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?

• 

• Microsoft Clip Art

• 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? 

• 

  Microsoft Clip Art

• 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.  

• 

  Microsoft Clip Art

• 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

Which Do You Predict? Spring Marches…or March Springs…?

“Which Do You Predict?  Spring Marches… or March Springs…?” 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 “March” bring to mind?  I think of Spring.  Combine the two and what do I get? Which do you predict for this year? 

Spring marches… or March springs… How would you complete each prompt?  If you add a few more words, what do you get?  Here’s one:  In March, bunnies spring into action–especially the Easter Bunny. 

Your turn.  Please leave your comments below. 

Most of us have heard this expression about March:   “In like a lion and out like a lamb.”  Or the reverse:  “In like a lamb and out like a lion.”  Back in February, we had an expression about weather based on a groundhog and his shadow.  More winter?  Early spring?  It seems we like “seeing both sides of a coin.”  And who knows what that expression means?

What will you celebrate in March?  There is much to choose from.  Enjoy.

Special Days in March:

World Day of Prayer:  1  What do you think this day is all about?  Name three ways you would consider celebrating it.  Which would you choose and why?  Discuss your ideas with your parents.  Please check the link below for Christian books for young children by Jill Roman Lord. 

http://www.jillromanlord.com/index.html 

Dr. Seuss Day:  2  What is your favorite Dr. Seuss book? What is your favorite part of the story?  Read a Dr. Seuss book to someone or with someone. 

Read Across America Day:  2:  Name two favorite books.  Pretend to place one in your right hand and one in your left.  Who would you pass each book to?  Ask the people you passed books to to tell who they’d pass to.  Keep the passing going until you have no more people to pass to.  Give a shout!   Your hands have passed reading part-way across America. 

International Tongue Twister Day:  2  Tongue Twister Contest:  Have a friend or parent locate tongue twisters in the joke section of the library.  Make two copies of the one chosen.  Type, if possible.  Do not let the contestants read the tongue twister in advance.  Team up against someone and see who can read it more quickly and accurately.  Try another tongue twister. If possible, find ones not commonly known.  Can you say the tongue twister three times without messing up?  Have a group try it at the same time.  Listen to the buzz in the room.

  

Namesake Day:  3  Do you know anyone named for someone else?  For example, I was named for my mom and her sister.  Does that make me the namesake of two people?  This is a good day to recognize the person you were named for.  Who do you wish you could have been named for?  Is the person living?  If so, let him/her know how you feel. 

National Grammar Day: 4  What is grammar?  Find a grammar rule in a book.  Break it on paper.  Have a friend do the same thing.  Exchange papers and see if you can correct each other’s grammar mistakes.

Toy Soldier Day:  4  Name places you have seen toy soldiers.  I have several toy soldier Christmas ornaments.  The Nutcracker ballet has toy soldiers.  Where have you seen toy soldiers? Did you know people who collect them? 

Name tag Day:  7 Where have you worn a name tag?  Here’s a silly game that you could play with people who might not know everyone’s name:  Everyone wears a name tag.  Some people make up names and write them on the tag.  Have you ever done this?  Here’s another name tag game.: Write a celebrity or cartoon character’s name on a sheet of paper.  Tape it to someone’s back.  The person wearing the tag must ask other players yes/no questions to try to discover the name on his/her back. 

Get Over It Day:  9  Some people may use this expression to tell someone to stop complaining or whining about something.  Make up your own expression for this or state one you’ve heard.  Here’s one I’ve heard:  “We all have our crosses to bear.”  Here’s one I made up:  “Hush mush!”

Genealogy Day:  9  Play Point the Finger Game (for good and bad traits):  Name physical traits you have.  Which relative has this too?  Name personal traits, skills, strengths and weaknesses.  Which relative has this too? 

Check Your Batteries Day:  10 Let this day remind you to check your toys and electronics with batteries.  What about your “batteries?”  Do you need to be energized?  Do you need to eat healthier, get more sleep, get more exercise, set goals, try something new, etc?

Johnny Appleseed Day:  11  Read Johnny Appleseed by Steven Kellogg.  What is one way you could spread something good?

Napping Day:  11  Do you have pets?  Do they nap during the day?  Do you?  Do you think you’re too old to nap?  If so, curl up with a good book and relax instead.

Girl Scout Birthday Day:  12  Do you know a  Girl Scout?  Do you eat Girl Scout cookies?  Learn something new about Girl Scouts today.  Share what you learned with someone.

Organize Your Home Office Day:  12  If you don’t have an office, clean out your desk, your book bag, your purse, your pockets, or your dresser drawers.  Did you find something you thought was lost?  Did you throw anything away?

Potato Chip Day: 14  Make a chart listing five or more flavors of potato chips.  Survey your friends.  Which is the most popular with your friends.  Consider adding another category–2nd choice flavor.  Enter those responses in a different color.  Talk about your results with your friends.  Consider having a Bring Your Own Chips (BYOC) party. 

National Quilting Day:  16  Are there any homemade quilts in your home?  Who made them?  Are they sewn by hand or machine stitched?  Research quilting bees.  What are some conversations that might have been discussed?  Have you ever been to a quilt show or seen a quilt auctioned?  Have you ever made a paper quilt with your classmates?  Meet Maureen Wartski on March 16 and learn about quilting, quilt art, and her art and writing.

                                                                        

St. Patrick’s Day:  17  Do you know the story of St. Patrick?  Why do we wear green?  Have you ever been pinched for not wearing it?  At one school I know, a staff member hands out paper cutouts of shamrocks to anyone who forgot to wear green.  What a kind person.  Do you have a special St. Patrick’s Day memory? 

Corn Dog Day:  20  Do you eat corn dogs?  Do you prefer hot dogs or corn dogs?  Where have you eaten a corn dog?  I know there are hot dog eating contests.  Are there corn dog eating contests?   Research and see what you learn about their history,  nutrition, etc. 

National Common Courtesy Day: 21  What is an example of a common courtesy?  Make a list of the ones you have shown this week.  What is the one that seemed most appreciated?  Why do you think so?  What is Women’s Lib?  Research and then tell how you think it has changed some custody traditions. 

International Day of the Seal:  22  Why do you think this day is celebrated?  Find images of seals.  Find locations on a world map or globe where these live.  Public libraries usually have good databases for children, if you would like to search for more information.  These can be viewed online.  What does “seal of approval” mean?  Do you know the gesture for showing approval called “seal of approval?”  Maybe your teacher has led you to clap this way.

International Goof-off Day:  22  It’s okay to goof-off some, but if you do it too much you may get the nickname of “goof-off.”  What does that mean?  What do you like to do when you get a chance to goof off?  Ask your friends for their favorite ways to goof off.  Name a favorite goof-off character on a television show, book, cartoon.  Tell why you call him a goof-off.  Do you think the character would agree with you or argue about the name?  Why?

National Puppy Day:  23  What’s more fun than a barrel of monkeys?  A litter of puppies.  Have you ever held a tiny puppy?  What about a baby kitten?  Have you ever gotten to name a puppy.  Please comment about a favorite baby pet memory.

World Tuberculosis Day:  24  What is tuberculosis?  Have you ever been tested for it.  It is often called TB.  Visit here again on March 24 to learn more about TB and about Shannon Hitchcock’s book, The Ballad of Jessie Pearl.  There’s even a book giveaway.

National Medal of Honor Day:  25  Do you know someone who earned a National Medal of Honor?  Is this someone you can interview with your parents?  Make a list of questions to ask.  Research the war the service person fought in and locate information about why this medal is awarded.  This is called “doing your homework.”  What do you think that means?

Passover:  25  Who celebrates this holiday?  Why?  Where can you read more about this holiday?  Research and learn about the traditional meal served.

Good Friday:  29  Who celebrates this holiday?  Why?

National Day of Unplugging:  29-30  Would you be willing to unplug devices you use for one day?  Two?  More?  No batteries either.  What would be hardest to give up?

Doctors Day:  30  Hooray for doctors!  What type do you visit?  pediatrician?  Specialist?  What field interests you?  What diseases does a doctor in that field treat?  Have you ever owned a toy doctor’s bag?  A stethoscope? 

Easter:  31  Who celebrates this holiday?  Why?

Special Weeks in March:

Severe Weather Preparedness Week:  3-9  What severe weather do you have in your area this time of year?  Do you chart hurricanes?  Do you have a special kit prepared in case of a storm?  What should be in it?  Do you know the closest emergency shelter?  Do you know the evacuation route, if one is designated in your area?  Where can you learn this and more?

Celebrate Your Name Week:  3-9  Name three ways to celebrate your name.  Why not fill a whole page with your name, like punishment writing for breaking rules?  This time give it a positive spin.  Send the full page to your mom and dad and thank them for giving you this name.  If you’d like to add some humor, thank them for not naming you________, ________, or ___________.  Select silly names like characters from cartoons or comedy programs.  You could fill an entire page with these names if you’d like.  Have fun with it.

National Schools Social Work Week:  3-9  Does your school have a School Social Worker?  She/he may serve more than one school.  Do you know?  What are some duties of a School Social Worker?  If you don’t know, how can you find out?  When I think of a School Social Worker, I think of abuse prevention, homeless programs, and eyeglasses for needy students.  What about you?

National Words Matter Week:  3-9  What words matter to you?  Name a few.  Make a list of encouraging messages you share.  Examples:  You can do it.  I believe in you, etc.  Keep up the positive messaging.  Maybe it will catch on like text messaging.  Wouldn’t that be great?

Women in Construction Week:  3-9  My mom loves doing construction work.  She volunteers to go on mission trips with church to Haiti and other locations.  She has helped paint and build church pews there.  I know two women who are electricians.  Who do you know in construction work who is a  woman?  Look for women in construction work around town.  Do you think you’d like doing construction work?  What kind? 

National School Breakfast Week:  4-8  Do you usually eat school breakfast?  Why or why not?  What is your favorite school breakfast?  Select a creative name for a food item on the menu.  Ask your friends to try.  Vote for the best menu item. 

American Crossword Puzzle Weekend:  8-10  Do you work crossword puzzles?  Word searches?  Do you buy books of puzzles and  word searches?  Do you make up puzzles of your own?  Try using www.puzzlemaker.com

Sherlock Holmes Weekend:  15-17  Who was Sherlock Holmes?  Was he real or myth?  Why is he well known?  Do you like a good mystery?  Why not challenge everyone you know to read a mystery this special weekend?  You could either read the same title or choose different authors to learn about.  Share your opinion with others. 

Flood Awareness Week:  18-22  Have major floods occurred in your area?  Were you living?  Are there photographs and articles you can read?  Does your local public library have records?  Does your local newspaper have a library?  After researching, write about something that stood out for you. 

Wildlife Week:  18-24  Do you like observing wildlife in your yard, at the zoo, at a petting farm, at a museum, at the fair?  Are there other locations where you’ve seen wildlife?  Have you seen wildlife in bodies of water, in the air, or in the forest?  Tell about a time you saw wildlife and it startled you.  Share a favorite wildlife story. 

World Folktales and Fables Week:  18-24  Pick a couple of fables or folktales to tell.  Gather friends together and take turns sharing stories.  What name do you think of when you hear fables?  Aesop?  Do you have a favorite?  What is its moral?

Tsunami Awareness Week:  24-30  What is a tsunami?  Are they present in the area where you live?  What things can you do to be prepared in case of a storm?  Name some famous tsunamis and statistics from the storm.  Do you know a movie with a tsunami in the story?  Do you know anyone who survived a tsunami?  Where did he/she find shelter?

National Week of the Ocean:  31-4/6  How far from the ocean do you live?  Have you ever visited the ocean?  If you have, what is your favorite thing to do there?  If you have never been, what would you like to do when you do go?  If you can’t get to the beach this week, what can you do to pretend that you are there?  Maybe you could create a sandbox for the week in a dishpan or in the yard.  Play with sand toys.  What ideas do you have?

March is…

American Red Cross Month or Red Cross Month  Research to learn the history and mission of the Red Cross.  Name a movie with a Red Cross vehicle.  Name a disaster where the Red Cross helped.   What type things did they do?

Brain Injury Awareness Month  Name a safety measure you can take  when you’re playing or exercising to help prevent a brain injury.

Deaf History Month  Locate a school for the deaf.  Find its location on a city map, a state map, a world map, or a globe.  Name a book or television program, or movie with a deaf character.

Music in Our Schools Month  Name one way music makes a difference in schools.  Celebrate by making a musical instrument.  Send your music teacher a card.  Teach someone a song.  Put in extra practice on your musical instrument.  Study a composer.  Listen to silly songs.  Change the words to the song just for fun.  Make beautiful music.

National Cheerleading Safety Month  What are some safety measures used by cheerleading squads today?  What is your favorite cheer?  Lead a cheer.  Teach it to someone.

National Craft Month  What crafts do you enjoy?  What craft item have you made and given as a gift?  Which project did you especially enjoy?  What is an inexpensive craft project you would recommend?  Tell why.  Have you ever entered a craft contest, like building a Gingerbread House contest?  Tell about it.

National Kite Month  Have you ever flown a kite?  Did you tie tails to your kite?  What is their purpose?  What book character do you think of with a kite? What cartoon character? Have you ever made your own kite?  Have you ever been to a kite flying contest?  What does this expression mean?  “Go fly a kite?”

National Nutrition Month  What are three things you’d like to learn about nutrition?  Research them.  Share what you learned with someone.  Research with your parents to learn if the food pyramid has changed since they were born.  

National Peanut Month  George Washington Carver studied peanuts.  Research and describe two or more of his findings.  Look for book titles such as this series on scientists:  Smart About George Washington Carver, the Peanut Wizard written by Laura Driscoll and illustrated by Till Weber.

National Umbrella Month  Andy Rooney did a special on umbrellas for 60 Minutes television program on Jan. 13, 2008.  I hope you enjoy this video.  http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=3706677n  What type umbrella do you prefer?

National Women’s History Month  Is there a display for National Women’s History Month  in your local public library or your school?  If not, ask a librarian for recommended titles.  Make a list of famous women  in history and ask friends for other names.  Research one or more this month.  Make a chart listing women in history and the reason known.  Which woman inspires you and why?  Read about her.

Optimism Month  What is optimism?  Look up its definition.  Survey your friends and family to see what they say optimism is and how you get it.  What do you agree with?  What do you disagree with?  Write about it.  What will you do differently to be more optimistic?

Poison Prevention Month  ****Super Important:  Discuss this one with a parent.  What safety measures do you take at your house for poison control?  What can be improved?  Make a plan.  Carry it out with adult assistance.  http://www.aapcc.org/

Youth Art Month  Art is a beautiful way to tell a story.  What do you like to draw?  What can you teach someone else to draw?  What can you learn from him/her?  Do you like to study about artists?  Do you like to check out drawing books?   Spend quality time on an art project just for fun.  Create a card for your art teacher.

*Thank you Brownie Locks.com for March celebration information.  For more March observances 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. 

Coming March 16:  A guest blog about quilting by Maureen Wartski, author of Yuri’s Brush with Magic.   

Coming March 24:  A guest blog about tuberculosis by Shannon Hitchcock, author of The Ballad of Jessie Pearl. 

Copyright © 2013 Linda Martin Andersen

December 2012 Activities

“December 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 “December” bring to mind?

Pearl Harbor Day, Hanukkah, Christmas, and Kwanzaa. What else happens in December?  Choose one of the conversation starters below and leave a comment.

 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 auxillary 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  How can you celebrate this day?  What can you do for someone else today?  Research facts about Rosa Parks.  Consider reading a biography about her. 

• National Mutt Day:  2  What kind of animal is sometimes called a mutt?  What does it mean to be a mutt?  Some people claim mutts make the best pets. What do you think?

• Special Education Day:  2  Do you know any students in special education classes?  If so, do any of them attend your school?  Are they mainstreamed?  What does that mean?

• Bathtub Party Day:  5  Before planning Bathtub Party Day, get permission from your parent(s).   Would you fill the tub with water?  Would you sit in the tub?   Who would be invited?  What activities would you do at the party?  Would you have a rubber ducky race?

• Miners’ Day:  6  What natural resource(s) is mined?  Why is it used? Research the location of coal mines.  Find photographs.  Read about the dangers of working in mines. 

• National Pawnbrokers Day:  6  What is a pawnbroker?  What does it mean to pawn something?  Have you  ever been to a pawn shop? 

• National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day:  7  What happened at Pearl Harbor?  Where is Pearl Harbor?  Which war was this?  Why was the attack a surprise?

• National Cotton Candy Day:  7  Have you  ever watched cotton candy being made?  What ingredients are used?  What color cotton candy have you seen?  If you got a choice between cotton candy and a candied apple, which would you choose?  Where can you usually find both of these treats?  Where else have you seen cotton candy?

• Pretend to Be a Time Traveler Day:  8  If you could travel to another time, what year would you visit?  Why?  Where would you like to visit?  Why?  Draw a picture of you visiting this time and place.

• Dewey Decimal System Day:  10  What is the Dewey Decimal System ?  How is it used and where?  What is the card catalog?  What is used now instead?

• Human Rights Day:  10  What are human rights?  Name one.  Why is this day celebrated?  Name two or more people who have helped guarantee human rights.  How?  Where can you learn more about these people?

• Gingerbread House Day:  12  Cities often have contests for gingerbread houses in December.  Some may be in craft shops, art displays, public libraries, or schools.  Have you ever been to a gingerbread house contest?  Have you ever entered one yourself?  Name two decorating techniques you would use if you were decorating.

• Monkey Day:  14  Use Survey Monkey on the computer or conduct a survey by hand.  Ask your friends if they ever had a stuffed monkey.  What was the monkey’s name?  Was the monkey a sock monkey, Curious George, a monkey given a name, or not given one?

  Finish these expressions about monkeys:  (Stop) monkeying _______.  Monkey see, monkey _______.  Stop all that monkey _______(opposite of pleasure).  Playground equipment:  monkey _______.

• National Salesperson Day:  14 (always 2nd Friday)  Years ago, there were many door-to-door salesmen.  What were some of the items these individuals sold?  Why are there less door-to-door salespersons today?  What other ways are company products sold?  Have you ever sold items?  What method did you use?  How did you keep safe?

• Bill of Rights Day:  15  For videos and even activities for a smartboard, check out this site:  http://billofrightsinstitute.org/resources/educator-resources/bill-of-rights-day/

• 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  What two states claim the Wright Brothers?  What state were the Wright Brothers from?  Where was their first flight made?  Have you ever read a book about the Wright Brothers?  Have you read other books about early flight?  Were they fiction or nonfiction?

• 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? 

• Underdog Day:  21 (3rd Friday)  Underdog!  TV Program.  Have you ever seen it?  What is an “underdog?”  Do you ever cheer for one?  Give an example.

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

• Christmas:  25  Why is this day celebrated by Christians?  What traditions do you participate in at this holiday? Do you exchange gifts with anyone?  Do you make some of your gifts?  Where do you get your ideas?

• National Thank-you Note Day:  26  Who do you want to send a thank you note?  Could you make one yourself?  Will you email or send it through the post office?

• National Whiner’s Day:  26  Define a whiner.  Make a list of things a small child, a teenager, and an adult  might whine about during a day.  For example:  I didn’t get _______(list a popular toy that might have been requested).  How would you suggest that a whiner get over it?

• National Chocolate Day:  28 &29  Check out this website  www.thestoryofchocolate.com.  Learn facts like this…”Did you know?  It takes two-four days to make a single-serving chocolate bar?”

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

• Make Up Your Mind Day:  31  What does it mean to be “sitting on the fence or straddling the fence?”  What does decisive mean?  Explain pro, con, neutral.  What are goals you have set?  What can you do when you can’t make up your mind?

• No Interruptions Day:  31  List things that interrupt you when you are trying to concentrate.  What can you do to lessen these interruptions?  List your ideas.  Ask others for suggestions, if needed.  Try your strategies.  Are you able to complete more in less time? 

• Universal Hour of Peace Day:  31 Celebrated from 11:30 p.m. on December 31, 2012 to–12:30 a.m. January 1, 2013.  The goal is to create peace throughout the planet though peaceful thoughts and actions.  http://www.answers.com/topic/universal-hour-of-peace

• World Peace Meditation Day: 31 What is mediation?  How is it different from prayer?  How is it different from devotions?  Where is meditations used?  By whom?  Name a way to connect the Univeral Hour of Peace Day with this observation. 

Special Weeks in December:

• Cookie Cutter week:  1-7  What personal memories do you have that include a cookie cutter?  What books?  What can you create using this theme?  Cookie cutters make special sandwich cut-outs, provide a chance to bake and share your treats, become ornaments for your Christmas tree, create a special holiday display (see mine below), and provide writing prompts about a baking experience.  What creativity will it stir in you?  Here’s a twist–sometimes the expression “cookie cutter” is used to suggest that something is not creative.  Have you ever heard someone use it like this?  See here: 

• http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/cookie-cutter.html

  

  Cookie Press, biscuit cutters, cookie cutters. Copyright 2012 Linda Andersen

• 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?

• Recipe Greetings For the Holidays Week:  2-8  Share a treat and its recipe with someone.  Create a recipe for friendship, love, the Christmas season or other topic. 

• National Handwashing Awareness Week:  2-8  During cold and flu season, it is especially important to follow good handwashing.  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…

• Universal Human Rights Month  What are universal human rights?  How can you learn more about this?  How do you honor the rights of others?  How do others honor your rights? 

• 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/

• An explanation of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights has been created for children.  See here:  http://www.youthforhumanrights.org/what-are-human-rights/universal-declaration-of-human-rights/articles-1-15.html

• A list of books on this topic are provided here:  http://www.randomhouse.com/teachers/2012/01/universal-human-rights-month/

*Thank you Brownie Locks.com for December celebration information.  For more December observances check out:

http://www.brownielocks.com/DECEMBER2012.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/DECEMBER2012.html (observances)

Copyright © 2012 Linda Martin Andersen