The write start - Jennifer Hallissy 2010

Make - Air Mail
Guidelines for the Activities

Whether children are Scribblers ready for the next step, Spellers forming letters, Storytellers honing their craft, or Scholars learning cursive, the activities in this next section will help you to help them.

Any time you help your children to craft something that encourages writing, be prepared to be amazed by the results. Kids that know how to create their own writing-based tools tend to use them for their intended purpose. Often. And that means plenty of writing will follow. On top of that, making stuff that requires writing—such as signs and newspapers—teaches children that, when it comes to being a creative writer, the sky’s the limit. Don’t be surprised if they start coming up with their own inventive ideas. Begin by introducing your kids to the activities in the next section. Resourceful young writers will be able to take it from there.

11

Air Mail

LOOKING FOR THE PERFECT WAY to help your children’s writing skills take off? Just show them how to send messages via airmail (aka turning notes into paper airplanes), and watch their enthusiasm for writing soar.

Making paper airplanes is a classic childhood pursuit. Turning messages into airplanes, however, takes the fun to a whole new level. What can be better than seeing your thoughts (literally) take flight? Now that’s a special delivery!

Plain or ruled paper works great for this activity. Have a stack at the ready, because once kids catch on, they tend to become frequent flyers. This is also a fantastic activity for your children to do with a buddy—jetting messages back and forth is even more fun with a friend.

An added bonus of airmail? All that folding really helps build kids’ fine motor skills. And that’s really something to write home about!

MATERIALS

∗ a piece of standard 8½ × 11 inch paper

∗ writing tool of choice

HOW-TO

Show kids how to turn a letter-sized page of their writing into a paper airplane following these instructions.

1. Fold the paper in half lengthwise to create a line down the center. Then unfold it.

2. Fold the top two corners down to meet the center line, creating a triangle at the top of the paper.

3. Fold the top part of the triangle down so that the point of the triangle meets the center crease about one inch above the bottom of the paper.

4. Fold the new top corners down to meet the center line as you did before. There should be a little triangle peeking out from below the new top triangle.

5. Fold your paper along the center line in the opposite direction of your original fold.

6. Fold each diagonal edge of the paper down so that it meets the edge with the center fold. Unfold these “wings” slightly.

7. Holding the plane by its center fold, point the nose up in the air, and lett-er rip!

Variations

For Scribblers: Pre-writers will be delighted to see their colorful scribbles or drawings coast through the air. They may need some help planning and lining up the folds, but be sure to leave them in charge of creasing the paper.

For Spellers: The only thing that tops learning to write a new word is sending your hard work soaring through the air to be caught and admired.

For Storytellers: Young writers will really appreciate learning a new way to send all those messages they are so eager to write, such as “Can I go out and play now?” and “What’s for dinner?”

For Scholars: If you want to get your child geared up to study for that spelling test, this is a sure thing. Have your child write out the words and then fly them over to you for correction.