--- title: Reading Time! Daily Activities to do at Home During Social Distancing - Part 2 - Hoot Reading description: We know that you’re looking for ways to keep kids learning and engaged at home right now, and we’re happy to share some ideas! Last week, we shared Part 1 in this series that was all about working on sight words and the accompanying activities to do. 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Daily Activities to do at Home During Social Distancing – Part 2 We know that you’re looking for ways to keep kids learning and engaged at home right now, and we’re happy to share some ideas! Last week, we shared Part 1 in this series that was all about working on sight words and the accompanying activities to do. \[…\] [Elizabeth Hawkins Lincoln](https://learn.hootreading.com/blog/author/elizabeth-hawkins-lincoln) Apr 28, 2020 [mailto:?subject=Check%20out%20https://learn.hootreading.com/blog/reading-time-daily-activities-to-do-at-home-during-social-distancing-part-2&utm_medium=social&utm_source=email%20&body=Check%20out%20https://learn.hootreading.com/blog/reading-time-daily-activities-to-do-at-home-during-social-distancing-part-2&utm_medium=social&utm_source=email](mailto:?subject=Check%20out%20https://learn.hootreading.com/blog/reading-time-daily-activities-to-do-at-home-during-social-distancing-part-2&utm_medium=social&utm_source=email%20&body=Check%20out%20https://learn.hootreading.com/blog/reading-time-daily-activities-to-do-at-home-during-social-distancing-part-2&utm_medium=social&utm_source=email) [at home learning worksheets](https://learn.hootreading.com/blog/tag/at-home-learning-worksheets) [Education](https://learn.hootreading.com/blog/tag/education) [at home learning activities](https://learn.hootreading.com/blog/tag/at-home-learning-activities) [Early Literacy](https://learn.hootreading.com/blog/tag/early-literacy) [at home reading activities](https://learn.hootreading.com/blog/tag/at-home-reading-activities) [Guided Reading](https://learn.hootreading.com/blog/tag/guided-reading) We know that you’re looking for ways to keep kids learning and engaged at home right now, and we’re happy to share some ideas! Last week, we shared Part 1 in this series that was all about working on sight words and the accompanying activities to do. [Click here to read Part 1 now.](https://learn.hootreading.com/blog/readingtime-part1) As a reminder, here are some daily reading activities we would recommend trying out: - Work on sight words (10+ minutes) - Read 1+  fiction item daily (20+ minutes reading time) - Read 1+  nonfiction item daily (20+ minutes reading time) - Review any new vocabulary (10+ minutes) - Discuss the material (10-15 minutes per book) - Activity Time – have your child extend their learning by creating something related to what they’ve learned (30+ minutes per book) - Integrate more literacy games into your weekly family fun (15+ min, 2-3x per week) - Read aloud at bedtime! (20 minutes daily) ## **Reading Fiction** (20+ minutes) Have your child spend 20 minutes reading fiction. Help them connect to the material by developing an understanding of the major elements of a story. This includes plot, setting, characters, and theme. We also want to help children make personal connections to the story and can do so by asking comprehension questions related to the material.  #### **Plot** - What happened in the beginning? Middle? End? - We know the title of this story, what do you think it might be about? - What important choices did the character make? How did that change things? #### **Setting** - Where is this story happening or taking place?  - How would the story be different if it took place: - Under water - In space - At the grocery store - In a cave #### **Characters** - Who was your favourite character? Why? - We know what choice the character made, but what other choices did the character have?  - How would you describe the character’s personality? - Would you want to be friends with the main character? #### **Theme** - What is the message of the story?  - What is the author trying to tell us? #### **Personal Connections** - Have you ever had something similar happen? What was that like? - What choices would you have made?  - What would happen if you made a different choice? - How is this book similar to another story you’ve read/heard? - What was your favourite part? Why? ### Activities (30+ minutes) - Create a “set” for the story, make a backdrop for the setting using boxes, or posters. - Re-tell the story with your own toys – lego, minifigs, critters, dolls, etc. - Re-tell the story as if the characters were all: dragons, squid, rabbits, stick bugs, vegetables, aliens, etc. Update certain elements of the plot now that the characters have different abilities or lack certain qualities. - At the end of the week, play character charades. Write down the names of your favourite characters from family read-aloud books. Act out the characters for the rest of the family to see if they can guess who you are.   - Highlight sight words using plastic wrap over each page and a washable marker. - Interview your favourite character from the book. Create a pretend podcast of your interview. - Re-tell the story by creating a comic strip version of the story. Create 2 “panels” each for the beginning, middle, and end. - Make finger puppets for the main characters using old fabric, paper, or other found materials. - Use sculpey or modeling clay to make your primary characters. Let them dry and then use them to re-tell the story. - Create an abstract painting of the emotions felt by characters at different times throughout the plot.     ## **Nonfiction** (20+ minutes) Have your child spend 20 minutes reading nonfiction. Remember, with nonfiction it’s important to recall any prior knowledge before they start, and any personal experience with the topic. Nonfiction is also an area where children gather new technical language that helps build their vocabulary. Explore the new vocabulary words ahead of time. Check the book for a glossary. Start by asking… - What do we know about \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_? (insert the topic: bats, planets, frogs, doctors) - Review new vocabulary words.   Wrap-up… - Why do you think \_\_(subject)\_\_\_\_ is important to our world? To us? - What surprised you about \_\_\_(subject)\_\_\_? - What is one thing you now know about \_\_\_(subject)\_\_\_ that you can tell someone else? ### Activities (30+ minutes) - Create a model, or diagram/drawing of an item or process you learned about in the book For example: - - Space/Planets - Use play-dough to make a model of the solar system. - Draw the planets in orbit and label the distance from the sun. - Draw/build a model of the earth cut in half to show the layers. - Animals  - Draw the outside of the body, then lay wax paper on top and draw the outline of the animal, plus internal organs. Label accordingly. - Draw the animal and identify their protective features and special abilities, such as improved sight, hearing, or smell. Identify their adaptability traits that allow them to survive. - Plants - Draw the same plant in each season showing their change over time: flowers, fruits, seeds, etc. - Draw details of leaves, flowers, fruit, seeds, etc. - Machines - Draw the machine in its different stages of work or ways it’s used. - Draw the machine and label mechanical parts. - Create an advertisement for the item. - History - Create timelines for important events. - Draw or re-create (a diorama) a scene important to the events that took place. - Create a movie poster or book cover based on the event you read about. - Imagine you can interview the important people from your book. Create a pretend Wikipedia page about them, or record a pretend magazine article with the interview. Draw images to enhance the articles. - Revisit vocabulary and concepts. - Highlight vocabulary words using plastic wrap over each page and a washable marker. - Play Jeopardy using index cards. Write the category on one side (concept, vocabulary, process) and the “question” on the opposite. Have your child select the category and then respond to the prompt.   #### ***Another great way to add learning and structure to your school days at **home* *is with Hoot Reading! If you haven’t already tried a Hoot lesson, [click here to sign up today.](https://www.hootreading.com/family-memberships)*** #### ***Stay tuned for the next blog, where we’ll be sharing literacy games to play with the whole family. ***     ## Recent Posts NAEP Reading Scores ### [It's Never Too Late to Become a Strong Reader](https://learn.hootreading.com/blog/its-never-too-late-to-become-a-strong-reader) The latest NAEP reading scores are a reminder that older readers still need support—and that with the right instruction, growth is possible. Hoot Reading Jul 23, 2026 Parents ### [End of Year Testing: What Parents Need to Know](https://learn.hootreading.com/blog/end-of-year-testing-what-parents-need-to-know) As the school year comes to an end, assessments in core academic subjects reveal if your child is ready for the next grade level, or if they need... Hoot Reading Apr 16, 2026 at home learning worksheets ### [Hoot Reading Earns “Strong” Evidence Rating from Evidence for ESSA](https://learn.hootreading.com/blog/hoot-reading-earns-strong-evidence-rating-from-evidence-for-essa) Hoot has earned a “Strong” rating from Evidence for ESSA, the highest level of evidence, reserved for programs supported by rigorous experimental... 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