Invent a new word

What can we use instead of the paper, pencil, eraser, or coloring materials listed in step 1?

If you don't have the supplies for the 'put your paper pencil eraser and coloring materials on a flat table' step, use a sheet of cardboard or a notebook for paper, a pen or marker for writing, a scrap rubber or the back of another pencil as an eraser, and markers, crayons, or a drawing app on a tablet for the coloring and drawing steps.

I'm stuck choosing the part of speech or writing the pronunciation—how can I fix that?

If you're unsure about 'Decide the part of speech' or 'Write a simple pronunciation guide,' say the word in a short phrase to see if it acts like a person/thing (noun), action (verb), or describing word (adjective/adverb) and split it into familiar syllables like 'hap-py' to write the pronunciation line.

How can I adapt this activity for younger or older children?

For younger kids, simplify by picking one feeling, having an adult write the spelling and one short definition while the child focuses on drawing and coloring the picture, and for older kids, expand by adding etymology, multiple parts of speech, longer example sentences, and preparing the finished page to share on DIY.org.

How can we make the invented word project more creative or longer-lasting?

To enhance the activity, turn your page into a mini-poster by adding extra scenes that show the word in action, a phonetic strip from the 'Write a simple pronunciation guide' step, laminating it, creating a booklet of invented words, or recording yourself saying the word to attach before sharing on DIY.org.