When I think more deeply about this question, I am called to mind the importance of family valuing education.

A parent or grandparent taking the time to engage their children to the different sites within the Thinkfinity community is a good interactive tool for them to do this!  What a wonderful resources to encourage students to be actively involved.  If the kids have a certain amount of time where they are expected to use resources in their area of need there will be less lost over the summer months.  As a parent, grandparent, and teacher, I am very excited to learn more and gather sites for use by my students and family to use.

ENCOURAGE READING!

Some books are to be tasted, others to be swallowed, and some few to be chewed and digested: that is, some books are to be read only in parts, others to be read, but not curiously, and some few to be read wholly, and with diligence and attention.
–Sir Francis Bacon English author, courtier, & philosopher (1561 - 1626)

Based on the College Board’s recommended reading lists, EDSITEment has composed a guide to our lessons and reviewed websites to help prepare college-bound students.

The EDSITEment list of the best reads for the summer for college-bound students with additional EDSITEment resources can be found at: http://edsitement.neh.gov/edsitements-reading-list-college-bound-students

I tell my students, "I love to read every summer". I love to read the classics. Each year, my students and I discuss a  literary master piece. I provide them with many different ways of expressing their understanding of it. One activity some of my students have liked is creating an advertisement for the book, either as a poster or a fliar. They are allowed to choose their tools. Some want to use clip art and other forms of graphics on the computer. Others are more content with crayons, markers or color pencils because they love to draw their own creations. My students know they have the freedom to explore!

However, I also ask prompting questions. I ask them if they have ever really loved a book. They can use any type of a book to create a presentation of a book they have loved. Making diaramas depicting character and setting has been enjoyed by me and my students.  That sense of creativity comes alive!

My final day just before summer, I always tell my students to do more creative expressions of the ideas they get from books. Someday, they will be glad to share it. There are many simple ways to publish i.e. facebook, e mail attachments ect.

I teach IT I have my students to look at the technology that companys or business use's and compare it with what we learn in the class room. When the students comes back in the fall we have a group disscussion on what they have discover and if we can use any of their infomation in the classroom.

Honestly, I think one of the most motivating things for students (dependent upon age I suppose) is to see their teachers as engaged in the learning as they are.  When my 3rd graders heard how excited I was to be teaching about penguins (because I love them so much!), THEY were as equally excited to learn about them. 

To put this example in a context that spans the Summer months (for middle and high school students in particular), I'd discuss with my students what their plans were over the break.  After the list of vacations, beach trips, camp experiences, seasonal jobs, etc., were chewed over, I would mention participating in this: http://www.goodreads.com/author_blog_posts/1255507-the-3rd-annual-book-a-day-challenge I'd then ask them what they thought about attempting such a challenge, and take it from there...