like learning a bit about nature - maybe pond dipping or tidal pool dipping (if you go to the seaside).

Let it creep in naturally - but also let him enjoy his summer and let yourself enjoy having a 6 year old who's discovering all sorts of things. Encourage his interests and discover what he likes - you'll have fun too!

Some great ideas here thanks.

DD1 (7) loves and asks for www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/, www.starfall.com/n/level-c/index/load.htm?f, www.oxfordowl.co.uk/Library/Index/?AgeGroup=5&BookType=Phonics, and kahn's academy. She also still loves cbeebies to "teach" DD2.

She goes to intensive swimming lessons (every 2 days) and does a lot of what is on the NT list. She will go to a "playgroup" for 6 to 9 yo at the french institute and loves to come with me and her sister (2) to babygroups.

There seems to be a lot of playdough and painting at 7 am in the morning too and [tired]

Time tables are definitely left for school. She did them all last year (Y2 not in the UK) in music, and still sings the songs from time to time. I am lazy and think it is enough. She is still very little (even if a year older than your DS).

My dd is the same age, will be leaving Y1.
Last Summer I got her to pick a topic she wanted to learn more about - last year it was The Egyptians. We read books about it, went to the British Museum and made some Egyptian Crafts. This summer she has picked Space and Planets so we will be making a model of the planets and may go to the Leicester Space Centre. Will do a few other raft bits.
Will also be doing the library reading challenge, make sure she can spell the Y1 word list and may do a year 1 CPG maths and English workbook (like a page a day only).
It sounds a lot, but there is A LOT of time in the day! She wakes at 6 and goes to bed at 8! An hour a day of some focussed educational stuff is not going to harm her!
I want to make sure she starts Y2 in the best possible place and that any gaps in her Y1 learning have been covered.

Definitely do lots of fun stuff as mentioned above but if you want a writing focus, have you heard of lapbooks? They're an American 'thing' but basically you make a little folder with mini books inside. You can make them on any topic. I'm planning do a few with my son.

Google 'lapbooks' for some ideas.

For times tables try doing it without him even noticing e.g. wow I never realised you had so many dinosaurs. How many do you have now? Then see if he can count them quicker in 2's, 5's etc. Also a bit of chanting them in the car if you're going somewhere (you could get a CD with them on for the car).

For handwriting, small hand manipulation activities are good e.g. clay, playdough, fiddly arts and crafts, construction kits, lego etc as they help with fine motor skills. This game is good for hand eye coordination and hand eye coordination sometimes helps with handwriting.
www.gogivers.org/games.cfm?gameon=skating
I always found a really good method for improving handwriting was sewing! It really works on those fine motor skills. Maybe you could make this fun by making puppets or making scenery for a transformer play!

This website is good for learning while playing. He could make his own comic strips etc. www.gogivers.org/kids_home.cfm

Lots of small trips are also great. Children learn such a lot of being in new places.

Definitely agree with melted. The other thing is that in schools now they seem sensiblyto get the DC to give the reciprocal - ie decide on '10' and then rapid-fire 6=4,7=3,4=6,5=5 etc. My DC used to enjoy this game of beating the other sibling, and even the youngest can quickly catch on. (also as I approach dementia age the DC now do this with me to keep me sentient...)