The Letter W

Well, we have found out that the last break was not unique, as a long time has passed since the last letter.

This time, I am not going to hope and wish for anything. I will just get to work and see where it leads!

Z Y X W V U T S R Q P O N M L K J I H G F E D C B A

The letter W will be the center of attention for this post.

W is for many things: who, what, when, where, why come to mind first. These five W words are the basic of storytelling. So, how about letting your child come up with a story, or just a short sentence, answering these five questions while using as many W words as your child can come up with?

Here is an example:

Last Wednesday, while in the water, Willie the Whale was watching the waves wetting the playful waders when the wind whooshed the waves over him.

Now it is your child’s turn. Let the imagination roll!

For a fun activity, and given that as of now it is summer, how about some Water balloon games?

On the website Fantastic Fun and Learning, there is a page dedicated to water balloon games. They can be played with as little as two children, or parent and child, or as teams. There are just plain fun games and games that may present teachable science moments. Go ahead, visit the website and create fun memories with your child(ren).

Keeping up with traditions, it is now time for some recipes that showcase the letter W.

The first recipe that caught my attention in the letter W is Whole Wheat Vegetable Pizza. It can be eaten for lunch or as a snack. Loaded with fresh vegetables it is a healthy alternative to the regular fat laden pizza.

The next recipe is not what you think! Wild Wacky Wings is not about sauce coated buffalo wings but pita bread arranged as the four wings of a butterfly and decorated with vegetables, eggs, and cheese. It is a recipe your child will have fun preparing with you! Great idea for a party as well.

(NOTE: this is a vegetarian version that can be modified to fit any other preferred diet.)

Last, but not least, we cannot forget about the cold, juicy, and fun to eat summer fruit: the Watermelon! Cut it in Wedges or in the shape of Wheels or Wings. Above all, enjoy the Watery mess that comes with it.

The first activity mentioned was a writing activity. What about adding some reading as well?

Here is a list of books that start with the letter W:

• Where the Wild Things Are (ages 0 - 3)
• What Shall We Do With the Boo Hoo Baby? (ages 0 - 3)
• What Do People Do all Day? (ages 4 - 7)
• What Do You Do With a Tail Like This? (ages 4 - 7)

And if there are older siblings (8 - 10) helping the young ones, here are a couple of selections specifically for them:

• We the Kids: the Preamble to the Constitution of the United States
• The Wind in the Willows
• When Marian Sang
• Where the Sidewalk Ends

For the complete listing of the 100 Greatest Books, visit the Scholastic website. These are the Readers’ # 1 Books. I have read a few of them, and they are absolutely great!

Have fun with the letter W and, until next time, stay cool and play safe.