September's Crossroads
As summer ends and September arrives, you face unexpected choices about school, friendship, and growing up. Your decisions will shape how you navigate this transformative month.
A free Story Adventure for Teens at CEFR B2 level. Topic: The month of September.
Story
- The last days of August have slipped away, and September is finally here. You stand at the edge of summer's end, watching the weather shift subtly—mornings are cooler now, and the afternoon sun feels less intense than it did two weeks ago. School begins in three days, and you're torn between…
- You meet Marco at the lake just before sunset. The water is still warm, but there's a crisp breeze that reminds you both that summer is truly ending. Marco suggests exploring the far side of the lake, where you've never been before—apparently, there's an old wooden bridge that locals say offers the…
- You spend the afternoon with your parents organizing your school supplies and discussing your schedule for the new year. Your parents listen carefully as you express your worries about the increased workload, making new friends in your new classes, and whether you'll be able to maintain your…
- Marco thinks your idea is brilliant, and you both spend the next two days volunteering at the community center's back-to-school event. You help younger children pick out backpacks, organize donated books, and answer questions about what to expect in middle school. The work is rewarding—you see the…
- You and Marco venture into the unfamiliar territory with growing excitement. The path becomes narrower and more overgrown as you progress, and the sky darkens faster than you anticipated. After about forty minutes of walking, you finally discover the old wooden bridge—it's more beautiful than you…
- You and Marco decide to stay at the familiar part of the lake and watch the sunset together. As the sun descends toward the horizon, painting the sky in shades of orange, pink, and purple, you both reflect on the summer you've shared—the adventures, the inside jokes, the moments of genuine…
- Your first meeting of the creative writing club arrives, and you walk into the classroom nervously, unsure if you'll fit in with the other members. However, you're immediately welcomed by the club leader, Ms. Chen, who encourages everyone to share their thoughts without judgment. During the…
- You join the mixed-sport club, which meets three times a week and focuses on teamwork, fitness, and building friendships across grade levels. During your first week, you're assigned to a small group that practices together, and you quickly discover that physical activity is an excellent way to…
Vocabulary
- slipped away
- edge
- shift
- intense
- torn between
- anxiety
- adventure
- tone
- crisp
- breeze
- migration
- overcast
- forecast
- pursue
- alternative
- workload
- transition
- overwhelming
- settle down
- maintain
- enroll
- confidence
- brilliant
- rewarding
- guidance
- coordinator
- struggling
- committed
- compete
- venture
- overgrown
- anticipated
- disoriented
- intricate
- noticeably
- descent
- horizon
- reflect
- drift apart
- withstand
Printable worksheet
This Story Adventure comes with a free printable worksheet: 2 parts for students to do after the game, and an answer key for the teacher. It prints at three levels (Support, Core and Challenge); this is the Challenge sheet. Sign in free to print the whole sheet.
What's on the worksheet
- Remember the story · Answer in a full sentence.
- A new ending · Write a new ending for the story. Use three story words.
Part 1: Remember the story
Answer in a full sentence.
- What is the main conflict the narrator is experiencing at the beginning of the story?
- Why does the narrator hesitate about Marco's suggestion to explore the far side of the lake?
- What do your parents suggest as a way to help you adjust to the new school year?