Writing: Family Writing Fun

Invitations

 

Today's Snack:  As long as you're going to be creating an invitation today, why not create a party snack, too? It doesn't have to be a holiday or your birthday - you can have a party any time! There's no reason you can't have a cupcake with a candle on it. Blow out the candle, make a wish, and drink a glass of ice-cold milk, too!

 

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Supplies:

You could invite a guest speaker, such as an advertising person, a printing company owner, or a wedding planner, to give a short talk and bring samples

A collection of invitations | notecards and envelopes | markers or colored pencils

Scissors | glue & tape | glitter, craft jewels, feathers, thin ribbon, etc.

 

 

Here's a fun activity that's especially good for kids who are "reluctant writers" - they hate writing assignments for school, so you give them writing practice with non-school type activities like this. But everybody loves receiving invitations, so here's a fun chance to practice making them.

 

Let's pretend you are going to have a party or a special occasion, and you want to invite guests. How would you do it? By creating an invitation.

 

A guest speaker can get the ball rolling on a discussion about invitations. Or just have the students study the invitations that you've collected. Look at the type fonts, colors, types of paper, the way the information is all set up on the page, and other details.

 

In the photo above, we have a traditional wedding invitation at left, an invitation for a charity's fund-raising event at right, and a bride's bachelorette party in a ladybug theme at the bottom.

 

Note how the style in which the words are presented, including the typeface and colors, helps communicate the party theme, and gives the recipient a "feel" for what the event is going to be like. You want to match the look and wording of an invitation to the type of event that it is for.

 

What information is on an invitation? Who, what, when, where and why is a good start. Sometimes an invitation will tell you what attire to wear, or ask you to bring something to the event. Usually, there's a phone number you should call or email address included, to let them know you are coming, so that they can plan to have enough food on hand.

 

The host should think of any possible questions about the event that a guest might have, and try to answer all those questions on the invitation.

 

Now brainstorm a wacky special event, or a real party, that each student would like to pretend to give. Each student should design and make an invitation to go with that idea. Plan an invitation that will carry out your theme.

 

For example, you could have a "Let's watch the grass grow!" party, and fringe some green paper with scissors to resemble growing grass.

 

Or you could have a 10^th birthday party, and draw a big number 10 on the paper, then cut it out.

 

Be sure to write the important information on the invitation that your imaginary guests will need. Have fun with different typefaces, colors and sizes to match your theme:

 

            Name of the event

 

            Host

 

Date

 

            Time

 

            Place

 

            Anything they need to bring

 

            RSVP (reply) phone number or email address