Idioms Are Not Icky

What's an idiom? (Pronounced ID dee um)
Idioms are phrases that have different meanings from what the words actually mean. Confused? Don't be! Idioms are fun and people often get a kick out of them!

Read the idioms below and see if any ring a bell.
Ask yourself:  What does this phrase really mean? Have I ever used these words in conversation?

give it a shot
have second thoughts
play it by ear
be in hot water
draw a blank
a rip off
give someone a cold shoulder
get cold feet
have a change of heart
get a kick out of
cost an arm and a leg
cross your fingers
hit the books
hold your horses
have mixed feelings
see eye-to-eye
it runs in the family
worked the graveyard shift
kiss of death
play your cards right

Give this a shot:  Write a paragraph using at least four idioms. It may be a piece of cake or you may draw a blank. Take a crack at it and think about adding idioms to your writing. Make no bones about it--you will impress your teacher, but don't get carried away!

Keep your chin up,
Nancy

Thinking about Flag Day, June 14th

Let's THINK about summer and pretend it's June--June 14th to be exact--the day we celebrate Flag Day in the United States. We could all use a little summer in our lives, right now, right?

To celebrate our beautiful flag, try your hand at writing an acrostic poem. Start each line with the letters in Flag Day.
THINK about the hot and sunny days ahead,
and/or
THINK about cheering on the U.S.A. Olympic Team.

Take a look at the one I've done:

F- Flags
L- Like to dance in the wind,
A- Always reminding me to be
G- Grateful for our wonderful country.

D- Dance like a flappy flag today
A- And
Y- Yell U.S.A. to cheer for our Olympic Team!

Now, it's your turn!

F-
L-
A-
G-

D-
A-
Y-


GO TEAM U.S.A.!!
-Nancy

Love Notes

IT'S VALENTINE'S DAY on Friday, so show some

L-O-V-E

 in writing.

Everyone loves someone or something, so this easy-peasy writing activity is a no-brainer.

Grab some pink, white, purple, and red construction paper, some crayons or markers, a hanger, hole puncher, and ribbon.

Decide who will be your Valentine.
Cut out hearts in a variety of shapes and colors.
On each one, write one thing about your Valentine (your brother, sister, mom, dad, aunt, uncle, grandparent, pet, forest animal, insect, invisible friend, etc.) that you admire.

For example: (In this case, my Valentine is Han Solo, my Beta Fish. xox.  If you know about Beta Fish, you understand why this is THE best name in the world for one, right?)

I love how you never, ever, ever get mad at me even when I forget to feed you.
or
I love how you look at me with those beautiful, beady eyes.

Write as many love notes as you want.
Punch a hole in each heart and tie a ribbon to it.
Tie the other end to a plastic hanger.
Hang your love note mobile where your loved one will see it on Valentine's Day.

xox
Nancy

Are You Up for THIS Challenge?

Here are a few quick activities that will give you a brain workout by setting parameters (limits) on how you must write.  Here are some suggestions:

1. Write story in which the first sentence has one word, the 2^nd has 2 words, the 3^rd has 3 . . .

“Hi!  What’s up?”

  1           2

“Not too much.  What’s new with you?”

            3                          4

or

Mosquitoes.  They bite.  They suck blood.  Mosquitoes make me itch.

         1                2                3                              4

2. Write sentences in which the first letters of the words are in alphabetical order.

~ Andy bought chocolate donuts every Friday.

~ Mary never orders pickled quail.

3. Write sentences in which every word begins with the same letter – like a tongue twister.

~ Harry hopes Helen helps him hunt hippos.

~ Some sentences sound silly, so Sam stopped saying such sentences.

Go for it!
- Lori