St. Catherine of Siena School
Norwood, Massachusetts
GRADE 5
SUMMER READING LIST
AND
PREPARING FOR GRADE 5
2015 - 2016
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St. Catherine of Siena School
Norwood, Massachusetts
See Christ in Others. Be Christ for Others.
Grade 5 Summer Reading List
and
Preparing for Grade 5
(for students entering Grade 5 in September 2015)
Dear Parents and Students,
Welcome to Grade 5!
First and foremost, remember to pray every day.
This summer is a wonderful opportunity to work on reading, math and writing in order to prepare for the
upcoming school year in Grade 5.
Students must read 10 books and complete one project for 5 of the 10 books read, as outlined in the
following pages. These will be collected the first week of school.
Practice in writing can be done in a number of ways: book projects and reports, keeping a journal of
summer activities, copying examples of good writing, letter writing to your teacher about your
expectations, worries, goals and hopes for Grade 5.
Included is a list of suggested books to read. The bookstores and library have wonderful choices as well.
Choose what interests you and expand your interests by trying new genres.
Math Summer Work for Grade 5
You need to practice the following:
Place value – from one to thousands
Multiplication and division of two-digit numbers as well as adding and subtracting –
using regrouping (carry-over, borrowing)
Fractions
Time and Money (decimals)
Geometry – basic figures, polygons
Measurement – Length (inches, feet, yards, miles)
You must know your math facts!
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Required Math Workbook
Summer Math Skills Sharpener Book for 4th Grade. (Students must thoroughly review math from
Grade 4 as a foundation for Grade 5 math.)
Suggested Additional Workbooks (not required, but provide a good summer review)
(Grade 4 books are recommended to insure a thorough review of Grade 4 math as a foundation for Grade
5 math.)
Math Bridges (Grade 4), Rainbow Bridge Publishing
Daily Word Problems (Grade 4 Evan-Moor Educational Publishers
Also check book stores for other math workbooks.
Reading Summer Work – Suggested Activities
The following are examples of good projects to build reading comprehension and develop critical
thinking skills.
Daily reflective journal. On each day the child reads, record thoughts, observations and questions. Write
2-3 sentences per entry.
Correspondence journal. After reading a book, write a letter to its author or to one of the main
characters. Focus on important issues raised in the book. Reveal thoughts, observations or questions you
would like to share. Write 2-5 paragraphs per book.
Students can create their own activity to reflect their creative selves. Use the books as a source of
inspiration.
Activities can be:
Original writing-poetry, prose, scriptwriting for stage, film or video/TV.
Original artwork plus a typed short summary
Original music plus a typed short summary
Original media production such as photos, slide presentation, or video plus a short typed
summary
The projects produced from these activities must be of good quality and reflect knowledge of the book
and pride in the construction of the project.
Assemble a poster advertising the book
Create a movie poster
Write an adaption/rewrite
Create an alternate ending
Write book reports (See attached sample.)
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Invent an advertisement: print, video, radio
Use art and/or computer skills to create bookmarks for specific books read
Draw favorite part of book
Keep a set of note cards:
 Title
 Author
 Genre
 Main Characters
 Setting
 Short Summary
 Opinion
Complete “Story Maps.” (See attached sample.) Bring to school for writing assignment.
Write a one page, typed, friendly letter to teacher. Indicate book read and date completed.
Include list of main characters, setting, and summary of the plot. Use proper friendly letter
format.
Create a mobile
Construct a collage
Make a new book cover/jacket
**Summer Reading Program – Every Hero Has a Story**
We encourage all our Grade 5 students to join the Morrill Public Library’s Every Hero Has a
Story Summer Reading Program at http://iread.evanced.info/morrill/sr/homepage.asp . Log
in your books and get a medal at St. Catherine School in September for meeting your reading
goals.
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Book Report #_____
Title:________________________________________________________________________________
Genre:_____________________________________________________________________________
Author:______________________________________________________________________________
Publisher:____________________________________________________________________________
Year of Publication_____________________________________________________________________
I think the author’s reason for writing this book was:__________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
To me, the best part of the book was when:__________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
I, ____________________________, read this book in its entirety after June 18, 2013. This is an
original report.
Signed:__________________________________
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Name ______________________________
Date ______________________
Story Map
Title
Setting (Where, When, Time, Place)
Characters
Plot/Problem
Event
Event
Event
Solution
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Grade 5 Summer Reading List
Chapter Books and Nonfiction
A Week in the Woods by Andrew Clements
Disappearing Act by Sid Fleishman
Ace the Very Important Pig by Dick King-Smith
Doll People by Ann M. Martin
Alice in Blunderland by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor
Don’t Know Much About ,,, series (nonfiction)
Amazing but True Sports Stories by Phyllis &
Zander Hollander
Exploring the Titanic by Robert Ballard
Far North by Will Hobbs
Atta Boy, Sam by Lois Lowry
Babe by Dick King-Smith
Freddy the Golden Hamster Saga by Dietlof
Reiche
Banner in the Sky by James Ramsey Ullman
Frindle by Andrew Clements
Because of Winn-Dixie by Kate DiCamillo
From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E.
Frankweiller by E.L. Konigsburg
Belle Teal by Ann M. Martin
Gold Cadillac by Mildred Taylor
Ben and Me by Robert Lawson
Granny Torrelli Makes Soup by Sharon Creech
Book of Three (Chronicles of Prydain) by Lloyd
Alexander
Great Illustrated Classics
Boston Jane by Jennifer Holm
Hank Zipper series by Henry Winkler
Call It Courage by Armstrong Sperry
Harriet the Spy by Louise Fitzhugh
Call of the Wild by Jack London
Hatchet (Brian series) by Gary Paulsen
Catherine, Called Birdy by Karen Cushman
Homeless Bird by Gloria Whelan
Corner of the Universe by Ann M. Martin
Honus and Me by Dan Gutman
Chet Gecko Mystery series by Bruce Hale
Hoot by Carl Hiaasen
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang by Ian Fleming
How Angel Peterson Got His Name by Gary
Paulsen
Clues in the Woods by Peggy Parish
Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O’Dell
Clues to the Treasure by Peggy Parish
Judy Moody by Megan McDonald
Cowboy Boy by James Proimos
Kensuke’s Kingdom by Michael Morpurgo
Crispin by Avi
Little Wolf’s Book of Badness by Ian Wybrow
Detectives in Togas by Henry Winterfield
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Lizard Music by Daniel Pinkwater
Stanley Yelnat’s Survival Guide to Camp
Love, Ruby Lavender by Deborah Wiles
Green Lake by Louis Sachar
Maniac Magee by Jerry Spinelli
Star in the Storm Joan Hiatt Harlow
Matilda Bone by Karen Cushman
Storm Warriors by Elisa Carbone
Matt Christopher sport series by Matt Christopher
Sword of the Stone by Terence Hanbury White
Me Oh Maya by Jon Scieszka
Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing by Judy Blume
Midnight for Charlie Bone by Jenny Nimmo
Taffy’s Angel by Madalyn McKay
Minn and Jake by Janet Wong
The Ballad of Lucy Whipple by Karen Cushman
Mr. Tuckett series by Gary Paulsen
The Boy Who Saved Baseball by John H. Ritter
My Life in Dog Years by Gary Paulsen
The Breadwinners by Deborah Ellis
Mystery at the Boston Marathon by Carole Marsh
The Captain’s Dog (Lewis and Clark) by Roland
Smith
Mystery in New York (series) by Carole Marsh
The Chicken House by Linda Howard
Mystery of the Roman Ransom by Henry
Winterfield
The Discovery of the Americas by Betsy Maestro
No Dogs Allowed by Bill Wallace
The Great Chicken Debacle by Phyllis Reynolds
Naylor
Number of the Stars by Lois Lowry
The Kid Who Ran for President by Dan Gutman
Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster
The Midwife’s Apprentice by Karen Cushman
Poppy by Avi
The Million Dollar Kick by Dan Gutman
Report Card by Andrew Clements
The Night the Martian Landed by Kathleen Krull
Ricky Ricotta’s Mighty Robot vs. The Stupid
Stinkbugs From Saturn by Dav Pilkey
The Outcasts of 19 Schyler Place by E.L.
Konigsburg
Riding Freedom by Pam Munoz Ryan
The Squire’s Tale by Gerald Morris
Rodzina by Karen Cushman
The Stranger Next Door by Peg Kehret
Rowan of Rin (fantasy series) by Emily Rodda
The Summer of Riley by Eve Bunting
School Story by Andrew Clements
The Thief Lord by Cornelia Funke
Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett
The Time Warp Trio by Jon Sciezka
Shoeless Joe by Dan Gutman
The Trolls by Polly Horvath
Snow Treasure by Marie McSwigan
The Year of Miss Agnes by Kirkpatrick Hill
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Third Grade Detectives by George E. Stanley
Little House on the Prairie Series by Laura Ingalls
Wilder
Titus Rules by Dick King-Smith
American Revolution for Kids by Janis Herbert
Tracks in the Snow by Loreen Leedy
Civil War for Kids by Janis Herbert
Thunder From the Sea by Joan Hiatt Harlow
Childhood of Famous Americans series – could
choose from Rosa Parks to Dr. Seuss - Inventors are
Edison, Einstein, Ford, Wright
Utterly Me, Clarice Bean by Lauren Child
When My Name Was Keoko by Linda Sue Park
Poetry
Misty of Chincoteague series by Marguerite Henry
If you Are Here, Please Raise Your Hand by Kalli
Dakos
The Apprenticeship of Lucas Whitaker by Cynthia
DeFelice
It’s Raining Pigs & Noodles by Jack Prelutsky
White Mountains by John Christopher
Joyful Noise by Paul Fleischman
Escape the Giant Wave by Peg Kehert
Sad Underwear by Judith Viorst
The Young Man and the Sea by Rodman Philbrick
The Disappearing Alphabet by Richard Wilbur
Inkheart by Cornelia Funke
Where the Sidewalk Ends by Shel Silverstein
White Star by Marty Crisp
Shel Silverstein Poetry
The Warriors by Joseph Bruchac
Kalli Dakos poetry
Looking For Bobowicz by Daniel Pinkwater
All the Small Poems and Fourteen More by
Valerie Worth
Caddie Woodlawn by Carol Ryrie Brink
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