Three of the activities for this month use the Internet with a child. A scavenger hunt, an on line game, and some puzzles designed in another country all illustrate the versatility of being on line. All of the activities are wonderful for parents and children to share together. If you live where winter weather is keeping you inside, you can use some of your indoor time exploring the Web with these sites.

#1 Next month has been designated as National Women’s History Month. Prepare for March by selecting this site which offers a web scavenger hunt of 26 famous women. Take some time to explore the impact these women had in our history.

• www.educationworld.com/a_lesson/lesson102.shtml

#2 This web site was developed in Australia and allows children to see how the Web reaches all over the world. Here you will discover Wordfind Puzzles to print out. Some of the titles are: Australian Animals; Fruits of the World; Synonyms for Good; Countries Around the World; and others.

• www.geocities.com/edrangepublications/index.htm

#3 This is an on line game that reviews information on all of our states. Select “The Great State Race” and see how many points you can collect. This can be played individually or join your child become a team.

• www.timeforkids.com/TFK/games/index.html

#4 Calendars are great learning tools for children. Here are some ways to use a 2004 calendar.

• If each new month has a picture, use it as a stimulus for oral speaking and have a child describe what they see or observe in the picture.

• Read and discuss the names of the months. Ask what month starts with the sound of “m”; ask how many sounds do you hear in June.

• Cross out each day as it occurs; draw or write what the weather was like; ask how many days until the weekend.

• Mark special events, birthdays, and holidays on the calendar.

• Count the number of months; which month has the fewest days; name the months having the most days.

• Put the months into the four seasons.

• What days fall during the week; what days fall on the weekend; how many days in a week.

• Explore these concepts of time: Before, after, yesterday, last night, tomorrow, last week, next week, next month, last month, in a fortnight.

• What was the date last Monday; what day is February 16; how many Saturdays in the month of June; name the seventh month of the year.

Let me know by e-mail what your favorite activity was this month. I am compiling information for a resource book and want your input. Thanks.