Read Play Create Playful Summer Activities for Kids

Just because it’s summer doesn’t mean learning stops. Sure the schedule might be a bit more flexible and we may not plan full theme weeks for preschool time, but we can do a lot of playful learning with summer activities inspired by picture books.

On days we stay home we love to read a story at the beginning of the day and then do an activity or two related to the topic of the book. And because I know you’d rather be out enjoying time with your little ones than researching ideas for your own playtime, I’ve gathered some ideas for all the best summer themes and put them all in one place for you.

Below you’ll find a book recommendation, a play activity, and an arts and crafts project related to nine themese that are fun to explore with kids in the summertime.

Playful Summer Activities Inspired by Favorite Books

FIND EVEN MORE SUMMER THEME ACTIVITIES IN OUR PRINTABLE SUMMER LESSON PLANS.

Fish

Read: Ten Little Fish by Audrey Wood (See full fish books list)

Play: Fish Play Dough Invitation

Create: Fork Painted Fish

Watermelon

Read: The Watermelon Seed by Greg Pizzoli

Play: Watermelon Sensory Play

Create: Puffy Paint Watermelon Art by Crafty Morning

Continue the fun with a full week of watermelon play and learning with our printable lesson plans for home preschool and home preschool.

Shells

Read: Shells! Shells! Shells! by Nancy Elizabeth Wallace

Play: Seashell Exploration and Sensory Play

Create: Painted Seashell Art

Coral Reef

Read: Over in the Ocean in a Coral Reef by Marianne Berkes

Play: Coral Reef Play Dough

Create: Egg Carton Sea Life

Beach

Read: Beach Feet by Kiyomi Konagaya (See full list of beach books)

Play: Beach Sensory Play Small World

Create: Sand Castles that Last by Meaningful Mama

Jellyfish

Read: Peanut Butter and Jellyfish by Jarrett J. Krosoczka

Play: Jellyfish Puppets by Picklebums

Create: Jellyfish Painting

Sharks

Read: Nugget and Fang: Friends Forever or Snack Time? by Tammi Sauer

Play: Shark Sensory Bottle by Stir the Wonder

Create: Shark Suncatcher by Buggy and Buddy

Camping

Read: When We Go Camping by Margriet Ruurs (See full list of camping books)

Play: Camping Small World

Create: Glowing Campfire Craft from Buggy and Buddy

Marshmallows

Read: Toating Marshmallows: Camping Poems by Kristine O’Connell George

Play: Marshmallow Sensory Play

Create: Painting with Marshmallows by Fun-A-Day

More Book-Inspired Summer Learning and Play

Here you’ll find a ton of playful summer activities to do after reading nonfiction books by Gail Gibbons.

MORE SUMMER FUN WITH PRINTABLE SUMMR THEME LESSON PLANS

Save time and get right to the playful learning with our printable lesson plan sets. Each set includes over 30 playful learning activities related to the theme, and we’ve provided different versions for home preschool families and classroom teachers so all activities are geared directly toward your needs.