Science + Summer = Smarts: Easy Ways to Turn Reading into Exploration

by | April 13, 2025

A young woman sits against a large tree in a park, absorbed in a book about exploration. Clad in a brown t-shirt and jeans, she’s surrounded by lush green grass and trees. The scene is peaceful, drenched in the warm glow of summer sun.

Let’s Get Ready for Summer Learning!

Summer is a great time for kids to read, read, read!  There are library programs with prizes, vacations on the beach, and more time for kids to relax away from their screens.  While fiction is fantastic, don’t overlook science reading; it can be just as fun with a bit of creativity!

There are reading lists everywhere, so that is not my goal here.  However, I’m going to give you some tips on incorporating science INTO your reading itinerary for the summer. 

A young girl in a pink shirt and scarf stands before a bookshelf, selecting a book. She's in the library, surrounded by vibrant reads. As summer sunlight filters through the window, she embraces her passion for reading stories and uncovering the wonders of science.

Hit the Library with a Science Lens

You can find some great science books at the library.  What are your kids interested in?  Look for books related to astronomy, how animals communicate, and what makes a catapult work.  They can choose one or more science books related to a topic they want to explore. It’s a great time to use your local library to your advantage and help your kids learn more about a topic they are curious about. 

  • Look in the 500s: Look for straight-up science books (500 in the Dewey decimal system!).  Learn about digestion, what makes a surface slippery, or why the sky is blue.
  • Study a Scientist: Choose a biography to study a scientist. There are biographies of almost every famous scientist, from Marie Curie to Albert Einstein. 
  • Get Experimental: Pick a science experiment book and then experiment together.  Flip through it to learn about dry ice, a simple machine, or making homemade ice cream.  Gather the materials and discover something new!
  • Comic Books Count Too: Find a science comic book or graphic novel.  You might think these are only for older students, but even littles can enjoy a comic book about weather systems or how the brain works.
Three children enjoying ice cream cones outdoors. A girl in a pink shirt smiles at the camera, capturing the essence of summer fun, while the other two are blurred in the background, savoring their ice cream. The setting is a sunny, grassy area perfect for exploration.

Infuse Science Into the Books You’re Already Reading

Expand on a book you’re reading together by incorporating some science. For example, read a favorite like Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls, and you can choose several topics to research further:

  • Learn about mountain lions and their habitats.
  • Sketch a red fern.  Are there other native plants to draw?
  • Cook breakfast together outside over a campfire.  Discuss how heat transfers or how burning wood is a chemical change.

Or maybe your middle schooler is reading the Wingfeather Saga by Andrew Peterson.

  • Sketch what you think a Fang of Dang, a thwap, or a toothy cow looks like.  What characteristics does each have?  What animal is it like?  Different from?
  • Discuss the different landforms in the book- forests, cliffs, and seas.  Draw a map depicting this land.
  • Learn about jewels and gemstones. 

This kind of integrated learning doesn’t just build science knowledge, it reinforces reading comprehension, observation skills, and even appreciation for God’s creativity in nature.

A child is lying on a textured carpet, absorbed in reading an open book about Mars. They point at the planet's image, colorful space-themed stickers adorning their arm. Sunlight illuminates this summer science exploration.

Make It All About Discovery, Not a Chore

Summer is the perfect time to encourage a love of science through reading- without making it feel like a chore.  Spark your student’s curiosity and encourage exploration by weaving science into your everyday adventures, whether you’re hanging at home, hiking in the woods, or relaxing at the beach. 

Science reading keeps young minds engaged and deepens their sense of wonder for our Creator, adding richness to those lazy, hazy days of summer.

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