Teaching Themes
Summer: Everything You Need
You can make summer a time when your students make progress through field studies and other enriching activities.
Book Resources, Lesson Plans
Your Summer Learning Ideas
Grades: 3–5, 6–8
Over the summer months, our students can lose up to 60% of the math and reading skills that they learned during the year. From special ways to say goodbye to fun activities to share with parents, here are over 50 ideas to keep the learning going.
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Collections Splash Into Summer!Grades: PreK–K, 1–2, 3–5, 6–8 Do your students have summer vacation on their minds? Convert daydreams into learning with this guide to warm-weather classroom activities. |
Blog Posts Five Ways to Celebrate Summer ReadingGrades: 1–2, 3–5, 6–8 Here are five of classroom-tested strategies to set the stage for a fun-filled summer of reading. |
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Articles Teaching Plan to Encourage Summer ReadingGrades: PreK–K, 1–2, 3–5 Tips on encouraging your students to stay excited about books during the long vacation, plus ways to keep parents in the loop so they can provide... |
Blog Posts Planning a Productive Summer for You and Your StudentsGrades: PreK–K, 1–2, 3–5, 6–8, 9–12 The summer is the perfect time to reenergize and make concrete plans for next year. Tips and suggestions to make this your most productive summer... |
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Articles Teaching Tip: Mrs. Chandler's Jumpstart for Summer ReadingGrades: 6–8 This master teacher sets the stage for summer reading with a three-step plan. |
Blog Posts Are You Up for the Challenge? Gearing Up for Summer ReadingGrades: 6–8 Summer reading is already on my mind, and despite the “no more teachers, no more books” mantra many middle-schoolers employ, I can’t wait to... |
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Blog Posts Finish Off the Year With Amazing Summer Reading PlansGrades: PreK–K, 1–2, 3–5, 6–8 Tips and tricks to keep your students turning pages all summer long! |
Blog Posts Summer Reading GoalsGrades: 3–5 Set summer reading goals that will help your students become better readers. Plus, set some goals for yourself that will improve next year's... |
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Blog Posts Summer Reading Books High School Boys Will LoveGrades: 6–8, 9–12 Five summer reads that are sure to please high-school boys. Voracious and hesitant readers alike! |
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Articles Dog Days of SummerGrades: 3–5, 6–8 Have you ever heard the expression "It's hot enough to fry eggs on the sidewalk"? That's certainly how it feels in most of the country right about... |
Book Resources, Lesson Plans Winter vs. SummerGrades: PreK–K Students learn about winter and summer through hands-on activities, including sorting summer and winter clothing and writing projects. |
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Articles Talk to an Astronomer about Summer SolsticeGrades: 1–2, 3–5, 6–8, 9–12 You know it as the first day of summer. Others refer to it as the longest day of the year. So, what makes the solstice special? To understand, you... |
SUMMER ACTIVITIES: Giving an Outdoor PlayGrades: PreK–K "Giving an Outdoor Play" is a summer activity in which children will stage their favorite story. Children will use creative-dramatic, gross-motor... |
Summer Water & Sand Activity: All Soaked Up!Grades: PreK–K Show your child how different-sized sponges absorb different quantities of water. An outdoor summer activity for mixed ages. Teaches basic math... |
Summer Water & Sand Activity: Float a BoatGrades: PreK–K, 1–2 Children will expand their creative thinking and problem-solving skills as they learn about the concept of sinking and floating through making... |
Summer Nature Activity: Wonderful Weed StudiesGrades: PreK–K Children will learn about the growth of weeds and edible weeds through observation, measuring, and recording information in this ready-to-use... |
Summer Body Activity: Everybody Has EarsGrades: PreK–K Children learn about the ears and listening. Kids compare and contrast different animals'ears. There are versions of the activity for both older... |
Summer Fun Activity: Dream VacationsGrades: PreK–K Children use creative thinking and language skills to create a mock travel agency. Kids also share stories about their own travel experiences.... |
Summer Nature Activity: Refract a RainbowGrades: PreK–K The "Refract a Rainbow" activity plan offers ready-to-use teaching ideas in science, for mixed ages. In this activity, children will learn about... |













