Saint John Academy Summer Reading
For Rising 5th Graders 2019
Greetings Parents and Students
The books, stories and poems have been carefully selected to foster an enjoyable and thoughtful reading experience. Enjoy this special time with your child. These assignments are meant to be enriching and meaningful. Be sure to balance the assignments with lots of fun, enjoyable time outside with family and friends.
Best to you and your family,
Mr. Jeffrey P. Presberg
Headmaster
Mrs. Karen Tessier
Assistant Headmaster
Saint John Academy
Core Elements for Rising 5th Graders
- You will need a writing journal (a leather journal that you may keep and reuse over time).
Choose 3 books to read from the list below.
You are encouraged to read as many as you like.
- For each book draw a picture of something interesting or an image that strikes you and illuminates something important to the story. Think about the characters, the setting and the sequence of events as your draw. Sketch the picture and then color it.
- Write 1-2 paragraph(s) describing each picture inside of your journal (pictures may be drawn and placed inside journal if you would like).
The Magician’s Nephew or A Horse and His Boy - C.S. Lewis
Swallows and Amazons - Arthur Ransome
The Jungle Book - Rudyard Kipling
The Second Jungle Book - Rudyard Kipling
A Single Shard - Linda Sue Park
James and the Giant Peach or Charlie and the Chocolate Factory - Roald Dahl
Sign of the Beaver - Elizabeth Speare
Kidnapped - Robert Louis Stevenson
The Little Prince - Antoine de Saint-Exupery
Emily of New Moon - L.M. Montgomery or another book in the Emily Series
- Read all four recommended poems, copy one in your journal and memorize, reciting it at home (at the dinner table or some other spontaneous moment). This will also be recited at school.
“A Psalm of Life” by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
“Shiloh: A Requiem” by Herman Melville
“The Charge of the Light Brigade” by Alfred, Lord Tennyson
“The Lake Isle of Innisfree” by W. B. Yeats
- Read a couple Gospel narratives of The Good Shepherd: Luke 15: 1-7 and John 10: 1-18
Please view (and ponder) H.O. Tanner’s painting and NC Wyeth's illustration of "The Good Shepherd" to help you enter the scene of those moments.
- Imagine you are a sheep or a wolf (or another animal) at night and the “Good Shepherd” goes out to look for the lost sheep, describe the scene and tell it like a story. (in your journal)
Be sure to read what is required but also read books that you love!
St John Academy, 6422 Linway Terrace, McLean, VA 221010