Summer Homeschool Plan: Simple and Intentional

This summer, I want things to feel simple. Lots of sunshine, lots of play, and just a few intentional rhythms to anchor our days. We’re keeping a light homeschool routine, but one that helps us stay grounded and connected.

Most of our learning will happen naturally: outside in the dirt, in the kitchen, or curled up with a good book. I’ve also found that keeping a simple morning routine helps me and my young children start the day well.

In this post, I share a few gentle summer plans that I have in place. We won’t do these things every day, but when we do, they’ll help bring a sense of peace and purpose to our summer.

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A Simple Morning Routine Anchored in Truth

Our mornings are where I’ve chosen to keep the most structure this summer. It’s a small anchor in our day that helps everyone know what to expect. It also keeps me from feeling scattered!

Attributes of Jesus Coloring Book

A few mornings a week, we’ll start with our Attributes of Jesus workbook. Each lesson includes an attribute of Jesus, a corresponding Bible verse to memorize, a related Bible story to read while the kids eat breakfast, and a simple coloring page.

I also include a match-up of each attribute of Jesus with a corresponding story from The Complete Illustrated Children’s Bible. (TCICB) that I enjoy reading with my kids. This Bible has BEAUTIFUL illustrations and is very accurate to the truth of the actual Bible.

I really want to focus on memorizing more scripture together as a family, so I created this coloring book that will help us do so while also learning more about who Jesus is!

I’m excited to share it with you for FREE! I hope you can enjoy using it with your children this summer too!

We also pray together in the mornings, sing a few hymns from My First Hymnal by Karyn Henley, and sometimes I read a devotion to my kids from My ABC Bible Verses: Hiding God’s Word In Little Hearts by Susan Hunt.

Intro Into Real Food Coloring Book

I plan to use the Attributes of Jesus coloring book with my children a few mornings a week. On the other mornings, we’ll use the Homegrown Education Intro Into Real Food Activity Book. This activity book for small children is all about real food, nutrition, and where our food comes from.

I am also using a beautiful coloring book, also from Homegrown Education, inspired by different real-life farms.

I am so excited to dive deeper with my kids into nutrition and help them make connections between what we eat and how God designed it to nourish us.

This simple routine of beginning our days with Bible reading, devotional time, and working through both of these activity books helps us start our day with intention. It’s gentle, meaningful, and just the right pace for the summer.

Learning in the Everyday

One of my biggest goals this summer is to involve my kids more in everyday tasks, especially grocery shopping and cooking. I want them to understand where our food comes from, how to choose nourishing ingredients, and how to help prepare simple meals. It’s not always faster (in fact, it’s usually slower), but it’s worth it.

At the store, I’ll let them help pick out produce, read labels with me, and talk through why we choose certain foods. In the kitchen, I’ll give them age-appropriate jobs: stirring, measuring, washing veggies, etc.

These moments might feel small, but I know they’re planting seeds. I want my kids to grow up confident in the kitchen and aware of the way food fuels our bodies. It’s also a way for us to spend time together and work as a team!

I have been so encouraged and challenged by the idea of raising “wildly capable kids” from Liz and Joey Haselmayer (Homegrown Education). On the Homegrown Podcast, they are always talking about giving kids the chance to do things and learn from their mistakes. Kids are much more capable than we usually give them credit for!

Keeping Up with the Basics

Even though it’s summer, I still plan to keep up with some light math and handwriting, especially with my oldest daughter. Nothing formal or overwhelming. Just enough to keep their minds fresh and help them keep building confidence.

This year my six-year-old is working through The Good and The Beautiful Level 1 math curriculum. Read here why I decided to switch from Saxon math to The Good and The Beautiful (TGATB). TGATB is very open and go and a good mix of lessons and activities. It’s beautiful too! I use their Preschool Curriculum with my four-year-old.

I also have this Handwriting without Tears for my oldest daughter and the first level for my younger daughter. We don’t do math and language arts every morning, but I’m instilling the habit and plan to continue doing this at least a few mornings a week throughout the summer.

Ending the Day with Connection

One of the habits I’m most excited to grow this summer is reading a chapter book with my oldest daughter each night. We’ve done this off and on before, but I want to be more consistent now that our evenings are a little slower.

It’s such a simple way to connect, just the two of us, winding down the day with a story. I hope it becomes a memory she treasures and a rhythm we can carry into the school year too.

Here are the chapter books that are on my list to read to her, whether it’s this summer or sometime in the future:

• The Pilgrim’s Progress : A Poetic Retelling of John Bunyan’s Classic Tale Hardcover by Rousseaux Brasseur
• Charlotte’s Web by E. B. White
• Stuart Little by E. B. White
• Winnie-the-Pooh by A. A. Milne
• James Herriot’s Treasury for Children: Warm and Joyful Tales by the Author of All Creatures Great and Small by James Herriot

This summer isn’t about doing it all. It’s about slowing down, enjoying the sunshine, and being present with my kids. A few intentional rhythms—morning time, hands-on learning, gentle academics, and evening read-alouds—give just enough structure to help our days feel peaceful and purposeful.

I know there will be messy days, lazy days, and days that don’t go as planned. But I’m learning the power of cultivating habits now that we can build upon as my kids get older.

What are some of your homeschool summer plans? Do you completely take a break from homeschooling during the summer? Do you continue a few homeschool rhythms? Please comment below and share!