Summer Learning Ideas for Upper Elementary Homeschoolers: Summer Reads
Summer Reads
Summer Reading Ideas for Upper Elementary Homeschoolers
Continuing or starting family read alouds is a great way to continue informal learning. Whether it’s rich literature or light-hearted reads, your kids will be exposed to new vocabulary, story-telling, and inspiring ideas. Good books can spur ideas of their own that your kids run with for days. Or good books could inspire family discussions or inside jokes that last far beyond the end of the book (we still giggle as some scenes from The BFG!).
I don’t force it though. For us it’s become a routine that the kids are often the ones that ask for a read aloud at lunchtime or before bed —the two times I think most lend themselves to books — instead of me pushing for it.
Here are some of the read alouds I’ve been considering for this summer! These are especially good for upper elementary boys (since that’s what I have!) — but are wonderful books for whatever mix of kiddos you have!
Please note: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases at no cost to you.
My Side of the Mountain by Jean Craighead George
This is a book for kids who thrive on stories of survival and imagine what it would be like to be completely independent and on their own. My boys love to learn outdoor survival skills, and this book shows those skills in action. It deals with serious issues like running away, and tense survival situations, so reading out loud to upper elementary kids provides the opportunity to pause and discuss issues together. It’s part of a trilogy. If they don’t get enough with the first book, there’s also On the Far Side of the Mountain and Frightful's Mountain.
The Borrowers by Mary Norton
A gentle book for those who want a little magic in ordinary life. Let’s face it — who wouldn’t want to believe in a hidden world of little people surrounding ordinary life? Did you also know this is actually a five-book series? It also includes The Borrowers Afield, The Borrowers Afloat, The Borrowers Aloft, and The Borrowers Avenged. If they love the first book, then you easily have follow-up books, either as another read aloud or independent reading.
The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis
For the kids who want the full-fledged fantasy — imagining themselves a prince or a knight and battling all the evils in a magical place to have good prevail — this is the classic series that will help them believe that anything is possible. This book series can be read and revisited many more times and is often studied in high school literature courses. I don’t know about your kids, but ours keep saying “one more chapter…” when reading this book! While The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe was published first and is considered most well-known of the series, some modern box-sets of the books will put that original story as #2 in the series with The Magician’s Nephew taking the #1 slot.
James and the Giant Peach, and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl
We already read The BFG (my kids all-time favorite!) and The Minpins, and Roald Dahl books are always a hit. Most of us know the stories, or maybe have seen the movies of James and the Giant Peach and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, but they are still delightful to read. The sequel Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator is also one that we haven’t read and would be a great next book.