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Moving Through March
By Sandy Fleming

"In like a lion, out like a lamb!" How accurate is that old bit of folk wisdom? Try keeping a weather diary for the first and last week of March to see if it's true this year. This month is usually full of changeable weather, but it is predictable in that there are lots of fun and educational happenings! You can celebrate reading, nutrition, women's history, and youth art this month, and even umbrellas! Did you know that another name for an umbrella is a "bumpershoot"? Try making a collection of unusual words during the month. How many can your children discover that will stump
adults?

There are loads of fun events on the calendar this month as well. One of the most exciting is Dr. Seuss's birthday on March 2. Why not have a Dr. Seuss festival at your house or classroom? Green eggs and ham are easy to make with just a little food coloring. How many other "Seussified" foods can you find? Many of Seuss's books were written with beginning readers in mind, but he also authored several books with very few rhymes. Check out The King's Stilts and Horton Hears a Who. Older kids may enjoy a Dr. Seuss trivia contest or game. Search as many Seuss books as you can find and put questions on cards. Who can answer the most?

Five states were born in March (Ohio, Nebraska, Florida, Vermont, and Maine). Send older kids on a hunt to discover which ones were formed in March.

Alexander Graham Bell was born on March 3, 1847. Find out just what he invented at the library or in an encyclopedia. Now, pretend that he was never born. Write a story about how life would be different if all of these inventions were suddenly taken away from us. Harriet Tubman Day is celebrated on March 10. Find out what was special about this great lady.

March 15 is often called the Ides of March. Julius Caesar was assassinated on this date in 44 B.C. Use this as a springboard to learn about Roman mythology! Kids often find these stories fascinating, and your local library will have many versions suitable for a range of reading levels.

Don't forget the leprechauns on March 17; why not splurge for some toy or candy coins and go on a hunt for "gold" today? Randolph Caldecott was born on March 22, 1846. He was an English illustrator. Even today, picture books can win the Caldecott Award for excellent quality. Find some Caldecott Award-winning books at the library and read them today. Later, have your own illustration awards. Have the kids choose books with excellent illustrations and write down why they think the books deserve an award. Judge entries based on how well the nomination was written and defended.

The last week of March is Sleep Awareness Week. Try keeping a dream diary for each night. Keep a pad of paper and a pencil by the bed and have children write down what they remember of their dreams before they get up each morning. Can they see any connection to their waking lives? Any symbols? Any recurring themes? Check on the Internet or in the library for a book of dream interpretation if you want to extend the fun.

 

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

 
 
 

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