Episode 63: The Cloud, Chapter 1

Hi All,

Wow! Have we missed you! We're back to bring you a novella that we wrote in 2010. This novella is about students in a school using their skills with technology to solve problems. We like to think it has a sort of Scooby-Doo vibe, except there aren't any ghosts or talking dogs. The story has twenty-five chapters. We're going to be putting out each chapter as a separate episode of the podcast. 

With so many participating in distance learning at home, including us, we wanted to help in any way we could. Below, you can find the link to the audio file as well as some voracious vocabulary, activities to spark the imagination, and a comprehension challenge. Stay well and stay safe!

 

VORACIOUS VOCABULARY

What did you say? A word of the day! In our story 

there are many juicy words that are fun to use and say.

Exotic: originating in or characteristic of a distant foreign country.
Mystery: something that is difficult or impossible to understand or explain.
Reassuringly: in a way that removes someone's doubts and fears.
Smirk: smile in an irritatingly smug, conceited, or silly way.

                             JUST ADD IMAGINATION! 

Try these activities to keep your imagination glowing 
after hearing the story.

1. Do you have any recipes in your family that has been passed down from generation to generation? If so, collect the ingredients and follow the recipe. Record your steps in the recipe via video or a picture log along with the way. Don’t forget to pose with the finished product! (Remember fails are welcome, too. That’s how we learn!)

2. Think of a teacher that made you feel happy or empowered or challenged. Write that teacher a letter, make them a word cloud or create a comic about how they made your learning memorable.

COMPREHENSION CHALLENGE

After listening to the story, can you recall the 

details to answer these questions?

1. Who were the four kids on the virtual call?

2. What are aphids? How are they harmful to plants?

3. Why was the Gardening Club unable to send the extra ladybugs back?

4. Where was Bethie Crowley when Val was texting with her?

5. When did Gardening Club happen at the school?

We want to send out bright birthday wishes to:

Sophie of Virginia
Uncle John of Texas
Kevin H of Massachusetts
Joe of Texas

   We hope your days sparkled!

Episode 48: Grabby Goose Gets Greedy

Click the link to listen to: Grabby Goose Gets Greedy

Hi All,

Since the kids have been on summer break, we have been busy playing with all our toys. Sometimes our youngest will snatch a toy from her big brother without even thinking about his feelings. We've been working with her on how she needs to ask first before taking something that she wants. It has taken some time, but she is learning to be patient and use her words rather than just react. As you listen to the story, consider the following:
What make a good friend a GOOD friend?

A GIVEAWAY 

We are pleased to announce a giveaway promotion! We've been given 20 Nature's Clean Choice Baby Blankets to give away to our listeners. These blankets are protected from microbes by Fosshield^®. What that means is that the material actually repels microbes keeping the blanket germ free! You can view all of the different ways to enter by using Rafflecopter below. Complete as many as you can to increase your chances to win! 

The deadline is 12:00am EST on August 14th EST. 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

VORACIOUS VOCABULARY

What did you say? A word of the day! In our story

there are many juicy words that are fun to use and say.

commotion: noisy disturbance.

fidget: to move about restlessly, nervously, or impatiently.

keen: animated by or showing strong feeling or desire.

rendezvous: an agreement between two or more persons to meet at a certain time and place.

JUST ADD IMAGINATION!

Try these activities to keep your imagination glowing

after hearing the story.

1. Make a list of all the things that make a good friend.

2. Write a letter or draw a picture for a friend. Send it in the mail.
3. Make a special treat for a friend and then share it together!
4. Go swimming in a lake and count all the critters you see.
5. Review the rules with a trusted adult for how to interact with a stranger.

COMPREHENSION CHALLENGE

After listening to the story, can you recall the

details to answer these questions?

1. Who are Grabby's friend's in the story?

2. What kind of animals were Morty, Sam, and Grabby? 

3. When did Grabby realize the woman was not her friend? 

4. Where did Sam swim along to follow the woman?

5. Why did the woman take Grabby?

We want to send out bright birthday wishes to:

Meme of Massachusetts
Nana of New York
Faith Savannah of South Carolina
Dave of Louisiana
Aunt Mikki of South Dakota
Uncle Ryan of South Dakota

We hope your days SPARKLED!

SPOTLIGHTS

DOMINIC 

AGE 5

Dominic made this Valentine for his best friend. 

He told his mom, "The more stuff you 

put on someone's valentine means 

the more you love that person." 

He obviously really loves his best friend. 

What a beautiful valentine, Dominic!

Learn more about how to be featured in our
 Spotlight by clicking here!

                                      

It's The Great Pumpkin....Regatta?

Do you remember in Episode 11: Dragonfly, Dragonfly, Show Us the Way, we talked about friendship and why we loved our best friends? I have one more reason to appreciate, love and admire my best friend. She is pictured on the left in the above picture and is lovingly called Auntie Kerry in our house. Besides the fact that our children adore her and that she always knows how to brighten a gloomy day, after 15 years of our friendship, she can always surprise me! Today was one of those times. She called to tell me she entered the

Giant Pumpkin Regatta (a boat race).

What is it?

Here is the description directly from the website:

The First Annual Giant Pumpkin Regatta, sponsored by The Lake Champlain Regional Chamber of Commerce, pits the regions giant gourd growers an

d local businesses against each other in what is a competition of size and speed. While it sounds both impossible and crazy, it is a boat race, but the boats are giant pumpkins. The giant pumpkins are carved and hollowed out, put in the lake with forklifts, and raced as if they were kayaks. Join the paddlers and their PVC's (personal vegetable crafts) as they help raise awareness for the Chittenden Emergency Foodshelf and the United Way, official charity of the Great Pumpkin Regatta. Donations of non-perishable food items would be greatly appreciated. For an idea of how other states have orchestrated their regattas, click this link:

Night Light Stories is going to be Auntie Kerry's sponsor for her giant pumpkin adventure on October 11th. Here is where I need all of our creative listeners help!

She has to decorate the giant pumpkin as creatively as she can. You can find example pictures of past pumpkins here. So, what do you think she should make her GIANT PUMPKIN look like? Any ideas for Auntie Kerry?

Leave her your idea in the comment section.

Dragonfly, Dragonfly, Show Us the Way

Click here to listen to: Dragonfly, Dragonfly, Show Us the Way

Hi All,

Here we are in the last month of summer vacation. Can you believe it? We have had a great summer taking time to visit with our family and friends. Speaking of our friends, we are having a quick contest in honor of celebrating our little man turning FOUR with all of our friends! What will you win?

Two imaginative, energetic and catchy music CD's.

"FIELD TRIP" from Recess Monkey

"JUICE BOX HEROES" from Imagination Movers

To enter, simply leave us a comment on the blog, at our email nightlightstories@gmail.com, or send me Tweet via Twitter.com at nightlight08 describing one of your favorite things about your best friend. We'll be picking two winners at random from all those who enter. Contest ends on September 1st in honor of Miss Mel's birthday! See my example below:

I love my best girlfriend because she accepts me for who I am.
For 15 years she has always been there for me!

What did you say? A word of the day! That is right! In our story there are

many juicy words that are fun to learn and say!

audible: loud enough to be heard
conceal: cover up or keep from sight
shimmied: to shake or vibrate
treacherous: unstable or insecure, as footing

JUST ADD IMAGINATION!

Try these activities to keep your imagination glowing after hearing the story.

1. A spelunker is a person who makes a hobby of exploring and studying caves. Think about all the things that a spelunker would find in exploring a cave. What kinds of things do you think they would study?

2. Check out a book or many books at the library on the buffalo, the dragonfly, or the black-footed ferret. Read about one, two or all of these animals.

COMPREHENSION CHALLENGE

After listening to the story, can you recall the details to answer these questions?

1. Where did Buffalo and Dragonfly discover Black-Footed Ferret?

2. How did each of the friends help get each other safely through their journey?

3. Before meeting Buffalo, Dragonfly used to live in the meadow. Why did she leave?

BRIGHT BIRTHDAY WISHES

We want to send out bright birthday wishes to:

Gianna S of Peabody, MA

Meme of Georgetown, MA

Nana of Eden, NY

Bethie C of Groveland, MA

Brian C of Groveland, MA

Brian B of Fredonia, NY

Brayden B of Fredonia, NY

Tucker B of Harpers Ferry, WV

We hope your day SPARKLED!

If you know someone who has a birthday coming up and you'd like to send them a Night Light Birthday wish, send us an email at nightlightstories@gmail.com.Please send us your loved one's first name and the first initial of their last name only and we'll pass along the birthday wish. There are no age limits!

As always I look forward to the many stories we can share together.