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Thanksgiving is the perfect time for families to get together and celebrate all for which they are thankful. This year, use your computer to create and keep a crossword of intertwined thankful words created progressively by everyone in attendance at your family celebration. Begin in a spreadsheet by creating small individual cells that will hold a single letter. Do this by narrowing each of the columns (format at least Columns A-Z). Centering the text of each cell, type the letters: T-H-A-N-K-S-G-I-V-I-N-G across one row (you might start in cell F12 for example). As each family member arrives, ask them to stop by the computer to add a personal "I am thankful for" word or phrase that crosses with words already on the page. Again, just put each letter of the word in its own cell. Be sure to save the file often as you add information. When everyone has had a chance to contribute, print out the spreadsheet and read all of the words to your guests. You may even want to print out a copy for each guest to take home as a keepsake of this year's Thanksgiving holiday.
Celebrate Mark Twain's birthday this month by designing a musical CD cover with a listing of "songs" that might celebrate and tell about his life. Begin by gathering information about Mark Twain. Make notes as you go, keeping track of interesting facts, important names and places. Once you have finished the research, begin your design work. Launch a drawing program and, in a new file, draw a square of the same dimensions as a CD case. Design the front cover with a catchy name and use fun clip art, drawings, or photographs that you find. Be sure to use an appropriate font as well as eye-catching colors. For the back cover, begin once again with a square of the same dimensions as a CD case. Make a listing of song titles that incorporate important facts and information from your research. Be creative! What kind of catchy and clever titles can you invent? Examples: 1. Toe Tapping Typist, 2. Sammy's Song, 3. Rhythm of the River. Be sure to include a list of a least ten, and use an appropriate font, color, and design. Finally, print out your covers then cut them out and place them in an otherwise unused CD case. Share your case with others. What can they learn about Mark Twain from your titles? Did you include the birthday song?
Want a fun way to practice your spelling words and build your vocabulary at the same time? Begin in a spreadsheet by writing at least 10 of your spelling words across Row 1 of your document, one word to each column. Now, under each spelling word, write as many new words that you can create using only the letters in your original spelling word. Put each new word in its own cell going down the column, row by row. From what word could you create the most other words? What spelling words generated the same numbers of other words? What word was most difficult for you to use to create other words? How many total words did you create, not including your original spelling words? Did you spell all of your new words correctly?