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Mini Page Archive - January 2006: Issue 1 - 5
A 2006 Calendar for Kids -- Issue 1 -- Dec. 31-Jan. 6
Printable Version
This week's standards: Students understand people and events honored in commemorative holidays. (History)
Activities:
- Mark the birthdays of three family members or friends on the Mini Page calendar. Now make birthday
cards for each person, but include something from a special celebration of that month on your card.
(For example, if a friend has a birthday in May, you could include a bicycle on the card because
May is National Bike Month.)
- Look at the special celebrations for the month in which your birthday occurs. Make a birthday month
collage by cutting out pictures and words from the newspaper that show that month's celebrations.
- What are the people or events that are celebrated on the calendar: (a) individuals in history,
(b) ethnic or cultural groups, (c) foods, (d) nature, and (e) reading or writing?
- Look at all the different types of celebrations and recognitions celebrated on the calendar.
Write a paragraph discussing what those different recognitions say about our country and culture.
Who and what do we value? Why do we value those people and events?
- Select a day or month that celebrates a particular group of people, such as women, laborers or
veterans. Use resource books and the Internet to learn more about that group and why it is celebrated.
Use these questions to guide your research: When was the day/month first celebrated? Why was that
particular group selected? Who are some famous individuals connected to the celebration? What
special events take place in recognition of the celebration? What does your community do to
recognize that day/month? What special event would you plan for that celebration?
(standards by Dr. Sherrye D. Garrett, Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi)
Ben Franklin From A to Z -- Issue 2 -- Jan. 7-13
Printable Version
This week's standard: Students understand that history relates to events and people of other times and
places by identifying examples of interesting Americans. (Social Studies: History)
Activities:
- Look through your newspaper for pictures of things that Ben Franklin invented or used. Make a poster
showing his many activities.
- Make a list of Franklin*s inventions. Then ask family members and friends to tell you which
invention they think is most important, and why. Do many people agree on the most important
invention? Which one do you think is the most important?
- Ben Franklin represented the United States in talks with other countries. Find a newspaper story
about relationships between the United States and another country today. What is the issue?
Why is the United States talking with the other country? What do you think will happen as the
result of talks?
- Find someone in the newspaper today who (a) would have been happy that Ben invented bifocals,
(b) could learn lessons about diplomacy from Ben, (c) would have approved of Ben's interest in
exercising, (d) would appreciate Ben*s interest in style, and (e) might like to travel as much as
Ben did. Explain your choices.
- Write several paragraphs discussing how Ben Franklin influenced life as we know it today. Use these
questions to plan your writing: How did Franklin contribute to our understanding of democracy?
How did Franklin support and encourage education? How did Franklin*s inventions make our lives easier?
(standards by Dr. Sherrye D. Garrett, Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi)
Checks and Balances -- Issue 3 -- Jan. 14-20
Printable Version
This week's standard: Students understand the purpose of government. (Social Studies: Power, Authority and
Governance) Students identify key ideals of the United States' democratic republican form of government.
(Social Studies: Civic Ideals and Practice)
Activities:
- Find a picture of President George W. Bush in the newspaper. Paste it on a piece of paper. Now
write a sentence telling something about Mr. Bush*s job as president.
- Find news stories about or photographs of U.S. senators and members of the House of Representatives.
Paste the stories/photos on a large piece of paper. Under each story/photo, write the name and party
of the person. Write a sentence telling why that person is in the news.
- Find a news story about President Bush meeting with a leader from another country. Write a paragraph
discussing the purpose of the meeting. Write a second paragraph explaining how the meeting
illustrates one of the responsibilities of the president.
- Who in the U.S. government: (a) can veto a law, (b) decide whether or not a law fits our
Constitution, (c) override a veto, and (d) declare war against another country?
- Collect news stories about a topic being discussed by members of Congress and White House officials.
Write several paragraphs discussing the issue. Use these questions to guide your writing:
- What is the issue?
- What positions on the issue are taken by different representatives of Congress and the White House?
- What powers do the different branches of government have with regard to the issue?
- How do you think the issue will finally be resolved?
(standards by Dr. Sherrye D. Garrett, Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi)
Ciao, Italia (Hello, Italy) -- Issue 4 -- Jan. 21-27
Printable Version
This week's standard: Students understand the physical and human
characteristics of places. (Geography: People and Places) Students
understand how culture and experience influence people*s perceptions of
places and regions. (Geography: People and Places)
Activities:
- Make an Italy collage with newspaper words and pictures about Italian foods, products, people
and places.
- Draw a line down the center of a piece of paper to make two columns.
Label one column "People" and the other "Places." Now list important Italian people under
the first column and interesting Italian places under the second column.
- What can you identify to show that Italy (a) has a long cultural tradition, (b) manufactures
many different products, (c) is popular with tourists, and (d) has many good foods?
- Collect several newspaper stories about events in modern Italy. Paste each story on a piece
of paper. Then write a paragraph for each story explaining how Italy*s history or geography
has influenced the current news.
- Use resource books and the Internet to learn more about one of Italy*s famous cities.
Select a city to research. Use these questions to guide your research: Where is the city
located? When was it founded? What are some important historical events that have taken place
there?
What are some of the cultural contributions made by the city? What famous Italians were born
there? What is the role of the city in modern Italy?
(standards by Dr. Sherrye D. Garrett, Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi)
Booker T. Washington -- Issue 5 -- Jan. 28-Feb. 3
Printable Version
This week's standards: Students understand how democratic values came to be, and how they have been
exemplified by people, events and symbols. (History) Students understand and appreciate the
contributions made by significant individuals in the country's history. (Social Studies)
Activities:
- Draw a picture of Booker T. Washington during an important time in his life. Write a sentence
explaining your picture.
- Use newspaper words and pictures to make a poster that shows Booker T. Washington's
contributions to our country.
- Write six headlines that tell the story of Booker T. Washington's life.
- Find three people in the newspaper whom you think Booker T. Washington might like to meet.
Explain your choices.
- Pretend you are Booker T. Washington and are just beginning the Tuskegee Institute. You need
the support of the community to build your school. Write a letter you could send to business
and community leaders explaining why your school is important and what they could do to help.
(standards by Dr. Sherrye D. Garrett, Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi)
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