How to Improve Children's Social Studies Skills Over the Summer

Summer vacation is a great time to help your child brush up on her social studies skills. Road trips to museums, historical centers and libraries are all fun ways to improve a child's social studies skills as well as spend some quality family time together.

Difficulty:

Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Let your children map out a road trip with you. They can practice reading a map and learn the symbols on the key and how to use the mileage scale.

2. Visit a history museum. Despite the stereotype as boring, historical museums can be a great deal of fun. Kids take their cue from parents, and if you show interest in the exhibits, they may follow your lead.

3. Take a trip to a living history center. Local history comes alive at these living museums. Children can participate in old-fashioned cooking classes, crafts and do chores, leaving with a better appreciation of the "olden days."

4. Pick up some social studies games at an educational store. Used by teachers, these board games are designed to help improve children's social studies skills. The games will be even more fun for kids when you sit down to play with them.

5. Check out some social studies books at the local library. The "Little House on the Prairie" series is a great way to introduce young children to American history. There are also many ideas for incorporating geography into the Little House books as well.

Resources

• School at Home offers.