Kindergarten

All I really need to know, I learned in kindergarten.

- Robert Fulgham

Below are suggested summer activities in the areas of Reading, Writing, and Mathematics that will help keep your skills sharp. This is not mandatory summer work, but your teachers and schools know that doing a little bit each day is very helpful in making you the best 1st-grader you can be at the start of next year! In addition to all of these activities, please make sure to check with the Technology Extension and Enrichment Activities webpage for additional resources. Please note that your child should be working in the grade they just completed. For those students who are new to our school, please join in using all of our free sites and resources.

When in doubt, here is a quick list of the most important activities.

Play! Have fun outside! Here's a fun neighborhood scavenger hunt!
Set a routine to read every day. Find new and interesting books that are "just right" for you. Read for a good chunk of time!
Start a summer writing journal with various types of writing.
Keep your math skills fresh by practicing math facts!

See below for more detailed resources in each area...

Reading

Read daily or have a family read aloud each day. Note: Students should not be reading text that is too difficult and reading aloud to students at this age is most helpful.
See the Millburn Library website for their summer offerings.
Here is the link to the Millburn Public Library’s Summer Reading Challenge
For access to ebooks during the summer:
1. See the Millburn Library page and click on "eBooks & Audiobooks" under Digital Resources.
2. Epic!- Free 30-day trial for parents that allows access to over 40,000 premium books.
3. Epic Free- If students have access to EPIC already, students will have 2 hours of free reading a week in a limited library from 7:00 am until 3:00 pm Monday through Friday
Pick your favorite books to do a reading response . At this grade level it is appropriate for student to write or say their responses.
Practice Language Arts skills on Starfall.com, ABCYA, or IXL.com (limited free access).

Writing

Keep a summer journal. Each day record what you’ve done that day. A list of ideas is included and a kindergarten writing journal is linked here if you choose to print it.
Rising first graders can record using a combination of pictures, letters and words. They can illustrate their daily log with a detailed picture. It is important that students at this level do this writing on paper with a pencil or crayon.

Math

Math Games and Activities

Below are a few resources your family can use to explore math together at home. These activities are developmentally appropriate and encourage mathematical reasoning, problem-solving, and curiosity.

SplashLearn, Starfall, and IXL: Engaging math games that build fluency and problem-solving (free and limited access versions).
Bedtime Math: Quick daily math stories to build number sense in fun, low-pressure ways.
Easy Math Games to Build Number Sense: Primary to Intermediate games the whole family can play!
Math Games with a Deck of Cards: Primary to Intermediate games the whole family can play!
Math Games with a Pair of Dice: Primary to Intermediate games the whole family can play!
K5 Learning Numbers & Counting Extra Practice: Free printables that provide additional practice with number recognition, counting, comparing numbers, odd and even numbers, and ordinal numbers for students who enjoy extra practice at home.

Simple Family Math Ideas

Create an estimation jar and have your child guess how many items are inside before counting together.
Play counting and pattern games with small toys, snacks, or household items.
Have your child help measure ingredients while cooking or baking.
Sort laundry by size, color, or type and talk about categories and attributes.
Go on a “shape hunt” around the house or outside; find circles, squares, rectangles, and triangles in everyday objects.
Practice skip counting while jumping rope, tossing a ball, or climbing stairs.
Use coins to practice identifying and sorting by size, value, or color.
Read picture books that naturally weave in math concepts (like Ten Black Dots or Walter's Wonderful Web).

Kindergarten math is meant to build strong foundational skills through problem-solving, reasoning, and real-world application. More importantly, it is about nurturing children's curiosity, encouraging them to make connections, and helping them apply what they know in new, fun, and meaningful ways.

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