How Write You Are!

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 19^th 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!

http://www.careeroverview.com/writing-careers.html

https://blog.udemy.com/writing-careers/

http://www.writingforward.com/creative-writing/creative-writing-careers

http://idratherbewriting.com/2008/02/16/technical-writing-careers-answering-13-questions-about-technical-writing-jobs/