If you are looking for something to do this summer, here are some suggestions.  Please note that students in grades one through five are EXPECTED to participate in our summer reading assignments.  Please read the following.

The importance of elementary aged children reading during the summer has been demonstrated repeatedly in a variety of research studies.  Over and over again, it has been shown that children who read during the summer do much better when school starts again in the fall.  On the other hand, children who do not read during the summer demonstrate a significant loss over the summer.  The good news is that the research shows that having elementary-aged children read just four to five books during the summer can prevent this achievement loss. To support this, Cooke Magnet School has adopted a summer reading assignment for all students going in to grades one through five.  Students are EXPECTED to read the selected books and complete a book study.  Assignments should be turned in to teachers upon return to school in August.  This reading assignment will be counted towards first quarter grades.  Fourth graders entering fifth will receive a copy of their book the last week of school.  I have worked with the Waukegan Public Library to set aside copies of the required books for Cooke Magnet School students

Cooke Magnet School

2012 Summer Reading Assignments

KINDERGARTEN SUMMER READING PROJECT

This summer, all incoming Kindergarten students are required to have the stories listed below read to them.  After each one, ask your child to answer the questions out loud to you.  Initial after each story has been completed.  When all 4 stories have been discussed, have your child draw and label a picture of their favorite one.  It will hang in the hall during the first weeks of school.  Turn in this sheet and the drawing during Meet and Greet!

The Gingerbread Man          ________

The Three Little Pigs           ________

Jack and The Beanstalk       ________

Little Red Riding Hood         ________

1. Who is in the story?
2. Does it have a happy ending?
3. Did you like the story? Why or why not?
4. (Point to any picture and ask) What things do you see in this picture?

Have fun and enjoy the stories

1^st Grade 2012 Summer Reading

First grade students must read (with a parent) 5 fairy tales from the following list.  Students need to make a poster for their favorite fairy tale.  In pictures and words, students should recreate a favorite scene, identify and draw characters, describe the setting, and tell about the plot.

Second grade summer book report:  Students will read a book of their choice from the following author's series...

The Black Lagoon series by Mike Thaler
A Junie B Jones book by Barbara Park
The Magic School Bus series

Once the book has been read, create a poster board with the following components; a picture of your book, the title, the main characters, the setting, the problem, and the solution in the book.  Your poster board should be creative, organized, match the directions, and should have all of the above items represented in words (pictures of each may be added for creativity).

Third Grade Summer Reading Project: Read a chapter book from the Magic Tree House series and complete the following project. (Please do not use a Magic Tree House research guide.) Use a shoebox and construct a diorama of a scene from the book. You may paint your background and use any object you would like to complete your scene. Be creative! Objects can be made from many items. Write a description of the scene you have chosen so that others will be interested and want to learn more about the story.

4^th grade Summer Reading Project

Directions:

1. Read Frindle by Andrew Clements.
2. Choose one of the four options to present to the class.
3. Please bring the student-generated project to school on the 2^nd day of school.

Option One:  Puppet Show

Design a 5-minute puppet show to teach others about your book.  Make the puppets yourself using socks, paper bags, or other creative materials.  Write a one-page script to use as you put on a puppet show for your classmates on presentation day.  Remember to create a presentation that will entertain the class and demonstrate your understanding of the story.

Option Two:  Television News Story

Create a 5-minute televisions news story on the book.  You can even videotape the report at home and bring it in on a DVD/disk.  If you prefer, you can perform it on presentation day.  Make sure to include information about the author, what your book was about, and your own opinions about the book.  Turn in the one-page script that you used. Make this project incredibly interesting for your television viewers!

Option Three:  Dinner for Two

Invite one of the characters to dinner and plan an imaginary conversation you would have with him/her while eating dinner.  Type a one page script with the speaking parts for both you and the character.

Option Four:  Become a Character

Dress up as one of the characters and act out a characterization.  Type a one page report you would like to present to the class as the character you have chosen.

Future Fifth Graders Summer Reading Project

First, read How to Write Your Life Story by Ralph Fletcher.

Then, you are going to:

c  Brainstorm your stories (see pg. 9)

c  Make a list of 15 important events in your life

c  Collect family stories (see pg. 10) 

• Write at least 3 family stories – at least 1 paragraph each
• Include at least 3 details in each story

c  Gather artifacts from your life (see pg. 12)

c  Fill a box with at least 5 meaningful objects and write down memories associated with the objects

c  Write about your name (see pg. 12)

c  Sketch a map of your neighborhood (see pg. 13, 16 – 17)

• Must be colored
• Think of 5 different memories located on map
• Label (on the front) and list the 5 memories on the back of your map

Finally, you are going to use all of the information you collected to:

c  Create a heart map (see pg. 15, 18 – 19)

• Must include words and pictures (magazine cutouts, hand-drawn, etc.)
• Must be done in pen, colored pencil, marker, or crayon

(NO PENCIL FOR FINAL DRAFTS OF PROJECTS!)

It is completely up to you to decide how you would like to display all of your work. You may put it all on a poster board, tri-fold board, make a mobile, make a bloom ball, etc. Be creative! This is going to be your very first grade of fifth grade so do your best and show us how awesome of a kid you are! J

Creative: 1            2            3            4            5

Neat/Organized: 1            2            3            4            5

On time: 1            2            3            4            5

Presentation: 1            2            3            4            5

TOTAL:      /20

Comments: ______________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________­____________

TOTAL:      /150  =    %

Places to go over the summer…

Waukegan Public Library -- 128 North County St, Waukegan

Kohl Children’s Museum -- 2100 Patriot Blvd, Glenview

Lake County Discovery Museum -- 27277 N Forest Preserve Rd, Wauconda

Chicago Botanic Garden -- 1000 Lake Cook Road, Glencoe

Wild Life Discovery Center -- 1401 Middlefork Dr, Lake Forest

Ravinia Festival -- 418 Sheridan Rd, Highland Park

Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum -- 2430 North Cannon Drive, Chicago

Things to do over the summer…

Reader’s Theater, Exercise, Read, Swim, Mini-golf, Lemonade stand, Grow a garden, Fishing, Camping, Picnic, Tie-Dye, Go to the zoo, learn an instrument, Fly a kite, Learn to cook/bake, Puzzles, Scrapbook, Treasure hunts, Play with friends, Arts and crafts, Computer games, Keep a journal, Draw and sketch, Learn origami.  You can also check out  passes from the Waukegan Public Library that permits free admission for families and individuals to many museums in Lake, Cooke, and DuPage County.