Unit 8June – July (Optional Summer Unit)
Litha: Summer Solstice & Year-End Projects
Celebrate the longest day with review, creative projects, and preparation for the year ahead.
UU Principle Focus
6th Principle: The goal of world community with peace, liberty, and justice for all
☀️ About This Unit
Litha is an optional summer unit designed for flexible, project-based learning. Use this time to:
- • Review and reinforce skills from the school year
- • Complete passion projects and creative work
- • Explore topics of personal interest
- • Prepare for the transition to 6th grade
- • Enjoy nature and outdoor learning
🌻 Summer Project Ideas
Language Arts Projects
- • Write and illustrate a myth inspired by ancient civilizations
- • Create a travel journal for a real or imaginary trip
- • Start a summer reading challenge
- • Write letters to pen pals around the world (6th Principle)
- • Create a family history book
Math Projects
- • Design and build a scale model
- • Plan a garden using area and perimeter
- • Create a budget for a summer project
- • Math games and puzzles
- • Cooking with fractions and decimals
Science & Nature Projects
- • Maintain a summer nature journal
- • Complete a botany field guide
- • Grow a vegetable garden
- • Study local wildlife and ecosystems
- • Weather observation and recording
Art & Handwork Projects
- • Create art inspired by ancient civilizations
- • Complete a knitting or weaving project
- • Make a main lesson book cover
- • Photography project documenting summer
- • Build something with woodworking
🌍 World Community Focus (6th Principle)
Use summer to explore how we're connected to people around the world:
- 🌐 Global Pen Pals: Write to children in other countries
- 🌐 World Cuisine: Cook dishes from the civilizations you studied (India, Persia, Egypt, Greece)
- 🌐 Cultural Celebrations: Learn about summer festivals around the world
- 🌐 Service Project: Find a way to help your local or global community
- 🌐 Geography Games: Learn countries, capitals, and flags
📚 Summer Reading Suggestions
Fiction
- • The Egypt Game by Zilpha Keatley Snyder
- • Percy Jackson series (Greek mythology)
- • Aru Shah series (Hindu mythology)
- • The Secret Garden
- • My Side of the Mountain
Non-Fiction
- • DK Eyewitness books on ancient civilizations
- • National Geographic Kids magazines
- • Botany field guides
- • U.S. geography and travel books
- • Biographies of explorers and scientists
📺 "Just Can't" Day Ideas
Videos & Movies
- • Ancient civilization documentaries
- • Nature documentaries
- • Math and science shows
- • Virtual museum tours
Outdoor Activities
- • Nature hikes and scavenger hunts
- • Swimming and water play
- • Gardening
- • Stargazing
Creative Play
- • Building and construction
- • Art projects
- • Cooking and baking
- • Music and movement
☀️ Litha Celebration
- 🟡 Celebrate the longest day with outdoor activities
- 🟡 Watch the sunrise or sunset
- 🟡 Create sun wheels or sun catchers
- 🟡 Have a bonfire or candlelight celebration
- 🟡 Feast with summer fruits and vegetables
- 🟡 Reflect on the year's learning and growth
- 🟡 Set intentions for the coming year
🎓 Preparing for 6th Grade
Use summer to prepare for the transition to middle school:
- • Review and organize 5th grade work
- • Practice independent study skills
- • Set goals for the new year
- • Preview 6th grade topics: ancient Rome, physics, pre-algebra
- • Gather supplies and materials