Schools That Are Revolutionizing Summer Homework

For years, summer homework in India meant stacks of worksheets, endless writing, and a lot of sighs from kids and parents alike. But times are changing. Many Indian schools are now rethinking what holiday homework should look like, and the results are both exciting and meaningful. Let’s explore how some schools are making summer assignments more creative, practical, and enjoyable, why this shift is happening, and how it’s helping students grow.

What’s Changing in Summer Homework?

Instead of just asking students to read chapters and write essays, schools are now giving assignments that are:

Hands-on and experiential
Focused on real-world skills
Creative and open-ended
Designed to build critical thinking, communication, and life skills

This means kids might be cooking, making art, conducting surveys, reflecting on TED Talks, or even writing travelogues as part of their holiday homework.

Kendriya Vidyalaya Malkapuram (Class XII, 2025)

This school’s English holiday homework is a great example of the new approach. Students are asked to:

Write notices about real-life events (like a cyber safety workshop or a tree plantation drive)
Draft job applications and resumes
Write letters to editors on current issues (e.g., banning plastic bags, cybercrime, traffic jams)
Create articles on topics like technology in education and mental health awareness
Summarize newspaper editorials and reflect on TED Talks
Keep a daily journal for 10 days, including travelogues if they go on trips
Try cooking five staple vegetarian recipes, document the process, and share family reactions

These tasks go far beyond rote learning—they encourage students to observe, reflect, and connect with the world around them.

Salwan Public School, Delhi (Class XI, 2025-26)

Here, students in Economics are given a survey-based project:

Select a consumer-durable product (like a mobile phone or laptop)
Prepare a survey, collect data, and analyze consumer behavior

This project teaches research skills, data analysis, and real-world application of classroom learning.

LAPS (Class VII, 2025-26)

Students are encouraged to:

Make a collage of poets and their works
Write book reviews
Create posters on social issues (like kindness to animals)
Do creative writing and art activities

The focus is on creativity, self-expression, and connecting lessons to life outside the classroom.

PM SHRI Kendriya Vidyalaya (History, Class XII, 2025)

Students work on an art-integrated project about Indian thinkers, beliefs, and buildings. They make flow charts and sketches, collect images, and even prepare manuscript pages. This blends art, history, and research, making learning more engaging.

Why Are Schools Making This Change?

To Keep Learning Relevant: Life skills, creativity, and critical thinking are just as important as textbook knowledge. These new assignments reflect what students will need in the real world.
To Make Learning Enjoyable: When homework is hands-on and meaningful, students are more likely to enjoy it and actually learn from it.
To Encourage Independent Thinking: Open-ended projects push students to think for themselves, solve problems, and express their ideas.
To Reduce Stress: Creative and varied assignments break the monotony of repetitive writing and help reduce homework-related anxiety.
To Prepare for Modern Challenges: Assignments like reflecting on TED Talks or writing about technology and mental health prepare students for the issues they’ll face as adults.

What’s Next?

As more schools see the benefits, this trend is likely to grow. Parents can support by encouraging kids to approach these assignments with curiosity and creativity, not just as a task to finish but as a chance to learn something new.

Conclusion

Summer homework in India is no longer just about reading and writing. Schools are leading a quiet revolution, turning holiday assignments into opportunities for real growth. The result? Students return to school not just rested but ready, with new skills, new experiences, and a fresh excitement for learning.