Dear Diary, How Can I Prove It?

“Dear Diary, How Can I Prove It…” 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.

September 22, 2013 is “Dear Diary Day.” 

Do you keep a diary?  Have you ever?  Does your diary have a key so that you can lock away your thoughts?  Perhaps you keep a journal instead.   I’m not all together sure how they’re different.  What would you say?

Dear Diary (Age 11)

When I was eleven, I went with my grandparents on a vacation road trip.  We traveled from North Carolina to Canada, where my grandfather attended an insurance conference, and then we traveled on to California to visit my aunt, uncle, and new baby cousin.  We stopped at national parks along the way there and back.  I was very fortunate to see lots of great sites.  I recorded some notes along the way, thanks to my grandmother’s encouragement.  She bought a diary for the two of us.  I found it interesting how different our entries were.  She started out with a description of the weather.  Not me.  I didn’t care if it was 96 and clear.  It was summer.  It was supposed to be hot and sunny. 

Books About Diaries

I enjoy reading books that contain diary entries.  How about you?  When I was a child, The Diary of Anne Frank was one of my favorites.  Today, I still enjoy diary entries, even ones about a worm (The Diary of a Worm).   It’s fun to see the world from different points of view, like in The Diary of a Wimpy Kid.  Maybe I’ll check out The Vampire Diaries next.  What about you?

Dear Diary (Age–Many Candles),

How can I prove it?… 

I left a comment on a friend’s blog today.  Before I could sign off, I had to type in a code–a group of letters and numbers to prove that I am not a robot.  I knew it had been a while since I visited this blog, but what made the site suspicious that I might be a robot?  Another friend’s blog still requires me to prove that I’m not a robot, even though I visit nearly every day.  Can’t the site recognize me by now?  I’m not wearing a disguise.  How would you like it if a friend asked you to prove who you were each time you met?  And how would typing a few letters and numbers prove your identity?  Can’t robots type?  Hmmm…

Have you ever had someone stand you down, look you in the eye, and command, “Prove it!”  Did they ask you to type letters and numbers to prove yourself?  To prove your identity?  Probably not.

Signing off,

999xyzLMNOP (Today’s proof of who I am)

Try a One Liner

Don’t want to write a diary entry?  Try a one liner.  What is a one liner?  Check here:  http://www.thefreedictionary.com/one-liner  Write a one liner you might read in someone’s personal diary or a book written as a diary.  For example:  The Diary of Anne Frank–“I feel like screaming!”  or “The walls are closing in on me.”  One liner for The Diary of a Worm–“I’ve got some dirt to share with you.” (pun). 

 What word creates a pun in the example above?  “Dirt.”  What makes it a pun?  Check the definition of a pun here:  http://www.thefreedictionary.com/pun  Do you like to write puns?  I do.   It’s a type of word play and I like playing with words.  Some people enjoy pun humor.  Others roll their eyes when they hear them.  Which is true for you?

Write a diary entry today, a letter, a poem, a comment below.   If you like to write…Prove it!

Thanks for visiting “A Writer’s Playground.” Come again soon.  Bring a friend.

Copyright © 2013 Linda Martin Andersen

September Activities–This Month’s Calendar Events

“September Activities–This Month’s Calendar Events“ 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 “September” bring to mind?  The start of another school year.  Thoughts of Fall.  Summer coming to an end.  What about those back-to-school writing assignments:  What I Did Over Summer Vacation. 

I recently read Chicken Boy by Frances O’Roark Dowell, which I won by commenting on Carol Baldwin’s blog. http://carolbaldwinblog.blogspot.com/ In the book, Tobin McCauley, has a writing assignment–to write an autobiography.  He turns it in late and it isn’t typed, but he does complete the assignment.  Where is this leading?  I decided to be like Tobin.  I’d post this month’s activities, even though they are a few days late.  Tobin had “one grade dropped due to lateness.”  That only seemed fair.  So readers, I’ll understand if you feel the need to do the same.  I hope you’ll take the time to check out Chicken Boy and Frances O’Roark Dowell, the author.

http://www.francesdowell.com/biography/     Just for fun, check out “Chicken Boy–The Statue of Liberty of Los Angeles.”http://www.chickenboy.com/

Special Days in August:

• National No Rhyme (Nor Reason) Day: 1 What does it mean to say, “There was no rhyme nor reason for it?” Have you ever said this? Do you remember what was happening?
• Labor Day: 2 Why do we celebrate this day? Name three types of labor you do.
• National Lazy Mom’s Day: 6 What would Mom really like to do but won’t? Tell her about this holiday and ask how she’d like to celebrate “being lazy.” Can you help make it happen?
• Grandma Moses Day: 7 Who was Grandma Moses? Why is she famous? How is she like your grandma? How is she different?
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x5rkcPJUk14
• International Drive Your Studebaker Day: 8 What is a Studebaker? Research “Studebaker.” What did you learn? Why do you think this is a recognized holiday? How would you suggest celebrating?  http://www.studebakermuseum.org/p/about/history/
• http://www.studebakerhistory.com/dnn/Advertising/tabid/56/Default.aspx (advertising)
• International Literacy Day: 8 What does your hometown do to promote literacy? Is there a walk for literacy? Is there a charity that would like gently-used children’s books? What other things could be done?
• National Grandparent’s Day: 8 Do you have grandparents you can honor today? If not, do you have another family member you’d like to recognize in some kind way? Perhaps you could do something unexpected like sending a care package, if your parents give permission. Give something you helped grow or make.
• Swap Ideas Day: 10 Fall is right around the corner. What ideas do you have for celebrating? Swap ideas with someone. Have fun!
• Odd Day: 11 Find books  with “odd” in the title. One suggestion: Odd Velvet by Mary E. Whitcomb

• Patriot Day: 11 What is a patriot? In what war did Patriots fight in America? Look for books about this topic. http://www.timeanddate.com/holidays/us/patriot-day  Patriot Day is now set aside to remember the terrorist attack on 911. 
• Remember Freedom Day: 11 What does “freedom” mean to you? Use the letters in “freedom” to write an acrostic poem. For example: F—founders of a new country, R–…
• Video Games Day: 12 What is your favorite video game? Do you earn points or advance to higher levels? Do you have a strategy tip you could share?
• Blame Someone Else Day: 13 Who gets blamed at your house? Do you?  How do you handle getting blamed? Do you blame someone else? What works best?
• Kids Take Over the Kitchen Day: 13 What is your favorite thing to cook? What could you cook today? Who could help you?  What do you cook well?  What would you like to learn to cook?  Check out cookbooks for kids. 
• Ronald Dahl Day: 13 When I hear this author’s name, I think:  Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.  James and the Giant Peach.  Have you read books by Ronald Dahl? Why not read another one. If you haven’t read any, ask someone who for a recommendation. What could you do to celebrate this day?http://www.biography.com/people/roald-dahl-9264648
• Stand Up to Cancer Day: 13 What do you think it means to “stand up to cancer?” What things do you stand up to? What do you stand up for? How do you decide?
• Felt Hat Day: 15 What is felt? What type hats are made of felt? Research and see. What else is made of felt? Have you ever seen a felt board? What is it used for?http://www.gone-ta-pott.com/national_felt_hat_day.html
• Mayflower Day: 16 What is your best guess for selecting the name “Mayflower.” What would you have suggested, if asked? What do you think of when you hear “Mayflower?”
• National Respect Day: 18 What does “respect” mean to you?  Make a chart of people, places, and things you respect. How do you show respect for each one? Do you think it’s possible to respect someone you do not like? Why or why not?
• Talk Like a Pirate Day: 19 Ayyy, Matey.  Make a list of pirate talk.  Include special vocabulary. Now, can you imitate a pirate without using pirate words? For example: Do not tell someone to walk the plank. See if anyone can guess that you’re “being a pirate.”
• World’s Alzheimer’s Day: 21 What are some of the symptoms of Alzheimer’s? Look for statistics about alzheimer’s. Research ways to care for people with this disease. Find out about current medical treatments.http://www.alz.org/alzheimers_disease_1973.asp
• Dear Diary Day: 22 If you wanted to tell someone about your day, who would it be? What if that person isn’t available? Write your thoughts and address them to “Dear Diary.” The next day, try doing the same thing. Perhaps you’ll continue to keep a diary.
• Ice Cream Cone Day: 22 Treat yourself to an ice cream cone today. Treat someone else if you can. Ask friends to meet for an ice cream cone. Tell them it’s “Dutch Treat.” If you or your friends don’t know the meaning of “Dutch Treat,” research the term.
• National Good Neighbor Day: 28 What are some ways your neighbors help you or others in your family? What are some ways you can help your neighbors? (children—check with your parents first)
• National Museum Day: 28 How many museums can you name in your area? Select another state and research museums there. Which would you recommend? What is a House Museum? Which ones have you visited?
• R.E.A.D. in America Day: 28 Who can you read to today? A friend, a parent, your dog? Choose a new book to read or finish one you have begun. What is your favorite: humor, mystery, adventure, poetry, science fiction, nonfiction, or other? Recommend a good book to someone. http://www.nea.org/grants/886.htm

Special Weeks:

• National Nutrition Week: 1-7 In honor of this week, check each of your meals and snacks before eating. Is there something you could substitute that would be healthier? What healthy habit could you add?
• Pollution Prevention Week: 15-21 What are some ways to prevent pollution? What pollution prevention habits do you follow? Create a poster that encourages pollution prevention. Where can you display it?  What books have you read that encourage responsible care of the environment?  Ask friends what they have read.
• Constitution Week: 17-23 Where can you see a copy of the Constitution? Where can you find information about its meaning? How can you celebrate this week? Who will you celebrate with?
• Deaf Awareness Week: 22-29 Have you ever met an interpreter? Have you been in class with a deaf student? Research schools for the deaf. Locate information about sign language. Learn to sign letters or words. Share what you learn with someone.
• National Dog Week: 22-28 Do you own a dog? Who do you know that does? Ask your parents if you may plan a dog parade with neighbors or friends. Write a dog story. Ask friends to share pictures of their dogs and tell their favorite dog stories. Share your own stories.
• National Keep Kids Creative Week: 22-28 What do you enjoy creating? Try creating with three of something: Find three or more disposable items and create something. Or find three full page glossy magazine pictures. Cut them in strips. Create a mural. Create something else using threes.
• Sea Otter Awareness Week: 22-28 Have you ever seen a sea otter? A river otter? How are they alike? How are they different? What books can you find about otters?  In September 2012, I spotlighted a book by Laurie Keller called Do Unto Otters–A Book About Manners.  Check here:  https://lindamartinandersen.wordpress.com/wp-admin/post.php?post=1140&action=edit
•  Chimney Safety Week: 30—10/6 Research chimney safety. What occupation shares safety tips on this topic? Does your home have a chimney? How do you make sure it is safe? What is a chimney sweep? What video or movie includes a chimney sweep?

September is…

• Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Month Do you know anyone with ADHD or ADD (without hyperactivity)? Research symptoms. How do you think this disorder would interfere with school assignments, friendships, and family time? Which disorder do you think would be easier to live with and why?
• Backpack Safety America Month Read backpack safety tips. Check your backpack. Do you need to make changes? What are other safety tips for a new school year?
• Be Kind to Editors & Writers Month Who is an editor or writer you know? Share kindness with one by sending a card or comment by email (with parent permission). Recommend a favorite book to a friend. That is a kindness an editor and/or writer would appreciate.
• Children’s Good Manners Month Who or what taught you good manners? Good books? Recommend one. Who taught you to hold a door, say please and thank you, share, etc? Thank that person today.
• Fall Hat Month If you were a hat designer, what would you create for Fall? Write up a description or draw a design.  Check out Twelve Hats for Lena by Karen Katz or other hat books.  See the author’s website here:  http://www.karenkatz.com/picturebook.html
• 
• International or National Guide Dogs Month Have you ever seen someone come into a public place with a guide dog? Name two or more reasons why the person might have one? What are some rules to remember if you see someone with a guide dog? Research guide dogs and their training.
• Library Card Sign-up Month Do you have a public library card? If not, ask your parent if you can sign up for one. How many books do you check out on average? Ask your friends if they have library cards. If not, encourage them to sign up for one.
• National Honey Month What do you eat honey on? Have you ever taken a spoonful of honey when you had a cold? What type honey do you find on grocery shelves? Do you know a beekeeper? Have you ever seen honey gathered? Is there a place to watch it being gathered in your area? Research to learn more about bees, bee hives, queen bees, worker bees, beekeepers, etc.
• National Rice Month What is a rice paddy? Have you ever seen one? Where can they be found in the world? Look at a rice display in a grocery store. What varieties do you see? Which is your favorite? Have you ever cooked rice? What is meant by gummy rice? What brand of rice does your family buy? Why? Research to learn more about rice.  Check out this video to learn more:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dT6gjb48_N0
• National Wilderness Month Name places you consider a wilderness. What do you like to do there? What is a national wilderness? Research national wilderness locations. Have you visited any on the list? Choose one to study further. What would you like to do there? Is there one close to your home that you might visit? Ask your parents.
• Self-Improvement Month What do you see as your personal strengths? What do you need to improve? How can you do that? Set a goal and check your progress or ask someone else to help. Choose someone who will keep you encouraged and cheer you on.

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

I hope you’ll leave a comment before you go.  Thank you for visiting “A Writer’s Playground.” Please come again soon and bring a friend. 

Copyright © 2013 Linda Martin Andersen

September 2012 Activities

“September 2012 Activities” by Linda Martin Andersen

  “A Writer’s Playground”

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

Think:  What does the word “September” bring to mind?  Labor Day.

What exactly is Labor Day?  Research it.  Is it a time to labor (work), not labor, remember something patriotic?  Do you know? 

 

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

Special Days in September:

• National No Rhyme (Nor Reason) Day:  1  What does this mean?
• Labor Day:  3
• Newspaper Carrier Day:  4 Do you know a newspaper carrier?  Ask your parent if you can interview him/her about the job.
• Be Late for Something Day:  5  Create a list of events you wish you could be late for.  Create a pass giving permission to be late and a reason for it. 
• “Neither Snow nor Rain” Day:  7 Who is known to work even in inclement weather?  Do you know someone with this career?  What job does he/she do?
• International Literacy Day:  8 What does literacy mean?  Why is it important?
• National Grandparent’s Day:  9 (First Sunday after Labor Day) How will you celebrate?  Will you call?  Send a card?  Visit?  Write a poem about your best memory with your grandparent(s).
• Swap Ideas Day:  10 Brainstorming is one way of swapping ideas.  What is another way?  **Check back here on Sept. 10, 2012 for a special post about an educator who encourages creativity.**
• Video Games Day:  12 Do you and your friends trade videos?  Do you checkout game books from your public library or attend gaming sessions?  What is your favorite game?  Have you taught friends to play?
• Kids Take Over The Kitchen Day:  13  What would you like to learn to cook?  Ask someone to teach you and then prepare the dish yourself on this special day.  If you have brothers or sisters, consider dividing the menu and prepare the entire meal.
• Big Whopper Liar Day:  15 (3rd Saturday)  What is a whopper? What are some things people often tell whoppers about?  Write a whopper tale or tell one.
• International Dot Day:  15 http://fablevisionlearning.com/dotday/ Read The Dot by Peter Reynolds and try activities listed here to encourage creativity.
• Mayflower Day:  16  What is the Mayflower?  Why is it remembered?  What could you do to celebrate?
• Stepfamily Day:  16  What is a stepfamily?  Are you part of a stepfamily?  What are some books you have read with characters from stepfamilies?
• Citizenship Day:  17  What do you have to do to become a United States citizen?  Do you know anyone who has applied for citizenship? Do you know anyone who has become a US citizen? 
• National Respect Day:  18  What is your definition of respect?  Make a list of people you respect.  Do you need to like a person to respect them?  Why or why not?
• Talk Like a Pirate Day:  19  What does it mean to imitate someone?  Can you imitate pirate talk?  Who else can you imitate?  Take turns imitating others with your friends.
• Dear Diary Day:  22 Do you have a diary?  Who do you let others read it?  Why do you think this day is called “Dear Diary Day?”  Name books about diaries.  Have you read any about worms, vampires, a wimpy kid,  Anne Frank, etc.?  Read or write in a diary today.
• R.E.A.D in America Day:  22 (4th Saturday)  What does R.E.A.D stand for?  When, where, and why did this begin?
• Punctuation Day:  24 Complete a grammar exercise with end punctuation.  Try one with commas.  Write a paragraph with no punctuation.  Mark where you pause.  What punctuation goes there, if any?  Do you have a grammar handbook?  What online sources do you use? 
• Google’s Birthday:  27 How old is Google?  What does “Google It” mean?  What does someone mean when they say to use the Google Box?
• World Tourism Day:  27  What are signs that someone may be a tourist?  What is a tourist trap?  Have you ever had someone ask, “Are you from around here?”  Why did they ask? Where have you traveled as a tourist?
• Ask a Stupid Question Day:  28 (Last School Day of the Month) When you say, “I have a stupid question,” how do most people respond?  “There’s no …”  Tell about a time you were embarrassed by your own question.
• National Museum Day: 29  Choose five states or countries.  Research museums in each location.  How many have you visited?  Which one would you most like to visit and why?

Special Weeks in September:

• International Enthusiasm Week:  1-8 What topics or school subjects get you excited and bursting with enthusiasm?  Find books or events you can attend.  Don’t forget to check the public library’s programming.
• Suicide Prevention Week:  9-15  Ask your parents for materials they’d recommend you read on this topic.  Do you know some of the warning signs?  Do you know anyone who commited suicide?  What should you do if you see any signs of potential suicide?
• Line Dance Week:  10-15 (Starts 2nd Mon. thru Sat.)  Name some line dances.  How many of these dances can you do?  Watch a movie with line dancing such as  Footloose (2011).  Look for DVDs using the Dewey Decimal System at the public library.  Line dancing (793s) and exercise with line dancing (613s).  Some library interfile nonfiction DVDs with books on the subject.  See how your public library organizes nonfiction DVDs.
• Pollution Prevention Week:  15-22 (Third Full Week) What is a pollution prevention program your family can adopt?  Your classroom?  Your school?  Is there a “street adoption” program in your area for groups to clean area roadsides?  Create a poster for pollution prevention.  Do you know any pollution prevention campaign poster slogans?  See if you can finish this one:  “Give a hoot…” 
• National Keep Kids Creative Week:  23-30 (Last Week)  What creative things can you plan for this week?  Challenge yourself even if you have to design your own program.  That gives you an opportunity to be all the more creative.

September is…

• Apple Month.  Set a timer.  Race a friend who  see who can name the most varieties of apples.  Spelling counts.
• Backpack Safety America Month.  research and discover these answers.  What is the pound limit recommended for filled backpacks?  What are the backpacks restrictions at your school?  For example, some schools require see-through backpacks.
• Children’s Good Manners Month. Challenge a friend to a Good Manners Contest.  Print out a blank September calendar template for each player.  List good manners words or actions.  One per day.  Set a timer or declare as the first person to write something in each square the winner, if no answer is repeated.
• International or National Guide Dogs Month.  Read a book about a guide dog.  Watch a movie on the topic.  Research the topic.  What ways are guide dogs and service dogs different? 
• International People Skills Month.  What are people skills?  Which is your strength?  Which would you like to improve?  How?
• Library Card Sign-up Month. Do you have a library card?  How often do you  use it?  What do you check out?  Do you use online data bases for research?  Do you attend programming?  What would you participate in more often?  Why?

Hibiscus from my house. Copyright Linda Andersen.

 

 

• National Prosper Where You Are Planted Month. If you were a plant, what type plant would you like to be?  Why?  What does prosper mean?  How would you prosper when compared with the type plant you selected?  What does it mean to prosper where you are planted, as a person?  How do you prosper where you’re planted?
• One-on-One Month. What do you think of when you hear one-on-one?  What are other uses of the expression?  Can you create a one-on- one expression of your own?  What would it mean?

*Thank you Brownie Locks.com for September celebration information.  For more September observances check out http://www.brownielocks.com/september.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/september.html (calendar observances)

Coming Sept.10:  Laura Reeves, An Art

Teacher Who Encourages Creativity

 Copyright © 2012 Linda Martin Andersen