Give Summer Reading a Boost with Printable Vocabulary Words Scavenger Hunt Bookmarks

We're a week and a half into summer vacation.  I always make sure that I plan daily learning activities for my children in addition to the summer reading required by their schools.

Two of our three children love to read books.  Although I usually concentrate on coming up with activities for our child who struggles a bit with reading, this one is to help challenge the two bookworms instead!

Our 9 year old daughter could sound out big words since she was 5 or 6 years old.  She can read almost any word at 9 years, but does she know what those words mean?

One of the items on our daughter's 4th grade summer reading list is the Ulysses Moore book series.  I just started her with Book 1 to see if she likes it.  Once I printed the bookmark sheet and cut one bookmark out, I went through the book in search of words my daughter might not be familiar with.  I then listed these words on the bookmark so she can have a list on-hand to reference.  When she finds one of the words, I'll ask her to let me know what she thinks the definition of the word is based on the context in the book.

TIP: Be sure to write the title of the book on the space provided on each bookmark if you're doing this for more than one book at a time in your household.

TO PRINT: Check that your printer is on and ready to go.  Click on the image below to enlarge.  Then right-click and select print.

Want to make these bookmarks more fun?
I did make these bookmarks to be disposable, but if you'd like to jazz them up, here are some easy ideas . . .

1.  Print the bookmarks on colored paper or cardstock.  Paper with a lightly-colored pattern would be fun too!
2. Have your child draw the cover of the book in the empty box instead of just writing in the book title.
3. Use a hole puncher to punch out the black circles.  Then use ribbon or yarn to add streamers to the top of the bookmarks on the left and right sides of the printable.
4. Use a sticker or several small stickers to decorate the top of the bookmark in the center of the printable.
5.  Turn the bookmark over to the blank side and personalize the bookmark with your child's name.
6.  Turn the bookmark over to the blank side and write the prize your child will earn if he or she finds all the words and can tell you what they mean.

If you like this idea, be sure to Pin It for later!

Which books are your children loving this summer? Tell us in a comment here. 

Edible Arrangements' New Confetti Fruit Cupcake and a Summer Strawberry Scavenger Hunt

This past weekend, we attended what might be one of our last cookouts of the summer.  It was a family gathering at my cousin's house.  These gatherings are always special because they really only happen a few times a year and are the only times we generally get to see our beloved aunts, uncles, and cousins.  Everyone always brings something to go with dinner or to enjoy after the meal for dessert.  I usually opt for bringing a dessert. For this occasion, Edible Arrangements made it possible for me to bring one of their new Fresh Fruit Confetti Cupcakes.  It was delivered the day before and stayed all wrapped up safely in my refrigerator until the next day.

I must say that, when dessert time arrived, everyone could not wait to dive into this bouquet of fresh fruit, but at the same time, it almost felt wrong to dismantle such a beautiful arrangement.  Everyone commented on how fresh and delicious the fruit was.

(Click any photo to enlarge)

Of course, the stars of the arrangement were the chocolate-dipped cupcake-shaped pineapple pops topped with colorful sprinkles.  The adults enjoyed these just as much as the children.  The white chocolate coating was very sweet, so it would be perfect for anyone with a sweet tooth.  Surrounding the cupcake-shaped pineapples were rows of grapes, large red strawberries, and flower-shaped pineapples.  I did not hear one child arguing about having to eat fruit that evening.

The Grand Berry Confetti Cupcake we received can be ordered from Edible Arrangements for $85.  Through August 26th, 2012, you can receive two free Cupcake Pineapple Pops when you place an order for pick up using Code: CPCK8813.  All Edible Arrangement stores are open until 7pm and offer same day delivery or pick-up if you get your order in by 5pm.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Through September 5th, 2012, Edible Arrangements will be challenging my fellow-Massachusetts residents and my friends in southern New Hampshire to spot the Edible Arrangements' Summer Strawberry!  Last Wednesday, I shared a clue with you about which Edible Arrangements location you could find the Summer Strawberry on the 3G2S Facebook page.  Look for more clues each week until the Scavenger Hunt ends.

Here are the contest details . . . 

Free Fruit and Fun!
Anyone who correctly deciphers the clues and finds ‘Summer Strawberry’ at the Edible Arrangements location within the designated 2-hour time period will receive free samples of smoothies, dipped fruit or fresh fruit salad. Want to win prizes? Commenting on this blog post with the correct address/ store location where you found ‘Summer Strawberry’ OR emailing a picture of ‘Summer Strawberry’ to jkaye@carltonprmarketing.com will enter you to win the grand prize, a $200 Amazon gift card, or one of four arrangements!** Doing both will get you two entries! If you are on Twitter and follow @DoFruitNE, tweeting a picture of ‘Summer Strawberry’ with a caption that includes the hashtag #ILoveFruit and will get you an additional entry. That is 3 chances to win!

Live too far from the selected store?
If you correctly decipher the clues but cannot make it to the selected location, you can still enter the contest by commenting the address/ store location of ‘Summer Strawberry’ on this blog post. Better yet, you can visit YOUR local Edible Arrangements during the pre-selected 2-hour time period and mention that you are there because of scavenger hunt and you will receive a 6-piece box of dipped fruit!

* The scavenger hunt and its affiliated promotions will only be taking place in Massachusetts and southern New Hampshire stores.
**Edible Arrangements and its public relations agency will not retain any email addresses during this promotion, other than to notify winners of the prizes awarded.


Thank you to Edible Arrangements for providing a complimentary product sample for us to base this review upon.

Free Printable: At-Home Scavenger Hunt Activity

Yesterday, February vacation week officially started for some of the schools around the country.  Since many parents may be desperate for things to keep their children entertained 2 or 3 days into this school vacation, I thought it would be a good time to share a new free printable activity.

This is a basic scavenger hunt activity I designed to be suitable for preschoolers and grade school-age children as well.  It also can be used whether you have an only child or more than one.  The main goal is to find an item in the house that has one of the characteristics listed.  This is a great rainy day activity.


Ways to use this Scavenger Hunt activity . . .

• If your child is too young to read, then you can either read off each item on the list for your child or make it a group scavenger hunt where an adult or an older child is playing along and trying to find the items.
• If you only have one child and he or she can read, then you can have them complete this activity more than once.  Each round will increase in difficulty because they cannot use the same items more than once.
• If you have 2 or more children who can read, then you can split the children into two or more teams, giving each team its own list.  Whichever team finds an item for each characteristic first will win.

TO PRINT:  Click on the image below to enlarge.  Then right-click on the image and select print.  Use the back arrow on your browser to return to this page.

If you try out this activity with your children, I would love to know how they liked it.