I wonder how your students would respond if you requested that they put their John Hancocks on their papers? I can hear them now. “Say whaaaat?”
Today, January 23, is the birth date of John Hancock. Today is also National Handwriting Day in the United States. Coincidence? Not at all. Remember John Hancock was the first representative to sign the Declaration of Independence, and he did so with such a flourish that his name became a synonym of sorts for “signature.”
I view handwriting as a valuable life skill, and recent evidence suggests a link between handwriting and learning. But let’s not debate the importance of handwriting today. Instead, let’s celebrate it with a signature art project!
To make a signature alien:
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Fold a sheet of blank paper in half lengthwise and use large letters to write your name (print or cursive) above the fold line. Leave off letter parts that go below the fold line.
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Cut around your signature, cutting through the fold only at each end. Open the cutout.
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Glue the cutout on a sheet of construction paper; then use crayons, markers, paints, or other art media to make your one-of-a-kind alien.
Happy handwriting!
Diane
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