The Summer Challenge is back with new and exciting activities for you to complete over the summer. The summer holidays are nice. And long. The truth is that after the excitement of being on holiday wears off, children will quickly start complaining that they have nothing to do and that they are bored.

So this year we are once again proposing a Summer Challenge for all of our students in Year 3, 4 and 5 with some interesting and challenging tasks that will help the children develop further. We are sorry to disappoint some parents – these tasks are not more of the same stuff that children have done at school throughout the year. In many ways, they are much more important.

As parents, we encourage you to take an active role in this Summer Challenge and support the children to accomplish the tasks. In some cases the children will need some help and guidance, but the whole point of the challenge is that the children engage in these activities and become accountable for their own learning.

Still not convinced? Listen to what students, parents and teachers had to say about the activity last year. .

How it works…

We will provide a new “Summer Tasks Sheet” to all students with simple yet challenging tasks. You can also find the tasks below, with ideas and links which will help the children to accomplish each one.

The children will also need a scrap book in which they will document their adventures. The scrap book will serve as a diary and proof that the children have actually completed the task. Co-incidentally, it will also make for a beautiful keepsake which you and the children can cherish in the future. There are numerous educational benefits to scrap booking check out 2 interesting websites here and here.

It is up to the children how to decorate and present the tasks they complete in the scrap book. There are plenty of ideas online, particularly on Youtube. The important thing is that for ever task that is accomplished, they document this in the scrap book. They can stick photos, drawings, decorations, tickets, leaflets or they can write and draw directly in the scrap book. Here is one video that gives you an idea about scrap booking. Remember, it doesn’t need to be anything elaborate but of course make it worthwhile.

Have the children start by decorating the scrap book cover, not forgetting to include their name. Then stick the “Summer Tasks Sheet” in the scrap book for easy reference.

As the children complete a task, they should “talk” about it in their scrap book, then cross it out from the sheet to indicate that it has been completed.

The Challenge

We are challenging the children to complete a different number of tasks depending on the year group as follows:

• Children starting Year 3 and Year 4 in September 2017 – 10 tasks
• Children starting Year 5 in September 2017 – 15 tasks
• Children starting Year 6 in September 2017 – 20 tasks

In Summary

1. Get a scrap book (or file or anything that will work for you).
2. Decorate the cover.
3. Stick the “Summer Tasks Sheet” inside. You can download the sheet here – Summer Activity Challenge 2018.
4. Choose a task and complete it.
5. Add evidence about the activity in your scrap book.
6. Cross out the task that has been completed.
7. Complete the number of tasks required.
8. Make it look good!

In September 2018, children are to hand in the scrap book to their teachers. Children who will have completed the challenge will receive a certificate and those children who manage to complete all activities will receive a special reward!

The Tasks

Here is the list of activities with links and suggestions.

1. Take part in a Valletta 2018 event. Valletta is the capital of culture for 2018. Take part in one of the many events being organised as part of this. Visit an exhibition or a new attraction. Take part in an event. Lots of things to see and do! Check out the official website here.
2. Send a letter to a friend using invisible ink. Find out how to make invisible ink here. Send a secret message to your friend in the post and wait for a reply!
3. Make a time capsule. A time capsule is a container in which you put some things you have now to find at a later date in the future. Look here for some ideas. What will you put in your time capsule? Where will you store it? When will you open?
4. Send an email to your future self. Use this website to send yourself an email you will receive in the future. What would you like to tell yourself in 1, 5, 10 years’ time? Use your ilearn email address!
5. Make your own dip/s. Dips are extremely simple to make and they can be healthy too. Learn how to make them.  Check out recipes here and here or just make your own with your favourite ingredients.
6. Make a balloon powered vehicle. What will it be? A car? A rocket? A boat? Check out some ideas here.
7. Read the favourite book of your best friend.
8. Watch a sunset on the beach. Go to Ghajn Tuffieha or Golden Bay for a spectacular sunset.
9. Create your own board game. Get some inspiration here.
10. Make and give a friendship bracelet. Here is how. Give it to someone, even someone you don’t know but would like to get to know better.
11. Leave a nice message for a stranger to find. Write a short message for a total stranger. Leave it somewhere someone can find it. Maybe put it in a bottle or small box. It could even be a pebble. Use your imagination. You will make someone smile. DO NOT include any personal details.
12. Collect rubbish from a beach. If every time we go to the beach we collect 3 pieces of rubbish, our beaches and sea will be much cleaner.
13. Learn how to finger count in Chinese. We use our fingers to count in different ways. Learn how they do it in China. Check this video.
14. Dress up! Create your own costume and have a party!
15. Stage an A to Z scavenger hunt. Make a collection of objects starting with each letter of the alphabet. This can be done in Maltese, English or perhaps a mixture of both for added fun?
16. Make a collage from beach found objects. Collect things you find on the beach – shells, rubbish, sticks… now use these materials to make a nice collage.
17. Make a fort out of cardboard boxes. Check out these videos for ideas.
18. Play Twister with your family. If you do not have the classic game, make it yourself. Check out how here or come up with your very own way of making it. Play, twist and have lots of fun.
19. Visit a Maltese village you have never been to before. Simple enough! And yes, there are villages you have never been too!
20. Tie dye a t-shirt. You will need help for this but it can be loads of fun. Check how here. You could also do this with bleach which is simpler, but if you do, be very careful. Check how here.
21. Make a wind chime. Look here for ideas. Fall asleep to the soothing sound of the chime.
22. Read a children’s book that is at least 50 years old. Try The Phoenix and the Carpet, Five Children and It, The Secret Garden, Tom Sawyer, Huckleberry Finn, The Railway Children, The Little Prince… So many titles…
23. Make a model of the solar system. Learn about our solar system and the planets. Make a model. Here is just one way of doing it.
24. Complete a puzzle that has more than 100 pieces.
25. Make a paper flower. Or a whole bunch. Look here and here.
26. Make flavoured water. Nice and refreshing, particularly in summer. Check the recipes here or make your own.
27. Watch an old movie. Try Mary Poppins, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Pete and the Dragon, Bed Knobs and Broomsticks…
28. Help with the laundry. Yes, someone washes your dirty clothes!
29. Find out what it takes to become a teacher. Many people think anyone can be a teacher! Many people think they know more than teachers! Well, think again, please. Perhaps finding out what it takes to become a teacher in Malta will make you think twice before thinking you know more than a teacher.
30. Learn a magic trick. Check out the secrets behind some classic magic tricks here and become a magician yourself.