Sonder Creek Academy

Okay, but was the book actually better than the movie?

This is one of my favorite ways to keep junior high students engaged in reading over the summer because it feels more like a conversation than an assignment.

Pick a book that has a movie version, then compare the two after you finish. What stayed the same? What changed? Which one told the story better and why?

Students are still building comprehension, analysis, and critical thinking skills, but in a way that feels fun, current, and much less overwhelming than traditional summer work.

And honestly, most students have pretty strong opinions once they start comparing.

One of my favorite ways to keep kids thinking creatively over the summer is making up silly stories together.

Try giving your child 3 or 4 random words like:
banana 🍌
dog 🐶
robot 🤖
rainbow 🌈
Then see what kind of story they come up with.
The sillier, the better.

You can even take it one step further by having them write their story down and read it out loud to a family member, sibling, or even their stuffed animals.

Activities like this help children practice creativity, storytelling, reading, writing, and confidence without it feeling like schoolwork.

And honestly, kids usually end up laughing the whole way through it.
Save this idea for summer reading and writing practice ☀️📚✏️

One of the biggest skills students build in 4th grade is learning how to manage their time and work more independently.

A simple way to practice that over the summer is with a “15-Minute Focus Challenge.”

Set a timer and have your child focus on just one task at a time. It could be reading, organizing their room, practicing math facts, or getting ready for the next day.

Fifteen minutes feels manageable, builds confidence, and helps students learn how to stay focused without getting overwhelmed.

It’s a simple way to build independence now and help prepare them for the increased responsibility that comes with junior high.

There’s something different that happens when students don’t just learn history… they step into it.

This past Spring, our 5th and 6th graders spent the past few weeks researching an important figure in U.S. history, looking closely at their life, their impact, and the role they played in shaping our country. Each student chose someone who stood out to them, then brought that story to life through a written report, presentation, and our annual Wax Museum.

On museum day, the room transformed. Costumes, posters, and prepared speeches turned into moments where students weren’t just presenting facts, they were telling stories with clarity and confidence.

You could walk up to any student, press “start,” and hear them explain who they were, why they mattered, and how their contributions still connect to our world today.

This is the kind of learning that sticks, where research turns into understanding, and understanding turns into something they can confidently share.

Looking for a private elementary school in Walnut Creek for your 3rd, 4th, 5th, or 6th grader? We'd love to meet your family.

At Sonder Creek Academy, students build strong academic foundations through connection, creativity, curiosity, and personalized learning in a supportive community that prepares them for middle school and beyond.

Admissions are open for the 2026–2027 school year.

📍Schedule a tour at www.sondercreekacademy.org or click the link in our bio.

History doesn’t really take the summer off, so here’s a simple way to keep it fresh in your student’s mind.

Have them become a “summer reporter.” Once a week, pick something happening in the world or even in your community and have them write a short headline with a few sentences about it. They can add a photo if they want.

It doesn’t need to be long or perfect. The goal is to help them stay curious, pay attention, and put their thoughts into words.

That’s where real understanding starts.

✈️ Your next adventure starts here.

Endless opportunities to learn, grow, and belong.
“We’re waiting for you.”

Enrollment is now open for Pre-K through 8th grade at Sonder Creek Academy.
📍 Schedule a tour and experience our campuses in action.

What happens when you ask kindergarteners to think like engineers?
They start testing buildings against earthquakes.

This past school year, our kindergarteners stepped into the role of engineers, testing buildings against earthquakes.

In STEM this week, our students explored what causes earthquakes and what to do to stay safe when one happens. Then they put it to the test—designing and building their own structures to see what actually holds up when the ground starts to shake.

Using earthquake simulators, they experimented with different shapes and designs, watching closely as some buildings stayed steady while others didn’t. It sparked real conversations about why some structures work better—and how engineers design buildings to sway instead of collapse.

Along the way, they picked up some pretty fascinating facts:
• Earthquakes happen when pieces of the Earth’s crust suddenly move along faults
• California experiences thousands of small earthquakes every year (most we never feel)
• The safest buildings aren’t the stiffest ones—they’re designed to move with the shaking
• The first few seconds of an earthquake matter most, which is why we practice “Drop, Cover, and Hold On”

It’s hands-on, a little unpredictable, and exactly how learning should feel at this age—curious, active, and grounded in the real world.

Next time you’re at the store, it’s actually a great opportunity to practice a little math without it feeling like extra work.

I always tell parents to let their child take the lead for a few minutes. Have them add up items in the cart, estimate the total, or help figure out the change at checkout. You can even give them a small budget and let them keep track as you shop.

It doesn’t have to be perfect. The goal is just to get them thinking and using math in a real, everyday way.

This is one of my favorite ways to keep math fresh over the summer.