Back to School and What?

“Back to School and What?” by Linda Martin Andersen

While reading the newspaper, I couldn’t help but notice all the Back to School ads.  Then as I brushed the ads to the side, I noticed an article about the Halloween store soon to reopen.  What? I had never thought of a connection between back to school and Halloween before.

Combining things that aren’t usually associated together can create an interesting story.  Tara Lazar’s recent blog post speaks of this tactic:  http://taralazar.com/2015/07/23/two-winners-plus-a-hot-video/

I Thought This Was a Bear Book by Tara Lazar  is a result of connecting things not usually associated together.  The story is about an alien who falls into the wrong book, a book about The Three Bears and Goldilocks.  Learn more at this video:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PdviyeWbzWI

For more about Tara’s books check here:  http://taralazar.com/taras-books/

Back to the Halloween reference–I saw a post of creative door decorations on Facebook that reminded someone of Tara Lazar’s book Monstore.  I thought I’d include it here as well.    http://www.goodtoknow.co.uk/family/galleries/35015/monster-doors

I hope you’ll be on the lookout for things that don’t normally go together that can be joined in a fun way.  I have a couple of Back to School and Halloween connections brewing.  Hopefully, one day they’ll be published books and I can say, “Tara Lazar inspired me.”  I certainly hope so.

I’d like to give a shout out for Tara Lazar and all she shares with writers.  Thank you very much, Tara!

I look forward to hearing about fun combinations you have formed in writing stories or other comments you’d like to share.  Thanks for visiting.  Come again soon and bring a friend.  Please remember that children 13 and under need an adult to comment for them. Thank you! 

August 2012 Activities

“August 2012 Activities” 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 “August” bring to mind?

• End of summer vacation
• School supplies, fall clothes, backpacks, and all things Back to School.
• Tax Free Weekend–Here’s a link to Department of Revenue in North Carolina.  Check to see if your state participates.  http://www.dor.state.nc.us/press/2012/salesholiday.html

What else happens in August?  Choose one of the conversation starters below and leave a comment.

Special Days in August:

• Respect for Parents:  1  What’s one way you show your parents respect?  What’s one way you can improve?
• World Wide Web Day:  1  Brainstorm internet terms.  Name ways the internet has made positive and negative differences.  Use the internet to connect with family and friends near and far away.
• Watermelon Day:  3  List the products you know with watermelon flavor.  Which would you recommend to a friend?
• National Chocolate Chip Day:  4  What can you add chocolate chips to today?  Pancakes, cookies, trailmix, etc.
• National Mustard Day:  4 (1st Saturday)  Read the parable of the mustard seed.  What do you think it means?  Do you like hotdogs and hamburgers with or without mustard?  Do you like honey mustard or spicy mustard? 
• Social Security Day:  4 Ask your parents or grandparents to explain what Social Security is.  Do they predict it will exist in the future?  What would they recommend be done, if anything?
• Friendship Day:  5 (1st Sunday) Visit again on Friendship Day for an interview with Julie Bowe. Also, enter a giveaway for a signed copy of My Extra Best Friend, the last book in her “Friends for Keeps” Series.
• National Kids’ Day:  5 (1st Sunday) What would be your idea of a picture perfect Kids’ Day?
• Vinyl Record Day:  12 Ask your parents or grandparents about the history, size, and speed of vinyl records.  Does anyone you know collect these?  Have you ever played one on a record player?
• International Lefthander’s Day:  13  Research names of people who are lefthanded.   Tell of a time you noticed a left-hander doing something differently from a righthander.  What are other things they do differently?
• Poet’s Day:  21  I know a poet who writes a poem a day for kids and posts it on her blog.   She told me that she wished she could eat a sandwich with her favorite poet for Poet’s Day.  I can’t arrange that, but maybe I can persuade you to share one of your poems with her. Follow this link to meet Joy Acey, the Princess of Poetry:  http://www.poetryforkidsjoy.blogspot.com/ Leave her a comment.  Follow her blog and begin writing poetry every day like Joy.
• Senior Citizen’s Day:  21  What is a senior citizen?  Make a list of all the senior citizens you know.  Do they live in a rest home, nursing home, at home, with family members?  Do you have senior citizens in your neighborhood?  In your church?  How can you help seniors?  Get your parents’ permission first.

Special Weeks in August:

• International Clown Week:  1-7 Do you know anyone who is afraid of clowns?  What is that fear called?  What is your most pleasant memory of a clown?  What is your favorite book with a clown?  Read it again.  What fast food restaurant(s) uses a clown character for advertising?  Where else do you see clowns?
• Exercise With Your Child Week:  6-12  What type exercise does your family do together?  What would you like to do together?  Why not ask?
• National Scrabble Week:  11-15  Have you ever played Scrabble?  Other word games?  Have you ever visited a library for a game night there?  Does your family play board games together?  Why not start a board game club?
• National Aviation Week 15-21 Visit Wright Brothers Memorial in Kitty Hawk, NC, home of the first successful airplane flight in 1903.  Check their website:  http://www.nps.gov/wrbr/index.htm  The park schedules events for kids including homemade kite flying and a way to earn Junior Ranger badges.  Read a book about Wilbur and Orville Wright.
• Little League Baseball World Series:  17-26 Research the history of Little League Baseball.  Have you ever played for a baseball team?  What position did you play?  Tell about a favorite memory.
• Be Kind to Humankind Week:  25-31 What are random acts of kindness?  Try one.  Get parent permission first.
• National Safe at Home Week:  27-31 (Last M-F Week)  Do you have a home safety plan?  A fire escape plan?  Create and post an evacuation plan and practice it.  Schools have drills.  Homes can too.

August is…

• American Indian Heritage Month  What Native Americans are in your area?  Learn more about one of them.  Read books about Native Americans.
• What Will Be Your Legacy Month  What is a legacy?  What do you want yours to be?  Discuss your ideas with your parents.  Set goals.

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

Let’s talk:  Choose one or more of the conversation starters above and leave a comment.  Thank you for visiting “A Writer’s Playground.”  Please come again soon.  Bring a friend.

*Resources:  http//vertex42.com (calendar) and http://www.brownielocks.com/august.html(calendar observances)

Coming next: Meet Julie Bowe, author of “Friends For Keeps” Series and Register for a Signed Copy Giveaway

Copyright © 2012 Linda Martin Andersen