summer reading learning activities

15 Excellent Summer Reading Ideas For Young Readers

Lucas Maxwell

Lucas Maxwell has been working with youth in libraries for over fifteen years. Originally from Nova Scotia, Canada, he's been a high school librarian in London, UK for over a decade. In 2017 he won the UK's School Librarian of the Year award and in 2022 he was named the UK Literacy Association's Reading For Pleasure Teacher Champion. He loves Dungeons & Dragons and is the author of Let's Roll: A Guide for Setting up Tabletop Roleplaying Games in Your School or Public Library. You can follow him on Twitter and on his blog .

View All posts by Lucas Maxwell

Getting youth to read over the summer can sometimes be a challenge. Luckily, there are several fun and non-stressful ideas out there to keep them engaged with reading. In my opinion, striving for a particular number of books or meticulously noting down which books you’ve read may not be the approach for you and may actually increase the amount of stress you have. Reading one book over the summer might be what you’re aiming for, with the goal to enjoy yourself. That’s why I hope these summer reading program ideas provide some inspiration and enjoyment when it comes to reading for fun this summer.

1. Get Caught Reading

Getting students to read in fun, unique places can entice them to take part in different summer reading programs. Having prizes for the coolest places can also be effective. In the past I’ve had a lot of success with this one, with students having their pictures taken on trampolines, up trees, even in dryers (definitely don’t encourage that one). I usually put an asterisk on these ones as I hope students can provide a review of the book they’ve chosen with the picture, considering the whole idea is for them to choose a book they love!

2. Shared Reading

This one can be tricky but worth it, in my opinion. I get students and staff to choose one book to read over the summer. I try to get them to choose in May or June so I can get more copies of the book. I also strongly encourage them to visit local libraries to borrow the book. I then post regular updates about the book over the summer in the attempt to create a shared experience. The uptake on this program might not be massive but if a student or parent wants to be involved I will do everything I can to get the book into their hands. It’s a lot of fun to get students to vote on which book will be the summer read.

3. Surprise Summer read

I’ve written before about this great program. This works with younger students, teens, and definitely adults. I get people to tell me their favourite genre, which can be anything. I will then take a book from our shelves, wrap it up, and deliver it to them before the end of the school year. I ask that the teachers and students write a review of the book on a recipe / display card that I can then put on display in September. It’s a lot of fun and works really well.

4. Give Away Those Weeded Books

This has to have some clarification. I do not recommend giving away weeded books that are so ratty that they look like the Dead Sea Scrolls. In my experience, we sometimes have books that are in great condition but never circulate for reasons that no one will ever understand. These books might find a home somewhere if they are simply moved to a different location or seen in a different light. This is why I recommend giving them away as part of a relaxed summer reading program. I cannot stress enough the impact of giving away books can have on students: they really love getting books. Having a table of good quality weeded books is a great way to keep them reading over the summer.

5. Take a Look at Art This Summer

I have run this in the past and it’s been really popular. I borrowed a huge art book from the library that covered ancient and modern art. Each day I took a look at one painting and spent some time reading about it. This was just a way for me to try and broaden my horizons as much as possible. However, what it did was even better, as I decided to go to a local art gallery and find out more about different artists. I went to a larger gallery and was able to find some of the pieces that I had read about. This is not possible for everyone, but I really looked forward to reading about the history of each art piece every evening. I want to stress that this is not something I thought I’d ever be interested in. This would be a fun, easy summer reading program idea for families to take part in.

6. Read in 100 places

If you want to take the “Get Caught Reading” challenge up a notch, you can try this Read in 100 Places Activity . It creates a checklist of different places kids can read in over the summer. The idea of course is to make it a fun challenge and to hopefully keep them reading all summer long.

7. Reading Scavenger Hunt

This one also looks really cool , especially for younger students. It’s a free printable activity that gets kids to read books that a friend recommends, that they get from the public library, and so on. It’s a great way to try different and interesting books in my opinion.

8. Comic book challenge

I’ve written before about comics and how they still count as reading. I think if you’ve got a young one at home that seems reluctant to read in any way you can provide a fun challenge. To read as many comics as they can by the end of the summer, or finish one comic if that will be a good enough challenge. I love reading comics and will encourage students to read them as much as possible!

9. Reading Logs

Reading logs aren’t really my thing, but some students love them, as do some parents. If you are one of those people that wants to keep track of their books, you can make your own list as you go or find a free printable one here . My advice is to not get too worked up over them or to stress about filling them in or reaching a certain number.

10. Yearly reading

I’ve never personally done this summer reading program but I love the idea of it. Ask someone in your family the year they born and read a book from that year. It’s fun, simple, and will can generate some interesting discussion.

11. Book quizzes

I did these over lockdown here in the UK and they were very popular. There’s nothing to say that they won’t be popular as a summer reading program if you’ve got the time once a week. How it works is very simple. Before the end of the school year, choose ten to twenty different books that have been quite popular over the year. Make a series of quizzes on Kahoot, Quizizz, or something similar. Once a week for the first or last few weeks of the summer, hold a book quiz where families can log in using private codes to take the quiz. It can be a great way to keep them thinking about books over the summer and promotes books they may not have read as well.

12. One minute book review

Again, I did these over lockdown and they were very popular. I made a YouTube account and recorded 1 minute book reviews of books that I had read. I just did these on my phone, and they were simple and effective. I am going to encourage older students and staff to try this over the summer whether they just record their voices or take a video of the book themselves.

13. Virtual reading

Another hugely popular program over lockdown, this one you’ll need permission from the publisher, for unless the book is a classic that’s not covered for copyright reasons. I read a book aloud (again, with permission) and recorded myself reading it. The book was aimed at eleven to twelve year-old students and it was very popular with parents who wanted their students to engage with reading. I also strongly suggest an audiobook challenge where students listen to at least one audiobook over the summer.

14. Librarian’s choice

If there’s one thing librarians love to do, it’s recommend books. This is a fun and simple reading idea for the summer. Go to your public library and ask the librarian for one book that they recommend you read over the summer. It can be for someone of any age.

15. If you read just one book…

Another fun and simple one for the summer. I’m going to write on the whiteboard in the library “Recommend One Book To Read This Summer” and see what response I get. Students love recommending books and writing on the whiteboard in general; this kills two birds with one stone and creates a unique shared experience.

I hope some of these are summer reading program ideas are useful. The ultimate goal is to have fun and keep reading, whatever that may be. If you are fortunate enough to have a public library near you I strongly recommend visiting as they usually have unique and fun ideas that are specific to your area of the world. They also have summertime events and author visits that can really make a big difference in how youth engage with reading.

Finally, if you’re an adult who wants to do a summer reading program, we’ve got you covered!

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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.

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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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30 Summer Reading Activities For Elementary Students: Book Recommendations, Crafts, Games, And More

April 6, 2024 //  by  Josilyn Markel

For young readers, Summer can go one of two ways: Either they can improve their reading abilities and be prepared for the next grade level, or they can regress and fall behind. In order to make sure that your elementary school students keep up with their reading throughout the Summer, it’s important to offer plenty of engaging activities for them to enjoy all Summer long. Here are thirty of the best Summer reading activities that can help your child stay sharp throughout the Summer vacation!

1. Summer Reading Bingo

This is a great activity that allows kids to bring a sense of novelty and fun to all of their Summer reading adventures. It offers your child activities that are versatile and exciting for a wide range of ages; great for kids who are reading chapter books or even for young readers who still prefer picture books.

Learn More: Books For Topics

2. Reading Bucket List

This is a fun list that brings together a lot of different elements of reading and presents them in an easy-to-follow manner. It includes some fun Summer titles and excellent books for children of all ages. These books and activities can help them grow both as readers and as little humans!

Learn More: Learning Through Literature

3. Summer Reading Calendar

You shouldn’t go into the Summer without having this calendar displayed prominently in your home! It’s the perfect decorative addition to your Summer holiday and a great way to keep the goal of Summer reading at the forefront of your family’s mind. Simply print the calendar and follow along throughout the hot Summer months.

Learn More: Chuck E-Cheese

4. Family Dinner Book Club

There is real value in reading books and discussing them together as a family. This pack of activities and conversation starters is geared towards promoting family reading and discussions over the dinner table. It’s a holistic way to include the whole family in the children’s Summer reading goals and growth.

Learn More: Growing Book By Book

5. Reading in Different Places

If your kids are tired of staying inside to do their Summer reading assignments, then it is time to change up the reading location! There are so many different places to read about and read in. This list provides inspiration for more adventurous readers who aren’t afraid to get a little messy while looking for the perfect reading spot.

Learn More: The Measured Mom

6. Ice Cream and Literacy

With these fun ice cream cone crafts, you can help your kids practice reading comprehension throughout the holiday. After all, Summertime is the perfect season for ice cream, and it just makes sense to combine two of the best Summer activities! 

Learn More: Twinkl

7. Library Scavenger Hunt

Whether you’re a family that loves to spend a lot of time at the local library or you’re just getting interested in the library, this scavenger hunt is for you! It’s a great way to get kids excited about choosing books to read for the Summer, and it’s the perfect tool for getting them acquainted with all of the cool resources that are available at their local library.

Learn More: 123 Homeschool 4 Me

8. Keep a Book Log

One of the easiest ways to track Summer reading progress is to simply keep a reading log. The reading log shows what your child is reading, how much they’re reading, and what they’re learning along the way. It’s awesome to look back on all their progress at the end of the holiday and inspire them for the next one!

Learn More: Simple As That Blog

9. Special Summer Reading Currency

If your child needs a bit more motivation to read throughout the Summer, then play money could be a great tool. You can use these “book bucks” to help your kids see the value of reading. Just make sure that you have some special prizes on hand too!

Learn More: Amazon

10. Roll & Read Game

This game leaves all of the Summer reading fun up to chance! Based on the roll of a die, your kids will be prompted to complete different activities. They’ll be faced with a variety of challenges that will keep things interesting throughout the whole Summer.

Learn More: Planning Playtime

11. Give Books as Gifts

One of the best ways to encourage reading throughout the Summer is to make sure that kids have interesting books on hand. Here’s a list of stimulating and encouraging children’s books that make great gifts. Plus the gift of reading and learning is the best thing you can give to a child!

Learn More: NY Mag

12. Reading Challenge Bookmarks

These little bookmarks are packed with big Summer reading challenge activities. Plus, since they’re always inside the book, they’re easy to have on hand. Kids won’t forget the challenges and they’ll be motivated to work consistently towards their Summer reading goals.

13. Schedule a Reading “Date”

If you’re a teacher who wants to keep your students interested in reading throughout the entire holiday, you can arrange book dates with your students. Simply invite them and their family to the classroom, local library, or bookshop to spend some time reading together. This will encourage the whole family to read throughout the summer break.

Learn More: Reader Pants

14. Reading Comprehension Cootie Catcher

This is a special twist on the classic cootie catcher game. Here, you can print and follow the instructions to make a tool for getting kids interested in Summer reading and related comprehension practice. It’s great for tactile learners too.

Learn More: Teachers Pay Teachers

15. Family Read Aloud Time

Nothing beats reading books aloud with the family. Study after study has shown the importance and benefits of reading aloud with kids and offering them a safe space to practice their reading skills. If you don’t do it already, it’s time to start reading aloud as a family every single day!

Learn More: NCYI.org

16. Reading Photo Frame Challenge

With this activity, you can encourage kids to look back on all that they have read and learned about over the Summer. It’s a great way to incorporate arts and crafts into the reading adventure. 

Learn More: Pinterest

17. Summer Reading Journal

This is a printable reading journal that is specially designed for elementary school students. It brings together some prompts and encouraging messages that will help kids start a great reading habit over the Summer. Plus, they’ll be able to keep up the habit throughout the whole year.

18. Write Your Own Book

A great way to encourage students to get into reading is to entice them with a book of their own. Kids love to make up stories, and you can leverage this love of creativity!  

Learn More: Student Treasures

19. Level-Appropriate Book Reports

Book reports are a key part of research and academic life, and it’s never too early to get your children reading and analyzing literature critically. Book reports are a great way to get children to reflect on what they’re reading and understand the meaning in a broader context.

Learn More: Study.com

20. 20 Questions 

If you’re at a loss for what to discuss about books, here’s a handy list of 20 questions that can get the conversation started. You can also use these questions as a game to guess and learn more about what your kids are reading during the Summer months.

Learn More: RM Archer

21. Destination Reading

If traveling is part of your Summer plans, then reading is a great way to get your kids excited about upcoming trips. Find books about the places you want to see during the Summer, and invite your kids to read up on the cool places that they’ll visit.

Learn More: Kindred Media

22. Press Wildflowers in a Heavy Book

This one is not about reading per se, but it does involve some big, heavy books. Have your kids collect wildflowers at the beginning of the Summer, and press them in a heavy book between parchment paper. Then, enjoy your dried flowers throughout the cooler months.

Learn More: First Day Of Home

23. Phonics and Word Family Exercises

These are easy and effective activities to help your child remember phonics and basic reading skills when they’re not at school during the Summer. The printable activities are great for families who want to support their kids outside the classroom.

Learn More: Proud To Be Primary

24. Scholastic Online Reading Challenge

This is a worldwide reading challenge that encourages kids to keep reading throughout the Summer. It connects kids from all over the world and their lots of perks and prizes that students can earn throughout their holiday.

Learn More: Scholastic

25. Map Your Summer Reading

What places are your kids reading about? Get a map, some pins, and some craft supplies, and make a record of all the cool places that they’re visiting in the pages of their favorite Summer books. This is also a fun decor idea for a kid’s bedroom or a classroom.

Learn More: KC Edventures

26. Printable Summer Reading Activity Packs

This has got to be one of the easiest Summer reading activities since you simply have to print it out and it’s ready to go! This packet is full of reading comprehension and reflection activities that are perfect for elementary students.

Learn More: 3 Dinosaurs

27. Books-A-Million Summer Reading Program

The popular booksellers have a great Summer reading program that brings together motivation and excitement for young readers. They also have prizes and activities for students of all ages and stages, including live events in many locations around the country.

Learn More: Books A Million

28. Reading Fun in the Sun

This is the first of several units that feature reading comprehension activities. The units cover lots of different fun topics, and you can space out the activities throughout the whole Summer. Remember to check out all of the units on the website!

29. Phonics Throughout the Summer

These activities are geared toward students who will be away from the classroom throughout the Summer. It’s a great way to keep kids focused and fresh through the holidays so that they don’t struggle when they return to school in the Fall.

Learn More: Royal Baloo

30. Barnes and Noble Summer Reading Journal

This is a printable journal to help your children keep track of and reflect on all of the great books that they read through the Summer months. It’s perfect for keeping up with your kids, and it offers great conversation starters, too!

Learn More: Barnes And Nobles

Explore Topics

Discover books and activities for reading, exploring, and learning about our world.

Do you know children who are fascinated by dinosaurs, planes, bugs, birds, animals, the moon and stars, art, thunder and lightning? Are there any young detectives, explorers, or superheroes at home? Do your kids love reading poetry, myths, or tall tales? Start with a book … and open up a world of discovery and learning! Browse our topic library below to jumpstart your learning adventure.

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15 summer reading activities to keep kids’ brains switched on

Did you know kids can forget up to three months of classroom learning over the school holidays? It’s known as ‘summer slide’ (a lot less fun than a real slide), summer learning loss, or ‘summer brain drain’ (ewww).

But wait – did you also know personalized books have a profoundly positive effect on children’s literacy skills? Hurrah!

As part of our Summer of Reading campaign, here are our top tips for keeping your kids’ imaginations and reading skills buzzing over the summer months. Including fun reading activities, best children’s book festivals, kids’ podcasts and more – so you can turn summer reading from a challenge, into a triumph!

1. Read cereal boxes at breakfast

Or yoghurt pots. Or milk cartons. Or newspaper comic strips. Anything you’ve got to hand!

2. Listen to audiobooks in the car

Long car journeys planned? There are some fabulous children’s audiobooks available to keep them (and you!) entertained for hours. Right now we’re loving Hank the Cowdog by John R. Erickson, How to Train Your Dragon by Cressida Cowell and narrated by David Tennant, and Julia Donaldson’s A Treasury of Songs

3. Make a holiday guidebook

Check out our fun holiday activity The Tiny Traveller’s Vacation Guidebook , where little ones get to review their trip!

4. Read a bedtime story together at night

Bedtime stories are a great cozy ritual. But they’re also important to boost your little one’s vocabulary, mastery of language, and logic skills.

5. Ask interesting questions at dinnertime

Get a bit more creative than ‘How was your day?’. Try asking ‘What made you giggle today?’, ‘Who was kind to you?’, ‘What did you learn that you didn’t know yesterday?’ or any of these questions here.

6. Write a story

Check out our blog 6 ways to kickstart kids’ creative writing for some handy writing prompts to get your child’s creative juices flowing.

7. Visit your local library

When was the last time you visited your neighborhood library? Most of them run a fantastic program of family events over the summer holidays. So get on down there!

8. Try our reading game

Transform reading together as a family with our fun-filled downloadable activity:  The Really Whacky Read-O-Meter . Giggles and grins guaranteed!

9. Listen to kids’ podcasts

Podcasts ain’t just for grown-ups! Some of our favorites include Wow in the World , Story Pirates , Circle Round and Tumble Science Podcast .

10. Learn a new word every day

Stick a word on the fridge in the morning. Award points for using it throughout the day. See if they can remember it by dinnertime! For inspiration, check out The Lost Words by Robert McFarlane.

11. Sign up to a summer reading challenge

How many books can your children race through over the holidays? The theme of this year’s Summer Reading Challenge is Space Race. Sign up now to start logging their progress!

12. Find them a penpal to write to

Like this curious tarantula called Webster, who would love to find a human child to write to…

13. Make a cosy reading den

A crafty activity that’ll encourage kids to read and stop them getting (card)bored! Find out how to make it here .

14. Download a reading app onto their tablet

Sometimes you can’t avoid kids being on their devices. But how about making the most of their screen time and downloading a fun reading app? We’re loving Pirate Phonics at the moment.

15. Put them into their own personalised story!

We already think our personalised books are pretty awesome. But research from the National Literacy Trust confirms that personalised children’s books motivate kids to read more, and can put them three years ahead in their reading age by the time they turn 14. Fantastic!

Summer Reading Programs

Ala library fact sheet 17, best practices.

We have collected resources on summer reading programs across the country.

• Adopting a Summer Learning Approach for Increased Impact: a YALSA Position Paper This position paper is meant to help guide libraries as they re-envision the services and programs they provide youth during the summer months.
• Collaborative Summer Library Program The Collaborative Summer Library Program (CSLP) is a consortium of states working together to provide high-quality summer reading program materials for children, teens, and adults at the lowest cost possible for their public libraries.
• Make a Splash with Project Outcome: Measuring the Success of Summer Reading Programs This free webinar is designed to teach participants how to administer Project Outcome surveys to measure outcomes for their library’s summer reading program. By successfully administering surveys, libraries are able to use the results to showcase program successes and influence future summer reading programs.
• Reading Rockets - Summer Reading Resources and articles provide information about summer reading and summer learning loss. Plus discover great activities to encourage kids to learn, read, and have fun in the summer sun.
• Reading Is Fundamental (RIF) - Summer Learning Check out RIF’s fun-filled booklists, activities, tips and resources to keep kids reading and learning throughout the summer and all year long.
• PBS Summer Reading Tips Learn tips for weaving language and literacy activities into your child’s summer days and for helping your school-aged child tackle her school summer reading list.
• Summer Meals at the Library Libraries are natural spaces for serving meals to children whose access to lunch disappears when school ends and summer begins.
• Thinking Outside the Book: Summer Reading In an effort to prevent regression, encourage summer reading by providing literacy-rich activities to keep students motivated. Using online resources is one way to keep literacy activities fresh this summer.
• Making a Splash with Summer Reading: 7 ways public libraries can team up with schools An article from Library Journal about ways schools and public libraries can team up to benefit children.
• Next: Themes >>
• Last Updated: May 16, 2019 12:50 PM
• URL: https://libguides.ala.org/summer-reading

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Fun and Free Summer Learning Resources

To help combat summer learning loss, here are a few fun, free education resources for students and parents.

Summer learning loss is a real problem. Alarmingly, research suggests students may lose more than one month of reading knowledge during the summer, and the losses in math may be even greater.

Here, we’ve compiled a few resources to keep students learning through the dog days of summer, with a particular focus on math and reading. For starters, the Edutopia blog post " Avoiding the Summer Slide in Reading and Writing " from Heather Wolpert-Gawron is chock-full of useful information and strategies for parents and students.

Fun! Fun! Fun! Summer Learning Sites

• Themed Books and Activities for Summer Reading and Learning : Start with a Book, a project from Reading Rockets, offers some great ideas for summer reading. This collection offers books and activities to help kids explore a variety of subjects like dinosaurs, money, and much more. Plus, be sure to check out their Summer Science collection for engaging in DIY summer science learning.
• Cool Summer Reading and Learning for Middle School Kids : Author Susan Curtis highlights some of the most useful websites, ideas, and strategies for helping middle school students stay active readers during the summer. Included are links to reading lists, online reading contests, and ideas for practicing reading with tech tools. Also check out  Awesome Apps for the Six Traits of Writing , from WeAreTeachers, for improving writing skills with apps during the summer.
• Calculation Nation From the NCTM : If you're looking for a fun, web-based game for students, Calculation Nation from the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics is a wonderful resource. This is just one example; there are tons of awesome games. Also check out  Funbrain Math Arcade from Pearson, 10 Best Math Apps for Kids from Parents.com, and Cool Math .
• Summer Learning Resources for Parents From Colorín Colorado : This reading resource roundup for parents is awesome! You'll find guides, tips, and reading lesson ideas in Spanish and English. Another great resource from sister site Reading Rockets is Get Ready for Summer! Ideas for Teachers to Share With Families .
• Summer Fun Activities, Games, and Printables From Education.com : From Education.com, this collection features plenty of activities to keep your kids busy and learning this summer. From hands-on science activities, to outdoor games, there are dozens of ideas here to get started.
• Simple Tips for Summer Math Learning From PBS Parents : These easy-to-implement ideas are perfect for summer learning. My favorites: Turn chores into math learning opportunities, or find math lessons in your child’s collection (sea shells, baseball cards, etc.). PBS Parents’ reading tips guide is also extremely useful.

Quick Links to Open Education Resources

• 9 Online Summer Camps to Keep Kids Busy (and Learning) While School's Out from Common Sense Media
• Summer Reading Tips From Librarians from Scholastic
• Six Elements of Great Summer Learning from the Summer Learning Association
• 10 Ways to Build Math Skills This Summer from GreatSchools
• Get Ready for Summer Reading from the National Education Association
• Summer Travel: Education on the Road from EDSITEment!
• Fun-in-the-Sun Activities from Scholastic

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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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50 Fun Earth Day Crafts and Activities 🌎!

Free Summer Reading Bundle for Use in the Classroom or at Home

Encourage kids to read all summer long with our reading log, goals worksheet, and bingo card!

The Week Junior magazine is a kid-friendly, unbiased current events news source. It’s a safe and trusted partner to help you explain to kids what’s happening in the world while providing fun reading content including puzzles, recipes, crafts, and more. 

Summer reading is one of the most valuable ways to help kids retain knowledge and build on their skills while not in the classroom. It helps create lifelong readers while improving vocabulary, literacy skills, reading stamina, and more. Together with The Week Junior , we’ve created a bundle that includes a summer reading log, bingo challenge, and goals worksheet that are great tools to keep kids reading both inside the classroom and at home.

Get Worksheets

It’s a great idea to diversify reading choices over the summer to keep kids engaged. The Week Junior is an awesome way to expose your readers to current events through a kid-friendly, unbiased magazine. There’s something for every kid, with sections on sports, culture, movies, crafts, recipes, and so much more! Get a free issue of The Week Junior , and watch kids dive into this interactive reading resource.

Check out what’s included in the summer reading log bundle:

Summer Reading Log Worksheet

Bingo Challenge and Goals Worksheet

Classroom Use:

• Before the school year ends, have students begin their goals worksheet to set expectations for summer reading. Then, send them home with the rest of the bundle to help them keep track of their progress.
• Use the reading log in your classroom to keep track of weekly reading assignments. There’s even a version with a section for parent signatures!
• The bingo card and reading goals worksheets make for great classroom tools to encourage reading throughout the school year.

At-Home Use:

• At the start of the summer, encourage your child to fill out the reading goals worksheet and aim big!
• Document progress on the reading log, which is a great way to make a list of the awesome reading they’re diving into or keep track of required summer reading.
• The bingo card is an awesome way to keep kids excited about reading this summer and encourage them to try new things!

Looking for some awesome summer reading choices? Check out 50 books recommended by kids for kids from The Week Junior ! Plus, receive the brand-new reading list in this summer’s edition of The Week Junior by subscribing now.

You might also like.

Is Summer Slide Real? (Plus Free Toolkit To Fight Summer Learning Loss)

Is it really as bad as they say? Continue Reading

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The Ultimate Resource of Summer Reading and Writing Activities

By Krissy of B-Inspired Mama 2 Comments

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All the Summer Reading and Writing Activities You’ll Ever Need!

You sure can tell from last week’s Weekly Kids Co-Op Link Party that Summer is in full swing for most of our participants!  And the creative moms and bloggers linked up tons of reading and writing activities to keep the kids busy and learning throughout the Summer .  I thought it’d be helpful to compile all of their awesome ideas into one giant resource for Summer reading and writing activities.  Here goes…

The Ultimate Resource for Summer Reading and Writing Activities:

Summer reading activities.

• There Was An Old Lady Who Swallowed A Fly Activity (Housing A Forest)
• Favorite Children’s Books of Elementary Teachers (Buggy and Buddy)
• Awesome Book Lists for Summer Fun (KC Edventures)
• Letter Splat and Letter Stomp Games (Mamas Like Me)
• Activities and Books About Fireflies (The Hands-On Homeschooler)
• Nap Time Book and Activity (The Good Long Road)
• Picture Books About Fathers (Sunlit Pages)
• Gail Gibbons Books & Activities (The Educators’ Spin On It)
• H is for… Activities (Le Baby Bakery)
• Ideas for Teaching Literacy Through Play (rightfromthestart)
• 20+ Books for Tots (And Next Comes L)
• Summer Reading List for Boys (School Time Snippets)
• Dolphins, Whales, and Manatees Books and Activities (Crafty Moms Share)
• LEGO and Truck Alphabet Play (Little Bins for Little Hands)
• Inch by Inch Book Activities (Sunlit Pages)
• Lower Case Letter Recognition Activities (Wildflower Ramblings)
• Great Summer Reading Books (Kara’s Classroom)
• Watercolor Fun Inspired by Poetry (Campfires and Cleats)
• Book Detective Letter Hunt Activity (My Little Bookcase)
• Alphabet Shells and Cornmeal Activity (Little Bins for Little Hands)
• 4 Printable Emergent Reader Books with “THE” (The Measured Mom)
• Preschool Insect Books and Activities (Gift of Curiosity)
• Letter H House Craft and Books (Crystal and Co.)
• Books & Activities About Shoe Tying (Growing Book by Book)
• Little Blue and Little Yellow Book Activities (Simply Mommie)
• Printable Little Letter W Book  (The Measured Mom)
• Printable Cut and Paste Spelling Worksheets (What to Do With the Children)
• Tips for Adding A New Language to Summer Games (The Educators’ Spin On It)
• Middle School Summer Reading List  (PradmaticMom)

Summer Writing Activities

• Beach Week Summer Learning Printables (3 Dinosaurs)
• Making Alphabet Pop Up Books  (Life with Moore Babies)
• Rainbow Writing Free Printable (Lessons Learnt Journal)
• Making A Treasure Map (Learning and Growing the Piwi Way)
• DIY Kids Poetry Journal (B-Inspired Mama)
• Make a DIY Kids Chalkboard (PowerfulMothering.com)
• Postage Stamp Scrapbooking (Highhill Homeschool)

More Summer Learning Resources:

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About krissy of b-inspired mama.

Former M.Ed Art Teacher. Current Blogger & Social Media Influencer. Always Crazy & Creative Mama of 3.

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Summer Learning Programs & Resources

Build brighter futures this summer at school, home, or in the community.

Why Summer Learning

Help Prevent Summer Reading Loss

78% of students in Grades 3–5 maintained or increased their reading levels from spring to fall after receiving Scholastic summer books and other learning opportunities.

Support Year-Round Learning

96% of families agreed that reading books over the summer would help their children during the school year .

Increase Reading Confidence

87% of students in third grade who received summer books agreed that they were better readers in the fall because of the reading they did over the summer.

Summer Learning Programs

Unlock your students’ full potential this summer with evidence-based solutions in English and Spanish. Our print and digital programs make summer learning engaging for students, easy for families, and effective for everyone!

NEW! Strengthen math skills, number sense, and fluency while bolstering students’ confidence and sense of well-being.

Grades PreK–8

Improve literacy skills and student well-being with research-based instruction and an engaging summer camp approach.

Ready4Reading: Phonics Booster Kits

Supplemental phonics instruction that empowers children with essential foundational reading skills.

ScholarZone Summer

Accelerate student achievement this summer with a reading, writing, and math program backed by 30 years of research.

My Books Summer

Grades prek–12.

Keep readers on track with high-interest take-home books that are proven to increase or maintain reading levels.

Grab and Go Take-Home Packs

Promote summer reading at home or on the go with five-book kits prepacked for easy distribution.

Summer Express Workbooks

Grades prek–5.

Keep skills sharp for next school year with fun workbooks featuring 100 activities in a progressive 10-week format.

In the Community

Scholastic Home Base

Motivate every student to read this summer with free access to our digital summer reading program.

Scholastic Literacy Events

Improve reading, writing, speaking, and listening skills and bolster student well-being through research-based lessons and an engaging summer camp approach!

Scholastic R.E.A.L.

Empower community members to become reading mentors with books and materials to help them support academic success.

Summer Resources

The summer is a crucial time to keep students engaged and accelerate their learning. Here are a few of our favorite resources to help you make the most of the summer months!

Summer Solutions: Translating Research into Practice

Scholastic Education incorporates eight research-based practices into our summer learning solutions to drive real results.

Bright Futures Are Built in Summer

Gain actionable takeaways to inform your own summer planning in this free webinar. District leaders will share real summer strategies used to meet their targeted reading and learning goals.

Tips to Keep Kids Reading All Summer Long

Share these tips and strategies with families to help them make summer reading fun, collaborative, and easy to fit into their busy lives.

Kids and Family Reading Report

Discover the powerful connection between literacy rates and physical, mental, and emotional health.

Home Libraries Topic Paper

Shop Summer

These summer solutions are just the beginning! Discover summer resources for all your learning needs in our Summer catalog.

Ready to Ramp Up Success This Summer?

Get in Touch

Research & Validation

Disclosure: MyeLearningWorld is reader-supported. We may receive a commission if you purchase through our links.

Fun & Educational Summer Reading Activities to Avoid the Summer Slide

Published on: 07/18/2023

By Fatima Mansoor

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What if summer could be a season of thrilling adventures, fascinating discoveries, and endless tales?

Summer is a time for fun, relaxation, and adventure. However, as parents and educators, we often worry about the “summer slide” – the loss of academic skills that can occur during the long break from school. But fret not, because summer can also be an opportunity to engage children in exciting and educational activities that keep their minds sharp and their love for learning alive.

Imagine the joy of diving into captivating books, exploring new worlds, and expanding knowledge while basking in the warm sunshine.

In this article, we’ll unlock the secrets to combating the summer slide through a collection of fun and educational reading activities. With these tips, your kids can not only avoid the summer slide but actually sharpen their reading skills while having a blast!

So, are you ready to embark on a journey where imagination knows no bounds and learning becomes a thrilling summer escapade?

Let’s dive into the world of summer reading activities!

Disclosure:  Some of the links in this article are affiliate links, meaning at no additional cost for you, we might get a commission if you click the link and purchase.

7 Summer Reading Activities & Ideas

1. explore reading challenges and contests.

Reading challenges and contests can be a fantastic way to keep children motivated and engaged with reading during the summer break. These activities add an element of fun and competition, making reading a thrilling adventure. Various organizations, libraries, and online platforms offer reading challenges with different themes and goals.

One popular reading challenge is setting a target number of books to read over the summer and keeping track of progress. Children can create a reading log or use online tools to record the titles and authors of the books they have read. It encourages them to read more and helps them reflect on their accomplishments.

Additionally, some reading games and challenges incorporate exciting elements such as themed reading quests or scavenger hunts.

To add a touch of technology and interactive learning to summer reading challenges, platforms like Lou Adventures can be a valuable resource.

Lou Adventures is a free reading app that utilizes technology to enhance children’s learning through fun and delightful games.

With Lou, the talking dog, as their guide, your child will uncover hidden secrets, solve puzzles, and embark on an unforgettable adventure filled with intriguing discoveries.

You can take a minute to visit our Lou Adventures review for a full overview of the app.

Lou Adventures is an interactive learning story for kids that helps them improve their reading skills through a fun, adventurous game.

2. Host a Book Club or Reading Circle

Hosting a book club or reading circle during the summer is a fantastic way to keep kids engaged in reading and foster a sense of community. By gathering a group of children who share similar reading interests and setting regular meeting times, you create a dedicated space for literary exploration and discussion.

Encourage the participants to choose books collectively or take turns suggesting titles. It allows for a diverse range of reading materials and ensures that each child can explore their preferred genres or topics. The collaborative process of selecting books also promotes a sense of ownership and investment in the reading experience.

To make the book club sessions more interactive, incorporate creative activities related to the books. For example, encourage the children to act out their favorite scenes, create artwork inspired by the story, or even prepare short presentations about the themes or characters. These activities enhance reading comprehension and allow for hands-on exploration and creative expression.

3. Engage in Outdoor Reading Activities

Engaging in outdoor reading activities during the summer is an excellent way to combine the joy of reading with the beauty of nature and the great outdoors. By encouraging children to take their books outside, you create a unique and refreshing reading experience that stimulates their senses and sparks their imagination.

One idea for outdoor reading is to set up a cozy reading nook in your backyard or a nearby park. Provide comfortable seating options such as blankets, cushions, or outdoor bean bags where children can relax and immerse themselves in their books. Create a tranquil and inviting atmosphere by adding string lights, colorful bunting, or even a small tent for added charm.

Consider organizing a reading picnic or a reading circle in nature. Gather a group of children and head to a picturesque outdoor location where you can spread out blankets or set up picnic tables.

Additionally, you can organize a scavenger hunt with a literary twist. Create a list of book-related items or clues hidden throughout an outdoor space. Children can search for these items while enjoying the thrill of the hunt.

4. Collaborate with Friends for Reading Adventures

Embarking on reading adventures with friends is like diving into a treasure-filled ocean of stories, where imagination knows no bounds and laughter echoes through the pages. When you join forces with your buddies, the world of books becomes a playground of thrilling mysteries, enchanting worlds, and unforgettable characters.

In addition to reading together, consider organizing reading-related activities with friends. For example, you can host a book-themed party where each participant dresses up as a character from their favorite book, and they take turns sharing why they love that particular character. Another idea is to create a book-inspired craft session where children can make bookmarks, design book covers, or create illustrations based on their favorite stories.

Collaborating with friends for reading adventures enhances the enjoyment of reading and promotes social interaction, critical thinking, and communication skills. It encourages children to exchange ideas, broaden their perspectives, and develop a deep appreciation for literature.

5. Journal and Reflect on Reading Experiences

Journaling and reflecting on reading experiences can add a whole new dimension to summer reading activities. Encourage children to keep a reading journal where they can record their thoughts, feelings, and insights about the books they read.

In their reading journal, children can write about their favorite characters, and memorable moments, or even create alternative endings. This process allows them to delve deeper into the stories, make connections with their own lives, and develop critical thinking skills.

Journaling also provides a platform for self-expression, as children can express their opinions, ask questions, and share their perspectives. It fosters a sense of ownership and personal connection to the books they read.

Additionally, journaling can serve as a valuable tool for future reference, allowing children to revisit their reflections and see how their reading tastes and interpretations evolve. It becomes a cherished keepsake of their reading journey, capturing their growth as readers and thinkers.

6. Create a Reading Schedule

Creating a reading schedule is an effective way to prevent the summer slide and maintain a consistent reading routine :

• Set a specific reading time : Determine a time of day that works best for your child’s reading activities. Consistency is important, so choose a time that can be dedicated solely to reading.
• Allocate a dedicated reading space : Create a special reading spot for your child where they can feel comfortable and focused. It could be a cozy corner in their room, a comfortable chair in the living room, or even a blanket fort in the backyard.
• Determine the duration : Decide on the duration of each reading session based on your child’s age and attention span. For younger children, start with shorter sessions, whereas older children can aim for longer reading sessions.
• Plan reading materials : Help your child select a variety of books, magazines, or other reading materials that cater to their interests and reading level.
• Avoid distractions : During the designated reading time, create a distraction-free environment. Minimize distractions such as TV, video games, or mobile devices.
• Track progress with Lou Adventures : Lou Adventures , an interactive reading program for kids, can be a valuable tool to support your child’s summer reading activities. It offers engaging stories, comprehension questions, and progress-tracking features. You can monitor your child’s reading achievements, track their progress through the Parent Dashboard, and celebrate their milestones along the way. Click here to get Lou Adventures for free .

7. Visit the Library

When you visit the library with your child, you open up a world of possibilities. Libraries are treasure troves of books, magazines, and other reading materials that cater to various age groups and interests. Take your child on regular trips to the library and encourage them to explore the shelves, browse different sections, and discover new books.

Libraries often organize summer reading programs designed to motivate children to read during the break. These programs typically include reading challenges, incentives, and rewards for reaching reading goals. Encourage your child to participate in these programs to stay engaged in reading throughout the summer.

Libraries offer more than just physical books. Many libraries have digital resources, audiobooks, e-books, and educational materials available for borrowing. Take advantage of these resources to introduce your child to different formats of reading and enhance their reading experience.

Final Thoughts on Summer Reading Activities

Engaging in fun and educational summer reading activities is a powerful tool to combat the summer slide and keep children motivated to read. These activities help prevent learning loss and foster a lifelong love for reading. They provide opportunities for children to explore new books, develop their reading skills, expand their knowledge, and unleash their creativity.

So, let this summer be a time of imagination, discovery, and growth through the wonderful world of books. Embrace the power of summer reading activities and watch as your child’s reading motivation and skills soar to new heights.

Lou Adventures Review: Everything You Need to Know

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7 Fun Summer Reading Activities for Elementary Students

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How do you keep your kids reading during the summer? You make it fun!

Check out this list of summer reading activities that will keep your kids engaged all through the lazy days of summer.

Why Are Summer Reading Activities Important?

Reading, like math, is a skill subject. You learn step by step to decode words and read with fluency.

If you don’t practice, your skills will stagnate or, worse, erode.

Summer reading activities make reading time a fun activity, not a chore.

They are a great way to motivate kids to keep their reading skills sharp.

From something as simple as making a tissue paper bookmark craft to trying your hand at Reading BINGO, little activities can have a huge impact!

If you’re looking for free or cheap things to do with kids in the summer , be sure to check out the reading activities below!

7 Elementary Summer Reading Activities

These summer reading activities are perfect for elementary-aged students. Try one, three, or all seven!

This article contains affiliate links to things that you might like.

Is your elementary-aged child motivated by games? Are they task-oriented?

Book Bingo is a FREE printable that gets kids reading different kinds of books.

You don’t have to make your own; you can find it for free in the Freebies Library . 

If you aren’t a member of the Freebie Library, you will find it easy to join. Simply click here to sign up . 

You’ll have access to loads of games, worksheets, and activities…all 100% free!

Audiobooks While Traveling

There is more than one way to read a book.

Audiobooks offer all the pleasure of a story without the nausea of reading in the car.

They are the perfect way to get hooked on a book series.

Once you reach your destination, you can offer your child the next book in print form.

Audiobooks are also useful for ear reading , which is a huge help for struggling readers.

Create a Summer Book Club

Peer accountability is a wonderful thing.

Start your own summer book club for neighborhood kids or your child’s friends. 

Everyone in the club reads the same book and then gets together to discuss it.

You can make book club even more popular with yummy snacks and perhaps a themed activity.

Summer book clubs make reading a social activity; that’s a huge motivator for certain kids!

Community Library Summer Reading Programs

You don’t have to come up with summer reading activities all on your own.

Your local library is here to help!

Summer reading programs often provide incentives for students to read (and some offer serious prizes!).

They may also feature special programs that promote reading.

Register at the start of summer, and start a reading habit that will last all summer long.

Your library may even have weekly events where they share read alouds with their youngest patrons!

Read New Types of Books

We all have our favorite genres or series. Your child may be obsessed with books about dragons, or girls who run their own cupcake business, or time-traveling siblings.

Summer is the perfect time to try something new.

Add a book to your child’s stack that is completely different from his usual selections.

Consider adding poetry. You can choose humorous poem compilations to start, like Where the Sidewalk Ends and I Am Just No Good at Rhyming and Other Nonsense . 

Another option: comic books or graphic novels. They combine storytelling with art.

Get out of the box this summer, and encourage your child to try something new!

Readers’ Theater

Why not bring a story to life as one of your summer reading activities?

First step: Get a group of students to read the same story.

Second step: Help them as necessary to turn it into a play!

Some older students may want to take the lead on this activity. They may write scripts and scrounge up costumes. 

Younger students may need some more assistance from you. 

This activity promotes reading because creative children become quite motivated to delve into a book!

Create a Reading Goal with a Reward

What is it worth to you to have your child gain confidence and practice as a reader?

If it’s worth the investment (and it is), come up with your own Summer Reading Challenge. 

All you need is a Reading Check-off Page (you can get one for FREE in our Freebies Library ).

Then you set the incentive and check off your child’s progress toward the goal. 

Think about what motivates your child. This could be a treat, a game, an activity…even money.

Offer this as a reward for completing the challenge.

You may want your child to read simply because she loves it, but she won’t learn to love it without practice. 

A Summer Reading Challenge will get her to practice.

Summer Reading Activities That Will Get Kids Reading

Summertime is perfect for swimming, riding bikes, and taking trips to the park. It’s also a great time to read!

Keep those reading skills sharp with these 7 summer reading activities for elementary students.

You May Also Like:

• 5 Summer Reading Programs for Kids
• Free Summer Learning Resources
• 25 Summer Writing Prompts for Elementary Kids

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Different By Design Learning

with Shawna Wingert

Hands-On Summer Reading Activities

The very best way I know to practice reading throughout the summer is with movement and hands-on learning. Here are my best ideas for hands-on summer reading activities. 

Each year, I share our plan for summer learning. 

My goal is always to decrease my youngest son’s anxiety and hopefully give him a fun summer while we are at it.

I feel strongly that this is what he needs right now. It’s been a tough year for him in almost every aspect of his young life and he needs a bit of a break. He also needs structure – thus the need for summer learning at all.

To my surprise, I received a few comments on the summer learning post with concerns over stopping any formal reading practice for my son.

My son is profoundly dyslexic. He needs consistent and step-by-step reading instruction and review in order to make progress. The idea of a “summer slide” for a dyslexic child is daunting at best.

I understand the concern. I do.

But I have to say this – my child is so much more than his reading ability. Moreover, right now, his reading ability is not my #1 concern. It’s not even my #4 concern. It’s necessary for him to continue with practice and instruction, to be sure, but not at the expense of his mental and physical health.

When I created our summer learning plan, I never intended to leave out any reading at all. In fact, practicing reading around here is as natural as breathing at this point.  The truth is, we will be practicing reading, all summer long. 

But we will only be doing it in ways that feel natural and fun for my son.

Please join me at Weird Unsocialized Homeschoolers for the details. I share 5 Fun Ways To Help Your Struggling Reader This Summer including water play and beach balls.

If you, like me, are planning some learning for the summer, please let me encourage you – do what feels best for your family. For some, that may be an incredibly robust program. For others, it may be nothing at all.

It’s one of the joys of helping our children learn. We get to do what works for them.

Happy Summer Learning!

For more summer ideas and encouragement

It’s odd, but this is how we are getting reading for summer learning, seven tips for learning at home this summer, thanks for sharing.

Shawna Wingert is a former training and development professional turned education specialist, and has homeschooled her two children for the last ten years.Shawna has written four books about homeschooling unique learners and has been featured in homeschooling discussions on Today.com, The Mighty, Simple Homeschool, My Little Poppies and Raising Lifelong Leaners. 

You can find her online here at DifferentByDesignLearning.com.

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One Comment

ah…it’s good to give kids a break eh? It’s so important sometimes. Let the neurons fly in different directions and sometimes odd connections are made that work!

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Summer Reading

Grown-Up Gatherings: In-Person Summer Programming for Adults

Nobody is too old to enjoy summer activities at the library. And when parents and guardians are already at the library supporting younger visitors, it’s a terrific opportunity to use concurrent programming to bring your community together across age groups.

Summer Reading: Beyond Your Wildest Themes

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Passive Programming for All Ages

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Fabulous Frogs: A Summer Storytime

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One Minute Mania

Create bite-sized challenges for your patrons that coordinate with this year’s summer reading program. Each one takes just 60 seconds!

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Whether you’re planning a family program with a variety of projects, a one-time event for a specific age group, or a weekly make-and-take activity, you’ll need accessible and engaging art ideas to support your Summer Reading Program. 

Teachers and School Librarians: Summer Reading Program Starts Now

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Our 15th Annual Summer Reading Contest

Students are invited to tell us what they’re reading in The Times and why, this year in writing OR via a 90-second video. Contest dates: June 7 to Aug. 16.

By The Learning Network

The illustrations for this post were originally created by Adolfo Redaño for “ Summer Books 2023 .”

Our Summer Reading Contest is our longest-running challenge — and our simplest.

All you have to do to participate is tell us what you’re reading, watching or listening to in The New York Times and why.

Don’t have a subscription? No problem! We’ll be providing dozens of free links to teen-friendly articles, essays, videos, podcasts and graphics every week from June through August.

And this summer, both to celebrate the contest’s 15th year and to shake things up a bit, we’ll be trying something new: Students can enter as they always have by submitting a short written response — or they can make a video up to 90 seconds long.

Got questions? We have answers. Everything you need is detailed below.

But if you’re a teacher who would like to have your students practice for this now, before the contest begins, note that the only rule around content is that a piece must have been published in 2024. Beyond that, we don’t care if your students pick something on cats , chatbots , the cost of college or the crisis in the Middle East ; Beyoncé , book bans , basketball or banana bread . We just want to hear what they think. To help, we’ve created a special practice forum . Join us!

Have fun, and, as always, post your questions here or write to [email protected].

This announcement is available as a one-page PDF to hang on your class bulletin board.

Here’s what you need to know:

The challenge, rules and guidelines, resources for teachers, students and parents, frequently asked questions, how to submit.

Choose something in The New York Times that got your attention and tell us why — via a short written or video response.

Here’s how the contest works:

Every Friday for 10 weeks beginning on June 7, we will publish a post asking the same question: “What got your attention in The Times this week?” That’s where you should submit your response any time until the following Friday at 9 a.m. Eastern, when we will close that post and open a new one that asks the same question. On Aug. 9 we’ll post our final question of the summer, open until 9 a.m. on Aug. 16.

You can enter every week, or any week, all summer long, but you may only submit once each week.

You can always find the proper link to the place to submit at the top of this page, updated each week. Once the contest begins, you can also find it on our home page . Please see the How to Submit section below for more details.

You can choose anything you like that was published in the print paper or on nytimes.com in 2024, including articles, Opinion and guest essays , videos , graphics, photos and podcasts . To see the variety of topics winners have responded to over the years, read this column .

Then tell us what Times piece you chose and why it got your attention via a 250-word essay OR a 90-second video. See the full Rules and Guidelines for each type of response below. We have a contest rubric , as well as a guide for students that details four simple ways to make your response stand out.

We’ll choose winners each week, and every Tuesday during the contest, starting June 25, we’ll publish them in a separate post, which you can find here . All written and video entries will be judged together. We will also celebrate the winners on Facebook.

Please read these rules and guidelines carefully before you make your submissions.

Guidelines for written responses

Your written response should tell us what you read, watched or listened to in The Times and why it got your attention. You can find many examples in this column , which spotlights the work of our previous winners.

This guide walks you through some of the key elements of a great reader response, including making a personal connection to the piece, thinking critically about it, referencing specific details or quotes, and writing in your own unique voice.

Here are some guidelines to keep in mind:

Written responses must be no more than 1,500 characters, or about 250 words.

Make sure to i nclude the complete URL or headline of the Times piece you have chosen. For example, “The Joys and Challenges of Caring for Terrance the Octopus” or https://www.nytimes.com/2024/04/11/us/tiktok-octopus-pet-oklahoma.html. Yes, this is included in the word count.

Guidelines for video responses

Just as with written responses, video responses should explain what Times piece you chose and why you chose it. The advice in this guide , while originally created with written responses in mind, can apply to video, as well.

We hope you’ll be creative, but that doesn’t mean your video has to be complicated or use special effects; sometimes simple is best. All you need is yourself and the camera on your phone to make a great video response.

Here are the guidelines:

Use a phone to shoot your video vertically (so it looks like the videos you might see on TikTok or Instagram Reels ).

Your video must be 90 seconds or fewer .

Please be sure to say or show the headline of the Times piece you are discussing.

Your video MAY NOT use any images, video clips, music or sound effects, other than those that appear in the Times piece you are discussing or what you create yourself. We cannot publish your video if it uses any copyrighted images or sounds — including TikTok sounds.

Make sure we can see and hear your video clearly. Pay attention to lighting and try to limit background noise as much as possible if it’s not an intentional part of your video.

Please do not include anyone else in your video. For the most part, we recommend filming only yourself, inanimate objects, animals, or your Times piece. You may film crowds of people in public places, but, to protect people’s privacy, try to avoid any close-ups.

A few additional rules

These rules apply to both written and video responses:

You can participate as often as every week, but we allow only ONE submission per person per week.

Any teenager 13 to 19 years old anywhere in the world is invited to join us , as long as you are in middle or high school, or have graduated from high school in 2024 and haven’t started college yet. See below, How to Submit , for more details.

The children and stepchildren of New York Times employees are not eligible to enter this contest. Teenagers who live in the same household as a Times employee are also ineligible.

The work you submit should be fundamentally your own — it should not be plagiarized, created by someone else or generated by artificial intelligence.

Your work must be original for this contest. That means it should not already have been published at the time of submission, whether in your school newspaper, for another contest, or anywhere else.

Keep in mind that the work you send in should be appropriate for a Times audience — that is, something that could be published in a family newspaper (so, please, no curse words).

For this contest, you must work alone , not in pairs or a group.

Entries must be received by the deadline at 9 a.m. Eastern time each Friday to be considered.

We have created many resources to help students practice for and participate in this contest over the years. Although they were written with the goal of helping students create written responses, many of them can work for video, too.

Writing Resources and Lesson Plans: Our full unit on independent reading and writing has lesson plans, writing prompts and mentor texts that can support students in the kind of thinking we’re asking them to do for this contest.

But, to see how easy this contest is, you might start with “ A Simple Exercise for Encouraging Independent Reading .” We invited four teachers across the country to try a short experiment in which they challenged their students to read a Times article on a topic within their comfort zone, and one article on a topic outside it. In this piece, they and their students reflect on the successful results.

We also have a Student Opinion question that challenges any student to do the same.

Student Mentors: “ Writing Rich Reading Responses: Participating in Our Summer Contest ” showcases a series of student-written mentor texts that demonstrate the four key elements that can make a short response — whether in a written or video format — sing.

You can also read all of the winning student entries from 2017 to the present , including reflections from many participants and judges.

And, check out a video version of our “Annotated by the Author” series (embedded above) in which two student winners of our 2020 contest discuss the “writer’s moves” they made.

Webinars: Teachers, to learn more about this contest and how you can teach with it, watch this free on-demand webinar from 2020 . And, to get ideas for supporting your students’ independent reading and writing, watch this on-demand webinar from 2021 .

Our Rubric: This is the rubric our judges will use to judge this contest. We’re looking for written and video responses that include personal connections, critical thinking, references to the source material, and voice and style.

Q. What kinds of responses are you looking for?

A. The subject matter isn’t important; neither is whether you loved or hated it. What we care about is what you have to say about why you picked it.

If you don’t believe us, scroll through the work of previous winners . They have written on weighty topics like abortion , racism , the war in Ukraine , Alzheimer’s disease , climate change and the dangers of vaping , but they have also covered handbags , hummingbirds , the Minions , text messaging , staycations , power naps, junk food , Wordle , Disney shows, running and bagels.

Whatever the subject, you’ll see that the best responses year after year make personal connections to the news and discuss the broader questions and ideas that the topic raises. We have even created a guide that outlines four simple things you can do to make your responses more powerful. We will use this rubric to judge entries.

So whether you were moved by an article , irked by an essay , bowled over by a photo , or inspired by a video , simply find something in The Times that genuinely interests you and tell us why, as honestly and originally as you can.

Q. Since you now offer the option to respond in video, are you looking for something different in that format?

Short answer: No. Longer answer: We’re excited to see what you come up with! We’ve purposely not put a lot of guidelines around what you can create since a) it’s summer, and we want this to be casual and b) we hope you’ll surprise us and show us what’s possible.

Though at the beginning all our contests focused on writing, in recent years we’ve been trying to encourage other forms of composition and expression. We hope you’ll take a risk and submit in video at least once this summer.

Q. Who will be judging my work?

A. The Learning Network staff, a team of New York Times journalists, along with educators from across the country.

Q. What is the “prize”?

A. The prize for winning any of our contests is having your work published on The Learning Network.

Q. When should I check to see if my submission won?

A. Every Tuesday from June 25 until Aug. 27, we will publish the previous week’s winner or winners in a separate article that you can find here . We will also celebrate the winners on Facebook.

Q. How do I participate in this contest if I don’t have a digital subscription to The Times?

A. All Learning Network posts for students, as well as all Times articles linked from them, are accessible without a digital subscription . So if you use any of the articles we have linked to on our site, they will not be blocked.

Each time we pose our question — “What got your attention in The Times this week?” — we will link to dozens of recent, teen-friendly pieces that you can choose from if you don’t have your own subscription.

You can also find copies of The New York Times at most public libraries, and some even allow you to access NYTimes.com with your library card.

And remember: You can use anything published anytime in 2024.

Q. How do I prove to my teacher that I participated?

A. If you are 13 to 19 in the United States and Britain — or 16 to 19 elsewhere in the world — and are submitting your written response by posting a comment, make sure to check the box that asks if you would like to be emailed when your comment is published. If you do so, the system will send you a link to your comment, which you can use to show your teacher, your parents, your friends or anyone else you’d like to impress. (Please note that you will not get an email until the comment has been approved, which may take longer over weekends.)

If you are submitting a video response or an adult is submitting a written response on behalf of an eligible student via the embedded form at the bottom of the post, please take a screenshot if a student needs proof that they are participating in the contest. You will not receive a confirmation email.

Another method? Some teachers ask students to keep a Google Doc of all their submissions, while others instruct students to take screenshots of their responses before they hit “submit.”

Q. How can teachers, librarians and parents use this challenge?

A. Our goals for this contest include some that appear on many educators’ lists. We want to help students become more aware of the world and their place in it; learn how to navigate sophisticated nonfiction; and create for a real audience, beyond the classroom. But more than anything else, we just want students to realize that reading the newspaper can be fun.

Through the years, adults have told us over and over that participating in this contest has made their students both more aware of and more interested in what’s going on in the world. Many see it as a low-stakes way to help teenagers start building a news-reading habit.

And, too, at a time when some educators are alarmed by the ability of chatbots to do students’ work for them, this is a contest that rewards the human touch. As our step-by-step guide to participating shows, what we’re looking for are genuine personal connections to the news, explored with voice, style and personality — something A.I. can’t (yet?) do with anywhere near the verve of the teenagers we hear from.

Another reason? For some teachers, assigning the contest over the summer helps them to quickly get to know their new students when school starts. In our related webinar , Karen Gold, English department chair at The Governor’s Academy in Byfield, Mass., details how she uses the contest in this way.

But maybe the most compelling reason to assign this contest is what students themselves say about it. In 2017, Emma Weber, a student from London, posted that, thanks to the contest, “I feel grounded in my views and understand what’s going on in the world. It’s amazing what a change 1,500 characters a week make.” In 2020 we invited Emma to help judge the entries, and here is what she had to say after Week 10:

I know firsthand that the Summer Reading Contest has the ability to change the way one engages in the news — I went from passively reading to actively thinking and questioning. The more you reflect on what is going on in the world and what interests you about it, the more you will understand your place within it. I urge all those who enjoyed participating this summer to continue reading, reflecting and writing.

Thank you for making this contest a hit year after year, and please spread the word that it’s back for its 15th season.

Any 13- to 19-year-old anywhere in the world is invited to join us, if you are in middle or high school, or if you graduated from high school and haven’t yet started college.

Every Friday starting on June 7, we’ll post a fresh version of this question: “What got your attention in The Times this week?” We will link to each week’s version at the top of this post. Here is an example from last summer. How you respond to this question will depend on your age and whether you are choosing to respond via writing or video, but all responses will be judged together.

For written responses:

Students ages 13 to 19 in the United States and Britain — and ages 16 to 19 elsewhere in the world — can submit by posting a comment on the post itself. See the GIF below to see how to do that.

If you are a teacher, parent or guardian of a student or child who is ages 13 to 15 anywhere in the world besides the United States and Britain, then you should submit an entry on the student’s behalf using the form embedded at the bottom of each week’s post.

For video responses:

All students should use the form at the bottom of each week’s post to submit video responses. Students ages 13 to 19 in the United States and Britain — and ages 16 to 19 elsewhere in the world — can submit their own entries. Students ages 13 to 15 anywhere else in the world must have a parent, teacher or guardian submit on their behalf.