Ranch houses, apartments, town houses, igloos, tents. They
are all houses. Whether you live in a project or housing development or gated community, your home is unique because what is inside: furniture, personal items,
AND the people. You can explore your home with new eyes – and improve it.
CONNECT:
Homes come in all
shapes and sizes. Explore some of the possibilities below.
- See how houses reflect people’s culture and geography as shown in these websites:
- Farms are the homes to millions of people around the world. This website presents 150 farm homepages give you a feel for life on the farm in 40 states and 18 countries around the world. http://www.disknet.com/indiana_biolab/farms.htm
- If these walls could talk. 'Within These Walls' is an interactive website that documents the history of a house that has been the home for over five generations to the same family. What is the history of your home? What stories could it tell? You can get some ideas by looking at http://americanhistory.si.edu/house/default.asp
- Furniture helps make a house a home. How has furniture changed over the years – and around the world? Does some piece of furniture in your house look like something in another part of the world or another time? http://www.furniturestyles.net/
- Think small. Imagine living in these small spaces:
http://www.tumbleweedhouses.com/
http://www.thetreehouseguide.com/ (Some of
these tree houses are not so little…)
CREATE:
Creativity begins at home. There are lots of items around
the house that can be used to show your originality.
- Doing family crafts is a great way to spend time together: http://familycrafts.about.com/
- Take a look at some of these home project; hopefully some of them will inspire you to improve your home: http://pinterest.com/kbkphotography/diy-projects-for-the-home-and-kids/
- Try some creative ways to dress up kids’ rooms -- and have fun recycling: http://www.hgtv.com/decorating/10-creative-yet-simple-projects-for-kids-rooms/index.html
- You can be creative and energy efficient at the same time doing these projects: http://www.alliantenergykids.com/FunandGames/CoolProjects/index.htm
CARE:
It takes a lot of work to take care of a home. And home care
involves the whole family.
- Home safety is everyone’s business. How safe is your home? Check it out using http://www.safetyathome.com/
- Energy can be costly, and homes can make big carbon footprints. Use a bit of your own energy with some of these ideas to save energy. http://www.mortgagecalculator.org/helpful-advice/energy-saving-for-kids.php
- It’s (practically) never too early to learn basic repair skills. Here are five lifelong skills you can gain: http://shine.yahoo.com/five-basic-home-repair-skills-kids-223800824.html
- Kids can help keep the home in great shape. Here are some starting kid-friendly projects: http://www.bobvila.com/blogs/kid-friendly-diy-projects/
- Many people in the United States are homeless or have very poor housing. Here is what the government is doing about it; see how you can help at http://portal.hud.gov/hudportal/HUD?src=/program_offices/fair_housing_equal_opp
CAREERS:
Like to hang around the house? Look at all the jobs it takes
to build and maintain a home. Take a look at some of the possibilities:
- Architect http://www.kidzworld.com/article/5966-becoming-an-architect
- Building things: http://kids.usa.gov/teens-home/jobs/building-things/index.shtml
- Home economics: http://voices.yahoo.com/is-career-home-economics-right-you-4269545.html
- Home-centric green careers: http://climate.nasa.gov/kids/greenCareers/index.cfm
PARENTS:
Safety is your first concern.
These activities can help your children be more aware of safety issues at home.
You can remind them that technology requires awareness of safety issues too.
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