Danielle Rudolph, Urban Regional Extension Agent, Montgomery County Extension Office For more information, contact your county Extension office. Look in your

telephone directory under your county’s name to find the number.

Published by the Alabama Cooperative Extension System (Alabama A&M and Auburn Universities) in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. An Equal Opportunity Educator and Employer.

New July 2011, UNP-0127 © 2011 Alabama Cooperative Extension System All Rights Reserved.

UNP-0127

MY FAMILYMY FAMILY GRANDRAPP Activity Book GRANDRAPP Activity Book

www.aces.edu/urban UNP-0127

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Activities to do TogetherActivities to do Together

Make a list of large or small adventures you would like to do as a family.

1. _____________________________________ 2. _____________________________________ 3. _____________________________________ 4. _____________________________________ 5. _____________________________________

Fun Healthy EatingFun Healthy Eating As a family recreate your favorite dish or try the one below.

Pizza FacesPizza Faces English Muffins Shredded Cheese Pizza/Spaghetti Sauce Vegetables Vegetables include colorful bell peppers, tomatoes, black olives, & purple onions. Cut English muffins in half. Chop your favorite veggies (tomatoes and olives into slices, onions and bell peppers into strips). Spread two tablespoons of pizza sauce or spaghetti sauce on each English muffin half. Add purple onion strips, slices of tomato, black olives, and colorful bell peppers. Sprinkle with cheese. Use a bell pepper strip as a smile or frown, olives for eyes, and a piece of onion as the nose. Be creative! Substitute other vegetables if these vegetables are more to you or your child's liking.

Recipe taken from the Kids in the Kitchen Curriculum

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What is Grand RAPP?What is Grand RAPP?

The GrandGrandparents and RRelatives as PParents

PProgram (Grand RAPPGrand RAPP) is an educational program that offers grandparents and rela-tives valuable information and resources to help them in their parenting role. Grand RAPP provides a forum in which grandpar-ent and relative caregivers can build peer support, exchange ideas and information, and establish relationships with community partners to learn more about kinship care is-sues.

Grand RAPP Grand RAPP desires to create a healthy and

safe environment for the newly structured family. It is vital to help children know how valuable they are as human beings and to help them piece their lives back together again. This booklet contains activities that will allow you, the caregiver, and the child to learn about each other. This booklet encour-ages spending quality time together that will expectantly form a firm family connection. This is also an opportunity for you to learn and to develop new memories.

ENJOY YOUR EXPLORATION INTO

EACH OTHER’S WORLDS!!

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A Tribute to Grandparents Raising

Their Grandchildren By Rolanda Pyle

We gather here to celebrate you for all you’ve done

For caring for your granddaughter and your grandson You took on this awesome task that no one else could do,

Because no one loves and cares for your grandchild quite like you.

You had the courage to start all over again Raising your grandchildren at an age when

You thought you might retire, travel and rest

But the children needed caregivers, and they needed the best.

Some came to you in pampers and most in tears

Needing nurturing and someone who cares. Others came as toddlers, exploring the world on the run

You couldn’t believe this happened – after you thought that you were done.

Still others came at school age,

when they needed guidance and direction

Science may have you baffled but you are great at giving affection.

And some of you have teenagers, oh my, what can I say. Just keep reminding yourself that they won’t stay this way.

We know it has not been easy – often quite a heavy load

And there have been many bumps along the road

You’ve been misunderstood, labeled and denied the services you need

Often criticized and not recognized for your labor or your good deed.

But we are here to honor you who have done so much

To change the lives of children with your special touch

We thank you grandparents: we thank you once, we thank you twice

And know you are appreciated for the rest of your life.

Reprinted with permission by the author, Rolanda Pyle, director, NYC Department for the Aging Grandparent Resource Center.

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Word JumbleWord Jumble

Unscramble the words using the word bank below. 1. arngdam __________________________ 2. mhawrt____________________________ 3. erad ______________________________ 4. isessk _____________________________ 5. bsihebo____________________________ 6. etrsois _____________________________ 7. eovl _______________________________ 8. dgacnlihrd __________________________ 9. ngardap ___________________________ 10. tnuiy _____________________________ 11. ghu _______________________________ 12. payph _____________________________ 13. iflyam _____________________________ 14. nrcaig _____________________________ 15. nuf ______________________________ 16. lawk _____________________________ 17. ocieoks __________________________ 18. Iyeasft___ _________________________ 19. nnirde ____________________________ 20. giergadnn __________________________

Word Bank Grandchild Gardening Warmth Grandma Love Stories Hobbies Fun Unity Grandpa Cookies Dinner Read Kisses Family Caring Hug Safety Happy Walk

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______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

“Togetherness”“Togetherness” ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

How many words can you How many words can you

make from the letters make from the letters

in “Grandparents?”in “Grandparents?”

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My Grandparents and MeMy Grandparents and Me

Put Picture HerePut Picture Here

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Please circle the state you and your grandparents live.

Write your address here:

_______________________________

_______________________________

_______________________________

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Living with my GrandparentsLiving with my Grandparents

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____________________________

____________________________

____________________________

____________________________

____________________________

____________________________

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Use your creative skills to write

a poem about your family.

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Grandparents Raising Grandparents Raising

Grandchildren HarvestGrandchildren Harvest

Grandparents raising grandchildren sow seeds oftentimes unaware

through words and deeds that show care simply deciding to be there

During a time when major parenting duties expire

When many are planning to retire They are found working around their desires

Leading lives that inspire

Surely there are times- When there are struggles, stress, even stints of pain

Times when there appears more pain than gain When it grows difficult to appreciate

the sun after the rain

However the sun does radiate brightly Bringing treasures of joy,

Unexpected revelations and strength to employ- On their continuing journey that enriches both ways

Rejuvenating their youth, perhaps, lengthening their days

They are life changers, difference makers

Standing in the gap when maybe no one else would go And they are sure to reap throughout and at the finale-

A harvest of the seeds that they sow.

By Synithia Williams

Regional Extension Agent

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My Family TreeMy Family Tree

Our Family Name MY FAMILY: GRANDRAPP Activity Book 7

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Letter to GrandparentLetter to Grandparent _______________________

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Our Favorite Places to Eat Our Favorite Places to Eat

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Our Favorite SongsOur Favorite Songs

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Letter to GrandchildLetter to Grandchild _______________________

_______________________

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Learning about my Learning about my

GrandparentGrandparent

1. In what year and where were you born?

________________________________ 2. Tell me about your parents and grandparents. ________________________________________________________________ 3. Did you have a pet growing up? ________________________________ 4. What chores did you have to do? ________________________________ 5. What did your house look like? ________________________________ 6. What was your first job?________________________________

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My Grandparents’ My Grandparents’

HobbiesHobbies

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My HobbiesMy Hobbies

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Learning about my Learning about my

GrandparentGrandparent

7. Tell me about the school you attended?______________________________ 8. What were your favorite subjects? ______________________________ 9. How old were you when you got married? ______________________________ 10. Can you remember the cost of the following items: A gallon of gas ______________ A cheeseburger ______________ A postage stamp ______________ A movie ticket ______________ A pair of shoes ______________ A large pizza ______________ A new car ______________

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Tell me about my Parents Tell me about my Parents

What makes you most What makes you most

proud of my mom/dad?proud of my mom/dad?

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Things my Grandparents Things my Grandparents

do Bestdo Best

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Things I do Best Things I do Best

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What family traditions did What family traditions did

your family observe when your family observe when

you were younger?you were younger?

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What I Like Best about What I Like Best about

my Grandparents my Grandparents

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What we do Together What we do Together

as a Familyas a Family

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