Monthly Reading Activities

AUGUST

Books about going to school:

  • School Bus by Donald Crews
  • The Day the Teacher Went Bananas by James Howe
  • If You Take a Mouse to School by Laura Numeroff
  • First Day Jitters by Julie Danneberg
  • Sideways Stories from Wayside School by Louis Sachar
  • Matilda by Roald Dahl
  • The School Mouse by Dick King-Smith

Writing Ideas:

  • Make a list of all the things you take with you to school each day.
  • Write directions for making your favorite sandwich.
  • Write a letter to your teacher and tell him/her how excited or nervous you are.

 

SEPTEMBER

Books to Read:

  • All about Owls by Jim Arnosky
  • Raccoons and Ripe Corn by Jim Arnosky
  • Fresh Fall Leaves by Betsy Franco
  • Why Do Leaves Change Color by Betsy Maestro
  • Johnny Appleseed Goes A'planting by Patsy Jensen
  • The Seasons of Arnold's Apple Tree by Gail Gibbons

Writing Ideas:

  • Draw a Fall picture then write 3 sentences describing it.
  • Make a list of all the clothing you will need on a crisp, cool, Fall day.
  • Write a story about a worm who lives in an apple.

 

OCTOBER

Books to Read:

  • I Will Chomp You by Jory John and Bob Shea
  • The Little Shop of Monsters by R. L. Stine and Marc Brown
  • Creepy Carrots by Aaron Reynolds
  • The Ugly Pumpkin by Dave Horowitz
  • Pumpkin Jack by Will Hubbell
  • At the Old Haunted House by Helen Ketteman
  • Bone Soup by Cambria Evans
  • There Was An Old Lady Who Swallowed Some Leaves! by Lucille Colandro
  • Apples and Pumpkins by Anne Rockwell
  • How Big Could Your Pumpkin Grow? by Windell Minor
  • Leaves by David Ezra Stein

Writing Ideas:

  • What's your favorite Fall event? Explain why you look forward to it and how you participate.
  • Describe your favorite Halloween costume.
  • Write a story from the perspective of a maple leaf in the Fall.

 

NOVEMBER

Books to read:

  • If You Sailed on The Mayflower in 1620 by Ann McGovern
  • The Story of the Pilgrims by Katherine Ross
  • Three Days on a River in a Red Canoe by Vera B. Williams
  • Arthur's Thanksgiving by Marc Brown

Writing Ideas:

  • Write a menu for Thanksgiving Dinner.
  • Write the steps for setting the table.
  • Draw a turkey, then write a descriptive paragraph.
  • Pretend you are a turkey. Write a persuasive essay persuading the farmer to spare you from the dinner table.

DECEMBER

Holiday-themed books to read:

  • Olive, the Other Reindeer by Vivian Walsh
  • Santa's Stuck by Rhonda Greene
  • Santa's Book of Names by David McPhail
  • The Night Before Christmas by Clement C. Moore
  • The Polar Express by Chris Van Allsberg

Writing Ideas:

  • Design a sleigh for Santa that includes modern technology like GPS and computerized devices.
  • Draw the sleigh and write a paragraph describing it.
  • Write about taking a ride in Santa's sleigh.
  • Write a narrative about baking cookies with Mrs. Claus.
  • Write about a wonderful Christmas memory.
  • Write a letter to Santa describing someone who has been extremely kind and good this year.
  • Write/draw the steps to decorating a Christmas tree.
  • Write a story about Rudolph's nose turning green.
  • Change the ending to a Christmas story you have read.

JANUARY

Books to Read:

  • Snowflake Bentley by Jacqueline Briggs Martin
  • The Mitten by Jan Brett
  • The Hat by Jan Brett
  • Winter Story by Jill Barklem

Writing Ideas and Prompts:

  • Create a SNOW acrostic poem
  • Does falling snow make a sound?
  • Every snowflake is unique. I am unique....
  • If I were a snowflake.....
  • The best snowday ever....
  • When it snows I like to .....
  • Oh no, it snowed, I can't.....
  • Write the steps for building a snowman, snowfort, having a snowball fight etc.
  • My favorite winter sport....

FEBRUARY

Books to Read:

  • Hedgehog Needs a Hug by Jen Bett
  • Love Is by Diane Adams
  • Hug it Out by Louis Thomas
  • Hug Machine by Scott Campbell

Writing Ideas

  • Make a list of the people you love and write the reasons you love them.
  • Write about the ways you can show your mom and dad that you love them.
  • Write a poem called "Love is..."
  • Describe the best Valentine's Day you have ever experienced.
  • Describe a book that you love reading.
  • Write about a famous person you would love to meet and tell why you want to meet them.
  • I love to eat….

MARCH

Books to Read:

  • Planting a Rainbow by Lois Ehlert
  • In Like a Lion Out Like a Lamb by Marian Bauer
  • Puddles by Jonathan London
  • The Curious Garden by Peter Brown
  • The Wind Blew by Pat Hutchins

Writing Ideas:

  • March 2nd is “Read Across America Day” in honor of Dr. Seuss’ birthday. Explain to a younger student why it’s important to learn how to read.
  • Write a narrative story about finding a flour-lear clover. Where were you? What did you do with it?
  • Would you rather be a lion or a lamb? Explain why.
  • The wind blew so hard that…
  • I found a pot of gold and...

 

APRIL

Books to Read:

  • A Seed is Sleepy by Dianna Aston
  • Up In the Garden and Down in the Dirt by Kate Messner
  • We are the Gardeners by Joanna Gaines
  • The World is Awake by Linsey Davis
  • Plant the Tiny Seed by Christie Matheson
  • If You Plant a Seed by Kadir Nelson
  • Ava's Poppy by Marcus Pfister

Writing Ideas:

  • I know It’s spring when…
  • People think about spring as a time for new beginnings – what is something you would like to start doing this spring?
  • Why does spring symbolize birth?
  • Describe something you experience with each of your senses in spring
  • What changes could you make beginning in spring?
  • Fresh starts at spring are a great time to…
  • If you could plant a garden of anything, what would be in it?
  • When everything turns green, I think about…
  • Why do you think baseball is an American tradition?

 

MAY

Books to Read:

  • Boy Plus Bot by Ame Dyckman
  • Little Bot and Sparrow by Jake Parker
  • The Invisible Boy by Patrice Barton
  • Chrysanthemum by Kevin Henkes
  • Misunderstood Shark: Friends Don't Eat Friends by Ame 

Writing Ideas:

  • It's Teacher Appreciation Month! What qualities make someone a great teacher?
  • If you could be any animal, what would you be and why?
  • Describe someone in your class who knows how to be a good friend.
  • Mother's Day is this month. List the qualities that make your mom special.
  • List three important things you've learned in school this year.
  • Describe your favorite day of the school year.