Does your family like to play word games? There are of course many variations, some simple, and some a bit more complex. This one is somewhere in between and is best played with school aged children (or older).
Do you know what a palindrome is? It may sound familiar, but it can be difficult to keep up with all the words we use to describe different elements of our language. If you don’t remember, ask your kids and see if they know. If not, explain the concept of palindromes so you can play word games that feature them.
A palindrome is simply a term, expression, or phrase that is spelled out the same backward as it is when reading from left to right. For example, the word “radar” is spelled the same way, no matter which way you look at it.
There are several other words that fall into this category, and people have spent time constructing phrases in this manner as well. The most recognized phrase or slogan is probably, “A man, a plan, a canal, Panama,” which references Theodore Roosevelt.
You and your kids might want to look up palindromes online for more examples. After studying a few samples, you should be able to come up with some of your own. They should make sense and only use real words. It will be fun to see just how creative you and your kids can get.
*This is also a good exercise for teachers to try out when they need something to fill a little time between other projects and lessons. Encourage kids to come up with something that incorporates school spirit. Offer to post the winning entry on a banner on the bulletin board in your classroom. This idea will also work in Sunday School classes, and it really makes kids think.