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Have you read part 1 yet? If not…head over there and get the first bit of info before I jump on in here! Part 1

July Themes and Info at a Glance:

This month, I chose the best picture books to match each theme again! {My Picture Book Inventory helped with this!}  Then I planned an activity and treat to match the book. I am just SO excited about engaging and memorable reading experiences for the kids and even whole families! What is better than building fun summer memories while also building their literacy lives?!

Here is a little about each week and what you can do to crank out that summer fun and build a love of reading:

Week 6- POPCORN
“Let’s Pop, Pop, Popcorn!” explains how popcorn is grown, harvested, and transformed into the delicious snack we all love. Along the way, readers learn interesting facts about popcorn, its history, and the science behind why it pops. 

After reading, head into the kitchen and makes some delicious popcorn! Turn it in to a popcorn bar with all of the fun add-ins! My favorite as a kid was to take a handful of popcorn followed by a scoop of M&Ms…DELICIOUS! Once everyone is full of their yummy popcorn, play some themed bingo! You’ll need some blank bingo boards- 24 squares drawn on paper in a 5×5 grid is PERFECTLY fine! Think of 24 words that have to do with popcorn and have your kids randomly put each word in a box (popcorn, butter, caramel, zebra, movies, m&ms…) Write their words on cards and be the bingo caller. (Use the pop corn as bingo markers- so fun!)

Speaking about Food, want to boost comprehension
with a fun read aloud about trying new foods? Check this out!

Week 7- POPSICLES
This week is another non-fiction highlight and oh-so-fun! “The Boy Who Invented the Popsicle: The Cool Science Behind Frank Epperson’s Famous Frozen Treat” tells the true story of young Frank Epperson, the inventor of the popsicle. Set in the early 1900s, the book follows Frank, a curious and inventive boy with a passion for experimenting. A fun extension to this book would be grabbing popsicle sticks and letting the kids build! If you need more structure (pun intended!), give them empty containers to build around or specific types of structures to build. (i.e. house, bridge, etc.) Once everyone’s brains are done, grab a popsicle and head outside! Some of my favorite places to eat this tasty treat are the beach, pool, and the front porch!

Week 8- BEACH
“Beach Hair” is such a neat book that celebrates diversity and all the different hair types at the beach. Spoiler alert- mine is always a hot mess. 🙂  What better way to celebrate hair than to get a summer haircut or new style! I have heard some parents even let their kids dye a strand of hair a fun color for just the summer. And you knew this was going to be the activity- Go to the beach and have a picnic with your favorite foods. Always bring something crunchy!

Week 9- SPACE
We end the month with another GREAT non-fiction read. “Hidden Figures” is about 4 African American women who worked at NASA and significantly contributed to the United States’ space program during the Space Race. After reading, check your local museums for Space exhibits. Do they have any exhibits with these 4 great ladies?! When you’re back home, grab some oreos and create the phases of the moon… and then dig in of course!

Want more summer reading ideas?! Check out this list of fun ideas!

Summer is so fun! I hope you find time to relax, soak up the sun, and create memories whether that’s with your own families or sharing ideas with your students and their families. Let me know below what other themes you’d like to follow as we finish out summer and head into a brand new school year!

The post Using Picture Books to Grow Readers – Part 2 appeared first on Ramona Recommends.

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Have you noticed your students or maybe even your own children losing reading skills over the summer? ME TOO! This summer, I wanted a fun way to try and prevent that but still have a relaxed and fun summer setting. This is how my Summer Series was born!

I used summer themes and national days to plan out what I would suggest to you each week.

After I picked topics/themes, I chose the best picture books to match! {My Picture Book Inventory helped with this!}  Then I planned an activity and treat to match the book. I am just SO excited about engaging and memorable reading experiences for the kids and even whole families! What is better than building fun summer memories while also building their literacy lives?!

Here is a little about each week and what you can do to crank out that summer fun and build a love of reading:

Week 1– SWIMMING
“Saturday is Swimming Day” tells the story of a young girl who is anxious about attending her weekly swimming lessons. The story captures the journey of facing and overcoming fears, and trying something new. To have some fun, go to the pool and SWIM. Play games like Marco Polo, Popsicle, or have funny hair competitions. Before heading out, create a quick Pool Day Themed Bag filled with Goldfish, Peachy Os (pool tubes), and watermelon on a stick to have on hand with that appetite you will surely have afterwards!

[Want more ideas using Saturday is Swimming Day? Check out our POP, Like a Confetti Moment resource featuring Saturday is Swimming Day. Inside you will find activities, reading comprehension questions, and mentor texts to go along. A simple reading activity for kids to practice is Story Elements. Print out this resource below!!} 

Week 2- ROAD TRIP
“Our Great Big Backyard” follows the adventures of a young girl named Jane. Initially reluctant about her family’s road trip to national parks, Jane soon discovers the wonders of nature and the joy of outdoor exploration. ANDDD that having technology all the time isn’t worth it!
How can we have fun with this theme? The License Plate Game! See who can find the most states, but the state can’t be repeated. (There is an app called Plates and States Free where you can track the states and answer a trivia question about the state.) Or you can play games like the Alphabet Game: A is for applesauce, B is for Blanket…
Oh and let’s not forget something yummy! Make S’mores. All you need are Graham Crackers, chocolate squares, and marshmallows. Use a fire pit or pop them in the microwave for 20 seconds. 

Week 3- NATURE
“Up in the Garden and Down in the Dirt” is a beautifully illustrated picture book that explores the hidden and visible wonders of a garden through the changing seasons. After reading, have your child label parts of a plant. You will need construction paper, scissors, glue, and a pencil. Also get outside and plant a flower or seed with your child and let them cultivate it throughout the summer. Feeling hungry? Make the famous Dirt Dessert. You will need small plastic cups and spoons, chocolate pudding, crushed up oreos, M&Ms , and gummy worms.

Week 4- ICE CREAM
“Ice Cream Everywhere”is a delightful picture book that celebrates the joy of ice cream in all its forms. Naturally, you need to visit all the ice cream shops in town and rate the best ones. OR try and make your own ice cream! No sweet tooth? Create an ice cream sundae art project using ripped construction paper. Huge sweet tooth? Have ICE CREAM for DINNER! Go all out… all the flavors, toppings, and of course lots of WHIPPED CREAM!

Summer is so fun! I hope you find time to relax, soak up the sun, and create memories whether that’s with your own families or sharing ideas with your students and their families. Let me know below what other themes you’d like to follow in the summer series! I’d love to hear other treat and activity ideas, too!

The post Using Picture Books to Grow Readers – Part 1 appeared first on Ramona Recommends.