10 Vacation activities to keep your brain sharp this summer

Summer vacation! Time for relaxation, late nights, and catching up on sleep. But before you completely switch off your learning mode, consider this: summer can also be a prime time to keep your brain sharp and prepared with vacation activities for the upcoming challenges at school, especially those crucial standardised tests.

Here’s why it is important to stay mentally active with vacation activities:

Prevent the summer slide

Research shows that students often experience a learning setback during the summer months. Vacation activities that keep your brain engaged can help you retain information learned throughout the year and prevent feeling lost when school resumes in September.

Boost your cognitive skills

Engaging vacation activities can strengthen your memory, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills – all essential for performing well on standardised tests and succeeding in your upcoming classes.

The good news? You can absolutely have an amazing summer vacation while keeping your brain sharp! Here are 10 fun and engaging vacation activities to consider:

10 fun and engaging vacation activities

1. Dive into a book (or podcast)

Explore new genres beyond textbooks. Reading fiction or listening to educational podcasts keeps your mind active and improves vocabulary.

Book ideas:

Classics

• To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
• 1984 by George Orwell
• Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

Science Fiction/Fantasy

• A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle
• The Martian by Andy Weir
• The Hunger Games trilogy by Suzanne Collins

Mystery/Thriller

• One of Us is Lying by Karen McManus
• Sherlock Holmes series by Arthur Conan Doyle
• Truly Devious by Maureen Johnson

Historical Fiction

• Long Walk to Freedom by Nelson Mandela
• The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
• Pachinko by Min Jin Lee

Podcast ideas:

• TED Talks Daily – short, inspiring talks on a wide range of subjects
• Stuff You Should Know – deep dives into interesting topics from history to science
• Freakonomics Radio – explores the hidden side of everything with a blend of humour and analysis

2. Become a tourist in your own town

Plan day trips to museums, historical sites, or local landmarks as part of your summer vacation activities. Learning about your surroundings is both fun and educational.

Museum ideas

Look for museums that align with your interests, such as art museums, science centres, history museums, or natural history museums.

Historical sites

Explore forts, battlefields, plantations, or other locations significant to your town or city’s history.

Local landmarks

Visit botanical gardens, zoos, aquariums, lighthouses, or architectural landmarks in your area.

3. Embrace the great outdoors

Go hiking, camping, or stargazing. Immersing yourself in nature reduces stress and can even boost creativity. Make sure to have your necessary equipment.

Hiking: Comfortable hiking boots, backpack, reusable water bottle, snacks, sunscreen, insect repellent, hat, and a map or GPS for navigation.

Camping: Tent, sleeping bag, sleeping pad, camping stove, headlamp or flashlight, camp chairs, first-aid kit, and appropriate clothing for the weather.

Stargazing: Thick yoga mat or blanket (for sitting comfortably), red flashlight (preserves night vision), star chart or astronomy app, and warm clothes for nighttime temperatures.

4. Level up your gaming

Strategic board games or brain training apps can improve your memory, focus, and critical thinking skills.

Board game ideas:

• For strategy lovers: Chess, Ticket to Ride, Azul, 7 Wonders Duel
• For wordplay enthusiasts: Scrabble, Bananagrams, Codenames
• For party fun: Telestrations, Dixit, The Resistance
• For cooperative play: Pandemic, Forbidden Island, Hanabi

Brain Training Apps:

• Lumosity
• Elevate
• Peak
• Sudoku – many free apps available

5. Get crafty

Learn a new skill like knitting, coding, or playing a musical instrument. Mastering a new activity stimulates your brain and builds confidence.

Craft ideas:

• For the artistic: Drawing, painting, sculpting, origami, jewellery making
• For the practical: Knitting, crocheting, sewing, woodworking, basic car maintenance
• For the tech-savvy: Coding (various beginner-friendly languages available online), web design, 3D printing

Learning resources:

• Many local community centres or libraries offer affordable classes on various crafts.
• Online tutorials and video lessons are widely available for free on platforms like YouTube or Skillshare.
• Consider enrolling in a short online course to gain a structured learning experience.

6. Volunteer your time

Helping others is rewarding and teaches valuable life skills. Look for volunteer opportunities that align with your interests.

Volunteer ideas:

• Animal lovers: Animal shelters, wildlife rehabilitation centres, dog walking programmes
• Nature enthusiasts: Park clean-up days, tree planting initiatives, community gardens
• Helping children: Tutoring programmes, mentoring younger students, volunteering at summer camps
• Social justice advocates: Soup kitchens, homeless shelters, fundraising events for local charities

Finding opportunities:

• Check your local library or community centre bulletin boards for volunteer postings.
• Search online volunteer platforms like VolunteerMatch (https://www.volunteermatch.org/) or Idealist (https://www.idealist.org/en) for opportunities in your area.
• Contact local organisations you care about directly to see if they have volunteer needs.

7. Brush up on a language

Learning a new language or practising one you’ve already studied is a fantastic way to improve memory and cognitive flexibility. There are many free language learning apps available.

Benefits of language learning:

• Improves memory and cognitive skills
• Enhances problem-solving abilities
• Boosts critical thinking
• Broadens cultural understanding
• Opens doors to travel and career opportunities

Free language learning apps:

• Duolingo (https://www.duolingo.com/) – offers a gamified approach to learning with bite-sized lessons and interactive exercises.
• Memrise (https://www.memrise.com/) – uses flashcards and spaced repetition to help you memorise vocabulary.
• Busuu – combines interactive exercises with personalised feedback from native speakers (free version offers limited lessons).
• Anki – flashcard app that uses spaced repetition for optimal memorisation (desktop app with mobile companion app).

Tips for language learning success:

• Set realistic goals: Start with small, achievable goals and gradually increase the difficulty as you progress.
• Find a method that works for you: Experiment with different apps and learning styles to find what keeps you engaged.
• Practise consistently: Daily practice sessions are very effective.

8. Start a blog or journal

Writing regularly improves your communication skills and allows you to reflect on your experiences.

Benefits of blogging/journaling:

• Improves written communication skills
• Enhances critical thinking and self-reflection
• Provides a creative outlet
• Can be a record of your experiences and memories

Choosing a platform:

• Blogging platforms: Blogger.com, WordPress.com, Wix.com – create a public blog to share your thoughts and ideas with the world.
• Journaling apps: Day One, Journey, Penzu – opt for a private journaling app for a more personal space to reflect and write freely.

Finding inspiration:

• Write about your summer adventures, hobbies, or interests.

9. Take a summer class

Enroll in an online or in-person course on a topic that interests you. This is a great way to explore new subjects or delve deeper into existing ones.

Benefits of summer classes:

• Earn credits towards graduation (for some courses)
• Explore new interests or deepen knowledge in existing subjects
• Get a head start on next year’s coursework
• Meet new people and make connections (in-person classes)
• Enjoy a more flexible learning schedule (online classes)

10. Turn errands into educational adventures

Plan grocery shopping lists, research recipes, or calculate travel distances. Everyday tasks can be opportunities to practise math and critical thinking skills.

Bonus Tip: Many websites offer engaging and educational activities specifically designed for high school students. Check out resources like Khan Academy (https://www.khanacademy.org/), Coursera (https://www.coursera.org/), or TED-Ed (https://ed.ted.com/) to find interactive lessons, quizzes, and educational videos on a wide range of subjects.

So go forth, have a blast this summer, and don’t forget to keep your brain sharp with these fun vacation activities. Remember, a mentally stimulated mind is a prepared mind, ready to conquer those upcoming exams.

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