Browse through the Image Carousel below to see examples of journal entries from the Amelia's Notebook series.

Each day, before you write, I expect you to label the entry with the exact day of the week, month, day, year, and the time of day.

Example: Monday, April 13, 2020, 9:00 a.m.

Pandemic Journal Guidelines

1. Keep it Neat! Remember you may be showing this to your kids someday☺️.

2. Write Legibly.

3. Add colorful drawings like the ones in Amelia's notebook.

4. Complete at least one page a day.

5. Remember- although this is an assignmment, it is also your keepsake and should be a reflection of you.

A True Story from Ms. Pipkin

When I was a little girl about 8 or 9, I was over at my friend's house across the street. The house was a house that had been built in the 1930's. My friend's family had just moved in, and we were up in the attic playing. There were some boxes up there from the previous owner or maybe even the owner before that or even the one before that owner. In the boxes, we found a lot of old uninteresting stuff including some books. However, we also found an old journal. I started reading the journal from this young man in the 1940's that had returned from fighting in World War II. I gathered that information mainly from a pic of him in the diary, and he had on what I believe now was likely a Navy uniform. There weren't very many entries in the notebook. However, what I remember is that they started on April 14 and went for about a week. I found that so fascinating because the day that I found them was also April 14. I have remembered that my whole life. Now I am sharing this story with you on the night of Monday, April 13, and you will be reading it on April 14! Isn't that an interesting coincidence X 2?

I shared this story with you because I want you to understand the significance of writing down the date in detail on your journal entries. By being so specific with his dates and including the year- and even though I can't recall the exact year he wrote on the entries- I was able to place the time period and figure out that this was a very old document from the 1940's.

And that my little geckos, is the reason I am asking you to make the effort in being so exact on the date in your own journal. Therefore, each day, before you write, I expect you to label the entry with the exact day of the week, month, day, year, and the time of day.

Example: Tuesday, April 14, 2020 @ 9:00 a.m.

P.S. The little girl I was playing with that day in her attic is still my friend on Facebook today!

Pandemic Journal Entry #2:

Write a minimum of 1 page today. If you wish, you may write more. Start off with the date.

Tuesday, April 14, 2020 @ 9:00 a.m.

Today's Topic:

*Tell about the first time you are able to remember hearing about the Coronavirus/Covid-19. How did you first learn or hear about it? What did you think? How did you feel?

*You may also add anything else that is on your mind or that has happened recently.

The Pandemic Time Capsule

We will also be assembling a time capsule as part of this activity. Today I would like for you to make a plan on what you would like to use for this project such as a sturdy box, plastic container, metal case, or something large enough to hold items(including your journal) that you will collect and make for the contents of the time capsule. Suggestions: Rubbermaid tub with lid, small-sized older suitcase, hat box, metal file box, container from Daiso, etc.

*Please get permission from your parents on what you decide to use. I don't want you to use something that they intend to use for something else.*

FYI- it is ok if you need to wait a few days to go to Daiso or somewhere for a container. You only need a parent-approved plan for today on what you will be using for your time capsule container.

When you finish with the above tasks, complete at least one of the challenges that Ms. Pipkin has sent to your DODEA account.

Pandemic Journal Entry #3:

Write a minimum of 1 page today. If you wish, you may write more. Start off with the date.

Wednesday, April 15, 2020 @ 9:00 a.m. (or the time that you write the entry)

Today's Topic:
Explain to the best of your ability what a Coronavirus is and about Covid-19 from a medical and scientific perspective. Use illustrations as needed to explain yourself. Break it down so that if someone in the future that has never heard of Covid-19 might understand it better.

*You may also add anything else to your entry that is on your mind or that has happened recently that you would like to remember

Be sure to check in with Ms. Pipkin today via you student DODEA account.

The Diary of Anne Frank

The Diary of Anne Frank is one of the most well-known books ever written. Anne Frank was a 13 year old Jewish girl in the Netherlands that had to go into hiding during World War II with her family. While they were in hiding, she kept a diary of her life and the events of World War II. It was later published into a book, and is read by many schoolchildren all over the world.

If you are interested in learning more about her, you may go to the MackinVia site. I found several biographical articles about Anne Frank. I will attach a few things I found on the site that you may be interested in reading. I hope that when you are older and in middle school, that you choose to read her entire book.

The Anne Frank activities below are optional for everyone. It was asked if I would give challenge credit for completing them, and I agreed to do so. I will send some of these out as part of your optional challenges to complete as well.

Be sure to check in with Ms. Pipkin today via you student DODEA account.

Pandemic Journal Entry #5:

Write a minimum of 1 page today. If you wish, you may write more.

Start off with the date.

Friday, April 17, 2020 @ 9:00 a.m. (or the time that you write the entry).

Today's Topic:

Let's talk about TV Time! What have you been watching since the quarantine began? Have you binge watched any shows? What is your favorite tv show? What is your favorite channel? What do you watch with your family? When do you like to watch tv? Where do you watch tv? Do you have any suggestions for really good tv shows especially on rainy days? What do you snack on while watching shows?

*You may also add anything else to your entry that is on your mind or that has happened recently that you would like to remember.

Be sure to check in with Ms. Pipkin today via you student DODEA account.

In Search of a Title

If you haven't naturally come up with a title yet for your journal, the time to do so is NOW!

The title may be simple and sweet like...

*Addyson's Diary

*Josh's Journal

*Yuina's Notebook

The title may be something snazzy such as...

*Mai-Lin and the Mask

*Toaki's 2020

*Kayden's Covid-19 Survival Guide

*The Smart Kid's Guide to Staying Healthy by Aubrey

The title could even be a knock off title from a popular book such as...

*I Survived Quarantine by Matthew

*If You Lived in the Time of Covid-19 by Caroline

*The Diary of a Not-So Wimpy Coronavirus by Dr. Evie

*You Wouldn't Want To Have Been In the 2020 Quarantine by Preston

OR

The title could even be something completely original from your own brilliant brain that even Ms. Pipkin couldn't think of it.

You do need to decide on a title though, because you will need it for the next task.

Cover Time

It is time to decorate your journal cover!

This is when you can use some of those supplies that I asked you to gather before Spring Break!

However, This is NOT the only activity we will be using them for in the coming weeks- so keep the supplies easily accessible!

Step 1

*Make a plan!

*Figure out where your name and title will be on your journal, and how you will label it.

*Decide how you would like to decorate your journal- the choice is yours! Below you will find some suggestions, or you can create your own design!

Step 2

Time to decorate your notebook!

You may need 2 or 3 work sessions to complete it, and that is ok!

Step 3

*You may need an adult to help you with this step.*

When you have finished decorating, cover the entire notebook in clear packing tape. This will ensure that your cover stays intact and the things you added- collages, pics, Sharpie drawings, etcetera stay in great shape.

Step 4

*If you are able to do so, send Ms. Pipkin a snapshot of your finished cover design.*