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Summer Reading and Classroom Supplies

2025 Information (updated June 10, 2025):

MIDDLE SCHOOL SUMMER ASSIGNMENTS

List of 5 items.

  • 5th Grade Reading

    Fifth graders are required to read one book and can choose any grade-level book, including fiction, non fiction or graphic novel.  
     
    After reading the book, students should complete one of the following assignments:
    1. Draw a detailed map of the setting. Include significant places from the story and be sure to label all of the locations on the map and use detail and color.  The map should be drawn on a minimum size of 8” x 11” paper or maximum size of 22” x 28” poster board. 
    2. Design a new book jacket for the story. Be sure to include detailed and colorful pictures and a description of the plot.
    3. Create a character map. Draw a detailed and colorful picture of each of the main characters and explain their significance and role in the story. The character map should be drawn on a minimum size of 8” x 11” paper or maximum size of 22” x 28” poster board.

  • 6th Grade Reading

    Sixth graders are required to read one book and can choose any grade-level book, including fiction, non fiction or graphic novel.  
     
    After reading the book, students should complete two assignments:
     
    1. Draw a detailed map of the setting. Include significant places from the story and be sure to label all of the locations on the map and use detail and color.  The map should be drawn on a minimum size of 8” x 11” paper or maximum size of 22” x 28” poster board. 
    2. Describe the main character in complete sentences.  What is important about the character? What challenge(s) did they face and how did they deal with them?  Write at least one paragraph.  Next, rate this book on a scale of one to five – one being poor, with five being excellent.  Why did you give it this rating?  Who would enjoy this type of book?

  • 7th Grade Reading

    All seventh graders are required to read two books and complete the related assignments:
     
    1. Seventh graders can choose to read any grade-level book, including fiction, non fiction or graphic novel.  After reading the book, students should draw a detailed map of the setting. Include significant places from the story and be sure to label all of the locations on the map and use detail and color.  The map should be drawn on a minimum size of 8” x 11” paper or maximum size of 22” x 28” poster board. 
     
    2. Seventh graders will select a book from the list below and, in 3-4 typed paragraphs, describe the main character(s), setting and conflict of the novel.
     
    Students may select:
     
    Realistic Fiction
    Ghost – Jason Reynolds
    Booked – Kwame Alexander
    Hatchet – Gary Paulsen
    City of Ember – Jeanne Deprau
    The Fault in Our Stars – John Greene
    Stargirl – Jerry Spinelli
    Wonder – R.J. Palaccio
    Trouble – Gary D. Schmidt
    The Wednesday Wars - Gary D. Schmidt
    When You Reach Me – Rebecca Stead
    The Maze Runner – James Dashner
    A Good Kind of Trouble - Lisa Moore Ramee
     
    Historical Fiction
    Crispin - Avi
    My Brother Sam is Dead – James Lincoln Collier & Christopher Collier
    The Watsons Go to Birmingham – Christopher Paul Curtis
    Fever 1793 - Laurie Halse Anderson
     
    Science Fiction
    Enders Game – Orson Scott Card
    The Hunger Games – Suzanne Collins
     
    Sports
    Heat - Mike Lupica
     
    Science
    Mosquitos Don't Bite Me - Pendred Noyce
    Rosalind Franklin - A Life Story - Michael Ford
    Bees on the Roof - Robbie Shell
    The Boy Who Harnessed The Wind - William Kamkwamba & Bryan Mealer
    The Walking Fish - Rachelle Burk & Kopel Burk
     
    Non-Fiction
    Facing Frederick: The Life of Frederick, a Monumental American Man - Tonya Bolden

  • 8th Grade Reading

    8th Grade English:  Students should choose one of the following books and read it:  Life of Pi by Yann Martel, The Catcher in the Rye by JD Salinger or The Golden Compass by Philip Pullman.  Please highlight or underline in your book at least five passages from the book relating to the main character’s personality, like important thoughts, actions, or speech. When school begins, students will write an essay on their chosen novel during the first couple weeks of classes. 

    8th Grade Rhode Island / U.S. History:  
    Students will read Weetamoo: Heart of the Pocassets, Massachusetts, 1653 (The Royal Diaries) by Patricia Clark Smith.  An oral book report will be due during the first week of school (Friday, Sept. 4). The oral book report should be an audio file. The body of the oral book report should be a discussion of the way of life of the Pocasset tribe. 
     
    Students should address the following sub-topics: Weetamoo’s interaction with her immediate family, tribal food gathering (fishing, farming, and hunting), religious practices (including a discussion of Weetamoo’s interaction with the spirit world), recreational activities, social activities (includes your re-telling of a story told by one of the elders), inter-tribal relations between the Pocassets and the Wampanoags, and the Pocasset tribe’s relations with the English colonists. The concluding section should be a critique of the book.  Naturally, you should point out what you liked and disliked about the book.
     
    Note: The recording should be about 10 minutes in length. The final draft grade for the oral book report assignment will be equivalent to two test grades.

  • Math - Middle School

    Math teachers will email students the math review assignments for their specific classes the first week in July.

    Returning PCD students should check their PCD email for the assignments.

    New students who do not yet have a PCD email address set up will receive the math review at the parent and/or student email addresses that were provided to PCD during the admissions process.

     

UPPER SCHOOL SUMMER ASSIGNMENTS

List of 5 items.

  • Modern & Classical Languages

    AP Latin:  Students are expected to read The Aeneid in English (any translation) and a test will be given on the text in the first two weeks of school.  A practice test will be used to prepare them before the actual assessment.

  • English

    English 9:  Students will read The Marrow Thieves by Cherie Dimaline. Students will complete an in-class essay and formal discussion in the first two weeks of classes.

    English 10:  Students will read Exit West by Mohsin Hamid and will write an essay on the book during the first two weeks of the trimester.

    English 11 & English 11 Honors: Students will read The Book of Unknown Americans by Cristina Henriquez and will write an essay on the book during the first two weeks of the trimester.

    English Electives (12th grade):  Students will be enrolled in trimester electives, and there is no summer reading assigned.

    AP English: Students will read two retellings of classic tales: James by Percival Everett and Eurydice by Sarah Ruhl. Students will read both and must submit an essay on each text on the first day of school. Essay prompts will be sent to students via school email in June. 

  • History

    AP U.S. History:  AP students will receive specific information about their assignment by email, and the details will also be available on Google Classroom. There are three components to the AP summer assignment. First, there is an experiential piece requiring students to visit and write about a historical site in New England. Second, students will read a book of their choice from a list provided and write a report on that book. Third, students will complete some pre-reading of the textbook. 

    AP European History: AP Euro students will read the first two chapters of the textbook (“The Late Middle Ages” and “The Renaissance and Discovery”) over the summer and should prepare to write a DBQ in the first week of school.

  • Math

    Math teachers will email students the math review assignments for their specific classes the first week in July.

    Returning PCD students should check their PCD email for the assignments.

    New students who do not yet have a PCD email address set up will receive the math review at the parent and/or student email addresses that were provided to PCD during the admissions process.

     

  • Science

    AP Biology:  Demon in the Freezer by Richard Preston. Students should be prepared to discuss general themes and there will be a written assignment in the first two weeks of class.

    AP Physics:  Storm in a Teacup: The Physics of Everyday Life by Helen Czerski.  Students should be prepared to discuss general themes and there will be a written assignment in the first two weeks of class.

    Honors Biology:  Hot Zone by Richard Preston.  Students should be prepared to discuss general themes and there will be a written assignment in the first two weeks of class.

    Honors Chemistry:  Caesar's Last Breath: And Other True Tales of History, Science, and the Sextillions of Molecules in the Air Around Us by Sam Kean.  An accompanying reading guide and assignment will be emailed to students and posted on Google Classroom. The assignment should be completed as you read and will be due on the first day of classes. 



     

Classroom Supplies

List of 5 items.

  • 5th Grade Supplies

    • 1.5” or 2” binder (Science/Math)
    • 1.5” or 2” binder (Humanities)
    • Loose-leaf notebook paper (2 packs, wide rule)
    • Tab dividers (10-15)
    • Index cards 
    • Graph paper (large grid/squares)
    • Post-It notes (2 packs)
    • Pencils, erasers and a highlighter 
    • Colored pencils

  • 6th Grade Supplies

    • 1.5” or 2” binder (Science/Math)
    • 1.5” or 2” binder (Humanities)
    • Loose-leaf notebook paper
    • Sheet protectors (4-6)
    • Tab dividers (10-15)
    • Scientific calculator
    • Flash cards & file box to store cards
    • Post-It notes (2 packs)
    • Pencils, erasers & pencil case
    • A ruler
    • Highlighters
    • crayons/colored pencils, thin Sharpie markers
    • Durable plastic folders

  • 7th Grade Supplies

    • 1.5” or 2” binder (Science/Math)
    • 1.5 or 2” binder (Humanities)
    • Spiral notebook (at least 100 pages - single subject OK) (Math)
    • Loose-leaf notebook paper
    • Sheet protectors (4-6)
    • Tab dividers (10)
    • 3 Pocket folders 
    • Scientific calculator (may also be used for Science)*
    • Flash cards (4–6 packs of 3x5 cards) & file box to store cards
    • Graphing Notebook
    • Pencils & erasers
    • Highlighters
    • crayons/colored pencils
    *Students in 8th Grade math classes will need a TI-83 Plus Calculator. 

  • 8th Grade Supplies

    • 1.5” or 2” binder (Humanities)
    • 1.5” or 2” binder (Science/Math)
    • Spiral notebook (at least 100 pages - single subject OK) (Math)
    • Loose-leaf notebook paper
    • Sheet protectors (60)
    • Tab dividers (10)
    • 3 Pocket folders 
    • Scientific calculator (may also be used for Science)*
    • Flash cards & file box to store cards
    • Post-It notes (2 packs)
    • Graphing Notebook 
    • Pencils & erasers
    • Highlighters
    • crayons/colored pencils
    *Students in 8th Grade math classes will need a TI-83 Plus Calculator.

  • Upper School supplies

    Upper School Supply Suggestions

    Organization is a necessity for all Upper School students. As students move from class to class and from teacher to teacher, each needs to develop a system that works best for him or her. For each subject area, students will be expected to:
    • Come to class prepared! Make sure you have a supply of pens, pencils, paper, and any class-specific supplies and arrive to class on time and with the appropriate supplies.
    • Manage time and daily class work. All students should have a planner or agenda book to note daily assignments, upcoming assessments, and any other school-related dates and deadlines. Students may also effectively use a Google calendar or other electronic form of planner, but we would recommend a hard copy planner or agenda.
    • Take notes. For each class, students should have a way to take in-class notes and keep them organized by subject. 
    • Manage handouts. Teachers may hand out supplementary material, assignment instructions, or other information in class that students should keep and organize.
    • Revise and review. After tests or quizzes, research papers, lab reports, or any other assignments are graded and handed back by the teacher, students should have a place to keep this information organized for future revisions or review.
     
    Suggested systems to stay organized (in addition to the planner or agenda book!):
    • Binders: Keep a 3-ring binder for each subject, plenty of loose-leaf notebook paper, section dividers, sheet protectors, and a hole punch. Notes can be taken on the loose-leaf paper, handouts and graded work can be hole-punched and put in the binder for future reference and review.

    • Notebooks and folders: Bring a spiral notebook for each subject area for taking notes, and pocket folders for any handouts. Students may need a separate accordion folder or pocket folders to store graded work since it will accumulate as the year progresses.
    • Chromebooks:  Some students may prefer to take notes on Chromebooks and organize those notes with Google Drive folders for each class. While many successfully use this system, students should still have a notebook available should any technical difficulties arise, and a folder to manage any handouts.
    Other suggestions: Index cards to make flashcards for studying, highlighters, and a flash drive.

    In addition to using the suggestions above and preparing a system to stay organized in all academic classes, there are some courses with specific supplies required. Those courses and supplies are:

    Math – all courses: Students should always have plenty of pencils, and access to graph paper. Calculators are recommended for all math classes, with the following recommendations:
    • Scientific Calculator* (TI-36x suggested) is sufficient for: Math 6, Math 7, PreAlgebra, Algebra 1 (A & B), Algebra 2A, Geometry A, Math Electives.
    • Graphing Calculator* (TI-83 Plus suggested) is required for: Algebra 2B, Algebra 2 Honors, Geometry B, PreCalculus, Calculus, AP Calculus AB, AP Calculus BC.
    Science – Chemistry, Honors Chemistry: Calculator (either scientific or graphing depending on your math class - see above). A binder or notebook/folder (see above) dedicated to chemistry. 

    Science – Conceptual Physics and AP Physics: Scientific calculator and two graphing notebooks (grid / square-lined notebooks). A phone with a calculator feature is not appropriate for in-class use. If you do not need a graphic calculator for math (see above), an inexpensive scientific calculator would be sufficient (recommend the TI-36x).

    History – AP Art History: Index cards and a file box for the cards. 

    *Upper School students may wish to consult the College Board acceptable calculators list so they are able to use their calculator for the PSAT, SAT or any future AP Exams.

Delta Math

This year, PCD's math department will be moving to a new online platform: Delta Math. 

• Returning students should check their PCD email in early July for the math review assignment from their teachers.

• New students will receive an email at the parent and/or student email provided during the admissions process.

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