Posted on August 31, 2010 by Suzan Woodard in Big Universe News, General, Literature, Reading Lists.
Tags: Big Universe, Book a Day, Confucius, Elephant, Grandparents Day, Literacy, National Book Festival, Native American, New Books, Online Children's Books, picture books, September Celebrations
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Big Universe has added a broad range of new books to its online library recently – thanks to publishing partners attuned to children’s vast interests and the wish lists of teachers. I have marveled at this website’s diverse inventory and decided to put it to the test.
“I wonder if I can find a book to coincide with each day in September?” I mused. “…Something to coincide with the holidays, historical anniversaries and other special observations from Sept. 1-30?”
Here’s what I found!
Sept. 1 – This day is set aside to remember the iconic verses of “Mary’s Lamb” – now referred to as “Mary Had a Little Lamb.” According to Rita Smith, the curator of the University of Florida’s Baldwin Collection of Children’s Literature, the poem was written by Sarah Josepha Hale and published in the September 1830 issue of a periodical titled “The Juvenile Miscellany.” Try these wooly tales to celebrate the anniversary: “Sheep,” “The Ultimate Mother Goose Collection,” (Twin Sisters) “Lambs” (Bellwether) or “Bad Day at Arnold’s Sheep Ranch” (Remedia).
Sept. 2 – The Great Fire of London started on this day in 1666. Prior to modern day safety practices, many other cities around the world experienced similar fires. Read “The Fire Department” or “Surviving the Great Chicago Fire” (Rourke) – depending on the age and maturity of the reader.
Sept. 3 – It’s the 350th anniversary of the founding of the Royal Society, an international network of top scientists, engineers and medical professionals who “exist to expand knowledge (and) support science.”Read “The Nervous System,” (Bellwether) “In Arctic Waters” (Sylvan Dell) or anything else in Big Universe’s math or science sections.
Sept. 4 – In 1893, English author Beatrix Potter first told “The Tale of Peter Rabbit” as a “picture letter” to the son of her former governess. Almost 120 years later, the classic is read all over the world in many languages. Big Universe has the book among its audible “Read Alouds.” This version is recited in Mandarin Chinese! Potter’s “The Tale of Squirrel Nutkin,” however, is recited in English. (MightyBook)
Sept. 5 – The Salmon Festivalis being held in historic Eastport, Maine. Read “The Life Cycle of a Salmon.” (Bellwether)
Sept. 6 – Today is Labor Day, a federal holiday. Read “Workers” (Teacher Created Materials) or other books about people in the work force, such as “Test Pilot” or “Forest Firefighter.” (Weekly Reader)
Sept. 7 – Today is the third annual National Clean Energy Summitin Las Vegas, Nevada. To learn more about eco-friendly power and caring for the earth, read “Going Green.” (Rourke)
Sept. 8 – International Literacy Day is celebrated worldwide on Sept. 8. Founded by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), this observance was initiated to highlight the necessity of improving literacy on a global basis. Read “ABC Safari” (Sylvan Dell) or any other book on Big Universe.
Sept. 9 – This date marks singing legend Elvis Presley’s first appearance on the “Ed Sullivan Show” in 1956. Read the graphic-style book “Elvis Presley Graphic Biography” to learn more about this music celebrity. (Saddleback)
Sept. 10 – Charlotte, N.C., is holding its annual Literary Festival this weekend. Join the observation by reading “The War of the Worlds (Illustrated Classic),” “Macbeth,” “Hamlet (Illustrated Classic),” or “Julius Caesar.” (Saddleback)
Sept. 11 – It’s Raptor Weekend at the Environmental Education Center in Bristol, R.I., featuring live flight presentations and other educational activities. To learn more about birds of prey, read “Eaglets” (Bellwether), “Eagles,” “Hawks,” “Kites” or “Owls.” (Rourke)
Sept. 12 – Grandparents Day is celebrated on the first Sunday after Labor Day. “How Far to Heaven” (Illumination Arts) is a beautiful love story between a grandmother and her grandchild, and the illustrations and words in “Grandma’s Feather Bed” (Dawn Publications) will make you smile.
Sept. 13 – Chiang Kai-Shek became the president of China on this day in 1943. To read more about this large, fascinating and complex country, read “China” (Bellwether) and another book also titled “China” published by Teacher Created Materials.
Sept. 14 – On this day in 1984, Joseph Kittinger set off on a record-making trip from Caribou, Maine, in the cabin of a helium balloon. Four days later he landed in Italy, becoming the first man to fly solo across the Atlantic in a balloon. To learn more about hot air balloons, read “Hot Air Ballooning.” (Rourke)
Sept. 15 – The United Nations has designated Sept. 15 at the International Day of Democracy. Read “Why are Elections Important?” (Weekly Reader)
Sept. 16 – To observe Collect Rocks Day, consider reading “Julie the Rockhound” (Sylvan Dell) or “Rocks, Minerals and Soil.” (Rourke)
Sept. 17 – It’s Constitution Day. Read “What is a Constitution?” (Weekly Reader)
Sept. 18 – This year, Oktoberfest begins on Sept. 18 in Germany, and festivities will continue until Oct. 3. Learn more about Germany in the Bellwether’s book “Germany.”
Sept. 19 – Aye, mate! It’s International Talk Like a Pirate Day. Read the funny story “Lucky the Pirate” (Remedia), or go to the Big Universe blog titled “Ahoy! Pirate Books for Boys (and Girls).”
Sept. 20 – It’s been 37 years since Wimbledon champion Billie Jean King, 25, defeated 55-year-old Bobby Riggs – also a Wimbledon and U.S. Open champion – in an exhibition tennis match in Houston, Texas, demonstrating women’s ability to play high-caliber tennis – even against a man (and win). Young fans of this sport may like to read “Tennis.” (Bellwether)
Sept. 21 – What better way to celebrate International Peace Day than reading books about children, homes and places around the globe. Try “We Share One World” (Illumination Arts), “Kids Around the World,” “Homes Around the World” and “Places Around the World.” (Teacher Created Materials)
Sept. 22 – Today is Elephant Appreciation Day. Read “Critters Up Close – Elephants”(Zoobooks) or “The First Elephant,” an animated story by author and Big Universe member Rick Walton.
Sept. 23– German astronomer Johann Golle discovered Neptune in 1846. Read about this planet in the book “Neptune” (Bellwether) or “Going Around the Sun: Some Planetary Fun.” (Dawn Publications)
Sept. 24 –Native American Day is a celebration to honor the first Americans. Read the treasure of information in “Rourke’s Native American History and Culture Encyclopedia, Volume 1-10,” including Native American legends in the back of each book. They are an outstanding resource for reports.
Sept. 25 – The Library of Congress is sponsoring today’s National Book Festival on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., a celebration of “the joy of reading.” Read “ABC Letters in the Library” (Lobster Press) or any other book you please!
Sept. 26: The fourth Saturday in September is International Rabbit Day. Read “Rabbits,” (Bellwether), “My Little Rabbit,” (Mathew Price) or “Caring for Your Rabbit.” (Bellwether)
Sept. 27 – On Sept. 27, 1862, in Greytown, South Africa, a little boy named Louis Botha was born. He grew up to become the first prime minister of South Africa, 1910-1919. While Big Universe does not have a specific book about Botha or South Africa, its non-fictions “Mansa Musa, Leader of Mali” and “Sub-Saharan Africa” (Teacher Created Materials) paint some historical background for those exploring the great continent of Africa.
Sept. 28 – It’s National Good Neighbor Day. Whether your neighbor is across a fence or sitting at the desk next to you, thoughtfulness and being kind are important facets of social interaction. Read “One Smile” (Illumination Arts) by author Cindy McKinley and illustrator Mary Gregg Byrne. This book has been read more than 3,500 times on BigUniverse.com and rates 5 out of 5 stars!
Sept. 29 – It’s Confucius Day, and you can read about this Chinese philosopher in a book titled “Confucius, Chinese Philosopher” by Wendy Conklin, M.A., and Gisela Lee, M.A. (Teacher Created Materials)
Sept. 30 – National Mudpack Day is an obscure observance with little traceable history. So, pardon my artistic license when I suggest you read a few books about pigs instead of packing on the facial goo! “Piggies in the Pumpkin Patch” (Charlesbridge) is a new addition to Big Universe’s shelves. Or read “When Pigs Fly” (Lobster Press) or “Piglets” by Colleen Sexton. (Bellwether)
That wraps it up. Have a wonderful month sharing the joy of reading. There’s something for everyone.
It is back to school already!?!? I think most of us are wondering what happened to summer break; I know I am. Break time is over with and it is back to the books and I know that there are probably many households that are “refreshing” their reading skills. We did slack off a bit during the summertime in our reading, which I really did not intend to do, so we are going to have to play catch-up to get back on track.
My oldest son is in the 2nd grade this year and, from the words of his mouth, he says “Second grade is hard; it is only for smart people.” I have to chuckle every time he says that. The biggest challenge that our household faced last year was in reading. I have searched for ways to help to make reading a bit easier and here are some things that I have found:
a. Consistency, consistency, consistency. Did I mention consistency? Yes, I feel that is the most important aspect. When you do things in repetition, you tend to finally “get” things after a certain time period – everything just “clicks”. So, I am determined to spend a certain amount of time, on a daily basis, with my child to go over the basics until he grows tired and weary, and can recite what was set out to be learned.
b. Make learning fun. Find a character that your child enjoys and make use of that character. Spice up the routine every now and then so the “routine” does not become so routine.
c. Progress and reward chart. Your child is just like you are – loves to see progress. Make a chart at where they are starting from to where they want to go. You will be amazed at how excited they can become once they see that they are progressing, and what a better way to celebrate their progress than with a reward? Now, the reward does not have to be anything extravagant, maybe take them out to an ice cream treat or to see a movie that they have been wanting to see. It will make them feel special and, most of all, it will make them feel proud of themselves.
The vitality of mastering early reading and comprehension skills is so crucial to our children’s future. Reading IS their future. So, whatever steps that we, as parents, need to take to ensure the best possible learning in literacy for our children, we need to take. Reading may be their future but our children are our future.
Maggie Cary, a national board certified teacher has been an educator for more than 17 years. She is certified in secondary education and holds a master’s degree in early childhood education.
Over the years she has mentored countless teachers and advised hundreds of parents. Cary has taught children from preschool through high school. She also offers classroom advice on website Classroom Talk.
You can take advantage of the extra time you’ll have with your child this summer by incorporating reading games into your everyday activities. These times when you can help your child practice reading and writing are Golden Opportunities. Here are 10 ways to make sure you don’t miss out.
- When waiting for a meal in a restaurant, ask your child to read items on the menu.
- When waiting at the ice cream shop, have your child try to read all the ice cream flavors. To mix things up you could ask them to read to themselves and then tell you all the flavors that include chocolate or a type of fruit.
- On a car trip, a great way to pass the time is to read bumper stickers and the sides of panel trucks. See who can be the first one to spot a specific word or letter.
- If you go to a theme park or zoo this summer, let your child be your “tour guide.” Depending on age and reading level, your child can read signs or the full descriptions from books and brochures.
- Let your child write a list of things to take on vacation. They can then check off the items on their list as they pack.
- Similarly, your child can make a summer activity to-do list. Let them post it on the refrigerator and make tally marks of the number of times they did particular things at the end of the day.
- Summer is the perfect time to make cool collections of things you find outdoors—bugs, rocks, flowers, etc.—and make custom labels. Older kids can look up the objects in their collection in library books, while younger kids can fill out their labels with simple descriptions.
- As a family, send post cards to friends and relatives even if you don’t leave town.
- A new notebook can serve a number of purposes for your child: a diary or travel journal, a field notebook or collection of short stories.
- Start a scrapbook with pictures and captions of summer fun.
I am a big fan of connecting what students read to what students write (and the other way around too). I would tell my 4th grade students that to become a better writer, they needed to read, read, read and write, write, write. While looking through Journeys: The teaching of writing in elementary classrooms by Carolyn Piazza, I came across an idea that I would like to try with students or even in an adjusted way with my 4 year old daughter.
That is the idea of simulated journals. In a simulated journal, a student writes from the perspective of a historical or literary figure. You could use something like a simulated journal after reading a story just by asking questions about what characters would think or do in situations.
For example, after reading When I Visit The Farm by Crystal Beshara with my little girl, I could ask her questions similar to the prompts for writing a simulated journal. I could ask her questions pretending she was the main character of the book:
- Why did you go visit the farm?
- What is your favorite thing from the farm visit?
- What did you see and hear while you were at the farm?
- Would you want to visit that farm again?
- Did visiting the farm make you want to go visit somewhere else?
For older elementary students, Julie the Rockhound by Gail Langer Karwaski would be a good book to read and do certain activities similar to a simulated journals. While learning about rocks and minerals, Julie learns how some words have several meanings. Students could be asked to write what Julie would write in her journal about what she learned about rocks and minerals. Students could also be asked to write about the next adventure Julie would take.
I think writing about what you read helps you better understand that book. Activities like this encourage critical and creative thinking. For children who have difficulty writing (or are too young), there are ways to slightly change the idea of simulated journals to make them work for all.
There’s a guy who lives a few hours away from me – someone I’ve never met, but he’s been my hero for eight days now. I read an article about his new children’s book, “My Purple Toes,” and have been smiling ever since.
Blair Hahn is a lawyer in Charleston, S.C., with a sense of humor, a heart and hutzpah. Like a tiny pebble dropped into a pond, Hahn’s light-hearted actions on one particular day resulted in a ripple effect he or his family hardly could have imagined.
“The idea for ‘My Purple Toes’ all started with a trip to a nail salon with my daughter who I astonished when I boldly offered to get my toenails painted purple,” said Hahn in a Newswire press release.
The excursion was meant to be a bonding experience for teenage daughter and dad. A pedicure had been planned by his daughter, but the colorful outcome had not. His daughter walked out with pink toes, and he waltzed out with purple.
The laughs and reactions from strangers, his wife and friends culminated in life lessons that were perfect for a children’s picture book: the importance of enjoying life, being oneself and accepting others. So, Hahn teamed up with Charleston artist Tate Nation, and they ended up with a cheery board-style book aimed at kids 1 to 5 years old.
I like Hahn’s style – and I’m not talking about the nail polish. I like that he wanted to spend time with his daughter in her environment. I like that he was confident enough to have a little fun and then stand by his decision. I like that he was inspired enough to turn it into a book to teach children, and I love that he is sharing the proceeds with the needy.
A portion of the sales will benefit Soles4Souls, a Nashville-based non-profit charity that collects new and gently used shoes and distributes them to people around the world.
“The launch of ‘My Purple Toes’ has created a unique opportunity to give back to children in need,” said the author, “and we look forward to donating to Soles4Souls in support of its worthy cause.”
Almost 11 million pairs of shoes have been given in the last five years. The footwear has gone to Hurricane Katrina victims, as well as millions of others in 125 countries.
While “My Purple Toes” is not offered through BigUniverse.com, there are many selections on the children’s picture books website that touch on issues of confidence, kindness, sharing and personal growth. Here are just a few to get you started:
Note: Library, school and hospital representatives may contact the author directly at 1-(800) 247-6553 or blair@mypurpletoes.com to request copies of the book at a discounted rate.
My dad used to call my sister “Miss Fingers,” because she was always touching things. I now know that she was a tactile learner – driven by curiosity and the desire to understand and experience objects up close and in person.
Today she is a renaissance woman of many talents: school teacher, mother, tennis whiz, quilter, seamstress, great cook, scrapbooker and home decorator extraordinaire.
My youngest daughter takes after her creative aunt. When she was really little, I would have my “Miss Fingers” roll up her hands in the front of her shirt, when we walked through stores with lots of breakables. She just could not resist “looking at” all the pretty things with her busy little digits.
She now spends her free time cutting, pasting, gluing, stringing and knitting things together. Her collages cover her bedroom walls, and her friends have been the recipients of homemade cards, picture frames, scarves, jewelry and one-of-a-kind posters.
If you have a child with a hunger for hobbies, check out the craft series by Big Universe’s partner, Rourke Publishing. Written by Tracy Maurer, these well-illustrated books are aimed at the Grade 3-6 crowd. Following the directions for each project strengthens reading comprehension skills and vocabulary – while fostering artistic creativity.
Paula Willey of the Baltimore County Public Library in Towson, Md., reviewed this series for the November 2009 issue of School Library Journal. Here is what she had to say:
“The crafts in these cheery books are not too hard, but not so simple as to be boring, and are made with a minimum of specialty supplies. Lively, upbeat covers feature photos of regular girls with big smiles. Inside, the subject of each book is first put into context and then illustrated with seven to eight crafts. There is an emphasis on safety and on getting permission and on responsibility. Many projects incorporate reuse of household items that might otherwise be discarded (worn-out jeans, buttons, jars, newspapers).”
Rourke Publishing also offers an “Explore and Draw” series, which would have been up my other daughter’s alley when she was younger – a combination of reading and sketching! Titles include:
I was on a crowded train in Spain when I was introduced to the World Cup. I was backpacking across Europe with a friend after college graduation and had just commented on how tightly we were packed in the train.
“I wonder if it’s always this crowded?” I mused. A British guy sitting on the floor near me said it was because of the World Cup.
“World Cup?” I asked, naively.
After the guy and his buddy picked their chins up off the floor, the cheekier of the two said, “Foo-ball! You know, A-mer-i-can sack-ur,” he said, giving a poor imitation of a cross between J.R. Ewing and a Boston fireman. “You gaw eh be kitten me,” he added, shaking his head. Or, at least that’s what I thought he said.
After thoroughly roasting us, the two English “blokes” invited us two American “birds” to see a game with them in Seville, Spain. (They were rabid soccer fans and were following the Copa del Mundo de Fútbol – España 82 competition until their money ran out.) We agreed.
I’m not sure how they swung the tickets, since the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan Stadium was wall-to-wall people. Don’t ask; don’t tell.
Once inside, the adrenaline rush was overwhelming, or that might have been my fear of being crushed by 68,000 exuberant fans or impaled by one of their waving flags. Once I secured a safe perch up on a wall, I found out that the actual soccer game was exciting too. Brazil beat the Soviet Union 2 to 1, and afterward the fans hit the streets of Seville, parading into the middle of the night.
A chance encounter in Spain? Nah! The four of us all kept in touch, and six years later my friend married her soul mate – one of guys on the train. They are raising a brood of soccer players now here in the States. He coaches and refs, and I’m sure she has done her share of soccer mom duties. Eventually, my husband and I got involved in the sport too and coached Under 8 Girls soccer in the local recreation league for six or seven seasons.
The sport that no one believed would ever catch on in the United States, has in fact ignited a generation! Here are a few soccer books for kids offered at Big Universe to fuel the flame…both for soccer and reading.
Posted on June 25, 2010 by Suzan Woodard in Commentary, General, Personal Experiences, Tips.
Tags: Big Universe, Building Literacy Skills, Car games, Family Time, Family Travel, Road Trip, summer reading, Summer Setback, Traveling with kids
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“This is June, the month of grass and leaves . . . and a new summer is offered me.”
– Henry David Thoreau
There’s something magical about summertime: new adventures, freedom and beauty that one can almost sip from a straw.
Summer clips the tethers that hold us tight the rest of the year. We stay outside longer, we stop for impromptu ice cream cones, and we get up early on Saturday morning and consider it fun because we are headed to the farmers’ market.
And then, there are the vacations! Off we go to the beach, the lake, the amusement park or to the mountains to camp.
Unfortunately there’s usually some significant travel time involved on vacations, and that can be tricky with little ones in tow. But, that’s part of life, so early on I decided to embrace the inevitable car rides, seeing them as opportunities – rather than something one step above rubbing sunscreen in my eyes.
So, I came up with a kid-friendly strategy that made trips both fun and educational. In my two previous blogs I detailed tips to make long trips easier, including a packing list and some car game suggestions to make the time go faster and to exercise brain cells.
Here are a few more car games to boost your children’s language skills and minimize irritability and whining.
Who Am I?
One child says, “Who am I?” The second child asks, “Are you a person, place or thing?” The first child answers, and then the question-answer volley proceeds until the mystery item or person is guessed. (Are you smaller than a car? Do you make noise? Can you be eaten? Are you scary? Are you soft? This models conversation patterns, teaches critical thinking skills and sharpens listening aptitude.
License Plate Game
If you have a long road trip planned, print copies listing the 50 states. As your child spies license plates from different states, have him check the state off his list. Or, give him some crayons and a black and white map of the United States and let him color in each state that he sees. Reading, geography and small motor skills wrapped into one.
Rhyme Time
Language is made of sounds, and making rhymes is an early literacy milestone. This game involves parent-child interaction, which builds communication bridges as well as a wide vocabulary base. Some of the rhymes will be silly or nonsensical, but that’s OK. Language has its serious side, but words can be a delight, too.
Give a noun in a phrase, pausing so your child can fill in the blank. Start by example:
The dog and a ___. (hog, log, frog)
A star with a ___. (car, jar, or a nonsense word like “dar”)
Jack Sprat and his ___. (cat, rat, mat, bat)
Fortunately, Unfortunately
Older kids will love this word play game. It encourages the imagination and a sense of humor. One person starts a scenario by say, “Fortunately…” The second person responds by saying, “Unfortunately…” You alternate between fortunate and unfortunate things. It’ll get the laughter going. For example:
“Fortunately, we are stopping for lunch soon.”
“Unfortunately, Mom left your sandwich at home.”
“Fortunately, I have a bag of peanuts in my pocket.”
“Unfortunately, the park we are going to is infested with aggressive squirrels.”
“Fortunately, I speak ‘squirrel’ fluently and will be able to talk my way out of trouble.”
“Unfortunately, the park is a wildlife refuge and kids aren’t allowed to speak out loud there.”
“Fortunately…”
And so on.
Would You Rather?
This game is as simple as they come. Start by example, then let the kids have a turn.
“Would you rather go to the pool or go to the zoo?
“Would you rather eat lima beans or eat spinach?”
“Would you rather pet a bear or pet a lion?
“Would you rather have 12 toes or 12 fingers?”
These are just a few of the many games that can be played in the car. I shared “Horse on Wheels” in my first blog in this series and three other car games in my second posting: “The Great Race from A to Z,” “Sack on My Back” and “Name Game.” They foster communication, build literacy skills and boost family bonding. Check them out.
I’d love to hear about some of the word games your family plays in the car to pass the time. Feel free to post a comment.
Have a great summer.
*** If you are taking a laptop with you on your road trip and have a 3G Internet card or have Internet hookup at your vacation lodging, Big Universe provides a portable library for children at your fingertips. With thousands of beautiful picture books available 24/7, there is no reason for your kids to experience “summer setback” in reading. Maintain or even improve their literacy skills with a wide assortment of fiction and non-fiction stories.
Posted on June 14, 2010 by Suzan Woodard in General, Personal Experiences, Tips.
Tags: Big Universe, Car games, Family Time, Family Travel, Online Children's Books, Road Trip, summer reading, Summer Setback, Traveling with kids
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In my last blog, I talked about summer vacation, traveling in a car and how important it is to prepare carefully when carrying young passengers. If you are going to confine small people in small spaces for hours on end, it’s best to have a plan. “Prepare or perish” were my exact words.
Car games are a good way to pass the time on a long trip, along with a pile of books, a new toy and some snacks. Car games are literacy builders, too – whether players look for letters on billboards, build an expanding story based on the ABCs and memory skills, or sing silly songs with changing sounds.
I shared a new but simple game called “Horse on Wheels” in my previous blog. Here are three more games to foster communication, build literacy skills and boost family bonding while putting some mileage on your car.
The Great Race from A to Z
Have your children look for each letter in the alphabet, using billboards and signs on businesses. See how many times they can get through the alphabet before getting to Aunt Carolyn’s house. Or, use a stopwatch to time the race from A to Z. It can be a group effort or kids can compete, depending on the squabble factor. Add a notebook and pencil to the equation if your children need practice with penmanship.
Sack on My Back
This is a memory game and tongue twister all packed into one! Each player takes a turn reciting the game prompt: “In a sack on my back, I think I’ll pack…” He or she adds a noun each time, starting with A, then B, and so on. Each player will need to listen closely, so he doesn’t leave anything off the list. “In a sack on my back, I think I’ll pack an apple, a basketball, a camera and my dachshund.”
Name Game
This rhyming car game takes some practice, but the kids love it. I never quite mastered it, but children have a special knack to pick up on the playful sound switcheroos, especially when names are involved. You can play it with other words, too. Learn one line; then add another. Here are several examples:
Darby, Darby, Bo-barby
Banana, Fanna, Fo-farby
Fee, Fie, Mo-marby
Daaar-by!
—-
Tom, Tom, Bo-bom
Banana, Fanna, Fo-fom
Fee, Fie, Mo-mom
Tooo-ooom!
—-
Maddie, Maddie, Bo-baddie
Banana, Fanna, Fo-faddie
Fee, Fie, Mo-maddie
Maaad-die!
—-
Dave, Dave, Bo-bave
Banana, Fanna, Fo-fave
Fee, Fie, Mo-mave
Daaa-ve!
(Clue: Note the rhyming pattern. Pick a name. Say it twice, then drop the first letter of the name and substitute the silly consonants and sounds.)
SEE MORE CAR GAME IDEAS IN MY NEXT BLOG (3rd in a series)!
*** If you are taking a laptop with you on your trip and have a 3G Internet card or have Internet hookup at your vacation lodging, Big Universe provides a portable library for children at your fingertips. With thousands of beautiful picture books available 24/7, there is no reason for your kids to experience “summer setback” in reading. Maintain or even improve their literacy skills with a wide assortment of fiction and non-fiction stories.
Posted on June 13, 2010 by Suzan Woodard in Commentary, General, Personal Experiences, Tips.
Tags: Big Universe, Car games, Family Time, literacy games, memories, Online Children's Books, Road Trip, summer reading, Summer Setback
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Oprah Winfrey said, “My philosophy is that not only are you responsible for your life, but doing the best at this moment puts you in the best place for the next moment.”
I’ve always been an optimist, so I appreciate her sentiment. I try to look at the bright side of things and make the best of less than ideal situations – even imprisonment in a smallish vehicle with three other people.
…That’s 70 cubic feet of space, divided by four – not counting the luggage, the snacks and the pillows. But, I suppose if Oprah and her best friend, Gayle King, can go cross country for 11 days in a little Chevy Impala, I can survive for five in an SUV.
Road trips. They can be viewed as either adventures or a stress-packed short cut to Purgatory – especially if children are involved. If vacations involve a lot of driving, parents MUST be prepared. Prepare or perish, I say!
A captive audience
Some of my girls’ fondest memories are of the vacations we took when they were little. It wasn’t necessarily the destination that thrilled them either. I worked hard to make the drive time fun…and educational…to make the most of a potentially difficult situation. I figured I had a captive audience and took advantage of the opportunity.
If you set your children up for a successful road trip, 99 percent of the time, that’s what you’ll get. Plan well, prepare your children, have a positive attitude…and pray like crazy. That was my formula. I desired happy children…but, I also wanted to avoid a nasty case of vehicular momicide.
We listened to books on tape, and we played word games. (See car game at end of this article…and more in the next blog!) We sang and we TALKED about what we saw out the windows.
Building Blocks for Literacy
A language-rich environment like this helps children develop their vocabulary and their ability to communicate. They learn how to express their observations and opinions, to ask questions, and to listen – all building blocks for literacy. And, if parents engage fully, they can get to know the hearts of their children.
One for You, and One for Me
Of course, what’s a car trip without snacks? I packed healthful treats in Ziplocs, but crossing state borders was something to really celebrate! One Gummi Worm for North Carolina. Two for Virginia. Three for West Virginia, and, well, when you hit Pennsylvania, you hit the Mother Lode!
What’s in the Bag?
There were always a few brown bags marked “Top Secret,” too. When we reached certain landmarks and IF the children behaved properly, they each got a bag with her name on it. Sometimes it contained a coloring book or puzzle booklet. Other times it had a 50-cent bracelet, a miniature dolly, a little book or a couple of plastic animals. (Note: Don’t forget something for the return voyage!)
NEVER, No Never Ever…
And, of course, we NEVER embarked on a long excursion without a fresh supply of books from the library. We wedged a laundry basket between the girls’ booster seats, which gave them easy access to a heap of books. We left a list of the library books taped to the refrigerator at home with their due dates to make their return easier and to minimize late fees. Our library was good about printing a list for us.
Now with mobile 3G Internet cards becoming more common, network access on the road is possible. That means websites like BigUniverse.com and all its beautiful children’s picture books can go on vacation with you. Can’t get much better than that!
To help get all you road warriors ready for this summer’s trips, I have compiled a checklist to make your preparations kid-friendly.
How to Survive a Road Trip with Kids
- Pack comfort items. Pillows, teddy and a favorite blanket.
- Buy or borrow books on tape/CD. Great for when it gets dark.
- Bring drinks in spill-proof containers. Pack individual snacks. Dry nibbles are best. There will be crumbs, so choose things that can be vacuumed up.
- Don’t forget hand wipes to clean sticky faces and grimy hands.
- Buy or borrow a fresh collection of age-appropriate books to fight boredom and make the trip go faster. Have older siblings read to their younger brothers and sisters. You’ll get twice the mileage from each book.
- Pick out a few movies for the laptop or DVD player, but use sparingly. I suggest saving them for the return trip or for when it gets dark. Don’t forget headsets – unless you want to be humming kiddie songs for the next week.
- Tuck Dramamine, ear patches or pressure-point bracelets in the glove compartment.
- Pack a jump rope, Skip-It or football in the trunk to facilitate some quick exercise at rest stops. Antsy kids don’t make good passengers. Stop often.
- Give each child their own flashlight. Just take my word on it. It’s a godsend, while en route and once you get to your destination. (Don’t forget a plug-in nightlight, too.)
- . Place a few surprises in opaque gift bags: mini books, Matchbox cars, stickers, word search puzzles, sugarless gum, Polly Pocket dolls, tiny spiral notebooks and washable markers, mazes, string and string games booklet, etc.
- . Prepare a list of car games and pack any necessary props. Many of them are good literacy builders, since they involve word and symbol recognition, playful rhymes, spelling, counting and writing.
- . Add your own ideas to this list.
A Car Game for You
“Horse on Wheels” is a good car game for beginning readers. It involves observation, counting, spelling, writing and stickers. It can be competitive in nature or not. It’s a little like bingo and a little like the driveway basketball game “Horse” – only there is no hoop or basketball…or driveway for that matter! You do spell “h-o-r-s-e” though!
It’s easy to play and only requires three simple components.
- One sheet of stiff card stock, matte finish (no shine)
- One child-safe washable marker or a pencil
- One sheet of yard sale dot stickers (office supply aisle)
How to assemble: Take card stock and write the word “horse” in big bold letters across the top. Draw vertical lines from top to bottom between the letters. Draw horizontal lines to create squares big enough to fit a dot sticker in the middle. Add a few more horizontal lines to create rows of empty boxes big enough for a child to write the corresponding letter. (See graphic above.)
How to play: The child looks out the window until he or she spots a horse. For every horse, the child gets to add a sticker dot to the chart, placing it first under the letter “H,” then in the “O” column, and so on. After the sticker is in place, the child should write the letter below the sticker. The first child to write “horse” three times wins.
Note: We were driving through Tennessee, Kentucky, Ohio and Indiana, so it was easy to count horses. Not so easy if you are sticking to urban byways. If this is the case, mark the top of your sheet with a different word or phrase: dog, police car, taxi, bridge and so on.
– SEE MORE CAR GAME IDEAS IN MY NEXT BLOG!
*** If you are taking a laptop with you on your trip and have a 3G Internet card or have Internet hookup at your vacation lodging, Big Universe provides a portable library for children at your fingertips. With thousands of beautiful picture books available 24/7, there is no reason for your kids to experience “summer setback” in reading. Maintain or even improve their literacy skills with a wide assortment of fiction and non-fiction stories.
Big Universe has added a broad range of new books to its online library recently – thanks to publishing partners attuned to children’s vast interests and the wish lists of teachers. I have marveled at this website’s diverse inventory and decided to put it to the test.
