Litha: Summer Sun & Fun
School's out, but learning never stops! These low-pressure activities keep skills sharp while celebrating the longest days of the year.
UU Principle Focus
6th Principle: The goal of world community with peace, liberty, and justice for all
The sun shines on everyone. In summer's abundance, we think about sharing with others and caring for our world.
☀️ Summer Learning Philosophy
This is not structured school. These are ideas for keeping learning alive through play, exploration, and family time. Pick what works, skip what doesn't!
- • No pressure - summer is for rest and play
- • Follow interests - let kids lead
- • Keep it short - 15-20 minutes of "learning" is plenty
- • Make it fun - if it feels like school, stop
🌞 Litha Celebration Ideas
- • Stay up to watch the sunset on the longest day
- • Wake early to greet the sunrise
- • Have a bonfire or candle ceremony at dusk
- • Make sun wheels from sticks and yarn
- • Float flower boats on water
- • Catch fireflies (and release them!)
- • Have a feast with summer fruits and vegetables
- • Make sun tea together
Activity Ideas by Category
Nature Exploration
- •Sunrise/sunset watching - track the longest days
- •Firefly catching (and releasing!)
- •Nature scavenger hunts
- •Cloud watching and identifying shapes
- •Stargazing on warm nights
- •Beach or lake exploration
- •Bug hunting with magnifying glass
- •Bird watching and identification
Water Play & Science
- •Sprinkler and water table play
- •Ice cube experiments - melting, freezing, floating
- •Make sun tea
- •Water balloon math (counting, adding)
- •Sink or float experiments
- •Rainbow making with hose
- •Mud kitchen play
- •Water cycle in a bag
Garden & Growing
- •Harvest vegetables from spring planting
- •Water and tend the garden daily
- •Press flowers and leaves
- •Make nature journals
- •Collect seeds for next year
- •Compost exploration
- •Herb harvesting and drying
- •Fruit picking at local farms
Art & Crafts
- •Sun prints with construction paper
- •Nature mandalas
- •Sidewalk chalk art
- •Tie-dye projects
- •Rock painting
- •Leaf and flower pressing
- •Wind chimes from natural materials
- •Fairy garden building
Reading & Stories
- •Summer reading challenge - track books read
- •Read outside under a tree
- •Library summer programs
- •Audiobooks for car trips
- •Make up stories about summer adventures
- •Read about summer solstice traditions
- •Fairy tales set in summer
- •Nature identification guides
Math in Real Life
- •Counting shells, rocks, flowers
- •Measuring plant growth
- •Cooking and baking (measuring ingredients)
- •Time telling - when does the sun set?
- •Money at farmers markets
- •Sorting collections
- •Patterns in nature
- •Simple addition with found objects
📺 Screen Time Recommendations
For hot days, rainy days, or when everyone needs a break:
Wild Kratts
Animal adventures and creature powers
Nature Cat
Outdoor exploration and nature facts
Octonauts
Ocean creatures and underwater adventures
Magic School Bus
Science adventures (summer episodes)
Planet Earth / Blue Planet
Nature documentaries for all ages
Cosmic Kids Yoga
Yoga adventures for kids
SciShow Kids
Short science videos
Signing Time
Learn sign language through songs
🎧 Audiobook Suggestions
Perfect for car trips, rest time, or before bed:
- 📚Charlotte's Web by E.B. White
- 📚The BFG by Roald Dahl
- 📚Winnie the Pooh stories
- 📚Magic Tree House series
- 📚Frog and Toad stories
- 📚Ramona series by Beverly Cleary
- 📚Fairy tale collections
- 📚Nature and animal stories
📖 Summer Reading Challenge
Keep reading skills strong with a fun challenge:
- • Goal: Read (or listen to) 20 books over summer
- • Track: Make a paper chain - one link per book
- • Variety: Include picture books, chapter books, non-fiction
- • Library: Join the summer reading program for prizes
- • Celebrate: Special treat when you reach your goal!