Don’t Let April Showers Rain on Your Parade

“Don’t Let April Showers Rain on Your Parade” by Linda Martin Andersen

“A Writer’s Playground”

A place to find wordplay, writing, and monthly calendar activities for kids and those young at heart.

Think:  What does the word “April” bring to mind? Expressions like:  “April showers bring May flowers,” or “Don’t rain on my parade?”  What does this mean? 

Other things we remember in April include:  April Fool’s jokes. Rain showers.  Puddles.  Umbrellas.  Galoshes.  Check the list below for far more things to celebrate in April.

Special Days in April:

Oh my, have you heard? 

• April 3 is Pony Express Day and on that day the Pony Express replaces postal delivery. 
• April 29 is Save the Frogs Day.  Sign up now to adopt a frog and save it from the frying pan.

APRIL FOOL!  These two events are true celebrations, but the way I stated that it would be celebrated is all a big fat fib.  Did I fool you?  Probably not.  Who have you fooled today?  Tell how.  As you may have guessed, April Fool’s Day is a favorite.  Create an original joke of your own.  What common ones have you heard? 

• International Children’s Book Day:  2  Read a book about another country, a child from another country, a dog breed that contains a town or country such as:  Boston Pug, Chinese Pug, German Shepherd, etc. 
• Metric System Day:  7  Work some math problems and answer using metric measurements.  Did you know that hospital patients are weighed in bed?  Can you convert measurements to metric?
• National Sibling Day:  10  If you have a sibling, make a card for this person and  tell how he/she is special to you.
• Safety Pin Day:  10  Where do you see them?  Who gives them away?  How have you used one?  What craft projects have you made using safety pins?
• Scrabble Day:  13  Have you ever played?  Will you play today?
• Blah! Blah! Blah! Day:  17  When was this first said?  Why?  What does it mean to you?  It always reminds me of the intercom on the Peanuts cartoon programs. 
• Ellis Island Family History Day:  17.  Does your family have anyone who entered America through Ellis Island?  Ask to hear stories.
•  National Haiku Poetry Day:  17  Research how to write a haiku.  Write one about spring, April, or something celebrated this month.
• Poem in Your Pocket Day:  18  Do you have a favorite poem?  Copy it and carry it in your pocket.  Ask your friends to do the same.  Share poems when you see each other. 
• Movie Theatre Day:  23  What’s a favorite movie memory? 
• Richter Scale Day:  26.  Research this scale.  What does it measure.  Tell of a famous disaster measured by the Richter Scale.
• Babe Ruth:  27.  Do you know this name?  Why is he famous?
• Zipper Day:  29  When were zippers invented?  Who is Jughead and what does he wear zipped?  What do you own that zips?  Read My Last Best Friend by Julie Bowe and learn how zippers can become a story character. 

Special Weeks in April:

• Golden Rule Week:  1-7  What is the Golden Rule?  What does it mean?  What books talk about this theme?
• International Whistlers Week:  17-21  I hope you’ll take time to read an earlier blog post about Phyllis Heil at  https://lindamartinandersen.wordpress.com/2012/06/08/a-writers-playground-welcomes-phyllis-heil-the-whistling-woman-and-offers-a-cd-giveaway/  The giveaway is no longer available, but Phyllis plans to be at this year’s festival.
• National Volunteer Week:  21-27.  Name a volunteer you know.  What type volunteer work would you like to do?  Walk dogs at the kennel, pick up roadside trash, help in the food bank, etc.  Ask your parents if you can try it.  Perhaps a parent would volunteer with you.
• National Playground Safety Week:  21-27  Is the playground equipment inspected regularly in your area?  How do you know?  Do you know anyone who has been hurt on the playground?  Was it a safety issue?
• National Dance Week:  26–5/4  Are you a dancer?  Survey your friends to learn who has taken dance class. 

April is…

• National Child Abuse Prevention Month  What can be done to help prevent child abuse?
• Jazz Appreciation Month  Do you have a favorite jazz musician?  Do you listen to jazz?  Research to learn more about the history of jazz.  Fine a picture book about jazz.
• Keep America Beautiful  An old promotion poster read:  Give a hoot, don’t pollute.  What message would you like to promote about this topic?
• National Kite Month  What is your favorite kite design?  Fly one this month if you can.
• School Library Media Month  Give a cheer for school librarians!

*Thank you Brownie Locks.com for April celebration information.  For more April observances check out:  http://www.brownielocks.com/april.html

Thank you for visiting “A Writer’s Playground.” Please come again soon.  Bring a friend. 

Coming soon:  Pat Strobel, a School Librarian, shares about School Library Media Month.

Copyright © 2013 Linda Martin Andersen