A CHILDHOOD MEMORY

One of my favorite childhood memories is going to the park with my grandparents. They always brought a big picnic basket filled with food. My grandmother made sandwiches and packed fresh fruit. My grandfather brought juice and cookies. At the park, we sat under a big tree and had our picnic. After eating, I played on the swings and slid down the slide. My grandparents watched me and laughed. Sometimes, we would play games like hide-and-seek. Spending time with my grandparents was always special. Those moments made me feel happy and loved. I will always treasure those memories.

Individual Sentences

1. One of my favorite childhood memories is going to the park with my grandparents.
   Pattern: O + Prep Phrase + Poss Adj + Adj O + Aux + V-ing + Prep Phrase + Poss Adj + O + Prep Phrase + Poss Adj + O

2. They always brought a big picnic basket filled with food.
   Pattern: S + Adv + V + Adj O + Adj O + V-ed + Prep Phrase + O

3. My grandmother made sandwiches and packed fresh fruit.
   Pattern: Poss Adj + S + V + O + Conj + V + Adj O

4. My grandfather brought juice and cookies.
   Pattern: Poss Adj + S + V + O + Conj + O

5. At the park, we sat under a big tree and had our picnic.
   Pattern: Prep Phrase + S + V + Prep Phrase + Adj O + Conj + V + Poss Adj + O

6. After eating, I played on the swings and slid down the slide.
   Pattern: Prep Phrase + S + V + Prep Phrase + Poss Adj + O + Conj + V + Adv + Prep Phrase + Poss Adj + O

7. My grandparents watched me and laughed.
   Pattern: Poss Adj + S + V + O + Conj + V

8. Sometimes, we would play games like hide-and-seek.
   Pattern: Adv + S + Aux + V + O + Prep Phrase + O

9. Spending time with my grandparents was always special.
   Pattern: V-ing + O + Prep Phrase + Poss Adj + O + Aux + Adv + Adj

10. Those moments made me feel happy and loved.
    Pattern: Det + O + V + O + V + Adj + Conj + Adj

11. I will always treasure those memories.
    Pattern: S + Aux + Adv + V + Det O

Who Are You Talking To?

Just an example of how this phrase would be said in different environments:
Phrase: "What is your favorite childhood memory?"

1. Casual: "Hey, what do you remember most from your childhood?"

2. Intimate: "Sweetie, what is your favorite memory from when you were little?"

3. Formal: "May I ask what your favorite childhood memory is?"

4. Business: "Could you explain why this memory from your childhood is special to you?"

5. Writing: "Please describe your favorite childhood memory and explain why it is meaningful."

Key Vocabulary

To help you recall the words faster, draw a picture, create a sentence, or a story for each word.

1. Picnic – A meal eaten outdoors, often in a park.

2. Swings – Seats hung by ropes or chains for swinging back and forth.

3. Grandparents – The parents of your mother or father.

4. Treasure – To value something greatly.

5. Moments – Short periods of time that are memorable.

Comprehension Questions

Refer back to the story if you need to answer the following questions.

1. Who did I go to the park with?
   Sentence: ________________.

2. What did my grandparents bring to the park?
   Sentence: ________________.

3. What games did we play at the park?
   Sentence: ________________.

4. How did those moments make me feel?
   Sentence: ________________.

5. Why do I treasure those memories?
   Sentence: ________________.

Answers:

1. My grandparents.

2. A big picnic basket filled with food.

3. Hide-and-seek.

4. Happy and loved.

5. Because they were special.

Speaking Activity

Practice placing stress on the bolded words to change the message of the sentence.

1. One of my favorite childhood memories is going to the park. (Emphasizes the singular favorite memory)

2. They always brought a big picnic basket filled with food. (Emphasizes the item they brought)

3. My grandmother made sandwiches and packed fresh fruit. (Emphasizes one food item)

4. Spending time with my grandparents was always special. (Emphasizes the feeling)

5. I will always treasure those memories. (Emphasizes the memories being special)

Writing Activity

Unscramble the Sentences:

1. Memories / favorite / my / is / of / childhood / one / going / to / park / the.
   Sentence: ________________.

2. Grandmother / made / and / sandwiches / fresh / fruit / packed / my.
   Sentence: ________________.

3. Time / spending / my / with / grandparents / was / special / always.
   Sentence: ________________.

4. Swings / the / I / and / on / played / slide / down / the / slid.
   Sentence: ________________.

5. Treasure / always / memories / will / I / those.
   Sentence: ________________.

Answers:

1. One of my favorite childhood memories is going to the park.

2. My grandmother made sandwiches and packed fresh fruit.

3. Spending time with my grandparents was always special.

4. I played on the swings and slid down the slide.

5. I will always treasure those memories.

Create Activity

Follow the sentence pattern and build sentences with the following words:

Words To Use: picnic, swings, grandparents, treasure, moments

1. S + V + O.
   Sentence: ________________.

2. S + V + Adj + O.
   Sentence: ________________.

3. S + V + O + Prep Phrase.
   Sentence: ________________.

4. S + V + O + Adv.
   Sentence: ________________.

5. S + Aux + V + Adj.
   Sentence: ________________.

Answers:

1. We had a picnic.

2. The swings were fun.

3. I went to the park with my grandparents.

4. They laughed loudly.

5. The moments were special.

Grammar Activities

Multiple-Choice Questions:

1. Who did I go to the park with?
   a) My friends
   b) My siblings
   c) My grandparents

2. What did my grandparents bring to the park?
   a) Toys
   b) A picnic basket
   c) Chairs

3. What games did we play at the park?
   a) Tag
   b) Hide-and-seek
   c) Hopscotch

4. How did those moments make me feel?
   a) Bored
   b) Happy and loved
   c) Tired

5. Why do I treasure those memories?
   a) Because they were fun.
   b) Because they were special.
   c) Because they were funny.

Answers:

1. c) My grandparents

2. b) A picnic basket

3. b) Hide-and-seek

4. b) Happy and loved

5. b) Because they were special

Natural Dialogue

Me: What is your favorite childhood memory?
Friend: My favorite memory is going to the park with my grandparents.
Me: What did you do there?
Friend: We had a picnic and played games like hide-and-seek.
Me: How did those moments make you feel?
Friend: They made me feel happy and loved!