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If you’re searching for summer activities for kids that don’t involve a screen, a long supply list, or hours of planning… this is the kind of thing you want in your back pocket.
Imagine opening one box and having:
All ready to go. No prep. No “we need to run to the store real quick.” No piecing together ideas from five different Pinterest tabs.
This is a summer activity box for kids that feels like fun first—and learning just naturally happens along the way.
And honestly? That’s the sweet spot for summer. 🌞
Table of Contents
Before we jump into the activities, there’s something special about the heart behind this unit.
The Oliver & Hope books follow a lovable duo—a bear and a butterfly—on imaginative adventures filled with friendship, creativity, and kindness.
But they’re more than just stories.
Each book in the series supports the UnitedHealthcare Children's Foundation, which helps provide medical grants to families whose children need care that isn’t fully covered by insurance.
So while your child is:
There’s a quiet layer of doing good built into the experience.
The unit begins with Oliver & Hope’s Good Deeds Day, where kids see how even small acts of kindness can make a real difference—and that idea carries through everything they do .
It’s one of those rare combinations of fun + meaning that just feels really good as a parent.
This isn’t a random collection of crafts. It’s a full summer homeschool unit study designed to flow naturally from one activity to the next.
Inside, you’ll find:
Each activity is clearly laid out with:
So instead of planning your summer learning… you’re just opening the box and getting started.
This unit starts in the best way—with activities that help kids do kindness, not just talk about it.
After reading Oliver & Hope’s Good Deeds Day, your child jumps into hands-on kindness projects that connect directly to the story.
These are the kinds of summer activities for kids that go beyond busy work. They build empathy, connection, and confidence in a way that actually sticks. 🥰
This is where the cozy summer vibes really kick in. 🔥
Think campfires, imagination, and a whole lot of creativity—without needing to actually camp (win).
This hands-on game turns reading practice into play.
Kids will:
It works for a range of ages, making it one of those rare summer learning activities that grows with your child.
It’s playful, a little messy, and exactly what you want from preschool summer activities.
You know the difference between a craft kids forget about in five minutes… and one they’re proud of?
This unit leans heavily toward the second.
In this project, kids create a campfire night scene using:
They learn about warm vs. cool colors in a way that actually makes sense—because they see it happening in their own work.
And the final result? The kind you keep. 😉
Just when you think it couldn’t get more fun… enter superheroes.
Kids create:
And then they wear it like it’s their full-time job.
But this isn’t just pretend play—it ties back to the story’s message about helping others and being a real-life hero.
This week also includes:
So instead of forcing focus, you’re working with your child’s energy—not against it.
Toward the end of the unit, kids get to build, test, and problem-solve.
Kids design their own marble run and figure out:
They’re learning early engineering and problem-solving skills through hands-on play—aka the best kind of summer learning for kids.
There’s a suggested 4-week flow built in, but it’s intentionally flexible.
You can:
Because real life (especially in summer) doesn’t follow a perfect schedule.
And this doesn’t expect you to.
If you’ve ever started the summer strong and then… slowly stopped doing anything “educational,” you’re not alone.
This works because:
everything is ready to go
it blends learning into play naturally
it doesn’t feel like school
kids stay engaged
It’s the difference between trying to do summer learning… and it just happening.
Author: Elizabeth, Team Knowledge Crates
Elizabeth is a former classroom teacher turned homeschool mom with a Master of Science in Education. She's been homeschooling for seven years with her kiddos who are currently in first and fourth grade. At Knowledge Crates, Elizabeth develops the elementary unit studies and test-runs activities with her kids.
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What makes this different from other summer activities for kids?
Instead of random activities, this is a full, connected experience. Everything ties together through the Oliver & Hope stories, making it more engaging and meaningful.
What age is this best for?
This unit is designed for preschool through early elementary (around ages 4–7), with flexible activities that can be adapted.
Do I need to prep anything?
No. Everything is included—materials, books, and instructions—so you can just open the box and start.
How long does it take?
There’s a suggested 4-week plan, but you can move at your own pace or spread activities throughout the summer.
Is this good for multiple kids?
Yes! Siblings can easily do activities together, and there are options to make that even smoother with a Companion Crate of extra materials.
What if I don’t want to plan summer learning?
That’s exactly who this is for. A done-for-you option like Knowledge Crates gives you meaningful, hands-on summer activities for kids without the planning, prep, or supply runs.
