summer reading activities for 5th graders

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50 Best 5th Grade Books for Summer Reading

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Need the best 5th grade books for summer reading? This list of books for your kids, ages 10 or 11, are organized by genres to help you find a good middle grade book for every interest and reader.

If you’re new to Imagination Soup, welcome! I’m a former teacher, a mother, a writer, and an avid children’s literature reader. I read over 1000 books a year and pick the best books to share with you!

Download the free printable of this summer reading list. NOTE: If you don’t see the printable sign-up below, please clear your cache and try again.

Speaking of picking books, let your readers choose the books they want to read from this list! Why? Because book choice is crucial to ownership and motivation.

I’ve purposely selected books that are new and backlisted so you can always find options for your budget or your library.

SHOP this list on Amazon .

I’m not including reviews on this book list for 5th graders, but you can read all my book reviews and recommendations for 5th graders here.

In addition, it’s worth mentioning that these books are good choices for other grade levels, too.

However, if you want other book lists of easier or harder book lists, check these summer reading lists:

Summer Reading List for 4th Grade

Summer Reading List for 6th Grade .

See ALL  summer reading lists  here .

Remember, summer reading programs  can be a great motivation for your fifth graders. I especially love programs that give free books as a reward. Even better, when they give readers the book first!!

Don’t miss this free reading printable for summer as well as a different  free summer “Brain Camp” learning printable .

Best 5th Grade Books to Read for Summer Reading (Ages 10 – 11)

Fantasy summer reading book ideas for 5th grade.

If you like paranormal , fantasy , and sci-fi , you’ll love:

• Amari and the Night Brothers (series) by B.B. Alston
• The Endling: The Last (series) by Katherine Applegate
• Travis Daventhorpe for the Win! by Wes Molebash
• Area 51 Interns: Alien Summer by James S. Murray and Carsen Smith
• Escape from Atlantis by Kate O’Hearn
• Pahua and the Soul Stealer by Lori Lee
• Dungeoneer Adventures by Ben Costa and James Parks
• Medusa (The Myth of Monsters, 1)  written by Katherine Marsh
• Zombie Season  by Justin Weinberger

Adventure Summer Reading for 5th Grade

If you like adventures , you’ll love

• Green Lantern Legacy by Minh Le (graphic novel)
• Charlie Thorne and the Last Equation (series) by Stuart Gibb
• Explorer Academy Vela: The Sailor Cipher (series) by Trudi Trueit
• Alone by Megan E Freeman
• Masterminds (series) by Gordon Korman
• The Unforgettable Logan Foster  by Shawn Peters
• The Wildes: The Amazon  by Roland Smith

Mystery Summer Reading for 5th Grade

If you like mysteries , you’ll love:

• Minerva Keen’s Detective Club  by James Patterson and Keir Graff
• Framed! A T.O.A.S.T. Mystery (series) by James Ponti
• The Deadly Daylight   written by Ash Harrier
• The Screaming Staircase (series) by Jonathan Stroud
• Nooks and Crannies  by Jessica Lawson
• The Frame-Up by Wendy McLeod MacKnight
• The Case of the Left-Handed Lady: An Enola Holmes Mystery  (series) by  Nancy Springer
• Night Raven: The Moonwind Mysteries   (series) by Johan Rundberg

Historical Fiction Summer Reading for 5th Grade

If your 5th grader likes historical fiction , they’ll love   one of these middle grade choices:

• Lifeboat 12  by Susan Hood
• Prairie Lotus by Linda Sue Park
• Loyalty by Avi
• The War That Saved My Life (series) by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley
• Max in the House of Spies: A Tale of World War II (series) by Adam Gitwitz
• Sky Full of Song  by Susan Lynn Meyer

5th Grade Books to Read: REALISTIC

If you like realistic fiction , try reading one of these excellent 5th grade books:

• Measuring Up by Lily LaMotte (graphic novel)
• Roll with It (series) by Jamie Sumner
• And Then Boom  by Lisa Fipps
• Unteachables by Gordon Korman
• Isaiah Dunn is My Hero  (series) by Kelly J. Baptist
• Not an Easy Win by Chrystal B. Giles
• New Kid  (series) by Jerry Craft (graphic novel)
• From the Desk of Zoe Washington  (series) by Janae Marks
• Frizzy by Claribel A. Ortega (graphic novel)
• Finally Seen (series) by Kelly Yang
• Farther Than the Moon  by Lindsay Lackey
• Table Titans Club  by Scott Kurtz (graphic novel)

5th Grade Books for Summer Reading: FUNNY

If you like funny books , you’ll laugh your way through these choices:

• Phoebe and Her Unicorn: A Heavenly Nostrils Chronicle  (series) by Dana Simpson (graphic novel)
• The Worst Class Trip Ever (series) by Dave Barry
• The Last Kids on Earth (series) by Max Brallier
• Anyone But Ivy Pocket  by Caleb Krisp
• The Last Last Day of Summer  (series) by Lamar Giles
• Once Upon a Tim (series) by Stuart Gibbs
• Crabgrass Comic Adventures by Tauhid Bondia (graphic novel)

5th Grade Books to Read: ANIMALS

If you like animal stories,  you’ll love:

• Katie the Catsitter by Colleen AF Venable (graphic novel)
• Always Clementine by Carlie Sorosiak
• Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH   by Robert C. O’Brien
• Ride On  by Faith Erin Hicks (graphic novel)
• A Whale in the Wild by Rosanne Parry
• Cress Watercress by Gregory Maguire
• The Aquanaut by Dan Santat (graphic novel)
• Dog Driven   by Terry Lynn Johnson
• Scurry  (series) by Mac Smith (graphic novel)

5th Grade Books to Read: NONFICTION

What about NONFICTION & Informational Fiction? Here are some great choices:

• Accidental Archeologists: True Stories of Unexpected Discoveries by Sarah Albee
• Two Truths and a Lie by Ammi-Joan Paquette and Laurie Ann Thompson, illustrated by Lisa K. Weber
• So You Want to Be a Ninja? (series) by Bruno Vincent
• A Brief History of Underpants   by Christine Van Zandt
• The Thrifty Guide to Ancient Rome (series) by Jonathan Stokes
• Black Heroes of the Wild West by James Otis Smith (graphic novel)
• Almanac 202 5  National Geographic Kids
• The Biggest Stuff in the Universe  (series) by Mr. DeMaio
• Search for a Giant Squid: Pick Your Path  by Amy Seto Forrester
• Survival Scout Tsunami  (series) by Maxwell Eaton III
• Plague Busters! Medicine’s Battles with History’s Deadliest Diseases  by Lindsey Fitzharris

Don’t forget to find ways to make reading FUN!

Participate in a summer reading program.

Read with a headlamp in bed.

Read on an electronic device. ( Free eBooks ?)

Start a book club .

Reward reading with . . . more BOOKS! (Kids choose, of course.)

Read nonfiction books and  graphic novels , too.

Even More Book Suggestions for Your 5th Graders:

–>  More Book Recommendations Plus REVIEWS for 5th Graders

Summer Reading List for 6th Grade

Brain Camp Summer Learning Printable

KEEP READING:

Best Book Series for 5th Grade

Read Aloud Book List for 5th Grade

Good Books for 10 Year Olds

Summer Reading Lists for Kids

Melissa Taylor, MA, is the creator of Imagination Soup. She's a mother, former teacher & literacy trainer, and freelance education writer. She writes Imagination Soup and freelances for publications online and in print, including Penguin Random House's Brightly website, USA Today Health, Adobe Education, Colorado Parent, and Parenting. She is passionate about matching kids with books that they'll love.

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14 Comments

I love your lists! They have been so helpful in finding books for my 11 year old, reluctant reader! Thank you so much!

YAY! It makes me so happy to know this. You are very welcome. 🙂

Hello this is a nice resource to have but I was looking more for classic books recommended for my son’s age 10yo? I’m I missing a list somewhere?

I don’t have a list like that but my friend, Erica at What Do We Do All Day does here: https://www.whatdowedoallday.com/classic-books-for-tweens/ .

I could not find a printable Summer Reading List for fifth grade, and I really like what you have for the other grade levels. I am the librarian for a private school, and I would love to share your lists with my students.

thank you so much for pointing that out — it’s fixed. Here’s the link: https://imaginationsoup.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/5th-grade-summer-reading-list-2.pdf

I agree. I love the books lists and would like to share with the families at my school; however, I am unable to find printable lists for many of the grades. Only Pre-K, 1st, and 4th are working for me.

Sorry about that — my forms aren’t working. Do you want all of the grade level lists? I am happy to email them to you.

Hello! Love your site and the resources it provides for myself (with my own children) and for my school. I tried the 5th grade link above and it says “page not found.” Is there another link to try? Thanks for sharing!

try https://imaginationsoup.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/5th-grade-summer-reading-list-2.pdf

You have the BEST book lists. I know I can trust your decisions and they’ll make every member of my family happy. Whether we’re listening to them on audio books or reading together. They’re great!

I have read the book The One and Only Ivan with my class it is an amazing book for children.

Top Summer Reading Lists for Grades 5-9

Did you know that research shows that students who report high levels of sense of belonging to the school environment experience positive educational outcomes? 

This means allowing students to see themselves in their learning is more important than ever. This summer, our favorite summer reading picks for 5-9th graders features authors of different backgrounds, books that explore relevant social issues, and tackle challenges that middle schoolers may face in their every day lives. Read on for our top picks for middle schoolers!

Looking for a specific grade? Skip ahead to our 5th grade, 6th grade , 7th grade , 8th grade and 9th grade reading lists.

5th Grade Reading List

What should our 5th graders be reading this summer? Don’t worry we have some recommendations!

Measuring Up, Lily LaMotte & Ann Xu

Twelve-year-old Cici has just made a major life change – her family has moved to Seattle from Taiwan.  The only thing she wants more than to fit into her new life is to celebrate her grandmother’s 70th birthday. Since Cici’s grandmother is still in Taiwan, she hatches a plan to surprise her parents by winning the grand prize in a kids’ cooking contest to help pay for her grandmother’s ticket!

Cici navigates the blending of her Taiwanese culture and her new American identity with heart and bravery and author Lila LaMotte explores the minority experience as well as theme of identity, racial insensitivity and dealing with microaggressions. Artfully written, this book lends itself to being the jumping off point to discuss deeper issues like racism, anti-Asian sentiments, and inclusion. 

You Don’t Know Everything, Jilly P.! by Alex Gino

Social justice is an increasingly relevant topic, and You Don’t Know Everything, Jilly P.! is an excellent introduction for 5th-grade students. Tackling big issues like deaf culture and white privilege, this book takes students on Jilly’s journey of discovering she doesn’t know everything, and how to learn from her mistakes to do better. This is definitely a book that will spark discussions on a variety of pertinent issues in a way that is relevant and relatable for students.

Wonder by R.J. Palacio

This #1 New York Times Best Seller follows the story of 10-year old August Pullman, a normal boy in every way, except for his facial anomalies. As “Auggie” enters 5th grade in a mainstream school for the first time, he faces some of the same challenges that any 5th grader would face – making friends, fitting in, and being themselves. 5th graders are sure to see themselves reflected in the characters in this moving, engaging and heartwarming book. Bonus – The book has been adapted into a movie that students can enjoy alongside the book.

Old Enough to Save the Planet by Loll Kirby (Author), and Adelina Lirius (Illustrator)

Inspire your 5th graders to get involved in saving the Earth with this beautifully illustrated book. Featuring the stories of 12 young activists from around the world from New York to Australia, this non-fiction book highlights how even kids can do their part to address the climate crisis. The gorgeous illustrations are a lovely addition and will surely captivate even reluctant readers. 

This Book Is Anti-Racist: 20 Lessons on How to Wake Up, Take Action, and Do The Work by Tiffany Jewell

Another great social justice book for middle school readers, This Book is Anti-Racist is sure to inspire the acitvist in our students. Presented in an accessible manner that meets students at their level, this book explores identity, history, taking action and responding to racism, and working in solidarity with others in four sections. Activities included at the end of each chapter also encourage students to get involved in doing anti-racist work – this is not a book for students who want to sit back and do nothing!

Siha Tooskin Knows the Strength of His Hair by Charlene & Wilson Bearhead

Starting at a new school is always hard – even more so when your new classmates don’t know much about your culture, values and history. In this captivating story, students learn more about Nakota culture through 11-year-old Siha Tooskin as he deals with challenges in fitting in at his new school. Bonus – If your students enjoyed this, they will surely love reading about more of Siha Tooskin’s adventures in the rest of the series.

Rainbow Revolutionaries: Fifty LGBTQ+ People Who Made History by Sarah Prager

Representation matters, and it is important to introduce our students to diversity and inclusion even in the books they read. In this groundbreaking publication, author Sarah Prager shines the spotlight on fifty people from the LGBTQ+ community who have made a difference in history. It is a great introduction to the accomplishments and achievements of LGBTQ+ people, and a way to help young readers understand more about their contributions to our community.

Community in Crisis , Read to Lead

We’re cheating (just a little) with this recommendation, but if your students are struggling to even pick up a book during summer, Community in Crisis could change their mind about reading. Designed to meet anchor standards and supports Lexile range for 5th grade, Community in Crisis is the second series on the Read to Lead game-based learning platform. By working through each game in the series, students read the equivalent of 5,000 words, and interact with a diverse array of characters. Game-based learning is also a great way to drive student interest, and motivation. Sign up for a free account and get your students started with their summer reading program.

6th Grade Reading List

We believe belonging is the missing piece in the fight for diversity and inclusion. We know that research shows that students who report high levels of sense of belonging to the school environment experience positive educational outcomes. This means elevating Black and Brown voices, teaching culturally relevant content, and allowing students to see themselves in their learning is more important than ever. That’s why this summer, our favorite summer reading picks for 6th grade features authors of different backgrounds, books that explore relevant social issues, and tackle challenges that middle schoolers may face in their lives.

Now, let’s get to our recommendations for multicultural books for 6th grade summer reading!

Class Act by Jerry Craft

It’s never easy to be the new kid in school but what about one of the few kids of color in a prestigious private school?  Follow Drew in this laugh-out-loud funny and important coming of age story from New York Times bestselling author Jerry Craft. Bonus – this book follows Jerry Craft’s first book, New Kid, which follows Jordan around through similar struggles as a new kid at a private school. 

Efrén Divided by Ernesto Cisneros

Students may be aware of the issue of undocumented immigrants in the US, but in Efrén Divided , they see the reality that American-born children may face when someone in their family is deported. Giving readers insights about the many struggles Mexican-American families face in a way that is heartfelt and moving, this book is sure to spark many important and meaningful conversations among middle schoolers. Bonus – The author’s website includes a free comprehensive resource guide for Efrén Divided.

Kira-Kira, by Cynthia Kadohata

Kira-Kira tells the story of Katie’s experiences as a Japanese-American growing up in a small town in rural Georgia in the 1950s, where looking different comes with very real consequences. In this touching tale, author Cynthia Kadohata expertly explores themes such as racism, grief, prejudice through the lens of a young girl. This book can also serve as a launchpad for discussions around anti-Asian hate, workplace discrimination, and other similar contemporary issues.

Brown Girl Dreaming, by Jacqueline Woodson

A beautifully written memoir in verse form, Brown Girl Dreaming tells the story of Jacqueline Woodson growing up as a Black American in the 1960s. Through compelling poems, Jacqueline recounts grappling with the remnants of the Jim Crow laws and the impacts of the Civil Rights Movement. This book is both an excellent way to introduce students to poetry as a form of story-telling and dig into discussions around current social movements such as Black Lives Matter and social justice issues.

Greta’s Story: The Schoolgirl Who Went on Strike to Save the Planet, by Valentina Camerini (Author), and Veronica Carratello (Illustrator)

You are never too young to make a difference. That’s the main message in Greta’s Story: The Schoolgirl Who Went on Strike to Save the Planet , an unofficial biography of Greta Thunberg, a 15-year-old climate activist. An easy and inspiring read that will encourage young readers to start taking action to address climate change, this book includes a glossary of important dates in history related to environmental issues and a section on how students can get involved to save the planet.

Accidental Trouble Magnet: Book 1 (Planet Omar Series), by Zanib Mian

Approaching sensitive topics such as change and bullying with humor and innocence, Accidental Trouble Magnet is the first book in the Planet Omar Series. Featuring a young Muslim protagonist, this book takes readers on the ups and downs of navigating a new school, making friends, and more, all while sharing snippets of life as a Muslim. With superb illustrations that keep the story moving forward, this is a great option for reluctant readers. Bonus – Follow Omar on other adventures through the rest of the Planet Omar series.

Ghost Boys by Jewell Parker Rhodes – Police Brutality

What happens when a 12-year-old Black boy is killed by a police officer for playing with a toy gun? Ghost Boys explores difficult but timely themes like racism, police brutality, and gun violence in a way that is honest yet age-appropriate for middle schoolers. This book is a poignant read that will prompt students to delve further into social justice issues. Bonus: This book included discussion questions for students to reflect on the story and relate it to their own lives.

Stonewall Riots: Coming Out in the Streets, by Gayle E Pitman

The Stonewall Riots are an important part of LGBTQIA+ activism, and this gorgeously illustrated book explores some of the events before, during, and after the riots. Presented in a unique way that features newspaper reports, objects, and pictures from the time, Stonewall Riots: Coming Out in the Streets shares information about the LGBTQIA+ movement in an easy-to-digest and informative way. A great introductory read for students which showcases an often marginalized community, this book is a must if you are looking for diverse books for middle school.

Community in Crisis, Read to Lead

Students struggling to even pick up a book during summer?  Read to Lead: Community in Crisis is an excellent way for students to keep reading while playing games. Designed to meet anchor standards and supporting Lexile range for 6th grade, Community in Crisis is the first series on the Read to Lead game-based learning platform. Students read 5,000 words and interact with diverse characters in each game in the series (there are 12 games in all!). Game-based learning is also a great way to drive student interest and motivation, especially during summertime. Sign up for a free account and get your students started with their summer reading program.

7th Grade Reading List

There are so many good choices out there for middle school summer reading this year! To help you cut through the clutter, here are our top choices for 7th grade summer reading.

A Place to Belong, by Cynthia Kadohata

In A Place to Belong, students have the opportunity to learn about a lesser known time in American and Japanese history following WW2. The book follows a young Hanako who is bewildered and hurt. America, the only home she’s ever known, has forced her family to move to Japan in a post WW2 world. The country is in shambles, making Hanako feel as though she could crack under the pressure of it all until she learns about the ancient tradition of kintsukuroi- fixing broken objects with gold lacquer, making them stronger and more beautiful than ever. Students will learn to understand and empathize with realities of war, and the power of overcoming adversity in this heart felt book. 

Counting by the 7s, Holly Goldberg Sloan

Sometimes you just have to swim against the tide. This story expertly weaves the struggles of neurodivergence, mental health, adoption, and loss in an engaging, digestible format for 7th graders. Twelve-year-old genius, Willow Chance is obsessed with nature and diagnosing medical conditions and finds it comforting to count by 7s. Her life was mostly quiet and happy alongside her adoptive parents until it was suddenly turned upside down with the death of her parents. Your class will learn from and celebrate with Willow as she learns to endearingly push through her grief to find a diverse surrogate family in the wake of her heartache.

Baseball in April and Other Stories, by Gary Soto

In this collection of eleven short stories, author Gary Soto draws on his own experiences as a Mexican-American growing up in California to share captivating anecdotes about life as an adolescent. These stories take readers through a whole gamut of emotions – some are funny, some sad, some dramatic – but they all have a lesson to share around themes such as growing up, dealing with challenges, and friendships. This book is excellent for students who are struggling to read longer novels!

Goodbye Stranger, by Rebecca Stead

7th grade can be a confusing time for kids – navigating friendships, having “first crushes,” discovering self-expression. Goodbye Stranger explores these themes and more through strong characters and authentic storytelling that will draw in readers. This book is also well-poised to kick off conversations with students about using social media and texting responsibly and the consequences that their actions have, not just for them but others around them as well.

George, by Alex Gino

The New York Times Book Review describes George as “timely, touching…[and] the most right-now book imaginable.” Following the journey of Melissa, a transgender girl whom the rest of the world sees as George, this book is an insightful read for anyone who has ever felt different. It is an excellent starting point to explore issues such as gender, acceptance, and the trans community and the struggles they face. A must-read!

One Earth: People of Color Protecting Our Planet, by Anuradha Rao

What does an environmental defender look like? Like any one of us! In One Earth: People of Color Protecting Our Planet , author Anuradha Rao highlights a diverse selection of youth activists worldwide working to save the environment. These stories of Black, Indigenous, and People of Color who are all doing their part to save the Earth are sure to inspire and motivate students to take action.

A Good Kind of Trouble, by Lisa Moore Ramee

Twelve-year-old Shayla just wants to get through 7th grade without getting into trouble, but she quickly realizes that some things are worth breaking the rules for. In this genuine and relatable novel, students explore complex themes like right and wrong, social justice, racism, and more — a coming of age story set against the backdrop of bigger societal issues. A Good Kind of Trouble is a suitable starting point for students to have deeper conversations about current events, the Black Lives Matter movement, and their own role in dismantling harmful systems.

I Am Malala: The Girl Who Stood Up for Education and Was Shot by the Taliban, by Malala Yousafzai and Christina Lamb

Education is something most of us take for granted in the US, but not in Pakistan. In the autobiographical I Am Malala , the world’s youngest Nobel Prize laureate Malala Yousafzai recounts her experience of being shot by the Taliban when she stood up for her right to be educated. This book provides good context to the conflict and oppression in the Middle East while highlighting the importance of women’s rights and education. Students are sure to be inspired by Malala’s journey and her continual efforts to stand up for what she believes in!

When You Trap a Tiger, by Tae Keller

Winner of multiple awards, including the 2021 Newbery Medal, When You Trap a Tiger weaves Korean folklore with magical realism in this compelling read. Readers get glimpses into Korean culture and history while delving into themes like grief, identity, and family history. This is sure to be a favorite among students who enjoy fantasy, unique storytelling, and will leave them questioning what’s real and imagined!  

Vital Signs, Read to Lead

Some kids might have a hard time even picking up a book during summer, and that’s where Read to Lead: Vital Signs could come in handy. Designed to meet anchor standards and catered to the Lexile range for 7th grade, Vital Signs is the second series on the Read to Lead game-based learning platform. Not only do students read approximately 5,000 words by working through each game in the series, but they also interact with diverse characters and learn more about a variety of career options. Game-based learning is also a great way to drive student interest and motivation. Sign up for a free account and get your students started with their summer reading program.

8th Grade Reading List

It’s critical for students to “see themselves” in classroom materials, including in summer reading lists. That’s why, for our 8th grade reading picks, we’ve included books by people of color, and that feature diverse characters from a variety of backgrounds. We’ve also selected works that explore relevant social issues, and highlight the challenges that middle schoolers face in their lives.

Without further fan fare, our 8th grade summer reading recommendations!

Heartstopper,  Volume 1, Alice Oseman

This coming of age story follows two unlikely friends, shy and softhearted Charlie and the school’s rugby star, Nick. The pair become quick best friends, but Charlie starts to wonder if there might be something more between them or if he’s just imagining things. Students will recognize the different ways love and relationships interact through Charlie and Nick’s friendship. BONUS – This is a four part installment!

The Skin I’m In, by Sharon G. Flake

How do you fit in when the color of your skin makes you stand out? In this eye-opening book, author Sharon G. Flake explores themes of colorism, self-esteem, bullying, and trying to fit in from the perspective of a dark-skinned African American girl. An excellent coming of age story that is sure to resonate with anyone who has ever felt like they have been treated differently because of superficial characteristics, The Skin I’m In will definitely show readers what it means to love the skin you’re in.

The Year I Didn’t Eat, by Samuel Pollen

Eating disorders don’t just affect girls and women; boys and men can also suffer from them. In this important book, author Samuel Pollen writes from his own personal experiences about a boy who suffers from anorexia. Addressing serious issues like disordered eating and mental illness, The Year I Didn’t Eat is equal parts humorous, heartbreaking and hopeful. This book can serve as a springboard for timely conversations with students around diet culture, coping with mental illness, and the importance of having supportive networks.

Indian No More, by Charlene Willing Mcmanis

What do you do when your government decides that your identity no longer exists? Indian No More is set during the Civil Rights Era against the backdrop of the Indian Termination Policy, which aimed to “assimilate” Native Americans into mainstream American culture by dismantling tribal sovereignty. Exploring a part of history that is often overlooked, this book authentically portrays themes such as racism, identity, and heritage in an authentic and engaging way. A heartfelt story that will leave students pondering what it really means to be “American”.

American Born Chinese, by Gene Luen Yang 

Comic book lovers are sure to enjoy Gene Luen Yang’s graphic novel that masterfully weaves the stories of a Chinese-American, a Chinese immigrant student, and a character from Chinese fables together in an entertaining story. American Born Chinese takes on topics like racism, embracing one’s heritage, self-acceptance, and dealing with insecurities in a funny and enjoyable way, which will make it a hit among students. Bonus points for the unexpected twist that will take readers by surprise!

Color Me In, by Natasha Diaz

Being a teenager is tough enough, but things get even tougher for Nevaeh Levitz when her Black mom and Jewish dad split up, and she’s forced to confront her biracial identity. Author Natasha Diaz expertly tells the tale of a girl who has to confront the privilege she’s born with, how she finds her voice and uses it to advocate for people around her. This beautifully written novel is sure to tug at readers’ heartstrings and encourage them to reflect on their own positions in society.

The ABC’s of LGBT+: (Gender Identity Book for Teens, Teen & Young Adult LGBT Issues) by Ashley Mardell

Knowledge is the key to understanding and acceptance. The ABC’s of LGBT+ is a resource for anyone who wants to learn more about gender identity and sexuality. With its own dictionary and glossary, this book is a great starting point for LGBT+ people and allies seeking to better understand this marginalized community. Perfect for students who may be going through phases of exploration, self-discovery, or even just wanting to empathize and broaden their perspectives of people different from themselves.

The Teen Guide to Global Action: How to Connect with Others (Near & Far) to Create Social Change by Barbara A. Lewis 

There’s no rule that you have to be an adult to change the world – The Teen Guide to Global Action is just the book students need to get started on their journey to be changemakers in their communities. With a diverse collection of stories about real-life youth “Difference Makers”, this book is sure to inspire students. It also includes suggestions on how they can help solve community problems, and create a real impact in the world. The ideal summer read to motivate students to get involved in activism and social justice issues!

Our recommendation for reluctant readers is not really a book, but it’s a surefire way to get them reading! Read to Lead: Vital Signs, the second series on the game-based learning platform, is designed to meet anchor standards and is catered to the Lexile range for 8th grade. With each game completed, students rack up approximately 5,000 words read, all while interacting with diverse characters and learning more about different careers. Game-based learning is also a  fantastic way to drive student interest and motivation. Get your students started with their summer reading program by signing up for a free account !

We hope this summer reading list encourages students to explore diverse books, expand their minds, and open themselves up to new perspectives. These multicultural books for middle schoolers that feature diverse viewpoints will surely inspire and engage them to keep reading during summer.

9th Grade Reading List

Being a teenager is tough, even more so in 9th grade, when it feels like the adults “just don’t get it”. That’s why it’s critical for students to see themselves reflected in classroom materials, including in summer reading lists. 

Our summer reading list for 9th grade features a variety of BIPOC authors and diverse characters from a variety of backgrounds. We’ve also selected works that explore relevant social issues, and highlight the challenges that new high schoolers face in their lives (because who couldn’t use a little extra help navigating the first year of high school?)

Now, let’s get to the 9th grade summer reading recommendations!

Deepfake, Sarah Darer Littman

Deepfake explores the realities of cyber security and social media, challenging students to be critical of what they post, consume and believe online. The book centers around Dara and Will, Greenpoint High’s biggest overachievers. They’re in an intense competition for the title of ‘valedictorian’ until a video of Dara accusing Will of cheating on the SATs goes viral. The only problem? Dara swears she never said any of those things even though she’s clearly pictured in the video. Your students will learn the dangers and complexities of misinformation on the internet, making this a great jumping off point for critical thinking discussions.  

The Hate U Give, Angie Thomas

This timely and poignant read follows sixteen-year-old Starr Carter who lives her life between two worlds, her poor neighborhood and the fancy suburban prep school she attends. Starr finds it difficult to navigate with ease between these two alternate realities but her fragile balance is shattered when she witnesses the fatal shooting of a friend at the hands of a police officer. 

Students will get a narrative, first-hand account of everyday life and issues in current America. This book is a great class-wide conversation starter. 

The Revolution of Evelyn Serrano, by Sonia Manzano

The story of a Puerto Rican teenager set against the backdrop of the late-1960s civil rights movement for Latino self-determination, The Revolution of Evelyn Serrano brings to light the struggles of an often overlooked community. Author Sonia Manzano deftly explores themes such as activism and finding one’s voice while giving readers insight into the lives of the Puerto Rican community in the US. This is a great coming of age novel that is equal parts funny, poignant and inspiring – a must-read!

145th Street: Short Stories, by Walter Dean Myers

Life on 145th Street, Harlem isn’t what you’d expect. In this collection of ten stories, award-winning author Walter Dean Myers paints a multi-faceted picture of life as Harlem’s residents experience it. Different characters tell tales of struggle, love, injustice, bravery – the good and the bad laid bare for all to see. This book is sure to engage readers who struggle with longer novels, and is an excellent gateway for discussions about issues that affect marginalized communities.

The Magic Fish, by Trung Le Nguyen

A book that is sure to become a favorite of graphic novel lovers, The Magic Fish relates the story of Tiến, a Vietnamese-American boy who grapples with how to come out to his family. Author Trung Le Nguyen uses beautiful illustrations to seamlessly weave together past and present, and fairy tales and reality, in an enjoyable and poignant read. This novel explores themes of family, queerness, and love in a way that is heartfelt, meaningful and genuine, and bound to resonate with anyone who has ever struggled to connect with their family, or had a secret.

If I Ever Get Out of Here, by Eric Gansworth

Genuine and relatable characters, a captivating storyline, plus humor and heart thrown in – If I Ever Get Out of Here will be a hit among 9th graders, for sure! Readers follow Lewis “Shoe” Blake who lives on the Tuscarora Indian reservation as he navigates friendships, deals with bullies, and finds joy and connection in rock ’n’ roll. This is an engaging coming-of-age story that tackles a variety of issues like poverty, racism, and standing up for yourself, while educating readers about the complexities of life as a Native American.

This Is My America, by Kim Johnson

Life in America can be difficult, unfair and unjust, particularly if you’re Black. This page-turner opens with protagonist Tracy Beaumont trying to get her innocent father off death row, when her brother gets accused for the murder of a white girl. A powerful exploration of systemic racism, mass incarceration, and the failings of the criminal justice system, This Is My America will open students’ eyes to the world they live in. A relevant read, particularly in the context of social justice and BLM movements, this book is definitely a top recommendation.

Patron Saints of Nothing, by Randy Ribay

The gripping journey an American-Filipino teenager undertakes to discover the truth about his cousin’s murder, Patron Saints of Nothing will have readers hanging on to every page. Taking on difficult topics like grief, drugs, privilege and more, this book provides a glimpse into issues affecting the Philippines and the immigrant experience of being neither-here-nor-there. This is an impactful and meaningful read that 9th graders are sure to appreciate, and can be used to open discussions about more mature themes. 

Be a Changemaker: How to Start Something That Matters by Laurie Ann Thompson

Our youth can change the world, and this book tells them how. Be a Changemaker is a definitive guide for students who are interested in creating change in their communities and positively impacting others around them. Filled with inspiring stories of youth changemakers around the world, as well as practical tips on building teams, planning events and pitching ideas, this book is likely to become the handbook for youth changemakers everywhere. The ideal summer read to motivate students to get involved in activism and social justice issues!

After the Storm, Read to Lead

Struggling to get reluctant readers to even pick up a book? Read to Lead: After the Storm is not a book, but it sure will get students reading! After the Storm is the third series on the game-based learning platform, and with each game completed, students rack up approximately 5,000 words read. It’s designed to meet anchor standards and is catered to the Lexile range for 9th grade, in addition to allowing students to interact with diverse characters and learn more about different careers. Game-based learning is also a fantastic way to drive student interest and motivation. Get your students started with their summer reading program by signing up for a free account !

Inspiration and engagement are crucial to keeping students reading during summer. We hope these multicultural books encourage them to explore diverse books, expand their minds, and open themselves up to new perspectives.

Summer reading lists are a wonderful starting point to encourage students to explore diverse books, expand their minds, and open themselves up to new perspectives. We hope that these multicultural books for middle schoolers that feature diverse viewpoints will inspire and engage them to keep reading during summer.

What are your top picks for 5-9th graders this summer? We’d love to hear from you! Share your top picks below in the comments section.

About Read to Lead

Read to Lead uses the power of game-based learning to empower middle school students to build literacy, life, and career skills. Teachers can sign up for a free account to get started!

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More in Blog Posts

Read To Lead Is Out Sick: Here Are Some Great Substitute Programs

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Review Games To Make Test Prep Fun

Testing prep time can feel like a chore and a real drag - not just to middle schoolers, but to teachers too! Why not switch it up? Turn test prep into a time that students enjoy while reviewing important topics and concepts by bringing an element of fun into your classroom! 

Top Books to Promote Anti-Bullying

October is Bullying Prevention Month and as such we wanted to share a few reading resources to help students feel seen no matter what they’re going through. 

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5th grade summer learning activities

We designed this fifth grade summer learning calendar to be a fun, easy way for your child to practice important skills over the summer. Fifth graders should be able to work independently on most of these worksheets and activities, but if you can, check on your child’s progress periodically throughout the day. As a study break, encourage your child to try the PE challenges or get some exercise. It will help them focus — and it’s a great study habit for middle school and beyond. For the science activities, an adult’s curiosity and assistance may be needed. Remember, kids this age respond more to positive reinforcement, so showing your enthusiasm at whatever your child accomplishes will give them motivation to keep trying! See more summer learning calendars .

A questionnaire: what do you like to read?

Generosity strikes

Adding fractions

Exercise and the human heart

PE challenge

Learning how to do a burpee!

Reading comprehension: Hard Times

Punctuating a paragraph

Adding fractions, uncommon denominators

Draw Baby Yoda in space (on Art Projects for Kids)

The nonstop dance challenge

Comparing two stories

Wounded pride

Subtracting fractions, uncommon denominators

Social studies

What Edison teaches us about success (on PBS)

Do the robot

Reading comprehension: dialects

Can’t live without it

Changing improper fractions to mixed numbers

Making the case for health (on PBS)

The side jump challenge

Poems: comparing rhythm and sound

Colons, semicolons, and dashes

Probability scale 0 to 1

Create a comic book

The grapevine challenge

Making metaphors

Rewriting a dialogue

Adding mixed numbers #1

Floating on salt water

Work out like a Jedi (on YouTube)

Simile or cliché?

Cosmic kids

Adding mixed numbers and fractions

Crazy captions

It’s time for split jumps

Malapropisms

Prepositions

Adding big numbers

Kentucky’s underground railroad (on PBS)

Hair UP! (on PE Central)

Poems: opposites

Adding decimals

Decomposing

100 jumping jacks!

Silly spoonerisms!

Which type of writing?

Subtracting decimals”

Unsung history makers: Maria Moreno (on PBS)

High knees are a breeze

Homophones and homographs

Dividing by larger numbers

How plants make food

Homophones: fun with puns

Write like a reporter!

Division of 3-digit decimals

How to draw a horse head (on Art Projects for Kids)

Work out like an Avenger (on YouTube)

Word-building riddles

Fame and fortune

Decimal place value (to the ten thousandths)

Parts of the food chain

Balancing stick

Finding key points

Writing a persuasive argument

Ordering sets of decimals

Create a family memory book

Advanced jumping jacks

Reading comprehension: David Copperfield

Analog world

Comparing and ordering decimals

The many phases of water

Prefixes micro- and mega-

Active and passive sentences

Coordinates

Why we should protect freshwater mussels (on PBS)

The push-up shuffle

Prefixes aplenty

Be prepared

Coloring a grid #2

Temperature and solubility

Boom Chicka Boom (on YouTube)

Subtracting suffixes

Compound sentences

Conversions: time

Reversible and irreversible changes in matter

Clauses: parts of a sentence

Career choices

Conversions: length

Draw the Statue of Liberty (on Art Projects for Kids)

The sprint-hop-walk challenge

Poems: The Rabbit

Storytelling with words and pictures (on PBS)

Conversions: capacity

Why parachutes work

Mountain climbers

We hope this 5th grade summer learning calendar is helpful. Check out the summer learning calendars for kindergarten , 1st grade , 2nd grade , 3rd grade , and 4th grade , too!

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5th-Grade Summer Reading Program At-Home · Online · Self-Paced

Summer Reading Program

Learning at Home Made Easy: 5th-Grade Summer Reading Curriculum

• S tep-by-step at-home and online lessons
• Carefully selected reading selections and questions
• Unlock the code to spelling through 8 simple phonetic patterns
• Research-proven reading fluency training
• 5th-grade r eading comprehension activities that improve memory skills
• Vocabulary building activities 
• Card games that get the whole family involved

Scholar Within’s Co-founder Bonnie Terry, M.Ed., BCET has been featured on

5th-Grade Summer Reading Curriculum

45-60 Minutes a Day

6 Week, 8 Week, or 10 Week Program

At-Home and Online

Video and Audio Lessons

Worksheets and Printables

Help and Support

Hand Selected 5th-Grade Reading Curriculum Selections

Each week, your child will read two engaging 5th-grade reading curriculum selections, both fiction and non-fiction. We’ve chosen the best reading selections that will open your son or daughter’s world of reading. Your child will learn how to talk about and summarize the stories they have read.

Tap to Read – Read-Aloud Technology from Scholar Within

Does your child ever get frustrated with trying to read or sound out a word that they are unfamiliar with? With Tap to Read , your child can instantly hear the proper pronunciations of words by simply tapping or clicking on the word to hear it aloud. They can also work on their reading fluency and speed by pressing play and following along.

Try Tap to Read

• Level 4 – The Harp
• Level 5 – Aspen Trees
• Level 6 – Antarctica

Note-taking and Writing Skills

One of the specific reading goals that should be in your 5th-grade reading curriculum program is to summarize and paraphrase information in a text. Your child will learn to take notes from what they have read and use those notes later. We have custom-made 5th-grade reading worksheets that are fill-in-the-blank graphic organizer note-taking forms. These forms make it easy to take notes and organize ideas. Your fifth-grader will become a better thinker as they improve their note-taking and writing skills.

Build Long Term Memory Skills

Your child will answer questions to the selections they have read in the program a day or two later. Your child will learn to remember and recall what they have read by reviewing their notes as well as writing summaries from them. In this 5th-grade reading curriculum, your child learns the process they will use for years to come to have success in school and in life.

Learn spelling through phonetic patterns.

Your fifth-grader will learn how to spell by spelling patterns through our interactive video lessons. Your kids will learn and practice the phonetic patterns of English through each lesson, spelling activity worksheets, puzzles, and games.

Many people think phonics is only for younger students. However, the listening skills required in phonics are critical for listening to instruction and lectures as you progress in school. This is one of the reasons we teach spelling with phonics in an auditory, visual, and tactile/kinesthetic way, even at the 5th-grade level. The process we use strengthens your child’s overall listening skills.

Additionally, we teach the structure of the language through 8 simple phonetic spelling patterns.

Reading Fluency Training

In addition to the text reading your 5th-grader does, we provide specific reading fluency training. Reading fluency training is one of the most important strategies used to build your child’s success with reading. This is your child’s ability to read with speed and accuracy without conscious attention to the mechanics of reading. This is a critical skill as your child moves into the upper grades and the reading material becomes longer and more complicated. 

Our research-proven reading fluency drills work on training your eyes to move more efficiently and smoothly left to right. They also improve your kids’ visual processing speed, or how fast they can retrieve and process what they see. You and your kids will love seeing their improvement each day.

Boost Word Attack Skills and Play Vocabulary Card Games

Each week your child will play a card game that will work on their word identification skills or comprehension and vocabulary skills. Your child will love these games and want to play them over and over again.

Develop Planning Skills that Stick

Your child will use fill-in-the-blank daily to-do worksheets and planning calendars to schedule out their days.

Your child will decide when they will do certain activities, and they will estimate how long each activity will take. After the activity is completed, they will reflect on how long it actually took and will start to build their time awareness and planning skills. Your child will strengthen their working memory, flexible thinking, and organization skills.

Research-Driven, Results-Proven Curriculum

Every component of our 5th-grade reading curriculum program is research-based and is specifically designed to boost your child’s reading skills. The program has been created by learning expert and board-certified educational therapist Bonnie Terry, M.Ed. She put together her 35+ years of working hands-on with children of all learning styles and abilities into this step-by-step program with custom-designed methods that you and your kids will see results each week.

Develop a Love of Reading

Your child will gain confidence and be excited about reading. Your child will make substantial gains with these effective research-based techniques. Your child will be able to complete their assignments more quickly and easily. They will gain confidence and develop a lifelong love or reading and learning. Your child will do a variety of activities that teach and strengthen all of these skills. Your child will love doing the activities in the program and will want to do them again and again.

Reviews from Parents

K Kelley B. October 17, 2023

My son and I have tried many reading programs; this one has made the most significant difference. It trains the brain to think of reading and spelling in ways beyond rote memorization. In addition, the summer program is enjoyable and effective. As a result, my son started the school year with increased confidence as a reader, and I feel better prepared to help him with his learning.

J Jennifer K. October 16, 2023

I started using this program after a TON of research. I needed a good fit for my 8 yr old dyslexic daughter. I’d say she 1.5-2 reading grades behind. We tried the summer program and loved it. This program was very simple and easy to acclimate to, which was a blessing bc these days I don’t have the time and energy to deep dive learning new programs. Scholar Within was instantly engaging and with the easy to follow step by step layout it made everything so approachable. I had to reach out through chat a few times and always received responses quickly and they were kind, helpful, and encouraging. 5 star customer service! I like how you can change the levels within the program (I started lower so that I could build her confidence) and the variety within lessons. You might see that some are saying there’s a lot of printing, I was at first concerned about this but it really wasn’t bad. I’d just print a few lessons ahead of time and keep them in the folder. It was actually pretty easy and only took 1-2 minutes. They also have an option for some of the weeks to buy pre-printed materials. Do what works for you 🙂 My daughter said she really liked the games too.

V Valerie K. October 9, 2023

My child was diagnosed with ASD (autism spectrum disorder) and it has been a difficult journey in getting her to develop phonemic awareness skills and reading fluency, among other reading deficits. After enrolling her in Scholar Within’s summer program, I have seen the improvement that I’ve been waiting for! I will definitely continue using this program throughout the school year.

J Jennifer A. October 7, 2023

Fabulous reading program! We enrolled our daughter over the summer. It was so wonderful we decided to continue using the program during the school year.

K Kimberly W. October 4, 2023

Wonderful program for children, especially for my child with ADHD and speech delay. I am so grateful that there is a program out here for children like this.

B Brandon T. July 22, 2023

I love this reading and spelling program! The lessons are complete and there is very little prep, especially if you purchase the printed material. The fluency lessons are fantastic and the kids love tracking their progress! We enjoyed the first six weeks so much that we purchased the material for the remainder of the year. So happy I found Scholar Within!

C Cloressa O. June 2, 2023

We tried Scholar Within for our student in the summer of 2022. Our student has ADHD and diagnosed learning disabilities. This program was just what we needed to keep our student engaged during the summer. The executive function focus that this program includes was so helpful especially for kids with ADHD. I highly recommend this for families that have students with reading and reading comprehension as an opportunity. This program covers spelling, reading comprehension, note taking, executive function, and has so many great brain games and virtual field trip ideas. We will be doing this program every summer going forward. Phenomenal program and the price points are so much better than a lot of the other programs out there. Keep in mind this is a team effort, this program has an online aspect but it also has worksheets and requires parent interaction. I absolutely love that it has text to speech and encourages the student to read aloud. I also love that it puts focus on writing and not just typing up stuff online. There are so many great things about this program I wish I could list them all.

K Kyle G. May 8, 2023

Our second grader is a great reader, but really struggled with spelling. This program offered everything he needed in order to begin spelling words correctly and with so much more understanding. The program is well organized and efficient, offering a great foundation to students. We couldn’t be happier!

E Emmanuelle R. May 4, 2023

The program is well organized and easy to follow. The program helped my son with dyslexia a lot for ready fluency. Nothing else had helped… It was like a game for him and we called it his “brain activity”. Very happy and totally recommend it.

C Crystal H. December 30, 2022

This program is absolutely different from everything we have tried in the past, it’s truly amazing !! I think the layout online is wonderful, it really helps that the kids see what is expected of them everyday (and a time estimate keeps them motivated). I love way they teach planning is a great life skill! The printed materials are beautifully done and organized! They make learning simple and fun. The reading lessons vary in topics keeping kids interested and they often tell dad at dinner what they have read because they’re actually retaining it. The spelling program is also amazing teaching VC patterns and going over phonic patterns. We also enjoy that the reading and spelling lessons can be at different grade levels to perfectly adapt to each child and their needs. 5 stars from me!

E Elizabeth W. October 4, 2022

My son was diagnosed as dyslexic at the end of third grade. I found this program online and thought we could try the 8 week summer program prior to him starting 4th grade. We did a lot of traveling that summer and were able to stay on track without any issue. My son really enjoyed the word games in the program. The few times I reached out to customer service, they were prompt and professional with their help. I could tell a difference in his reading by the end of the summer. The real proof was when 4th grade started; his first quarter ELA grade was a 95%!!!! (He ended 3rd grade with a 62%). This program is amazing, I cannot recommend it enough!

D Dr. Kimberly C. September 22, 2022

Great program, even for an older struggling reader with auditory processing disorder and possible dyslexia. I like the option of switching between grade levels as needed + customer service has been fast/useful so far.

K Kathleen B. September 18, 2022

After a recent diagnosis of dyslexia, we started our son on this 6-week summer program. He has taken to it so well and we have already seen such great improvement. We are looking forward to continuing the program year-round!

R Rachelle M. August 29, 2022

I have two children who just completed 8 weeks of the Summer Reading Program. My oldest is dyslexic and I’ve been looking for a spelling program that is geared towards older kids since she is in 8th grade and many of the other spelling programs we’ve done feel like they are for younger children. My daughter appreciated that the lessons were straightforward in teaching the patterns through sight, sound and writing. Her spelling confidence and ability grew tremendously. My youngest benefited from the Ready Fluency Drills and Reading Comprehension activities. Both enjoyed the games and puzzles. We look forward to continuing with the program into the fall as homeschoolers.

S Sarah S. August 11, 2022

This program kept my kids sharp over the summer. Thank you!

M Mary M. June 2, 2022

We love the summer program. My daughter has not only increased her words per minute but also has expanded her comprehension. She is learning valuable note taking strategies and has drastically improved her spelling. She also enjoys the content! We are excited to see her growth.

N Natalie M. May 23, 2022

Last summer, my husband and I enrolled our daughters (then entering grade 3 and entering grade 2) in the summer program. This program really helped them with reading comprehension! It gave us as parents the tools we needed to ask the right questions to help them too! Also, the games were really enjoyable! We even played them AFTER the lesson was over for the day. We were very impressed with the variety of activities and tools available with this program. We will be re-enrolling them this summer! Thank you!

A Amy D. May 7, 2022

My daughter is begging me to do your reading program again to strengthen her skills. The guides for note-taking and how to pick out important information was only second to the fun activities each day last year. We look forward to seeing what’s in store for this year!

M Melinda G. August 9, 2021

We are currently working on week 5 of our program. We really like it and are seeing benefits already. Thank you!

L Lisa G. August 2, 2021

Thank you for partnering with me to help my daughters improve their reading skills. They are really enjoying your program and are excited about becoming more confident readers. I am loving it already! I signed up my twin daughters, who are homeschooled.

W Wendi L. July 24, 2021

My children took the Scholar Within reading program. I was impressed with how user-friendly and intuitive the program is.

S Sabrina D. July 12, 2021

The Monday exercise of reading and taking notes followed with questions on those selections on Wednesday is a really great help for my kids. This lets them work on their comprehension skills. It has made a big difference! The whole program has been a good experience for us. Thank you very much!

N Niiro T. June 18, 2021

Even when I’m not sure how to reason/explain to my son about a reading comprehension answer, all I have to do is ask you. You are so good at giving quick replies that are easy for me to tell my son. Thank you!

C Calvin T. October 17, 2020

We really loved the program. Thanks so much for all of the neat assignments and games to enhance executive function skills.

K Kameron F. September 6, 2020

Thanks for your help throughout this process. You are so responsive whenever I have a question or concern. I see activities on the different levels for my kids which makes them easy to follow. This has been an awesome experience for our family.

J Jill G. August 25, 2020

This program really helped my daughter and we saw a difference in her reading and spelling fairly quickly. Plus, she enjoyed the lessons which, as a parent, is probably the most important thing as she was motivated every day to continue learning.

J Jennifer P. August 5, 2020

My son is doing well and shows improvements with the reading drills each day. He is also doing well with all the work that is presented. His overall work is improving too. He’s even able to find spelling errors now. Woohoo!

K Ketul P. August 1, 2020

This is great a summer reading program. My son has really improved his reading comprehension skills. Thank you, Bonnie Terry, for designing such a great course.

D Danielle D. July 24, 2020

Scholar Within has been an amazing resource for my 8-year-old twins this summer. I was so worried about what to do during this summer. It has been great to see how far they have come. They definitely enjoyed how interactive it has been, not just reading. I have recommended this to many of my friends.

C Cynthia B. July 18, 2020

I really do like the reading fluency drills. They are making a difference for my son. They are so easy to fit into our day. The thing we didn’t like was all the printing we had to do each week.

C Caroline L. July 10, 2020

I enrolled both my sons in the Reading Program this summer. It made such a huge difference for my son who has learning disabilities when we did the summer program two years ago. His teacher was amazed at the improvement in his fluency and comprehension (going into Grade 5). The team has been so flexible with “pausing” our program for a couple of weeks while we are away on vacation too. Note taking is such a key skill that is not really taught here in Ontario, Canada. I think this course will help my kids not fall behind from missing 3 months of school due to COVID 19. I am a poor substitute teacher, but I have confidence that Bonnie’s system is evidence-based, so I just have to follow instructions. Very glad to be able to access this course for homeschooling this summer!

R Regina A. June 20, 2020

The videos made all the difference in the world. The spelling videos showed me step by step the structure. You really made spelling easy for my kids. I just keep working with the video, the spelling, the way you explain it, they watch it over and over. It really sinks in. Your materials help build their self-esteem up. They’re short quick activities. You can get so much done in half an hour.

W Wendy F. June 12, 2020

We are really liking the summer reading program. I appreciate that you moved my daughter’s level to make the program even more effective for her. Thanks so much.

R Rachel C. June 5, 2020

This is a comprehensive program that can be implemented at home. I bought 5 folders and labeled them for each day of the week, plus an extra folder to hold copies of extra forms that are used regularly. You need a decent printer, lots of printer paper, and toner (though I hear they are making print material available for a separate purchase soon!). I prepped the whole week every Sunday evening and had the folders ready for my son and his grandmother to work on each day. It can be kind of overwhelming at first to figure out all the assignments and get it all prepped, but it’s worth it. This is a well thought out program with excellent customer service. We had several questions and adjustments throughout our time with the program and always got quick, helpful, personable replies. Unfortunately, my son’s school year has ramped up and we don’t have enough time to fit Scholar Within into his day. We hope to be back to do a summer program next summer!

M Megan W. May 22, 2020

I did find the videos and activities interesting. There was a bit too much printing for me.

C Cathy H. May 14, 2020

Jake is doing well and enjoying the program. I’m so pleased with how he has improved and that he likes doing our sessions! Thanks so much!

K Katherine W. May 5, 2020

My son’s first drill trend is definitely going in the right direction. His words per minute increased by 17%, and his mistakes decreased, and this is only the first week. I can’t believe he had that much progress already. Thank you for this program and thanks so much for being available for questions, too!

T Tricia L. September 5, 2019

Last summer my 3 kids were enrolled in both Scholar Within and another major summer reading program. Scholar Within had more fun activities and games and really focused on building the underlying skills to really prepare for the upcoming year. The other program didn’t build skills in the same way, and was less interactive in my home.

C Christine P. August 27, 2019

Your program has so many great things in it. The plan for an excursion was a brilliant idea! We made a trip to the Children’s Museum in Indianapolis and to the Science Museum in St. Louis. I have seen improvements and I have gained insight into how my daughter reads and processes (or lack thereof) the reading assignments. Thank you so very much! The whole-brain approach to improving reading has been very insightful.

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Included in the Program:

• Weekly Reading Selections
• Reading Comprehension Questions
• Reading Fluency Training Drills
• Phonics and Spelling Video Lessons
• Spelling Worksheets and Puzzles
• Video Instruction
• Graphic Organizer Forms
• Note-Taking Printables
• Executive Function Activities
• Brain-Body Activities
• Daily Emails

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Summer Reading Program by Grade Level

Learn more about what reading skills your kids will build in our summer reading program.

Entering Kindergarten Summer Program

Entering 1st Grade Summer Program

Entering 2nd Grade Summer Program

Entering 3rd Grade Summer Program

Entering 4th Grade Summer Program

Entering 5th Grade Summer Program

Entering 6th Grade Summer Program

Entering 7th Grade Summer Program

Entering 8th Grade Summer Program

How do I choose a grade or reading level?

After sign up, you will be asked what grade your child is currently and whether they are above grade level, at grade level, or below grade level by 1-3 years in their reading skills.

Give your best estimate. If the material you choose is too easy or too hard, contact us and we'll adjust your account.

Additionally, you can choose a couple of sample reading passages at the grade level you think your child is capable of reading proficiently.

Have them read aloud to you. Make a note of any repetitions, substitutions, omissions, or mispronunciations they make. Then ask them at least five comprehension questions.

Instructional level is reading without mistakes with a 93% accuracy and a minimum of 75% comprehension.

Is the reading and spelling program all online?

The program materials and teaching videos are delivered and accessed online. Each day you will print out a few pages of handouts to use with your kids. Most of the lessons and activities are done  offline  at a table or outside.

There are a lot of fun activities and games. With grades K-3, most of the activities are done with the parent and child together. For grades 4 and above, there are a couple of activities done with the parent and child together, and the rest the child can do independently.

Does it really only take 45-60 minutes a day?

The short answer is yes!

Each day there are a few handouts to print out and instructional videos to watch. Each day's actual activities should only take 45-60 minutes of actual work.

The first week takes a little bit of time and prep to get up to speed, but by the second week, the activities become second nature.

We often suggest breaking up some of the activities to different parts of the day.

What does a typical day look like?

• Print out the handouts
• Watch the short videos either by yourself or with your kids to know what to do (about 5 minutes)
• Do the fluency training with your kids (5 minutes)
• Activities for comprehension, phonics, brain-body, and executive function rotate throughout the week (20 – 40 minutes)

What if we have a vacation during the program?

Many families don’t have plans initially to miss any weeks, but we know that plans change. That is why with the 6-week program you get 8 weeks of access, with the 8-week program you get 10 weeks of access, and with the 10-week program, you get 12 weeks of access.

Are there live classes?

No. We currently do not have live classes.

We have designed this program to be step-by-step with bite-sized activities. You won't have to worry about missing a Zoom class, being late, or your kids being still in their pajamas. You can do the activities in the program on your schedule and make up missed days at your convenience.

We have video spelling instruction that your kids will follow along with their corresponding worksheets. If you want feedback on your child's work, send us a picture of it via email.

How is the program designed?

The program was designed by learning expert Bonnie Terry, M.Ed., BCET. The curriculum in the program was designed over the course of Bonnie Terry's 35+ years of teaching from hands-on in her former private learning center and now, in an at-home and online environment. Bonnie has worked with kids of all abilities, whether they are struggling, have learning challenges like dyslexia, auditory processing disorder (APD), and ADD/ADHD, or are just looking to advance faster.

The National Reading Panel has made it clear that the best approach to reading instruction is one that incorporates:

• Explicit instruction in phonemic awareness
• Systematic phonics instruction
• Methods to improve fluency
• Vocabulary instruction
• Ways to enhance comprehension

Scholar Within's summer reading program includes these components through short step-by-step multisensory activities. The program is Orton-Gillingham based and is the perfect way for your kids to not only keep their skills up over summer but to get ahead, make learning easier, and spend less time on homework come the fall.

Why is spelling included in the reading program?

Spelling is a critical component of our reading program as it enhances a student’s ability to sound out, read and spell words they are unfamiliar with.

Spelling is the process of encoding (pull the sounds apart within a word and match letters to the sounds). Reading is the opposite process, decoding words (sounding out words). With both processes, you match sounds with the letters they represent.

The specific multisensory method we use with spelling ensures that all students have a solid foundation of phonics and spelling as well as word structure.

Reading comprehension activities

Reading comprehension is your ability to understand and use what you have read, listened to, or watched.

In our summer reading program, your child will use our custom-designed graphic organizers to organize information of what they have read into a graphical display. This is a critical component in improving reading comprehension. These organizers make note-taking easy. 

Additionally, story structure, summarizing, question answering, and question generation are all critical pieces of comprehension. We also include these components of comprehension in our summer reading program.

Reading speed (fluency) activities

Reading Fluency is the ability to retrieve words automatically and easily, almost without thought. When you read nearly effortlessly and accurately, you are able to hold pieces of information (text) in your mind which improves your overall comprehension. 

Dr. Sally Shaywitz, the author of Overcoming Dyslexia , states, “Fluency Training is one of the most important things a parent can do to help their child improve their reading skills.” Improving your reading fluency is one of the easiest things you can do to improve your reading skills.

Our summer reading program includes short reading fluency activities that you will do each day. This activity only takes 5-minutes and your kids will see and chart their progress each day. These specific activities work on eye-tracking skills, visual processing, and rapid automatized naming. In other words, these activities help your kids learn to read faster. You can download the first fluency activity here for free.

Phonics activities

Phonics is the ability to match sounds with the letters that they represent. Our summer reading program improves this ability at all ages. Even older students use phonics skills when sounding out larger words they are not familiar with. 

These skills enhance a student's ability to both pull apart and blend together sounds within a word or syllable. Systematically manipulating phonemes (the smallest unit of sound in speech; e.g. the word hat has 3 phonemes /h/, /a/, and /t/) significantly improves reading and spelling abilities. 

Over the years, we have seen that adding this training at every level enhances the reading skills of all students, whether they are primary, middle, or upper-grade students. The National Reading Panel concludes that “phonics instruction produces significant benefits with reading.”

We work on improving phonics skills in several different ways. 

• Specific spelling, spelling pattern, and phonic activities
• Interactive spelling and phonics video lessons
• Reading fluency training that focuses on every phonemic component in the English language
• Weekly printable card game activities

Orton-Gillingham based

Research on teaching reading and spelling dates back to the early 1930s, first with Samuel Orton and then later with Anna Gillingham. They developed a teaching approach, the Orton-Gillingham method (OG), to help struggling readers and spellers. Their teaching methods include what is currently considered best practices: sequential, phonics-based systems that teach the basics of word formation before whole meanings.

Learning through all three senses (auditory, visual, and tactile-kinesthetic) is essential. This multisensory approach has been proven effective for students of all abilities, including those with dyslexia and other learning challenges. 

The Scholar Within Reading Program incorporates these OG principles and strategies along with the latest research on learning. 

Orton-Gillingham Instructional Components for Optimal Learning:

• Multisensory : Uses all of the senses (auditory, visual, and tactile-kinesthetic)
• Sequential : Proceeds step-by-step in a logical sequence
• Incremental : Each lesson builds upon prior learning
• Cumulative : Constantly and consistently reviews previously taught concepts
• Individualized : Meets each student’s individual needs
• Phonogram-Based : Words are based on combining letters and letter combinations known as phonograms (the sound-symbol relationship, also known as the Alphabetic Principle)
• Explicit : Stated clearly and in a detailed manner

Summer reading program for struggling readers or those with learning disabilities, dyslexia, or ADHD?

Our at-home and online reading program integrates research-proven multisensory learning with the Orton-Gillingham approach to teaching reading in a way that will finally work for your child.

We accomplish this with a bite-sized, activity-based approach. Our short activities ensure all children’s success. It's perfect for struggling readers and those with dyslexia, ADHD, or other learning challenges.

This program has been designed by learning disabilities expert and board-certified educational therapist Bonnie Terry, M.Ed., BCET. Bonnie has worked with children and adults of all abilities for over 30 years and has discovered the code for the best way to teach reading and spelling.

In addition to improving reading skills, your children will also improve their overall auditory, visual, and tactile-kinesthetic processing skills to make overall learning easier.

Multisensory reading instruction

In this reading program, your child will learn through seeing, hearing, and doing. Learning to read through multiple senses builds stronger associations, improves retention and speeds up recall skills.

In other words, learning to read in this way makes reading easier and automatic. This at-home and online reading program is specifically designed with short activities that integrate hearing, seeing, and doing.

7-Day money-back guarantee

We are confident that you and your child will love our spelling program. Your child will make tremendous progress with spelling and they'll love the puzzles and the card games. They will become an accurate and confident speller. This is like having free admission for 7 days.

If you are, however, unsatisfied with the program during the first 7-days, just contact us and we will refund your payment.

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5th Grade Summer Reading List - Recommended Books

Summer reading is a great opportunity for fifth graders to discover new favorite books. After all, 10-11 year old students have an enormous choice of quality books from which to choose! This 5th grade summer reading list brings together a selection of titles on a wide variety of topics and genres. So, whether you're headed to the library, or want to supplement a classroom suggested reading list, there's something for everyone here!

Kids who read about diverse subjects and people from all walks of life have greater success in school and develop into compassionate individuals. Reading books from the recommended books on this summer reading list will also help kids avoid the dreaded "summer slide."

These suggested books can be enjoyed by rising or incoming 5th graders, or students who just finished 5th grade and are a great addition to any summer reading program.

Since fifth graders ( 10-11 year olds ) read at different levels these summer reading lists will also be helpful:

• 4th grade summer reading list
• 6th grade summer reading list

Note: this post contains Amazon and Bookshop affiliate links. Purchases made through these links may earn commission for this blog. Bookshop supports independent booksellers. You can see this list, in addition to our other summer reading lists curated at Bookshop .

Book Genres

Contemporary realism, historical fiction, fantasy and sci-fi, graphic novels.

SURVIVING THE APPLEWHITES  by Stephanie S. Tolan

Find it: Amazon | Bookshop

Jake has gotten kicked out of his last school and is now living with the eccentric, artistic, homeschooling Applewhite family. The father is directing a local production of  "The Sound of Music" and no one is more surprised than Jake when he discovers he loves performing. I loved the quirky characters and the boundless energy of this book. When the family has to pull together to get the show up after they are blackballed by a local stage mom, the results are hilariously successful. I really enjoy how the story reinforces the necessity of cooperation when putting on a play and also recommend it as a terrific read aloud.

MARTIN MCLEAN MIDDLE SCHOOL QUEEN by Alyssa Zaczek

Find it: Bookshop | Amazon

Seventh grader, Martin McLean, is trying to figure out where he fits in. He loves being on the Mathletes team and he embraces his mixed race ( Afro-Cuban and white ) identity. He's particularly close with his Tío Billy, who supports Martin's interest in entering a drag queen contest. Now that Martin has found a way to express himself he wants to figure out a way to tell his friends. This is a wonderful, readable story which presents diverse racial, cultural and gender identities in a positive light.

THE TOOTHPASTE MILLIONAIRE by Jean Merrill

The practical side of math is highlighted when sixth-graders Rufus and Kate decide to invent a superior toothpaste, sell it and make their fortunes. First published 40 years ago, Jean Merrill's book ( she also wrote The Pushcart War) is still a highly entertaining celebration of the imaginative spirit. After reading this book, don't be surprised to see your kids start up a new entrepreneurial endeavor using their math skills!

SAVE ME A SEAT by Sarah Weeks and Gita Varadarajan

This funny and touching story of Ravi, an Indian immigrant adjusting to middle school and Joe, a boy who recently lost his best friend due to a move, is told in alternating voices. The two boys become friends when they unite again a school bully and one seriously crazy week full of laugh out loud humor ensues.

Historical fiction summer reading books give kids a glimpse into the past, while also seeing parallels with the present.

BUD, NOT BUDDY by Christopher Paul Curtis

Curtis is one my favorite middle grade authors. 10-year-old Buddy runs away from a series of unpleasant foster homes and sets out to find his father, whom he believes to be a jazz musician. Set in the depression, Curtis’ writing is filled with humor as well as serious truths. Ultimately, it’s an optimistic book, full of laughs and one cannot help but fall in love with Buddy. Ages 7 and up.

LIZARD'S TALE by Weng Wai Chan

Half-Cantonese, half-British Lizard went to live with his Uncle Archie after his parents died. However, when Uncle Archie disappeared unexpectedly, Lizard finds his way to Chinatown, surviving by doing odd jobs. One of those jobs involves stealing a mysterious teak box. When things don't go according to plan, Lizard is left with the box. He and his friend try to understand the mystery of the box, which somehow connects to the war, secret codes and the disappearance of Uncle Archie. Lizard's Tale has a lot going for it. An uncommon setting of 1940 Singapore, themes of belonging, prejudice and friendship, surprising turns of events and character revelations make this a book not to be missed.

THE HERO'S GUIDE TO SAVING YOUR KINGDOM (series) by Christopher Healy

Fans of fairy tale adventures will enjoy this cheeky and humorous story about the "Prince Charmings." The princes, who now have actual names, turned out by their princesses for various reasons of unsuitability, band together to prove themselves worthy by defeating Rapunzel's witch. The feisty princesses also make an appearance and by the end of the book it is hard not to laugh out loud at the lovable foolishness of the princes' exploits. Great fun.

SAVVY  (series) by Ingrid Law

Mibs Beaumont is about to turn thirteen, the age when Beaumont children find out what their magic, or "savvy", will be. Mibs' brothers can control natural elements, and her mother can do everything perfectly. Right before her 13th birthday party, her father has an accident and Mibs is convinced that her power will allow her to heal him. She runs away with her siblings and friends to try and reach him. A magical coming of age story.

AMARI AND THE NIGHT BROTHERS (series) by B.B. Alston

Amari's brother, Quinton, is missing, but Amari insists that he is still alive. One day there is a mysterious visitor on her doorstep who delivers a package that reveals Quinton's secret. He is part of a Bureau of Supernatural Affairs and now Amari has a chance to find her own magic and earn a place in the Bureau. But Amari is not just an escapist fantasy, Alston deftly incorporates themes of bullying, prejudice and inequality.

SISTERS OF THE NEVERSEA by Cynthia Leitich Smith

Lily and Wendy are stepsisters, but also friends. One night, during story time with their younger brother, Michael, Peter and the fairy Belle arrive and invite them to Neverland. One sister is eager to go. The other turns down the offer, but Peter's shadow convinces her to follow them. Cynthia Leitich Smith has crafted a truly marvelous re-envisioning of the Peter Pan legend centered around a blended Muskogee Creek and British family.

THE SERPENT'S SECRET (series) by Sayantani DasGupta

DasGupta's original story draws upon Bengali myths and folklore. Kiranmala, and Indian sixth-grade interdimensional demon slayer is concerned. A spell gone awry has sent her parents into another dimension and she is about to be eaten by a  rakkhosh demon in her own kitchen. Thus begins a highly engaging and funny adventure in which Kiranmala rejects two princes' offers to rescue her, travels to a magical dimension full of fantastic beasts, battles demons, solves riddles and saves New Jersey.

The right mystery in the hands of a tween reader will keep them turning pages until the end.

THE SWALLOWTAIL LEGACY: WRECK AT ADA'S REEF (series) by Michael D. Beil

Lark Heron-Finch and her sister are headed to Swallowtail Island with their stepfather and stepbrothers for the summer. Their summerhouse has been in the family for decades and while on the island, Lark learns of a tragic boating accident that happened in the past. Lark sets out to uncover the truth of what actually happens and in doing so, changes her own, and others' lives.

UNDER THE EGG by Laura Marx Fitzgerald

Just before her grandfather died, he whispered to Theodora, "There's a letter… And a treasure" hidden "under the egg." Theodora, whose mother is incapable of taking care of her, must find away to pay the bills and she starts her search for this mysterious treasure involving a work of art. Her hunt takes her all over New York City, into the past, and introduces her to a diverse group of new friends. The secrets Theodora uncovers take her ( and the reader! ) by surprise.

BRIXTON BROTHERS MYSTERIOUS CASES OF CASES (series) by Mac Barnett

12-year-old Steve dreams of being a detective and has studiously read and re-read "The Baily Brothers Detective Handbook."  He knows everything about solving crimes, which comes in handy when he finds himself thrown into the middle of an exciting mystery. Every book in the series has tons of adventure, twist and turns, loads of intelligent humor and a satisfying ending

MILES MORALES, SHOCK WAVES by Justin A. Reynolds, illustrated by Pablo Leon

Even kids who aren't into Spider Man will love this graphic novel. Miles Morales is just a kid attending high school in Brooklyn who starts a fundraiser for victims of an earthquake in Puerto Rico. However, he finds himself delving into the connections of his friend's missing father and the corporation behind his fundraiser. Spider-Man must spring into action!

THE CARDBOARD KINGDOM by Chad Sell

This is a joyous tale of neighborhood kids who transform mere cardboard into the most marvelous imaginative world. The story is collaboratively written by a number of authors. Sixteen characters transform their world and learn about their own identities, making this book a wonderful tour de force!

MISTER INVINCIBLE: LOCAL HERO by Pascal Jousselin

Everyone in our family loved Mister Invincible ! This French comic features a masked crusader who helps ordinary people, fights villains and foils the devious plots of mad scientists. What's his superpower, you ask? It's breaking through the walls of the comic strip boxes. Mr. Invincible can reach through one panel to affect the action in previous and future panels. Great fun!

WOMEN'S RIGHT TO VOTE (History Smashers series) by Kate Messner, illustrated by Dylan Meconis

For kids who might be a little history-resistant, Messner's new series, "History Smashers" is a great choice. With easy-to-read text, lots of illustrations and a good dose of humor, Messner makes learning about history fun and entertaining. We all know laughter helps kids retain knowledge, right? Highly recommended.

More History Smashers titles include: Plagues & Pandemics , Titanic , and The Mayflower .

THE GREAT CHICAGO FIRE (History Comics series) by Kate Hannigan, illustrated by Alex Graudins

Graphic novels are a great way to make history come alive. Boring date memorization can't hold a candle to exciting illustrations and witty asides housed in speech bubbles. Hannigan tells the story of the Chicago fire of 1871 through the eyes of a brother and sister trying to escape the flames. The duo then reappear at the World's Fair in 1893, showing the recovery of the city. I especially appreciated the way Hannigan weaves insightful commentary into the narrative.

ROCKET TO THE MOON! (Big Ideas that Changed the World series) by Don Brown

I love that Brown wrote a graphic novel about the Apollo 11 mission because my younger son is not very interested in science, but because he adores graphic novels and comics he read this book several times. Brown is an experienced author of historical fiction for children and this is a wonderful book to read in celebration of the anniversary of the moon landing .

Also read in the same series: A Shot in the Arm! , and Machines that Think .

Reader Interactions

Stacey says

April 27, 2015 at 11:27 am

What a fun list! My daughter and I have read a bunch but there are many new-to-us titles on here too that I can't wait to explore. I just started The War That Save My Life and I'm loving it too!!!

Erica MomandKiddo says

April 27, 2015 at 12:40 pm

It's such a good book!

Katey Howes says

April 27, 2015 at 12:54 pm

My daughter is heading into 5th grade in the fall, and these look like some great suggestions! She has already read Under the Egg, so we are thinking of doing Chasing Vermeer and From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E Frankweiler this summer, to go with the "art mystery" theme. Flora and Ulysses was a family favorite last summer, as well. Thanks for the great ideas.

April 29, 2015 at 12:49 pm

Mrs. Basil E is one of my all time favorite books. I really want to read Chasing Vermeer, as well. So many books, so little time. 🙂

April 30, 2015 at 3:13 pm

What a wonderful list! A couple of these are already on our to-be-read shelf. The Grand Plan to Fix Everything is a new one for me, though. It sounds like a story my nine-year-old daughter will really enjoy. Thanks for the suggestions!

May 01, 2015 at 6:39 am

I hope she enjoys it!

Jacquie says

May 11, 2015 at 6:01 pm

I saw your comment so I thought I'd leave a note as I'm just finishing a 'books to bring to the museum' list -- Mrs. Basil E. was my favorite book growing up and it great for an art theme! My son also loved Chasing Vermeer (as did I -- lots of cool math intertwined with that). Another great art-themed read is Masterpiece which comes with some interesting discussion on it's own.

We just finished the Applewhites as a read aloud (wonderful book) and Out of Dust was a very sad but memorable read. Off to check out a few of these that we haven't read as our summer begins in 9 days so we're really building our reading lists 🙂

Linda Elkin says

May 13, 2015 at 8:47 am

i would love for you to check out my book, perfect for 10-12 year old girls, but boys could enjoy and learn a thing or two as well: Middle school is constant drama. Everyone’s changing. Everyone’s emotions are moody. And everyone’s brains are overloaded. How can anyone survive this awkward, challenging, and at times just plain miserable period of life?

Based on her first day of seventh grade, Gaby has no idea. First her two best friends ditch her. She then gets stuck sitting with Lily, one of the most unpopular girls in the grade. And English class doesn’t make life any better, as she has to write a nonfiction book on anything—anything—by the end of the term. Gaby has too many problems to even think about writing a book. But Lily thinks the answer is just that: to write about middle school nightmares, and deal with cliques, crushes, bullies, friend fights, and more.

elizabeth says

May 18, 2015 at 3:10 pm

I am moving back to 5th grade in the fall and couldn't be happier about it! Some of my favorites to use the last time I taught 5th grade (2006) were Andrew Clements' books such as The Landry News and Frindle. I love the way he writes about 5th and 6th graders!

May 20, 2015 at 6:06 am

Clements' books are so great for this age! Thanks for suggesting them. We had a great time reading Frindle.

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The Scholastic Summer Reading Promise

We know summertime can provide tremendous opportunities for kids to accelerate reading, to experience the social-emotional impact of good literature and stories, and to make up for any lost learning time as access to instruction and reading has had to be completely rethought due to the pandemic. Research has proven that in a typical year, summer reading supports skill gains, and its absence leads to widening skill gaps.  With this in mind, our Scholastic Summer Reading Promise is to help you get books in the hands of kids, support social-emotional well-being, build skills and create community among kids.

Scholastic’s work with all of our partners has changed dramatically this past year, reflecting the dedication of school leaders, teachers and families to address the needs of children in the face of great challenges. Together, we found new ways to get millions of books to children who were unable to attend schools while also supporting remote, hybrid, and in-person learning. We would like to use our proven summer reading resources combined with these learnings to ensure that your children have opportunities for reading acceleration, gain motivation and experience the confidence that reading success brings.  Explore this site to learn more and you can also call us at: 1-800-SCHOLASTIC

A Fun, Free and Safe Program for Kids

From monday, april 26 to friday, september 3 kids can participate in the scholastic summer reading program where they will be encouraged to read, celebrate their achievements and help increase access to books for their peers..

Join  Home Base

By creating an account on  Home Base ,  kids can join a community of readers and will be able to read books and stories; attend weekly author events ; interact with their favorite characters; play book-based games and activities; join dance parties; and more! 

Keep a Reading Streak™

Kids will be able to track their summer reading by maintaining a Reading Streak in  Home Base . The longer a child extends their reading streak, the more digital experiences they earn!  Kids can read any book of their choice and download and print a report of their reading progress at any time.

Help Donate Books

By keeping reading streaks in Home Base, kids will unlock a donation of 100,000 books from Scholastic to Save the Children for kids in rural America with limited or no access to books.

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Virtual Event: Scholastic Parents Night: The Power of Summer Reading

Save the date: wednesday, may 26 at 7pm et.

Join Scholastic authors, education experts, and booksellers for a virtual panel where they will give tips and book recommendations that will keep kids excited to read all summer long!

Be sure to tune in for:

A book recommendation speed-round with an indie bookseller - Ask for recommendations based on your child's likes and needs!

Interviews with beloved authors Varian Johnson (Twins and The Parker Inheritance) and Kelly Yang (The Front Desk series)

Tips and tricks to keep your kids reading all summer - and loving it!

Swag! All attendees will receive digital activities, brochures and more.

Summer Reading Book Fairs

Bring the joy of reading to families this summer by hosting a  Scholastic Summer Reading Book Fair June 1–July 30, 2021!  Whether you’re in school or on break we’ve got a Fair that’s right for you. It's the perfect way to provide students with access to new books, favorite characters, and series to keep them reading all summer long.

With a Summer Reading Book Fair, parents get to fuel their children’s love of reading and also help raise critical funds for books and resources that will benefit their school. We know how busy you are during a normal year, so we created a book fair that’s easy to arrange and easy to host—with some summer flair. 

In-person Book Fair options that are easier than ever, and Virtual Book Fair orders are delivered right to students' doorsteps and shipping is  FREE  on book-only orders over $25. Your school gets 25% in rewards for each purchase during the Summer Reading Fair and 2% throughout the rest of the year.

For Educators

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5 Steps for Using Stories to Help Kids Navigate their World

How to Keep Kids Engaged With Virtual Read-Alouds

Teachers’ Favorite Books to Encourage Reluctant Readers

Best-Selling Books About Kindness

Tips for Curbing Educator Burnout

Dr. Karen Mapp Shares Her Tips for Building Powerful Partnerships with Families

The Scholastic Summer Learning Resources Catalogue

Supporting Social-Emotional Learning Over the Summer

7 Strengths to Support Our Students and Families at Home

Stay-on-track book packs for reading and math

Weekly Reader: Summer Express Workbook

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For parents & caregivers.

How to Use Books to Spark Your Child's Curiosity

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+20 Engaging Books for Your Advanced Reader

The Best Books for Reluctant Readers in 1st and 2nd Grade

The Best Books for Reluctant Readers in 3rd to 5th Grade

Expert-Approved Books for Beginning Readers

For Public Libraries & Partners

Stories Are Good Medicine: Literacy, Health, and Representation

2020 School Librarian of the Year Cicely Lewis Discusses the Crucial Role of Libraries

How “Going Global” Can Support Multiple Literacies and Digital Citizenship

Librarican™ Spotlight: Cicely Lewis

Librarians: Making Hearts Large Through Story

The Librarian of Congress: Why Representation Matters

Most Checked-Out Library Books of All Time

Literacy Grounded in Community Brings Kids and Families Together

Inviting the Community In: How Engaging Volunteers Can Improve Literacy Outcomes

Literacy Partnerships Free Membership Program

My Books Every Day Book Packs

School Readiness Kits

Read and Rise

Resilience resources for families from the yale child study center + scholastic  collaborative.

Family Help Desk

Experts answer questions about trauma, anxiety, early childhood, reading development and beyond.

First Aid for Feelings Workbook

Available in English, Spanish, and French, download this free workbook to help children ages 4–10 express their thoughts and emotions.

Summer Reading Favorites

Keep kids reading all season with favorites for every age.

Keep kids reading all season with favorites for every age

Spark Student Engagement this Summer

We are here to help you get books in the hands of kids, social-emotional well-being, build skills and create community among kids.

We are here to help you get books in the hands of kids, support-emotional well-being, build skills and create community among kids.

Clifford the Big Red Dog – Official Trailer

Save the date: february 2, 2022 world read aloud day.

Visit  www.scholastic.com/worldreadaloud  for more details and resources to celebrate the day!

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Kid Reporters around the world write news “for kids, by kids.” Discover news stories from these intrepid young journalists!

The Scholastic Reads Podcast

Looking for some literary inspiration? Our award-winning podcast is all about the joy and power of reading. 

Research on Summer Reading

The Scholastic Teacher & Principal School Report

Ninety-six percent   of educators agree that providing year-round access to books at home is important to enhancing student achievement.

The Scholastic Kids & Family Reading Report ™

Ninety-four percent of parents agree reading over the summer can help their child during the school year. In addition, more than half (59%) of all kids ages 6–17 say “I really enjoy reading books over the summer.”

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June 24, 2020 CL Teaching Strategies Notice & Note , CL Seasonal Activities Summer , ELA K-5 , ELA Focus - Reading , ELA Seasonal - Summer , Core Literacy

5th grade summer reading list, by: erin lynch.

While it may be tempting to spend all summer at the beach or by the pool, it's important that emerging readers practice their reading skills over the break. Picking a few books from a 5th grade summer reading list can help kids keep their reading skills in tip-top shape.

Below are a list of books you may want to order online, download onto a mobile device, or check out from your local library. These books range from easy to more difficult. If your emerging reader finds one particular book on the list challenging to read alone, read it aloud together!

Before you jump into the 5th grade summer reading list recommendations, download a printable Summer Reading Strategies Bookmark for kids. This reading strategies bookmark encourages students to pause every once in a while during their reading, to ask questions, and reflect on the text.

Download includes a parent tip sheet that explains how children should use the bookmark.

5th Grade Summer Reading List Recommendations

Out of My Mind by Sharon M. Draper

Melody is not like most people. She cannot walk or talk, but she has a photographic memory; she can remember every detail of everything she has ever experienced. She is smarter than most of the adults who try to diagnose her and smarter than her classmates in her integrated classroom—the very same classmates who dismiss her as mentally challenged, because she cannot tell them otherwise. But Melody refuses to be defined by cerebral palsy. And she’s determined to let everyone know it…somehow.

In   this breakthrough story readers will come to know a brilliant mind and a brave spirit who will change forever how they look at anyone with a disability.

Ungifted by Gordon Korman 

Holes by Louis Sachar

Stanley Yelnats is under a curse. Stanley has been unjustly sent to a boys’ detention center, Camp Green Lake, where the boys build character by spending all day, every day digging holes exactly five feet wide and five feet deep. It doesn’t take long for Stanley to realize there’s more than character improvement going on at Camp Green Lake. 

The Toothpaste Millionaire by Jean Merrill

A Long Walk to Water: Based on a True Story by Linda Sue Park

Liar & Spy by Rebecca Stead

Smile by Raina Telgemeier 

The Penderwicks: A Summer Tale of Four Sisters, Two Rabbits, and a Very Interesting Boy by Jeanne Birdsall

Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls

Pippi Longstocking by Astrid Lindgren

She has crazy red pigtails, no parents to tell her what to do, a horse that lives on her porch, and a flair for the outrageous. The three children soon start having the most rollicking adventures on their own with monkeys, the circus, and more! 

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Summer Reading List: 5th Grade

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Fifth Grade Reading Comprehension Worksheets

Grade 5 stories and exercises.

Children's stories and comprehension exercises at a grade 5 level; all worksheets are pdf documents.

Reading worksheets - leveled stories

These levelled stories are taken from our series of leveled reading workbooks .  Each successive level provides increasing reading challenge.

Children's stories and reading worksheets

Over 20 free children's stories ; each 5th grade reading passage is followed by comprehension questions.

Historical reading worksheets & fables

Each kid's fable or historical passage is followed by four questions.  Questions focus on prediction, inference and character traits.

Reading comprehension exercises for grade 5

These worksheets focus on specific comprehension topics such as the "main idea" and "supporting details" of a text; sequencing events; story elements and so on.

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READS Lab Harvard Graduate School of Education The READS lab is a university-based research initiative dedicated to improving children’s literacy at scale; creating relevant, rigorous, and replicable science; and advancing systemic equity through collective action with education leaders.

A free research-based summer reading intervention for 2nd through 5th grade children to improve reading comprehension

The three key program elements (ABCs) 

A ccess to books at home, including a wide variety of texts., b ooks that are well matched to each child's reading level and interests., c   omprehension activities to scaffold students’ engagement with their books, summer follow-up, and family support of summer reading., watch a video about our approach . . ..

17 Best Online Summer Reading Challenge Ideas for Kids

17 summer reading challenge ideas & summer reading programs for kids.

Ah, the dog days of summer. Memories of long, luxurious days in the warm sunshine with the pool sparkling and ready. I'm ready for popsicles, watermelon, and a beach vacation. Are you?

The nice thing about a day at the beach, by the pool, or inside with the air conditioner blasting is - they all go very well with a good book, and a summer reading challenge for our kids!

Here are some great ideas for summer reading programs - I hope one or all of them will work for you and your family as they have mine. Enjoy!

• Do summer reading programs work?

The dreaded summer reading slide is a big deal and yes - it's a real thing. When kids are not exposed to reading and learning over long breaks of school, such as over the summer months, they can backslide.

But the great thing about the summer months is the amazing amount of great learning opportunity all around you!

When you are on vacation, learn about the places around you. Search for facts about places you haven't been, even in your own hometown.

And of course - READ! Make sure your child's summer is full of reading and great books. This will give your child such a boost in their growth and education.

Here is a video I found on YouTube about a great mom who is not letting her kiddos take a vacation from learning, even though they are on vacation from school!

Planning a summer reading program  

Start in May or earlier to really have a great, solid reading plan in place to make your child's summer reading more successful. But of course, if you are reading this in June or July, just start today!

There are so many options for getting creative with summer reading challenges. You really only have to pick the program (or programs you want to do, print out whatever information is need, and go for it!)

If there are several programs you and your child choose to do, you can either do them at the same time and have books count for the same reading challenges, or plan to work the programs consecutively. You can't go wrong either way!

Don't forget your local public library for the reading programs they will put on, and you can always join or create a Kid's Reading Club too, for some added fun!

Get your Reading Summer Challenge here, plus all kinds of bookish freebies, like Popsicle bookmarks and Fourth of July bookmarks!

Online summer reading programs

I did a little research looking for online programs to get kids reading. Here is a list of options for choosing reading programs, although I'm sure you can find more! Lots of companies host reading programs as an incentive for customers and also to boost communities. 

• Barnes and Noble Summer Reading Program

The Barnes and Noble Summer Program is a great option to earn a free book! You can fill out this form to earn your book, and then take it into a Barnes and Noble store to redeem.

This is a great way to get your child reading this summer!

- Go here for more details.

• Feed Your Brain Summer Reading Program from Half Price Books.

Half Price Books has a great 15-minutes-a-day reading program to get kids and teens reading through the summer. Available are reading logs, online storytimes, weekly social giveaways, and free coloring sheets.

- Go here to find out more details.

• Scholastic Summer Reading Challenge

Here's a great way to keep kids engaged in summer reading - The Scholastic Summer Read-a-Palooza! Kids are encouraged to track their reading in a free online Scholastic-provided resource with books, games and events. As kids reach tracking goals, they receive rewards and unlock book donations for others. Double win!

Head here to find out more about this fun program.

• Coaching for Literacy Summer Reading Program

Not only does this one get your kiddo reading, but you are making an impact to increase literacy rates. Coaching for Literacy exists to raise awareness about the problem of illiteracy and funds for literacy programs serving students in grades K-3. They are connectors bringing individuals closer to the issue of illiteracy, with a core belief that literacy is a fundamental right of every individual. Here are the points to know about their summer reading program..

• This summer, Coaching for Literacy is challenging readers – young, old and in-between – to push their reading habits by committing to read as many books as they can having started May 31st – September 7th.
• Readers are invited to ask friends and family to support them by pledging per book read or by making a donation. This campaign is free and fundraising is optional.
• Everyone who signs up to challenge their reading habits automatically gets entered into a drawing for a Barnes & Noble gift card. PLUS, every 2 books a reader completes throughout the summer, their name automatically gets re-entered into the drawing!
• Every donation made will be matched 3x up to $5,000!
• Readers can join at any time and do not have to commit to the entire summer.

Go here to find out more.

• Join the Ultimate Book Adventure

Want your child to be independently reading? Then sign him up for this Ultimate Book Adventure - virtual delights await with this fun, free program.

Sort of a fun "gaming system" where kids who read at home log their reading, take little quizzes and make their way further into the game. A great positive reinforcement platform for encouraging kids to read. I particularly like the "virtual reading pet". Looks fun!

• Broncos Bookworms Summer Reading Program

Calling all football fans! The Denver Broncos have a fun summer reading program where kids get to log 10 books they read over the summer in their playbook.

Rewards include a certificate, bookmark, attendance at an event at Empower Field, plus other prize possibilities, presented by IHOP!

• Read Your Way to Fenway

Or.. maybe you are a Boston Red Sox fan? If you live in the area, or are traveling to the Boston area this summer, check out this deal for kids to read books and earn the chance to be entered into a drawing to win tickets to a baseball game!

This is a golden opportunity for baseball fans. Details look to be released in June.

Go here to find out more at the Boston Public Library.

• Books A Million Summer Reading Adventures

You know those funny Dog Man and Captain Underpants books that kids love? Well, last year the author Dave Pilkey teamed up with Books A Million to get kids reading in summertime. It will be interesting to see what they come up with in the summer of 2021~

• HEBuddy Summer Reading Club

I think you can do this one, even if you aren't from the great state of Texas! 

Use the available reading log on their website to record 10 books that your child reads, mail it in and get an awesome t-shirt!

Go here for more info.

• SYNC Summer Audiobooks for Teens

For teens ages 13+, this fun program gets teens reading with one free audiobook a week. That is a GREAT deal!

Go here to sign up and get more info.

• Showcase Cinema Bookworm Wednesdays

If you live near or will be by a Showcase Cinema, check out their Bookworm Wednesdays! Kids can show up with a written book report on Wednesdays to get a free movie ticket.

Movie lovers, this one is perfect for you!

• Free Online Outschool Summer Camps

Consider these amazing virtual (and free!) summer camps for your kids. There are just a ton to look over, and find out which one would fit your child.

This is a great way to keep learning over the summer, and to have fun doing it. 

• Lifeway Summer Reading Program

Get a free Bible and a free book with this summer reading program! 

Check out the page to find out when they update information for 2021.

• DOGObooks Summer Reading Adventure

This fun website is all about kids reading books and giving kid's book reviews. Join in on the fun by reading books, and giving as many book reviews as you can to be eligible to receive prizes.

Go here to find out more info.

• Reading Horizons Summer Reading

Check out the Reading Horizons summer reading program! Perfect for not only beginning readers, but older readers. Also great for anyone who struggles with reading to learn how or focus on strengthening skills.

Information for 2021 yet to be posted, but keep this page bookmarked for info soon!

• The Pizza Hut Book It Program

This program has been around for many years - I can even remember working on getting my pizza coupon as a kid back in the 80's! So you know it's a good program - and let's face it - pizza will never go out of style.

I'm calling this one a bonus because it's actually a Spring and Fall program. They also have a "Give Me 20" program for early readers to look into.

Go here to find out more about this deal.

• Braums Book Buddy Reading Program

Not a summer program, but a school-year program, like the Pizza Hut Book-It, the Braums Book Buddy Program is a great idea to keep kids reading, providing wonderful goal incentives to get lots of reading in, and being proud of book-reading accomplishments.

A great way to read good books, and enjoy up to 6 ice cream treats while doing it!

Go here for more info about the Braums Book Buddy Program.

• Local summer reading programs

Want to find a local summer reading challenge idea or program? Head over to your local public library to see what is available (or look for them online), or you can even Google it.

I can almost guarantee that your local library is going to have something fun planned for the summer, even if it is digital only!

Type it into the search bar of Google, check the map below, or click here >> Summer Reading Programs Near Me

More fun summer reading ideas:

~~ Reading Rewards Chart - Monthly Rewards Charts for the year!

~~ 1 2 Ways and Benefits of Reading with your Child - A Parent's MUST-READ!

• Summer reading challenge ideas

Come up with your own incentives at home to make up your own reading challenges, and/or try some of the local or online reading programs that you can find!

• Summer reading challenge printable

Come up with a challenge for your kiddo that is tailored to what she might like. Put up a reading chart or some kind of incentive to have a goal for reading a certain number of books or amounts of time.

The Great Summer Reading Challenge that I put together is sort of an "all the places you can read" challenge. It's free! Just print it out, tweak it, and use it to motivate your reader. That link signs you up for all sorts of free bookish goodies for your kids.

I also found a few other fun printable reading challenges for you! Check out:

25 Day Reading Challenge for Kids

Summer Reading Challenge

Highlights Summer Reading Bingo

Get your creative juices flowing to come up with your own ideas for a summer reading program!

As you can see there are lots of options that you can use for your own to create a reading program for your child. You can make one up at home, tape it onto the fridge and go for it, you can join online programs that help kids make great reading progress, or you can join local programs in your own community!

Whatever you choose for your summer reading challenges, be sure to MAKE IT FUN!

Let me know what your summer reading goals are in the comments and remember to download your Great Summer Reading Challenge printable for FREE!

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31 Summer Reading Activities for Your Elementary Students (+ Free Download)

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As a Montessori teacher, I know the importance of finding fun and educational summer reading activities elementary students will love.

Here’s a secret that’s made summers with my students awesome – reading activities that aren’t just educational but also tons of fun!

We’ve put together a collection of 31 summer reading activities for elementary students that are sure to capture their imaginations and interests.

Whether you’re a parent looking to reap the benefits of games to keep kids engaged in learning or an educator in search of unique ideas to avoid the summer brain drain , this resource will be your go-to for fun activities!

✅ Teacher Tip: Save This Valuable List for Later! Be sure to bookmark this resource for quick reference. Save it to Pinterest or bookmark the page to access whenever you need it.

31 Summer Reading Activities for Elementary Students

Discover our collection of exciting activities designed to make reading an exciting experience for elementary students in the second plane of development . Adding just one of these activities to your summer schedule can keep kids engaged and excited about learning during their break.

1. A to Z Reading Scavenger Hunt

The A to Z Reading Scavenger Hunt is a fun summer reading activity for elementary students that encourages them to find and learn about all sorts of reading material.

All that’s needed to play is a list with all of the letters of the alphabet, something to write with, and a variety of things to read.

Get your FREE alphabet scavenger hunt now! Ideal for elementary-aged kids, this engaging reading activity combines learning and fun.

To get our A to Z Reading Scavenger Hunt printable for free, all you have to do is join our insightful bimonthly newsletter . You’ll enjoy both!

In this activity, students explore different types of reading by finding something to read for each letter of the alphabet. Examples of reading material include articles, brochures, cookbooks, dictionaries, e-books, food labels. You see how it goes.

It’s a fantastic way to introduce children to various reading practices, such as reading signs, labels, and instructions around their homes and neighborhoods.

Promoting a flexible timeframe, this activity is best enjoyed over the course of a month or more rather than completed in one sitting. Kids are encouraged to take their alphabet worksheet with them everywhere, jotting down any reading opportunities that come their way.

🧐 Are you thinking, “This sounds like a very ambitious task for elementary students.” or “Who has that much reading material laying around?” Then, you might want to get them reading outside the box, or should I say reading outside of the book! Here’s a sample A to Z list of reading examples: A – Adventure novel B – Biography C – Comic book D – Dictionary E – Encyclopedia F – Food labels G – Graphic novel H – History book I – Instruction manual J – Joke book K – Kids’ picture book L – Love You Forever M – Magazine N – Newspaper O – Oliver Twist P – Poetry Q – Question-and-answer book R – Reference book S – Science experiment T – Travel book U – User manual V – Volcanoes book W – World atlas X – X-Men comic Y – Yertle the Turtle Z – Zombie fiction It’s not as challenging as it seems! Some answers describe the genre, type, or style of a book, while others provide the actual title. Players are encouraged to explore their vocabulary within the alphabet’s framework, justifying their choices, which may include creative and obscure answers.

The goal isn’t to fill every letter but to immerse themselves in diverse reading materials, fostering a love for the process of discovery.

This activity not only hones reading skills but also introduces new words and ideas, emphasizing that reading can take many forms.

Teacher Tip: Take this game to the library! Going to the library and playing this game is even more fun because there is likely something there for every letter in the alphabet! Bonus Teacher Tip: Find a local Little Free Library . near you! Explore local Little Free Libraries, those charming book boxes outside homes.

They’re a nonprofit organization looking to make more books accessible and they have created a World Map of their locations . 📚🏠🌳

These libraries also offer a great opportunity to donate old books and share with the community. It’s a wonderful learning experience in disguise!

2. Family Book Club

Create an interactive family book club to inspire elementary students to read, understand, and foster discussion and critical thinking skills within the family.

Choose a book that everyone can read with assistance or independently, and schedule a weekly meeting to read together, discuss the story, share insights, and ask questions as a family.

The family book club encourages participation and teaches valuable skills like responsibility, time management, and collaboration. It’s also a chance for adults to demonstrate good reading habits and nurture a love of reading in children.

Engaging in this activity allows families to bond over a shared experience, learn from each other’s perspectives, and gain a deeper understanding of the book.

📚 Start a family book club now! Read how in our blog Your Guide to Starting a Family Book Club Now

Remember, the main goal is to foster a love for reading and create meaningful family bonding experiences.

💡BONUS IDEA: Expand your club! If you’re looking for something other than a family book club, have your kids bring their friends into the fun, or invite the grandparents and start a family and friends book club.

3. Virtual Book Club

For the elementary student who loves to read and is looking to connect with other book lovers their age, a virtual book club might be your best bet.

Similar to a family book club , participants read the same book but the discussion takes place online via video chat, allowing kids to connect with other children their own age, from different places around the world, and all in the comfort of their own homes.

Virtual book clubs not only motivate participants to read and understand a book, but they also promote social skills and the ability to share opinions and ideas with others.

This summer reading activity for elementary children is perfect for those who may not have access to or be interested in an in-person book club, or who prefer the flexibility of participating from home.

🧑🏼‍💻 Teacher Tip: Check out Outschool for great virtual book clubs! Outschool, an online platform filled with classes for kids aged 3-18, is a great place to find Online Book Clubs for Kids . 💸 USE OUR LINK for $20 USD FREE CREDIT with OutSchool! 💸

💡BONUS IDEA: Create your own virtual book club! Consider organizing your own virtual club. This could be with friends or family that don’t live close enough to connect with in person but want a way to stay connected and with purpose. This is also the perfect summer reading activity for kids to do with their grandparents and is super beneficial for both parties.

4. Read in 100 Places

The Read in 100 Places challenge is a popular summer reading activity for elementary students recommended by teachers and parents.

The goal is simple: encourage kids to read in various places, expanding their reading horizons and exploring new spots with a good book.

The challenge? Read in 100 different places over the summer, from park benches and library nooks to cars or even under a table, and make reading a fun adventure.

Discover 100 Places to Read with Our Exciting Checklist! Take their summer reading to new heights with this vocabulary development activity , where kids explore fascinating and unique places to read. Your kids will love our 100 Places to Read Checklist reading activity !

Our list of 100 captivating reading locations helps elementary-aged learners prevent summer learning loss and fosters a love for reading.

This activity is a favourite among elementary students I’ve worked with and tops their list of summer reading activities. It’s also a great way to throw in some moments of learning in disguise during the summer break.

💡 Teacher Tip: Get kids to carry a book everywhere they go! Encourage elementary students to tote their favourite books wherever they wander. And here’s why:

• It’s entertainment on the go.
• Fosters a love for reading.
• Improves reading skills.
• Books are great waiting activities for kids.
• Expands knowledge and imagination.
• It’s an excellent use of spare time.Develops focus and concentration.
• Provides an outlet for relaxation.
• It’ll help prevent the summer brain drain !

Encouraging kids to always have a book with them helps them enjoy reading more and learn new things as they go about their day.

5. Reading BINGO

Reading BINGO is a great summer reading activity for elementary learners because of its ability to promote a love for reading through a wide range of reading material.

By participating in Reading BINGO, students are motivated to explore different genres, authors, and topics, expanding their reading horizons and exposing them to new ideas and perspectives.

This activity prompts children to read a variety of books in various ways, such as by reading outside, reading a book recommended by a friend, or reading a book published in a different decade.

Not only does this add variety to their reading list but it also encourages them to step out of their comfort zone and discover reading materials that they may not have chosen otherwise.

🎯 Take a look at our Reading BINGO cards!

Our engaging Reading BINGO activity pages are specially crafted to captivate young elementary minds. It’s filled with fun prompts to keep young readers entertained! Ideal for tracking summer reading progress at home, our reading BINGO cards are simple for kids to use. With squares covering various reading materials like different book genres, song lyrics, and game instructions, they make reading fun and diverse. Don’t let the summer brain drain dampen your kids’ reading skills. Get your hands on our Reading BINGO activity now and watch as your elementary experience learning in disguise !

The goal of Reading BINGO is to complete a line of reading tasks on the card before summer ends. Kids can challenge themselves to fill the entire card too!

They pick tasks and colour or cross out squares when done, boosting reading skills, confidence, and pride. This fun summer reading activity motivates kids to explore different genres, making reading enjoyable and encouraging independent learning.

6. Bookshelf Scavenger Hunt

Encourage your elementary-aged kids to explore and learn while reading with a bookshelf scavenger hunt!

This is one of those reading activities for elementary students that does require a bit of prep, but let me tell you, it’s worth it!

You’ll need to create a list of questions, or clues, that students need to solve in order to know what books they are searching for on a bookshelf at home, at school, or at the library.

For example, the questions could guide children to find things in a bookshelf ranging from a dictionary to a book that is part of a series. Once they have completed a task, they can check it off on their scavenger hunt worksheet. Fun!

Here’s a list of clue ideas to inspire your bookshelf scavenger hunt:

🕵🏼 Clue: Search for a book that holds the secret key, to unlock recipes that make taste buds dance with glee. 📕 Answer : Cookbook

🕵🏼 Clue : I have pages filled with facts and knowledge galore, so if you need information come to me for more. 📕 Answer : Encyclopedia

🕵🏼 Clue : I’m a book of maps, so take a look, and discover places from every nook. 📕 Answer : Atlas

🕵🏼 Clue : I’m packed with puzzles, games, and things to do, and I keep boredom away, as you explore something new. 📕 Answer : Ac tivity book

🕵🏼 Clue : My cover is adorned with a creature, fierce not tame. Open my pages and learn about its name. 📕 Answer : Book with an animal on the cover

These are just a few examples, but the possibilities are endless when it comes to different types of reading materials on a bookshelf.

This activity makes reading more exciting and interactive by adding an element of challenge and exploration.

7. Listen to an Audiobook

Elementary-aged children can level up their summer with the joy of audiobooks !

Whether they’re embarking on a long car ride, getting through chores, taking a leisurely walk, chilling on the couch, or unleashing their creativity through drawing, audiobooks offer a fantastic way for kids to immerse themselves in captivating stories.

By embracing audiobooks, children not only enhance their literacy skills and develop keen listening abilities, but they also have the opportunity to explore new narratives and genres.

💡 Benefits of using audiobooks in the classroom:

Listening to an audiobook is an immersive and enjoyable activity that fuels a child’s imagination, nurtures their language abilities, and makes the summer break an exciting and enriching time for young readers.

Selecting an audiobook for the whole family to enjoy creates a chance for quality time and bonding over a shared love for literature. Additionally, listening to books enhances children’s comprehension and fluency, laying the foundation for future reading success.

You can discover numerous books read aloud on YouTube, offering a unique form of audiobook experience.

One of my favourite books for 5th graders is Wonder and here it is read by Michelle DiMeglio. I love the way she gives the character a voice as it makes the book even more fun to listen to.

Let audiobooks work their magic on your child’s summer reading activities, making learning effortless and enjoyable without them even realizing it!

8. Word Games

Word games make reading more enjoyable and less stressful while also helping expand vocabulary, improve spelling and grammar, and boost reading comprehension.

When selecting word games as a reading activity, look for ones that engage critical thinking and problem-solving skills, promote social interaction, and, most importantly, prevent summer learning loss .

Some of our favourite word games: 🔲 Crossword Puzzles 🔎 Word Searches 🧐 Brain Games for Clever Kids 🔡 Scrabble 🎲 Boggle 🟩 Wordle 🍏 Apples to Apples Junior 📚 Another Logic Workbook for Gritty Kids ✍🏽 Mad Libs Super Size Pack

💡 Discover the power of using games in the classroom! Explore our blog 15 Benefits of Using Games in the Classroom to learn why incorporating games is an effective way to engage elementary students and enhance their learning. Read all about how using games in the classroom or at home can:

It’s time to embrace the potential of game-based learning!

Incorporating games into language learning is a powerful tool for elementary children to enhance their language skills. With word games, they can expand their vocabulary, refine their spelling abilities, and deepen their comprehension in a playful and safe environment.

Beyond the educational benefits, games offer an enjoyable and interactive experience, keeping children engaged and fueling their passion for reading all summer long if it means playing word games.

💡 Teacher Tip: More Word Activities for Summer Learning! Discover a world of engaging word games with our awesome collection of The Ultimate 13 Vocabulary Development Activities for Kids ⬇️ You’ll also want to check out these rebus puzzle articles for fun: 8 Easy Rebus Puzzles 9 Unique Rebus Puzzles with Answers for Kids A Great Set of Tricky Rebus Puzzles With Answers Rebus Puzzles for Kids: A Comprehensive Riddle-Solving Guide

9. Story Writing & Storytelling

Summer is the perfect time to inspire young minds with the joy of storytelling and writing.

Encouraging elementary students to create and share their own stories not only sparks their imagination but also enhances their reading skills.

✏️ Start with Writing

To get started, provide students with guidance on how to start the writing process. Help them brainstorm ideas, develop characters, and create exciting plot lines. Encourage them to explore different genres, from adventure and fantasy to mystery and science fiction.

By giving them the freedom to express their ideas, you’ll witness their creativity flourish and their storytelling abilities evolve.

One engaging activity to ignite their imagination is using story prompts. These prompts can be simple sentences or pictures that act as springboards for storytelling.

For a more interactive and dynamic experience, consider using the Roll a Story Dice Game that we created!

In this game, there are eight printable dice, each featuring different pictures. Students roll the dice and use the images they roll to create a story, incorporating key elements such as main characters, setting, or antagonist.

The use of eye-catching imagery sparks their imagination and inspires them to create cohesive and imaginative stories.

💡 Teacher Tip: Get creative with our Roll A Story Dice Game! Discover endless possibilities with our Roll A Story Dice in this article outlining different ways to use this game ! Plus, check out our list of 15 Educational Games With Three Dice for Kids , including 5 language-based activities that involve story writing. Don’t miss out on these fun learning opportunities!

💬 End with Storytelling

Sure story writing is great, but storytelling is equally as awesome and beneficial. It promotes self-expression and boosts confidence in young learners.

When children share their stories with others, whether it’s friends, or family, they develop important communication skills, speaking in front of others, expressing their ideas, having pride in their work, and receiving valuable feedback and encouragement.

This sharing aspect creates a sense of community and appreciation for each other’s creativity.

Story writing and storytelling are ideal summer reading activities for elementary kids. Not only do they spark creativity and improve language skills, but they also let kids express themselves, think critically, communicate better, and feel proud of their achievements.

10. Library Scavenger Hunt

A library scavenger hunt is a fun way to get elementary students excited about visiting their local library and discovering all that it has to offer.

This type of scavenger hunt typically includes a list of clues or tasks that children must complete by finding books on specific topics or by locating certain sections of the library.

Use these clues to get your library scavenger hunt off the ground! 🗞 Magazines Find a September issue of a magazine. Locate a magazine with an animal on the cover. 📚 Picture Books Find a picture book with a cat as the main character. Discover a picture book about a holiday. 💥 Junior Fiction Adventure Find a graphic novel with a smile on the cover. You’re looking for a book that has a Newbery Award on the cover. 🎧 Audiobook Hunt Look for an audiobook with the word “the” in the title. Discover an audiobook that shares the life stories of remarkable individuals who have made a positive impact on the world. 📔 Book Cover Challenge Find a book with a red cover. Locate a book with an illustration of an animal on the cover. 📜 Nonfiction Quest Search for a biography about a famous woman. Find a craft book and choose a cool craft to make.

Alternatively, a library scavenger hunt can be done using the letters of the alphabet. Participants can search the stacks of the library for book titles and/or author names for each letter of the alphabet. Fun!

You could easily use our alphabet scavenger hunt product which includes room for filling in findings that start with each letter of the alphabet.

The focus of this type of scavenger hunt isn’t to read all the books written down, but rather the process of following directions, reading titles and author names, and categorizing items by the letter they start with.

Participating in this type of activity opens students up to learning about the different types of reading material available in the library. They also learn how to navigate the different areas of the library.

Scavenger hunts, regardless of their type, are an excellent way to teach children about reading and practice research skills without them even realizing it! It’s all about learning without them even noticing!

11. Vocabulary Building Scavenger Hunts

Scavenger hunts are the perfect blend of entertainment and learning. They engage children in reading, problem-solving, and observation skills, making them an ideal activity to boost vocabulary.

One exciting option is an alphabet scavenger hunt.

Equipped with our Alphabet Scavenger Hunt Printable , children can sharpen their observation skills and boost their word bank as they search for objects that start with each letter of the alphabet.

Another engaging choice for a vocabulary-enhancing scavenger hunt is our Parts of Speech Scavenger Hunt . In this reading activity for elementary students, participants are challenged to find items representing different parts of speech , such as nouns, verbs, and adjectives.

Teacher Tip: Boost grammar learning with fun educational videos. Refresh your students’ understanding of the parts of speech by exploring our curated collection of entertaining and educational videos in our blog, Parts of Speech Videos for Your Elementary Language Lessons .

By organizing words based on their functions, kids improve their understanding of grammar. They also stretch their vocabulary as they seek out descriptive and sentence-enhancing words.

What makes vocabulary-building scavenger hunts so exciting is kids learn without even realizing it. They are practicing their reading as they figuring out what they need to search for.

💡 Teacher Tip: Get Creative with Scavenger Hunts! Want to boost your kids’ reading skills? Try making a scavenger hunt! It’s easier than you think, and we’ll help you every step of the way. Check out our article on How to Make a Scavenger Hunt for Kids in 9 Steps . With our easy-to-follow guide, you’ll discover the secrets to crafting an exciting and educational adventure for your kids.

By designing a personalized scavenger hunt, you’ll engage children in active reading. It’s an opportunity for them to explore their surroundings, decipher clues, and enhance their literacy skills – and all while having a blast!

12. Create a Map of a Book Setting

Encourage your child to draw a map of the setting from a favourite book.

This fun activity not only helps them better understand the story but also boosts their spatial reasoning and research skills. Guide them to include important details from the narrative and explore map elements like creating a legend.

As they craft their map, chat with them about different parts of the story and how they relate to the map, making the book’s world come alive in a whole new way!

As children transform the world of a story into a visual representation as a map, they develop a deeper appreciation of how the story unfolded.

Kids can add their unique touch to their maps, making each one a reflection of their own creativity and individuality. It’s a chance for them to showcase their artistic skills and take pride in their accomplishments.

Book-themed arts projects provide a wonderful avenue for self-expression and personalization.

13. Write Book Reviews

For this activity, get readers to choose a book, read it, and write a review summarizing the story. They’ll also want to share their thoughts on characters, plot details, overall opinion, and a rating out of five stars.

Writing a book review helps children to think deeply about what they’ve read and consequently, it develops their reading and writing skills. It also encourages them to become more engaged with their reading material by paying closer attention to the story’s details and characters.

Here’s a great video that kids will love about how to write a book review:

Here’s why writing a book review is a rewarding reading activity:

✅ Reflection and Analysis Writing a book review prompts children to reflect on the plot, characters, themes, and overall reading experience. It encourages them to think deeper about the story, its messages, and the author’s craft.

✅ Language Development Crafting a book review helps children enhance their vocabulary and language skills. They learn to articulate their ideas, express their emotions, and provide clear descriptions of their favorite aspects of the book.

✅ Personal Expression Writing a book review gives children a platform to express their unique perspectives and preferences. It allows them to share their enthusiasm for a great book or discuss the elements that resonated with them.

✅ Empowering Voice Book reviews empower children to have a voice and be heard. It builds their confidence in their ability to communicate their thoughts and opinions effectively.

💡 Teacher Tip: Ask questions and you shall receive good book reviews! Prompt kids for engaging book reviews with these questions:

• Name your favourite character. What are some of their traits you admire?
• Did the book teach you anything new or give you a fresh perspective?
• Was there a particular message in the book that stood out to you?
• Would you recommend this book to others? Why or why not?
• What lessons or values can readers take away from this book?
• Was there anything you didn’t like about the book?
• On a scale of 1 to 5 stars, what rating would you give this book?

Encourage kids to write structured book reviews, including an introduction, spoiler-free plot summary, personal insights, and a thoughtful conclusion. Remind them to use specific examples and evidence from the book to support their opinions.

Have kids make a video book review .

Take book reviews to the next level by having your kids film video reviews. This exciting activity not only enhances their writing and presentation skills but also adds a dynamic and multimedia element to this assingment.

We’ve compiled a list of four remarkable YouTube videos where kids enthusiastically review the books they’ve read. These video book reviews not only showcase their genuine excitement but also provide valuable insights into their reading experiences.

Book reviews not only demonstrate the joy of reading but also showcase the power of storytelling and the impact books can have on young minds.

14. Comic Books

When it comes to summer reading activities for elementary kids, comic books are a hidden gem of excitement and learning.

They offer a one-of-a-kind reading experience that seamlessly blends captivating visuals with compelling storytelling.

While some may question the educational value of comic books, it’s important to recognize that reading is a skill that can be developed through various mediums.

Encouraging children to read all types of literature, including comic books, helps cultivate a love for reading by providing engaging and accessible content.

Embracing diverse reading materials, including comic books, expands children’s literary horizons and fosters a lifelong passion for reading.

Comic books are a perfect summer reading activity because they:

Provide Visual Storytelling Comic books combine captivating illustrations with concise text, making them visually appealing and easy to follow. Kids will love the dynamic artwork that brings the story to life, enhancing their reading experience.

Improve Reading Comprehension Reading comics requires interpreting both text and visuals, helping kids develop crucial reading comprehension skills. They learn to analyze visual cues, infer meaning, and make connections between dialogue and illustrations.

Expand Vocabulary Comic books introduce kids to a wide range of vocabulary words in context. They encounter new words through dialogue, narrative captions, and character interactions, enhancing their language skills.

Teach Sequencing and Story Structure Comics teach kids about sequential storytelling and the importance of story structure. As they follow the panels and read in a specific order, they develop an understanding of plot development, character arcs, and narrative pacing.

Increase Engagement and Motivation The colorful artwork and exciting storylines in comics capture kids’ attention and keep them engaged. This motivates them to read more and explore different genres and series, fostering a love for reading.

💡 Teacher Tip: Recycle old comic books for engaging adventures! Instead of letting those cherished comics gather dust, why not give them new life while inspiring a love for reading? Recycling and repurposing old comic books infuse the joy of creativity into the reading experience, making it a fun and memorable way for kids to explore the world of storytelling.

Teachable moments are sure to pop up while combining reading and art in a way that encourages both creativity and literacy skills. Check out this video on how to repurpose old comic books:

But before you start cutting up or repurposing those old comic books, it’s a good idea to do some research to see if any of them hold significant value in the collector’s market .

By embracing comic books as a summer reading activity, children embark on a thrilling journey that combines literacy with visual storytelling. They develop essential reading skills, ignite their imaginations, and cultivate a lifelong love for books.

15. A Book Report, But Make It Fun!

When it comes to engaging summer reading activities for elementary students, look no further than making book reports fun and unique!

Transforming traditional book reports into exciting and creative projects captures children’s imagination and enhances their engagement with the story.

Instead of the standard report, get them to choose from a variety of intriguing options like creating a diorama, designing a comic strip, filming a book trailer, or even organizing a book-themed art exhibition.

Here’s a video to inspire your kids to create unique book reports:

Try these creative book report ideas at home this summer:

🃏 Book Character Trading Cards 🎯 Write an Alternative Ending 📒 Create a Character Scrapbook 🎤 An Interview with the Main Character 🎬 Film a Book Trailer

Discover more ways to make book reports enjoyable for 5th graders here!

These alternative approaches to the common book report encourage children to think outside the box and showcase their understanding of the book in a unique and personalized way.

Let’s make book reports enjoyable for elementary students! By offering fun and unique options, we cultivate a lifelong love for reading.

16. Create a Book Nook or Fort to Read In

Creating a book nook or a reading fort is an exciting and imaginative project for elementary-aged kids.

By personalizing their own reading space, they create a magical world where they can escape into the pages of their favourite stories and enjoy countless hours of reading.

Their book nook transforms into a beloved space where engaging summer reading activities for elementary students thrive.

Here are some simple steps to help you create a cozy reading corner for kids:

Choose the perfect spot. Find a cozy corner or area in your home where a reading sanctuary can exist. It could be a quiet nook in a kid’s bedroom, a corner of the living room, or even a space in the backyard where children can enjoy nature while reading.

Find comfortable seating. Select comfortable seating options such as bean bag chairs , floor pillows , or a comfy reading pillow that will make your reading sessions cozy and relaxing.

Add cozy elements. Enhance the comfort factor by adding soft blankets , throws , soft teddy bears , or pillows that kids can snuggle up with as they dive into the pages of their favourite books.

Display their books neatly. Set up a small bookshelf or bookcase nearby to showcase their book collection and keep them organized. This will make it easy for them to browse through titles and choose their next reading adventure.

💡 Need book recommendations to fill your child’s bookshelf? Explore our blog featuring 31 great picture books for elementary students !

Personalize the space. Make their book nook unique and inviting by adding personal touches. Hang up posters, framed Montessori quotes that inspire peace , interesting posters about reading on the walls , or decorate with positive affirmation posters to create a magical ambiance.

Create a cozy atmosphere. Set the literary mood with soft lighting options like a reading lamp , fairy lights , or a lava lamp . The warm glow will create a soothing atmosphere that is perfect for diving into the pages of a book.

With their own personalized book nook, children have a peaceful and inviting space where they can fully immerse themselves in reading and let their imaginations soar.

💡 Teacher Tip: Involve the kids in creating their cozy book nook! To make the cozy book nook truly special for your kids, get them involved in the design process and encourage them to personalize it according to their preferences. By allowing them to customize their reading space, you empower them to take ownership and pride in their reading space. Let their imagination run wild as they choose their favorite colours, decorations, and elements that make the space uniquely theirs. This collaborative effort will not only foster a sense of ownership but also ignite their excitement and love for reading.

Have kids make a fort or reading den!

Fort building and den making are fun summer reading activities for elementary kids that involve creating a non-permanent, cozy space in your home or backyard as a special reading spot.

Children can use blankets, pillows, and other materials to construct their fort and then fill it with books and snacks for a fun reading experience. It just might be the perfect solution for rainy days or to beat the summer brain drain .

Not only is building a fort or a den a fun and creative activity for kids, but it also provides a unique and comfortable reading environment.

Here are some videos of how to build a reading fort or den!

Go ahead and gather the materials, unleash that creativity, and build the perfect reading fort with your kids for an enchanting and immersive summer reading experience!

17. Host a Book Tasting

This activity is a fun and engaging way for elementary students to explore different genres of literature.

A book tasting event, similar to a food tasting, allows students to explore a variety of books (complete with snacks!) at different stations in a room.

The aim is to give children a small taste of a variety of books in order to pique their interest.

Each station can feature a different genre, such as mystery, fantasy, or non-fiction. To make the activity more exciting, the stations can be decorated accordingly.

When hosting a book tasting at home or in a classroom setting, consider allotting enough time at each station for children to really dive into the book. Starting with 8-12 minutes at each station can help ensure that children have enough time to explore the book and eat the snacks.

I did this with my step-daughter Taylor and let me tell you, hosting a book tasting can be a great way to get children excited about reading and help them discover new books and genres they might not have otherwise discovered on their own.

⬇️ Watch as Jennuine Teaching sets up a book tasting for her classroom. So many great ideas here!

And here’s another look at what a book tasting can look like:

Indulge their literary palate and embark on a book-tasting adventure that will leave your kids hungry for more captivating stories!

18. Roll and Read

Level up your summer reading activities for elementary kids with the engaging Roll and Read game!

This exciting vocabulary development activity involves children rolling a die once a day and completing one of the six different tasks outlined.

Each roll of the die corresponds to a different reading task.

Here are 6 task ideas I’ve used with my upper elementary students: 🎲 Read 11 pages of a fiction book. 🎲 Use a dictionary to find a word you’re unfamiliar with for each letter of your name, write them down, and include their definition. 🎲 Read 3 pages of any book out loud. 🎲 Create a drawing inspired by a favourite scene or character from a book. 🎲 Research and share an interesting fact about the author of the book you’re reading. 🎲 Create a bookmark inspired by the book’s theme or cover design.

This activity is easy to set up and can be played individually or in a group. It encourages children to read a variety of materials every day and engage with the text in different ways.

By completing different reading tasks daily, students are able to develop their reading comprehension, vocabulary, and critical thinking skills in a fun and engaging way.

This activity is a great way to make reading more interactive and enjoyable for elementary students during the summer months.

💡 Teacher Tip: Evolve the Roll and Read challenge! With this game, you have the power to transform the reading tasks throughout the summer, infusing excitement and freshness into each session. Encourage your children to become co-creators of the game by involving them in brainstorming new and exciting reading tasks. Additionally, they can unlock the full potential of the game by revisiting familiar tasks with different books or reading materials, expanding their literary horizons, and strengthening their reading skills.

19. Create Personalized Bookmarks

Making personalized bookmarks is a hands-on, creative, and fun summer reading activity for elementary students.

This activity involves making bookmarks using different materials like coloured paper, beads, ribbons, or even natural items like leaves or flowers.

By making bookmarks, children get to showcase their creativity and create something unique that reflects their personalities.

This activity can encourage children to read more often as they will be proud to use their personalized bookmark with their current book.

They can also make bookmarks for their friends and family, which could lead to sharing and discussing favourite books with each other.

With this activity, the world of summer reading activities that elementary kids will love can be explored!

Get them crafting personalized bookmarks with the help of these video tutorials.

Let their summer reading adventure be marked with their very own unique and customized creations!

20. Summer Reading Log

A summer reading log is one of those reading activities for elementary students that empowers kids to document their reading journey during the summer break.

Not only does it foster a sense of responsibility and time management, but it also allows children to reflect on their reading progress.

Whether it’s a simple tally of books or a personalized journal capturing various aspects, we’re here to provide ideas to suit every reading enthusiast.

Let’s take a look at all those the possibilities!

Simple Book Tracking

You’ll find a lot of online resources offering a variety of printable reading logs that can easily be personalized with vibrant colours and creative designs.

Alternatively, you can encourage kids to unleash their imagination and creativity by designing their own unique book-tracking system. This Montessori-inspired approach not only adds a personal touch but also fosters a sense of ownership and pride in their reading accomplishments.

Here’s a great video to inspire some really fun ways to make reading logs so kids can keep track of the books they read!

Creating a Personal Book Journal

Encourage your kids to make their own personalized journal, like the one featured in the video below, and use it to keep track of their reading. This creative task can be really fun for kids, and they’ll be more inspired to fill it out if they’re the ones that made it.

Inside the journal, kids can design unique reading trackers, such as colourful progress charts, creative book lists, or even thematic sections for different genres.

They can personalize their journal further by adding space for reflections, jotting down memorable quotes, or expressing their thoughts and feelings about the books they read. And to make it even more personal, they can include drawings, stickers, and other details!

In their reading journal, they might want to include things like: ✅ Title and Author ✅ Date they started reading ✅ Date they finished reading ✅ Rating out of 5 stars ✅ Favourite quotes ✅ Lessons they learned ✅ Personal reflections

By keeping track of their reading using a reading log or personal journal, children develop important organizational skills, enhance their writing abilities, and cultivate a deeper connection with the books they explore.

21. Organize a Book Donation Drive

Participating in a book donation drive is a wonderful way for kids to enhance their love for reading and cultivate valuable life skills.

This meaningful experience is an excellent addition to our list of summer reading activities for elementary students. It instills a sense of empathy and generosity in children as they learn the importance of giving back and sharing resources with those in need.

By donating their own gently used books, students learn that they can make a difference in the lives of others, particularly those who may not have access to a wide range of books. This activity helps develop their understanding of social responsibility and the power of collective action.

A book donation drive also encourages children (and adults!) to declutter their own bookshelves and make space for new stories and adventures. It allows them to reflect on the value of the books they have enjoyed and share those experiences with others.

By passing on their cherished books to fellow readers, children learn the joy of sharing and the lasting impact of their actions.

This is one of my favourite book activities for elementary students because it aligns with the Montessori principle of allowing students to take an active role in helping the community, organize an event, and following through with their plans.

Wondering what it takes to put together a book donation drive ?Here are the steps I follow with my elementary students as well as my family: 💡 Choose a Cause Have children do some research to select a local cause or organization that aligns with what they believe in and that will benefit from the book drive, such as a library, school, shelter, or community center. 🗣 Spread the Word Empower children to spread the word among their friends, family, and school community. Engage their creativity and enthusiasm by suggesting they design eye-catching posters and flyers that promote the book drive and inspire everyone to donate their gently used books. 🥅 Set a Goal Guide kids in setting a realistic goal for the number of books they aim to collect. Turn it into an exciting challenge by having them create a vibrant donation drive thermometer. This visual tracker serves as a dynamic representation of progress, motivating everyone to contribute and reach new heights.

📥 Designate Drop-Off Points Ensure a seamless book donation process by designating easily accessible drop-off points within the community. Establish dedicated areas, such as local libraries, community centers, or even grocery stores, where families can conveniently contribute their book donations. Make it hassle-free by clearly labeling the collection bins or boxes, and providing clear instructions for donation drop-offs. 🙌🏼 Organize Sorting Sessions Schedule time for children to help sort and categorize the donated books based on age group, genre, or condition. 🫧 Spruce Up the Books Clean and repair any damaged books, ensuring they are in good condition before being distributed. 📝 Thank Donors Show appreciation to all the contributors by creating handwritten thank-you notes or certificates. 🚛 Deliver the Books Coordinate with the chosen cause or organization to deliver the collected books. Have kids witness the impact of their efforts and celebrate the positive difference they’ve made in their community.

Here’s an inspiring story about two young boys who put together a book drive for another school in need:

Spread the joy of reading while making a positive impact in the community and empowering young minds through the gift of books.

22. Read a Book and Then Watch the Movie Adaptation

This activity is an excellent way to encourage children to read books and get them interested in literature by providing an additional incentive of watching the movie based on the book afterward.

📽 Teacher Tip: Read First, Watch Later! By immersing themselves in the original story, they can unleash their imagination, develop a deeper understanding of the characters and plot, and bring their own unique interpretation to the big screen experience. Reading first enhances the joy of discovery and allows kids to appreciate the book-to-movie transformation even more.

Watching the movie adaptation of a book will help students practice comprehension skills by noting the differences between the book and the movie.

Over the summer break encourage kids to discuss their thoughts on how the movie adaptation relates to the book and get them to point out the differences or similarities between the two.

🎞 Lights, Camera, Read! Get the veggies and dip ready along with some popcorn, and gather the kids for a cinematic adventure! But first, get lost in the pages of these great summer reads and then watch their movie adaptations bring the book to life:

A Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket

Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson

Percy Jackson & The Olympians by Rick Riordan

Fantastic Mr. Fox by Roald Dahl

The Tale of Despereaux by Timothy Basil Ering

Books-turned-movies ignite a love for reading in elementary kids but even better, they bring excitement to summer learning activities

Make this summer a blockbuster hit with a fantastic read and their on-screen adaptation!

💡 Teacher Tip: Ask kids questions like these after watching the movie! • Did the movie capture the same feelings and emotions as the book? • Were there any scenes in the movie that surprised you because they were not in the book? • Did the movie capture the same atmosphere or setting as described in the book? • How did the movie handle the ending compared to the book? Did you like one version more than the other?

23. Twenty Questions – Book Edition

Ignite the spirit of exploration with this interactive vocabulary game that is perfect for summer reading activities elementary students will love!

By combining the joy of reading with the thrill of guessing, Twenty Questions promotes critical thinking, comprehension, and a deep dive into various books and genres.

This activity involves children recalling details, characters, settings, and plotlines from the books they have read. It encourages them to reflect on their reading experiences and strengthens their connection to the stories and themes.

The game follows the classic format of 20 Questions. The person whose turn it is will think of a book while the others try to guess the book title by asking ‘yes’ or ‘no’ questions. See the video below for easy instructions.

Playing 20 Questions with book titles fosters critical thinking skills while providing an enjoyable and interactive approach to summer reading activities elementary kids will appreciate. Encourage curiosity and enhance question-asking abilities in a fun and educational way!

Here are clear and easy instructions on how to play the classic version of 20 Questions:

Steps to playing the Twenty Questions Book Edition game:

Choose a Book One player secretly thinks of a book title in their mind but doesn’t tell the other players what it is.

Start the Game The player who thought of the book title is the ‘Answerer’, and the rest of the players are the ‘Guessers’. The Guessers take turns asking questions that can be answered with ‘yes’ or ‘no’ to figure out the title of the book.

Ask Good Questions Guessers should ask questions that help narrow down the possibilities and guide them to figure out the book title. For example, they can ask things like, “Is the book about animals?”, “Is the main character a boy?”, “Is the genre of the book fiction?”, “Is the cover of the book blue?”, or “Is the book part of a series?”. There are so many great, investigative questions they can formulate.

Track the Questions As the name of the game suggests, Guessers can ask the Answerer a maximum of 20 questions before the Answerer has to reveal the book’s title. The goal is for the Guessers to figure it out before using up all the questions. It’s important for players to listen carefully to the answers and keep track of the questions already asked, so they aren’t repeated.

Make A Guess After each question, the Guessers can make a guess if they want, but they should wait until they feel confident to make a final guess. If someone guesses the title of the book correctly before 20 questions, then they win and become the next player to choose a book title.

Take Turns Once the book has been correctly guessed, it’s another player’s turn to think of a book, and the game starts again.

Summer reading activities elementary students will enjoy don’t get much better than this exciting and educational game of 20 Questions using book titles and their main characters!

💡 Teacher Tip: Ask about the main character! Shake up the book version of 20 Questions by having the Answerers focus on the main characters from books instead of book titles. Watch as Guessers embark on an exhilarating quest to unravel the identity of the main characters through clever questions and deductive reasoning.

24. Choose Books that Have Follow-Up Activity Pages

If you’re looking for unique, brain-flexing summer reading activities for elementary kids, then you’ll want to seek out books with interactive activity pages!

From characters to colour to puzzles, mazes, and more, activity pages related to books bring the characters and adventures to life in an interactive way.

Unfortunately, there aren’t many books out there like this. That’s why we took matters into our own hands and created one ourselves!

Carl the Cantankerous Cat , our self-published picture book, is a charming story that is PURRR-fect for those lazy summer days.

And to enhance the already-loaded learning experience and to provide additional interactive fun, we created activity pages to accompany the picture book . These activity pages are designed to complement the story and engage children in various educational and entertaining activities, all while building their vocabulary.

It’s what we call learning in disguise !

By combining the joy of reading with interactive learning, Carl the Cantankerous Cat and its activity pages offer a well-rounded summer reading activity that will keep children engaged and entertained.

As they pounce into the wild world of Carl, they not only develop their reading comprehension skills but also enhance their creativity, critical thinking, and fine motor skills through a variety of interactive tasks.

You can also get our ebook and activity pack here! Kids can engage in interactive tasks and delightful exercises that complement the adventure of reading Carl, fostering a love for knowledge and exploration.

25. Recipe Reading

Engaging elementary kids in reading activities during the summer doesn’t have to be limited to storybooks and novels. One excellent and practical reading activity for elementary students is reading recipes.

Exploring the world of recipes introduces children to valuable life skills while enhancing their reading comprehension and vocabulary.

Reading recipes can be a fun and interactive way for children to learn about different foods and ingredients. It allows them to follow step-by-step instructions, practice using different measurements, and develop an understanding of cooking techniques.

By reading recipes, children also gain exposure to various culinary traditions and cultures, broadening their knowledge and appreciation for diverse cuisines.

Here’s a great video that clearly explains how to read a recipe.

So go ahead and spice up your list of summer reading activities for your elementary kids with the tantalizing practical life activity. It’s a recipe for educational fun and culinary adventure, that’s for sure!

26. Write Letters

One excellent activity that combines both reading and writing is writing letters.

Encouraging children to write letters not only strengthens their reading comprehension but also allows them to express themselves and develop communication skills.

As kids write letters, they get better at reading by rereading their own messages and understanding the ones they get back. Plus, reading letters from others exposes them to diverse writing styles and broadens their vocabulary.

Children can write letters to family members, friends, or even pen pals from different parts of the world. By exchanging letters, they develop a sense of empathy and understanding, as well as learn about different cultures and perspectives.

Share this information-packed video about writing a friendly letter with your kids :

Writing letters not only enhance reading and writing skills but also allows kids to create meaningful connections and opens the door to conversations about how mail travels around the globe.

During this summer break, encourage your elementary-aged kids to pick up a pen and write some letters.

💡 Teacher Tip: Try these fun letter-writing ideas for elementary kids! ✍🏽 Letter to an author 👯 Letter to a friend 👴🏼 Letter to a family member 👮🏾 Letter to a hero 🧑🏼‍🎓 Letter to future self

27. Write Lists

Making lists is an engaging activity that can help children strengthen their reading and writing skills.

As they jot down items for their summer bucket list or plan their favourite activities, they engage in reading and comprehension skills by deciphering their thoughts into written words. This process not only sharpens their literacy skills but also fosters creativity and organization, making it a valuable summer pastime for young learners.

By brainstorming words that fit specific categories, children are challenged to think creatively and critically, while also expanding their vocabulary and understanding of language.

Incorporating list-making into summer reading activities for elementary students adds an element of fun and personalization, empowering them to express their preferences while actively engaging with books.

📝 Teacher Tip: Get them to write all kinds of lists! Here are some list ideas that your elementary-aged child might enjoy writing: Things That Make You Happy Task elementary kids with creating a list of things that bring them joy and put a smile on their faces, such as spending time with loved ones, engaging in hobbies, or enjoying nature. Resources like our Printable Dream Board Activity for Kids are excellent tools for exploring what brings them joy. Bucket List This is a list of things they want to do or experience in their lifetime, such as visiting certain places, learning new skills, or achieving specific goals.

Favourite Foods When kids write a list of their favourite foods, encourage them to break their interests into different categories including snacks, desserts, and meals. They can also include any special recipes they enjoy or want to try. Favourite Quotes It’s always good to encourage kids to collect a list of inspirational and meaningful quotes that resonate with them. Things I’m Grateful For A gratitude list involves children noting things they are grateful for in life, such as family, friends, hobbies, or experiences. Dream Vacation Destinations Everyone should create this list! Kids can write out the dream vacation spots they would love to visit someday, including places near and far, and what they would like to see or do there. Fun Activities to Do with Friends Get kids to compile a list of fun activities or games they enjoy doing with their friends, such as playing sports, going on scavenger hunts, or having movie nights. This gives them something to reference when they say they don’t know what to play!

Life Lists These could be to-do lists, shopping lists, school or camp supply lists, lists of birthdays, or even a list of lists they need to make. These lists encourage self-reflection, creativity, and exploration. They also provide an opportunity for kids to practice their writing skills while having fun.

Encourage them to dream big with their lists and support them in the process!

Let our Dream Board Activity for Kids printable be your go-to resource to guide your elementary-aged kids to create a list of all the things they want in life.

With prompts, cute characters, and kid-friendly instructions, this is a great learning tool for any student learning about themselves.

Encourage kids to enhance their reading skills while fostering self-love by reading lists of positive affirmations aloud.

Our positive affirmation poster is filled with empowering words that inspire and uplift, helping kids develop a positive mindset and build resilience.

28. Read Everything!

Encouraging elementary students to read everything around them is another one of those dynamic and immersive summer reading activities that expands their literary horizons.

By cultivating an awareness of the written material that surrounds them in their daily lives, children develop a deeper appreciation for the power of language and the abundance of reading opportunities that exist beyond traditional books.

Engaging with a diverse range of text broadens their vocabulary and gain exposure to different writing styles. This exposure helps them develop their reading comprehension skills as they interpret and understand the information presented in different formats.

Through this engaging activity, kids encounter a diverse array of texts, such as: 🚸 Street signs 🛒 Labels at the grocery store ♟ Instructions for games and activities 🍽 Menus 🔖 Brochures 🪪 Business cards 🖼 Movie posters 🗺 Maps

Each encounter presents a chance to engage with different writing styles, expand vocabulary, and build reading comprehension skills.

By deciphering and interpreting information in various formats, children sharpen their critical thinking abilities and enhance their understanding of real-world applications of reading.

This is one of those easy summer reading activities elementary students are captivated by. They often don’t even realize how much they’re learning because they’re having such a good time.

29. Activity Books for the Win

When it comes to summer reading activities for elementary students, activity books that inspire creativity are always a good choice.

These types of books offer more than just reading directions – they provide a gateway to critical thinking, idea generation, and follow-through, all wrapped in a bundle of fun.

Within the pages of activity books, children have the opportunity to enhance their writing skills. By completing various fun activities, from drawing to filling in blanks or writing short stories, they not only refine their penmanship and letter formation but also strengthen their overall writing abilities.

Here are some outstanding activity books for elementary-aged kids:

Let these remarkable activity books accompany your child on a journey of discovery and joy, where learning and fun go hand in hand.

Discover Our Exciting Activity Book for Kids Hours of fun and purposeful learning await your elementary child!

We love activity books so much that we decided to create our very own that’s truly something special.

Our carefully crafted masterpiece: the Draw Doodle Scribble Think Create Activity Book was born out of our collaborative efforts.

Together we, a Montessori teacher and a creative designer, brought to life this remarkable 100+ page activity book with eye-catching images and engaging prompts. It’s a testament to our commitment to providing purposeful and engaging learning experiences for elementary children.

Designed to captivate and inspire, the Draw Doodle Scribble Think Create Activity Book is a boundless source of imaginative exploration, seamlessly blending reading, hands-on activities, and limitless possibilities.

Learn more about our activity book in this detailed article: Your Kids Need This Activity Book with Unique Drawing Prompts (+ Free Printable Activity!) .

This summer, get your kids to dive into the world of activity books, and watch as their imaginations soar, their writing skills flourish, and their love for reading grows. It’s a win-win for both learning and fun in the realm of summer reading activities for elementary kids.

30. Enjoy Screen time With Subtitles On and Sound Off

Pair the enjoyment of watching their favourite shows, movies, or educational YouTube channels with the opportunity to enhance their reading skills in a fun and interactive way by watching with subtitles on and sound off.

Watching programs with subtitles on and sound off is an unconventional yet highly effective approach to promoting reading fluency.

As children read the subtitles while following the visual storyline, they develop their reading speed and accuracy. They learn to quickly recognize words and comprehend their meanings in the context of the program.

Watching programs with subtitles also helps expand vocabulary and language comprehension. Subtitles expose children to a wide range of words, phrases, and expressions that may be new to them.

It also introduces them to different sentence structures and idiomatic expressions, contributing to their language development and improving their comprehension skills.

Incorporate subtitles into your child’s screen time this summer to provide an engaging platform for them to practice reading, expand their knowledge, and develop a love for diverse stories and cultures.

📺 Teacher Tip: Enhance their viewing experience with these programs! Here are some recommended programs to watch with subtitles on and sound off as part of summer reading activities for elementary kids: 🌿 Nature documentaries 🎞 Animated movies 😆 Sitcoms 🎨 Art and craft demonstrations 🧪 Science documentaries 🏈 Sports highlights 🥘 Cooking and baking shows With subtitles, children can embark on exciting adventures, broaden their horizons, and develop crucial reading skills, all while enjoying their favourite programs.

31. Tell Them About the Books You Love

Sharing the books you love with your elementary-aged children makes for a powerful addition to your list of summer reading ideas for elementary students.

By opening up about your favourite books, whether from your childhood or current reads, you have the opportunity to ignite curiosity, broaden literary horizons, and create meaningful connections with young readers.

Sharing the books you love makes you a reading role model for your children. Express your excitement, discuss your reading habits, and share the impact these books have had on you to inspire them to see reading as a pleasurable and enriching activity.

Moreover, when you share the books you love, you offer a glimpse into your reading experiences and interests. By sharing stories that resonate with you and explaining why they are special, you invite children to learn more about you and your passions.

📖 Here are some books we love! From timeless classics to insightful self-help, these literary gems have enriched our minds and hearts and sparked meaningful conversations with the elementary-aged kids in our lives.

Share the books you love during the break and make summer reading activities for elementary students a special bonding experience.

Engage in Summer Reading Activities Kids Will Love!

Studies have shown that students who don’t engage in reading during the summer months can experience the ‘ summer brain drain ‘ and lose some of the gains they made during the school year.

That’s why it’s crucial to provide elementary students with engaging and interactive reading activities during the summer break that they will actually enjoy doing. Not only will this help prevent the summer slide, but it will also show kids that reading comes in many different forms.

We love using summer reading activities elementary students love because they:

💡 enrich and expand a child’s knowledge base; 💡 develop language skills; 💡 promote the use of imagination and creativity; 💡 provide emotional and cognitive development; 💡 encourage independent learning and self-discovery; 💡 are opportunities for personal and social growth; 💡 prepare them for the school year ahead; 💡 make reading really fun!

Beat Summer Brain Drain with Summer Reading Activities for Elementary Kids

The summer brain drain , also known as summer learning loss or the summer slide, is a phenomenon where students experience a decline in academic skills and knowledge over the summer break.

This is especially prevalent in areas such as reading and math, where consistent practice and reinforcement are essential for building and retaining skills. Without the structure and routine of the school year, students may become less engaged in learning and miss out on opportunities for intellectual stimulation.

The summer brain drain can have a long-term impact on a student’s academic success. It is important for parents and educators to be aware of this phenomenon and take steps to prevent summer learning loss by providing engaging learning opportunities during the summer months.

Don’t let the summer brain get ahold of your child! Make sure some of the outlined summer reading activities for elementary kids are a part of your child’s summer plan.

The Wrap-Up: Fun Summer Reading Activities Elementary Students Will Love

Summer reading activities for elementary students are an incredible way to keep their minds engaged, foster a love for reading, and promote continuous learning during any break from the classroom.

By incorporating some of the activities listed into their summer routine, you can create a fun and enriching environment that sparks their imagination, expands their knowledge, and develops essential literacy skills.

Encourage your elementary kids to explore captivating stories, embark on literary journeys, and try new ways of enhancing their reading skills.

📰 Have You Read These Blogs Yet?

🎯 15 Benefits of Using Games in the Classroom 👀 How to Make a Scavenger Hunt for Kids in 9 Steps 🏃🏽‍♂️ The Best Neighborhood Walk Scavenger Hunt and 13 Different Ways to Use It 🧩 8 Easy Rebus Puzzles (with Answers!) 🔎 Rebus Puzzles for Kids: A Comprehensive Riddle-Solving Guide 📝 11 Ways to Use Our Roll A Story Dice Game 🎲 15 Educational Games With Three Dice for Kids 💡 Your Kids Need This Activity Book with Unique Drawing Prompts 🔢 21 Fun Math Games with Dice to Try With Kids 8-12 💬 11 Unique Vocabulary Development Activities for the Elementary Leve l 🧮 9 Montessori-Aligned Math Activities for Elementary Students

✨ Unlinked images in this blog were brought to you by “ www.freepik.com “✨

Donna Paul, with over 15 years as a certified Montessori teacher, is praised for her engaging teaching style. Beyond the classroom, she's a children's book author and spearheads two impactful blogs with her partner, Karen: thatssomontessori.com for Montessori insights at the elementary level and thenomadicstrays.com for simple road life living. Based in British Columbia, Canada, Donna's nomadic life allows her to share ideas and develop educational products with Karen as they travel. Donna can be found spreading smiles and knowledge wherever she roams.

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2023 Summer Reading Programs Where Kids Earn Free Books, Movie Tickets, Pizza, and More

Encourage the love of books!

Digging into a great book under a sun umbrella, preferably poolside, is one of the joys of summer. And the benefits of reading still hold true even when school isn’t in session. Thankfully, a number of summer reading programs help keep the learning going over the summer months, and kids can earn free goodies along the way! Here are our picks for the best summer reading programs for kids.

1. Barnes & Noble

Every summer, Barnes & Noble curates an excellent list of 100+ books that make for fun (and secretly educational) summer reads for kids of all ages. Kids can earn a free book after they read eight books and log them on the downloadable reading journal. The Barnes and Noble kids’ summer reading program is only available to students in grades 1–6. Only one book is available for each child who completes a reading journal, and the choice must be made from the selected books available at the store. Download the B&N 2023 Summer Reading Journal today!

Learn more: Barnes & Noble Summer Reading Program

2. Reading Is Fundamental

Soar into summer with Reading Is Fundamental , the nation’s largest children’s literacy nonprofit. First take the summer reading pledge. Then join RIF on a series of summer reading field trips. You’ll find recommended books plus accompanying activities and videos, as well as a printable reading log, printable scrapbooks, postcards, and more.

Learn more: RIF Summer Reading

3. Half Price Books

The Half Price Books Summer Reading Camp for kids hosts gift card giveaways on social media for kids who read for at least 300 minutes during the months of June and July. The program website also features printable coloring sheets, online story times, and mystery book recommendations for ages ranging from preschool to teens.

Learn more: Half Price Books Summer Reading Camp

4. Public Libraries

Check your local library for more free kids’ summer reading programs with activities and incentives for all ages. Most libraries also have story times and other reading-themed activities.

Learn more: Collaborative Summer Library Program 

5. Junie B. Kids Club

With over 60 million books sold, the bestselling Junie B. Jones series is a classroom favorite that has been keeping kids laughing and reading for over 20 years. Sign up for the Junie B. Jones Reading Club and your kid will stay connected with all things Junie B.! Expect monthly updates about fun new activities, events, sweepstakes, and more.

Learn more: Junie B. Kids Club

6. Professional Sports Teams

Many professional sports teams sponsor summer reading programs, including the Tampa Bay Rays and the Chicago Fire FC. Check with your local team to see if they offer a reading program.

Learn more: Reading With the Rays and Chicago Fire Kids’ Club

7. Scholastic

Scholastic has a an online summer reading program that challenges kids to go online and record the minutes they read. This year, kids can build an avatar, make new friends, earn virtual rewards, and help unlock donations for kids with limited or no access to books. All you need to do is sign up and keep a “reading streak” in Scholastic Home Base over the summer.

Learn more: Scholastic Read-a-Palooza

Sync has a summer reading program just for teens that will give them two free audiobooks each week this summer. Perfect for both on-the-go and on-the-couch reading. Each week they offer a current YA book as well as a classic title that teens will be able to download for free through the Sora/OverDrive app.

Learn more: Sync Summer Audiobook Program for Teens

9. Camp BOOK IT! With Pizza Hut

Join BOOK IT! summer camp to encourage reading all summer long. Track kids’ reading for the summer months in their digital dashboard. If they meet their monthly reading goal, kids receive a free Personal Pan Pizza from Pizza Hut!

Learn more: Camp BOOK IT!

10. Showcase Cinemas

Read a book and earn a ticket for a free summer flick! Kids can earn free admission to a select children’s film when they present a book report at a participating Showcase Cinemas box office.

Learn more: Showcase Cinemas Bookworm Wednesdays

11. Start your own book club

Reading is more fun with friends, so why not start your very own book club? Gather 8 to 10 friends from school, summer camp, or neighbors that are all around the same reading level as your child, pick a theme, and start your reading engines! Chicago Parent magazine offers some great tips for starting your own summer reading club. 

What kids’ summer reading programs have we missed? Come and share in our WeAreTeachers HELPLINE group on Facebook.

Plus, check out these scratch-off reading challenges and  free downloadable bookmarks..

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Home » Blog Posts » ELA » Fun Summer Reading Activities for Kids

Fun Summer Reading Activities for Kids

• ELA , Holidays & Seasonal

With summer comes fun, play time, and sleeping in late. Unfortunately, it also means potential reading loss for kids. This post shares fun summer reading activities for kids in upper elementary grades . These engaging ideas are easy to use and help kids prepare to re-enter school in the fall stronger.

PLUS–you can grab some FREE summer reading challenges for kids!

This post may contain affiliate links to Amazon and other companies. These links are provided for your convenience. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases, which do not cost any extra for you. Please see the  full disclosure here .

What is the Summer Slide?

His cheeks were so red and he could barely maintain eye contact with me.

When I walked over to ask him what happened, he sheepishly whispered, “I can’t read this.”

This was during the first week of school several years ago with a former 4th grade student. He already struggled with reading throughout 3rd grade, but became even more behind during the summer.

Why? Because of the dreaded summer slide.

Scholastic reports that 3rd through 5th grade students lose up to 20% of the reading skills they gained during the school year when they don’t read during the summer.

And this was pre-pandemic.

Kids, especially now, need engaging summer reading activities. And we have them for you here.

Summer Reading Challenges for Kids

By far my favorite fun way to keep kids engaged with reading is to use reading challenges.

Years ago, I ditched using reading logs in favor of challenges .

My students are way more motivated to complete a reading challenge than a chart or reading log that only lists what books they’ve read.

And you know how I keep kids from losing the challenge lists? Put them on bookmarks!

Having the challenges on bookmarks cuts down on students losing them because they are using the bookmark while they’re reading.

Here’s how I use Reading Bookmark Challenges instead of Reading Logs:

• Each week my students get a bookmark from me with five reading ideas on it. When they complete a reading assignment,  aka challenge , they color that space on their bookmark.
• For our 9-week grading period, this gives students 35 different reading ideas/challenges.
• I give reading awards during 3, 6, and 9 week intervals as a way to further motivate them to complete all the reading assignments/challenges.
• Some of these challenges can be completed at home and some can be completed at school. That allows flexibility for students.

I change the challenges depending on the season or activities happening in our class. This is what allows them to work so well during the summer.

Students get these from me the last week of school and if they bring them back to me during the following school year, I give them a prize!

If this seems like too much for you, ask your school’s librarian to help you manage the details.

There’s enough variety with each bookmark challenge that students don’t get bored keeping up with reading throughout the school year.

Interesting Nonfiction Passages and Magazines

If you’ve ever asked yourself, “How do I motivate my child to read during the summer?” then I strongly recommend using high-interest nonfiction texts themed for the summer.

Upper elementary kids love learning new random facts! Use this to your advantage by offering them magazines with really fun topics.

Most children’s magazines also offer games and activities aligned to the articles and stories kids read.

Any nonfiction passage you pick must be something big kids like to read. Having a variety of summer-related topics really helps if you don’t know what your kiddo likes to read.

Of course, you can always ask them what they like!

The quick-reads I enjoy using challenge students to color-code their answers, which forces them to refer back to the text.

This is such an important reading skill that kids don’t need to lose over the summer! You can see more details about these passages:

• May and June Passages
• July and August Passages

How Do I Find Affordable Books and Magazines for Students?

If you’re looking for cheap ways to stock your classroom library , then check out the post linked in this sentence.

But when it comes to finding books or magazines to use as summer reading activities, I recommend Amazon’s Kindle Unlimited .

This is a digital reading program, but you don’t have to have a Kindle reader to use it. You can download the free Kindle reading app on any device.

I’ve used it for years as a teacher and parent. I pay a flat fee every month of $9.99 with access to thousands of books and magazines.

There’s no additional costs to have up to 3 magazine subscriptions + up to 10 books in your “queue” at the same time.

The variety they offer to upper elementary students’ reading tastes is really good too.

You can try it here FREE for 30 days if you’d like.

EPIC or Vooks Animated E-Books

Speaking of digital reading, another option for fun summer reading activities for upper elementary kids relates to the apps EPIC and Vooks.

Both have a huge assortment of books just for kids. Even more than Kindle Unlimited, which offers adult reading material also by the way.

Vooks takes their digital reading to the next level with videos acting out the reading.

And they are awesome!

It’s an ad-free library of animated story books that turn read-alouds into video content. That’s where the name comes from: video + books= Vooks.

I especially like how the words to the story show up on the screen with the animations.

They even include lesson plans that can be helpful in saving time.

To me, there’s more content for elementary teachers rather than middle or high school.

This means you have lots of fun summer reading books for your 3rd through 5th graders.

So, if you want to spice up your virtual reading,  you can get 30 Days FREE here.   (affiliate link)

Public Library Reading Programs

In addition to the ideas above, you can make reading fun by participating in your local library’s public reading programs.

Of course the nitty gritty details of this depend on your library’s children’s department.

For instance, at my local library every summer they have summer reading activities for kids like:

• Author visits where kids meet children’s book authors
• Re-enactments or reader’s theater for certain stories
• “Read and Play Dates” where parents bring kids to partner read together

These are just a few options available; your local library may have more or less.

Even if they don’t have lots of options, ask your librarian for book recommendations or ideas on what your students can read during the summer.

You can also grab some ideas for different chapter books HERE .

Vocabulary & ELA Practice for Upper Elementary

Even though this post focuses on reading, many kids will also need general vocabulary practice this summer. Vocabulary and word-building is directly connected to reading success and interest.

If your kids struggle with reading, their interest in summer reading will naturally be low. Maybe your students need tutoring, but their families can’t afford that.

Then I recommend giving students the type of affordable, yet effective vocabulary and ELA workbook practice that will help them improve.

I wrote a book specifically for upper elementary kids who need simple and on-going vocabulary practice to strengthen their reading skills.

The exercises in this book are standards-aligned and rigorous, but also interesting enough to keep students engaged.

Not only that, but these exercises come with lesson examples and allow kids to complete each one independently.

Adding this to your list of summer reading activities will keep kids from losing ground due to the dreaded summer slide.

Summer Enrichment Learning Around the House

Last, but not least, you can make summer reading interesting with learning activities around the house .

Learning takes place in the everyday scenarios of life:

• Reading a recipe book to help cook
• Watching a movie that’s based on a children’s book, then reading the book to compare the two (maybe you want to do this in the reserve order!)
• Writing letters or journal entries
• Painting a picture, then writing a caption for it
• Enjoying a bedtime story together
• Reading newspapers and magazines
• Build a pillow or sheet fort in the house, grab some flashlights and have a “Living Room Reading Camp!”

I could go on and on with this list, but the point is to make teachable moments from your normal routine. These can really keep the learning going as you enjoy your summer days with kids.

Plus, these summer lesson activities require no additional prep work from adults. Just print and go!

For more ways to keep your kiddos engaged during the summer, check out the eight ideas mentioned in this post:

Answers to Common Questions about Reading Outside of School

Even with the ideas mentioned above, you may want to know more.

Whether you’re a teacher, homeschooling parent, or a parent who just wants to make sure your child doesn’t fall behind, here are answers to your most common questions:

• How can I make summer reading fun? Start with the summer reading challenges offered for free. Allow your kids to choose books with topics they enjoy.
• What are some fun ways to teach a child to read? Hands-on learning activities are my favorite for beginning readers. Check out the phonics and reading comprehension games that I recommend for 2nd grade readers here .
• How can I help my child with reading when I work full-time? Doing everything alone burns you out! If you are a full-time working parent, use engaging activities that kids can do independently or ask someone you trust with help.
• Is it ok for my kid to read e-books or should we only use printed books? The debate swirling around learning on devices is still pretty high. To e-book or not to e-book; the short answer: it depends on your kids’ ages and reading strengths. If you want the longer, research-based answer, we have it for you here in this post .
• My kid loves math, but hates reading. What should I do? Connect their love of math with reading by giving them these math read-alouds to enjoy this summer!

Free Summer Reading Activities for Upper Elementary

Kick off your kids’ reading with these FREE summer reading challenges!

Teachers can give these to students during the last days of school. Parents can keep them going throughout the summer.

Either way, they make summer reading fun!

What other ideas do you want to try from this post? Let us know in the comment below.

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