May 2015
Dear MCBE parent,
Miami-Dade County Public Schools recognizes the importance of ensuring that students continue to
strengthen reading skills and develop a passion for reading beyond the classroom. Experience and current
research support the idea that students who are actively engaged in reading throughout the summer
demonstrate improved academic performance during the following school year. Cultivating pleasurable
reading helps build reading skills and enriches students’ knowledge base. Summer reading provides students
with an opportunity for recreational reading, personal exploration, and continued intellectual growth.
Below you will find the required summer reading book titles by grade level. Students are asked to read the
books and complete the activities for the grade level they will be in during the 2015-2016 school year. The
activities will be due 2 weeks after school starts and will be graded. Please read the grade specific directions
for completing the summer reading books and assignments. Some grade levels require one book, others two,
so please read instructions carefully.
Kindergarten (1 book) *
Book: The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle
Activity: Make a poster about the book using one or two of the following media: fingerpaint, water colors, crayons, chalk, or real materials. Write an explanation of your
poster. *Poster must be NO larger than 16 X 20 inches.
*Kindergarten activity will be shared in class, but not graded.
1st grade (2 books)
1. Teacher Choice Book: Leo the Late Bloomer by Robert Kraus
Activity: Make a picture timeline of all the events in the book, labeling each of the
events to provide facts, definitions, or important points taking place.
2. Student Choice: Choose one of the following books
Click, Clack, Moo: Cows That Type by Doreen Cronin
Nate the Great and the Pillowcase by Marjorie Weinman Sharmat
A Bug, A Bear, and A Boy by David McPhail
Activity: Using an index card summarize the book you have read on one side, and on
the other side write to explain why you would recommend this book to a friend to read.
Use evidence from the text to support you answer.
Teacher’s Choice
Student Choice
2nd grade (2 books)
Read the following two books:
Henry and Mudge and the Big Sleepover by Cynthia Rylant
Mouse Soup by Arnold Lobel
Activities: Select any two of the following activities to reflect your summer reading.
Make sure to choose a different activity for each book.
1. After reading a book select the 5 most important words in the book, and explain why
these words are important to the main idea(s) or information presented.
2. Using an index card summarize the book you have read on one side, and on the other
side write to explain why you would recommend this book to a friend to read. Use
evidence from the text to support you answer.
3. Draw a picture of your favorite page. Explain in writing why this page is your favorite.
Use evidence from the text to support your answer.
4. Make a picture timeline of all the events in the book, labeling each of the events to
provide facts, definitions, or important points taking place.
3rd grade (1 book)
Select and read one of these four books:
A to Z Mysteries: The Empty Envelope by Ron Roy
Cam Janson and the Green School Mystery by David A. Adler
The Lemonade War by Jacqueline Davies
The New Kid at School (Dragon Slayers’ Academy Series) by Kate McMullan
Activity: Create a timeline using drawings, magazine cutouts, pictures and labels to
show the events along the timeline and write to explain each of the main events in the
text.
4th grade (1 book)
Select and read one of these three books:
Because of Winn Dixie by Kate Dicamillo
Dear Mr. Henshaw by Beverly Cleary
Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing by Judy Blume
Activities: Select and complete one activity from the following choices.
1. Create a collage with words and pictures around a central idea, theme or characters
in the book.
2. Write a character diary, writing at least five journal entries as if you were the main
character in the story. Write down events that happen and reflect on how they
affected the character and why.
3. You are the reporter. Write a front page news story or a report live from the scene.
5th grade (1 book)
Read the following book: The Ghost’s Grave by Peg Kehert
Activities: Select and complete one activity from the following choices.
1. Write a one page “pitch” to a producer explaining why the story or the concept
would or would not make a great movie.
2. Write a character diary, writing at least five journal entries as if you were the main
character in the story. Write down events that happen and reflect on how they
affected the character and why.
3. Create a timeline using drawings, magazine cutouts, pictures and labels to show the
events along the timeline and write to explain each of the main events in the text.