Books
While we can have lots of fun with different dictionaries, they don't make for great read-alouds. Instead we have a few about words and books in general:
Who better to teach us about fancy new words than
9780062352149
Of course there are a million Fancy Nancy books now, but this original is a lot of fun as an introduction. It also offers a great extension: let the kids pick out some fancy clothes for you, then hit the local burger place for dinner in style! Your kids will LOVE it, and chances are it will be something the other diners talk about for the rest of the week.
Books are a great way to learn new words, and they are also a good way to learn important facts.
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Unfortunately, lemmings don't know HOW to read, so they never quite got the memo about NOT jumping off cliffs. This book is absolutely hilarious! Reading the lemming parts in a high squeaky voice is not required, but highly recommended.
Extension: what are some other 'facts' about animals that turn out to be not-so-true? Some examples:
- Lemmings follow each other to jump off cliffs to their deaths
- Camels store water in their humps
- You can't teach an old dog new tricks (can you think of a way to test this?)
- Bats are blind/get stuck in your hair
Check out more at National Geographic for Kids
For older readers:
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Is Nick Allen a troublemaker? He really just likes to liven things up at school — and he's always had plenty of great ideas. When Nick learns some interesting information about how words are created, suddenly he's got the inspiration for his best plan ever...the frindle. Who says a pen has to be called a pen? Why not call it a frindle? Things begin innocently enough as Nick gets his friends to use the new word. Then other people in town start saying frindle. Soon the school is in an uproar, and Nick has become a local hero. His teacher wants Nick to put an end to all this nonsense, but the funny thing is frindle doesn't belong to Nick anymore. The new word is spreading across the country, and there's nothing Nick can do to stop it.
I love the way Clements' books often start out with the kids seeing the adults as the 'bad guy', but then some turn into allies. And this one is just plain fun! The obvious extension: come up with your own 'new' words, and see what you can do to get them to catch on! You can also look up words newly added to the dictionary and discuss how that happens.
There is now a sequel to this book, written for this next generation who just finds everything on the internet!
What words would you choose to fit YOU?
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Five words, cinco palabras.
Teacher says they should fit just right.
Like my favorite kicks.
Mia is hunting words today: five words to describe who she is.
It's easy at first. At the skateboard park, Mia finds words for how she can glide fast and soar high. Words like relámpago―lightning. These words feel good.
When Mia has trouble learning a cool new trick on her board, though, other words come to her―words that won't leave her alone. Words like fail. Are these words really about her, too?
But Mia knows who she is... she's someone who doesn't give up.
And if she keeps trying, she'll find her five words, the ones that fit just right.
Obvious extension: make posters for everyone in your family with their five words!
What about words in other languages?
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Did you know there is a word for friends who are like family? And for searching for something in the water using only your feet? This collection of untranslatable words from all over the world celebrates the magic of language, with gorgeous original artwork and fascinating facts about each word and the culture it comes from.
While each of these words comes illustrated, it would be fun to create your own pictures for them! Pick a different word each day and see if you can work it into conversation.
Prereading Skills
This topic works in nicely with the prereading skills of Letter Knowledge and Print Awareness. In story time this week we just put out paper, magazines, scissors, glue and markers, and gave several suggestions. Depending on age or interest, children could:
Point to pictures they liked, maybe help cut them out, and their caregiver would label them - matching text with objects.
Look for examples of a specific letter printed in different ways:
Or cut out words that have special meaning for them.
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