Entering Junior High (7-8) Literacy

Challenge 2: Random Notes of Kindness

Research shows that positive brains have an advantage over brains that are neutral or negative. Focusing on positivity can improve your happiness and overall engagement. With this in mind, write a quick note that shares a compliment, positive quote, or how they bring happiness to your life to a family member, friend, neighbor, or someone in your community. Keep a tally of the number of people you spread kindness to throughout the summer.

Challenge 4: Nature is an Inspiration

Nature has been a source of inspiration to many great authors and poets. See why by exploring the outdoors. Think of your favorite quiet place outside. It could be an area as familiar as your backyard or as extravagant as a vacation setting. You can virtually check out natural spaces in the Chicagoland area such as the Morton Arboretum, Chicago Botanical Gardens, Fermilab, local nature centers, Starved Rock, etc.

Once you have found an inspirational natural setting, try your hand at writing. Write a poem about a scene that inspires you or write an essay about the way nature makes you feel. Tune in to your senses. Try to capture the moment by expressing your internal landscape as you observe and interact with nature. Consider reading the below texts to enhance your ideas:

Fiction:

• Silent Spring

• Walden Pond

• Robert Frost

• Emily Dickinson

Non-fiction:

• 60 Hikes, 60 miles

• Illinois Hiking

Challenge 6: How Reading and Writing Help Shape Science

Illinois boasts two of the most renowned laboratories in the country, Argonne National Laboratory and Fermilab. Both laboratories have informational magazines, cultural events and natural areas that tell a story. Explore the scientific community by reading about their contributions, watch a webinar of one of the lecture series, or participate in their community programming.

Challenge yourself to write an essay incorporating what you learned on one of the following topics:

1. Together, we can feed the world

2. Together, we can build a secure energy

3. Together, we can protect people and the environment

4. Together, we can be innovative

Visit the website for more information:

• http://www.fnal.gov/pub/about/

• http://www.anl.gov/

Challenge 8: Explore your Local Libraries

Libraries are important to the community around them. Visit a local library to check out books, access ebooks through their websites, or take part in some fun-filled scheduled events.

Local Libraries to visit:

• Schaumburg Public Library

• Elk Grove Village Public Library

• Gail Borden Public Library in Elgin

• Palatine Public Library

• Barrington Public Library

• Indian Trails Library in Wheeling

• Roselle Public Library

• Wheaton Public Library

• Elmhurst Public Library

• Batavia Public Library

• St. Charles Public Library

• Oak Park Public Library

• Bloomingdale Public Library

Challenge 10: Screen Free Challenge

Here’s your challenge if you choose to accept it… Give up digital entertainment for an entire day or even a week! Challenge yourself to say no to TVs, computers, tablets, cell phones, and video games! To help yourself succeed, tell your family members about your challenge and invite them to participate. You can hide your devices or even hang a “Don’t Turn Me On” sign on your TV. For a bonus, keep a journal of how you feel during your screen-free day or week. What is it like to be screen-free? How long will your family survive this screen-free challenge?!