Category — Writing Activities

This is fun and easy all year long but it can also be used as a Father’s Day card.
All you need is a rectangle shape piece of paper and a pencil. You can make your house as large or as small as you like depending on the size of paper. Have your child fold the paper into a house. They may need your help. Read a story about families or traditions and then have your child write or draw pictures inside the house, about a special family activity or tradition. Stand it up to display. You can also use stickers that represent a family activity or tradition.
Download Directions for House

Print out an ice cream cone pattern for each family member. Each person cuts out the single scoop ice cream cone and writes their name as shown in the picture. Put the cones on the refridgertor or a bulletin board so everyone can see them. Cut out the remaining scoops and put them in a place that is accessible to all members of the family. When a member of the family catches someone doing a good deed, write the deed on an ice cream scoop and attach it to their cone. Watch the ice cream cone get taller and taller as good deeds are being done.
Download Ice Cream Cone

This activity is not just for Earth Day but is great all year round. Before you recycle your old magazines and newspapers, let your grandchildren use them to create stories or books.
You’ll need magazines, newspapers scissors, glue, blank paper and a pencil. Let your grandchildren cut out pictures and words to create an original story.

If you enjoy gardening, invite your grandchildren to help plant your garden. This can be a great time to talk and you can use the ideas below to make it a fun learning time for math, reading and writing.

Gardening Learning Activities
Measure how far apart to plant the seeds.
Measure the perimeter of the garden.
Count how many rows will be needed.
Estimate how tall specific plants will grow.
Make a list of everything needed to plant and care for the garden.
Read the instructions for planting.
Read the instructions for caring for what is planted.
Design a marker for each thing planted.

This is a fun and easy book that you and your kids can make. They can write about a special activity or anything they enjoy. It’s handy to take in the car or put in your pocket.
WATCH VIDEO for instructions then have fun!

Did you know there’s a website devoted to Peeps? CHECK IT OUT.
You’ll find holiday ideas, recipes and you can even join the Peeps Fan Club.

April is National Poetry Month so why not write a poem about Peeps with your grandchildren. Here’s one that me and my grandchildren wrote:

Peeps
Purple, pink and yellow bunnies,
Little green chicks are so funny.
They’re squishy and chewy, so good to eat,
What a great Easter treat.

Download Hungry Caterpillar
Read The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle. It’s a story about a tiny caterpillar who eats and eats until he becomes a big, fat caterpillar. He builds a small house around himself and after two weeks, he becomes a beautiful butterfly. When you’re finished let your grandchildren write their own “hungry caterpillar” story using the caterpillar pattern. Download the pattern and cut out the two sections of circles. Glue them on a piece of paper to form a caterpillar. Write the story on each section. Add eyes, feet and antennae.

During the winter months many birds benefit from fat in their diet so why not make a suet bell or suet pine cone bird feeder with your grandchildren.
You will need:
Fat (lard or drippings from a roast or bacon ). If you don’t have enough fat you can add unsalted peanut butter.
Filler (bird seed, dried fruit, cookie or cake crumbs).
For each ½ pound of fat you will need 1 pound of filler.
Paper cup
String
Make a small hole in the bottom of the paper cup and insert the string. Be sure it is long enough so you can hang the bell on a tree branch. Tie a not on the inside of the cup so the string won’t pull through. Leave some string hanging inside the paper cup.
Melt the fat in a heavy saucepan and add filler. Mix well. Let the mixture cool slightly then pour into paper cut. When the mixture has hardened tear off the paper cup. Hang on a branch and see what birds come.

There are lots of activities to do once the suet bell is hung.
1. Predict and count how many birds will come in 10 minutes.
2. Predict and count how many different birds will come.
3. Take a picture of a bird eating the suet bell and write a poem or a story.
4. When your grandchildren leave, keep an eye on the suet bell and call or write them about what you’ve noticed. How long until it was all eaten.
5. Make 2 bells, one to keep at your home and one for your grandchild to take home. They can call or write you about what they have noticed.
For a pine cone bird feeder, I used the same mixture and spread it all around the pine cone. Hang with string or wire.

More Bird Feeder Ideas

Everyone has a story to tell. Help your child develop their writing skills while telling about their life.
How to get started:
1. Make a “memory chart” by dividing a sheet of paper into three columns: people, places, activities.
2. Using the chart write a memory to go with each person, place or activity.
3. Organize the information. It can be done sequentially by months or seasons of the year.
I read about this idea in the Home & School Connection sent out by Granite School District each month.

This is a humorous story written from the perspective of a dog that is sent to obedience school by his owner Mrs. LaRue. He writes letters to her each day trying to convince her that he needs to come home. The illustrations show that he is really living the life of luxury but he tells things in a different way. This is a great book for ages 5-12yrs.
When you are finished reading the book to your child or grandchild, they can practice writing a letter.
Letter writing ideas:
Pretend you are a pet and write about something funny that happened
Pretend you are the pet’s owner and write about the same funny thing
Write to the author of the book and tell he what you liked
Write to whomever read you the story and tell them how you would change the ending
Write to a friend and tell them about something secial you have done