I wanted to highlight a few ways students can continue engaging with words during summer break. The free printable vocabulary worksheets for summer included in this article are great to share with parents and guardians. Additionally, these fun summer vocabulary activities are wonderful to use with kids in academic summer camps and recovery programs.

According to the National Summer Learning Association, students can lose up to two months of reading achievement over the summer. Using engaging vocabulary worksheets can help prevent this “summer slide” and support ongoing word learning in a fun, low-stress way.

7 Printable Summer Vocabulary Worksheets

#1 Color Your Vocab Words 

One of my very favorite activities for young and old alike is to have students color a page and label the items and actions on the page with vocabulary words. This summer vocabulary worksheet blends art with language development, allowing students to create meaning through visuals and words. Students will color and label the drawings with vocabulary words and phrases, helping them build visual meaning and reinforce word recognition.

#2 Build Your Own Sundae

The truth is, nothing goes better together than summer and ice cream. The only possible problem with this summer vocabulary worksheet is that students may not be content with making fake ice cream sundaes and may need to eat their own after they finish writing about their paper ones.

With this delicious vocabulary activity, students will concoct and assemble delectable ice cream sundaes based on vocabulary words!

#3 You've Got Mail

This summer vocabulary worksheet is a great way to end the year and/or send students home with a great way to keep practicing their vocabulary over the summer.

With this activity, students will decorate the front of postcards with scenes from imaginary vacations, and on the back, write about their "vacations" using as many vocabulary words as possible

#4 Ten Quick Writing Prompts

This summer, keep students writing and using vocabulary words with writing prompts! With this summer vocabulary worksheet, students will have a list of writing prompts to answer. Encourage students to incorporate at least two vocabulary words into each of their quick write responses so you can assess their word knowledge. When the writing prompts run out, have learners create their own!

Writing frequently—even for five minutes a day—has been shown to improve vocabulary retention and cognitive flexibility.

#5 Create a Vocabulary Playlist

When I think of my students enjoying summer break, I can't help but hear summer soundtracks playing in my head. I can guarantee that students are listening to music whether they are by the pool, driving in the car to a vacation destination, or working a summer job.

Studies show that music can enhance memory and support long-term recall—this vocabulary worksheet taps into that power. Encourage students to create their own word playlists to strengthen vocabulary connections in a way that feels meaningful and personal.

With this summer worksheet, students will make mnemonic connections to words and definitions by simply linking a vocabulary word to a favorite relevant song. The downloadable vocabulary playlist is an easy way to engage students in thinking critically about tough words.

These free summer vocabulary worksheets offer fun, low-prep activities that keep students engaged and learning all season long. Whether used at home, in a summer program, or during tutoring sessions, these printable vocabulary worksheets are a great way to prevent summer learning loss and build word confidence.