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 a directions for making your favorite sandwich
• Write a letter to your teacher and tell him/her how excited you are or how 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 take part.
• Describe your favorite Halloween costume.
• Write a story from the perspective of a maple leaf in the fall.

NOVEMBER

Books:

• 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, write a descriptive paragraph
• Pretend you are a turkey, write a persuasive essay persuading the farmer to spare you from the dinner table

DECEMBER

Some of our favorite Christmas books are:

• 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.
• Taking a ride in Santa's sleigh.
• Baking cookies with Mrs. Claus
• 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
• Rudolph's nose turned 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:

• 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 Dyckman

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.