Saturday, November 24, 2007

Surfin' Saturday: Free Rice and Word Nerds

I know I am not the only word nerd out there. Come on, 'fess up. Some of you are language nuts just like I am. So I think you will appreciate this little game I found courtesy of my friend Kristin.

The concept is simple: It's a multiple-choice vocabulary test, with right answers earning not good grades, but grains of rice. You click on the answer that best defines the word. If you get it right, you get a harder word. If wrong, you get an easier word. For each one you get right, FreeRice.com donates 10 grains of rice to the United Nations World Food Program.

The FAQ page explains:

The rice is paid for by advertisers. This is regular advertising for these companies, but it is also something more. Through their advertising at FreeRice, these companies support both learning (free vocabulary for everyone) and reducing hunger (free rice for the hungry).

The rice is distributed by the United Nations World Food Program (WFP). The World Food Program is the world’s largest food aid agency, working with over 1,000 other organizations in over 75 countries. In addition to providing food, the World Food Program helps hungry people to become self-reliant so that they escape hunger for good. Wherever possible, the World Food Program buys food locally to support local farmers and the local economy. We encourage you to visit the United Nations World Food Program to learn more about their successful approach to ending hunger.

So next time you have some extra time to kill, or feel like polishing your vocabulary, check out FreeRice.com. It's especially great for those of you mamas who are often surfing on the computer one-handed :)

2 comments:

The Chinlund Family said...

I found this site through Paul Kind's... it is so addicting!!!

Sandra Leigh said...

That is pretty cool.
I'm curious...what is your highest level? and how many grains of rice have you donated so far?

PS - Thanks for the anniversary card. That was soooo sweet of you!

:) Sandra