Water, Words & Family Fun: Two Simple Ways to Build Healthy Habits and Literacy

Cooking Up Literacy Tip!

Did you know that every glass of water can become an opportunity to build your child's literacy and math skills?

At Cooking Up Literacy, we believe learning happens in everyday moments. The next time your family reaches for a glass of water, try one of these fun activities that encourage healthy hydration while strengthening language and math skills.

💧 Vocabulary Sip Challenge

Choose one new vocabulary word for the day and make it your family's "Water Word." Every time someone takes a drink of water throughout the day, complete the next challenge.

• Sip 1: Say the word aloud.

• Sip 2: Spell the word.

• Sip 3: Tell what the word means.

• Sip 4: Use the word in a sentence.

• Sip 5: Name a synonym, antonym, or related word.

• Sip 6: Share another fact about the word—identify its part of speech, explain where you heard or read it, or connect it to something you've learned.

• Sip 7+: Challenge family members to use the word naturally in conversation throughout the day.

  
  

By repeating the same word several times, children build stronger vocabulary and greater confidence using new words. Try a new "Water Word" each day, and your family could learn 5–7 new vocabulary words each week—one sip at a time!

🔢 Count & Sip Challenge

Turn hydration into a math game! Before taking a drink, estimate how many sips it will take to finish the glass. Then count each sip to see who came closest.

Want to make it more challenging? Try counting:

• By 2s, 5s, or 10s

• Backwards from 50 or 100

• By multiples for older children

• In another language if your family is learning one

  
  

This simple activity builds number sense, estimation skills, and mental math while encouraging everyone to drink more water.

Join Us for Cooking Up Literacy!

Looking for more fun ways to help your family learn together?

Join What's Stirring Family Foundation for our next Cooking Up Literacy event on Thursday, July 31, from 4:30–5:30 p.m. at Chase Bank – Dacula Branch.

Families with children ages 5–12 will enjoy:

• 📖 Interactive literacy activities

• 💰 A children's financial literacy experience led by Chase Bank

• 🍓 A hands-on no-bake healthy recipe

• 🎵 Singing, movement, and family fun

• 🎒 Free backpacks with school supplies for the first registered children (while supplies last)

  

Come discover how simple everyday moments can help children grow as readers, thinkers, and healthy learners. We look forward to learning, laughing, and cooking with your family!