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

May 2012 Activities

“May 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.

“April showers bring May flowers.”

 

 

May Activities

“April showers bring May flowers.”
Think:  What else do April showers bring?  April showers bring May fever.  April showers bring May pollen.  April showers bring May trips to the garden center for ________________,    _______________, and  _______________.  What other thoughts come to mind about May?

Special Days in May:

• Mother’s Day (Sunday, May 13)
• Memorial Day (Monday, May 28)

Special Weeks in May:

• Be Kind to Animals Week (5-12)
• Children’s Book Week (7-13)
• Teacher Appreciation Week (7-11)
• Reading is Fun Week (13-19)
• Universal Family Week (12-19)
• Emergency Medical Support (EMS) Week (15-2l)

May is…

• Get Caught Reading Month
• National Military Appreciation Month

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

• Name an observance that made you chuckle. 
• Name one that is new to you.
• What is an observance you would propose be added?  Why?

Brainstorm about May:
Think: May and keywords for the month–quotes, May flowers, books with “May” in the title.

Think: May observances and related words such as Mother’s Day, Mother, May I? (game).

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

1. When you think of May, what quotes come to mind?  Example:  “Bloom where you’re planted.”  What does that mean?  Who do you know who blooms where he/she is planted?  Tell why.

2. What flowers bloom in May in your area?  What about other areas?  What is blooming now in Spain, Japan, London?  Choose another location if you’d like.  Find these places on a globe or atlas.

3. Do you have a favorite flower?  What is it?  Do you have a special memory that comes to mind when you see, smell, or think of this flower?

4. Search for books with “May” in the title.  What titles did you found?  Select one from the library.  Do you know how to do a book search from the library’s online listing?  Tell about any “May” books you’ve read.  For example:  I recently read May B. by Caroline Starr Rose.  It is written in verse, a type of poetry.  Have you ever read a book in verse?  May B  is a historical novel about a girl abandoned on the Kansas prairie.

5. Create a special Mother’s Day card (Grandmother/Aunt/Foster Mom).  Write a message about a special Mother’s Day memory or thank your mother for something she has done for you.

6. Did you know that there is a flower that is called a “May Pop?”  What do you imagine it looks like?  How do you think it got its name?  Search and see if you are correct.

7. What is a May Pole Dance?  Find pictures, watch a video, or try the dance with others.

8. When is “May Day” used as a distress call?  Can you name a movie that used this call?

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

*Resources:  htttp.//www.vertex42.com (calendar)

Copyright © 2012 Linda Martin Andersen