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Summer Stories Swap

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Lesson Plan

Summer Stories Swap Lesson Plan

Students will share and listen to summer experiences using descriptive language, ask follow-up questions, and reflect on peers’ stories to build speaking, listening, and empathy skills.

This lesson fosters community connection, reinforces respectful listening routines for the new year, and strengthens students’ oral language and empathy by valuing each other’s experiences.

Audience

3rd Grade Tier 2 Group

Time

30 minutes

Approach

Interactive story-sharing in pairs with guided reflection.

Materials

Prep

Prepare Materials

5 minutes

Step 1

Warm-Up & Routine Review

5 minutes

  • Greet students and settle the group
  • Review listening expectations (eye contact, nodding, no interrupting)
  • Introduce the goal: sharing summer stories to build empathy
  • Display Summer Story Prompts and explain how to use them

Step 2

Model Story Sharing

5 minutes

  • Teacher selects a prompt from Summer Story Prompts
  • Share a brief summer experience, using descriptive language (senses, feelings, and details)
  • Think aloud: highlight strong adjectives and possible follow-up questions
  • Model asking a question to show empathy and genuine interest

Step 3

Paired Story Sharing

10 minutes

  • Distribute one Summer Story Prompts to each student
  • Students pair up and take turns sharing (2 minutes each)
  • The listener asks one follow-up question based on the story
  • Teacher circulates, offers praise for descriptive language and attentive listening

Step 4

Empathy Reflection

7 minutes

  • Reconvene the group on the rug or in a circle
  • Shuffle and display Empathy Question Cards
  • Invite volunteers to pick a card and answer: “How would you feel in this story?”
  • Discuss: What did you learn about your partner? How did listening help you connect?

Step 5

Closing & Exit Ticket

3 minutes

  • Distribute quick exit tickets: write or draw one new thing you learned about a classmate
  • Collect tickets as students share a final “thank you” for listening
  • Praise effort and reinforce classroom sharing routines for the year
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Slide Deck

Summer Stories Swap

3rd Grade Tier 2 Group
First Week Back to School
30-Minute Interactive Session

Welcome students! Introduce today’s activity: sharing summer stories to build our community. Explain that we’ll practice listening, asking questions, and using descriptive language.

Warm-Up & Listening Routines

• Greet each other with a smile
• Make eye contact & nod
• No interrupting
• Be ready to share and listen

Quickly review norms and set expectations. Encourage eye contact, nodding, and waiting your turn. Emphasize respect and kindness.

Summer Story Prompts

Use these prompts to start your story:

  • What was your favorite part of summer?
  • Describe a day you spent outdoors using your 5 senses.
  • What new thing did you try this summer?
  • Who did you spend time with and what did you do?

Distribute one Summer Story Prompts to each student. Explain how prompts can spark ideas.

Model Story Sharing

  1. Listen to my chosen prompt.
  2. I’ll share details: senses, feelings, and vivid words.
  3. I’ll ask a question to show I care.

Model your own story. Think aloud as you choose descriptive words and ask a follow-up question. Show how empathy sounds.

Paired Story Sharing

• Find your partner.
• Take turns: 2 minutes sharing, 1 minute for one follow-up question.
• Use descriptive language: sights, sounds, feelings.

Pair students up. Set a timer: 2 minutes to share, 1 minute for the listener’s question. Circulate to praise strong descriptions and good listening.

Empathy Reflection

Pick an Empathy Question Card and reflect:
• How would you feel in their story?
• What surprised you about their experience?
Share your thoughts with the group.

Shuffle the Empathy Question Cards. Invite volunteers to pick a card and lead the reflection. Highlight connections between students.

Exit Ticket: What Did You Learn?

On your ticket, write or draw:
• One new thing you learned about your classmate
• A thank-you message for listening
Hand in as you leave!

Hand out exit tickets. Encourage quick, thoughtful responses. Collect tickets as students leave, reinforcing the wrap-up routine.

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Worksheet

Summer Story Prompts

Use these prompts to plan your summer story. Jot down key ideas or sketch a picture before sharing.

  1. What was your favorite part of summer?






  2. Describe a day you spent outdoors using your five senses.






  3. What new thing did you try, and how did it make you feel?






  4. Who did you spend time with, and what did you do?






  5. Describe a challenge or surprise you faced.






  6. Share a moment that made you laugh or smile.






Optional Drawing

Draw your favorite summer memory below:

┌───────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ │
│ │
│ │
│ │
└───────────────────────────────────────────┘

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Activity

Empathy Question Cards

Print and cut these cards for the Empathy Reflection. During the activity, each student draws one and answers it aloud.

1. How do you think your partner felt when their story began?




2. Which part of their story surprised you the most? Why?




3. If you were in their place, what emotion would you feel first?




4. What senses (sight, sound, smell, taste, touch) do you think were strongest in their memory?




5. What would you say to comfort your partner if they felt worried in their story?




6. How can you show you care about someone’s experience after they share it?




7. What question could you ask to learn more about their feelings?




8. What did you learn about your partner that you didn’t know before?




9. Which part of their story made you feel happy for them?




10. How does listening to their story help you connect as a class?




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