Academics & Enrichment Archive

From field trips to science programs to music and plays, we know parent groups support all sorts of activities to make learning more exciting for kids. You'll find tons of enrichment ideas in the articles below. Find more helpful tools and info on the Academics & Enrichment resources page. (For articles about planning great teacher appreciation programs, go to the

• Academics and Animals

  One school's 5th grade curriculum uses community service activities related to cats, dogs, and zoo animals to teach kids science.

• Start a Parent-Child Book Club

  A book club for 1st graders and their parents sparks excitement and shares the joy of reading.

• Stepping Up to Family Fitness Challenge

  A PTA encourages its school families to walk a combined 1 million steps to better health.

• Major Project: Edible Garden Enriches Students and Learning

  The 2009 Parent Group of the Year for Outstanding Job on a Completed Major Project created a green space for students with the support of families and teachers as well as school staff.

• Family Event: Crafts Night With a Conscience

  PTO Today's 2009 Parent Group of the Year for Outstanding Family Event combined a focus on fun with environmental awareness.

• Reading Challenge Achieves Results

  When a PTO matches elementary readers with NASA astronauts, literacy scores soar.

• Make It an A+ Year!

  PTOs can make even more of a difference for schools with good planning, good communication, and a focus on building student achievement.

• Bringing History to Life

  Ancient Egypt becomes real again through a month of activities for the whole school.

• Yearlong Travel Theme Makes Learning Fun

  Parent group leaders and teachers tied a “world tour” theme to all parts of the curriculum, making it a year to remember for the entire school community.

• How PTOs Are Making Schools Green

  PTOs and PTAs are increasingly playing a key role in school efforts related to recycling, composting, and reducing energy use.

• Online Dues Payments Never Reached PTAs

  The Greenwich (Conn.) PTA Council has joined other school and athletic groups from across the country in seeking funds due from Count Me In, a Bellevue, Wash.-based company that collects online registrations and donations for nonprofits.

• Field Trip Fees Banned in Iowa

  According to the state department of education, schools cannot ask parents to pay field trip costs directly, although PTOs can fundraise for that purpose.

• Higher Fuel Costs Mean Fewer Field Trips

  Rising costs are a problem for most school districts, survey finds.

• Science Night, CSI Style

  Science is fun when students have to figure out “Whodunit?”

• Community Service: Knitting for a Cause

  PTO Today’s 2008 Outstanding Community Service Project turned a fundraiser into a heartwarming event: Students knitted hats in all sizes for patients at the local children’s hospital, then delivered them personally.

• Building Student Readers

  Students who read books can earn great prizes from the parent group's Little Red Schoolhouse.

• Teaching Parents To Be Involved

  A California kindergarten teacher gets moms and dads into the classroom.

• School Spirit in the Spotlight

  Hundreds of students, parents, and alumni take part in planning or performing in a major variety show event.

• PTO Goes Green at School

  It's Earth Day every day for a group of students, teachers, parents, and administrators in Dover, Mass.

• School Store Stocked for Success

  Students learn money management behind the counter of a cafeteria store filled with school supplies and other goodies.