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| 25 Fun and Educational July Learning Activities for Young Children |
25 Fun and Educational July Learning Activities for Young Children
Summer is the perfect time to enjoy hands-on learning with your little ones! Whether you homeschool year-round or just want to keep your preschool or early elementary child engaged, July offers plenty of opportunities to explore nature, celebrate patriotism, and enjoy fun summer themes. These 25 early childhood learning activities for July are designed to inspire curiosity, boost development, and make learning exciting all month long.
Week 1: Celebrate with Patriotic Learning Activities
Kick off July with red, white, and blue fun! Independence Day offers a great opportunity to teach your child about American symbols, colors, and traditions.
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Create a Tissue Paper Flag Craft – Use red, white, and blue tissue squares to make a textured American flag while discussing the meaning of each color and shape.
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Paint Salt Fireworks – Draw fireworks with glue on black paper, sprinkle salt over the glue, and paint them with watercolors to create vibrant salt art.
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Sing Patriotic Songs Together – Introduce simple songs like “You’re a Grand Old Flag” or “This Land is Your Land” to develop language and rhythm.
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Build a Red, White, and Blue Sensory Bin – Fill a bin with dyed rice, star confetti, mini flags, and scoops for sensory exploration.
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Read Fourth of July Books – Choose picture books that explain Independence Day in a fun, age-appropriate way.
Week 2: Discover Nature and Summer Science
Bring science to life with outdoor learning activities. These nature-based lessons help children explore the world around them in hands-on ways.
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Go on a Nature Walk and Make Leaf Rubbings – Collect leaves, then place paper over them and rub with crayons to reveal textures and shapes.
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Create a Water Cycle in a Bag – Teach weather science by drawing clouds and sun on a ziplock bag, adding water, and taping it to a sunny window to observe evaporation and condensation.
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Make a DIY Rain Gauge – Recycle a plastic bottle into a rain gauge to track summer rainfall and chart daily observations.
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Conduct a Sink or Float Experiment – Fill a bin with water and test various objects (toys, leaves, fruit) to see which sink or float.
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Go on a Bug Hunt and Nature Journal – Use a magnifying glass to find bugs, then draw them or write observations in a child-friendly nature journal.
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Week 3: Dive into Ocean and Beach Learning
Bring the beach home with exciting ocean-themed activities! These ideas help children learn about sea animals, textures, and counting—all while having fun.
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Craft a Sandpaper Starfish – Cut starfish shapes from sandpaper and decorate them with crayons, glitter, or googly eyes for tactile fun.
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Do Ocean Animal Yoga – Pretend to be dolphins, turtles, and jellyfish with simple poses that build gross motor skills.
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Explore a Sensory Ocean Bin – Use water beads, shells, plastic sea creatures, and blue water for imaginative play.
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Play an Under-the-Sea Counting Game – Use ocean-themed manipulatives like fish crackers or shell stickers to practice counting and simple math.
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Read Ocean-Themed Books – Choose fun titles like Commotion in the Ocean or Mister Seahorse to learn about sea life through storytelling.
Week 4: Sunshine and Summer Safety Activities
As the temperatures rise, help your children learn about sun safety, outdoor fun, and creative ways to stay cool.
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Decorate a Sun Hat – Use a blank paper hat or a real sun hat and decorate it with markers, stickers, and fun summer images.
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Trace Shadows with Chalk – Go outside on a sunny day and trace your child’s shadow to teach them about light and perspective.
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Teach Sun Safety Basics – Practice putting on sunscreen, wearing hats, and drinking plenty of water while learning why each is important.
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Excavate Frozen Toys – Freeze small plastic toys in containers of water, then let your child excavate them using salt, warm water, and small tools.
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Make Homemade Lemonade – Practice fine motor skills by squeezing lemons, measuring water, and stirring in sugar for a tasty and educational treat.
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| This lemonade stand is available here. |
Bonus Summer Learning Ideas for July
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Play a Popsicle Stick Color Match Game – Help your child sort colored sticks into matching cups or color-coded paper plates.
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Go on a Picnic Alphabet Hunt – Hide letter cards around your yard or park and let your child find them and name each letter.
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Create a Weather Observation Chart – Track sunny, cloudy, rainy, or stormy days using stickers or drawings.
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Host a Fruit Tasting & Sorting Activity – Try different summer fruits, talk about colors and flavors, and sort by size or texture.
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Start a July Learning Journal – Help your child draw or write a little something each day to document their summer learning journey.
Make Learning Fun All Summer Long
These July learning activities for preschoolers and early learners will keep young minds active while making the most of summertime freedom. From patriotic crafts to nature science and ocean adventures, you can create a month full of joyful learning.
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| 25 Fun and Educational July Learning Activities for Young Children |
