Word Books

http://www.makingbooks.com/hotdog.shtml

We recently had a delightful German exchange student named Jacky with us for two and a half weeks. One of her assignments on the trip (learning and writing down five new English words each day) inspired this month's project, a Word Book. These are great for all ages: young children learning new words, high school students preparing for the SATs, students of another language, and anyone who enjoys the wonder of words. The links provide a selection of Word of the Day sites for all levels.

You will need one piece of paper and two pieces of yarn. I used one half of a newspaper page for the book and wrote the words and definitions on separate pieces of paper which I then glued to the book. If you get a newspaper regularly, you could make a book for each week starting on Sunday or Monday, do a word each day, and at the of the year have a box with 365 words.

One thing about using newspaper is that it has a very pronounced grain. You will find that it is easy to tear neatly from top to bottom, but difficult from side to side. I tore the double page in half to get one page and then cut it in half to get the size I used. To keep with using recycled materials, you can also use a piece of paper with writing on one side only. When you make the first fold (long and skinny like a hot dog) in the directions, the writing should be on the inside. To make a longer book, make several of the hot dog booklets and glue them on top of each other.

1. Follow the directions for making the hot dog booklet.

2. Open the book to the middle and lay a piece of yarn across with an even amount sticking out on either side.

3. Close the book and lay the other piece of yarn across the top of the spine with an even amount sticking out on either side.

4. Tie the yarn together at each side with a double knot.

Links

Word of the Day Sites
http://blackdog4kids.com/games/word/daily-word.html
has a range of words from easy top hard and a bunch of word games as well

http://wordcentral.com/buzzword/buzzword.php
At Merriam Webster's Word Central you can hear the word pronounced. Learn what it means and how to use it, and answer a word wiz question.

http://www.oed.com/cgi/display/wotd
The Oxford English Dictionary offers a word of the day with pronunciations, spelling, etymology, quotations, and dates

http://www.princetonreview.com/college/research/wdj.asp?wordType=2
The Princeton Review offers words for the SAT. You can also look up words for Business, Medical, and Law if you are so inclined.

http://www.transparent.com/wotd/index.htm
A word of the day in Spanish, French, German, Italian, Brazilian Portuguese, and English for Spanish speakers


Adapted from the November 2007 issue of Making Books Monthly
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