Move Up Day - Summer Book Bags

Hello! A few weeks ago I was able to meet my future first grade class during move up day. I had one hour with the students and I was stuck with what I should do with my 20 soon to be first graders! I knew the hour was going to fly by so I did not want to do something that involved a lot of time and thought for the students’. I finally decided to do an activity that would motivate the students to read over the summer!

Move up day activity - Summer Book Bags!

During the school year the first grade students get “book bags”. They are plastic bags that get filled with books on each individual students reading level and taken home each week to read. The bag is then brought back at the end of the week with the books. I wanted to get the students use to using a “book bag” - so we made Summer Book Bags!
 I purchased a bunch of plain brown paper bags (with handles), along with decorating materials (stickers, paper, markers, crayons, coloring pictures, etc.). I also added a library card pocket on the inside of the bag for the students to keep their card in. I made the pocket out of just plain envelopes. I licked the envelope shut and then cut them in half and glued them on the inside of the bag. I explained to the students that whoever comes back the first week of school with a library card gets a special treat!

The students loved decorating their bags however they wanted. The only thing I said needed to be on each bag was the words “Summer Book Bag”. When the students were done decorating their bag I put a packet about the library and summer reading program, a letter from myself explaining the idea of the bag and a book mark in the bag. I also told the students. We had just enough time to finish making the bags – I couldn’t even read If You Take A Mouse To School By: Laura Numeroff!

*Before I started the book bag activity we played a “get to know game”. I also explained a little bit about myself and our future classroom that we will share together.
My example of a "Summer Book Bag".

The library card pocket made out of a half of an envelope.

The packet I included in each bag.