June 14: Caldecott Medal first awarded (1937)

image from rmichelson.com

According to the official Caldecott Medal page at ala.org, the Caldecott Medal was named in honor of nineteenth-century English illustrator Randolph Caldecott. It is awarded annually by the Association for Library Service to Children, a division of the American Library Association, to the artist of the most distinguished American picture book for children.”

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Caldecott Celebration

Materials:

• Caldecott-winning books (find a full list here)

Directions:

1. Collect as many Caldecott-winning books as possible. Work with your local or school library to see if you can check them out or come see them at the library.
2. Kids can do their own contest to vote on which they think has the best illustrations. Get discussion going about why they like the illustrations that they do.
3. How many of the books have the kids in your group read? You can see which child has read the most or see how many the group has read collectively.
4. Which books look the most interesting just based on the cover?
5. Ask the kids for other ideas for activities to do with the books.

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Check out the full June calendar. It includes floating holidays, specialty weeks, and specialty months.

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October 16: Dictionary Day

image from bmx.transworld.net

Here’s a game to play in honor of Dictionary Day:

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What’s the Meaning of This?

Materials:

• Dictionary
• Paper
• Pencils
• Index cards

Directions:

1. Each child picks an unfamiliar word from the dictionary.
2. The word is written on one index card and the definition is written on the other.
3. The words and definitions should also be recorded on a separate sheet of paper.
4. After a dozen or so words have been collected, the word cards can be laid out on a table.
5. A child draws a definition card and tries to match it to the appropriate word card.
6. Play continues until all words have been matched.
7. Check the separate sheet of paper to see if the words and definitions have been appropriately matched.

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Source(s): From Toolbox Training’s upcoming 100 Language Activities for Kids.

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Check out the full October calendar. It includes floating holidays, specialty weeks, and specialty months.

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October 15: Poetry Day

image from thevirtualworld.blogspot.com

You can use this day to focus on writing nonsensical or silly poetry.

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Silly and Nonsensical Poems

Materials:

• Paper
• Writing materials

Directions:

1. For this activity, focus on rhyming poetry, but let kids know that poems do not always rhyme.
2. Have kids write couplets (two lines) in which each line has the same number of syllables.
3. Instruct kids to end each line with rhyming words.
4. However, instead of trying to write lines which logically follow each other, encourage kids to write silly lines which may not have anything to do with each other.
5. Children may even choose to make up words to rhyme together (such as in the style of Dr. Seuss).

Source(s): From Toolbox Training’s upcoming 100 Language Activities for Kids.

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Check out the full October calendar. It includes floating holidays, specialty weeks, and specialty months.

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October 8: Newspaper Week (1st week of October)

image from inlandpolitics.com

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Kid-Generated Program Newsletter

Children can be involved in creating a one-time or regular newsletter. This is an ideal activity for school-age programs as there are multiple ways to involve them. Consider:

• Let kids conduct interviews. If you are part of a school-based program, that could be the principal, teachers, secretaries, specialty teachers, or any support staff. Why not give the kids a chance to gain a greater appreciation for a day in the life of a custodian or cafeteria worker?
• Kids can take photos or draw pictures to accompany articles.
• Let children report on upcoming events.
• Kids could also contribute their own cartoons, jokes, or funny stories.
• If the program has access to a computer, let older kids serve as editors and do the layout for the newsletter.
• Why not have families contribute something such as a favorite recipe or activity they do at home? Maybe an interest piece about a pet or a favorite vacation?

Source(s): Toolbox Training’s upcoming 100 Language Activities for Kids book.

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Check out the full October calendar. It includes floating holidays, specialty weeks, and specialty months.

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