Summer Homeschool: Watermelon Unit Study
As the back-to-school season gears up, don’t forget to embrace these last few–already?!–weeks of summer. This watermelon unit study is everything you need in a summer homeschool lesson–fun, hands-on activities; engaging, creative visuals; and a unique subject that embodies a quintessential summer.
Watermelon Unit Study & Sweet Fun
Watermelon is the quintessential summer treat! Turn it into a fun, creative outlet by carving the rinds. Check out watermelon.org for some fun watermelon carving ideas and inspiration. Note that all material may not be suited to every family, and parents should use their discretion in determining which activities are right for their summer homeschool.
An exploding watermelon volcano is just the ticket for adding some summer homeschool STEM to a classic hands-on experiment. You can use one large watermelon for a group or one or more smaller ones, just be aware that the larger your watermelon, the longer it will take to hollow out. Cut a hole just large enough for you to use an ice cream scoop or melon baller to scoop out the flesh for a tasty treat–don’t waste the fruit!
Inspiration Laboratories features a simple instructable for turning ordinary play sand into an even more fun sensory experience–kinetic play sand–with a summery, watermelon twist. This is an excellent on-theme activity for littles who might not have the attention span for some of the other activities in your watermelon unit study.
This free printable flip book walks through the lifecycle of a watermelon with a ton of additional activities to exercise language arts, mathematics, sequencing, motor skills, and more. You’ll find links for a full-color printable and a black-and-white version that kids can color themselves.
These watermelon suncatchers make a great sensory summer craft for a rainy day. Note that though the instructions say to use clear adhesive shelf liner, you can achieve similar results with craft glue and wax paper or by sandwiching the colored tissue between strips of clear packing tape.
For even more creative learning ideas for your summer homeschool, check out this Homeschool Living—”5 Things to Do in Your Summer Homeschool.”
