Getting your ideas down on paper enables you to share your thoughts
with anyone – for years! So thank the lowly pencil or pen or marker or crayon.
Find out about these valuable writing instruments by doing the activities
below.
CONNECT:
- See a timeline of writing ink (and equivalent) at http://www.chadlabs.com/research-development/writing-ink-timeline.html and http://www.history.com/shows/modern-marvels/videos/writing-instruments
- There is no lead in lead pencils? What’s the history of the pencil? What does HB mean? Find out the answers to these and other questions about pencils at http://pencils.com/
- How are ballpoint pens made? Watch this video to find out: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uYme2M_YPu0
- What did 19th century offices contain? See writing tools and office equipment at the virtual Early Office Museum: http://www.officemuseum.com/exhibits.htm
- You can buy a pencil for a dime – or over $12,000. How about spending eight million dollars for a pen? See the world’s most expensive writing instruments at http://financesonline.com/10-most-expensive-writing-instruments-in-the-world/
CREATE:
- Follow these directions at http://www.instructables.com/id/Make-a-real-feather-writing-quill/ to make your own writing quill.
- Make your own ink and paper following the directions at http://www.hometrainingtools.com/a/make-homemade-ink-project
- Want to send a secret message? Make your own invisible ink as explained at http://www.sciencekids.co.nz/experiments/invisibleink.html
- Get your stories and poems published at http://www.stonesoup.com/
CARE:
- Share your stories online by creating a storybook at https://www.mystorybook.com/
- Create a family writing center: http://illinoisearlylearning.org/tipsheets/writingcenters.htm
- How do pencils impact the environment? More than you might imagine: https://www.sustainabilityconsortium.org/wp-content/themes/sustainability/assets/pdf/product-categories/Wooden%20Pencils_Sustainability%20Insights.pdf
- Do well by doing good by joining this writing instruments recycling program: http://www.terracycle.com/en-US/brigades/writing-instruments-brigade-r
CAREER:
Like to write? Almost every company needs skilled writers. And all
along the way to the writer’s hand are careers: forestry, mining,
manufacturing, marketing, and sales. Write yourself a job!
