It’s June and Time for Summer Fun

“It’s June and Time for Summer Fun” 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 “June” bring to mind? SUMMER.  School’s out for summer, summer camps begin, summer reading, and hot summer sands and summer vacations at the beach. 

Other things we remember in June include:  Father’s Day, D-Day and Flag Day.

Special Days in June:

• Drawing Day or Pencil Day:  1  Do you doodle on paper?  What do you usually draw?  What  books have you read with characters who draw?  Which ones would you recommend to friends?  What do you wish you could draw?  Look for drawing books that can teach you steps to take. 
• Do-Dah Day (Salute to Silliness):  4  Have you ever had the “silly giggles?”  Have you ever had someone come up and ask, “What’s so funny?”  When you tried to explain, the person just didn’t get it.  Have you ever said, “You had to be there?”  What was the silly thing?  Share it in the comment section.
• Hot Air Balloon Day:  5  Have you ever taken a hot air balloon?  Have you ever watched one soar?  Have you read books with hot air balloons in the story?  Consider reading Newsgirl by Liza Ketchum.  It’s a fun middle grade historic novel.  This link provides an interview about the book by its author.  http://www.lizaketchum.com/books/newsgirl.htm

• D-Day:  6  What is this?  Ask someone who loves history if you do not know.  What museums have exhibits on this topic in your area.  Consider visiting. 
• Upsey Daisy Day:  8  What does this mean?  How will you celebrate?  Ask your parents and grandparents if this is one they know.
• Corn on the Cob Day:  11  Do you prefer your corn on or off the cob?  What is a corn cob pipe?  What nursery rhyme talks about cows in the corn?  In what season are corn stalks used for decorating?  Have you ever gathered corn in the field?  Have you ever shucked corn?  Have you ever cut corn off the cob for freezing?  What other memories do you have that include corn?
• Flag Day:  14  What flag is flown on this day?  Why?  If you could design a flag for your family, church, neighborhood, or school, what would it include?
• Father’s Day:  16  What do you call your father?  What do you call your grandfather?  What other names for father do you know?  Which is your favorite?.  What other ways is Father used?  For example:  Father Time.
• World Sauntering Day:  19  What is sauntering? What other words can substitute for sauntering?  These are synonyms.
• American Eagle Day:  20  Have you ever watched a web cam of an eagle’s nest?  Research facts about eagles and share them.  What bird almost became America’s symbol instead of an eagle?  Who recommended the other choice?
• Summer Solstice (Summer):  21  What will you do this summer?  What will you read?  What sports will you play?  What will you study?  Where can you learn more about summer solstice?
• Great American Backyard Campout:  22  Where have you camped out?  Who was with you?  Are you a member of an organization that camps out, like Boy Scouts?  Have you ever cooked over a camp fire?  Tell about one of your experiences.
• Let it Go Day:  23  What does it mean to “let something go?”  When have you been told this or used the expression yourself?  What is bothering you that you will let go today?  Will you call and apologize and make it right with the other person?
• Pink Flamingo Day (Lawn Ornaments)”  23  When you hear the word “Flamingo” what state comes to mind?  What do you know about flamingos?  What other colors are there?  Why do you think pink plastic flamingos have become popular lawn ornaments?  Do you know someone who has one?  Why?
• Log Cabin Day:  30  Research famous people who lived in log cabins.  Name a television show where the characters lived in a log cabin.  Have you ever stayed in one?  Were you on vacation, hunting, or hiking?  What was your favorite thing about the cabin?  Did it have running water?

Special Weeks in June:

• International Clothesline Week:  1-8.  What is a clothesline?  Who do you know who has one?  Who do you know who has a clothes rack for indoor drying?  Have you ever run through clothes on the line?  Name a story, television program, or book that mentions a clothesline.  Have you ever “hung clothes on the line?”  What happens if they get wet? What happens if the clothes are still wet when the temperature freezes?  How do you dry clothes at your house?
• Rip Current Awareness Week:  2-8  What is rip current?  What is the danger?
• National Flag Week:  9-15  What country or countries recognize this day?  Name a favorite flag.  Tell why it’s a favorite.
• National Automotive Service Professionals Week: 9-16  Who is your favorite auto mechanic?  Have you ever helped repair a car?  What is a “shade tree mechanic?”
• Duct Tape Days:  14-16  What have you seen created with duct tape?  What have you made with it?  Would you wear or buy something made from it?  Here are images you might enjoy.  http://www.ducttapefashion.com/
• http://www.cleveland.com/avon/index.ssf/2013/05/avon_heritage_duct_tape_festiv_4.html

• Check out the selection of crafts and fashions in books.

• Watermelon Seed Spitting Week: 27-30  What festival activities have you participated in?  Do you like salt on your watermelon?  Do you eat it with a knife, spoon, fork, or just your mouth?  How does the juice feel when it dries on your skin?  Why?

June is…

• Audio Book Appreciation Month   What is your favorite time to listen to a book?  Do you listen while traveling in a car?  What are your favorite books on audio?  Why?
• Country Cooking Month  What do you call country cooking?  What country do you mean?  What country cooking foods do you like?  Which would you not eat?
• National Camping Month  What kind of camping have you done?  Summer camp, Boy Scout, Girl Scout, Dance camp, Music camp, Cheerleading camp, Church camp, Basketball camp, etc.  Have you ever pitched a tent?  Cooked on an open fire?  Told ghost stories by the camp fire?
• Skyscraper Month  Search for skyscraper trivia.  What is the highest building in your town?  How many stories?  How old is the building?  What movies show skyscrapers?

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

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

Copyright © 2013 Linda Martin Andersen

June 2012 Activities

“June 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.

Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.

Think:  What does the word “June” bring to mind?

June bug—beetle, nickname for NASCAR driver Dale Earnhardt Jr., and Mitch Capel, better known as “Gran’daddy Junebug,” a storyteller from Southern Pines, North Carolina.   Listen to one or more story segments.  Consider “Opportunities” and “The Colored Soldiers” by Gran’daddy Junebug at http://gjbug.com/Store.php.

June bride–many couples choose this month for their weddings.  Read a book about a child who is in a wedding or attends one.  Write about something that went wrong at a wedding.  For example, the groom’s ring nearly rolled into a storm drain at my wedding.

Summer vacation, summer camps, Summer Reading Club at public libraries, etc.  Are there science, math, or history camps in your area?  Try something new.

Father’s Day–cards, gifts, and cookouts.  Offer to find a new recipe and cook it for Father’s Day.  Make gift receipts for chores you will do for dad, such as wash his car.

What else happens in June?

Special Days in June:

• National Go Barefoot Day:  1
• National Running Day:  2
• Do-Dah Day (Salute to Silliness) :  4
• D-Day:  6
• Flag Day:  14
• National Flip Flop Day:  15 (3rd Friday)
• Father’s Day:  17
• June Solstice:  20
• Log Cabin Day:  24
• International Fairy Day: 24
• Tour De France:  30

Special Weeks in June:

• Old Time Fiddlers Week:  18-25 (3^rd Week)
• Watermelon Seed Spitting Week:  21-24 (Last Weekend Thursday-Sunday)

June is…

• National Camping Month
• National Rivers Month
• Great Outdoors Month
• National Smile Month
• Vision Research Month
• Adopt a Shelter Cat Month

*Thank you Brownie Locks.com for June celebration information.  For more June observances check out:  http://www.brownielocks.com/june.html. While visiting her site, look for foods, activities, and topics to research:  Why not cook fudge on Fudge Day (16).  Try a new activity such as juggling (16).  Research a topic such as eagles for American Eagle Day. (20)

Let’s talk:  Choose one or more of the conversation starters below and leave a comment…

1.  When you think of June, think of “summer reads.”  What books would you like to read just for fun?  Will you join a summer reading club at your local library?  Some give prizes.  Challenge your whole family to participate.

2.  School gets out in June.  Now that’s something “worth whistling about.”  What does that expression mean?  Now that you  have more time at home, will you keep your room “clean as a whistle?”  If you leave a mess, will your little brother or sister be a “whistleblower?” Have you heard this one? “A whistling woman and a crowing hen always come to some bad end.” (Choose one of these expressions and comment about it.)

3.  Do you have a bicycle?  Describe it.  Does it have speeds?  How many?  Is it a mountain bike or a racing bike?  Tell about a time you raced on your bike.  Research racers and their speeds in the Tour De France.

4.  Describe a time you went barefoot and you wished you had shoes.  For example:  Stepped on sandspurs.  Describe a time when you went barefoot and you’re very glad you did.

5.  In honor of National Running Day, research a runner.  Read a picture book about a fictional character who ran such as The Gingerbread Man.  Find a nonfiction book about a track-and-field athlete such as Jesse Owens.  Search for books about other runners.

6.  Name three ways to salute silliness on Do-Dah Day.  For example:  wear two different colors of socks or a silly hat like mine.  Have someone push you in a wheelbarrow.  Watch out, you may get dumped.

7.  Name famous Americans who lived in log cabins.  Locate a log cabin in your area that provides tour.  Research vocabulary words for log cabin construction.  For example:  chinking.

8.  Name a favorite fairy character.  Name different types of fairies.  For example:  flower fairies.  Draw a design for a fairy costume, book bag design, fairy zone sign, and enchanted fairy garden.  What are brownies?  Name a book with fairies or brownies.

9.  When did you attend a festival that served watermelons.  What contests were held?  Create an original festival contest.  Tell of a time you were in a contest at an outdoor event.

10. Do you know the name:  Doc Watson?  If not, research him.  What type events do you think are part of “Old Time Fiddlers Week?” What event would you want to attend?  Why?  Do you play a musical instrument?  If so, what?  What would you like to learn to play?

11.  Is there a walking path near a river in your hometown?  Have you ever traveled on a river?  How did you travel?  Write an advertisement for a trip on the river.  What information would you include?  What information would you not include?  Why?

12.  If you were a vision research scientist, what disease would you want to treat?  Why?  Do you know someone who has a disease of the eyes?  Which one?  What causes it?  Does your area have a center for the blind?  What are some of their services?

13.  Do you own a pet?  What kind?  Did you get your pet from the store or from the animal shelter?  Why do cities encourage animal lovers to adopt pets?  Tell about an adventure with your pet.

14.  Summers are for cookouts.  Have you ever roasted a hotdog over an open fire?  Have you toasted marshmallows?  Do you like yours golden brown or charcoal black?  What ghost stories can you tell?  Tell some by a campfire, with parent supervision. Check out additional ghost stories at the library.

15.  Create a special Father’s Day card (Grandfather/Uncle/Foster father).  Write a message about a special Father’s Day memory or thank your father for something he has done for you.  Remember that glitter and stickers make dads smile too.

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

*Resources:  http//vertex42.com (calendar)

http://www.brownielocks.com/june.html (calendar observances)

Coming next post:  Meet a whistler.

Copyright © 2012 Linda Martin Andersen