McKinley Elementary has entered the third week of its Summer Summit, a free eight-week program designed to help students avoid the "summer slide" through weekly themed activities.
Program goals and structure
The self-guided adventure began on June 1, with the school's staff announcing that the program aims to keep students curious and connected while they relax for the summer. The weekly curriculum requires approximately 15 to 20 minutes of engagement and focuses on minimal screen time.
Current week's Utah history theme
According to McKinley Elementary, the program's third week focuses on Utah history, specifically the Transcontinental Railroad and the Golden Spike. Activities for this week include learning Morse Code and building bridges out of noodles and marshmallows.
Previous weekly themes explored
Earlier in the summer, the school hosted themes such as "The President's Mountain" during the first week in June and "Space Explorers" during the second week.
Curriculum steps for students
The Summer Summit curriculum is structured around four steps for each grade level: reading a short story, practicing three vocabulary words, engaging in discussion questions, and completing a hands-on challenge.
