Create a Summer Craft Center for Your Kids

Keep your kids inspired this summer with a craft room, aka the kitchen table and some shelves brimming with supplies. Fill some shelves with baskets and shoeboxes containing basic art studio supplies plus recyclables, craft supplies (like fun foam, stickers, Play-Doh®, etc.), and fabric scraps. The kids provided the imagination.

If you've got kids at home this summer (your own, your grandkids, etc.), I recommend this list of starter supplies.

• Basic art supplies like white glue, paint, paper, tape, and beads
• Cardboard boxes
• Duct tape (a variety of colors and patterns), painter's tape, electrical tape
• Corks, lids, chopsticks, spools, jars, empty toilet paper rolls, and other recyclables
• Craft sticks
• Fiberfill
• Fabric scraps and sewing supplies
• Wire and beads from the dollar store
• Socks (old ones or socks that have lost their mate to the laundry monster)
• Wood glue and Mod Podge® (plus heavy gel medium or a glue gun—used with supervision—to mount found objects like shells and rocks)
• Ink and stamps
• Paints and cardboard stock paper
• Old buttons
• Beading string
• Discarded jewelry parts
• Old watch parts

Why not hang a clothesline in your craft room and display summer artwork there? At the end of the summer, you can have the kids frame select pieces and mount them on the wall.

Come the end of August when you ask yourself, “Where did the summer go?” you'll be able to point to your kids' artistic treasures and say, “There.”

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10 New Year Activities for Kids!

By Erin McNeill

New Year’s Eve is an exciting time for everyone; why not take the time to plan an extraordinary event for the kids in your life? Everyone in the family can be involved in the activities to help create a healthy and safe New Year for all of your family members.

1. Create your own time capsule – Throughout the year gather clippings and other artifacts from important events that happened and put them all in a time capsule. Add in souvenirs and a few pictures from places you visited also. Store it in a safe place and decide together when you’ll open it again. It would be fun to open it each year and go through the contents and then add mementos from the previous year.
2. Make party hats – Create your own party hats for your celebration! Decorate them before you assemble them; you can use pom-poms, glitter, sequins, glitter glue, ribbon, and anything else you fancy.
3. Decorate cookies – Bake a bunch of sugar cookies ahead of time and have frosting ready to go for some serious cookie decorating. Make sure you have a lot of fancy decorations on hand like sprinkles and sanding sugars!
4. Make fancy kid drinks – Have some sparkling juices and ingredients for Shirley Temple’s on hand so that the kids can feel fancy at their New Year’s Eve party. Having some fresh fruit to drop into the glasses before serving will ensure that the kids feel like the grown-ups!
5. Play traditional party games with a New Year’s theme – Keep kids involved in the celebration (without them getting too wild and out of control!) by planning some party games. Pin the party hat on the person, musical chairs with holiday themed music, and a sequined ball piñata are just some of the activities to choose from.
6. Make your own sequined balls – Create your own ball just like the one they drop at midnight! All you need is a two-inch foam ball, some straight pins or craft glue, colorful sequins, and a chenille stem. Older kids can use straight pins to pin the sequins into the balls while younger kids can glue the sequins on (be sure to allow drying time). Push a chenille stem part way through the top and use the other end as a hanger. Hang up all of the balls and admire the festive atmosphere you’ve created.
7. Learn how to say Happy New Year in many languages – Make cards that show how to say Happy New Year in different languages and practice them on each other. Be sure to include a phonetic pronunciation of each language to help your guests read the cards. If you want to be really tricky you can make your guests guess which language each card is from!

For the rest of this article click HERE:

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KATIE HINES' BOOK, GUARDIAN, HITS THE SHELVES!

Today, I have the pleasure of hosting an upcoming star author, Katie Hines. She has a wonderful writing style and stories that kids will get excited over. Her urban fantasy novel, Guardian, has hit the shelves! It's a MUST READ!

I asked Katie to write a BIO POEM for us. Take a look at her honest reponses to the serious life questions below.


BIO POEM

Katie
Who is organized, creative and fun
Who is sister of three siblings
Who loves my husband, and two daughters
Who feels overwhelmed, blessed and joyful
Who needs more self-discipline, lots of money, a job for my husband
Who gives of self to others, thought to my purpose in life, and to my family first
Who fears not making it as a writer, the golden years, and eating too much
Who would like to see my kids married and happy
Who shares life with the man of my dreams
Who is fat with contentment
Who is a resident of South Carolina
Hines


When Katie sent me an advanced copy of her book to read for this interview, I couldn't put it down. Here's part of the email I sent her when I finished the book. "Oh my God, Katie, I love your book! Your descriptions, intricate plot, and fresh verb usage remind me of my favorite author, Cornelia Funke. You intertwine fantasy and history seamlessly to create an intriguing mystery full of exciting twists and turns. Way to go! I know you will have incredible success with this book."

Kathy: Do you create a complete profile for each of your characters? How did you come up with Grandma’s character? She was so much fun!

Katie: I did create a profile for Drew, Mattie and Javon. Then, as I got further in the book, I didn’t continue to do that, and still think I did good with them. Grandma was fun to create, and a hoot to see in action. She got dreamed up along the way.

Kathy: Your descriptions are ingenious and full of energy, Katie. Example: An early cold snap arrived with a vengeance, stealing into homes and rattling old bones. Senior citizens cornered anyone who would listen, telling that a cold Maine winter would soon follow. Snaking its long fingers through the truck window Mr. Newman kept cracked, the cold touched and chilled the three young people who rode to the ferry, Bar Harbor’s “The Pirate’s Run.” How much of this kind of writing flows out of you naturally and how much is a result of hard work and rewrites?

Katie: That kind of thing is easy to write. But keeping the story real, and the characters honest, that I work on and rewrite a lot.

Kathy: I was laughing out loud when reading the chicken escapade in chapter 5. How important is humor in a young adult novel?

Katie: I’m glad you loved that! It is one of my favorite chapters. I think if we can’t laugh, then we take ourselves much too seriously, and life is too short not to have laughter along the way, for anyone.

Kathy: I loved the many twists and turns in your plot. Usually I can guess the ending of a book or movie before it’s over. You had me guessing until the end. Did you use an outline to plan the twists, did your characters dictate the story, or did the story take on a life of its own?

Katie: I kept a story board to keep track of all the revelations and antics. Basically, I have a physical board that holds about 70 5x7 cards. I do one for each chapter, keeping track of the page numbers, the POV character, the other characters and revelations or key points for that chapter.

As far as the ending is concerned, I had something else planned, but I wanted to make it exciting and unpredictable, so I brainstormed with my husband about some ideas, and came up with the ending as it is now.

Kathy:I see that your story is birthed from the actual history of the Holy Grail and the knight’s templar. How much time went into research? How many real facts are weaved into the story?

Katie: I spent about three months researching for the book. The Templars are real, as is King Philip of France, references to pirates, the story of Perceval and the Fisher King and of course, the Grail. And, I have to point to where it all began: the Oak Island treasure mystery.

Kathy: What’s your favorite chapter of the book and why do you like it?

Katie: My favorite chapter (next to the chickens) is the story of Perceval and the Fisher King. I like it because it is in storytelling mode, the subject is interesting, and it was something that enriched the story that I wouldn’t have put in there if I hadn’t done all the research that I did do. I think it added a lot to the story.

Kathy: What was your experience in looking for a publisher? Was there much editing required when the ms went to the publisher?

Katie: While I was writing “Guardian” I kept an eye out for publishers who might be interested in the type of story that “Guardian” is. When I finally quit editing “Guardian,” I chose the top three companies, and sent them query letters. It was rejected by the first one. The second said they didn’t feel comfortable editing kid’s stuff, but passed it along to another editor, 4RV Publishing, who did pick the book up.

You can edit forever. I finally had to make a decision to stop, and submit! Then was the real work of editing for the publisher.

Kathy: What are your favorite young adult novels and authors? What have you learned from these authors that you see appearing in your own books?

Katie: Because I am a lover of fantasy, my very favorite author is Terry Brooks. He has a fantastic imagination, and creates wonderful stories. He wrote an autobiography entitled, “Sometimes the Magic Works.” I love that phrase, and have tried to make sure that that is true of my book.

Kathy: Thank you for stopping by today on your book tour and sharing with us some insights to the writing of your YA Urban Fantasy, Guardian. Leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of her book

Katie Hines Links:
Publisher - http://4rvpublishingllc.com
Website - www.katiehines.com
Blog - http://katiehines.blogspot.com

Kathy Stemke's websites:
Moving Through all Seven Days link:http://www.lulu.com/content/e-book/moving-through-all-seven-days/7386965#http://www.helium.com/users/406242.html
http://www.associatedcontent.com/user/237923/Kathy_stemke_dancekam.html
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SPIDERS!

Click on the image to enlarge, copy and print.

Spider Facts

Spiders are not insects. Insects have three body parts and six legs.
Spiders have eight eyes, eight legs, two body parts, outside skeletons, and fangs. They do not have antennas or wings. Males are smaller than the females.
Spiderlings are baby spiders that hatch from silk covered egg sacs. Each kind of spider knows how to spin a certain pattern of a web when it hatches.
Spiders eat millions of insects a year. They create beautiful webs and are useful.
Not all spiders spin webs.

Spiders are oviparous, which means their babies come from eggs.The Spider Poem

Spiders are not insects,
Spiders have eight legs,
Spiders have four pair of eyes,
Spiders hatch from eggs.
Spider webs are sticky,
Spiders weave them tight,
Spiders spin that silky string,
Spiders weave webs right!

I'm a Little Spider
(sung to I'm a Little Teapot) by Sue Brown

I'm a little spider, watch me spin.
If you'll be my dinner, I'll let you come in.
Then I'll spin my web to hold you tight,
And Gobble you up in one big bite!

"Crawl Like a Spider" (sung to the tune of "Ten Little Indians")

Crawl, crawl, crawl like a spider.
Crawl, crawl, crawl like a spider.
Crawl, crawl, crawl like a spider.
Crawl around your web.
Replace the action word with: jump, run, creep, sneak, pounce

Crafts

Spider Marble Painting

Place an 8x8 inch square of black construction paper in a box lid. Dip a marble in white paint and drop it onto the paper. Roll the marble around by tilting the lid. Continue until you have a spider web.

SPIDERS HAND PRINT

If you have the children trace their hands with white crayons on black paper and you cut off the thumbs you will have eight legs by gluing the two palms together. They can create the faces on their own or you could take their photo and cut their face out for the spider face.

Spider Mask

What You Need: Paint Paper Plate Yarn Garbage Bag

Paint a large paper plate black, next hole punch 4 holes 2 on each side of the mask near the edge of the plate. Then from a clean black garbage bag cut four 16 inch strips. Help the child thread a strip through each small hole in his plate and tie the strip in the center, it will make the spiders eight legs, glue a large craft stick on the back of the mask.

Cooking

Marshmallow Spiders For each spider, use one large marshmallow for the body and one small marshmallow for the head (attach with 1/2 a toothpick). Make eyes from mini M&Ms, legs from pretzel sticks. Cover with chocolate sauce, if desired.

Math Project

Give students a blank spider web with a number on the side of the sheet - 1-10.
Kids make the same number of spiders on the web. They use use their thumbs with an ink pad and then add eight little legs.

A to Z Teacher Stuff: http://www.atozteacherstuff.com/Printables/Spiders/index.shtml

Kids Zone (spider activities): http://www.kidzone.ws/lw/spiders/activities.htm

Miss Spider
http://www.noggin.com/shows/miss_spider.php?source=SEO_SSP_Y&sem=SEO_SSP_Y

Kathy Stemke's websites:
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IMMEDIATE REWARDS FOR APPROPRIATE BEHAVIOR!

When young children receive immediate positive reinforcement for appropriate behavior, they are more likely to repeat that behavior. Positive reinforcement is "catching" a kid doing something you want them to do and rewarding it. This is an effective way to shape a child's conduct, communication skills, and attitude. Children naturally want to earn and keep your approval.

A recent study dramatically reinforced this teaching approach. A research group at the University of Rochester conducted a three-year study funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. They interviewed 278 mothers of 3-year-olds and observed mothers and children playing and working together. The women and children represented all socio-economic groups.

They found that the children of parents, who were negative and controlling, verbally and physically, were "situationally" compliant. This means as soon as the parent became distracted, the child reverted to inappropriate behavior because they had not learned the correct skills. By contrast, the children of parents who use gentle guidance or positive reinforcement showed "committed compliance," which means they understood and used the correct behavior, even when their parents were not monitoring them.

Positive Reinforcement works because it gives children positive goals to work towards instead of only focusing on negative consequences to avoid. Positive reinforcement fulfills strong basic psychological needs of every child as well as setting a more positive and healthy tone for the caregiver-child relationship. Some parents find it helpful to display a note where they can see it often, reminding them to look for appropriate behavior in their children. The note might read, "notice the positive" or "catch'em doing good."

Use Verbal Praise
Always praise the behavior, not the person. Praises like good girl or good boy risk misinterpretation. If a child exhibits inappropriate behavior, they may think that they are a bad person. It's better to praise the behavior by saying, "You did a great job cleaning your room, son."

Praise Genuinely
Complimenting a child's behavior can lose its punch if you praise usual, expected behavior or if you praise too much. Don't over do it. You may want to keep a mental note of the number of times you are using praise in a day. Use eye and body contact during your delivery to reinforce your sincerity. A child can tell when you're faking it.

Use a Variety of Ways to Praise
To keep a child's attention, change the delivery of your praise. A teacher may give a pat on the head or shoulder to show approval, while a parent may give a hug or a kiss. Body language like a thumbs-up, communicates approval in a cool way. You might want to write a note praising their clean room and leave it on their pillow.

Children love behavior charts with colorful stars or stickers, because they can show visitors their accomplishments by showing them the chart. Charts are interactive and fun. Let the child help you make the chart and make daily entries.

Help your child draw a picture of his reward. Put dots around the prize about an inch apart. With each day of successful behavior, allow the child to connect a dot. When the circle is complete, the child gets his reward. They enjoy watching their own progress as they get closer and closer to finishing the circle.

Keep the time until the prize is collected short. For a toddler, use end of the hour rewards; for a preschooler use end of the day rewards; and for the school age child use end of the week rewards. In fact, for a preschool child it's best to refer to an event as the ending time such as, after dinner" or" at bedtime."

To work, a reward must be something the child likes. You can become a detective and ask some leading questions to find out what rewards a child wants. The following are examples of leading questions.

"If you could do some special things, what would they be?"
"If you could go somewhere with a friend, where would you go?'
"If you had a dollar, what would you buy?'

Make reward coupons to be redeemed when they earn a certain number of points. But remember that children need reminders. Reminders are less likely to provoke a refusal or power struggle. You might give a clue like, "Where does your plate belong?" You might want to write a list of positive behaviors or responsibilities on a poster board. You can review these lists with the child as needed.

A child who receives positive reinforcement develops high self-esteem; and a child with a high self-esteem usually exhibits self-motivation. A child who exhibits self-motivation generally becomes a successful achiever at home and at school.

There are some who say rewards can stunt creativity in children, and children should perform for the joy of the activity. But, life is full of rewards. If a person follows the rules, and works hard, they are rewarded.


Kathy Stemke's websites:
Moving Through all Seven Days link:http://www.lulu.com/content/e-book/moving-through-all-seven-days/7386965#http://www.helium.com/users/406242.html
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http://kathystemke.weebly.com

Education World ® Lesson Planning: Heroes in History ABC Book

Education World ® Lesson Planning: Heroes in History ABC Book

More info on lessons for ABC books from Education World!

AN ABC OF ENDANGERED SPECIES
Teacher Laura Toffenetti challenged each of her fourth graders at the Dorothy C. Goodwin School in Storrs, Connecticut, to create an ABC book of endangered animals. The task was easier than might be expected because, the students were amazed to learn, the world has more than 6,000 species that are "endangered" due to loss of habitat, poaching, and pollution!
"Students used a variety of resources to research the animals," says Toffenetti. "Each page had to include at least four facts about the animal, a map showing where the animal lives, and a picture."
"We spent some time learning how to lay out a page in an effective way," adds Toffenetti. "We also had some mini drawing lessons to help them capture the animals' likenesses."

ABC OF POSSIBILITIES
For the letter A, you might create a book called The Ancient Civilization Alphabet Book. The opening pages of that book -- the pages for the letters A to E -- might include illustrations and text related to
· A -- Alexander the Great, the Aztecs, Athens, the Aeneid, or Aristotle;
· B -- Buddha, Babylon, or the Byzantine Empire;
· C -- Confucius, Code of Hamurabi, Cheops' Great Pyramid, clay tablets, Crete, Caesar, or Cleopatra;
· D -- democracy;
· E -- Egypt, Elba, Euphrates, Etruscans, or Euripedes ...
Other possible topics for alphabet books that begin with the letter A: aviation, agriculture, Africa, art history and artists, American authors, architecture, astronomy, automobiles, or Australia.
B AND BEYOND ...
For the letter B, you might create The Biology Alphabet Book. The opening pages of the book might include
· amoeba, arachnids, or algae;
· bacteria or biomes;
· cells or crustacean;
· Darwin;
· ecology or evolution ...
Other possible topics for alphabet books that begin with the letter B: baseball, biographies, the human body, birds, Brazil, or famous buildings.
For the letter C, you might create The Citizenship Alphabet Book. The opening pages of the book might include
A good citizen
· acts responsibly;
· doesn't bully;
· cares for people and other living things;
· takes part in community debates;
· votes in elections ...
For the letter E, you might create The Economics Alphabet Book. The opening pages of the book might include
· automated teller machine (ATM);
· banks, bull market, or budget;
· credit cards, child labor, or consumerism;
· depression or dollar;
· European Community ...
Other possible topics for alphabet books that begin with the letter E: Earth, ecology and the environment, Thomas Edison, Eskimos, education, Egypt, elections, Europe, electricity, endangered species, science experiments, exploration, energy, or England.
For the letter F, you might create The Food Around the World Alphabet Book. The opening pages of the book might include
· artsoppa (Scandanavia) or anitpasto (Italy);
· babka (Poland), blini (Russia), bubble and squeak (England), or baklava (Armenia, Greece);
· challah (Israel), curry (India), crumpets (England), or chow mein (China);
· Danish pastries (called wienerbrot, or "Vienna bread," in Denmark) or dumplings (Germany);
· edible seaweed (Japan) ...
Other possible topics for alphabet books that begin with the letter F: family, farms and farming, fish, flags, forests, or flowers.
For the letter G, you might create The Geography Alphabet Book. The opening pages of the book might include
· Arctic, altitude, archipelago, atoll, axis, or Atlantic Ocean;
· bay or butte;
· cities, cape, canyon, continental shelf, or climate;
· delta, (continental) divide, or dune;
· elevation, erg, estuary, or equator ...
Other possible topics for alphabet books that begin with the letter G: games, gardens, Greece, or geology.
For the letter H, you might create The Holidays Around the World Alphabet Book. The opening pages of the book might include
· Arbor Day and Abraham Lincoln's Birthday (U.S.), Australia Day (Australia), or April Fools' Day (many countries);
· Bolivar's Birthday (South America) or Bastille Day (France);
· Christmas (many countries), Confucius' Birthday (China), Columbus Day (U.S.), Constitution Day (Japan), Candlemas Day (Scotland), or Canada Day (Canada);
· Day of the Race (Latin America) or Dragon Boat Festival (China);
· Empire Day (also called Commonwealth Day, Great Britain) or Easter (many countries) ...
Other possible topics for alphabet books that begin with the letter H: Hawaii, the home, healthful habits, the Holocaust, herbs, Hispanic Americans, and hobbies.
For the letter I, you might create The Important People in American History Alphabet Book. The opening pages of the book might include
· Susan B. Anthony or John Quincy Adams;
· Aaron Burr, Clara Barton, Daniel Boone, or Buffalo Bill;
· George Washington Carver, Henry Clay, Andrew Carnegie, or Calvin Coolidge;
· Frederick Douglass;
· Dwight D. Eisenhower ...
Other possible topics for alphabet books that begin with the letter I: India, the Ice Age, inventions, immigration, Illinois, ice-skating, American Indians, the Industrial Revolution, or insects.
For the letter J, you might create The Jobs Alphabet Book. The opening pages of the book might include
· anthropologist, animator, airplane pilot, auto repairperson, or architect;
· baker, butcher, ballet dancer, basketball player, bulldozer operator, bus driver, or businesswoman;
· chemist, cook, cable TV installer, chaplain, carpenter, cashier, or computer technician;
· divorce lawyer, dentist, doctor, director, disc jockey, dietition, or dress designer;
· editor, economist, engineer, electrician, EMT, or eye doctor ...
Other possible topics for alphabet books that begin with the letter J: jungles, Jamestown, jazz, or Japan.
For the letter K, you might create The Martin Luther King Alphabet Book. The opening pages of the book might include
· Atlanta (King's birthplace);
· Birmingham or bus boycott (Montgomery) ;
· Coretta Scott King or Civil Rights Act of 1964;
· Dexter Avenue Baptist Church or "I have a dream ..." speech;
· Ebeneezer Baptist Church or equality ...
Other possible topics for alphabet books that begin with the letter K: the Korean War, knights and knighthood, or Kansas.
For the letter L, you might create The Language Alphabet Book. The opening pages of the book might include
· alphabet, apostrophe, adjective, abbreviation, or address;
· books and book titles;
· colon, compound words, compositions, comma, or cliche;
· debates, diaries, or dialogue;
· editing, e.g., or exclamation ...
Other possible topics for alphabet books that begin with the letter L: Abraham Lincoln, the Labor Movement, London, Los Angeles, great literature, or lumber and lumbering.
For the letter M, you might create The Mathematics Alphabet Book. The opening pages of the book might include
· algebra, arithmetic, or abacus;
· budgets or Bernoulli;
· calendar, complex fractions, or computers;
· decimals or Descartes;
· Einstein or equivalencies ...
Other possible topics for alphabet books that begin with the letter M: mammals, Mexico, the Middle Ages, Mars, minerals, the Middle East, mountains and mountain climbing, multiculturalism, music, mythology.
For the letter N, you might create The National Parks Alphabet Book. The opening pages of the book might include
· Acadia National Park, Act for the Preservation of American Antiquities, Arches National Park, or Appalachian National Scenic Trail;
· Badlands National Park, Big Bend National Park, Biscayne National Park, or Bryce Canyon National Park;
· Canyonlands National Park, Capitol Reef National Park, Channel Islands National Park, Crater Lake National Park, or Carlsbad Caverns National Park;
· Death Valley National Park, Denali National Park, Department of the Interior, or Dry Tortugas National Park;
· Everglades National Park ...
Other possible topics for alphabet books that begin with the letter N: people's names, North America, nature, nursery rhymes, nutrition, newspapers, or New York City.
For the letter O, you might create The Olympic Games Alphabet Book. The opening pages of the book might include
· Athens, archery, or alpine skiing;
· Baron Pierre de Coubertin, boxing, basketball, bobsledding, Bonnie Blair, biathlon, or bronze medal;
· cross-country skiing, Nadia Comaneci, or cycling;
· discus throw or Babe Didrikson;
· equestrian events ...
Other possible topics for alphabet books that begin with the letter O: oceans, Oklahoma, or the orchestra.
For the letter P, you might create The Let's Get Physical Alphabet Book. The opening pages of the book might include
· archery;
· badminton, bodybuilding, or bicycling;
· canoeing, curling, or cheerleading;
· darts or diving;
· equestrian events ...
Other possible topics for alphabet books that begin with the letter P: the Pacific Ocean, famous painters and paintings, prehistoric animals, presidents and the presidency, Puerto Rico, phobias, pets and pet care, pioneer life, plants, or Pennsylvania.
For the letter Q, you might create The Famous Quotations Alphabet Book. The opening pages of the book might include:
· Aesop: "Do not count your chickens before they are hatched."
· P. T. Barnum: "There's a sucker born every minute."
· Confucius: "Virtue is not left to stand alone. He who practices it will have neighbors."
· Leo Durocher: "Nice guys finish last."
· Thomas Edison: "Genius is one percent inspiration and ninety-nine percent perspiration." ...
Other possible topics for alphabet books that begin with the letter Q: queen bees and other insects, science questions, Quebec, or quizzes.
For the letter R, you might create The Railroad Alphabet Book. The opening pages of the book might include
· Amtrak, articulated locomotive, angle bars, or Horatio Allen;
· boxcar, Baltimore & Ohio, "Big Boys," ballast, baggage car, Matthias Baldwin, or Blucher;
· catenary, cog railroad, crossties, coach, covered hopper, caboose, classification yard, Peter Cooper, or Conrail;
· diesel locomotive, driving wheels, or dining car;
· Eurostar or electric locomotive ...
Other possible topics for alphabet books that begin with the letter R: racism, the rain forest, Reconstruction, religions of the world, reptiles, the Revolutionary War, rivers, recreation, the Renaissance, rocks, ancient Rome, or Russia.
For the letter S, you might create The Space Exploration Alphabet Book. The opening pages of the book might include
· Neil Armstrong or astronomy;
· black holes or Tycho Brahe;
· comets, constellations, or Copernicus;
· space shuttle;
· eclipse ...
Other possible topics for alphabet books that begin with the letter S: safety rules, San Francisco, Scandanavia, South America, the four seasons, stars in the sky, the sun, sharks and other sea animals, slavery, the Supreme Court, snakes, the solar system, or superstitions.
For the letter T, you might create The Technology Alphabet Book. The opening pages of the book might include
· aerodynamics or automation;
· Alexander Graham Bell;
· computers;
· Sir Humphrey Davy;
· electron microscope ...
Other possible topics for alphabet books that begin with the letter T: transportation, television, Texas, Thanksgiving, trees, the thirteen colonies, the tundra, or theater.
For the letter U, you might create The United States Government Alphabet Book. The opening pages of the book might include
· act of Congress, authorization bills, appellate court, associate justice, or appropriations bills;
· Bill of Rights or bills;
· the president's Cabinet, Congress, the U.S. Capitol, the CIA, the Constitution, checks and balances, chief justice, commander in chief, Congressional Budget Office, or the Supreme Court;
· democracy, division of powers, district court, diplomats, or the Declaration of Independence;
· elections, executive branch, or the Electoral College ...
Other possible topics for alphabet books that begin with the letter U: U.S. history, undersea exploration, U.S. landmarks and attractions, or the universe.
For the letter V, you might create The Vegetables and Fruits Alphabet Book. The opening pages of the book might include
· artichoke, asparagus, or apple;
· beet, broccoli, berries, or banana;
· cabbage, celery, carrot, cauliflower, corn, or cucumber;
· date;
· eggplant ...
Other possible topics for alphabet books that begin with the letter V: the Vikings, Venezuela, the vice presidency, or the Vietnam War.
For the letter W, you might create The World War II Alphabet Book. The opening pages of the book might include
· Axis Powers, Allied Forces, Afrika Korps, Anti-Comintern Pact, American Flying Fortress, Anschluss, Anzio, or Antwerp;
· blitz, Battle of Britain, Plan Barbarossa, Bismarck, Battle of the Bulge, Bataan, or B-29;
· Georges Clemenseau, Covenant of the League of Nations, Cherbourg, Casablanca Conference, or Winston Churchill;
· Dunkirk, Deutcshland, Colonel James H. Doolittle, or D-Day;
· Enterprise, Emperor Hirohito, Essex, ...
Other possible topics for alphabet books that begin with the letter W: wetlands, Washington (D.C.), weather, the Westward movement, whales and whaling, George Washington, water, the White House, the women's rights movement, World War I, or American writers.
For the letter X, you might create The X-Rays and Other Medical Terms Alphabet Book. Another possible topic for an alphabet book that begins with the letter X: Xmas around the world.
For the letter Y, you might create The Yukon Territory (Canada) Alphabet Book. The opening pages of the book might include
· Arctic Ocean, Aishihik, or Alaska Highway;
· Beaufort Sea, British Mountains, bear, John Bell, or Bonanza Creek;
· caribou, common raven, George Washington Carmack, Cyprus-Anvil mine, coat of arms, or Robert Campbell;
· Dawson City or Dempster Highway;
· Eskimo or Elsa-Mayo ...
Other possible topics for alphabet books that begin with the letter Y: Yellowstone National Park or Yugoslavia.
For the letter Z, you might create The Zoo Animals Alphabet Book. The opening pages of the book might include
· armadillo or American bison;
· brown bear, beaver, bobcat, black rhinoceros, or baboon;
· caribou, cheetah, cougar, crocodile, camel, chimpanzee, or coyote;
· deer;
· elephant (African), elephant (Asian), or elk ...
Other possible topics for alphabet books that begin with the letter Z: Zaire, zeppelins and other aircraft, Zambia, or zoos and zoology.


Kathy Stemke's websites:
Moving Through all Seven Days link:http://www.lulu.com/content/e-book/moving-through-all-seven-days/7386965#http://www.helium.com/users/406242.html
http://www.associatedcontent.com/user/237923/Kathy_stemke_dancekam.html
http://kathystemke.weebly.com

INTERACTIVE WEBSITES FOR KIDS!

Instead of sitting in front of the television for hours, why not have your children learn as they have fun? Check out these enchanting websites for hours of interactive exploration in learning.

Starfall K-2-Very interactive!
Have fun while learning to read!
http://www.starfall.com/

Between the Lines K-2-Turn pages in “book” and read independently. Includes a “word helper”.http://pbskids.org/lions/stories/

Reading Planet K-2-Read along with stories and songs!! (some in Spanish)Ex. “Caterpillar, Caterpillar” http://www.rif.org/readingplanet/content/read_aloud_stories.mspx

Cartoon Factory All kids-Fun!! Select a picture and then write text to create cartoon. (You can print what you make.)http://www.nationalgeographic.com/kids/ngo/cartoons/more.html

Literacy Center K-1-Activities using color, shapes, words, numbers and the alphabet.http://www.literacycenter.net/lessonview_en.htm

Wacky Web Tales 3-5-Practice parts of speech by creating a wacky web tale and/or song.http://www.eduplace.com/tales/

Wordplay All-Click on a word and watch it play! Great visual for verbs!!http://pbskids.org/lions/games/wordplay.html

ABC-Lots of games to reinforce alphabet and simple vocabulary words.http://pbskids.org/lions/games/


Kathy Stemke's websites:
Moving Through all Seven Days link:http://www.lulu.com/content/e-book/moving-through-all-seven-days/7386965#http://www.helium.com/users/406242.html
http://www.associatedcontent.com/user/237923/Kathy_stemke_dancekam.html
http://kathystemke.weebly.com

FUN WITH THE LETTER Z!

Click on the image of the zebra to get a larger coloring page. Just print it out!

1. Listen for the "Z z" sound in these words. Tell if you hear it at the beginning, middle or the end of each word.

Ziggy, lazy, gauze, buzz, zany, zero, crazy, chimpanzee, zeal
magazine, fizz, gazette, Zanzibar, frozen, hazy, fuzz, hazard,
pizza, Zeus, gaze, zeppelin, gizzard, zither, zigzag, zucchini, zone

2. Which words in these sentences have the "Z z" sound? Say where you hear the "Z z" sound: at the beginning, middle or end of the word.

a. Zachary zoomed around the yard like a crazy rocket.
b. Azaleas and zinnias grow in my garden.
c. You might see zebras and gazelles grazing in Zambia.
d. Zita won a prize at the pet show for her lizard.

3. Play a Word Guessing game. All of your guesses should begin with the "Z z" sound.

a. The number that comes before one is ________. (zero)
b. I like to see the wild animals in the ______. (zoo)
c. My favorite jacket doesn't have buttons, it has a ________. (zipper)
d. An animal that looks like a black and white striped horse is a _____. (zebra)
e. Another word for crazy is _______. (zany)

4. Sing a song called "Zany Z's" sung to the tune of "London Bridge."

Zany Z's are zipping by, Zipping by, zipping by.
Zany Z's are zipping by, Zip! Zap! Zoom!

Zany zebras are zipping by, Zipping by, zipping by.
Zany zebras are zipping by, Zip! Zap! Zoom!

Add more verses substituting other "Z z" words for the word "zebras."

5. Make some zipper rubbings. You'll need different colored crayons, a piece of white paper and a variety of zippers from jackets, duffle bags, jeans, purses, etc. Lay the zipper as flat as you can on a table. Place the paper on top of the zipper then using the side of a crayon, rub it over the zipper. Do this with different kinds of zippers in different colors all over the paper.

6. Show your child how to write "Z z" like this:

Z: Make a line from left to right on the top line then make another line from left to right on the bottom line. Make a sliding board from the top right line to the bottom left line.

z: Same as above only use the middle line and bottom line.

KATHY'S WEBSITES:
Moving Through all Seven Days link:http://www.lulu.com/content/e-book/moving-through-all-seven-days/7386965#http://www.helium.com/users/406242.html
http://www.associatedcontent.com/user/237923/Kathy_stemke_dancekam.html
http://kathystemke.weebly.com

NEW INTERACTIVE EZINE FOR KIDS!

The first issue of the new interactive ezine Guardian Angel Kids is now available online. http://guardian-angel-kids.com/ Children will the love the mascot, an adorable angel gecko named GAK. Stories, games, puzzles, activities, videos and more to entertain and delight your youngsters. This is a site you and your children will want to return to again and again.


This angel gecko, GAK, is drawn by Kim Sponaugle.


This first issue contains one of the stories from the book The Misadventures of Rooter and Snuffle for you to read. Listen to The Sister Exchange or read Tracking the Twitchy Itch. There are drawing instructions and drawing boards where you can draw your own pictures.

Oh yes, you will also find articles for parents and teachers.

This is only the first issue and it promises to get better and better and better. http://guardian-angel-kids.com/

Now...I hope you'll visit the next site on the blog chain sponsored by the National Writing for Children Center. That site is http://ireneroth.wordpress.com/ For a list of all the links on the chain, go to www.writingforchildrencenter.com


Kathy Stemke's websites:
Moving Through all Seven Days link:http://www.lulu.com/content/e-book/moving-through-all-seven-days/7386965#http://www.helium.com/users/406242.html
http://www.associatedcontent.com/user/237923/Kathy_stemke_dancekam.html
http://kathystemke.weebly.com

100 Coolest Science Experiments on YouTube by Suzane Smith

Click on the title above to see all 100 utube links with a short description for each. Here are just two examples of what's in store for you.





Now...I hope you'll visit the next site on the blog chain sponsored by the National Writing for Children Center. That site is http://ireneroth.wordpress.com/For a list of all the links on the chain, go to www.writingforchildrencenter.com

Kathy's websites:
Moving Through all Seven Days link:http://www.lulu.com/content/e-book/moving-through-all-seven-days/7386965#http://www.helium.com/users/406242.html
http://www.associatedcontent.com/user/237923/Kathy_stemke_dancekam.html
http://kathystemke.weebly.com

HeliumTips for hooking kids on reading

Moving Through all Seven Days link:http://www.lulu.com/content/e-book/moving-through-all-seven-days/7386965#http://www.helium.com/users/406242.html
http://www.associatedcontent.com/user/237923/Kathy_stemke_dancekam.html
http://kathystemke.weebly.com

CHECKLIST FOR CHILDREN'S LITERATURE

Here are a few things to consider when choosing books for children.

Story:

Is the story line interesting to children?

Are the stories age appropriate to ensure that children can understand what is presented?

Are there various conflicts for children to explore?

Are the conflicts resolved in ways that children will find interesting and challenging?

How are obstacles overcome?

How does change occur? Is a magic wand the only way positive change occurs? Can girls take responsibility for their own destinies?

Will the stories encourage discussions?

Are children exposed to multiple perspectives and values?

How is "beauty" defined? Whose standard of beauty is being promoted? Are all or most of the "pretty" girls blond? Are all or most of the "pretty" girls white?

How is "happiness" defined? Do girls need to find their man to achieve happiness?

How is "success" defined? Is the definition of success the same for all people in the book?

Characters:

Do the characters represent people from a variety of cultural groups?

Do "good" characters reflect a variety of backgrounds?

How is being "good" defined or described in the book? Is being good the same for boys and girls or are there different standards and expectations?

Are females as well as males depicted in leadership roles?

Themes:

Does the story offer children a variety of things to think about, to question, and to consider?

What messages does the book convey about "race," gender, class, sexual orientation, religion and other human differences?

What values are being communicated in the book? Whose values are they?

Are values being explored rather than preached?

Does the story include lessons to be learned?

Settings:

Do the stories reflect a variety of settings?

Are urban, suburban, and rural settings represented realistically?

Are cultural settings represented realistically?

Illustrations:

Are diverse populations represented?

Are characters realistically and genuinely represented?

Do the pictures show diversity within cultural groups?

Do the illustrations avoid reinforcing societal stereotypes?

Other Considerations:

From whose perspective is the story told?

What are the author's qualifications to tell the story? Do the characters' voices sound authentic?

Do the stories promote understanding of our diverse society and world?

KATHY'S WEBSITES:
Moving Through all Seven Days link:http://www.lulu.com/content/e-book/moving-through-all-seven-days/7386965#http://www.helium.com/users/406242.html
http://www.associatedcontent.com/user/237923/Kathy_stemke_dancekam.html
http://kathystemke.weebly.com

HeliumWaldorf techniques for mastering math facts with body movements that any teacher can use

Kathy's websites:
Moving Through all Seven Days link:http://www.lulu.com/content/e-book/moving-through-all-seven-days/7386965#http://www.helium.com/users/406242.html
http://www.associatedcontent.com/user/237923/Kathy_stemke_dancekam.html
http://kathystemke.weebly.com

Poem: SNOW by Kathy Stemke

The breath of the crisp air is light
The bitter sky is full and white
I dance and twirl around so slow
Then on my knees I pray for snow
Hoping,
Waiting,
Waltzing along
For flakes to fall and sing their song

Snow gathers and laughs in the sky
Then falls like angels whirling by
Pure crystal flakes make my heart glow
I give thanks and welcome the snow
Dancing,
Flirting,
Dashing, go
Swirling down on the earth below

Snow covers the troubled, soiled streets
And hides much pain under the sleet
Each flake will soon fade out of sight
And melt like mist in morning light
Cleansing,
Clinging,
Healing woe
Merciful God! Your love I know

Kathy's websites:
Moving Through all Seven Days link:http://www.lulu.com/content/e-book/moving-through-all-seven-days/7386965#http://www.helium.com/users/406242.html
http://www.associatedcontent.com/user/237923/Kathy_stemke_dancekam.html
http://kathystemke.weebly.com

Selecting Great Non-fiction Books for Kids

Giving children many sources of informational books will stimulate growth in general knowledege, vocabulary, and reading comprehension skills. It is essential that we choose challenging, quality, high-interest books for young children. Many reading experts agree that including non-fiction books in primary education experiences will make for a smoother transition into middle and high school level reading. There are several keys to picking great informational books for your children.

CATCHY COVERS

The cover of a book must invite the reader to come inside an exciting new world of learning. A good cover should include brightn and intriguing illustrations or photographs that grab a child's attention. The title needs to be short and understandable with large clear font. But the main job of the title is to ignite interest in the topic.

TERRIFIC TOPICS

The topic should be age appropriate and relevant to the child's world view. For example, you might have a funny bumble bee teach children about flowers. However, it is important that the information is accurate and backed by reliable referrences. To hold the attention of children the topic should have an element of mystery and be full of surprises. In fact, there should be at least one surprise on every page.

INTRIGUING ILLUSTRATIONS

Each page needs to contain a balance of beautiful illustrations with clear, easy to read captions, and informational text. The illustrations should explain and enhance the factual information. For instance, photographs or diagrams on a light background can add a pleasing contrast to a good book.

ORIGINAL ORGANIZATION

Many good non-fiction authors use sub headings to help the young reader understand and retain the information. These subdivisions guide the children effortlessly through the information like a treasure map leads you to a pirates chest. A table of contents, glossary and index will help them browse through unique topics. Fonts should be large, consistent in spacing and placement and easy to read.

With today's wide selection of non-fiction books available it doesn't have to be difficult to pick the right books for your children. Inspect each book for the four key ingredients listed above and you will glide through the selection process.

A LIST OF GREAT NON-FICTION BOOKS:

Family Pictures / Cuadros de Familia
by Carmen Lomas Garza
Children's Book Press, 1993
Grades pre K-4

Author: A True Story
by Helen Lester
Houghton Mifflin, 1997
Grades K-4

In a Circle Long Ago: A Treasury of Native Lore from North America
by Nancy Van Laan, illustrated by Lisa Desimini
Knopf, 1995
Grades K-5

Eric Carle's Animals, Animals
By Laura Whipple (compiler), illustrated by Eric Carle
Puffin, 1999
Grades pre K-6

Hottest Coldest Highest Deepest
by Steve Jenkins
Houghton Mifflin, 1998
Grades pre K-3

Children of the Wild West
by Russell Freedman
Clarion, 1990
Grades 3-8

We Were There, Too!: Young People in U.S. History
by Phillip M. Hoose
Farrar Straus & Giroux, 2001
Grades 5-12

NO BONES ABOUT IT!
The Sum of Our Parts Series
Academic Wings
Author: Bill Kirk www.billkirkwrites.com
Artist: Eugene Ruble
Guardian Angel Publishers
http://www.guardianangelpublishing.com/


Kathy Stemke's websites:
Moving Through all Seven Days link:http://www.lulu.com/content/e-book/moving-through-all-seven-days/7386965#http://www.helium.com/users/406242.html
http://www.associatedcontent.com/user/237923/Kathy_stemke_dancekam.html
http://kathystemke.weebly.com

LET US REMEMBER THEM!

MY GRANDSON, MICHAEL, IS THE ONE IN THE MIDDLE!

The embers glowed softly, and in their dim light,
I gazed round the room and I cherished the sight.
My wife was asleep, her head on my chest,
My daughter beside me, angelic in rest.
Outside the snow fell, a blanket of white,
Transforming the yard to a winter delight.

The sparkling lights in the tree I believe,
Completed the magic that was Christmas Eve.
My eyelids were heavy, my breathing was deep,
Secure and surrounded by love I would sleep.
In perfect contentment, or so it would seem,
So I slumbered, perhaps I started to dream.

The sound wasn't loud, and it wasn't too near,
But I opened my eyes when it tickled my ear..
Perhaps just a cough, I didn't quite know, Then the
sure sound of footsteps outside in the snow.
My soul gave a tremble, I struggled to hear,
And I crept to the door just to see who was near.

Standing out in the cold and the dark of the night,
A lone figure stood, his face weary and tight.
A soldier, I puzzled, some twenty years old,
Perhaps a Marine, huddled here in the cold.
Alone in the dark, he looked up and smiled,
Standing watch over me, and my wife and my child.

"What are you doing?" I asked without fear,
"Come in this moment, it's freezing out here!
Put down your pack, brush the snow from your sleeve,
You should be at home on a cold Christmas Eve!"
For barely a moment I saw his eyes shift,
Away from the cold and the snow blown in drifts..

To the window that danced with a warm fire's light
Then he sighed and he said "Its really all right,
I'm out here by choice. I'm here every night."
"It's my duty to stand at the front of the line,
That separates you from the darkest of times.

No one had to ask or beg or implore me,
I'm proud to stand here like my fathers before me.
My Gramps died at 'Pearlon a day in December,"
Then he sighed, "That's a Christmas 'Gram always remembers."
My dad stood his watch in the jungles of 'Nam',
And now it is my turn and so, here I am.

I've not seen my own son in more than a while,
But my wife sends me pictures, he's sure got her smile.
Then he bent and he carefully pulled from his bag,
The red, white, and blue... an American flag.
I can live through the cold and the being alone,
Away from my family, my house and my home.

I can stand at my post through the rain and the sleet,
I can sleep in a foxhole with little to eat.
I can carry the weight of killing another,
Or lay down my life with my sister and brother..
Who stand at the front against any and all,
To ensure for all time that this flag will not fall.."

" So go back inside," he said, "harbor no fright,
Your family is waiting and I'll be all right."
"But isn't there something I can do, at the least,
"Give you money," I asked, "or prepare you a feast?
It seems all too little for all that you've done,
For being away from your wife and your son."

Then his eye welled a tear that held no regret,
"Just tell us you love us, and never forget.
To fight for our rights back at home while we're gone,
To stand your own watch, no matter how long.
For when we come home, either standing or dead,
To know you remember we fought and we bled.
Is payment enough, and with that we will trust,
That we mattered to you as you mattered to us.."

PLEASE, would you do me the kind favor of sending this to as many
people as you can? Christmas will be coming soon and some credit is due to our
U.S service men and women for our being able to celebrate these
festivities. Let's try in this small way to pay a tiny bit of what we owe. Make people stop and think of our heroes, living and dead, who sacrificed themselves for us.

LCDR Jeff Giles, SC, USN
30th Naval Construction Regiment
OIC, Logistics Cell One
Al Taqqadum, Iraq




Moving Through all Seven Days link:http://www.lulu.com/content/e-book/moving-through-all-seven-days/7386965#http://www.helium.com/users/406242.html
http://www.associatedcontent.com/user/237923/Kathy_stemke_dancekam.html
http://kathystemke.weebly.com

MEET MARTHA SWIRZINSKI

The holder of a Bachelor’s degree in therapeutic recreation from Clemson University and a master’s from the University of Maryland in Kinesiology, Ms. Martha Swirzinski has more than 15 years of experience working in the field of movement with children. She is also a certified personal fitness trainer. She currently lives in Virginia Beach, Virginia with her husband and two daughters.

“More and more research is being developed about the rise of obesity in children,” notes Ms. Swirzinski, who teaches movement education in a local pre-school and offers teacher training workshops and customized consultations. At the same time, numerous studies continue to link increased brain function and movement, she explains. “Being active grows new brain cells!”

It is along this vein that Ms. Swirzinski has published three children’s books focused on movement. Using entertaining rhymes and charming pictures, these developmentally based books offer fun and creative ways for children to move while also providing mind stimulating activities on each page. Here's an excerpt from Leap...Laugh...Plop.



Physical fitness is the key to success.

Moving and stretching keep you at your best.

So get up and move, stretch and play.

Your body and brain will thank you all day.

By following the suggested activities, children can engage in 30-60 minutes of their recommended structured daily movement, as well as enhancing other mind/body skills. Designed to be enjoyed again and again, the pages of these books are filled with laughter, learning, movement and more.

Leap...Laugh...Plop concentrates on locomotor movements. Here's another excerpt.

Jumping is something you do with two feet.

You bend your knees and push up high from the street.

Ms. Swirzinski also challenges kids to think. Take a look at this excerpt.

Walk up high, now down low.

How about fast. How about slow.


Name some animals that walk high. How about low?

Can you pretend to be those animals?

Tell me your favorite animal and why.





Martha’s books are:
Leap…Laugh…Plop works on all of the locomotor skills
Guess…Giggle…Wiggle… has the children doing creative movement
Kick…Catch…Buzzzz.. addresses the manipulative skills
Her website is WWW.WholeChildPublishing.com


Kathy Stemke's websites:
Moving Through all Seven Days link:http://www.lulu.com/content/e-book/moving-through-all-seven-days/7386965#http://www.helium.com/users/406242.html
http://www.associatedcontent.com/user/237923/Kathy_stemke_dancekam.html
http://kathystemke.weebly.com