Extended School Year (ESY), also known as summer school, isn’t just about maintaining academic skills—it’s about creating a safe, structured, and joyful environment where every student feels included and valued. Whether you’re teaching in a self-contained classroom, a resource setting, or an inclusive summer program, small intentional activities can go a long way in building community and keeping students engaged.
This toolkit-style post is filled with quick, low-prep, inclusive activities perfect for your summer school day. Similar to how we’ve shared quick Tips to Use Flexible Seating and ideas for Classroom Brain Breaks, these tips are practical and easy to implement to help all of your learners feel included. With book recommendations, wordless video prompts, and game-based learning ideas, you’ll have everything you need to promote social-emotional learning, social skills, and academic engagement—while keeping things light and fun for summer.
📚 1. Inclusive Read-Alouds for Summer School Learning
Reading aloud is a summer-friendly way to support literacy, build classroom community, and talk about inclusion. Choose books that reflect your students’ identities and abilities while promoting empathy, confidence, and connection.
☀️ Summer-Friendly Inclusive Books:
- “All Are Welcome” by Alexandra Penfold – A celebration of classroom diversity and inclusion. Use it to kick off your ESY program.
- “Jabari Jumps” by Gaia Cornwall – Overcoming fear and building confidence with a summertime pool setting.
- “A Friend for Henry” by Jenn Bailey – Highlights the experiences of a student with autism trying to make a friend.
- “The Day You Begin” by Jacqueline Woodson – For students who feel different or nervous in a new setting.
- “Just Ask!” by Sonia Sotomayor – Explains different abilities and celebrates individuality.
Quick Summer Extension Ideas:
- Have students draw themselves in the story or write “I belong because…” sentences.
- Act out a scene with puppets or use visuals to support story retelling.
- Create a summer feelings journal based on how the characters felt.
🎬 2. Wordless Videos: Cool, Quick, and Perfect for Inclusion
Wordless videos are perfect for mixed-ability groups, especially in the relaxed structure of summer school. They support storytelling, empathy, and expressive language—and everyone can participate, regardless of reading or speech ability.
🎥 Wordless Video Suggestions for ESY:
- “Piper” (Pixar) – A baby bird overcomes fear at the beach—great for ocean/summer themes.
- “The Present” – A powerful story about disability and acceptance.
- “Snack Attack” – Teaches empathy and perspective with humor.
- “For the Birds” – A short about bullying, inclusion, and unexpected friendships.
Quick Activities:
- Have students sequence the story using pictures or draw their favorite part.
- Use sentence starters to describe what the character might be feeling. Have students describe the clues that helped make that “smart guess.”
- Pair up students to create their own “wordless skit” inspired by the video.
🎲 3. Game-Based Learning to Practice Skills & Foster Friendships
Games are perfect for ESY—short, flexible, and fun. Use them to practice math, reading, or social interaction skills. Bonus: they help build friendships and classroom community.
🧩 Inclusive Summer Games:
- Sight Word or Letter Bingo – Easy to adapt for all reading levels.
- Roll & Respond (SEL Dice) – Questions like “What makes you feel happy?” or “How do you calm down?”
- Charades (Emotions, Animals, Summer Activities) – Encourage expression and body language.
- Partner Puzzles – Great for cooperative play. One student finds pieces, the other assembles.
- Kindness Scavenger Hunt – “Find someone who shared today” or “Find someone who helped a friend.”
Inclusion Tips:
- Use visuals or communication boards to support participation.
- Model turn-taking and pair verbal and nonverbal learners for peer modeling.
🧠 4. Daily SEL & Inclusion Routines for Summer School Structure
Summer programs often benefit from predictable routines, especially for students with autism, anxiety, or learning disabilities. A few minutes of SEL can ground your day and support emotional regulation.
☀️ Quick SEL Routines for Summer School:
- Feelings Check-In – Use emoji cards or color zones. Ask, “How do you feel today and why?”
- Morning Greeting Choice Board – Wave, thumbs up, elbow bump, sign language, or use AAC.
- End-of-Day Reflection – “What was your favorite part of today?” “What kindness did you notice?”
- Mindful Minute – Use a breathing video, a calm-down jar, or stuffed animal belly breathing.
🎨 5. Collaborative Projects for Summer School Inclusion
Hands-on, cooperative projects are great for promoting teamwork and creating tangible representations of community. Students feel pride in seeing their work displayed—and it reinforces that they’re part of something bigger.
🖍️ Summer-Friendly Collaborative Projects:
- Inclusion Mural – Each student decorates a puzzle piece or square with what makes them unique.
- Friendship Chain – Write one kind act on each link. Grow the chain throughout ESY!
- “We Belong” Quilt – Paper squares that celebrate each student’s identity, likes, or dreams.
- Kindness Tree – Add a leaf for each kind act or helpful moment.
Adaptations for Accessibility:
- Use stamps, stickers, or assistive tools for students with fine motor challenges.
- Allow drawing, dictation, or AAC for expression.
💬 Final Thoughts for Summer School:
Inclusion in ESY doesn’t require complicated plans or a full curriculum overhaul. With a handful of go-to activities—paired with your warmth and flexibility—you can make every student feel safe, valued, and connected.
Let summer school be a time where skills grow, friendships bloom, and every student knows they belong.
You’ve got this—simple can still be powerful.
Want more tips to tackle ESY? Check out these blog posts below: