School’s out for summer! Doesn’t that just make you want to sing? I love summer and summer break. What I don’t love is the summer slide. But the summer slide can be avoided. I am excited to share with you some fun summer review activities to help avoid the summer slide and make summer learning fun.

What is the Summer Slide?

The Summer Slide is a term used to describe the loss of skills that students have when they are out of school for the summer. As crazy as it may sound, it’s true. One of the largest studies on the topic was done in 1996 and you can read about it in this journal. When students return to school in the fall there will be skills that they don’t remember, reading levels that have slid backward, and math facts that have disappeared from memory.

Avoiding the Summer Slide

Whether you are a teacher or a parent you can help your kids avoid the summer slide in just a few minutes a day. By doing so, you help them get a jump start on the next year.

All it takes to avoid the summer slide is to spend a few minutes a day reviewing grade-level skills and concepts, doing some brain-engaging activities, or using critical thinking skills and creativity in different activities. Basically, just keep the brain engaged.

Fun Summer Learning Activities

I can’t just stop with a warning about the summer slide. I know that whether you are a teacher at the end of the school year or a busy parent, the thought of trying to find brain engaging and grade level review activities can be overwhelming.

That’s why I partnered with three other teacher moms to put together some amazing summer review activities for you! This 3rd – 5th grade bundle of activities has over $70 worth of fun activities that your kids will enjoy. Each activity in this huge bundle focuses on grade level reading, language arts, math, or creative/critical thinking skills.

So Easy to Use

All of the activities in the Stop the Summer Slide Bundle are ready to use with very little if any, prep needed. They are perfect for upper elementary students to work on independently. There are no crazy supplies needed to complete them either. They truly are perfect at-home learning resources.

Summer review activities don’t have to take a long time. I recommend choosing one activity a day and then adding 20-30 minutes of reading time. Kids can alternate between math, language arts, or the amazing project-based learning projects. For reading, I highly encourage kids to choose their own books and just have time learning to enjoy reading.

Fun Summer Learning Activities

You might not be looking for a large bundle of activities that covers a variety of skills or concepts. Summer review is also a great time to practice skills that your kids might have struggled with. Really, whether you are trying to fill some learning gaps or just reviewing, the most important part is doing something.

Here are some fun summer learning activities that are loved by kids, teachers, and parents.

End of the Year Review

What’s great about this End of the Year Review packet is that it covers a variety of skills and concepts for math, reading and language arts. It’s perfect for students finishing 3rd, 4th, or 5th grade.

Reading Skills Mystery Pictures

Sometimes students need to practice specific reading skills in order to help their overall reading comprehension. These reading skills mystery pictures are a super fun way to do it. Kids love figuring out the hidden picture!

Each set focuses on a different reading strategy that is important for students in third, fourth, and fifth grades. Find out more about these reading activities.

Grade Level Math Review

Math encompasses so many different skills and concepts that a year-long skills review is a great option for a summer review. This allows students to have a review of a wide variety of skills without it taking a long amount of time.

Unlike reading skills, math skills do vary more by grade level because students build to higher levels. That is why I felt it was important to put grade skills into separate summer math packets. You can find a summer math packet for 3rd grade, 4th grade, and 5th grade. All three are part of the special Stop the Summer Slide bundle.

Save these Summer Review Resources

I don’t know about you but more often than I’d like to admit I find a great idea or resource online and then promptly forget where it was. That’s why I love pinning to my favorite Pinterest boards. Then I hop on Pinterest, look for that idea and BAM! I’m right back there. Pin this to your favorite classroom Pinterest board so you can come back to these summer review activities. {P.S. They are great for other times of the year too!}