Honoring the Summer Solstice: 10 Activity Ideas for Students Who Are Blind or Visually Impaired

Sun

The Summer Solstice is celebrated soemwhere between June 20-22 here in the northern hemisphere.  It is the time of year when the earth's axis tilts towards the sun, causing warm weather and longer days in the northern hemisphere, and cold weather with "shorter" days in the southern hemisphere.  Celebrate the changing seasons with your class by trying some of the lesson plans below.

 

 

 

sunflower

1. Have a circle time with younger students that focuses on the summer solstice. Make a list of all the things the sun does for us on Earth. Ask students to consider what would happen if we didn’t have the sun.  See: Summer Solstice the Montessori Way: Classroom Curriculum Activities

 

 

Bearded man

3.  Create a “quiz show” game with questions about the summer solstice or the sun.  Quiz may include questions from sites below:

 

 

 

 

Hinode

5. Solar Math.  See Space Math at NASA for extensive list of math problems related to the sun.   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sun

Listen to the Sounds of the Sun as recorded by research scientist.

Hear music inspired by sounds of solar wind.

The Heart of the Sun

 

 

 

 

Sun tea with lemon

7. Solar Snacks

Prepare snacks that use the sun to help to "cook" the item.

 

 

 

red sun

8. Sing AstroCappella: The Sun Song
Catchy fact-filled song about the sun.

 

 

 

 

 

summer field

10.  Listen to “Summer” from Vivaldi’s Four Seasons.
Explain that the music represents the season of summer, and ask students to let their imaginations follow the music. Invite them to share thoughts or feelings about the music. 

 
 
 
 
 
 
10 Activities to Celebrate the Summer Solstice