In our new story, Watermelon Day, by Kathi Appelt, we will meet Jesse, a little girl who learns about one of Nature's most delicious gifts - fruit! Jesse has to be extremely patient as she watches and nutures the watermelon she finds in her family's garden all through the long, hot summer. Her patience is finally rewarded when her family celebrates 'Watermelon Day'.

Your child can review and practice the vocabulary words and definitions for Watermelon Day by clicking the Java Games link in the Quia activities section. It may be helpful to print out the list of terms (vocabulary words and meanings) from the game choices page so your child can refer to them as needed during practice. Once your child can easily match the words and definitions, have him/her try playing the Columns Game where vocabulary words are used in the context of sentences.

Have some fun with the Useful links section at the bottom of the Class Page. It features hyperlinks to other sites that contain background materials and enrichment activities that go along with this week's story. These links are provided as an extra opportunity for fun and learning for you and your second grader.

Bonus Activity: Click on the link after the ***stars*** in the Useful links section at the bottom of the Class Page. Choose a coloring page from the National Watermelon Promotion Board coloring book. Print it out, color it, and bring it to school. When you show it to Ms. Pellarin, she'll reward your effort by giving you a prize. If you can't print the coloring page (you need Adobe's PDF Reader), you may do this alternative activity: Click on the ###link### in the Useful links section. Read and follow the directions for making watermelon seed maracas. Bring your finished product to school to show Ms. Pellarin in exchange for a small prize.