A Brave Writer's Life in Brief

Wordplay is a great way to make grammar concepts stick! 

When two words team up to create one, you’ve got a compound word. And compound words offer a lively opportunity for active wordplay.

Let’s make some clever combinations!

This activity is from the Arrow (ages 11-12) for the book It Ain’t So Awful, Falafel by Firoozeh Dumas.

Encourage your kids to combine an everyday noun with a food item, then let your imaginations soar!

Print this chart and cut out the words or write them on index cards for easier mixing and matching.

Ask your child: Do you want to

• smoosh the words together to make a closed compound, 
• leave a space to create an open compound word, or
• include a hyphen to hook up a hyphenated compound word?

How would it feel to receive pizza mail? Is kiwi-wool green yarn or a sign of mold?

You can even turn this into a game!

One person acts out the word (charades-style) while the others try to guess the creative compound word.

Wordplay for the win! 

Think of a bookish character!

Got one? 

• What made you think of them?
• What do you like about that character?
• What do you loathe (if anything)?
• Would you want to have dinner with them?
• What would you ask?

Enquiring minds want to know!

Research involves knowing the content so well that you can ask and answer questions accurately. 

Try interviewing your character!

If the answers to the questions below aren’t given in the book, imagine the answers based on the character’s personality, preferences, and experiences. Feel free to reread parts of the book for help.

Interview at 11:00

Imagine you’re sitting across a table from your character now and ask directly:

• What’s your favorite color?
• What series are you binging on your streaming service?
• How do you feel about vegetarianism?
• If you could get away with it, would you steal an item you wish you had?
• What dream do you have for the world?
• What would you change in your life if you could?

Justify your possible answers to someone who has read the book!

Now, encourage your kids to do the same.

That’s right—YOU go first, then have them try!

All ‘Try It’ Activities

Brave Writer^® programs teach writing using your child’s body, mind, and heart.
Discover why writing is the key to all of learning!

Did you know that your little ones are already great at reading? Try our ideas below and see!

Reading Faces

• Pick up a board or picture book (or for older kids, screenshot a YouTube video)
  
• Read character facial expressions. (It’s okay if your child sees a different emotion than you do. Show interest and learn why!)

• Ask: how do you know what that face is saying? Identify a curved mouth, raised eyebrows, a crinkled nose, and more.
  
• Next, make your own faces. See if you can guess each other’s emotions by reading each other’s faces. 

Remember, we read more than the alphabet every day!

Explore more activities like this one in the Wordless Picture Book Quill! 

All ‘Try It’ Activities

Brave Writer^® programs teach writing using your child’s body, mind, and heart.
Discover why writing is the key to all of learning!