April–A To Z

A Writer’s Playground–a place to find wordplay, writing
prompts, reasons to celebrate, and monthly calendar activities for kids and those
young at heart  “April–A To Z” by Linda Martin Andersen

(Can you find A To Z here?)

April Fool’s Day: 1

National Farm Animals Day: 10

National Teach Your Children To Save Day: 29

Zipper Day: 29

International Jazz Day: 30

Writing Prompts:

1. What prank or April Fool’s joke has someone played on you? What have you played on others?
2. Are you a good sport when someone plays a joke or trick on you?  How do you handle it?
3. What farm animal do you wish you could raise in your backyard?  Why would you choose that particular one?
4. Have you ever visited a petting zoo?  Tell about it.
5. Are you good at saving money?  What plan works for you?
6. Julie Bowe writes a friendship series of children’s books that mention a backpack with many zippers. Can you discover which title it is?  Name other stories that mention zippers.
7. Would you rather wear zippers or buttons and why?
8. Name different uses of the word “jazz.”  Choose one and write about it.

What will you celebrate in April? 

I have decided to try the Blogging From A to Z–April (2016) Challenge.

     

To learn more, check  here:  http://www.a-to-zchallenge.com/

Thank you for visiting “A Writer’s Playground.”  Come again soon and bring a friend. Please leave a comment.  Remember that children 13 and under need an adult to comment for them.  For more fun, sign up to follow my blog.  Thank you!

Making Dog Friends

“Making Dog Friends” by Linda Martin Andersen

Do you have a dog?  A cat?  Another kind of pet?  Do you wish you did?  Do you like greeting pets you meet? 

Amy Ludwig VanDerwater posted a How to…”Make A Dog Friend” (Teaching Poem).  She shared steps to follow when greeting a strange dog and its owner.  Please pass these along to children you know.  Thanks for the great advice, Amy.

Try writing your own teaching poem-directions set in a poem.  I like that combination.  Do you?

Read Amy’s poem here:

http://www.poemfarm.amylv.com/2015/03/teaching-poems-what-do-i-know.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+amylv%2FGmZc+%28The+Poem+Farm%29

poster created at Quozio.com

Tell about your pet or the pet you wish you had. Thanks for visiting.  Come again soon and bring a friend.

Children 13 years old or older may leave a comment. Read more about the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act. (COPPA) See: http://www.coppa.org/coppa.htm

Winner of Giveaway for May Days and My Blog’s 2nd Birthday

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“Winner of Giveaway for May Days and My Blog’s 2nd Birthday” 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.

Blow the horns, sing the verses, it’s time for “A Writer’s Playground” to celebrate its second birthday.  But before the candles could be blown out or a slice of cake could be cut, my internal critic said, “Beware the Terrible Twos.”  I am choosing to ignore that warning.  Instead of fearing growing pains, I’ve decided to embrace the number “two” in a special way…

For my blog’s second birthday, I’m giving away a book about twin girls who share many things.  It’s an easy reader by Grace Lin called Ling and Ting Share a Birthday. 

The rules stated:  Register for the giveaway by posting the name of a book with twin characters or a book written or illustrated by a twin.  The birthday blog drawing will be May 22 (two twos) and the winner will be announced on or before the June 1 post.  

And the winner of this giveaway is….

Joan Y. Edwards

Congratulations, Joan.  I’m happy for you.  Your copy of Ling and Ting Share a Birthday will be coming to your house soon. 

Thanks to all who participated.  It was fun sharing my blog’s second birthday with you.

Copyright © 2014 Linda Martin Andersen

May Days and My Blog’s 2nd Birthday

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“May Days and My Blog’s 2nd Birthday” 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.

Blow the horns, sing the verses, it’s time for “A Writer’s Playground” to celebrate its second birthday.  But before the candles could be blown out or a slice of cake could be cut, my internal critic said, “Beware the Terrible Twos.”  I am choosing to ignore that warning.  Instead of fearing growing pains, I’ve decided to embrace the number “two” in a special way…

For my blog’s second birthday, I’m giving away a book about twin girls who share many things.  It’s an easy reader by Grace Lin called Ling and Ting Share a Birthday. 

Register for the giveaway by posting the name of a book with twin characters or a book written or illustrated by a twin.  The birthday blog drawing will be May 22 (two twos) and the winner will be announced on or before the June 1 post.  Thanks for celebrating A Writer’s Playground’s second birthday with me.

Other Things May bring…

ALS Awareness Month   (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis or Lou Gehrig’s Disease)  Who was Lou Gehrig?  Have you ever known someone with this disease?  What are some of the symptoms?  What is  the treatment?  Research to learn more.

American Wetlands Month  Where are wetlands in your area?  If none, research to learn about this ecosystem.  What wildlife lives there?   

Cystic Fibrosis Awareness Month Do you know a child or young person with this disease?  What are some of the symptoms?  What is the treatment?  What is the life expectancy?    Research to learn more. 

Fibromyalgia Education and Awareness Month  Do you know anyone with this disease?  What are some of the symptoms?  What is the treatment?  Research and tell someone what you learned. 

Get Caught Reading Month  What are you reading at this time?  Read something for pleasure.  Read a different genre.  Tell someone about a favorite.   

Melanoma/Skin Cancer Detection & Prevention Month  Have you ever known someone with this disease?  What are some of the symptoms?  What is the treatment?  Research to learn more.

Allergy/Asthma Awareness Month  Have you ever known someone with these diseases?  What is the difference between them?  Which is more serious?  Why?  What are the symptoms?  What is the treatment?   

National Inventors Month What does it mean to invent something?  What would you like to invent?  Research to learn inventions kids have made. 

(World) Lyme Disease Awareness Month  How do you contact Lyme disease?  Where might you get it?  What can you do to prevent it, if anything?  What are the symptoms of the disease?  What is the treatment? 

National Smile Month How many different ways can you smile?  Big smile, slight smile, showing teeth, showing no teeth, etc.  Try each one.  Ask someone to play along. 

National Stroke Awareness Month 6/16)  What is a stroke?  Do you know anyone who had one?  Did it cause any permanent damage?  Describe the damage.  What other damage can a stroke cause?  What are the signs that a person is having a stroke?  Research for more information. 

 

Special Weeks in May..

 Be Kind To Animals Week: 4-10 Do you have pets?  Brainstorm ways to be kind to them.  Place a check beside all the kind things you do. 

National Family Week: 4-10 How many are in your family?  Brainstorm things your family likes to do together.  What is one thing you could do from your list without spending any money?

National Post Card Week: 4-10 Have you ever sent someone a postcard?  Were you on vacation, at camp, or somewhere else?  Did the postcard arrive before or after you returned home?  Share a postcard memory with someone.

Teacher Appreciation Week: 4-10  Brainstorm a list of things students give teachers.  Write a poem naming at least three of these.  Write a note to your favorite teacher or share your poem.

National Transportation Week: 11-17 Name your most unusual mode of transportation.  Where were you going?  How did you get there?

National Etiquette Week: 12-16 Brainstorm etiquette rules used by families today.  What are some Victorian etiquette rules?  Which are more strict?  Tell why.

National Tourism Week: 12-17 What tourist locations would you suggest to someone visiting your town?  Have you been to them?  Which was your favorite and why?

National Stuttering Awareness Week: 13-19  Do you know someone who stutters?  Is this a child or an adult?  Research this disease, its symptoms, and how to treat it.

National New Friends, Old Friends Week: 18-24     Name old friends you have and name new friends made this year.  Where did you make new friends?  What did you do together?

National Backyard Games Week: 19-26 Do you and your friends play outdoor games?  Teach your friends games you know and ask them to teach you games they know.  Have a lot of fun playing outdoors.

Hurricane Preparedness Week: 25-31 Do you have hurricanes near where you live?  Do you know where you can get a hurricane tracking map?  Where can you get a list of emergency supplies to have on hand?

Special Days in May…

Mother Goose Day: 1 Who is your favorite Mother Goose character?  What is your favorite nursery rhyme?

International Space Day: 3  What space events have you seen?  Which ones would you liked to have participated in?  What space events do you think will happen in your lifetime?

National Two Different Colored Shoes Day: 3 What color shoes could you match for this day?  What do you wish you could wear? Why?

World Laughter Day: 4 Can you recognize someone’s laughter from another room?  Whose laughter do you recognize?  Can you recognize some actors’ laughter?  Whose?  How do you spell the sound of laughter in stories?  What other ways sound like laughter?

National Babysitters Day: 10 Have you ever had babysitters?  Can you name all of them?  What is your favorite game to play with a babysitter?  Do you have a favorite book you ask to have read? 

National Miniature Golf Day: 10 Do you know how to play miniature golf?  Do you have a favorite shot?  Describe it.

National Train Day: 10 What’s your favorite movie with a train, book with a train, song with a train?  Do you have a favorite train photo?  See steam trains in pen and ink by Tim Livingston at The Forester Artist blog:  http://theforesterartist.com/pen-and-ink/

National Windmill Day: 10 Do you know the name Don Quixote?  Why is he mentioned with windmills?  http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/donquixote/summary.html“

Do you know the meaning of “tilting at windmills?”  http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/tilting-at-windmills.html

Eat What You Want Day: 11  Make a list of what you’d like to eat today, if you could have anything.  Predict how you’d feel at the end of the day if you ate as much as you wanted of these foods?  Have you ever done something similar to this?  Tell about it.

Mother’s Day: 11 Do you buy your mom a card or make one for her?  Are there other traditions you do for this day?  Tell about one of them. 

Limerick Day: 12  What is a limerick?  Where can they be found?  Read a limerick and then read it to someone else.  Can you write a limerick of your own?

Frog Jumping Day: 13  Do you like to watch frogs jump?  Where can you do this?  Who can you get to join you?  Will you and your friend(s) jump too?

National Chocolate Chip Day: 15  Have you ever eaten white chocolate chips?  Which type chocolate do you prefer?  My son likes to make white chocolate chip pancakes with fresh strawberries.  Sweet!

Straw Hat Day: 15  What does a straw hat remind you of?  Do you have one?  Where have you worn it?

Bats Day: 16-18 How many words can you rhyme with “bats?”  How many words can you rhyme with “day.”  Research bats.  Make statements about bats.  Ask friends if they are facts or myths.  Be sure you can explain the answers. 

NASCAR Day: 16 Have you ever been to a NASCAR race?  A NASCAR museum?  Have you ever met one of the drivers, someone from the pit crew?  Research NASCAR.  Pass on trivia you learn.

International Museum Day: 18  Visit a nearby museum.  Ask about special events coming up.  Subscribe to the museum’s newsletter or mailings.  What are three things you learned on your last museum tour?  Tell someone else about them.  

International Jazz Day: 24  Research famous jazz musicians.  Name as many jazz musicians as you can.  Listen to jazz.  Read picture books about jazz.  Research the history of jazz. 

International Tiara Day: 24 Do you know anyone who won a tiara?  How?  Have you ever entered a contest that gave away tiaras?  Where might you see someone wear a tiara?  Name a book character who has a tiara.  How do you think it would feel to wear one in a parade? 

Morse Code Day: 24 Research Morse Code.  Send a message to someone.  Give them the code to translate their message.  Have them send you a message so you can translate it too.

Cookie Monster’s Birthday: 25  Research Cookie Monster.  How old is he?  Why do you think he loves cookies?  What food  are you crazy about?  What would you do for some?

National Tap Dance Day: 25 Name someone who is famous for tap dancing.  Watch an old movie, a You Tube video, or other information about tap dancing.  Do you know a child who takes lessons?  Have him or her share with you.

Memorial Day: 26  When is Memorial Day observed?  Why is it observed?  Who can you honor on this day?  Why? 

*Thank you Brownie Locks.com for May celebration information.  For more, check out: http://www.brownielocks.com/may.html

Let’s talk:  Choose one or more of the conversation starters above and leave a comment.  Don’t forget to enter the contest by naming a book by a twin author or illustrator or naming a book with twin characters.  Thank you for visiting “A Writer’s Playground.”  Please come again soon.  Bring a friend.

Children 13 years old or older may leave a comment.  Read more about the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act. (COPPA)  See:  http://www.coppa.org/coppa.htm

Copyright © 2014 Linda Martin Andersen

March Is…

“March Is…” 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:  March is…a noun and a verb.  Complete these statements:  March of __________.  March on __________.  What book titles can you name for these two open-ended statements?  What about spring book titles?  Favorite poems about spring?

Look below at what March brings.  Research, read, or do something this reminds you of.  For example, March is National Craft Month.  It’s a windy month and so I decide to make a kite.  Since it’s also National Kite Month, I’ll fly it when it’s finished.  Now, look at the list of special days and weeks in March.  Do something special to remember one or more of these.  I hope you’ll share your thoughts here.

March brings…

American Red Cross Month or Red Cross Month

National Craft Month

National Kite Month (3/29-5/3)

National March Into Literacy Month

National Nutrition Month

Poison Prevention Awareness Month

Sing With Your Child Month

Youth Art Month

Special Weeks in March…

National Cheerleading Week: 1-7

National Write A Letter of Appreciation Week: 1-7

National Pet Sitters Week: 2-8

National Severe Storm Preparedness Week: 2-8

National Words Matter Week: 2-8

National Rattlesnake Roundup: 7-9 (2nd Weekend)

Act Happy Week: 17-23 (Starts on 3rd Monday)

Wildlife Week: 17-23

World Folktales & Fables Week: 17-23

National Cherry Blossom Festival: 20-4/13

Tsunami Awareness Week: 23-29

Special Days in March…

World Compliment Day: 1

Dr. Seuss Day: 2

Princess Day: 3

Cereal Day: 7

World Day of Prayer: 7  (Always First Friday)

 National Day of Unplugging: 7-8 (First Friday)

Daylight Savings Time Begins: 9 (One hour ahead

*St. Patrick’s Day: 17

Poetry Day: 21

Make Up Your Own Holiday Day: 26

*Thank you Brownie Locks.com for March celebration information.  For more, check out: http://www.brownielocks.com/march.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.

Children 14 years old or older may leave a comment.  Thanks for adhering to the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act. (COPPA)  See:  http://www.coppa.org/coppa.htm

Copyright © 2014 Linda Martin Andersen

February–XXOO or XOXO and the Winner of a Giveaway

“February–XXOO or XOXO and the Winner of a Giveaway…” 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.

Announcing the Winner of Imagine That!:  Imagery Stories and Activities by Janis Silverman…

Congratulations, Diane Mentzer.  Please email your address to landersen74@yahoo.com.  Thanks to all who participated.

Think:  What does the word “February” bring to mind?  XXOO, XOXO, blowing kisses, Valentine’s cards, candy, and flowers, Cupid, Ground Hog Day, spring or winter weather, hearts,  lace, red, pink, chocolate, and love.  

Microsoft Clipart

Help me with this…

If X= Kiss and O=Hug–

What is XXOO?  Kiss, Kiss, Hug, Hug?

What is XOXO?   Kiss, Hug, Kiss, Hug?

Which do you write–XXOO or XOXO?  Do you say it’s hugs and kisses or kisses and hugs?

Which of these special dates deserve hugs and kisses or kisses and hugs?  Give them an “O.”  Give them an “X.” Give them XXOO or XOXO.  Share your favorites.  Tell why.

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Special Days in February…
Ice Cream For Breakfast Day: 1
Robinson Crusoe Day: 1
Take Your Child To The Library Day: 1 (First Saturday)
Groundhog Day: 2
Hedgehog Day: 2
Super Bowl XLVIII: 2
Popcorn Day: 2
World Play Your Ukulele Day: 2
World Wetlands Day: 2
Weatherman’s [Weatherperson’s] Day: 5
Western Monarch Day: 5
Ballet Day: 7
Boy Scout Anniversary Day: 8
National Stop Bullying Day: 9
Read in the Bathtub Day: 9
Don’t Cry Over Spilled Milk Day: 11
Get Out Your Guitar Day: 11
Make A Friend’s Day: 11
National Shut-in Visitation Day: 11
Extraterrestrial Visitor Day: 11  (2nd Tuesday)
Lincoln’s Birthday: 12
Paul Bunyan Day: 12 (Born Feb. 12, 1834 in Bangor, ME)
Ferris Wheel Day: 14
Frederick Douglass Day: 14
National Donor Day: 14
Valentines Day: 14
My Way Day: 17
Presidents Day: 17
Cow Milked While Flying In An Airplane Day: 18
Single Tasking Day: 19
Love Your Pet Day: 20
International Tongue Twister Day: 22
George Washington’s Birthday: 22
National Cupcake Day (Canada): 24
National Tooth Fairy Day: 28

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Special Weeks in February…

Children’s Authors & Illustrators Week: 2-8 (First Full Week)
International Networking Week: 3-7
International Friendship Week: 3-7
National School Counseling Week: 3-7
Winter Olympics: 7-16
Random Acts of Kindness Week: 9-15
                                               Great Backyard Bird Count: 14-17

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February brings…

American Heart Month

Bake for Family Fun Month

International Boost Self-Esteem Month

International Expect Success Month

Library Lovers Month

Love The Bus Month

National Bird Feeding Month

National Black History Month

National Children’s Dental Health Month

National Haiku Writing Month

Youth Leadership Month

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*Thank you Brownie Locks.com for February celebration information.  For more, check out: http://www.brownielocks.com/february.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.

I appreciate any children who visit this site, but if you are 14 or under, do not leave a comment. It’s against the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act. (COPPA)  See:  http://www.coppa.org/coppa.htm  Perhaps an adult would comment for you.

Copyright © 2014 Linda Martin Andersen

January 2014 Brings…

“January 2014 Brings…” 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 “January” bring to mind?  New Year’s resolutions, organizing, goal setting, cold weather, winter, all things snow.  Study drawings of snowflakes.  Remind yourself of your unique qualities and beauty.  

Microsoft Clip Art

Microsoft Clip Art

Microsoft Clip Art

Special Days in January…

• New Years Day: 1  What will you eat today?  Can you name foods that people eat in hopes of good luck?  Ask friends what traditions they follow for this day.
• Polar Bear Plunge or Swim Day:  1  This article states that Polar Bear plunges may be extra polar this year.  What does that mean?http://www.pressherald.com/news/NewYearspolarbearplungescouldbeextrapolarthisyear.html
• Do you know anyone who has ever participated in the Polar Bear Plunge?  Why?  What countries and what states in the US participate in this event?  
• Bean Day:  5  Do you eat dried beans?  Canned ones?  Frozen ones?  Have you ever picked beans in a garden or field?  Name a story with a bean(s) in it.  Make a list of every variety of bean you can name. Visit a grocery store.  How many more beans can you add to the list?  Consider trying one you’ve never tasted.
• Bubble Bath Day: 8 Name three things that make bubble baths fun.  When was the last time you had one?  Did you sing in the bathtub? 
• Learn Your Name in Morse Code Day: 11 http://www.brownielocks.com/learnyournameinmcday.html  Find library books about Morse Code.    Is Morse Code used any more?  Why or why not?
• Religious Freedom Day: 16 Name religious holidays.  Name different religions.  Select a street in your hometown.  How many places of worship are on this street?  Has there been any crime at one of these churches?  If so, tell about it.  Why do you think someone would target a church with violence?  What books can you find about this topic?
• Cable Car Day: 17  Have you ever ridden a cable car?  Where?  Name a book or movie with a cable car in it.
• Kid Inventors’ Day:  17  What invention would help you most at school?  What would you like to invent?
• Thesaurus Day: 18  What is a thesaurus?  Name three ways a thesaurus could help you with homework assignments.  What websites could you use?  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PeterMarkRoget
• Martin Luther King Day: 20   In Martin Luther King’s famous speech, he says, “I have a dream.”  What is “the dream?”  How can you do to help “the dream” come true?  
• Popcorn Day: 19 Popcorn is my favorite snack.  What’s yours?  Have you ever popped corn on the stove, in a popper, over a fire?  Ask your friends.  What favorite memory includes eating popcorn?
• Penguin Awareness Day: 20  Have you ever imagined that penguins were in your yard? I have.  What would you do if it were true?  Research penguin facts to make your tale more accurate, even though it’s fiction.  Check here:  http://www.insideseaworld.com/celebrate-penguin-awareness-day-seaworld-san-diego Tell your story to someone.  Enjoy being a story teller.
• Inauguration Day: 21 What does the word “inauguration” mean?  Will you watch it on television?  Pretend you are attending in person.  How would you get there?  Where would you sit/stand?  What would you wear?  Research and learn more about the day.
• National Hugging Day: 21 What is a “bear hug?”  What is a “tree hugger?”  Name a song, poem, story, or novel with a hug mentioned.  Who will you hug today?  Research the origin of this day:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Hug_Day
• National Compliment Day: 24  Do you thank the person who compliments you?  Name a compliment you gave recently.  Should a compliment be sincere?  Is there ever a time when it’s okay to give a “white lie?”
• National Seed Swap Day: 25 (Last Saturday)  What is a seed swap?  Where would you think a seed swap would be held?  Why would this be celebrated?  What type seeds do you imagine are swapped? Check here for one event:   http://mcg.metrocreativeconnection.com/publish/sections/calendar-details.php?National-Seed-Swap-Day-1078
• Auschwitz Liberation Day: 27 Link  What is Auschwitz famous for?  Have you read books on this topic?  Have you seen documentaries or visited museums with special exhibits on this topic?  Research to learn more.  Share what you learned with someone.
• National Kazoo Day: 28 Link  Have you ever played a kazoo at school, at home, or with a choir?  Read Green Eggs and Ham by Dr. Seuss and change the words to say where you will or will not play a kazoo.  Have fun.

 Special Weeks in January… 

• New Year’s Resolutions Week: 1-4  Do you make New Year’s Resolutions?  Do you have success keeping them?  If not, do you know anyone who makes resolutions and keeps them?  Ask them how they do it.
• National Vocation Awareness Week: 13-19  What jobs do you know of that didn’t exist ten years ago?  Make a list.  Do you know someone in this line of work?  Perhaps a Career Day could be planned for your class at school.  
• Bald Eagle Appreciation Days: 18-19  Where can bald eagles be found in the world?  Have you ever watched one on a webcam?  Here is a mother bald eagle on a nest in the snow.  http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/41377241/highlight/442450
• I know someone who set up a webcam to watch turkey vultures in a hollow of a tree.  Check here to see:
• http://thebackdoorartist.com/2013/04/22/turkey-vulture-shift-change/ 
• No Name Calling Week: 20-24 Do you have a brother or a sister?  Have you ever tried to go a whole day without calling each other names?  Were you successful?  If so, what helped?  Discuss this with others.  Share techniques that work.  
• National Cowboy Poetry Gathering Week: 27-2/1  Any idea how this week got started?  I can imagine cowboys sitting by the camp fire swapping tall tales, but not poetry.  What is “cowboy poetry?”  Check out David Harrison’s  cowboy poems.  Read an interview here:  http://poetryforchildren.blogspot.com/2012/04/5q-poet-interview-series-david-harrison.html
  
• US National Snow Sculpting Week: 29-2/8 Have you ever had someone forward you an email with snow sculptures?  Have you ever made a snow sculpture?  What was it?  Check this site for photographs:  http://www.squidoo.com/national-snow-sculpting-week
  

• January brings…

• Book Blitz Month  Ask everyone in your family to participate in “Book Blitz Month.”  Check out a stack of books each and read, read, read.  If one title is read by everyone in the family, you could hold a book club of your own this month.  
• Get Organized Month  After Christmas, many stores have sales on storage boxes and organizers.  Think what you’d like to organize.  I bought an inexpensive weekly planner for my writing projects.  I’m excited about trying things a little differently.
• National Soup Month  What if you try a different kind of soup this month?  I’ve heard of people who take labels off soup cans and choose one to eat.  Would you be a good sport and eat it no matter what it was?  Are you familiar with Andy Warhol’s soup can art?  See here:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Campbell%27s_Soup_Cans
• Here’s the Campbell’s Soup Company website:  http://www.campbellsoup.com/
• International Brain Teaser Month  What is a brain teaser?  There are many kinds.  My grandfather used to ask riddles that challenged my brain.  What type brain teasers have you tried?  Have you ever invited friends over for brain teaser games?  It might be fun on a cold winter day with no snow.  Here’s an article about creating crossword puzzles:  http://www.startribune.com/lifestyle/235734051.html
• International Creativity Month  Choose a January calendar date listed here and celebrate using your own choice of activities.  

*Thank you Brownie Locks.com for January celebration information.  For more, check out: http://www.brownielocks.com/january.htm 

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.

I appreciate any children who visit this site, but if you are 13 or under, you must not leave a comment. It’s against the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act. (COPPA)  See:  http://www.coppa.org/coppa.htm  Perhaps an adult would comment for you.

Copyright © 2014 Linda Martin Andersen

Show and Tell for All Ages…

“Show and Tell for All Ages…” 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.

Have you ever played “Show and Tell?”  It is a favorite in most lower elementary grades. “The Remaining Gift” by Starr Ayers is a devotion that shares a variation of this game.  What a lovely holiday tradition.  Check here:

http://christiandevotions.us/tag/starrayers/

Let’s talk:  What item could you bring for “Show and Tell” this year?  I’d share a stack of cards sent to my husband and me during his illness.  I’d say a big thank you to all who have sent prayers and best wishes our way.   

Thank You!

I encourage you to let this game impact your New Year’s Resolutions for 2014. Visualize the “Show and Tell” you’d like to share at the end of 2014.  Then set your goal(s).  What tangible object will remind you of your goal(s)?

Thank you for visiting “A Writer’s Playground.”  Please come again soon.  Bring a friend. I appreciate any children who visit this site, but if you are 13 or under, you must not leave a comment. It’s against the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act. (COPPA)  See:  http://www.coppa.org/coppa.htm 

Perhaps an adult would comment for you.

Copyright © 2013 Linda Martin Andersen

Haiku for You

“Haiku for You” by Linda Martin Andersen

  Welcome to “A Writer’s Playground”–A place to find wordplay, writing, and monthly calendar activities for kids and those young at heart.

On my December 1 blog post, I made these comments about National Haiku Poetry Day:  National Haiku Poetry Day:  22 What is a haiku poem?  What is the formula?  Where can you find this information?  Now that you know how write a haiku, pick a winter topic and write one of your own.

I love haiku poetry and so I invited some of my favorite haiku poets to discuss this art form, share their work, and inspire you to write your own.

It is my pleasure to present three guest poets.  Please join me in welcoming … Maureen Wartski, Joy Acey, and Robyn Black.  

Maureen will introduce us to the history and form of haiku, followed by haiku poetry about winter or Christmas.

Guest #1:  Maureen Wartski

Have you suddenly stopped  whatever you were doing because you saw or felt something that caught your attention and made you suddenly aware ? That awareness is  a ‘haiku moment,’ an instant when you want to somehow express your perception and share it with others. For example, a simple observation written by the great Basho many years ago allows us to feel and understand what the poet saw so many years ago:

 First snow

falling

On the half-finished bridge.

Basho

Haiku has its roots in Japan’s Heian period (700-1100) when a knowledge and appreciation of Chinese poetry was de rigeur in high society. Eventually, a poetic form called the tanka, a 5-7-5 triplet followed by a seven syllable couplet, took hold.  Nobles who sat around viewing cherry blossoms while drinking sake elaborated on the tanka, but by the mid sixteenth century ordinary folk developed a ‘peasant’ poetry that was truly Japanese. Called haikai, this ‘peasant’ poem consisted of a beginning triplet called hokku followed by a linked poem. Eventually in the 17^th  century, Basho shed the linked poem. The hokku, which needed a seasonal word and an ‘aha’ moment at the end became known as an independent poem called haiku.  

I have always enjoyed reading and writing haiku. When I was a little girl in Japan, I used to put together (very bad) haiku in my head. Later, I continued to enjoy the  sparse and elegant form of this poetic form. Short, quick, sometimes surprising, haiku goes to the heart of any experience. It paints a picture, offers an observation. And often the triplet of 5-7-5—or, occasionally 7-7-5 syllables stays in the heart or the mind for a long, long time.

As for the season word needed in a haiku, they needn’t be complicated. For winter, this can be as simple as ‘cold, cool, north wind, snow, sleet, etc. ’ or delve deeper with ‘withered garden, cough, frozen butterfly, holly berry, etc.’  I’ve used a lot of season words because I have been writing a haiku a day for some time, culling them at the end of the year into a work called ‘A Year of Haiku’. Here are a couple of winter poems from Volume Three, Echoes.

 Here are poems by Maureen Wartski:

Frostbitten flowers

Curl their petals inward

Guarding memories.

 ————————————-

Maybe up for rent…

Abandoned bird’s nest on that branch

Is covered with snow.

—————————————————- 

And the last one of the year, written on New Year’s Eve:

The year is ending

Memories of hours past

Are gentle echoes.

I invite you to visit Maureen’s blog where she shares life experiences through conversation, haiku, and art quilts.  Lovely!

http://maureenwartski.wordpress.com/2013/12/18/meeting-a-grateful-man/

 

 Guest #2:  Joy Acey

Since I will be in Kauai, Hawaii  for the holiday–

Cook Island pine trees

swish with tropical breezes

Mele Kalikimaka

The Cook Island pines are about the only pine tree one will see in the
islands.  They were brought to Hawaii when Captain Cook came to the
islands.  They are tall and quick growing.  Since the Captain sailed on
masted ships, it was thought the Cook Island pine would work for mast
replacement if the main mast got broken in a storm. In the last line,
the Hawaiian “Merry Christmas” is more than 5 syllables, but it is the
perfect way to end this haiku, so I bent the rules.

But I do live in the desert, so Christmas means artificial trees. (Live
trees have a hard time withstanding our heat.  They drop their needles
too quickly.)

stacking tumbleweeds

three high to spray with white paint

making a snowman

————————————-

round sweet naval orange

hangs heavily in the toe

of your Christmas sock

—————————————-

collected pennies

gone from the glass Mason jar

a happy Christmas

Every day, Joy Acey posts a poem for children at http://www.poetryforkidsjoy.blogspot.com/2013/12/smile.html It is one of my favorite places to visit.  She encourages children to write poetry too.  Joy shares a variety of poems.  Some are haiku.

 

Guest #3:  Robyn Hood Black

In a recent blog post, Robyn hosted Haiku Society of America President, David G. Lanouse.  He shared poems by Issa, haiku poet of Japanese tradition.  http://www.robynhoodblack.com/blog.htm?post=938974

blooming

with butterflies

the dead tree.

Issa

—————————————————-

Robyn shares some of her haiku below:

winter moon

branch lines crisscross

the grass

©Robyn Hood Black

———————————————————-

winter chill

turkey vultures circling

one of their own

©Robyn Hood Black, The Heron’s Nest, June 2012

———————————————————–

winter rain

the fine print

smaller each year

©Robyn Hood Black, Chrysanthemum, April 2012

I met Robyn at a poetry workshop for writers that she organized.  Thanks to Robyn, I have a poetic license, along with everyone else who attended.  How fun!

For more about Robyn, check these links.  http://www.robynhoodblack.com  Haiku Page Link:  http://www.robynhoodblack.com/haiku_113533.htm  Blog Link http://www.robynhoodblack.com/blog.htm (Check for a series completed on Dec. 20 called “We Haiku Here,” featuring speakers from the recent Haiku Society of America Southeast Region conference):  Twitter:  @artsyletters  Art blog:  artsyletters.com  Etsy store features her original gifts for readers and writers & “literary art with a vintage vibe”: https://www.etsy.com/shop/artsyletters

Maureen, Joy, and Robyn, thank you being guests here today and for sharing your poems. Happy National Haiku Poetry Day.  Thanks for making this day very special.  

Please leave a comment about one or more of the haiku poems above or share one of your own.  Thank you for visiting “A Writer’s Playground.”  Please come again soon.  Bring a friend.

I appreciate any children who visit this site, but you must be 14 or older to leave a comment according to Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act. (COPPA)  See:  http://www.coppa.org/coppa.htm  Perhaps an adult would comment for you.

Copyright © 2013 Linda Martin Andersen

 

Wrap up the Year with December Activities

“Wrap up the Year with December Activities” by Linda Martin Andersen

December 1, 2013

  Before we get started, I’d like to announce the winner of the “Mother Goose on the Loose” contest.  Thanks to all who participated.  And the winner is….Tracy Campbell.  Congratulations!  Your song book should arrive soon.

And now for December activities at “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 “December” bring to mind?

Christmas, Hanukkah, and Kwanzaa. What else?  Check the list here and choose an activity that wraps up the year and keeps the kids busy while out for the holidays.  

 Special Days in December:

• Civil Air Patrol Day:  1  Civil Air Patrol (CAP) was founded in 1941 to spot enemy submarines in WWII.  It is a volunteer patrol auxiliary for the US Air Force.  Today it provides inland search and rescue missions and promotes aerospace education for youth.  Where can you learn more?

• Rosa Parks Day:  1  Read a short biography about Rosa Parks.  Think of five or more trivia questions based on your reading.  Ask your parent/teacher/friend your trivia questions.  
  

• National Mutt Day:  2  Do you love dog books?  What’s a favorite story or book about a mutt?  Do you know this song?  “How Much is That Doggie in the Window?” by Patti Page http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2AkLE4X-bbU

• Special Education Day:  2  Do you know any students in special education classes?  How can you show them respect?  
  

• National Cookie Day:  4  What’s your favorite cookie?  Can you bake some?  Have you ever doubled a batch?  Have you ever been out of an ingredient and made a substitution? What are some common substitutions?  Can you find a list of substitutions in a cookbook or online?

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• World Wildlife Conservation Day:  4  What comes to mind when you hear wildlife conservation?  In what ways can you make a positive difference for wildlife?

• Bathtub Party Day:  5  Explain to each family member what day it is.  Do you have a rubber ducky at your house?  If so, use it in a bath.  Pass the rubber ducky along to other family members, even the adults.  After their baths, ask if anyone sang or played with the duck. Why do you think this might happen? 

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• Miners’ Day:  6  Ask your parents if they ever had a relative who worked in a coal mine?  Where?  Do they know any stories about working there?  If not, research coal mining.
  

• National Pawnbrokers Day:  6  Look in the yellow pages of a phone book.  How many pawn shops are listed?  Ask your parents if the number of pawn shops is on the rise or decline in your area.  Why do you think this could be true?  Discuss it with your parents.
  

• National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day:  7  Why is Pearl Harbor Day remembered?  What makes it different from other war battles?  
  

• National Cotton Candy Day:  7  What color cotton candy have you seen and eaten?  Would color would you order?  Why?  What does cotton candy cost in your area?  Where can you buy it?  What are the ingredients?  Is it a health food?  Why or why not?
  

• Pretend to Be a Time Traveler Day:  8  Name a movie where a character traveled in time. Which way would you like to travel in time–to the past or future?  Why?  What would you want to do when you arrived?  Which of your favorite foods do you think might be available?  Why?
  

• Dewey Decimal System Day:  10  What is the Dewey Decimal System?  Tell how things are different in libraries today than when there was a card catalog?  If you do not know, ask your parents.
  

• Human Rights Day:  10  Name a group of people who had their human rights taken from them.  Did they get them back?  If they did, how?  
  

• Gingerbread House Day:  12  Have you ever eaten gingerbread?  Was it cake, cookies, or a house?  Name things that might decorate a gingerbread house.  See how many items you can list in one minute.  

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• Monkey Day:  14  Pretend to have a pet monkey today.  What would you feed it?  How would you keep it safe?  Where would it sleep, etc.  Describe your day to someone.  

• Bill of Rights Day:  15  What is the Bill of Rights?  Name three places where you can read about it.  
  

• National Chocolate-covered Anything Day:  16  If you could spread chocolate on one thing that’s not normally chocolate, what would it be?  Who would you share it with?

• Wright Brothers Day:  17  If you were writing a book about the Wright Brothers, what title would you choose?  Research the Wright Brothers and create two more titles.  Now, which is your favorite?  Why?  
  

• International Migrants Day:  18  Ask your parents if anyone in your family has ever been a migrant worker.  What is a migrant worker?  

• Crossword Puzzle Day:  21  Do you like crossword puzzles?  Do you buy books to complete?  Create your own crossword puzzle about December or a special day this month.  Use www.puzzlemaker.com or other sites for your creation. 

• Humbug Day:  21  What does it mean to say, “Humbug?”  What book or movie character have you heard use this expression?  When have you been a humbug?  Why? 

• World Peace Day:  21 Research the reason for this day.  How is it remembered?  With ribbons? Candles in the window?

• National Haiku Poetry Day:  22  What is a haiku poem?  What is the formula?  Where can you find this information?  Now that you know how write a haiku, pick a winter topic and write one of your own.

• Christmas:  25  Why is this day celebrated by Christians?  What traditions, if any, do you participate in at this holiday? Do you exchange gifts?  Do you attend church services? 

• National Thank-you Note Day:  26  If you received gifts this holiday season,  will you send thank-you notes?  Will you design them yourself?  Will you email or send it through the postal service?

• Pledge of Allegiance Day:  28  Where do you hear this recited?  Who leads it?  What books have you read that mention the flag of a country?  What are ways countries honor their flags?

• Tick Tock Day:  29  What does this remind you of?  What songs, rhymes, animals, and things come to mind?  How do you think this day should be celebrated?  Name two words that rhyme and go along with this theme.  

• Make Up Your Mind Day:  31  What does it mean to be “sitting on the fence or straddling the fence?”  What can you do when you can’t make up your mind?

• New Years Eve:  31  Have you set any New Year’s resolutions?  Is there something you’d like to learn to do or an improvement you’d like to make?  Tell about it.

• No Interruptions Day:  31  Name one or more interruptions you could avoid today.  How will you do it?  At the end of the day, share with someone what you hoped to do and tell if it worked or not.  Explain why.
  

• Universal Hour of Peace Day:  31 Celebrated from 11:30 p.m. on December 31, 2013 to–12:30 a.m. January 1, 2014.  The goal is to create peace throughout the planet though peaceful thoughts and actions.  http://www.peacedome.org/UniversalPeaceCovenant/UniversalHourPeace/UHPStory.html
  

• World Peace Meditation Day: 31 What is mediation?  How is it different from prayer?  

Special Weeks in December:

• Cookie Cutter week:  1-7  Do you have a favorite cookie cutter?  Tie it to your Christmas tree. Consider making cookies to hang from your tree or simple paper designs such as stars and hearts.  

• Tolerance Week:  1-7 What does it mean to be tolerant?  What words come to mind when you hear this spoken?  Name positive examples of tolerance in your town, school, and home.  What improvements could be made?  What could you do?

• National Hand washing Awareness Week:  1-7  During cold and flu season, it is especially important to follow good hand washing.  How do you do that?  What steps do you need to improve?  Where can you learn more about this?

• Human Rights Week:  10-17  See the post below for Universal Human Rights Month. 

• Kwanzaa:  26–1/1  This holiday celebrates African-American and Pan-African communities.  The official website is here:  http://www.officialkwanzaawebsite.org/index.shtml

December is…

• Bingo’s Birthday Month  What is the history of this game?  What types of Bingo have you played?  Alphabet, multiplication, rhyming words?  Others?

• National Tie Month  Have you ever bought your father a tie for a gift?  Did he wear it?  Tell a tie story.  I have one:  Once a neighbor came to our front door and asked if my husband was home.  The neighbor was wearing a necktie around his neck.  He was going to a wedding later that day and did not know how to tie a necktie.  He had noticed that my husband wore ties to work.  My husband tied the man’s necktie so he could go to the wedding well dressed.

• Universal Human Rights Month  What are universal human rights?  How can you learn more about this? Please visit the United Nations website below to view the Universal Declaration of Human Rights which was adopted in 1948 following WWII.   

• http://www.un.org/en/documents/udhr

*Thank you Brownie Locks.com for December celebration information.  For more December observances check out:  http://www.brownielocks.com/DECEMBER2013.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.

I appreciate any children who visit this site, but if you are 14 or under, you must not leave a comment. It’s against the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act. (COPPA)  See:  http://www.coppa.org/coppa.htm  Perhaps an adult would comment for you.

Copyright © 2013 Linda Martin Andersen