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The Sign Painter’s Dream

Language: English

A spunky old woman’s request, and an unusual dream convince Crabby Clarence the sign painter to make the most glorious and magnificent sign of his career and then give it away. In this episode LeVar finds out about advertising, he talks to an advertising person and watches old TV ads. Then he tours a sign-making plant to track the construction of a giant sign from beginning to installation and lighting in New York City’s Times Square.

Here are activities to do after watching this episode:

Name Designs

You will need:

  • white drawing paper
  • crayons and/or markers
  • cardboard
  • scissors
  • yarn
  • glue

Directions:

  1. Have your child write his or her first name on a sheet of white drawing paper.
  2. With crayons or markers they can outline the name several times, and then color in the resulting spaces with more bright colors.
  3. Finally, cut out the name and glue it onto a piece of cardboard and attach yarn for hanging.
  

Create-a-Billboard

You will need:

  • construction paper
  • magazines
  • scissors
  • glue
  • markers

Ask your children what they would choose to advertise. Then have them create an eye-catching miniature bulletin board, using pictures and words cut from magazines. Encourage them to write their own slogans, keeping in mind that a billboard is an advertisement that is meant to catch the public’s attention.

Traveling Along

Before you venture out on your next family car trip, create a list of words you want your children to be on the lookout for. The words can include those often seen on billboards, store signs, road signs, or states’ names on license plates. The first person to spot a word calls it out and can then cross it off the list. Play until all the words have been spotted. Then create a new list.

Variations:

  • Have younger children look for signs that have certain letters, numbers, pictures, or colors.
  • Make a list of sign themes rather than words, such as “an ice- cream sign,” “a sign advertising toys,” “a sign that shows photographs of food,” “ a sign that is lit,” “a sign that has motion,” and so on.

Check out some of these books on your
next trip to the library:

  • I Read Signs by Tana Hoban
  • The Letter Jesters by Cathryn Falwell
  • The Signmaker’s Assistant by Tedd Arnold

READING RAINBOW has a resource library that includes teacher guide materials as well as reading programs for use in the public libraries. You can download these resources from GPN at:
www.gpnresources.com

If you would like more information about READING RAINBOW or if you would like to learn more about other educational products please visit the GPN web site.

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