Summer Snapshots Reading

My name is Maya. This summer, I went to the beach with my family. We built a sandcastle and swam in the ocean. We had a picnic by the shore and ate juicy watermelon. Then, I went to summer camp in the woods. I learned to canoe on the lake and made new friends at campfire time. In the evenings, we roasted s’mores over a warm fire. Finally, I relaxed by the pool and read my favorite book. I feel happy and proud of my summer adventure!

Discussion Prompt Cards

Use these cards for small-group sharing. Students take turns picking a card and answering in full sentences using vocabulary from the Summer Stories Word Bank.

1. What was one fun thing you did this summer?
   
   
   
2. Who did you spend time with? Describe them.
   
   
   
3. What was your favorite place you visited? Why?
   
   
   
4. Did you try any new foods? Which one and what did you think?
   
   
   
5. Did you learn a new skill or activity? Tell us about it.
   
   
   
6. What was the weather like and how did it affect your plans?
   
   
   
7. Did you read a book or play a game? Share your experience.
   
   
   
8. Describe a funny or surprising moment from your summer.
   
   
   
9. What was the best day of your summer and why?
   
   
   
10. If you could change one thing about your summer, what would it be?

Story Relay Game Cards

Use these cards for the Story Relay game. Teams sit in a line. The first student draws a card, reads the prompt, and adds one sentence to the oral story. They then pass the deck to the next teammate. Encourage full sentences and vocabulary from the Summer Stories Word Bank.

1. Start the Story
   "One summer morning, I woke up and _______."
2. Set the Scene
   Describe where your story takes place (e.g., beach, camp, park).
3. Introduce a Character
   Name a friend or family member and say what they are doing.
4. Add an Action
   What does the main character do next? Use an action verb.
5. Add a Problem or Surprise
   Something unexpected happens—describe it.
6. Show Feelings
   How does the character feel about the surprise? Use an emotion word.
7. Describe a Solution
   What does the character do to solve the problem?
8. Add Dialogue
   "Say something one character might say." Include quotation marks.
9. Transition Word
   Use a word like "Then", "Next", or "After that" and add another event.
10. End the Story
    Write a closing sentence that shows how the adventure ends.
11. Bonus Twist
    Add something funny or surprising to make the ending memorable.
12. Use a Word Bank Word
    Include at least one word from the Summer Stories Word Bank.

Summer Stories Word Bank

Use these words to help you speak and write about your summer adventures. Refer to this bank when you play games, discuss with friends, or write your story.

Nouns

• beach
• sandcastle
• ocean
• picnic
• watermelon
• camp
• canoe
• lake
• campfire
• s’mores
• pool
• forest
• book
• adventure
• friend
• family

Verbs

• swim
• build
• eat
• relax
• paddle
• roast
• read
• explore
• share
• learn
• play
• visit
• describe
• change

Adjectives

• sunny
• warm
• juicy
• happy
• proud
• exciting
• funny
• surprising
• new
• favorite
• memorable
• green
• cool
• fun

My Summer Story Template

Use this template to write a short narrative (4–5 sentences) about your summer vacation. Remember to:

• Use complete sentences.
• Include words from the Summer Stories Word Bank.

1. This summer, I...

1. Then, I...

1. Next, I...

1. After that, I...

1. Finally, I...

Extra: Add one more sentence to share how you felt or what you learned.