With its change of pace, summer can be a lovely time to branch out into different kinds of family adventures. Even though it’s summer, learning doesn’t need to end, and we know how challenging it is for parents when our children aren’t expanding their minds! We believe ideal homework is not through worksheets and drills, but through wonder, exploration, and a deep connection with the world. This is true for homework year-round and for those of you who may take a summer camp week off from Wheaton Montessori School.

If your children are missing their school friends and community, we offer inspiration for meaningful ideas that our teachers incorporate into summer. The list is of meaningful, joyful, and skill-building experiences designed to awaken the senses, ignite curiosity, and nourish the spirit, just like our teachers do year-round.

Here is our "Summer Homework List" that reflects Montessori values of independence, care for the environment, and learning through doing. Consider this a summer challenge! How many can your family tackle during these upcoming months?! And we are here if you need us!

Explore the Great Outdoors 🌳

Climb a hill or mountain.

Hike a section of a trail.

Walk, bike, or skate along a bike path or greenway.

Canoe or raft down a local river.

Spend extended time walking quietly through the woodlands.

Climb a tree and observe the world from a new perspective.

Play and splash in summer rain.

Learn to Navigate and Survive in Nature 🧭

Learn to use a compass and a map to find your way.

Pitch a tent, build a fire, and cook a meal outdoors.

Go on a night hike with a flashlight and listen to nocturnal life.

Use Your Hands to Build and Discover 🐚

Make sandcastles on the beach or mud pies in the yard.

Build a fort or lean-to in the woods.

Spend hours making dams and bridges in streams.

Dig for worms.

Try catching frogs and fireflies.

Experiment with different designs for kites or paper airplanes.

Connect with the Universe 🌌

Learn to identify a few constellations and find the North Star.

Discover where north, south, east, and west are in relation to your home.

Watch the Perseid meteor shower in August.

Observe and Create 🐦

Build a birdhouse.

Learn to whittle a stick.

Identify local birds by sight and sound.

Learn the names of the trees around your home.

Blow bubbles and observe patterns with wind direction and speed.

Create a scavenger hunt in the yard.

Collect, Record, and Reflect 🧺

Start a small home museum: shells, rocks, feathers, or postcards of natural wonders.

Collect and paint rocks.

Create a sculpture or design with found objects.

Keep a Nature Journal with drawings, leaf rubbings, and observations.

Lie in the grass and observe the clouds.

Grow and Gather 🌱

Care for your own tomato plant.

Plant and tend a vegetable garden.

Gather locally grown foods and create a picnic.

Pick fresh berries—and bake a pie!

Why It Matters 🍃

Summer is an excellent time to consider what experiences will nourish our children’s love of life! With that in mind, let’s trade pencils for pinecones, screens for stargazing, and worksheets for wildflowers. This is the kind of homework children will remember, and that will support deep growth and learning.

Children thrive when they experience real-world learning, especially when it involves movement, observation, problem-solving, and connection. These summer suggestions awaken the senses, promote independence, and help children feel rooted to the world around them.

If you are interested in learning more about how Wheaton Montessori School keeps this spirit of discovery alive all year, please be in touch. We love to share what we are doing this summer and beyond!

Prospective families with toddlers and children under 4 are encouraged to sign up for a school tour the advantages of our Primary Program, which lays the essential foundation for our Elementary and Adolescent Community Programs*. Prospective families who are enrolled in the 2025-2026 School Year are welcome to sign up for Wheaton Montessori School summer camps. 

Preschool enrollment for summer and fall 2025 is ongoing and depends on availability for eligible early childhood students. There are extremely limited spots available for new children aged 4 and under for the upcoming summer and fall of 2025.

 * Individual school tours for kindergarten through 9th grade are not available, and the waitlist remains closed for the 2025-2026 School Year. The only exception is considered for students transferring from AMI-accredited Montessori schools that have maintained continuous attendance.