My son is screen-obsessed. He’s 10 years old, and it’s not unusual听to find him in front of two screens, not just one, at the same time! He watches a YouTube video while playing a video game, and sometimes they aren’t even related. When we tell him to stop, he’ll quite sweetly say, “You should be glad I am multitasking, Mom!”
His dream summer would be spent in front of computer and game screens. So, now you understand what I am up against. But I have a plan: a video-game themed summer 鈥� with math, computer science, art, and reading sneaked in. Here’s听the overview of my STEAM (Science Technology Engineering Art Math) summer curriculum with听gaming听as the theme:
Summer math: word problem workbook
I really love the workbook series. My kids have done a workbook every summer since kindergarten. Our elementary school doesn’t focus on word problems, but I like how it combines literacy with math while also teaching logical reasoning. Each problem is听a puzzle to be solved by taking听words and turning them into number sentences.
My son actually likes doing math; still, it听typically takes us until December to complete the workbook. To spur him forward, I use a drawing game as a short-term reward and a big prize听to ensure completion.
We play听 based on the book by Anthony Browne, for every correct math problem. It’s pretty simple and fun. I draw a random shape in whatever space is left over from the math problem, and my son takes turns it into something recognizable.
Here I draw a shape. My son turns it into a (seemingly unhappy) snail.
The Daily Word Problem听workbook is designed for an academic school year, but it works beautifully as a summer workbook. With 36 weeks of five problems each week, we aim for three weeks at a sitting because completing 15 problems earns you a small prize, typically an outing听for听ice cream.
Finally, I dangle a big prize for completing听the book. This summer, it will likely be a large Lego set. What do you know? They have Lego Minecraft sets!
Summer learning: computer programming in Java and Python
When my son’s screen addiction really got out of hand, I decided that if you can’t beat ’em, join ’em.听I told my son he could have screen time if he learns how to make his own video games. I found a tutor for him and his friends, and they happily learned听.
For the past two听summers, my son and his friends have spent a week at computer camp designing Mods in听Minecraft in teams. It feels like an expensive week of gaming, but I told the other moms that we are laying the groundwork for teaching the boys to program.
My computer programmer friends at work tell me Python is the language for gamers, and that it’s actually easier to learn than Java. So we鈥檙e going to wrap ourselves in Python using听听by Bryson Payne. I hope it’s very parent-friendly as I am not technical at all!
Usually what I do with my son is this: I throw the book in a conspicuous place in his room and wait a few days to see what happens.
Sometimes nothing happens.
Sometimes, he will find and devour the book. I am hoping the Python book will not require much adult intervention.
Summer art: drawing superhero comic books
The video game听is a fighting game and not meant to be educational, but it has spurred my son鈥檚 imagination. He delves deep into the world of DC and Marvel comics and most interestingly, into a frenzy of comic book drawing wherein he pits superhero against superhero in epic battles.
I am thrilled to watch my son draw and redraw his comics with more and more detail. I simply provide him with drawing materials 鈥� he prefers a #9 lead automatic pencil, large sketchbook, and soft eraser 鈥� and he goes to town. Here’s Batman versus Spiderman:
Sometimes he confers with me听about which superheroes to pit against each other, and I must provide my reasoning regarding who would win. My knowledge is limited in this arena, so it hardly ever ends up in his work. I believe this is the first page to Nightwing vs. Green Arrow, on which I was at least consulted.
Summer reading: video-game themed books
I’m noticing an uptick in Minecraft-themed chapter books, and my son will eagerly review any that come our way. I look forward to seeing what comes of this one:
My son has very limited knowledge of the Bible; I quizzed him and he basically only knows the Adam and Eve story, so I am thrilled that听this is filling in all those gaps! This is a graphic novel using Minecraft as the basis of all the Bible stories. It is a diabolically clever idea.
Then there鈥檚 the series. My son really enjoyed Liam O鈥橠onnell鈥檚 first Minecraft chapter book,听, so he joined the beta readers for O’Donnell’s second book,听Nether Nightmare. He鈥檚 finishing it this summer. His contribution so far is this: “I think magma cubes split into 4 instead if two (chapter 2).”
It鈥檚 not all Minecraft books, however. We鈥檝e downloaded the recently released Rick Riordan ebook,听,听which he can start reading right away.
But, we need to read other genres besides action adventure fantasy. To this end, we’ll be exploring historical fiction, which my son discovered that he enjoys from听 this听year.
Summer science: experiments that are easy to set up
I am lazy when it comes to science. My son and I will watch oodles of听short science videos. He has , and I have a collection of that we both appreciate. We will do quick and听easy, off-the-cuff experiments, like understanding , that require very little planning. We will also pick some that require听no additional materials outside of what we have in our house, such as building a contraption to .
We’ll be using听by Camelo Piazza and James Buckley and illustrated by Chad Geran. And in choosing听science experiments to do, my son can check off a nonfiction book for his summer reading!
We also will be pulling experiment ideas from a DIY summer camp series on the听听and from a collection of projects I鈥檝e pinned on my听. The key to choosing will be this: my son is interested, the set-up is easy, and I only need to make one trip to get the materials.
So there you have it鈥攎y son’s summer of video gaming that includes science, math, computer programming, art, and reading. Did I miss anything?
How about you? Please share your ideas for getting your kids learning this summer! Thanks! I’d appreciate the ideas!
This article is part of a Summer Learning series. Also in the series:
How to roll fun and learning into summer
Summer’s here! What’s a mom to do with these kids?
Summer won’t addle my kids’ brain
Will reality live up to their dreams?
Mia Wenjen writes the听听and shares great books for children and more ways to sneak learning into kid’s lives.
