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!

May is My Blog’s Birthday and Mine Too. What Else is Celebrated This Month?

“May is My Blog’s Birthday and Mine Too” 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 “May” bring to mind?  Mother’s Day, Teacher Appreciation, and Memorial Day.  What lesser known days bring you pleasure?  My younger grandson loves Batman.  I was excited to learn that May 1 is Batman Day.  I hope you find a listing that pleases you just as much.

Special Days in May:

• Batman Day:  1  Who do you know who loves Batman?  Who or what was your super hero when you were younger?  How are these alike?
• Mother Goose Day:  1  Who is Mother Goose?  What else do you know about her?
• National Dance Day:  1  Do you like to dance?  What type dances can you do?
• National Two Different Colored Shoes Day:  3–Have you ever done this on accident?  I have.  It’s embarrassing.  My shoes were close in color and the same style shoe.  One was black and one was navy.
• International Firefighters Day:  4  Do you know a firefighter?  Thank him/her!
• Star Wars Day:  4  Have you ever had a theme party?  Have you ever made costumes for the guests?  Check out more a Star Wars theme party on my friend’s blog.  http://joanyedwards.wordpress.com/2011/06/07/family-sewing-projects-jedi-robes-and-princess-leia-ponchos/
• Cartoonist Day:  5  Who is your favorite cartoonist?  What makes  this art so funny?
• No Socks Day:  8  I know an adult man, an attorney, who doesn’t wear socks.  I know a doctor who wears sandals all year?  Who do you know like this?
• Windmill Day:  10  Have you ever seen a windmill?  Where was it?
• Letter Carrier’s Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive Day:  11–What do you know about this event?  Have you ever participated in it?
• Limerick Day:  12  What is a limerick?  Do you have a favorite?  Share it with someone.
• Mother’s Day: 12  What will you do for your mom?  What does she do for you?  Thank her.
• Biographer’s Day:  16  Name a biography.  Name an autobiography.  What’s the difference?  Name one you have read.
• NASCAR Day:  17  Do you follow NASCAR?  Who is your favorite driver, if you do?  What number does he drive?  Can you describe his car?  Are there female drivers?  Share a NASCAR fact with someone.
• O. Henry Pun-off Day:  18.  Who is O. Henry?  What is a pun?  Research and see what one has to do with the other.
• Weights and Measures Day:  20  Where are weights used?  When are items measured?  What do you think this celebration is about?
• Don’t Fry Day:  24  Why would this day be celebrated?  What foods do you eat fried that could be baked or grilled? 
• Morse Code Day:  24  How is Morse Code used and when?  Can you tap out a short message? 
• Cookie Monster’s Birthday:  25  Who is Cookie Monster?  What television program is he on?  What gift would you take cookie monster?  Why?
• International Jazz Day:  25  Look for jazz CDs, books about jazz, jazz performances, etc.
• Memorial Day:  27  Why is this day celebrated?  How will you celebrate?
• Learn About Composting Day:  29  What is composting?  Who do you know who has a compost bin?
• World No-Tobacco Day:  31  Do you know why this is celebrated?  Why would this goal be a good one to reach?  Do you think it is very likely?  Why or why not?

Special Weeks in May:

• Be Kind to Animals Week:  5-11
• National Wildflower Week:  6-12  Name flowers you have seen growing wild.
• Reading is Fun Week: 12-18
• National Etiquette Week:  13-17  What is etiquette?  Who has taught you etiquette?  Thank them.
• National Backyard Games Week:  20-26  Name your favorite.  Share a story about it.

May is…

• Gardening for Wildlife Month–What do you plant or provide for wildlife in your yard?
• Get Caught Reading Month–What would you get caught reading if someone knocked on your door today?  Five years ago?  For pleasure?  For assignments?
• National Bike Month–What stories are special to you that contain a bike?  Why?
• National Inventors Month–Create a list of your favorite inventors.  Ask friends to name their favorites.  Are any the same? What did these people invent?  Research more about them. 
• National Photo Month–Take a photograph and share it with someone.  What is your favorite topic to photograph?
• National Physical Fitness & Sports Month–What is your favorite type of exercise?  What sports do you enjoy participating in?  What sports do you enjoy watching?
• National Smile Month–Research smile trivia.  Ask your friends questions using your research.  For example, is it true that it takes less muscles to smile than to frown?

Copyright by Laura Reeves 2013.  http://www.reevesartworks.com/contact.html

• National Youth Traffic Safety Month–What traffic safety rules do you know?  Which have helped keep you safe?  How?
• Older Americans Month–Who would you list in this category?  What type things do you do with older Americans/people?  What else could you do together?
• Young Achievers of Tomorrow Month–What achievement would you like to be known for in the future?  What are you doing to make that a reality?
• National Family Month–(5/12-6/16)–What things does your family do together?  Do you have family meetings?  Do you plan together?  What does quality family time look like to you?  What can you do to improve family times?

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

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

Copyright © 2013 Linda Martin Andersen

Don’t Let April Showers Rain on Your Parade

“Don’t Let April Showers Rain on Your Parade” 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 “April” bring to mind? Expressions like:  “April showers bring May flowers,” or “Don’t rain on my parade?”  What does this mean? 

Other things we remember in April include:  April Fool’s jokes. Rain showers.  Puddles.  Umbrellas.  Galoshes.  Check the list below for far more things to celebrate in April.

Special Days in April:

Oh my, have you heard? 

• April 3 is Pony Express Day and on that day the Pony Express replaces postal delivery. 
• April 29 is Save the Frogs Day.  Sign up now to adopt a frog and save it from the frying pan.

APRIL FOOL!  These two events are true celebrations, but the way I stated that it would be celebrated is all a big fat fib.  Did I fool you?  Probably not.  Who have you fooled today?  Tell how.  As you may have guessed, April Fool’s Day is a favorite.  Create an original joke of your own.  What common ones have you heard? 

• International Children’s Book Day:  2  Read a book about another country, a child from another country, a dog breed that contains a town or country such as:  Boston Pug, Chinese Pug, German Shepherd, etc. 
• Metric System Day:  7  Work some math problems and answer using metric measurements.  Did you know that hospital patients are weighed in bed?  Can you convert measurements to metric?
• National Sibling Day:  10  If you have a sibling, make a card for this person and  tell how he/she is special to you.
• Safety Pin Day:  10  Where do you see them?  Who gives them away?  How have you used one?  What craft projects have you made using safety pins?
• Scrabble Day:  13  Have you ever played?  Will you play today?
• Blah! Blah! Blah! Day:  17  When was this first said?  Why?  What does it mean to you?  It always reminds me of the intercom on the Peanuts cartoon programs. 
• Ellis Island Family History Day:  17.  Does your family have anyone who entered America through Ellis Island?  Ask to hear stories.
•  National Haiku Poetry Day:  17  Research how to write a haiku.  Write one about spring, April, or something celebrated this month.
• Poem in Your Pocket Day:  18  Do you have a favorite poem?  Copy it and carry it in your pocket.  Ask your friends to do the same.  Share poems when you see each other. 
• Movie Theatre Day:  23  What’s a favorite movie memory? 
• Richter Scale Day:  26.  Research this scale.  What does it measure.  Tell of a famous disaster measured by the Richter Scale.
• Babe Ruth:  27.  Do you know this name?  Why is he famous?
• Zipper Day:  29  When were zippers invented?  Who is Jughead and what does he wear zipped?  What do you own that zips?  Read My Last Best Friend by Julie Bowe and learn how zippers can become a story character. 

Special Weeks in April:

• Golden Rule Week:  1-7  What is the Golden Rule?  What does it mean?  What books talk about this theme?
• International Whistlers Week:  17-21  I hope you’ll take time to read an earlier blog post about Phyllis Heil at  https://lindamartinandersen.wordpress.com/2012/06/08/a-writers-playground-welcomes-phyllis-heil-the-whistling-woman-and-offers-a-cd-giveaway/  The giveaway is no longer available, but Phyllis plans to be at this year’s festival.
• National Volunteer Week:  21-27.  Name a volunteer you know.  What type volunteer work would you like to do?  Walk dogs at the kennel, pick up roadside trash, help in the food bank, etc.  Ask your parents if you can try it.  Perhaps a parent would volunteer with you.
• National Playground Safety Week:  21-27  Is the playground equipment inspected regularly in your area?  How do you know?  Do you know anyone who has been hurt on the playground?  Was it a safety issue?
• National Dance Week:  26–5/4  Are you a dancer?  Survey your friends to learn who has taken dance class. 

April is…

• National Child Abuse Prevention Month  What can be done to help prevent child abuse?
• Jazz Appreciation Month  Do you have a favorite jazz musician?  Do you listen to jazz?  Research to learn more about the history of jazz.  Fine a picture book about jazz.
• Keep America Beautiful  An old promotion poster read:  Give a hoot, don’t pollute.  What message would you like to promote about this topic?
• National Kite Month  What is your favorite kite design?  Fly one this month if you can.
• School Library Media Month  Give a cheer for school librarians!

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

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

Coming soon:  Pat Strobel, a School Librarian, shares about School Library Media Month.

Copyright © 2013 Linda Martin Andersen