Celebrate Poetry All Month Long with Read, Discuss, Do

  Happy National Poetry Month! We are celebrating National Poetry Month with a weekly poetry challenge all month long. To follow along, subscribe to our newsletter or check back here every Monday and Friday throughout the month of April for updates.  Kickoff: Books and resources for National Poetry Month   Week one: Read and write haiku  Article: A Brief History of Poetry by Marci Whitehurst Week two: Read and write odes Article: Eight Creative Ways to Explore Poetry All Year Long by Rebecca J. Gomez Week three: Read and write riddle poems   Week four: Poet's choice! If you and/or your children/students participate in any of our challenges this month, we'd love to hear from you.  You can  email  us or  tag us  on Instagram (use the hashtag #RDDPoetryChallenge or #RDDPoetryMonth). We will be sharing some readers’ poems in a round-up post at the end of the month, so if you’d like your poems to be considered, please let us know when you s...

Summer Challenge Week Five: Beat the Heat

Welcome to week five of the Read, Discuss, Do! Summer Challenge! This week is all about beating the heat, so we've come up with a mix of books that are to help you think cool thoughts, and hopefully inspire you to get out (or stay in) and enjoy cool, refreshing day.

Suggestions for books to read:

ONE WINTER UP NORTH by John Owens. This is a wordless book about a family's vacation in the Boundary Waters during winter. A refreshing read for a hot summer day!

DO LIZARDS EAT ICE CREAM? HOW ANIMALS BEAT THE HEAT by Etta Kaner, illustrated by Jenna Piechota is an amusing and informative book about ways that various animals cool off in the heat. 

POOL PARTY by Amy DuchĂȘne and Elisa Parhad, illustrated by Anne Bentley. This book is a simple, colorful, fun book about one of summer's simple pleasures: a day at the pool!

WATERSONG by Tim McCanna, illustrated by Richard Smythe. What's more refreshing than water? This book's lyrical text about a fox taking shelter during a storm is a delight to read aloud!

Check out our list of 12 Books about Water for some more refreshing reads.

Suggestions for things to discuss:

  • What are some ways you like to beat the heat?
  • Do you prefer hot weather or cold weather? Why?
  • What is your favorite cold treat? Is it something you can make for yourself?
  • When you go swimming, do you jump right in or take it slow?
  • Describe the perfect "beat the heat" party.

Suggestions for things to do

  • Go swimming!
  • Head outdoors for a run in the sprinkler or a water gun battle.
  • Make sun tea or lemonade to enjoy in the shade.
  • Stuck indoors? Splash in the tub!
  • Play a game of catch or "hot potato" with water balloons.
  • Make snow cones or homemade popsicles. 
How do you plan on beating the heat this week or the rest of the summer? We'd love to hear about it! Share in the comments or on social media with the hashtag #RDDSummerChallenge.

Also, don't forget about the Summer Challenge Scavenger Hunt! Those who participate will have a chance to win books at the end of the summer.



Comments

Marci said…
Hot Potato with water balloons sounds like a fun activity for any age! These are some great books!