Super Special Days
Every day should be special. You can make it that way no matter where
you are or what the weather may be.
This section includes: Special Days with Friends, Special Days with
Your Family, and Special Days All By Yourself.
Special Days with Friends
Lots of times it's nice to have a friend or some friends join you for
special days. Friends can have lots of fun as long as they follow the Friendship Rules.
Here are some ideas for special days with friends, but I'm sure you'll
think of many more.
- Famous fairy tale characters. Invite your friends to think of
a fairy tale character and do a "Who am I?" Have them give hints
about who they are so that others can guess their identity. You and your
friends might want to dress up like the characters if you have some old
clothing or material that can be used. Making some costume parts from paper
might also be possible. Then, when you and your friends are all dressed
up like the characters, ask your friends to join you acting out the fairy
tale. You can do the same thing with famous characters from history or
books or movies or . . . .
Important note: Check with your parents first about costume making.
You should have their permission to use clothing/material and cutting and
sewing tools.
- The Playwrights: Let your friends join you in being playwrights.
Use a computer word processor to write down ideas for a play. Think of
the characters in the play and what they will do. After you have an idea
of what the play will be about and who the characters will be, write the
play on the computer.
Sometimes it's fun to have each of your friends be one of the characters-a
part for everyone. As one friend types the play on the computer, each character
(friend) will tell the typist what the dialog for that character will be.
The typist, of course, should be a character, too. OR, the characters might
type in their own dialog.
When the play is complete, read it over out loud by reading it from the
computer. Correct it and then make printed copies. Practice reading the
script and continue to make changes. Make some background or props if you
have time, and then put on the play for your parents or anyone else who
might enjoy it. Take copies of the play to school and show them to your
teacher. Your teacher might let you give the play for your class.
- Role Playing Fun: Ask you friends if they'd like to come over
to your house and role play. Find out what they'd like to role play. Maybe,
if you've been studying about the Pilgrims at school, they could role play
being Pilgrims. This would mean that while visiting you, they would try
to talk and act like Pilgrims. They would be amazed, for example, with
things like a television or a refrigerator, and they would never approve
of wearing shorts or a bathing suit.
Other ideas for special day role playing might be: western characters,
space adventurers, people from Colonial times, school (plan lessons, act
out the ways your teachers' teach, and think of great ways to help others
with learning-write lesson plans on the computer and later share the plans
with your teacher).
Important Note: You must remember that while you are role playing,
you and your friends must never do anything dangerous. Role playing means
pretending. If the westerners you are role playing, for example, need to
build a fire, act out doing this. You know the safety rules! You know what's
acceptable and safe, so use your common sense.
- Virtual Field Trips: Go with your friends on an online adventure.
You'll find some great trips listed in Apple Playground.
- Portraits: Each of your friends should make "future"
drawings of themselves on the computer. Under the drawings or beside the
drawings, they should type in what they dream they will be when they grow
up. They should tell at least 3 sentences about themselves-or they might
make a nice long list. The computer files should be printed, the papers
signed and dated, and copies should be given to everyone.
It's fun to save files like this on the computer and on paper. You and
your friends can set a time to meet each year to look at your old files
and make new ones. Even though you might want to throw away the old ones,
don't do it! They will always be treasured memories, so find a safe place
to keep them.
- Make Over: You and your friends should take each others' picture
with a digital camera and put the pictures into the computer. Then with
a computer paint program, have fun changing the person's appearance. Give
people who have long hair, short hair. Give some glasses, change clothing,
put hats on people, etc. Don't do anything that would not be nice or would
be hurtful to your friends. Print out the pictures, put them into a slide
show or computer presentation, or make a friendship newspaper with them.
- The Newspaper: Use a computer word processing or desktop publishing
program to organize, write, and publish a newspaper that includes wonderful
news about all of your friends and also of your neighborhood.
- Brainstorming: Have a terrific time doing what is called brainstorming.
This means thinking of ideas. You and your friends can dream up ideas for
games, puzzles, and adventures. Keep track of the ideas with your computer.
And remember not to make fun of anyone's ideas. In brainstorming, all ideas
are worth listening to and considering. When finished with your brainstorming,
discuss the ideas and make a list of which one you want to first, second,
and so on.
Special Days with Your Family
You and your family can have a great time together doing many of the
activities listed above for you and your friends. After all, your family
members are your good friends, too. Always remember that! Having special
days with your family is one of the best ways to have fun. Here are a few
other ideas for families:
- The Family Magazine: Work together to create a family publication.
Don't forget to include stories, pictures, cartoons, family recipes and
events, and even family history. Maybe you'll want to start your own family
tree. You can print your magazine and send it out by regular mail, send
it by email, and/or place it on a web site.
- My Family Web Site: Have each member of your family do a special
part of a family web site.
- Virtual Trips: Take a vacation with your family by traveling
to one of places listed in our playground. You might want to go to the
beach, the Arctic, or even around the world with Milo, the Wonder Dog.
- Book Hunts: Travel online in search of wonderful books for
each member of your family to read. You might try the Caldecott
Awards for information on the best picture books of the year. Also
try Calgary Site's
Best Books and awards,
and the (Simon & Schuster) Simonsays
Site.
Special Days All By Yourself
You've heard lots of children say they are bored. Children who never
say they are bored are some of my favorite people. They know how to make
each day very special. Often they have a special hobby or are simply interested
in learning about everything.
For example:
There's an 8 year old who's working on a book about a delightful cat
family. She's writing and illustrating the book by using her home computer
whenever she can. She told me she plans to get it published someday.
I know a 9 year old who's working hard on a web site with a western
theme. The people in the story on the site all talk like cowboys. It's
a funny story that makes everyone laugh, especially the author.
Besides their hobbies, both of these children love to read. They really
appreciate time to read and just relax. I hope you like to do that, too.
What do you like to do?
Perhaps you enjoy origami or paper folding, maybe you like puzzles or
drawing, or how about creating your own movie on the computer? You might
like magic tricks or making jewelry or building a bird house. You might
like to organize, write notes, and make yourself a "to do list."
Some young people enjoy thinking of recipes that they can make (under their
parents' or grandparents' supervision). Writing to friends and grandparents,
by email and by regular mail, is also a great idea. You can send them pictures
and share ideas for good places to visit on the Internet. Perhaps they'd
like to meet you for a chat online?
Many students in Grades 1-5 enjoy creating plans for an invention. I
remember some wonderful inventions that my children designed on paper and
on the computer. Would you like a "musical sock" that comes when
it is called? How about a "waterless dishwasher?" Perhaps you
need an "automatic message system" to deliver messages to your
brother?
There are so many things you'll think of to do when you can't have friends
over and you think you have nothing special to do. Often that "nothing
special to do" can turn into the best day ever-your own super special
day!
Important Note: Whenever you are doing projects or creating inventions,
your parents must approve of the project, and if you need any, the materials
you will need to complete it.
