May 31, 2026 |
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Summer Events & Activities for Students
Summer is the perfect time for students to explore, create, and have fun. We've rounded up an exciting collection of resources to keep K–12 learners engaged all season long! From craft classes and reading programs with free pizza rewards to free gym memberships for teens, there's something for every student. Whether you're looking for camps, contests, challenges, or special events, this collection offers plenty of opportunities to make this summer both enjoyable and enriching.
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Share your thoughts with our communityWeekly PollThis week, our poll asks: “What type of summer resources are most useful to your students?” Share your response and view the poll results once you click submit. |
Grades K-6
PBS KIDS's Summer of Adventure
Share this site with families to give them free resources that will keep kids exploring and learning all summer! Spark curiosity with hands-on activities, games, and content covering literacy, math, science, and creative fun for young learners.
Grades K-6
BOOK IT! Summer Reading Program
Read all about Pizza Hut's BOOK IT! Summer of Stories program, which rewards young readers with a free Personal Pan Pizza when they meet their reading goals! From June to August, kids track their progress in the app and earn tasty rewards all summer.
Grades 8-12
Planet Fitness High School Summer Pass
High schoolers ages 14–19 can work out for free all summer long at Planet Fitness! Teens can register online and enjoy club access at more than 2,700 locations across the U.S. and Canada from June 1 through August 31.
Grades K-4
Apple Camp
Apple Camp is a free annual summer program hosted at various Apple Store locations. Designed for children ages 6–10, these ninety-minute sessions guide children through hands-on activities with various Apple products. Registration opens in June.
Grades K-8
Summer Camp Activities K–8 Learners Will Love
Keep K–8 students and families engaged with ready-made digital art books, STEM engineering challenges, and hands-on activities—no curriculum sequence needed! Students create, reflect, and even build a summer memory book to share with others.
Grades K-12
Michaels Classes
K–12 students can spark their creativity this summer with live and on-demand craft classes from Michaels that cover painting, jewelry-making, papercrafts, and more! Expert-led and accessible from home, this is a fun way to build new skills all season.
Grades K-8
What Do Snowmen Do in Summer? Keeping Students Engaged in Literacy During Summer Vacation
This professional article offers ideas for keeping K–8 students engaged in reading all summer long. Explore creative strategies like book swaps, virtual book clubs, reading challenges, audiobooks, and free resources to make literacy fun when school's out!
Grades 8-12
AI Program for High School Students
Veritas AI is an online educational platform designed to introduce middle and high school students to artificial intelligence through hands-on, project-based learning. The program offers a range of free courses and mentorship opportunities for students.
Grades K-6
Barnes & Noble - Summer Reading Free Book Giveaway
Kids in grades 1–6 can earn a free book by reading any eight books, recording them in the provided Summer Reading Journal (available as a PDF in both English and Spanish), and bringing it to a Barnes & Noble store to choose their free title!
Grades 7-12
CS50: Introduction to Computer Science
Harvard's legendary Introduction to Computer Science course is both free and self-paced—perfect for middle and high schoolers diving into coding this summer! Students explore Python, JavaScript, HTML, and more through real-world problem sets.
Grades 4-12
Canva Camp
Students ages 10+ can build graphic design skills for free this summer! This self-paced, five-day online camp guides kids and teens through the process of creating magazines, posters, wallpapers, and more using Canva's free tools.
This Week at TeachersFirst
This week, we invite you to register for our summer book study—a great opportunity to learn more about using generative AI to enhance teaching and learning! We're also sharing a blog post you won't want to miss, along with three additional collections packed with even more learning, adventure, and summer fun for your students. Dive in and enjoy!
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Learn the research-based case for AI integrationApply for the 2026 TeachersFirst Summer Book StudyEmbark on an immersive steampunk adventure through “AI & Civic Engagement: 75+ Cross-Curricular Activities to Empower Your Students” and explore how generative AI can encourage critical thinking, digital citizenship, and more across the curriculum. |
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Infusing Technology BlogMake A Summer of Creativity!Read this blog to learn how to spark student creativity this summer with maker projects, STEAM challenges, and digital design! From DIY crafts and coding to literacy-inspired builds, this post is full of hands-on ideas to keep K–12 learners engaged. |
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Special Topic CollectionResources to Avoid the Summer SlideThis collection of free and engaging resources is designed to help students stay connected to learning throughout the summer months in a way that feels fun, flexible, and self-directed rather than like an extension of the school year. |
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Special Topic CollectionTools to Create during the SummerHelp your students unleash their creativity, explore their passions, and dive into projects that are entirely their own with free tools for writing and illustrating digital books, producing podcasts, coding games, composing original music, and more! |
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Special Topic CollectionSummer SpecialsDiscover this collection of free summer resources, programs, classes, camps, and opportunities, carefully curated to keep students engaged, inspired, and moving forward during the months away from school. |
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