Grades 3–5 Summer Reading Activities: Fun and Games

Summer is the perfect time to play games, whether it is kicking or throwing a ball, or doing a few puzzles. Playing games is also an excellent opportunity for learning. Here are five reading and learning activities that explore sports, games, and puzzles.

1. Read Benito’s Goal

Let’s read a play about friendship and soccer! No matter where they are, Benito and his friends are always a team. But when Benito decides to leave their soccer team for another, he puts the friendship to the test. Will Benito realize who his true friends are before it’s too late?

• Download Benito’s Goal

Discuss the book: How does Benito feel about joining the Tigers at first? What do Omar and Marcos do when Benito gets hurt? What did Benito learn at the end of the story?

2. Watch Bend It Like Bianca

Watch the video Bend It Like Bianca to see how a new soccer player learns to play the game.

Discuss the video: Why does Bianca offer to play in the game? What two factors does Bianca need to focus on to make the ball move where she wants it to go?

You can extend the fun by building an obstacle course outside. Try to kick a ball around obstacles you have at home, such as water bottles, paper towel tubes, or small cardboard boxes. You may also create a video that shows off your moves!

3. Write the next act

Think about Benito’s Goal. Write the next act in the play. Do the Tigers take Benito back when he gets better, or does Benito decide to go back to the Cubs? How does he act toward his friends and others? Follow the play format from the story to write two or more scenes.

More to read!

For more reading about puzzle fun, download Get Lost! The Puzzle of Mazes.

4. Research the World Cup

Teams from all over the world compete in the World Cup soccer tournament. Find out when and where the tournament happens. What team is the most recent winner? Write a short report about what you learn.

You can extend the activity by making a pamphlet or booklet of the information in your report.

5. Make a banner

Make a banner to show support for a friend.

• What message do you want to share?
• Use paper and crayons or markers to print the message, and include graphics to convey the mood of your message.
• Display your banner.

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Find more language arts activities for Grades 3-5. 

This blog, originally published in 2020, has been updated for 2025.