Bright Minds, Bright Summers

Alachua County Public Schools Summer Learning & Resource Guide

Welcome, Families of Alachua County!

Reading regularly over the summer is one of the best ways to prevent learning loss and help students grow as thinkers and communicators. Books open doors to new worlds, ideas, and experiences—and they help students build vocabulary, improve comprehension, and strengthen focus.

Helpful Questions to Ask After Reading:

What was your favorite part of the story and why?

Which character did you relate to the most?

What problem did the characters face, and how was it solved?

Would you change anything about the story? Why or why not?

What lesson do you think the author wanted you to learn?

Use these questions to spark conversations and help your child think more deeply about what they’ve read!

School may be out for summer, but it's a season for Bright Minds, Bright Summers! This guide is packed with ideas, resources, and local fun to help keep your child’s brain active and curious all summer long. Whether you're staying home, heading to a park, or exploring a museum, there are plenty of ways to keep learning alive in Alachua County!

Download a PDF version here

Activities

Bright Minds, Bright Adventures:
Exploring the World of Stories
- Character Dress-Up Day: Have students pick a character from any book they read over the summer and dress up as that character. Afterward, they can share a brief presentation about their character and the story, highlighting their favorite moments.
- Create a Storybook: Ask students to create their own storybook, either digitally or by hand. They can draw pictures and write simple sentences to tell their story, focusing on creativity and imagination.
- Reading Scavenger Hunt: Give students a list of things to find in their books, like "Find a character who is brave" or "Find a place that is described in great detail." They can mark off their discoveries and share their findings with the group or family.
- Book Bingo: Create a bingo card with different book genres, such as adventure, mystery, animal story, fantasy, etc. Students can read a book from each genre and cross off the squares to complete the card by the end of the summer.
- Make a Story Map: Ask students to create a simple map based on a story they’ve read. They can draw the places where key events occurred in the book (like a character's home, a forest, or a school) and then write about each place’s significance in the plot.
Bright Minds, Bright Journeys:
A Summer of Reading and Discovery
- Reading Buddy Program: Pair up students with a younger or older student and have them read a book together. After reading, they can share their favorite parts, discuss the story’s themes, and draw pictures to represent scenes from the book.
- Book Review Videos: Have students create short, fun book review videos where they talk about the plot, characters, and their opinion of the book. They can use props, costumes, or digital tools to make their reviews engaging.
- Create a New Ending: Encourage students to come up with an alternate ending to any book they’ve read over the summer. They can write it down or perform it as a short skit with friends or family.
- Make a Collage of Favorite Book Scenes: Students can gather magazines, old books, or printouts and create a collage of images and words that represent scenes, characters, or themes from books they’ve read.
- Write a Letter to a Character: Have students write a letter to a character from a book they read, asking questions or offering advice. They can share their letters with others in the class or even write a "response" from the character.
Bright Minds, Bright Futures:
Unlocking the Power of Books
- Genre Exploration Challenge: Students can pick a genre they haven’t read much of (e.g., fantasy, historical fiction, or mystery) and read at least one book from that genre. They can then write or present a brief review about what they liked or disliked and how the genre compares to others they’ve read.
- Create a Book Soundtrack: Have students select songs that would match the mood or themes of a book they read. They can compile a playlist and explain why each song is connected to certain parts of the story.
- Design a Book Cover: After reading a book, students can design their own book cover. They should include elements that represent the main themes, characters, or scenes and explain their design choices.
- Write a Dialogue: Ask students to write a dialogue between two characters from any book they’ve read. They can imagine a conversation that never took place in the book but would reveal important information about the characters.
- Make a "What Happens Next?" Board Game: Students can create a board game based on the events of any book they read. They will design the game board, create rules, and write cards with "what happens next?" scenarios based on the book’s plot.
Bright Minds, Bright Paths:
A Summer of Exploration and Growth
- Book Trailer Creation: Students can create a movie-style trailer for a book they’ve read. They can write a script, gather visual materials (such as clips, photos, or artwork), and present it as a video or digital slideshow.
- Host a Virtual Book Club: Students can form small virtual book clubs with friends or classmates, where they pick a book, read it together, and meet online to discuss it. They can prepare questions, share favorite quotes, and debate the book’s themes.
- Create a Book Timeline: Have students create a timeline that outlines the key events of a book, including any flashbacks or shifts in time. They can design it as a digital timeline or a large poster with images and explanations for each event.
- Write an Alternate Perspective: Students can pick a scene from a book and rewrite it from the perspective of a different character. This could give a deeper understanding of how the same event could be interpreted differently.
- Design a Social Media Profile for a Character: Students can create a social media profile (like a Facebook or Instagram account) for a character, including posts, photos, and updates about what the character might be doing in the present day. They can also write "status updates" about events from the book.

English Language Arts

Keep your writing and vocabulary skills sharp with fun literacy activities:
- Keep a summer journal with daily entries or short stories.
- Write postcards to friends or family.
- Create your own comic strip based on a book or summer experience.
- Play word games like Scrabble, Boggle, or Wordle.
- Alachua County Library District – Visit www.aclib.us/events to find free story times and book clubs for all ages.
- Saturday Story Time at Depot Park (GNV Public Library) – Outdoor read-aloud events with themed crafts and snacks. View Event Info
- Storyline Online – Celebrities read popular children’s books aloud.
- Vooks – Animated storybooks (free trial available).

Math

Make math fun with hands-on and brain-boosting activities:
- Cook together and measure ingredients—talk about fractions and conversions.
- Play card games like "War" using math facts (e.g., highest sum wins).
- Create a lemonade stand and build a simple profit and expense chart.
- Go on a shape or number scavenger hunt at the park or grocery store.
- Use sidewalk chalk to draw and solve math problems.
- Estimate and measure distances or weights using household objects.
- Design a mini golf course using geometry concepts!
- Review grade-level skills with Khan Academy and CPALMS.
- Practice real-world math: budgeting, recipes, home projects.
- Join online summer challenges in Math Nation or IXL if available.

Social Studies

Get to know your community:
- Matheson History Museum – Learn about Gainesville's past.
- Historic Haile Homestead – Explore local 1850s life.
- Create a family tree and interview relatives to discover your roots.
- Design a brochure or travel poster for a historical Alachua site.
- Start a “Summer Current Events” scrapbook with clippings and reactions to local news.
- Use Google Earth to explore historical landmarks or compare satellite images.
- Create a time capsule with items that reflect your life today.

Science

Explore science right here in Alachua County!
- Cade Museum – Hands-on science and invention exhibits.
- Santa Fe College Zoo – Learn about animal habitats and conservation.
- Florida Museum of Natural History – Butterflies, fossils, and more!
- Morningside Nature Center – Hikes, animal encounters, and a living history farm.
- Depot Park Water Cycle Walk – Discuss the water cycle while playing at the splash pad!
- Make a solar oven using a pizza box and measure temperature changes.
- Start a garden and chart plant growth with drawings and measurements.
- NASA Kids Club
- Mystery Science

STEAM Education for All Students

Engage in exciting opportunities that integrate Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math! STEAM education encourages innovation, critical thinking, and hands-on exploration for students of all ages.

Participate in science fairs or invention challenges hosted by local museums and schools.

Create art using math—try geometric drawing, symmetry painting, or coding pixel art.

Use apps or websites to experiment with music mixing, stop-motion animation, or design.

Explore careers that combine creativity and technology like architecture, video game design, or medical research.

Visit local spots like the Cade Museum, Santa Fe College Teaching Zoo, Harn Museum and Florida Museum of Natural History to see STEAM in action.

Free STEAM Apps & Online Tools

Tinkercad – Beginner-friendly 3D design, electronics, and coding tool

Scratch – Create interactive stories, games, and animations through block coding

PBS Kids Design Squad – Hands-on challenges in engineering and invention

Chrome Music Lab – Explore music and sound through experiments

NASA Visualization Explorer – Real-time space and Earth science visuals

SketchUp for Schools – Web-based 3D modeling tool for creative building

STEAM Video Resources

SciShow Kids – Engaging science videos for elementary learners

Crash Course Kids – Fun videos explaining science and engineering

NASA STEM YouTube Channel – Space science and innovation for students

Code.org Videos – Learn how coding and creativity come together

Girls in STEM & Career Exploration

UF Girls Who Code

Explore STEM through local programs at Santa Fe College's STEM Programs and UF/IFAS Extension Alachua County.

Watch inspiring women in STEM on YouTube or explore NASA's "Women@NASA" profiles.

Alachua County Public Schools

We are committed to the success of every student.

We are committed to the success of every student.

Curriculum

Page Navigation

Bright Minds, Bright Summers

Recommended Reads

Activities

Bright Minds, Bright Adventures:
Exploring the World of Stories

Bright Minds, Bright Journeys:
A Summer of Reading and Discovery

Bright Minds, Bright Futures:
Unlocking the Power of Books

Bright Minds, Bright Paths:
A Summer of Exploration and Growth

English Language Arts

Math

Social Studies

Science

STEAM Education for All Students