25 Fun Summer Activities for High School
Special Ed Students
Summer is here, and it’s the perfect time for high school Special Ed students to get outside, try new things, and keep practicing important life skills.
Whether you’re planning for an extended school year (ESY), summer school, or just want ideas to share with families, these fun activities are all about making the most of the sunny days!
Below are outdoor and community activities, indoor and life skills projects that are easy to adapt for different learning levels. Let’s make summer fun while helping teens with disabilities stay active, social, and learning!
Outdoor & Community Activities
Getting outside is great for movement, sensory input, and social interaction. Here are some ideas that mix fun with valuable life skills.
#1: Swimming
Who doesn’t think of swimming when summer comes around? It’s a refreshing and exciting activity that many young people look forward to in the summer.
The water can be calming, and it gives students a chance to move their bodies in new and enjoyable ways.
Look for local pools that offer adaptive swim times or small-group lessons. You can even bring along visuals for safety reminders!
#2: Park Picnic
A picnic in the park creates a relaxing, social atmosphere where the teens can enjoy fresh air and connect with their family or friends.
Have them pack easy-to-eat snacks and set up blankets in shady spots. You can even bring simple games like bubbles, frisbee, or inflatable balls to make it more fun!
#3: Playground Fun
Playgrounds aren’t just for little kids! Many newer parks include accessible equipment and sensory-friendly features that your high school students with special needs can use.
Visit a nearby playground and let students explore freely. Climbing, swinging, and sliding are all great for motor planning and sensory regulation. It’s also a great place to practice turn-taking, ask to join a game, or simply enjoy time with friends.
#4: Neighborhood or Nature Walks
Walking helps teenagers with disabilities stay active, explore their surroundings, and enjoy sensory experiences like the sights, smells, and sounds of nature.
You can turn it into a sensory scavenger hunt, where the teens will look for things they can see, hear, touch, or smell. Or try a photo challenge—bring a tablet or phone and ask students to take pictures of interesting things they see. You can also do a mini trash clean-up to build responsibility and help the community.
#5: Outdoor Scavenger Hunt
Scavenger hunts turn ordinary walks into interactive adventures. They encourage the teens to notice details, stay focused, and feel proud when they finish.
Make a scavenger hunt at a local park, mall, or even around your school building if you’re having ESY. Create a simple visual checklist with items to find, like “red flower,” “bench,” or “exit sign.” Students can check off items as they find them.
You can even add a theme for a life skill lesson! For example, you’ll visit a supermarket and look for grocery items when learning about consumer skills.
#6: Farmers’ Market
Farmers’ markets are excellent for real-world learning. Teens with disabilities can explore new foods, practice handling money, and work on communication skills like greeting a vendor or asking a question.
You can do this by visiting a farmers’ market and giving them a small amount of money and a list with pictures or words of what to buy. To make this activity even more productive, you can have a farmers’ market-themed activity in school or at home before visiting the actual place.
#7: Local Library Trips
Libraries are calm, welcoming places where young people can find books on their interests, learn how to search for information, and enjoy quiet reading time. Many even offer free summer reading programs, craft activities, or events.
Visit your local library and let readers choose books that interest them or give them a theme to search for.
But don’t limit this activity to your reading students! Even non-readers can enjoy a library trip using picture and audiobooks.
#8: Museums & Aquariums
Did you know that many museums and aquariums now offer sensory-friendly days with dimmer lights, quieter spaces, and smaller crowds? They’re perfect for high school special education students!
A visit to these places can spark curiosity and give memorable experiences.
Prepare ahead of time with a visual schedule, social story, or short video about what they’ll see. If you have ESY, it’s also a great topic for classroom discussions.
#9: Community Outing Practice
Community outings give teens a chance to practice real-world skills like using transportation, shopping, and ordering food.
There are many places to visit in the community! Guide them at first and then gradually lessen the support until they become familiar with the places and can navigate independently.
#10: Volunteer Day
Volunteering is also a meaningful summer activity! It teaches responsibility, teamwork, and the joy of helping others.
Check with local animal shelters, community gardens, food pantries, or senior centers to see if they accept volunteers with support. Many will allow small groups or have simple tasks like packing boxes or watering plants.
#11: Farm or Petting Zoo Visits
Farms and petting zoos are beneficial for teens with disabilities. Being around animals can help them feel calm and regulate their emotions.
A visit to a petting zoo or local farm can include feeding animals, learning about their care, or even helping with chores.
#12: Beach Trip
Going to the beach offers a full sensory experience—sand, waves, sunshine, and more. The teens can build sandcastles, collect shells, dip their feet in the water, or just relax.
Make sure to bring sun protection and sensory tools like hats, fidgets, or headphones for individuals who need them.
#13: Adaptive Sports
Adaptive sports promote movement, confidence, and inclusion. High schoolers get to be part of a team, try something new, and experience the joy of physical activity at their own level.
Look for local adaptive recreation programs like kickball or seated yoga. If you’re a teacher and you can find the means, organize your own sports day with simple events like bean bag tosses or relay races.
Indoor Leisure
Not every summer day is sunny, but you can still have fun indoors while learning and relaxing! Try the activities below.
#14: New Books
Reading is a great way to keep minds active. Let the teens choose their own books based on topics they like. Comic books, audiobooks, and picture books are all great options.
If you’re a parent, try reading with your child at home by setting up a reading time, even for just 30 minutes a day. If you’re a teacher, set up a cozy reading area and give students time to relax and read at their own pace.
#15: DIY Craft Projects
Crafts are a great way for high schoolers to express their creativity while working on fine motor skills and focus.
When doing an activity, try to let them work as independently as possible. You can have them follow a video or a step-by-step guide. Encourage them to choose their own colors and decorations. This way, they’ll feel proud of their work.
#16: Virtual Field Trip
Can’t get out? Bring the world to the classroom or your home! Explore famous places through videos or interactive websites. It can be the beach, a zoo, or an amusement park.
It’s a creative way to explore new places without leaving the classroom. You can even add more fun by making travel plans or role-playing as tour guides or tourists!
#17: Movie Day
Movie days are fun and easy activities that young people can do at home. Watching a movie with their families and friends builds community and gives the teens something shared to talk about.
Pick a fun or themed movie, add popcorn or snacks, and create a cozy viewing space!
#18: Family Game Night
Games teach turn-taking, problem-solving, and social skills—all while having fun! They encourage positive interaction with peers or family members.
Set up a fun game night with snacks and music. Choose simple, visual games like UNO, bingo, matching games, or board games.
Life Skills Projects for Summer
Summer is a great time to focus on learning life skills that high school Special Ed students would need for adulthood. Try these light and useful activities!
#19: Cooking & Baking Lessons
Cooking and baking develop independence and give teens with disabilities practical experience they’ll use for life. It also helps with math, reading, and teamwork. It’s hands-on, engaging, and delicious!
Try fun and easy recipes like lemonade, salad, or no-bake cake. Focus on following directions, using kitchen tools safely, and cleaning up.
#20: Summer Party Planning
Planning a small party is a fun way to learn budgeting, organizing, and teamwork. Teens love seeing their ideas come to life and sharing a celebration with others.
Choose a party theme like “ice cream party” or “Hawaiian day.” Have students brainstorm snacks, games, and decorations. Use visuals to create a checklist, then set up the party together.
It’s a great way to combine life skills with celebration!
#21: Laundry & Clothing Care
Sorting clothes by color or season is a practical skill. Learning to sort, wash, and fold clothes builds independence and life readiness. It also helps with routines and organizing.
During ESY or even at home, young people with disabilities can practice this skill. As a teacher or parent, it’s your job to guide them.
Teach laundry skills like sorting light and dark clothes, measuring detergent, or using laundry machines. Let the teens practice folding, organizing drawers, and putting away seasonal clothes.
If you don’t have the place for actual practice, you can use pretend clothes and even ready-made lessons and worksheets that teach all about laundry.
#22: Gardening Projects
Gardening teaches patience, care, and responsibility. It also helps young individuals connect with nature. It can be calming and rewarding to watch something grow.
Students can plant flowers, herbs, or even small veggies. If you don’t have space outside, try container gardens or indoor plants.
Assign watering or weeding tasks and track growth with photos or journals. Also, be sure to use touch-friendly plants!
#23: Music & Movement Classes
Music and movement support self-expression, coordination, and energy release. Students can enjoy the rhythm, beat, and freedom to move.
Coordinate with local dance and music centers and see if they offer classes that are suitable for young individuals with disabilities.
At school, you can also use videos or playlists for movement breaks like dance, stretching, or yoga. You can turn it into a daily routine or use it for brain breaks between lessons.
#24: Summer Business
Starting a small, student-run summer business can be a fun way for teens to learn and practice real-life skills. It helps them work together, make choices, and feel proud of what they create.
One example is a smoothie-making and delivery business. It’s perfect for summer and is really helpful in teaching students about budgeting, planning, and responsibility. You can also try a lemonade stand or a car wash service.
These simple business ideas can be done in the classroom or around the school.
#25: Summer Lessons
Lastly, why not try to mix learning with fun? Summer-themed life skills lessons and worksheets can help learners build practical knowledge in a way that feels light and engaging.
You can focus on things like summer vacation planning, summer job postings, or summer-themed dollar-up worksheets.
These themed worksheets not only reinforce academics but also help learners gain confidence in navigating real-world summer situations.
Have a Fun, Learning-Filled Summer!
Summer is a great time to try new things, get outside, and have fun while still building important life skills.
Whether they’re at home or school for ESY, these activities help teens stay active, learn in real-life ways, and feel proud of what they can do.
Try these ideas and create happy, learning-filled memories with your high schoolers!
