Back to 4th Grade and Academy V Summer Resources
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Summer Reading
Summer Reading – As a part of our English curriculum, all Oaks Christian School students are required to read during the summer and participate in classroom discussion during the first weeks of school. Each C. S. Lewis book contributes over time to common characters and themes. Books may be purchased through the EdTech Shelfit store, the Amazon link provided below, or any local bookstore, and it should be read close to the beginning of the school year, so the reading is fresh in students’ minds as they return
Note: Grade 4 does not have required summer reading
Entering Academy V Required Reading
For new students:
The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis
Read and enjoy the story. Bring the book to the first day of school (last year's 4th graders will have access to their class copy) and be ready to describe Aslan and how Edmund changes in the story.
For returning students:
Book 1 of the Wingfeather Saga, On the Edge of the Sea of Darkness by Andrew Peterson
If you attended OCS 4th grade, you have already read the Lion, the Witch and the Wardobe, so please read, Book 1 of the Wingfeather Saga, On the Edge of the Sea of Darkness by Andrew Peterson. Read and bring the book to school to discuss the characters and how they changed.
Suggested Reading
If you are looking for other books to read for pleasure during the summer, here are some suggestions:
Shiloh series - Phyllis Naylor
By the Great Horned Spoon – Sid Fleishman
Island of the Blue Dolphins - Scott O’Dell
Hatchet - Gary Paulsen
Sign of the Beaver – Elisabeth George Speare
Maniac Magee – Jerry Spinelli
Anne of Green Gables – L.M. Montgomery
From the Mixed up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler – E.L. Konisberg
Why summer reading?
At Oaks Christian, we value and seek to cultivate a culture of reading. A regular habit of reading, both for pleasure and academic purposes, is a key factor in student success in school and beyond. Summer reading helps to reinforce this habit and gives students a common text to begin the year discussing and writing about, helping classes set the academic tone for the year.
We also think this is a great opportunity for you to talk with your students about what they are reading, especially as they will return to the enjoyment of C.S. Lewis books each summer. Below are some questions you may use to launch conversations about the stories they are reading in the series, and perhaps you will be inspired to join your OCS Lions on this journey through Narnia!
Summer with C.S. Lewis
Try out these conversation starters to talk with your kids about the Chronicles of Narnia book they are reading. Each question applies to all books, so if you have kids in different grades, they may answer these similarly or have different perspectives to share from their text. (Level up the challenge by asking them to show you where they remember details in the book to support their answers!) Enjoy and support your child’s discoveries.
What surprises you about the characters in your story? How would you describe Narnia from the way it’s mentioned in the book? Think about the first time Aslan appears in the story. How is he portrayed? Who does he appear to at first? Do you see any connections to Bible stories you already know? What do you think about the significance of the lamppost? Which characters embody the battle between good and evil? Do you believe in other worlds?
If you’d like to explore each book more deeply over time, consider purchasing this companion text for a brief C.S. Lewis biography, questions to ponder from each book, Narniac sayings and more.
ROAR! A Christian Family Guide to the Chronicles of Narnia, by Heather & David Kopp, illustrations by Marin French And if you’d like to use this devotional guide, Roar Like a Lion, by Levi Lusko, it will illuminate some of the spiritual truths found in C.S. Lewis’s Chronicles of Narnia.
