In the Spirit of Independence Day, Encourage Independent Reading and Learning!
Reading Time: 2 min
An exciting summer holiday is 4th of July. The warm air and blue skies tell us that summer is in full swing and the break from school is well underway. This is a great time to incorporate learning about our nation's history with summer reading, writing, and exploring. It’s also a good time to start younger children on their journey of becoming independent readers.
Take some time to start, or sharpen your child’s literacy skills with these fun 4th of July themed activities:
Learning letters: This fun craft is a must for those with preschoolers! Your child will practice phonics, express creativity and learn about Independence Day or whatever theme you choose.
1. Have the child trace a letter onto craft paper.
2. Cut out the letter
3. Decorate it inside with drawings, magazine cutouts or whatever inspires them to fit a theme. For example: F is for Fireworks or J is for July and they can decorate with fireworks or express what the 4th of July means to them.
Themed Picture Books: Picture books are a great place to start for younger readers as they begin their journey to independent reading. Working up the literacy ladder into books with simple text and engaging stories will forge a life time love for reading and continue their literacy journey into the next grade level. Here are a couple of our favorite 4th of July themed books to get you started:
A 4th of July History Lesson: Elementary students will enjoy the interactive videos, articles and photographs about the 4th of July online collected on History.com. You can also visit your local library to learn more about what they found interesting.
Compose a Themed Poem: If the children in your life enjoy rhymes, encourage them to compose their very own 4th of July themed poem. Sharing their poems with family and friends is a great way to create confidence around reading and writing.
Create a 4th of July Word Search: There are many online word search generators, or create your own with paper and pencil. This is great practice for letter formation and spelling. Draw the grids using a ruler, then add the words to the grid and fill in with random letters to complete the word search board.
And one more bonus idea…
Lou’s 4th of July Crossword Puzzle
We hope this gives you a few ideas for your kids to learn more about Independence Day! And if you’re looking for a new adventure in reading, try Lou Adventures’ A Mystery at the Lakehouse. Our very own interactive learning adventure for kids!
