Photo by Brian Urso on Unsplash
Objective:
Students will continue to improve their reading comprehension, vocabulary, and critical thinking skills through the story “Camp Somerset.”
Duration:
45 minutes
Photo by Ricardo Resende on Unsplash
Key Vocabulary:
rumbled (verb): This describes the sound of the car, and is a good onomatopoeia word that's useful in many contexts. * “The old truck rumbled down the dirt road, making a lot of noise.”
sparkling (adjective): A descriptive word that can be applied to many things, and is good for practicing the -ing ending. * “The sparkling water in the lake looked so inviting on a hot day.”
gadget (noun): Relevant to modern life, and a good way to introduce vocabulary about technology. * “He loves to buy the latest kitchen gadgets.”
rickety (adjective): Describes the dock, and is a fun word to say and learn. * “The rickety old bridge swayed when we walked across it.”
nestled (verb): A more advanced word, but paints a nice image and can be used to describe a variety of things. * “The baby bird nestled comfortably in its mother's feathers.”
mischievous (adjective): Important for understanding Max's character, and a useful word for describing behavior. * “The mischievous puppy stole my shoe and hid it under the bed.”
gnarled (adjective): A descriptive word that can be applied to trees, hands, etc. and expands vocabulary for nature. * “The wizard's hands were gnarled with age.”
culprits (noun): A slightly more advanced word, but useful in the context of the story and for general vocabulary building. * “The police caught the culprits who robbed the bank.”
Photo by Nikunj Singh on Unsplash
Chapter 1: Welcome to Camp Somerset!
The old station wagon, packed tighter than a squirrel's cheeks with suitcases and sleeping bags, rumbled to a stop in the dusty parking lot of Camp Somerset. Molly, Max, and Mindy tumbled out, blinking in the bright Vermont sunshine.
Molly, the eldest at twelve, smoothed down her skirt and adjusted her glasses. This wasn't her first rodeo. She'd been to summer camp before, but this year felt different. Maybe it was the scent of pine needles in the air, or the way the sunlight danced on the sparkling lake, but a thrill of anticipation ran through her. She just hoped she wouldn't have to babysit Max and Mindy the whole time.
Max, a whirlwind of ten-year-old energy, was already bouncing on the balls of his feet. "Joey! Jaime!" he yelled, scanning the crowd of campers. "Where are my dudes?" Music blared from his transistor radio, a new gadget he was determined to show off. Being the middle child, Max was a master of attention-grabbing, and Camp Somerset was his stage.
Mindy, the youngest at eight, clung to Molly's hand, her eyes wide with a mix of excitement and apprehension. This was her first time away from home for so long, and the unfamiliar faces and sounds made her stomach flutter. She desperately wanted to make friends, but what if no one liked her?
Camp Somerset was a picture of rustic charm. Wooden cabins nestled amongst the trees, their screened windows promising cool breezes and the sounds of crickets at night. A cluster of picnic tables sat on the pebbled beach, overlooking the lake where a rickety old dock stretched out into the water. Campers, a mix of ages and backgrounds, swarmed around, their voices a happy buzz that echoed through the woods.
Molly, after making sure Max and Mindy were occupied, headed towards the lake. Relief washed over her as she spotted a group of familiar faces from past summers. Soon, they were sprawled on a blanket, sharing stories and giggling over inside jokes. This was the Molly she wanted to be: carefree and surrounded by friends.
Meanwhile, Max, bored with the organized icebreakers, had hatched a plan. He'd roped Joey and Jaime into a mischievous scheme involving a bucket and a mountain of sticky pine needles. "Operation Pine Cone" was a go.
Mindy, after a hesitant start, found herself drawn to a girl with pigtails and a boy with a mischievous grin. Paula and Paul introduced themselves, and soon they were exploring the woods, transforming a gnarled old tree into a magical castle.
As the sun began to set, casting long shadows across the camp, the first day was drawing to a close. Molly, returning from her lakeside hangout, was ambushed by a giggling horde of younger boys. "Pine cone attack!" they shrieked, showering her with sticky needles. Humiliated and angry, she felt tears prick her eyes. But before she could react, a group of older boys chased off the culprits, while her friends helped brush the needles from her hair. A warm feeling spread through her. Maybe this summer wouldn't be so bad after all.
Max, his sides aching from laughter, surveyed the results of "Operation Pine Cone" with satisfaction. He and his partners in crime had escaped the wrath of the older boys, but not without a few bumps and bruises. An ice pack from the camp nurse and a shared bag of candy later, they were back to plotting their next adventure.
Mindy, curled up in her bunk, felt a pang of homesickness. But the memory of the day's adventures – the magical tree, the new friends, the feeling of belonging – soon chased away the blues.
As the campers drifted off to sleep, a sense of anticipation hung in the air. Camp Somerset was full of promise, and the adventures were just beginning.
Photo by Alex Moliski on Unsplash
Warm-up (True or False)
True or false? Mindy is the oldest of the three siblings.
True or false? Max uses a bucket and pine needles in his prank.
Short Answer
Why was Molly apprehensive about spending the summer at Camp Somerset?
What was the name of Mindy's new friend?
How did the older boys help Molly after the pine cone attack?
Discussion
How does the author use descriptive language to create a vivid picture of Camp Somerset? Give specific examples from the text.
Compare and contrast the different ways Molly, Max, and Mindy each react to their first day at camp. What do their reactions tell us about their personalities?
False
True
Molly was apprehensive because she was worried she would have to spend her time looking after her younger siblings instead of enjoying her time with friends.
Mindy's new friend was named Paula.
The older boys chased away the younger boys who were throwing pine cones, and then helped Molly brush the pine needles out of her hair.
(Answers may vary, but should include examples of descriptive language from the text, such as "the scent of pine needles in the air", "the sunlight danced on the sparkling lake", "rickety old dock", and "a happy buzz that echoed through the woods".)
(Answers may vary, but should include a discussion of how Molly seeks out familiar friends, Max creates mischief, and Mindy hesitantly makes new friends. This shows that Molly values her friendships, Max is a mischievous and energetic boy, and Mindy is shy but eager to connect with others.)
Credits:
Story and lesson material by… Tyler Golec
Mandarin Translations by… Rosy Lien
Media Contributions by… Alex Moliski, Nikunj Singh, Ricardo Resende and Brian Urso
