From the moment we start to make sounds as infants, we're trying to find our voice. We're collecting language word by word so we can communicate our feelings and wishes. And, like all collections, the words we accumulate become a portrait of us. They shape the way we express ourselves and the way we move through the world. They influence the decisions we make and the directions we go based on our understanding of their meaning. They make us feel happy or sad or inspired. . .
. . . which is exactly why it is so important to encourage children to investigate words. . .
. . . to build their own relationships with them. . .
. . . to explore all of their sounds and variations. . .
. . . to make them their own. Because when kids know the value of the words they share and all of their subtle beauty, they can do some pretty amazing things in this world. They can move through life with a sense of wonder and empowerment. They can share their own unique and inspiring voice.
Word Play: A Dictionary of YOUR Words
Materials:
- Dictionary (we like this one a lot)
- Notebook (or better yet, a handmade book just for this purpose)
- Jar or Can
- Pencils/Paints/Pens
- Typewriter (optional, but fun)
- Audio Recorder/Smartphone (optional, but also very fun)
While no one can argue the efficiency of looking up a word on your computer or phone, there is something pretty amazing and irreplaceable about using a dictionary. When you look up a word on the internet, you get only what you are looking for. When you look up a word in a dictionary, you run into so many other words as you try to find the right page. You also might run into something pretty wonderful like this little surprise here. All of those chance encounters will only make this activity so much more meaningful and fun, so I encourage you to do this activity the old fashioned way. You won't regret it.
1. Start off the activity by typing or writing words on small scraps of paper. Sometimes it can be fun to work off of a theme like the poetry jar pictured above, but you could also simply ask your kiddos to write down their favorite words and put them in a jar or can.
2. Ask the kids to pick out a word and then to look it up in the dictionary. Encourage them to explore all of the definitions as well as the other words on the page.
3. Invite them to try sounding out the different words and then record their sweet little voices while they are doing it so they have a sound bank of pronunciation to refer back to if/when they need it ( and I guarantee you'll love having these recordings when they are all grown up).
4. Try telling a story using the word you just looked up, or draw a comic book story based on the word in the notebook.
5. Ask them to write their interpretation of the definition in their book (i.e. their personal dictionary).
6. Repeat these steps over and over. Fill up lots of notebooks. Come up with your own word games to play.
Happy exploring!
~Sarah
*Last time in Crafts and Activities: Slipping into September
