Ask a Stupid Question Day is Coming–September 28

“Ask a Stupid Question Day is Coming–September 28” 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.

Today, I was riding through downtown Fayetteville, North Carolina when something unusual caught my eye.  I began asking questions…

In honor of Ask a Stupid Question Day:  28 (Last School Day of the Month), I have some rather stupid questions for you…

 1.  Have you ever seen a life-sized cow dressed in an Army Airborne uniform with a parachute over its head?  I have.

2.  Why was this cow outside the Wells Fargo Bank in Fayetteville, NC?  (To be researched)

3.  Who decorated this cow?  (To be researched)

4.  Is this cow part of a fund-raiser? (To be researched)

5.  Is this cow to be auctioned?  (To be researched)

After I Googled the key words about a cow outside Wells Fargo in Fayetteville, NC, I learned that there is a Cow Parade going on.  Local artists entered 81 painted and costumed cows for the parade in the triangle area of North Carolina.  To learn more, research this site.

http://cowparadenc.com/

 See A. Cow below:

Cow Parade Entry Fayetteville, NC. Copyright 2012. Linda Andersen

I went back to the site and took some photographs of A. Cow, the Airborne entry.  Look for something you can photograph in your area for Stupid Question Day (September 28).  Please share a comment about your experience.  Have fun.

Copyright © 2012 Linda Martin Andersen

Next up:  Meet Laura Reeves, an art teacher who encourages creativity–

September 10, 2012

 

Summer Vacation Souvenir Survey–Your Favorites and Theirs

 

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

Question:  What do these words have in common?  Souvenirs, tourists, gifts, mementos, collections, and budget. 

Answer:  Vacation.

Every fall when school starts back, teachers ask students to write about “What did you do over summer vacation?”  Why not approach this assignment in a unique way this year? Survey friends and family members about vacation souvenirs to discover what was received or purchased and which were favorites.  Then when you return to school you can answer, “I conducted a survey about vacation souvenirs.  Here are my results.” 

Brainstorm about summer vacation souvenirs and then you’ll be ready to conduct a survey.  I have created a sample.  I hope you find it helpful.

Name some summer vacation souvenirs you have received or collected.  Make a list.  Divide the items into Purchased Souvenirs and Free Souvenirs.

Name some summer vacation souvenirs you’ve purchased for others.  Make a list.  Divide the items into Purchased Souvenirs  and Free Souvenirs.

Survey your friends about souvenirs received and purchased.  Tally the results.  What was the most popular souvenir?  What was the least popular?  Group surveys by age.  Consider these groupings:  Under 6, 6-12, 13-18, and Over 18.

 Survey of Vacation Souvenirs 

Age Group:  ____(under 6), ____(6-12), ____(13-18), and ____(Over 18)

Souvenirs	For Self	For Others	Favorite One For Self	Favorite One For Others
T-shirt or other clothing
Mug, refrigerator magnet, etc.
Photographs or postcards
Toy or stuffed animal
Ticket stub
Shells, rocks, etc.
Snowglobe, Replica of Place,etc.
Others

Number 1 most frequently received–is it a T-shirt? 

As for me, I’d rather get photographs or postcards, if I can’t go along on the trip.  Some people call that taking an “armchair vacation” because you can enjoy the beauty without leaving your oversized comfy armchair.  Here are a few photographs from friends who traveled far and wide. Can you find these locations on a world map or globe?  To visit the photographers’ blogs/websites, click the links below:

http://maureenwartski.wordpress.com/2012/07/04/ole-barcelona/

http://poetryforkidsjoy.blogspot.com/2012/07/rain-in-rainforest.html

www.joanyedwards.com (Joan’s photographs are not available here, but activities for children are)

Columns built for Olympic Games in Barcelona, Spain. Copyright © 2012 Maureen Wartski

Fountain in Versailles, France.  Copyright © 2012 Maureen Martski

Clear Creek River Georgetown, Colorado, taken from Georgetown Loop Narrow Gauge Train Ride. Copyright © 2012 Joan Edwards

Tambopata Research Center in Rainforest of Peru. Copyright © 2012 Joy Acey

Howler Monkey in Rainforest of Peru. Copyright © 2012 Joy Acey

Mt. Rainier near Washington Route 7, about 25 miles south of Puyallup, Washington. Copyright © 2012 Joan Edwards

All photographs were used with permission by the owner.  Thank you to my friends who shared these interesting scenes.  Thanks to all the readers who stopped by to visit “A Writer’s Playground.”  Please leave a comment and come back soon.  Bring a friend.

Copyright © 2012 Linda Martin Andersen