In a continuation of our previous post, today we present to you our picks for grades 3 – 5 summer reading.

As before, we’ve compiled this list from various public school lists found on the Internet. Since these vary from state to state (and even county to county), we’ve selected books that were most common to each of the lists. We chose books that are considered children’s classics and easily found in most libraries. However, if you would like to purchase the books on this list, simply click the picture to be taken to Amazon.com, where a portion of your purchase price will go towards keeping LessonPathways free.

We’ve matched them up to Pathway unit studies for each one, so you and your child can thoroughly enjoy all the literature has to offer.  Unlike the Pathways for the PreK – 2 list, these are 2 and 3 part Pathways.  We’ve linked and described the first part for each book recommendation.  Parts 2 and 3 can be easily found from there.

Remember, you don’t have to complete the entire Pathway.  Just pick the resources that appeal to you and your child the most!

Summer Reading List Grades 3 – 5

  Charlotte’s Web: In this unit, you will begin reading “Charlotte’s Web” by E.B. White. Your child will read aloud to you, read silently, and listen to you read chapters 1-6 in this book. Your child will answer comprehension questions for each chapter and will have fun completing a Charlotte’s Web word search, creating a sticky spider web, and eating pig slop. In the writer’s workshop, your child will describe an animal or pet, write about a pet he or she would like to own, and write about a special friend. For the language arts concept, your child will learn more about the setting of stories.
Mr. Popper’s Penguins: What would it be like to have a penguin for a pet? Learn about some of the problems (and fun) when a penguin joins the household in “Mr. Popper’s Penguins.” Hands-on activities include creating an icebox poster, eating on a budget, learning about penguins, and tracking the Popper family calendar. Writing assignments include writing a newspaper interview with Mr. Popper, writing a story about keeping a wild animal, and writing a story about a goose. In addition, your child will learn about the plot in stories.
Ramona Quimby, Age 8: Experience a new grade, a new school and changes at home for “Ramona Quimby, Age 8.” Read this story and find out how Ramona copes with all the changes in her life. Put the story in order, experiment with fruit flies, find a fancy way to write your name, and create a Wanted poster. Writing assignments include writing about an embarrassing moment, writing about doing something new, and writing about finding a new planet. Plus, your child will learn how to determine the sequence of events.
A Cricket in Times Square: This week you will begin reading the adventurous and funny book, “The Cricket in Times Square” by George Seldon.  Come along for a fun time with a boy named Mario; a tiny cricket named Chester; and his animal pals Tucker, the Broadway Mouse and Harry, the Cat. You will read the first five chapters this week and answer comprehension questions. You will make a cricket craft, draw and illustrate a character from the story, discover what is underneath a city sidewalk in New York and much more. You will have three fun writing assignments covering the literature selection for this week. You will become familiar with the life cycle and anatomy of a cricket, too. Settings in stories is the language arts focus this week. Get ready to play games to help you understand what the setting is in a story and don’t froget to watch an interesting video of a cricket chirping and moving.
The Original Adventures of Hank the Cow Dog: The head of security at the the ranch is a dog, and there’s just been a murder. Learn more as you read the exciting adventures of “Hank the Cowdog” (Chapters 1 through 4) in this unit. Hands-on activities will include looking at the killer’s tracks, creating a wanted poster, giving Hank a uniform and badge, and comparing Hank and Drover. Writing assignments include writing about how you would track the killer, writing about a day when you went swimming, and writing about finding a bottle with a note inside at the beach. Your child will also learn how to identify topic sentences.
Stuart Little:This story tells about the amazing adventure of a tiny mouse who lives with humans. “Stuart Little” by E.B. White is full of drama and excitement as Stuart discovers the true meaning of friendship. You will design and construct a bed for Stuart, make a special bookmark, make and eat applesauce, and more. You will write a story from a cat’s point of view, write about the time you made a new friend, and making friends with a giant. Language arts concept focuses on identifying the correct use of commas with dates, addresses, items in a series, and the greeting and closing of a letter. Online games, quizzes and printables reinforce the objectives for this unit.
Dear Mr. Henshaw: Meet Leigh Botts, a ten-year-old boy who, through a series of letters written to his favorite author, learns about life and growing up. This is a wise and funny book about finding one’s own place in the world. “Dear Mr. Henshaw” was written by Beverly Cleary, author of Beezus and Romana. Hands-on activities include listing things that bother you, researching and designing a poster about monarch butterflies, and researching and cooking canapes. You will explore the characteristics and uses of letters, and practice writing letters, too. You will create your own writing journal to store writing assignments throughout the year. Basickeyboarding will be introduced in this lesson as well as learning the home keys. You will continue practicing keyboarding in subsequent lessons. Quizzes, a game, a video, and an audio resource reinforce the objectives.
Frindle: Have you ever heard of or used a frindle? Most of the people around Nick Allen have, even though his fifth grade English teacher is very opposed to using the word frindle! In this unit, you will begin reading “Frindle,” a very funny story about an ingenious fifth grader and his invention of this word. Maybe some of his ingenuity will rub off on you and you will invent a new word, too. The hands-on activities will keep you very busy this week as you analyze Nick or his teacher, Mrs. Granger; learn about Noah Webster and his invention of the first American dictionary; come up with new words and meanings for a dictionary; identify other names for writing instruments; and interview Nick. You will also learn about modifiers. Fun is sure to be had as you illustrate misplaced or dangling modifiers in silly sentences. An online quiz, worksheets, and video reinforce the objectives.

 

Those are my picks for grades 3 – 5. Check back tomorrow for grades 6 – 8.

What are your picks for summer reading?

This post was written by Christina S.  She is a full time work-at-home-and-homeschooling-mom.  She lives in Detroit with a 16 year old daughter, a 12 year old daughter, her husband, dog, cat and turtle.

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