Cryptid Case Files: Case Z.01

 

noun: cryptozoology

Third grade- this year- was our son’s best school year yet. We want to keep that momentum going, but let’s be honest, a bridge workbook isn’t going to do the trick. There’s no way a book of worksheets can compete with all the summer fun calling his name. It’s tough to combat, but I’m not about to let Summer Slide win!

Last year I created a summer full of Lewis & Clark themed activities to make summer learning more appealing. The year before, we had a Poem Gnome. This year, I’m capitalizing on his love of mythical creatures & monsters with Cryptozoology Case Files. Follow along on our epic summer adventure or do the activities with your own kids.

 11 Weeks of Fun, 11 Cases

My son will receive a manila file folder to collect his case files. When he completse all 11 cases, he can collect his reward. If you’re doing this along with us, the reward can be whatever you choose. For our family, we’ll offer a choice of three experiences like bowling, a night at the arcade or a trip to the zoo. Other families might prefer a more educational reward like books. Some might prefer toys. Whatever it is make sure it works for your family.

 Read

Weekly reading assignments from magazine articles, non-fiction and read aloud chapter books will feature on our trail. I love that I discovered the Scooby Doo and the Truth series. With titles like Scooby Doo and the Truth Behind Sea Monsters and Scooby Doo and the Truth Behind Zombies it should be impossible for P to resist reading.

Write

Weekly writing challenges include poems, short stories, and letters. Keeping those case files filled with his writing in his own folder could make it even more fun. The manila folder is a perfect blank canvas. I hope P will personalize it during the first week.

Play

Hands on, mythical creature-themed activities will tie it all together. Looking for monsters and creatures in your own neck of the woods, learning about the animals that monsters are based on, and checking out habitats that are monster-friendly are just a few of the activities we’re dreaming up.

Case File #1

Click here to print Case File Z.01

Though technically I don’t think zombies qualify as cryptids, my son loves zombies and wanted to include them in his case files. So here they are.

Case Objectives for Case File Z.01:

• Research (read about) zombies for 20 minutes.
• Report your findings on the back of this form.
• Investigate (do) one of the following: play Zombie tag, play Zombie Fluxx, or draw a zombie or two in your case file. Try the book How to Draw Vampires, Zombies and Other Monsters for inspiration. Or give this How to Draw Zombies from Plants vs. Zombies a try.

Did I mention P and I are designing this summer adventure together? So far he’s on board and excited. Let’s hope the enthusiasm continues!

See you next week for Case File #2.