Explore fun and meaningful summer activities in English Language Arts, Math, Science, and Social Studies. All first grade students will bring home their iPads for easy access to digital learning tools.
Why Summer Learning Matters: Research shows that consistent engagement with learning during summer months helps maintain academic momentum. Students who continue educational activities over the break return to school better prepared and confident. Our Summer Learning Liftoff program is designed to support your child’s ongoing growth with engaging and enjoyable activities that reinforce key skills.
For more grade levels, visit the Summer Learning Liftoff page.
Need iPad help? See Family Resources for iPad Support.
Early Summer
At the start of summer, encourage your exiting first grader to stay engaged with a variety of playful and interactive activities. Early Summer resources provide opportunities to review what they’ve learned, explore new interests, and build confidence—all while having fun and making the most of the beginning of break.
English Language Arts
1st Grade ELA Review Choice Board
- Explore a variety of fun reading and writing activities to keep your child learning over the summer.
- Choose any activity from the board to complete —do them in any order!
- Some activities include links or codes for online tools. Just click the links and follow the directions.
- If you’d like a printable version, you can print via the Grade 1 Beginning of Summer ELA Choice Board Google Doc.
Choices
Read & Write About the Moon
- First, read/listen about the moon on PebbleGo.
- Then, use paper or the Book Creator app in Self Service to draw a picture of something you learned about the moon and write at least 3 sentences about it.
Describe a Character
- Choose a book of your choice or a read-along book from Sora to read.
- Once you’ve read the book, make a bubble map describing the main character.
- Then, draw the characters and write 3 sentences about the character!
Seek & Find: Digraphs
- Underline the digraphs or box the glued sounds in the sentences using the Draw tool in Nearpod.
- Use Code: NMTRH to sign in
Write a Story
- First, read/listen about being a responsible citizen on PebbleGo.
- Then, use paper or the Book Creator app in Self Service to write a story about a time you were responsible.
- Plan your story using pictures or words in a Flow Map.
Cozy Read Aloud
- Ask a friend or trusted adult to do a cozy read aloud.
- Choose from the curated Family Reading Fun list on Sora!
Dictation Practice with Bonus Letter Rule
- Practice spelling words with the Bonus Letter Rule using the Draw tool in Nearpod.
- Use Code: VX6MP to sign in
Letter-Sound Practice
- Using the Letter-Keyword-Sound poster, point to each card and practice saying the letter(s), the keyword, and its sound.
- Bonus: Have a friend or trusted adult point to the letters out-of-order and tell them the letter, keyword, and sound.
Spot the Suffix
- Circle the suffixes in the words using the Draw tool in Nearpod.
- Use Code: X38MR to sign in
Explain Why
- First, read about Smart Money Choices on Sora.
- Then, use paper or the Book Creator app in Self Service to explain why it is or is not important to make good money choices.
Social Studies
1st Grade Geography Summer Review Choice Board
- Explore a variety of fun social study activities to keep your child learning over the summer.
- Tic-tac-toe, you pick three in a row! See how many your child can complete over the summer
- Some activities include links or codes for online tools. Just click the links and follow the directions.
- If you’d like a printable version, you can print via the Grade 1 Choice Board Geography Summer Review Google Doc.
Choices
Virtual Field Trip
- Let’s learn about landforms around the world! Explore different landforms around the world through 360 videos, images, and fun books! Then, draw some pictures of different landforms after learning more about them.
- Join Nearpod with code: ZSNYB
Map My Products
- Take an inventory of your kitchen cupboards and note where each product was made.
- Use a blank outline map of the world to mark the country in which each product originated.
- Do most of the products come from the same region? If so, why do you think that is true? Which products came from farthest away?
Picture Collage
- Where in the world do you want to go? Go to Pics4Learning website and choose a country you would like to explore.
- Print off the pictures or put them in a Google Doc as a collage. Add words or phrases to describe the place.
Let’s Go Camping
- Read this book with someone or by yourself! You can click on the icon to read it to you. Then, draw a picture of what activity you would like to do if you could go camping.
Neighborhood Safari
- Go on a safari around your neighborhood with your family. As you explore, see how many things you can spot!
- Print out the safari cards you can use to practice your observation skills.
PebbleGo
- Log in to PebbleGo and read about the different continents in the world.
- Choose two different continents. How are they similar and different? What do you think life would be like living on these continents?
Touchable Earth
- Start learning about different places in the world from other kids around the world!
- Choose a place you want to learn about.
- Watch the videos and look at the maps to learn about what life is like for kids around the world. How is your life similar or different to these kids?
PebbleGo & Maps
- Log in to PebbleGo and read about the different types of maps.
- Choose two different types of maps to read about. How are they similar and different? How would you use each of the maps? Talk with an adult about how you could use each of these maps.
Read a Book
- Go to Storyline Online and listen to the book, The Empty Pot. It is a story about a Chinese emperor.
- Look at a map of the world. Find China on the map, which is where this story takes place.
- Tell someone about what you learned about China from this story.
Late Summer
As summer comes to a close, help your rising second grader get ready for the year ahead with resources designed to reinforce important skills and spark excitement for new learning. Late Summer activities support a smooth transition back to school, so your child can start the new year feeling prepared and enthusiastic.
English Language Arts
1st Grade Choice Board: Preparing for 2nd Grade
- Help prepare your first grader for the year ahead with a variety of fun reading and writing activities to help them get ready for the upcoming school year.
- Choose any activity from the board to complete —do them in any order!
- Some activities include links or codes for online tools. Just click the links and follow the directions.
- If you’d like a printable version, you can print via the Grade 1 End of Summer ELA Choice Board Google Doc.
Choices
Glued Sounds Dictation Practice
- Practice spelling words with the Draw tool in Nearpod.
- Use Code: R52PS to sign in
Write a Story
- First, read/listen about earthquakes on PebbleGo.
- Then, use paper or the Book Creator app in Self Service to write a story about a character who experiences an earthquake.
- Plan your story using pictures or words in a Flow Map.
Seek & Find: Glued Sounds
- Underline the digraphs or box the glued sounds in the sentences using the Draw tool in Nearpod.
- Use Code: NY3ZV to sign in
Glued Sounds Practice
- Choose the glued sound that makes a word using the quiz activity in Nearpod.
- Use Code: IKQ4T to sign in
Cozy Read Aloud
- Ask a friend or trusted adult to do a cozy read aloud.
- Choose from the curated Family Reading Fun list on Sora!
Read & Write About Customs Around the World
- First, choose a category to read/listen about in Customs Around the World on PebbleGO.
- Then, use paper or the Book Creator app in Self Service to draw a picture of something you learned about and write at least 3 sentences about it.
Letter to a Friend
- Write a letter to a friend telling them about an exciting thing that happened to you during the week.
- Mail the letter to your friend.
- Remember to use your best letter formation!
Explain Why
- First, read about Needs and Wants on PebbleGo.
- Then, use paper or the Book Creator app in Self Service, and write about something you want and explain why you should buy it.
Visual Glossary
- Find 5-7 important words from Customs Around the World.
- Using the Book Creator app in Self Service, create a visual glossary by writing the word, writing its meaning, and drawing a picture of what it is.
Social Studies
1st Grade Choice Board: Preparing for 2nd Grade
- Help prepare your first grader for the year ahead with a variety of fun social study activities to help them get ready for the upcoming school year.
- Choose any activity from the board to complete —do them in any order!
- Some activities include links or codes for online tools. Just click the links and follow the directions.
- If you’d like a printable version, you can print via the Grade 1 Choice Board: Preparing for 2nd Grade
Choices
Read a Book
- Read about money in this book. You can read it yourself or click on the icon to have it read to you. After you read the book, draw a picture of one thing you would like to save your money to buy. Be sure to label your picture.
Draw a Picture
- What is a good and a service? Complete this matching activity about goods and services.
- Then, use this handout and draw one picture of a good and one picture of a service. Then write about each picture you drew.
Nearpod
- Let’s learn about producers and consumers in this Nearpod. You will read and watch a video about the value of money in our society. Use this code to join: U5LVX
Watch the video
- Watch this video about money. Choose one of the questions the kids were asked, and answer it for yourself. Draw a picture of your answer and label your picture.
Justify your Decision
- Look at this picture. In a sentence, identify what are the two items you need to choose from for your lunch today. Explain which item you will choose and why it is the best choice. Then explain what you are giving up when you make that decision (what are the benefits you will not get by choosing the other item?).
Inquiry Project
- What do you want to save your money for? Think about things you need or want. Make a list of these things. Choose the top three things you really want to buy with your money. Brainstorm ways you could make and save money to buy those items.
Watch the video
- Watch Schoolhouse Rock’s video, “Three Ring Government.” Here are the lyrics to the video so you can follow along. After you watch the video, draw a picture or write a short paragraph about the three parts of government. What are the three parts of government, and what do they each do?
Be a Good Citizen
- Think about how you can be a good helper at your school. Is there a problem that needs to be solved? What can you do to solve it? For example, is there trash that needs to be picked up? Or is there a student who needs a friend to talk to? Find a problem that you could help fix by being a good citizen. Share with a family member the problem and your solution.
Inquiry Project
- What are the three branches of government? Look at this infographic. What do you wonder about this? Create a list of questions you have about this infographic. Talk with a friend and see how you can figure out the answers to some of your questions.