As summer approaches, you may be looking for ways to keep students engaged in learning while they enjoy an extended break. If you’ve shared newsletters or resources with students and families in the past, you might want to consider a summer playlist full of videos related to topics you’ve explored during the school year.
Creating video playlists can be a fun and effective way to encourage exploration, reinforce key concepts, and introduce new ideas. In this post, we’ll explore Summer Playlist Ideas for students, including why you might create one, what to consider, and fun topics to include.
Why Create a Summer Playlist for Students?
A curated video playlist can serve multiple purposes during the summer months:
- Stay connected: Help students retain information and stay connected to learning with engaging bite-sized content.
- Spark Curiosity: Introduce new topics or hobbies that students might not have had time to explore during the school year.
- Encourage Independent Learning: Give students a chance to explore subjects at their own pace without the pressure of assignments.
- Support Family Engagement: Provide families with high-quality, educational content to watch together.
What to Consider When Creating a Summer Playlist
Before putting together a playlist, here are a few key things to keep in mind:
- Age Appropriateness: Select videos that are suitable for the age group you’re targeting.
- Video Length: Keep videos short and engaging to maintain student interest.
- Diversity of Content: Mix up different types of videos, such as tutorials, documentaries, and interactive challenges. Note: If you love explainer videos like the ones made by TedED, check out my free download with 25 tips.
- Accessibility: Ensure videos have captions and are easy to access on multiple devices.
- Flexibility: Organize playlists so students can pick and choose videos that interest them most rather than feeling obligated to watch everything in a set order.
5 Fun Summer Playlist Ideas for Students
STEM Adventures
A STEM-focused playlist might include exciting science experiments that students can try at home, engineering challenges that use household materials, space exploration documentaries, and beginner coding tutorials. These types of videos can help students develop problem-solving skills, explore scientific concepts in a hands-on way, and even spark an interest in future careers in STEM fields.
Creative Arts & Expression
For students who love expressing their creativity, an arts-focused playlist can feature drawing and painting tutorials, DIY craft projects, music and dance lessons, and storytelling or animation guides. These videos allow students to experiment with different artistic techniques, practice self-expression, and explore new hobbies that they can continue throughout the summer.
Outdoor Exploration & Nature
Encouraging students to connect with nature, an outdoor exploration playlist could include virtual field trips to national parks, wildlife documentaries, gardening activities, and sustainability-focused content. These videos help students learn about the environment, inspire outdoor adventures, and develop an appreciation for nature and conservation efforts. For some inspiration, check out these blog posts with virtual field trip recommendations:
- 10 Virtual Reality Field Trips for Earth Day
- 9 Spring Virtual Field Trips
- Travel the Web Virtual Field Trips for Summer – Easy EdTech Podcast 216
- 12 Websites for Summer Virtual Field Trips
History & Culture
A history and culture playlist could feature engaging explanations of historical events. Or it might include biographies of influential people, travel and geography-based videos, and mythology or folklore stories from different cultures. These videos can bring history to life, introduce students to diverse perspectives, and encourage curiosity about different cultures and traditions around the world.
Life Skills & Social-Emotional Learning
A playlist focused on life skills and social-emotional learning might include mindfulness exercises, basic personal finance lessons, cooking tutorials, and teamwork or communication strategies. These videos provide valuable skills that help students navigate real-life situations, build confidence, and foster personal growth.
How to Share Your Summer Playlist
Once you’ve curated your playlist, it’s important to share it effectively so students and families can easily access it. Here are a few ways to distribute your Summer Playlist Ideas:
- Google Classroom or Learning Management System (LMS): Post a link where students already access class materials.
- Class Website or Newsletter: Include a section highlighting the playlist and why students might enjoy it.
- Email to Families: Send a direct email with the playlist link and a short explanation.
- QR Code: Create a QR code linked to the playlist that families can scan from a printed flyer.
Putting Your Summer Playlist Ideas Into Action
Creating a summer video playlist is a great way to keep students engaged in learning. At the same time it gives them the flexibility to explore at their own pace. Whether you focus on STEM, creativity, history, or life skills, a well-curated playlist can inspire curiosity and make learning feel like an adventure.
Start curating your Summer Playlist Ideas today and help students make the most of their summer break! And if you’re looking for extra YouTube tips, head over to the “free stuff” page on my website, that includes an ebook with tips for making the most of this favorite platform.
