7 Virtual Learning Experiences to Engage Students This Summer!
As summer begins, students are surely excited to take the first couple of weeks of the break to decompress from the school year before beginning their summer jobs, attending camps and clubs, or going on vacation with their families. However, once they begin to settle into summer, students quickly run out of activities to fill their time––and engage their minds!
With most of the U.S. having hot and buggy summer weather, it can be helpful to find activities that keep students indoors and in the air conditioning. For many students, the first thing that comes to mind is watching TV or using social media, but there are so many more activities that can keep kids engaged while staying cool inside.
If you live in a major city, museums or arts centers are a great indoor option for engaging yet educational summer experiences. However, most students don’t live in areas with easy access or transportation to one of these places. Luckily, technology has opened up a whole new world of virtual learning experiences that students can access right from the comfort of their own home––or anywhere they might be traveling this summer!
Here are seven virtual learning experiences to engage students this summer:
With the San Diego Zoo’s collection of live camera feeds, you can watch and learn about your favorite animals, including orangutans, penguins, pandas, elephants, and more. Additionally, the zoo’s site is full of educational videos, digital games, and printable activities for all-summer-long fun!
The Smithsonian Learning Lab is a free, interactive platform for discovering millions of authentic digital resources, creating content with online tools, and sharing in the Smithsonian’s expansive community of knowledge and learning. Here you’ll find resources in many subject areas, including social studies, science, and language arts.
Take a virtual field trip to a national park from wherever you are! Virtual tours provide captivating imagery and information about the history and preservation of these legendary sites. Additionally, explore a variety of live webcams showcasing beautiful waterfalls, national monuments, rich marine life, and diverse wildlife.
Bioexplora is a virtual resource created by the Museum of Natural Sciences in Barcelona that offers 3D images and data on biodiversity. Virtually explore 360º photos of specimens and data visualizations to learn more about biodiversity and its importance in protecting the earth.
360º cameras have made it possible to tour the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History as if you’re walking through the museum yourself! Use the map and additional interactive features to explore the museum’s exhibitions and see detailed images of the museums specimens on display.
With these virtual tours of the Louvre, you can visit the museum rooms and galleries, admire the palace architecture, and enjoy the views. The Louvre also offers several other virtual features for users to enjoy from home, like the Mona Lisa: Beyond the Glass virtual reality (VR) exhibition.
The Native Knowledge 360º (NK360º) Education Initiative is a resource developed by the National Museum of the American Indian to provide accessible digital resources to teach students about Native American history. This resource offers lessons, impactful, Native-centered primary source materials, and student programs, such as the Youth in Action: Conversations about Our Future online series.
Escape the heat and learn from anywhere you are this summer with these engaging virtual learning experiences. All of these virtual learning opportunities are freely available for use anywhere in the world, and can bring engaging, interactive learning to students of all ages all summer long!
