6/17/2020

6 Reading Activities to Get Students Moving This Summer

With summer break upon us, students don’t have the structure of day-to-day classroom activities to keep their minds and bodies active.

Admittedly, it can be difficult for parents and students alike to resist the lure of a comfy couch and digital devices. And while the value of R&R is undeniable, we also need to ensure exercise—and all of its physical and mental health benefits—don’t fall by the wayside.

For students honing their reading skills at home, here’s a list of six reading activities teachers can share with students and families to get readers of all skill levels moving and learning. Grab some paper, chalk, masking tape, and a little imagination. Let’s dive right in!

Foundational Readers

Letter Leapfrog

Write letters on the ground with chalk or masking tape, and children can jump to each letter as you say it. Bonus points for naming a word beginning with that letter.

It's Time to Rhyme!

Say a series of rhyming words, then throw in one that doesn't rhyme. Have children do a jumping jack, perform a push-up, or touch their toes when they hear a non rhyming word. To take things down a notch, try a quieter version of the game that involves them tiptoeing around the room and freezing when they hear a non rhyming word.

Staircase Sentences

With some stairs and a book, the concept that sentences are made up of words can be reinforced. Read a sentence from a favorite book and have children repeat it. Then, have them step up (or down) as they say each word.

Sound Scavenger Hunt

Listening for the sounds that make up each word is an important step in learning to read. Focus on three to five letters and review the sound that each one makes. Then, have children look for objects that begin (or end) with that sound. Give them a list and a clipboard to make the hunt even more fun!

Foundational and Intermediate Readers

Sight Words Are Hopping!

Write sight words on sheets of paper and place each sheet on the ground, or head outside and write on asphalt with chalk. Then, have children hop from one word to the next, saying each word aloud. Bonus points for using the word in a sentence!

Intermediate and Middle-School Readers

Literacy Skill-Building Charades

An idiom like "It's raining cats and dogs" is a group of words that don't mean what they seem to say. To reinforce this concept, have children act out the literal meaning of each of these idioms, then award points to anyone who can explain the figurative meaning:

• To bark up the wrong tree (to look for a solution in the wrong place)
• To get the ball rolling (to get started on something)
• To throw in the towel (to give up)
• To go in one ear and out the other (to be told something but quickly forget it)
• To be on the fence (to be undecided)
• To turn over a new leaf (to have a fresh start)
• To be the tip of the iceberg (to be a small part of a bigger problem)
• To wing it (to make it up as you go along)

Hopefully, these suggestions inspire your readers to take a leap and try something new.

Teachers, as always, feel free to share these suggestions with your students and families. We’ll continue to provide simple, at-home activity ideas to promote literacy this summer. By exploring these diverse methods, you can discover what works best for your family, making reading a fun and integral part of your children's daily lives. Together, let’s foster a love for reading that will last a lifetime.