Menu
Menu
Ready to put together a winning 3rd grade summer packet? With the end of school comes the start of summer vacation for third graders. While many students look forward to having a break from school, it’s important to keep them engaged and learning during this time off. To help stop the summer slide, consider creating a fun 3rd, 4th, or 5th grade summer packet filled with activities and printables related to math, reading, and ELA. This will help provide structure and purpose to their days off while still allowing them to explore their interests and thoughts through the summer months.
1. Math Worksheets – It’s important for third graders to keep their math skills sharp during the summer break, and worksheets are an excellent way to do that! Have your child practice basic operations, money arithmetic, problem solving and even fractions in your 3rd grade summer packet.
2. Reading List – Summer is a great time to explore new books and authors! Help your little one find some fun reading material from their local library or online bookstores. Provide them with simple printable story maps to record short reviews of what they read to help expand their writing skills.
3. Writing Prompts – Writing prompts in a 3rd grade summer packet can be a fun way for third graders to explore creative ideas and hone in on their writing abilities. Encourage them to write by offering up topics about current events, family traditions or even their favorite superhero.
4. Art Projects – Summer is a great time to get creative with art! Have your student make some fun projects like clay sculptures, paper mache, and collages to help keep them busy and stimulate their imagination. Even coloring activities like ready-made color by code sheets can provide a great artistic outlet!
5. Math Games – Add a little fun to math practice with games! Board games, dice games, or card games can be an exciting way to reinforce number operations and problem-solving skills while having a good time.
6. Summer Writing Journal – Make sure your 3rd grade summer packet includes a summer writing journal where they can record their activities and thoughts through the summer months while out of the classroom.
7. Storytelling – Help your students practice their storytelling skills by recreating or inventing a story based on their summer adventures. As they write down the details, challenge them to include vivid descriptions and imaginative plot twists. This exercise can also help with reading comprehension when they go back to school in the fall.
8. Poetry Writing – Writing poems is a great way for third or fourth graders to express themselves creatively! In a 3rd grade summer packet, have your child explore different styles of poetry like haikus, limericks, or free verse forms and have fun experimenting with words.
9. Printable ELA Activities – Keep your students thinking with parts of speech worksheets, grammar activities and more. Play word games where you say a word, and the child names the part of speech (noun, verb, adjective, etc.) or print out some fun 3rd grade summer packet grammar worksheets!
10. Daily Reading – Allow your students to choose a reading activity (book, comic book, magazine, etc.) and spend 10 minutes reading each day. Make it fun by letting them read in a tent with a flashlight, on a blanket in the park, or in their playhouse outside! Get a FREE printable Summer Reading Challenge HERE!
Want a ready-to-go summer packet for 3rd, 4th, or 5th grade? No worries… we’ve got you covered! Just click on your grade level below to take a look at the printable download.
Here are some additional summer learning opportunities you might also want to use:
1. Summer Reading Programs – Many public libraries offer special programs that can be beneficial for students during their summer break. Check with your local library to see if they have any summer reading programs or competitions that can help keep your child engaged and motivated.
2. Educational Videos – Online educational videos are a great way for third graders to learn about different topics and explore the world around them. Try searching for content related to science, history, mathematics or even fun activities like cooking and crafting in order to give your student some engaging material that’s not just from textbooks. National Geographic for Kids is a great starting point!
3. Indoor/Outdoor Activities – Keep learning alive by scheduling in some outdoor activities such as hikes, bike rides, picnics and nature walks. For rainy days indoors, try setting up games of charades or puzzles that require higher-order thinking skills without seeming like a chore.
4. Visit Local Museums & Parks – Taking a trip to the local museum or park can be a great way for third and fourth graders to get out and explore their community while also learning about its history and culture. This is perfect for those days when you just want to keep your students busy without having them sit in front of screens all day!
5. Take Trips – Tying into the educational videos mentioned earlier, taking trips with your third grader is an excellent opportunity for them to experience new things and explore different cultures and places. Whether it’s going out of state or just visiting neighboring cities, this activity will help them understand the world around them on a deeper level!
6. Involve Family & Friends – Summer is a time for family fun, so why not get everyone involved? Gather relatives and friends together for some activities like board games or scavenger hunts and use this as a chance to share some stories and interesting facts with your students.
8. Gardening – Spending time outside in the garden is not only fun, but also educational! Take this opportunity to teach 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders about plants, animals, and insect life cycles. This will help them understand more about the natural world around them while also having a hands-on learning experience.
By adding these activities to your 3rd grade summer packet, your students will stay engaged and motivated during their time off from school. With a little bit of planning and dedication, you can help your kiddos make the most out of their summer break!
Hi, I’m Shelly! Thank you for being here. I love helping third, fourth, and fifth grade teachers with fun and engaging activities that require no to little prep! Let me help you by taking some of the stress and work off your plate.
©2022 Shelly Rees. All Rights Reserved.
