Summer 2013 Project

This summer the kids are going to study a different country every week.  I appreciated "Multicultural Games" by Lorraine Babarash to incorporate some games as well.  Below are a few ideas from a research standpoint for them to get started, although I'm limiting the research to "books" only.  Aren't I mean?

Compare and contrast your country to the US:

 
Where are areas of the US population similar?
 
What monuments or landforms could you visit?
 
What foods might be served at a meal?
 
Use the Greek alphabet to write a message to a friend.
 
Write a story with a landmark as part of the setting.
 
What is the unit of money?
 
What are the free time activities?
Triangle Game - From Russia, Draw a triangle and divide it into three sections.  Make the top one #3, middle 2, bottom 1.  Children get three colored stones and stand back 10 ft. and throw in their three.  They add the points.  When someone gets to 50, the game is over.  If stones are knocked out, they don't count.  Take turns going first, second, third.
 
Colombia - 2 people are it.  One of them leaves the room.  The rest of the kids figure out what colored ribbon they keep.  When they get it done, they say, "Angel, what colors do you wish?"  They respond, "I wish many colored ribbons."  They guess and go until they "miss."  They count the number they got right.  The other Angel comes in and does the same thing.  The Angel with the most stays, the lower number picks someone new to come in until all children have been the angel.
 
Nigeria - Pair individuals up and have them join at the shoulders.  The front person puts a cloth scrap or handkerchief in their pants or pocket.  At go, teams try to grab each others cloths.  If you get yours pulled, your team is out.  People should change front to back and get new partners.  You can do two colors for teams.
 
England - Round hopscotch.  Draw a shell like swirl and put "rest" in the middle of it.  One person hops on one foot to get to the center resting point.  If they do so, they pick a division and put their initials on it.  Then the next person goes.  If you step in a claimed box, you're out.  Go until there's a winner.
 
Russia - Use two ropes and duct tape them in the middle.  Tie knots at the ends.  They will form an X.  Divide people into 4 teams and have a cone about 2-3 yards from the bases of the rope ends.  Teams try to tug to grab the cone first.
 
 Crafts....

Batik with oil crayons-  Indonesia       Toothpick dolls – Brazil           Paper Sea horse – Greece           

Gift Rolls – Russia                             Cheez It Tic Tac Toe Board – Italy   Art Easel – France      

Foil Form – Spain (stars, fans)            Dancing Form – Zimbabwe

Whose Hands?

Today I revised this poem to convey the same message it reflected a few years ago when I first read it.  I'm unaware of the author.

Whose hands?

A baseball in my hands is worth about $5.

A baseball in Alex Rodriguez' is worth 30 million.

It depends on whose hands it's in...

A basketball in my hands is worth about $50.

A basketball in Kobe Bryant's is worth about 52 million.

It depends on whose hands it's in...

A rod in my hands could keep away a wild animal.

A rod in Moses' hands will part the sea. (see Exodus 14)

A sling shot in my hands is a toy.

A slingshot in David's hands is a mighty weapon. (see 1 Samuel 17)

It depends on whose hands it's in...

Two fish and five loaves in my hands is a couple of fish sandwiches.

Two fish and five loaves in Jesus' hands will feed thousands. (Luke 9)

Nails in my hands might produce a bird house.

Nails in Christ Jesus' hands will produce salvation for the entire world. (Mark 15)

It depends on whose hands they're in...

So put your concerns, your worries, your fears, your hopes, your dreams, your families and your relationships in God's hands, because it depends on whose hands they’re in.

Writing Exercise #11 ~ 20

Capturing the moments

Journaling is a huge relaxer for me (especially now that we dropped our cable!)  I record my favorite entries and information I may need to refer back to by date in the front, and in the back I number a list of things I'm thankful for.  It's great to read through them during stressful times, and it's a writing exercise too.  It makes you keenly aware of the present - the powerful emotion of joy and unique situations that stir up a heart of thankfulness.  As Andrew went to bed tonight, he didn't have anything to ask God about.  I said, "Then we'll pray a list of things we're thankful for and God will love it!"  We hosted my grandparents over the weekend in conjunction with my in-laws and we are grateful for the time together (see photos).  And since I'm nearing the end of my journal and current list of things I'm grateful for, I wanted to transfer them over to the blog.  If you try all of this, you'll not only have an exercise in writing and being thankful but your typing as well!

The guys golfed, Andrew made it 14 holes

1)  Thankful for Heather participating with Sierra in church choir

2)  My dad and brother attended the Iowa/Nebraska game with Chad & his dad, friends

3)  Looking through old scrapbooks and enjoying recounting my memories at my first improv comedy outing

4)  Having online Scrabble games

5)  Heather's new bible

6)  Talking with guests at the Ronald McDonald House

7)  My dad refinishing an old desk for us

One of our new September photos

8)  "We love to read, do you?" note from Sierra as she started her summer reading

9)  2nd year in a row anniversary dinner with friends

10)  Visiting children in the hospital

11)  Finishing our wedding album

12)  Looking at our wedding album on the 4th of July

13)  Olana's dream that she fell down the stairs (this could actually happen!)

14)  The kids making paintings for their grandmas

15)  Golfing with the Muffs (even me!)

16)  Seeing art on the sidewalks

17)  Fruit with mayo on romaine

18)  Mad libs

19)  Silly glasses

20)  Indian food

21)  When Andrew said he was thankful that Chad "doesn't have a full face of hair"

22)  Mel in my mom's life

23)  "I Love God" written on Sierra's nametag for school

24)  How kids like our "soft couch" from my mom

25)  Getting to bed after a full day of work

26)  Being a support to women as they begin prayer groups

27)  Dancing to "Good Morning"

28)  My grandparent's church in Texas

29)  Playing "Chase the Ace" - how do I keep forgetting how to play these games?

30)  Gorgeous fall days, apples on sale

Poetry Party Post

So if you do an image search for poetry you find a lot of flowers and hearts - blah!  I try to spring ahead of National Poetry Month with hosting a poetry party the last weekend in March.  This year I didn't have much planning to do as a friend who'd attended in the past thought of what we could do (make poems from Speed Scrabble words!)  I am going to be pitching a wall hanging of an older piece titled "A Home Blessing" written in verse - so before I do I thought I'd document it in honor of the joy poetry brings.

God's blessing rest upon this home

And all who dwell within;
May all who enter, too, be blessed,
Traveler, friend or kin.

Enrich this home with happiness,
Good fellowship, and cheer;
The comfort of His Presence rest
On all who sojourn here.

-- Now, to make a writing exercise out of this lovely work...try forming a poem that sounds old fashioned. Doesn't that sound like fun?

Writing Exercise ~ #10 of 20

Thinking outside the box - maybe?  It's a writer's joy to read a Mad Lib, and I also think they can serve as a way to add entertainment to a paragraph or short story.  I don't suggest rewriting a Mad Lib word for word, but it's great to tweak an idea into a story, especially for kids.  After hearing a Mad Lib, I encourage my children to share their favorite parts with me.  It's the off the wall stuff that they remember, and perhaps can generate the beginnings of something unusual.

Here's a recent Mad Lib from the Noble crew.  (and one thing we do while collecting them is add to our list of adjectives in the back...a partial listing includes excited, fluffy, spicy, cute, thick, tight, scratchy).

"Emma is back!" That's what thousands of rye fans kept shouting at the top of their drums as the San Francisco Lights defeated the Miami TV's one to two. After almost two years of sitting on the jugs with broken brains in a bucked of milk, football great Lanacakes returned to the game and led her team to a short victory. In addition to running for two cups and throwing a bugspray-breaking twelve false teeth in a row, she saved the game by recovering a drumstick on the third yard-antennae.

If that doesn't stir up an image, I don't know what could!  www.easyreadingpicks.blogspot.com

Writing Exercise #8 ~ of 20

The theme for this writing exercise is to find a fan. Now I know it's hot outside, but not that kind of fan. I'm talking about that supportive friend or family member who won't say anything constructive. They constantly encourage you by remarking, "I think writing is a subjective matter. Your piece looks as good or better than the things I've read."  They might say, "I'm going to keep this manuscript until it gets published."  Etc., etc.

My mom Donna loves to read 

My mother-in-law Jan

This is my mother-in-law Jan. She's filed pages from my printer away. How I love her for it! As my last piece has progressed, my mom also took it to her elementary students and had them come up with questions about it. When they called and interviewed me, it was a definite encouragement. In a business where one piece gets published among thousands, it's mostly those loyal readers that keep me going - that as well as the spiritual refinement it's bringing and the joy in learning. There are definitely days when those rewards barely outweigh the letters that read, "This manuscript does not suit our present needs." Yet, I know that the creative efforts are part of a bigger picture, and the community of writers and readers and the message that draws them together is a blessing I've come to love.

I want to congratulate Sarah Young on her book "Jesus Calling." My children are connecting with the prayers and scriptures. I know two of my Moms in Touch friends have shared it many times, and one of those recommendations landed with me.  This is Sarah's letter to her biggest fan (once again MOM!!!)

I dedicate Jesus Calling to my mother, whose encouragement helped me keep working till I completed the book. She showed her appreciation of my writing in many ways. She kept my manuscripts beside her bed, so she could read it every morning. Once, while away from her home, she even asked me to send her the readings day by day. After she died from cancer, I found portions of my writings that she had hand-copied into a journal. This mother who had prayed me through thick and thin opened her heart fully to my devotional writing. She was a master storyteller, and she talked about writing children's books someday. Though that day never came, there is a sense in which -- through me -- she has written this book.

Thank you, Nani! Your legacy lives on.

www.easyreadingpicks.blogspot.com

Writing Exercise #7 ~ of 20

Examining my posts and what your over 2000 views have been geared to reading, the writing exercises have been something that have generated quite a few visits. (Thanks!)  I promise to keep writing them if you'll add to my joy by commenting back!  My goal is to write at least one a month until I get to 20, and it's great to be at number seven already.  Woo hoo...


My current project is helping my 11-yr-old daughter write her first news story. She's been interviewing staff at church about their work in Haiti.  The kid's perspective is so rich!  It's a blessed day to be written about by a child (or illustrated for that matter).


What struck me in helping my daughter is how difficult it is to get past the obvious when we write.  In reviewing the parable of the sower from Matthew, Ch. 13, I remembered how many times the passage seemingly added depth to its meaning. The same message was written all along, but I was paying attention to different things, and of course, the root of my communication with God is through the words of scripture. He knows what I need to hear when. See how about thirty sentences drew me in...

1)  One of the earliest exposures I had to this passage was in reference to verse 11 (Matt. Ch. 13), and how Jesus says He's giving away the secret of heaven.  Wow - a secret!!!!


2)  The second impression was that if the seed is planted in good soil, it is known through the multiplication that happens.  Verse 23 mentions a crop upwards of 100, 60 or 30 times what was originally planted.  At this point, I made my list of friends where I felt my love and faithfulness had made a dime's worth of difference...I knew it could extend further than the names I'd count, yet I also understood that I needed to think about my influence on others, and whether it was pleasing to my closest Friend.


I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.  John 15:15


3)  My lingering thoughts have to do with what happens when the seed doesn't thrive.  It's a person who doesn't understand!  It's a person who worries about their life and their money or is discouraged by the grind of life!  What stinkin' distractions, right?  In reading through verses 19-22 again, I'm desiring to help those stuck in confusion.  It's too easy for a seed to be choked out, stolen or wither, and I know the Lord wants to use me as a protector of those seeds of faith.


This example has taken me deeper into one main idea, but the temptation is to just go with what's clear, taking in something on the surface level. BUT it's the layers underneath that get someone's imagination going.  If a reader isn't trying to visualize in their pretty little heads the illustration I'm describing or digging deeper on their own into the topic, than either they don't have a similar vibe as I do or I've failed to connect through my descriptions.  

So, here comes the exercise. With your own subject matter, make a few observations...describe what you learn, share it with an outside reader and see if their imagination kicked in!  


Did what you wrote get them talking?  A lot???  I sure hope so!

www.easyreadingpicks.blogspot.com