Student Reading

Summer Reading 2007

Preschool (3-4 year olds)

You are encouraged to read with your child during the summer.  Research has shown that students' reading levels correspond to the amount of time spent listening to stories read to them. See the links to Caldecott Medal and Newbery Award winning books below.

Lower Elementary (Grades K-2) Summer Reading

Go to the library or bookstore this summer and find three of the books from the Shorter Picture Books on Native Americans list below.  Please read the books to your child over the summer. (There are no assignments other than reading the books.)

Upper Elementary (Grades 3-5) Summer Reading

3^rd year students – pick two shorter books or one chapter book- complete an activity of your choice from the “Book Share Ideas” on one of the books that you chose.

4^th year students- pick three shorter books or one chapter book- complete an activity of your choice from the “Book Share Ideas” on one of the books that you chose.

 5^th year students- pick one chapter book (4-5 grade level) and two shorter books to read-complete an activity of your choice from the “Book Share Ideas” on one of the books that you chose.

We will share books during the first week of school.

Shorter Picture Books on Native Americans

Chapter Books on Native Americans

Book Share Choices for Upper Elementary:

Every book share should include a title or cover page with:

1. The title and author of the book
2. Your name and date

Every student needs to tell about the summary (what the book is about) in two minutes. This information should include:

1. What happened
2. Who is involved
3. Where the story takes place
4. Whether or not you enjoyed the book and why.

Remember that you want to tell us about the book without giving away the ending! Others may want to read the same book as you.

Some Ideas for the book share project:

(Remember you only need one project on one of the books you read)

1. Make a diorama showing a scene from the book.
2. Pretend you are a character from the book- tell us about yourself and something that happens to you.
3. Create a comic strip about a part of the book.
4. Book in a suitcase- create a suitcase from a shoebox. Decorate the outside to show themes or ideas from the book. Put objects or pictures you draw about the story on the inside.
5. Make a puppet of your favorite character- share his/her story as the puppeteer.
6. Create a mobile that shows scenes or characters from the book.
7. Create a new book jacket for your book. Include a summary on the back that will entice the reader.

Middle School Summer Reading (6^th-8^th Grades)

Pick three books from this list, read them and write a summary in your journal of what you enjoyed, what parts you would have changed, and why.

Remembering Manzanas:  Life In a Japanese Relocation Camp by Michael Cooper

The River Between Us by Richard Peck

Down the Rabbit Hole:  An Echo Falls Mystery by Peter Abrahams

Walk Two Moons by Sharon Creech

Wolf Brother by Michelle Paver

Flush by Carl Hiiaasen

Tangerine by Edward Bloor

The House of the Scorpion by Nancy Farmer 

Recommended Reading 1st Grade 2nd Grade 3rd Grade 4th Grade 5th Grade Middle School American History Books 1492 Columbus 1840 Concord, Mass. 1620 Mayflower 1850s Underground Railroad Late 1600s Colonial Era Antebellum Pre Civil War 1760s Colonial Era 1861 - 1865 The Civil War 1776 - 1783 American Revolution 1865 - 1871 Post Civil War 1789 - 1830 Early Republic 1865 Westward Expansion 1800s Slavery 1880 Women's Rights 1830 Industrial Revolution 1890 - 1900 Immigration 1835 Santa Fe Trail		The Caldecott Medal was named in honor of nineteenth-century English illustrator Randolph Caldecott. It is awarded annually by the Association for Library Service to Children, a division of the American Library Association, to the artist of the most distinguished American picture book for children.
		The Newbery Medal was named for eighteenth-century British bookseller John Newbery. It is awarded annually by the Association for Library Service to Children, a division of the American Library Association, to the author of the most distinguished contribution to American literature for children .