Summer Lessons Ideas
1. Scavenger Hunt (Vocabulary Boost)
o Make a list of things for students to find (e.g., "something soft," "something green," "a flying
insect").
o Students describe what they find using new vocabulary or full sentences.
2. Nature Poetry
o Sit in a garden or park and have students write short poems or haikus inspired by what they
see, hear, or smell.
3. Story Seeds
o Hand out random objects found outside (a rock, a leaf, a feather).
o Students write or tell a story based on the objects
4. English Relay Races
o Teams race to collect word cards and form sentences or match synonyms/antonyms.
5. Charades or Pictionary: Nature Edition
o Students act out or draw outdoor-related vocabulary like “climbing,” “sunbathing,” “watering
plants.”
6. Walking Interviews
o Pair students up for “walking interviews” where they ask each other themed questions (e.g.,
hobbies, dreams, travel).
7. Park Debates
o Choose fun or silly topics ("Cats are better than dogs!") and hold mini-debates in groups.
8. Describe the Scene
o Have students choose something they see and describe it in detail using sensory language.
Others guess what it is.
9. Photo Story Challenge
Students take 3–5 photos with their phones and create a short story around them to share.
10. Outdoor Vlogs or Interviews
Record short videos where students introduce a tree, describe a place, or interview a peer.
I Spy" Walk
o Walk around and play "I spy with my little eye…" to practice colors, shapes, and adjectives.
o Example: "I spy something round and red!"
Nature ABC Hunt
o Find items in nature that start with each letter of the alphabet (or as many as possible).
o Example: A = ant, B = bird, C = cloud…
Touch & Tell
o Let kids gently touch leaves, rocks, bark, etc. and describe them using simple adjectives: soft,
rough, hard, smooth, cold, etc.
Action Simon Says
o Classic game with action verbs: “Simon says jump like a frog!” or “Simon says touch
something green!”
Running Word Match
o Spread out flashcards around the space. Call out a word or show a picture, and kids run to
find the matching card.
Outdoor Word Hop
o Write sight words or vocabulary on paper plates or chalk on the ground. Kids hop from word
to word while reading them out loud.
Leaf Letter Art
o Kids collect leaves/sticks/flowers and use them to form letters or simple sight words on the
ground.
Story Stones
o Prepare stones painted with simple images (a cat, a house, a sun). Kids pick 2–3 stones and
make up a story using those words.
Draw & Describe
o Sit outside with paper and crayons. Kids draw something they see (a tree, a bird, the sun),
then write or say a simple sentence about it.
Question Ball
Toss a soft ball around. The person who catches it answers a question: “What’s your favorite
animal?” or “Can you name three colors?”
Role Play Picnic
Bring a blanket and toy food for a pretend picnic. Practice food vocabulary, manners, and sharing:
“Can I have some juice, please?”
Sing-Along with Actions
Songs like “Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes”, “If You’re Happy and You Know It”, or “Walking
in the Jungle” work great outdoors!