A great way to begin the year is having your students share some of their summer adventures. This lesson plan is great for elementary students, and can be modified for younger or older students.

Let's Begin

First start off by reading an age appropriate book of a summertime experience. When selecting the book try to keep in mind that everyone’s summer is different, many don’t take the traditional vacation. The goal is to teach each other respect for everyone and what they did with their summer. Talk about it with the class. Discuss how the weather is different in summer, we don’t have to wear coats, gloves or even shoes much of the time. No school, fewer rules… explore the freedom of summertime and what it means to each student.

Photo Album Craft

Tell the class that they’ll be creating a photo album of their summer and what summer means to them. Ask the class to bring in a few photos of things they did this summer, brochures from places they went and a few magazines. Using these materials have the students create a 3-5 page photo album telling the story of their summer. Encourage students to also use the magazine pictures to tell the story. If some of your students didn’t particularly have a summer to remember then let them create their ‘dream summer’ in this album.

Instruct the class to leave room to write captions explaining the photos. Make suggestions when necessary but depending on age leave this to the students.

Once they’ve completed the albums have them write captions or one sentence to describe the pictures. If they’re creating their dream summer have them do the same imagining what would be happening.

Write it Out

Next have the students write a short story about their summer to go along with the photo album. Make sure they include beginning, middle and end. Have them do a first draft, edit, etc. The final step of this lesson will be a brief five minute presentation of their photo album and an oral story presentation based from their writing.

This is something students can keep to remember their summers for years to come and it’s a great lesson on writing and story telling too. Keeping lessons relevant to kids is one of the keys to keeping them invested in what we’re teaching them at school. Every kid loves summer, by incorporating this project you’ll also get an inside look into your students, their needs and differences first thing in the year. Have fun with it!