November
News!
By Sandy Fleming
Ahhh, November! Winter
is nearly upon us, and it is time to think of turkeys and snow.
November holds lots of fun besides Thanksgiving as well. Here
are just a few ways to celebrate that have nothing to do with
turkey!
November is National Peanut
Butter Lover's Month -- where would we be without this staple
food of childhood? Send your curious explorers on the trail
to learn about the brown goo. When was it invented and by who?
How is it made? Can you find a do-it-yourself recipe to try?
November also marks the birthdays of four states: North and
South Dakota, Montana and Oklahoma. Send your history explorer
on a search to discover which states came into being this month.
November 2 is Daniel Boone's
birthday. The frontiersman was born in 1734, and can inspire
children even today. Why not find some books (factual and fictional)
about this man's life and times? It will help make our country's
history come alive for your child. Another historical first
on November 2 was the beginning of regular radio broadcasting
in 1920. Station KDKA from Pittsburgh holds this honor, and
still broadcasts to this day! November 3 is Sandwich Day. Challenge
your child to create a new sandwich that has never before been
tried, and write a paragraph to describe it in an appetizing
way.
On November 5, English
history notes a failed plot to blow up Parliament in 1605.
In England, the event is commemorated as Guy Fawkes Day. There's
even an obscure Mother Goose rhyme: "Please to remember the
fifth of November, gunpowder, treason and plot; I see no reason
why gunpowder treason should ever be forgot." Older children
may enjoy doing a little further research to discover the histories
behind other children's rhymes. Many were political commentary
or noted historical events from long ago.
John Phillip Sousa was
born in 1854 on November 6. Celebrate his birthday by getting
recordings of some of his famous march music from your local
library. You can even make simple rhythm instruments, like
toilet paper roll kazoos, oatmeal box drums and paper plate
tambourines, and have your own parade as you march to Mr. Sousa's
creations. The first intercollegiate football game was also
played on this date in 1869. How about a game of touch or flag
football to commemorate the event? If the weather is too bad
for outdoor fun, you can even play "table football" by folding
a paper into the traditional triangle and flicking it back
and forth across the table. The first person to slide the paper
football off of the table on the other person's side scores
six points, and can even try to kick an extra point by standing
the triangle on its point and flicking it over a goal made
by the opponent. Simply put thumbs together and stand index
fingers straight up to form the goal.
November 16 is Button
Day. What can you do to celebrate Button Day? Here are some
ideas to get you started. Show off a button collection, make
a button collage, have a contest to see who is wearing the
most buttons, play "Button, Button, Who's Got the Button" and
find books about buttons from the library. What other ideas
can you think of?
November 20 is a wonderful
holiday, full of possibilities to liven up any family or program:
It's Absurdity Day! Try having a contest to see who can think
up and do the most absurd action, or brainstorm word pictures
that are silly and absurd for the game "Have you ever seen...." Some
ideas to start you off include a fish bowl or a horse fly.
Think of these things literally and you will quickly get the
picture! Let the kids come up with other common phrases that
were never meant to be taken literally. Can you think of an
absurd dessert to try? And wouldn't it be absurd to do everything
backwards today? Have fun with it!
And, finally, Mark Twain's
birthday is on November 30. This wonderful author is famous
for several classic stories, such as Tom Sawyer and Huck
Finn, but did you know that he wrote many other stories
as well? Look in the library for other books by Twain, such
as A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court or
some of his delightful short stories. Read them aloud to share
his special humor with the young people in your charge and
keep the joy of literature alive in their lives!
Sandy Fleming
is an educator, author and workshop facilitator. She resides
in southern Michigan with her husband and three daughters.
Sandy leads workshops for daycare providers and parents
in the region, tutors students, volunteers for Girl Scouts
and her church, and teaches online classes for adults and
children. She loves to make new friends, so please drop
her an e-mail at kids@busyparentsonline.com
