Summer Enrichment Resources
HCPSS Resources
Family and Community Resources
These resources have been created to provide parents with support in elementary content areas. From the links below, select the yellow Course Navigation bar in the upper righthand corner to select a content area.
HCPSS Digital Tools
All students have access to their school’s digital MackinVIA eBook and audiobook collection all year long by logging in through hcpss.me.
HCPSS Summer Reading Lists
The titles selected for each recommended summer reading list were chosen specifically for those students in specific grade levels. Titles included are just a sampling of the books you may enjoy reading during this summer. Many of the authors on this list have written more than one book.HCPSS Family Math Support Center
The Mathematics Support Center helps families: 1) Gain a better understanding of their child’s math program; 2) Refresh or build deeper understanding of math concepts, skills, and practices; and 3) Access additional support and practice opportunities for students, including free online homework help, as needed.Outside Resources
Free Academic Enrichment Courses
- College Classes – Free online courses with no application required. Most courses are self-paced and can be started anytime.
Audience: Secondary - Harvard (i.e. Backyard Meteorology: The Science of Weather)
- Duke (i.e. Chimpanzee Behavior and Conservation)
- Stanford University (i.e. America’s Poverty and Inequality Course)
- University of California at Berkeley (i.e. The Science of Happiness)
- Howard County Library Online Classes – Classes in Language, Computer Skills, Art, Music, Test Prep classes and more are accessible for free through the Howard County Library System.
Audience: All - Note: Some classes require the entry of library card by logging in to the HCLS website with your library card and PIN. Information on how to request a library card is available online.
- Cooking Classes
- America’s Test Kitchen Cooking School – Three week free trial with access to all cooking classes
Audience: Secondary; Elementary with Adult Supervision
Academic Enrichment Camps:
Kids on Campus Camps through Howard County Community College.
Audience: AllHoward County Parks and Recreation Camps
Audience: All
Camp PBS KIDS for Parents – Summer activity guides.
Audience: PreK–5
Free Academic and Personal Enrichment Activities:
Art and MusicGoogle Arts and Culture – A collection of images and virtual field trips of art, history, geography, culture and science.
Audience: SecondaryNational Gallery of Art- An Eye for Art – Online virtual field trips of National Gallery of Art exhibits.
Audience: SecondaryLunch Doodles with Mo Willems – Art activities for children.
Audience: Elementary
Birth to 5
- HCLS Summer Reading Book List (Infant to Pre-K)
- Zero to Three At-Home Activity Guide – Ideas for play and routines in English and Spanish
Khan Academy Kids – Download the app to access reading activities and games for children.
Audience: Ages 2-6
Literacy
HCPSS Recommended Summer Reading Lists
Audience: AllLibrary of Congress – Read original versions of books housed in the LOC collection.
Audience: AllStory Online – Videos of books read aloud by actors.
Audience: ElementaryBook Share – Online books for students with a print disability that severely inhibits or prevents reading traditional print materials.
Audience: All
Reading Bear – Beginning reading skills.
Audience: PreK-1Read Theory – Short reading comprehension activities.
Audience: Upper Elementary – MiddleReading Rockets Start with a Book – Themed books and activities for summer reading and learning.
Audience: PreK-5
Mathematics
HCPSS Family Math Support Center – Refresh or build deeper understanding of math concepts, skills, and practices; provides additional support and practice opportunities for students.
Audience: K-12FreckleMath – Practice activities for mathematics topics.
Audience: K-9Khanacademy.org – Videos of math concepts explained with self-checking practice opportunities.
Audience: K-12
Math Playground – Math games for young children.
Audience: K-6PBS Math Games for Kids – Math activities and games for children.
Audience: ElementaryXtramath – Support for developing basic fact fluency.
Audience: K-8
Mindfulness and Self-Care
Yoga for Teens
Audience: SecondaryBlissful Kids Mindfulness Activity
Audience: AllBreathing Exercise – YouTube Video
Audience: All, Elementary with GuidanceVirtual Calming Room – Brief yoga bursts for kids, brief meditations for managing emotions, gratitude and sleep in English and Spanish.
Audience: All, Elementary with guidance
Practicing Kindness Activities:
Create Kindness Rocks – For inspiration click here.
Audience: All
Mindfulness Activities:
Mindful Coloring – YouTube Video.
Audience: All, Elementary with guidanceListen to Music Mindfully
Audience: AllMindful Drawing
Audience: All
Practicing Gratitude Activities:
Gratitude Flower
Audience: AllGratitude Exercises
Audience: AllThank You Note
Audience: AllGratitude Prompts
Audience: All
Physical Education & Health
AllTrails.com – Type in a location and find hiking trails.
Audience: AllKids Health – Learning resources about the body and exercise.
Audience: Elementary and Middle SchoolFamily Go Noodle – Follow along videos that promote movement.
Audience: PreK-5
Science and Nature
- Community Ecology Institute – Located in Columbia, Md., fosters healthy communities through farming, nature, and diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives- Programs & volunteer opportunities
Chesapeake Bay Foundation: Learn Outside, Learn at Home – Learn about the Bay from your own backyard.
Audience: Grades 4-12NASA online activities
Audience: Grades 4-12Howard County Conservancy – In person programs and activities focused on nature.
Audience: AllPBS Kids Science Games
Audience: ElementaryPBS Science for Parents
Audience: Elementary
San Diego Zoo – Learn about the animal exhibits and watch live web cams.
Audience: AllGlazer Children’s Museum – Online activities and learning resources for art, math, science, physical activity and more.
Audience: ElementaryBozeman Science – Videos that explain various science concepts.
Audience: Middle and High SchoolAmerican Museum of Natural History – Science activities, games and resources.
Audience: Elementary and Middle SchoolSpace Place – Games and activities for learning about space science.
Audience: Elementary and Middle SchoolPublic Broadcasting Systems Nova Labs – Videos and games about NOVA exploration and discovery projects.
Audience: Secondary
Social Studies
Smarthistory – Resources and self-paced “courses” that explore art and history.
Audience: High School
Civics Remote Learning Toolkit for Families – Learning games and resources on Civics topics.
Audience: Upper Elementary – High SchoolAnnenberg Classroom – Games and activities for civic education.
Audience: SecondaryPublic Broadcasting System: Social Studies – Resources, information, videos and games to learn about various social studies topics.
Audience: All
Virtual Field Trips
Zoos: San Diego Zoo, Houston Zoo – Take a virtual trip to the zoo.
Audience: AllParks: National Parks – Visit 20 different national parks.
Audience: AllMuseums: Smithsonian Museum and 12 Museums Around the World – Visit some amazing museums virtually.
Audience: Middle and High School, Elementary with guidance
Aquarium: National Aquarium in Baltimore – Virtually walk around the museum and catch the sights.
Audience: AllGoogle Earth Explore – Visit places around the world and learn about how people live in various environments.
Volunteer and Activism Opportunities
Volunteer Opportunities for Youth and Families
Audience: Secondary and Families
Additional Volunteer Opportunities: Many Howard County nonprofits welcome student volunteers. To ensure the volunteers are a good match for the organizations, it is best that the students research and then select nonprofits with a mission that they support.
Community Action Council (CAC) – Volunteer opportunities at the Howard County Food Bank and Community Garden. Complete an application.
Columbia Community Cares – A Facebook network of neighbors serving neighbors in Howard County.
- Rainbow PrideCast Podcast– Proud to highlight members and student voices of the LGBTQIA+ community in Maryland and beyond. Produced by Hammond High School.
- Hopeworks Youth Leadership Project– a service-learning program dedicated to empowering teens to challenge systems of oppression and prevent relationship violence in their community. Audience: Secondary