This activity list is from Friends for Youth's Academic Activity Guide, available to purchase on our website, www.mentoringinstitute.org

1. Academic Activity Guide
A Learning Resource for Mentors and Mentees
An excerpt from...
101 Simple Academic Activities
Language and Writing
1. Write a restaurant or movie review. To prepare, you might want to read a few reviews (in a magazine
or newspaper) to get a sense of the style, then go to a movie or restaurant and write up your thoughts and
impressions.
Math
26. Sharpen your probability and math skills through a game of cards. Play card games like “21” to
develop speedy addition skills. Learn about probability through rolling a pair of dice or drawing from a
deck of cards. What’s the probability that you’ll roll a six? How about two sixes? What’s the probability
that you’ll draw an ace? What’s the chance you’ll win the lottery?
SociaL StudieS and hiStory
39. Become a pop culture historian. Research a music type (pop, rock, rap, country, jazz) a type of
fashion, film, television, visual arts, and become an expert in this area. Combine this with a trip to a
movie theater, museum, or a local record store.
art
59. Be an architect. Using a bird’s eye view (view from above), draw a floor plan of your home (or any
other place you know well). Use a ruler to make straight lines and right angles. Include things like
where doors and windows are located. You can also include furniture, if you like. Next, try drawing your
dream house or clubhouse. Let your imagination wander. You can include a slide from the backdoor
that empties into a pool, an elevator that encircles your house, or a spiral staircase that leads to a rooftop
garden!
naturaL ScienceS and heaLth
65. Explore the night sky. Learn about constellations together.
PerSonaL deveLoPMent
92. Have your mentee visit your work place. If this is not possible, arrange a job shadowing opportunity
for your mentee.
MENTORING INSTITUTE