Discover summer-themed reads, activity ideas, and reading programs for all ages. Send these ideas home with students to share with their families for summer reading fun or integrate these tips into summer education opportunities.
Summer-Themed Books and Activities
Ideas for Younger Readers
- Jabari Jumps (PK-2) – Enjoy the complete book reading of Jabari Jumps, then craft a pair of goggles using the instructions on page four of this activity guide.
- Ice Cream Summer (PK-2) – Make your own ice cream with the instructions you’ll find in the Ice Cream Summer Guide for Parents and Families in these support materials.
- Summertime Sleepers (1-5) – Watch the book trailer to learn about animals that estivate and then perform the reader’s theater script along with your young readers.
- Shirley and Jamila Save Their Summer (1-8) – Read the Google Preview of the title and then try the write-your-own-comic activity in this lesson from the author.
Ideas for Older Readers
- One Crazy Summer (4-8) – Learn the story behind this novel with the Meet-the-Author Recording with Rita Williams-Garcia, then try the extension activities on the second page of this lesson plan, which include options such as researching the Civil Rights Movement or planning a summer day trip.
- Hot Dog Girl (7-12) – Brainstorm the best and worst summer jobs after listening to an audiobook excerpt.
- This One Summer (7-12) – Listen to the Meet-the-Author Recording, where Mariko Tamaki talks about the idea of “the cottage,” a phenomenon of Canadian summer travel. Think about where you’d like to go if you had a cottage getaway of your own.
- My Last Summer with Cass (7-12) – Watch the video excerpt or read the Google Preview, then fill in a Graphic Novel Multi-Leveled Lesson to reflect on what you’ve read.
Summer Reading Programs
Explore these summer reading program lists for resources to enrich independent reading!
- All Together Now (CSLP)
- Find Your Voice! (iREAD)
- Sora Sweet Reads (OverDrive)
- SYNC: Audiobooks for Teens (AudioFile and Sora)
- We Are Kid Lit (We Are Kid Lit Collective)
Helpful Videos
- Summer Reading: Get quick instructions on accessing and making summer reading lists on TeachingBooks.
- Empowering Patron Book Selection: Discover how to use Book Connections to empower readers to select books for independent reading.
- Discover Like Books: Search for Read Alikes to find new summer favorites.
What’s working for you?
We’d love to hear how you’re using TeachingBooks resources in your classrooms and libraries! Leave your ideas in a comment below.
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