Learn about "idioms" through this creative activity! Have children write and illustrate books about some pretty silly sayings they often hear. Discuss what these sayings mean both literally and figuratively. Examples may include:

- "It's raining cats and dogs outside!"
- "My dad said I had my head in the clouds!"
- "I've got a frog in my throat!"

After discussing fact and opinion judge TV commercials. Tape record 5-10 commercials from television. Commercials that work well are such things as cleaning products or food items. Have your child divide his paper into 2 columns, labeling one as "facts" and the others as "opinions." As kids watch the commercials, have them carefully listen to every statement and tally whether the statement was a fact or an opinion. Kids will quickly see that there are probably more opinions in commercials than facts!

As an extension to this activity, make your own commerical. Tell your they must include at least 3 facts and 3 opinions for their "product." Perform the commercial.

Here are some ideas to jumpstart your child's creative writing.

1. Write traditional stories from another point of view.  For example, what is the point of view of  the stepsister in Cinderella? What about the troll in The Three Billy Goats Gruff? The evil stepmother or one of the dwarfs in Snow White?

2. Have the children design a new room for "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory." Draw it and write about it.

3. Write fables.  How did the giraffe get it's lomg neck? How did the rabbit get its long ears? Why is the fox considered to be "sly?"

4.  Do a first person historical fiction. Choose a person that you know some details about and write on of the following:  "The most important day of my life was....."  "The saddest day of my life was....."  "My favorite childhood memory is...."

5.  Make up a product and design an ad for it.  Be sure to make people want to buy it!  Draw a picture to go with it.