Summer Learning Activities

Summer Activities

Parents,

Summer is a great time for kids to relax and take a break from school!  However, students who don't practice what they have learned throughout the school year can forget what they have learned! Below are some activities you can use to help your students practice what they learned this year in first grade so that they can be ready to begin second grade next year.

Reading

The best way to practice reading is to read!  Read to your student, have them read to you or have them read on their own.  Remember if you student misses more that 5 words in 100, the book is too hard for them to read on their own!

1. After reading a book ask your student to retell what happened in order. 

2. After reading a book have your student draw a picture of the events that happened in order. 

3. Read a story book to your child.  Stop reading before you get to the last page.  Have your student draw a picture of what they think will happen at the end of the story.  After they finish their pictures  read the end of the story. 

Summer Reading Programs

Follow this link to find a list of great free summer reading incentive programs for your student to earn fun rewards for reading- http://www.passionforsavings.com/freebie/2014/04/free-summer-reading-programs-kids-2014/

Writing

1. After doing a fun summer activity have your student write about what they did using te words, first, next, then and last at the beginning of their sentences.

2. Have your student write thier opinion!  They should be able to write a 5 sentence paragraph where the 1st sentence is thier opinion, the next 3 sentneces are supporting reasons and the last sentence restates their opinion in different words.

Example Opinion Paragraph:

I would rather go camping than swimming. When you go camping you can see animals. When you go camping you can make a camp fire. I like to see my family when I go camping.  I think camping is more fun than swimming.

Opinion Writing Prompts:
1. Would you rather have a popscile or ice cream?
2. What is the best part of summer vacation?
3. Would you rather go camping or swimming?
4. Do you think dogs or cats make better pets?
5. Which season do you think is best?

Math

1. Have your student practice counting as you go throughout your day.     

• Count how many steps it takes to get to the car from your house.
• Count how many windows are in you home.
• Count how many chairs are in your home.

2. Have your child see how high they can count.  Try again tomorrow and see if they can count even higher the next day.

3. Go on a shape scavenger hunt.  Ask your student to find as many squares as they can in your home or how many circles they can find at the park.

4. Have your student practice adding two two-didgit numbers.

5. Use flash cards to practice addition and subtraction facts.  Knowing these facts from memory will make second grade math much easier for your student.