5 Minutes for Books: Summer Bridge Activities
As of Sunday, it was officially summer. Some of you may have a week or so left of school, while others have been out for several weeks. Some of you are homeschoolers and have set your own “break.” Others will be joining me in sending a child off to school for the first time come fall (How is it that my baby is starting Kindergarten?).
Regardless of how your children are educated and whether or not they love school and learn easily or struggle through some aspect of their schooling, it’s an undeniable fact that children do better if they never stop learning.
We love downtime around my house, and in between camps and vacations, we have a healthy helping of “do-nothing days.” But I have to admit that as much as I enjoy taking advantage of the downtime myself by spending more time reading while the children enjoy their free time, I also like to use the summer to work on projects — be they school skills, an extra project (such as fun creative writing for my daughter who enjoys that), or helping-around-the house skills.
My ten-year-old daughter Amanda and I had the chance to preview a Summer Bridge Activities workbook. I knew that Amanda would be thrilled (Can you imagine the sarcasm dripping from my typed words?). As I anticipated, she rolled her eyes when she saw it, and asked, “Do I have to do that this summer?” I told her I thought it would be a good idea, but would she at least look it over to help me review it.
She immediately saw the motivational calendar at the front of the book which said, “My parents and I decided that if I complete 15 summer bridge activities and read ___ minutes a day my incentive/reward will be: ”
“Reward? I get a reward?” she asked. I would not have believe how quickly that little incentive would change her attitude about this workbook. She was immediately on board (I shouldn’t have been surprised, because I had already seen how the incentive of the Chore Board Game took the nagging out of chores).
The page has a nice checklist for her to color in a star for each activity page she completes, and a book for each time she reads the allotted amount. There are two other sections with similar pages, which I like, because the goal of filling in 50 stars is not seen as attainable. The first two sections deal with review, and the third section is designed to be an introduction to the coming year. We looked through the Summer Bridge Activities: 5th to 6th Grade, and I found it be on target as far as what Amanda learned in math, geography, and grammar. There are some things that she didn’t cover, such as biology (circulatory and digestive systems and more), but this would be a fun enrichment activity for some kids.
Remember how I mentioned that I like to take those extended hours to focus on responsibilities, behaviors and that type of thing? Summer Bridge Activities has that covered too. The back has pages (with activities) devoted to character traits such as Responsibility, Gratitude, Manners and more.
This was my first experience with the Summer Bridge Activities from Carson-Dellosa, but I find myself asking, “Where have you been all my life?” I love the colorful pages, the accurate and challenging content, and the motivational calendar.
One of you will win a copy of THREE workbooks of your choice (available for Pre-K to K through 7th to 8th grade). Leave a comment if you’d like to win (U.S. addresses only), and tell us which ones you would like. We’ll announce the winner in next week’s column.The giveaway is closed.
We don’t have a winner to announce, because the I Spy A to Z book is still open for entries for a couple of more weeks.
Contributing editor Jennifer Donovan manages 5 Minutes for Books and blogs at Snapshot about life with her 10 year old daughter and 5 year old son.
99 Comments
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The Summer Bridge Activity Book (P-K) would be great for my niece! Thanks!
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I would love the youngest possible. My DD is 1-1/2 right now. Thanks!
Please enter me for the 5th to 6th, 6th to 7th, and 7th to 8th. Thanks a bunch!
my kids are going into 5th and 8th so those would work for us.
I’d love the Summer Bridge Activities: Kindergarten to 1st Grade workbook!
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I would love to win one for each of my three daughters (perfect!). I would love to have the Pre-K to Kindergarten, the 1st to 2nd grade and the 3rd to 4th grade workbooks. Thanks!
I would like to win the 1st grade edition
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I would like to have the Pre-K, K, and grade 1. Please disregard the previous post just listing grade 1. Thanks.
Ok, terrific giveaway. These are fabulous. I used one with my son between Kindergarten and 1st grade. I’d love 5th to 6th and 2nd to 3rd.
My girl loves these activities books.She would love the 1-2nd grade/3rd-4th grade/Young Christian 1st-2nd grade. Thanks!
pre K to K please!
These look like such a great way to keep my little one thinking this summer. We’d love Pre-K to K, K to 1, 1 to 2.
I would love the 5th grade or 7th grade one…
I’d love the K to 1st for my rising 1st grader. Thanks!
Great giveaway! I would love the Pre-K or 1st grade. Thanks.
Pre-K
I would love to get the Kindergarten workbooks for my son to work in over the summer!
I would love the Summer Bridge Activities for Young Christians: Preschool to Kindergarten and the following age groups for the other 2!
I would love the 8th grade one.
1st to 2nd
We could really use the one for 1st grade for my daughter and the Pre-K for my son.
we would love the K to 1st grade…or maybe the 1st to 2nd….
Hmm, these would be excellant to have for my children. I would choose pre-k to k first. Second choice would be k-1, third choice would be 1-2.
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These are great books-2-3rd grade
K to 1st grade would be great
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I would love to win the Summer Bridge Activities for 3rd to 4th grade, 4th to 5th grade and 5th to 6th grade. Thanks for the giveaway!
I would love to win the Summer Bridge P-K, K-2, & 1-2!
Thanks for another great giveaway!
I would love the pre-k, kindergarten, and first grade ones! Thanks!
I would like the pre-k and kindergarten ones.
I really like this idea! I could use the pre-K, K & 1st grade ones! Thanks for the offer!
I would pick the Pre-K to K, Thanks
Actually I could use any of the choices because I have a large family with kids in various age groups. My first choice would be Pre-K to K.
I would like Pre-K to K!
I would love to win the 2 to 3rd grade ones. Great giveaway
Would love these for my daughter. 1st grade.
I would like the 4th to 5th grade one.
I use these books with my sons every summer. I love them and I really feel like they help them maintain their skills.
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Thanks for the GREAT giveaway
please count me in
My daughter will be entering the fourth grade this fall, so I would love to have the 4th Grade level workbook. Thanks!
I would love to have this for my two elementary children. They would greatly benfit from them