Grade 2
June 25 reading ideas
Finding reading ideas for this date…
Finding reading ideas for this date…
Explore Eric Carle’s art, the adaptations of catfish, and the work of people who transport goods by sea.
On this date in history · 1929
Eric Carle was born June 25, 1929, in Syracuse. His biography and the paper-shape activity support a close look at color, form, and artistic choices.
2 reading resources
Introduces Carle and his art.
Offers a hands-on paper-shape connection.
Read passageSpecial date
National Catfish Day is an informal June 25 U.S. observance associated with a 1987 presidential proclamation, not a permanent federal holiday. Selected readings connect catfish behavior, habitat, and farming.
3 reading resources
Compares catfish in wild and farm settings.
Read passageAdds Louisiana bayou habitat context.
Read passageSpecial date
The International Maritime Organization observes the Day of the Seafarer each June 25. Selected passages connect harbors, shipping infrastructure, and the movement of goods; no 2026 campaign theme is carried into 2027.
4 reading resources
Explores everyday work and cooperation aboard a cargo ship for the Day of the Seafarer.
Read passageIntroduces activity at an inner harbor.
Read passageShows Great Lakes shipping infrastructure.
Read passageSpecial date
Pollinator Week runs June 22–28 in 2026 and June 21–27 in 2027. Use this additional reading period to follow how pollen moves between flowers.
2 reading resources
Follow a bee’s flower visit and explain how it helps pollination.
Read passageMore reading for this time of year, alongside today’s special dates.
4 reading resources
Continue June ocean learning with reading about marine animals.
Explore themeExplore nature and outdoor learning during June’s Great Outdoors Month.
Open collectionExplore ocean habitats and conservation throughout June Ocean Month.
Open collectionExplore summer reading ideas for classroom wrap-up and reading at home. School vacation dates vary.
Open collectionYour topic. Your level.
Have another idea for today’s lesson? Let Pico create an AI-assisted passage with questions and an illustration. Choose the topic and reading level in the creator.
June 25 is Eric Carle’s birthday, National Catfish Day in the United States, and the Day of the Seafarer. These give three distinct connections for reading about art, animals, and work.
Eric Carle: An Artist of Color and Paper introduces his life and techniques. Pair it with Making Art with Paper Shapes to notice how shapes and colors can help tell a story.
Read How a Catfish Finds Food or Catfish in the Wild and on the Farm. Find a body feature, explain what it does, and support the explanation with evidence.
Life Aboard an Ocean Giant and From Ship to Shop offer seafaring and shipping perspectives. Trace one part of a journey and identify the people responsible for it.
What evidence would you need before making a claim about an animal or a job?
