Kids' Corner

Fun things to do for kids

Every year on May first one of my oldest friends e-mails me and asks me if I remember the May baskets. How could I forget! There were 10 of us within four years of age living in the same city block or right across the street. We all attended the same elementary school except for the two that went to the parochial school. The best part was that we all lived right next to the city park, played together constantly and were a very close group! May Day was one of our favorite activities! It was as big as buying Christmas presents for everyone. For days we would be busy making our May baskets, choosing carefully the candy to put in them and then waiting. As soon as school was over we would rush home, cut flowers from our gardens, assemble the baskets and be on our way. You would see children on every block in Manattan placing May baskets at the door, ringing the bell and running away. Our tradition was that if you caught the deliverer you got to kiss them. (That's how I don't forget May Day, I still have a scar from catching my friend and him giving me a nice scratch instead of a kiss. :O)

Of course having such fond memories of May Day I was anxious for Melanie and Levi to enjoy it as well. After a few year of not being able to make it a tradition among their friends we finally gave up. We did have a May Day tradition though before they started school. We would go to Annapolis, Maryland for the annual Garden Club May Basket Competition. Every business would participate and many of the homesjoin the annual tradition. The baskets were unbelievable! My favorite was a birdbath in a churchyard that was transformed into a basket. If I ever visit Annapolis again it will definately be on May 1st!

Can you believe it is almost the end of the school year? The end of the year is so much fun but it makes me a little sad. I always hate to say goodbye to my classes. I can only hope they look back at their first grade year with fond memories. I know I will!

The end of the year brings Amanda, our little traveling panda, home to see us before the year is over. She has such exciting adventures that I wish I could trade places with her. This year she went to Wilson, Wyoming.

Start here to join Amanda on her Great American Adventure. You'll travel to five different states and learn a little about each. At the end of the adventure you can e-mail Amanda and tell her about your favorite part.

If you enjoyed Amanda's Great American Adventure you might enjoy visiting this site to do a Zoo Habitat webquest. It would be a great way to spend a rainy summer day.

Webquest

New Zoo Exhibit Webquest