Summer work

It is that joyous time of year for school children around the world (or at least the ones in dumb countries that haven’t gone to year round schooling): Summer Break. But not for my kids 😉
Summer break means they gt to work on all the things that I think they should know but aren’t learning in school. Of course selling them on the idea is everything. Last summer I pitched it as summer work and they revolted – even though I offered to pay them for each completed assignment. So this year, I need to think of a different way to get them interested…
Anyway, here is what I have in mind:
1 – since we are going to be spending some significant time (and money unless the $ gets a little stronger against the Euro) in Europe this summer, I want them each to pick one thing in each city we will be in and do some research on why its interesting / important and what went on there.
2 – I want them to be able to cook something completely from scratch all on their own with us only there to give verbal guidance.
3 – I want them to design something in 3D (and maybe even get it printed somewhere) or create a computer animation. (Hint to all my friends in Huntsville – would love to teach them Solid Edge, but right now all I have is a copy of 123d on my home PC…)
I’d like to come up with one more science and one “art” project, so suggestions welcome.