Explore fun and meaningful summer activities in English Language Arts, Math, Science, and Social Studies. All eighth 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 eighth grader to stay engaged with a variety of engaging 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
8th Grade Exploration SORA 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 8 Exploration SORA Google Doc
Sora is the district digital library collection that all students can access. Learn how to add Sora from ClassLink using the Getting Started with Sora document.
Activities:
- Set a personal reading goal
- Customize your lending periods
- Create a custom reading list and add at least three titles.
- Experiment with the highlight and annotation feature using any book you’re reading
- Read 15 minutes before 7 am
- Read a nonfiction article from a magazine of your choice
- Travel to a new place – read a fiction book set in a new place or a nonfiction book or article about a place you want to visit
- Read a book that is a different genre than you usually read
- Read a book recommended by someone else
- Read a book that was published the year you were born.
- Read a nonfiction book from a subject area that you find interesting or that you want to learn more about.
- Find and create a craft from a book or magazine
- Return a book early
- Mark a book as finished
- Finish three borrowed books
- Earn 10 achievements
Science
Social Studies
8th 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 8 Choice Board Geography Summer Review Google Doc.
Choices
Virtual Field Trip
- Let’s visit Mesa Verde in Southwest Colorado! Explore Mesa Verde through 360 video, video clips, and images.
- Then create an informational poster about the area.
- Join Nearpod with code: 6L7HE
Story Map
- Join Alex Honnold’s amazing and thrilling adventure climbing El Capitan in Yosemite National Park. Alex climbed without ropes and shares his story in this StoryMap with images, maps, and video.
- View the StoryMap here.
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.
Watch a Film
- Travel to Spain to watch the Catalonians build a death-defying human tower. Then read further about this tradition and how it brings the people together.
- Watch the film and read more about the tradition.
Free Choice
- Come up with your own activity to explore the world
Google Arts and Culture
- Explore the Taj Mahal on Google Arts and Culture.
- Write a short fictional story about the Taj Mahal. Be creative!
Google Earth
- Explore one of these guided tours in Google Earth.
- Choose one or several of these interactive tours and travel with storytellers, scientists, and geographers.
- Talk with a family member about what you learned from these experts.
Informational Brochure
- Choose a country from the National Geographic explore website. Click on the country to learn about it.
- Create an informational brochure about the country. You can create a brochure using a template or just with paper and colored pencils.
Geoguesser Interactive Game
- Embark on a journey that takes you all over the world. Sign up for a free account to play.
- Using Google Earth 360, find clues to help you pinpoint where in the world the images are from. Look for clues on the landscape to help you determine the location.
Late Summer
As summer comes to a close, help your rising ninth 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
8th Grade Choice Board: Preparing for 9th Grade
- Help prepare your eighth 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 8 End of Summer ELA Choice Board Google Doc.
Choices
Reading Prompts
- Read a fiction book where the main character navigates cultural differences or experiences a clash between cultures
- Read a myth, legend, or folktale from a culture that is different from your own.
- Read an interview with someone who moves to a new country and shares their experiences adapting to a new culture.
- Read an article or interview about a cultural event or tradition happening in a country different from your own.
Writing Prompts
- Research and explain the significance of a particular holiday or celebration in a culture that is not your own.
- Research the traditional foods of a particular culture and create a presentation on how these foods reflect the history, environment, and social customs of that culture.
- Design a travel brochure for a country or region that highlights its unique cultural attractions, traditions, and values.
- Research a local community celebration or tradition. Create a short (30-60) news clip that informs the public about the event.
Creative Connections
- Using BookCreator, write a story about a time you experienced a misunderstanding or learned something new about another culture
- Photo Scavenger Hunt: Take 5 photos that highlight positive aspects of your culture. Write a short caption for each and use Canva to create a digital collage.
- Using Canva, design the front page of a newspaper from the perspective of someone living in another culture. What would be the most important news stories?
- Create a short (30-60 second) video or slideshow showcasing the visual elements of a particular culture (art, clothing, landscapes, celebrations).
Math
- PSAT 8/9 Algebra Readiness
Science
Social Studies
8th Grade Choice Board: Preparing for 9th Grade
- Help prepare your eighth 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 8 Choice Board: Preparing for 9th Grade Google Doc
Choices
Virtual Field Trip
- Let’s learn about imperialism in world history. Explore Imperialism further in the Nearpod.
- As you watch the video, answer the questions that are asked throughout it.
- Join Nearpod with code: YEMVI
StoryMap
- Explore the StoryMap “Most Dominant Religions in the World.”
- Engage with the maps, images, and texts.
- Discuss what you learned with a family member.
Analyze a Primary Source
- Read about how to analyze primary sources.
- Analyze these six primary sources and answer this question: How were networks of exchange in China and Europe similar and different?
Analyze Maps
- Analyze historic maps of the continent of Africa and read about each map. Then look at a current map of Africa.
- Write down how the maps changed over time and what influenced these changes.
- How do you think these changes impacted the people, cultures, and environments of the various regions on the continent?
Free Choice
- Come up with your own activity to learn about a region or historic event from world history
Make Comparisons
- Read “Comparison – Life In 1750 and Today” to learn more about the differences between life now and 1750 and fill out the graphic organizer.
Google Earth
- Explore the maps and images in Google Earth about the continent of Africa. Click on countries and locations you are interested in learning more about.
- Write down 10 questions you have about this incredible continent.
- Do a little research and see if you can answer your own questions.
Informational Brochure
- Read an article on European States and Empires.
- Create an informational brochure about the ideas presented in this article. You can create a brochure using a template or just with paper and colored pencils.
Watch a Video
- Watch the video in Nearpod on the history of the Crusades.
- Fill out The Crusades Worksheet as you watch the short video clip. Go to Nearpod and enter this code: WB8SV