Is there a poet inside you crying to be heard? Now is the perfect time to pick up a pen and write down those verses. It is National Poetry Month!

National Poetry Month has been celebrated throughout the month of April since 1996. It is a great opportunity to read some poetry if you never have, share your favorite poems with others or try writing your own!

Poetry is a wonderful and powerful form of expression and New Moon Girls encourages every girl to try her hand at writing poetry! From acrostic poems to haikus, rhyming and non-rhyming, many New Moon Girls choose to express themselves through poetry.

Check out this acrostic poem by Kate, 11, California, or Mary, 14, Oregon’s creative ABC poem! Read Sara, 12, California’s poem about poetry and Jordan, 11, Florida’s poem about her name.

What better way to celebrate National Poetry Month than to write and share your own poetry? Whether you’ve been writing poetry forever or just trying it out for the first time, submit your verses here!

There are so many ways you can celebrate National Poetry Month. Learn some great writing tips from last week’s Writing Chat, or try some of these fun activities for National Poetry Month. Also, don’t forget to celebrate Poem in your Pocket Day Thursday, April 26th! Jot down your favorite verses and carry them in your pocket to share with friends and family all day long!

Do you love reading or writing poetry? Do you have a favorite poet or type of poetry?  Share with us in the comments!

Emily

New Moon Intern

Do you play a musical instrument, sing in a choir or just plain love music? March is Music In Our School’s Month!

Creating and playing music is a great form of self expression, and it is fun too! By playing the flute in the school band, the violin in the orchestra or singing in a choir, music is a great way to learn a new talent and share it with others.

Many schools are struggling to save money, and music classes are some of the first to be cut from school programs. Has your school had to cut band, orchestra or choir? It is the goal of Music In Our Schools Month (MIOSM) to “raise awareness of the importance of music education for all children – and to remind citizens that school is where all children should have access to music.”

MIOSM began as a single-day celebration in 1973, but has grown an entire month of learning and sharing the importance of music education. In 1985, MIOSM began celebrating the whole month of March. The theme for 2012 is “Music Lasts a Lifetime.”

Do you want to help keep music in our schools so that you or other kids have the opportunity to learn? You can celebrate MIOSM and help spread the word about the importance of musical education! Here are a few ideas from MIOSM:

• Create a video for local advocacy. Share it with other girls on NewMoon.com, your principal, mayor or another leader, showing your love and support for music education.
• Spread awareness by creating a poster supporting MIOSM and ask to hang them up around your school and community!
• Design and build homemade instruments and create a “band” with your friends!
• Organize a concert or sing-along and visit a local senior center, hospital or daycare center!
• Be ambitious! Get the whole school involved and show your support to school leaders.
• For more great ideas on how your school can celebrate MIOSM, click here.

New Moon Girls love to sing and play instruments, but what would happen if music was no longer taught in our schools? If you are a music lover, share how music plays a role in your life in the Arts and Culture message boards, check out some awesome music created by New Moon Girls, or share your own!

Brooke, 9 Minnesota loves to play the recorder; check out her video here! Have you ever written your own song? Ana, 14, California wrote a song for her friend who moved away. Listen to her sing it here. There are so many different instruments to play from the cello to the shofar (an instrument used during the Jewish holiday Rosh Hashanah).

How does music play a role in your life? What would you do if your school had to cut music programs? How can you celebrate Music In Our Schools Month and show your support for music education? Share your ideas in the comments below!

Emily

New Moon Intern

Did you know that New Years is one of the oldest holidays celebrated in the world? It has been celebrated for around 4,000 years!

New Years marks the first day of the year on the modern calendar. It is observed on January 1. Since so many people follow this calendar, it is the closest holiday considered to be a “world holiday.” However, there are many different New Years traditions followed by different cultures.

How do you celebrate the new year? Below are some New Years traditions from different cultures around the world:

• The Thai New Year is called the Songkran is celebrated from April 13-15. Some Thai traditions include cleaning all the statues of Buddha and soaking each other by using water guns, garden hoses and dumping buckets of water!The water is thought to bring good rains in the new year.
• The Jewish New Year is called Rosh Hashanah. It is usually celebrated in the fall. It is considered to be one of the holiest days of the year in Jewish culture, and it is a time to look back on the past year and plan a better future. Learn more about Rosh Hashanah here!
• The Chinese New Year will be celebrated on January 23 this year. It is celebrated for 15 days and is considered the most important Chinese holiday. In Chinese culture it is the year of the dragon, which represents power. Check out Serena, 13, Minnesota’s awesome poem about Chinese New Year traditions!
• The Ethiopian New Year is called Enkutatash, or the “gift of jewels. It will be celebrated on September 11 with dancing and singing. It is not considered a religious holiday, but some people may celebrate with religious traditions.
• The Islamic New Year, also called Hijri, will fall on November 14, 2012, which will mark the first day of the Islamic calendar. It is usually a quiet holiday celebrated by special prayers and marking the appearance of the new moon. See what New Moon Girl member Husnaa shared with Luna about Islamic New Year traditions!

What are your New Years traditions? Check out Phoebe, 13, New York’s story about New Years to learn how others celebrate the holiday!

What will you be doing for New Years? Have you made any New Year’s resolutions?Tell us all about them in your comments below!

Emily

New Moon Intern

Did you know that the month of November is full of unique holidays? Among them are World Kindness Day ( 13th), Homemade Bread Day (17th), World Hello Day (21st) and  Square Dance Day (29th). The month of November is known as National Adoption Month and Novel Writing Month, as well as Native American Heritage Month!

November officially became Native American Heritage Month in 1990, and it is a month celebrating the ways in which Native Americans helped establish and grow the United States into the country it is today.

Did you know that there are over 2 million Native Americans in the United States and that they speak over 150 different Native languages? There are many Native American tribes in the United States, Canada and Central and South America! You can find this and many more cool facts on this kid-friendly Native American Information site!

Kira, 14, Virginia found this statue outside the Museum of the American Indian!

Native Americans play a large role in United States history. It is commonly thought that Native Americans came to North America from Asia over 20,000 years ago and were the first humans to live on this continent. When settlers began to come to North America from England, the Native Americans were helpful in teaching them about the land, plants and food that could be found there.

Have you heard the Thanksgiving Story, where the Pilgrims and Native Americans came together for a harvest time feast? Autumn, 13, Pennsylvania shares an awesome informational article about the first Thanksgiving.

Or, do you know the story of Pocahontas? Pocahontas was a Native American woman who helped the English settlers and saved the life of John Smith. Check out Molly, 13, Colorado’s Pocahontas article, or Jen, 13, New Jersey’s story of Pocahontas for more information on this woman’s courage and strength!

Will you be celebrating Native American Heritage Month? What will you do? Do you know any other stories about Native American history? Share with us in your comments below!

Emily
New Moon Intern

Do you like making crafts? Have you made any projects by knitting, painting, sewing or other artistic expressions?

Making crafts is a great way to express your artistic-self. They make awesome birthday or holiday gifts for friends and family – people always love to get something that is homemade! And, they can also be a great way to raise money for yourself or for a cause!

New Moon Girls love to make crafts. From fashion design to making dolls, there are craft ideas for everyone!

Maddie, 11, North Carolina was inspired to create fashion and began the INSPIRATION! message board. Learn how to make a dress out of plastic shopping bags, or add your own inspiration to the discussion!

The Fashion Design Club of New Moon was started by Kat/Anna, 10, Itally. Join her club and share your fashion design  ideas!

Sadie, 12, Virginia made this Mario Mushroom out of felt. She recommends this craft!

Livia, 12, Washington made her family’s presents by hand for Christmas last year! Check out her ideas, find out how to make a cute key chain or add your own ideas to the Artistic Awesomeness message board!

Katherine, 11, New York asked New Moon Girls what their favorite crafts to do are in her awesome poll. New Moon Girls love to sew, bead and paint! Take Katherine’s poll and tell New Moon Girls what your favorite craft is!

There are a lot of great craft ideas that you can do with your friends and family. Want to  make a cute skirt out of a pillowcase? Learn how here! Or, learn how to make a folded paper box to keep your jewelery or use it to put presents inside! You can even make hair accessories out of chopsticks! You can find all of these ideas, plus Halloween craft ideas here!

SaKado-Chan, 14, Ontario made these bunny dolls completely by hand! She might even sell them in a craft fair!

From October 15 to November 15, New Moon is asking members to hold fundraisers so that schools, libraries and other girl groups can get scholarships to join New Moon Girls. (If you have a fundraiser or donate to the New Moon Girls Scholarship Fund during this time, you’ll be entered in a drawing for a new Whiplash Pink scooter from Street Surfing! Click here for more info!) One great idea to raise money is to sell your arts and crafts!

Do you like making crafts? What kind of awesome things have you made, or do you have any ideas for other girls looking to do a craft? Share with us in your comments below!

Emily
New Moon Intern