Take Flight with Angels

Angels aren’t just tree toppings. They have existed in the minds of people around the world. And many other things are named “angel.” Let your imagination take flight with these angel-related activities.

CONNECT:

• Angels are mentioned in several cultures and religions, as outlined at http://english-magazine.org/english-reading/english-for-culture/1166-culture-article340
• Angel Falls is the highest waterfall in the world; find the facts at http://primaryfacts.com/1322/angel-falls-facts-about-the-highest-waterfall-in-the-world/
• Explore the history of Angel Island in San Francisco Bay, from the Miworks to the Spaniards to immigrants and tourists: http://angelisland.org/history/
• Read Hans Christian Andersen’s fairy tale “The Angel” as an expression of kindness this season: http://hca.gilead.org.il/angel.html
• Can you play baseball like an Angel? Follow the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim at http://losangeles.angels.mlb.com/index.jsp?c_id=ana

CREATE:

• Angel hair can refer to a type of thin noodle. See the various shapes of pasta, and how their shapes are used for different kinds of dishes: http://www.lifeinitaly.com/food/pasta.asp
• Make fun angel cookies, with pretzel wings and almond hands: http://www.bettycrocker.com/recipes/almond-angel-cookies/009d2865-e138-40e3-aefa-558ca2dc7d4f
• Here’s lots of angel crafts to make around the year: http://www.freekidscrafts.com/holidays/christmas-crafts/angel-crafts/
• Here are some angel costumes and wings to make: http://www.artistshelpingchildren.org/howtomakeangelcostumeshalloweencraftskids.html

CARE:

• Dogs can be angels; canine angels help children with special needs be more independent. Learn about this service at http://www.canine-angels.org/
• The Blue Angels serve as positive role models and goodwill ambassadors for the U. S. Navy and Marine Corps. Watch a 360-degree video demonstration at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H6SsB3JYqQg
• Los Angeles is called The City of Angels. That city owns a zoo and botanical gardens. Read about their conservation efforts at http://www.lazoo.org/conservation/. You can support those efforts too.
• Project Angle Food cooks thousands of meals every week to people who are too sick to shop and cook for themselves (http://www.angelfood.org). Perhaps there is a similar service in your area where you can help.
• You can have your own angel: an angelfish. Reel in facts about caring for them at http://small-pets.lovetoknow.com/fish/10-facts-about-angelfish.
• Can coins save a life? Read about the myth of the French Angel coin at http://www.gainesvillecoins.com/tips/25/the-extraordinary-legend-of-the-french-angel-coin.aspx

CAREERS:

You can be a guardian angel for someone by helping to care for them. Healthcare positions offer many opportunities: http://kidshealth.org/teen/school_jobs/jobs/health-care-careers.html

Religion can lead to many careers: http://www.studyreligion.org/where/skills.html

R U A Robot?

Robotics started as 19^th century science fiction, and is now a growing field of science. Explore our newest relative.

CONNECT:

• Explore the different tasks that robots do: at http://www.frc.ri.cmu.edu/
• What can robots do – or not do? Check the facts at http://idahoptv.org/sciencetrek/topics/robots/facts.cfm
• Visit a whole museum about robots at http://www.the-robotman.com/
• The first time the word “robot” was used was in the play R.U.R.. Read about it at http://public.wsu.edu/~delahoyd/sf/r.u.r.html
• Read 20 great books about robotics: http://robohub.org/20-great-books-to-hook-kids-and-teens-on-robotics/

CREATE:

• Design and build a robotic rover with cardboard and a balloon; follow the directions at http://www.nasa.gov/offices/education/programs/national/summer/education_resources/engineering_grades7-9/E_nanorover.html#.VldOj793EZw
• You can also build your own virtual robot, and use it for gaming – at http://www.channel4.com/learning/microsites/R/robots/constructor.html
• Consider visiting – and participating – in a robot competition, listed at http://www.robofest.net/ and http://robots.net/rcfaq.html
• Dance like a robot at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ggadhy--yLs

CARE:

• Support the US, NASA, AND Robots by joining the Robotics Alliance as a family: http://robotics.arc.nasa.gov/email/subscribe.php
• Robots can protect people -- by finding and defusing bombs, and taking on other hazardous duties. Watch how they work at http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/robots/
• Here are 9 more awesome ways that robots help people: http://mic.com/articles/118712/9-awesome-robots-that-are-helping-to-save-the-world#.j1QERWk9o
• See how driverless cars work: http://auto.howstuffworks.com/under-the-hood/trends-innovations/driverless-car.htm  Consider: should a driverless car kill the passenger to save a child outside? http://qz.com/245142/should-your-driverless-car-kill-you-to-save-a-child/

CAREERS:

Interested in robots? Or robotics? Don’t just sit there; get moving!

• You could become a robotics engineer: http://www.sciencebuddies.org/science-engineering-careers/engineering/robotics-engineer
• Read about other robotics career paths at http://www.nasa.gov/audience/foreducators/robotics/careercorner/#.VldeD793EZw.
• Watch NASA’s video to get career advice: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CyE6l7Ewko8&feature=youtu.be&list=PL9TFrgFq7557J_fG5s4TsNmSqwFuEjaFU
• It’s not only a science career. Think about manufacturing and selling, health, writing, clothing, illustration, even food preparation.

Are You Awake?

We spend a third of our lives sleeping. Here are facts and fun about sleep that will keep you awake.

CONNECT:

What are you sleepy? Can’t sleep? Get the answers and more about kids and sleep at http://www.aboutkidshealth.ca/En/JustForKids/Life/OnePagers/Pages/OnePagerSleep.aspx

What causes snoring? Find out all the facts at http://www.medicinenet.com/snoring/article.htm

How do astronauts sleep in space? Read how at https://www.esa.int/esaKIDSen/SEMAIP6TLPG_LifeinSpace_0.html

And watch the NASA sleep station: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ICCuD4M9nIs

Did you know snails can sleep for years, and that giraffes sleep about 20 minutes a day? http://mentalfloss.com/article/66194/15-amazing-sleeping-habits-animals has amazing facts about animal sleeping habits.

What are dreams? Why do we dream? Why do nightmares occur? Here’s the science about dreams: http://www.webmd.com/sleep-disorders/guide/dreaming-overview

Have you ever been asked, “Are you asleep?” You can see what sleep looks like in the brain by watching http://faculty.washington.edu/chudler/sleep.html

Find out about the universal language of lullabies at http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-21035103

CREATE:

Learn how to sing lullabies to babies by following the pictures at http://www.wikihow.com/Sing-Lullabies-to-Babies.

Here are 12 ways to make your bedroom more sleep-friendly: http://www.besthealthmag.ca/best-you/sleep/12-ways-to-make-your-bedroom-more-sleep-friendly

Have fun with sleep-related games and puzzles – and more—at http://www.sleepforkids.org/

Here is a collection of calming activities for kids: http://kidsactivitiesblog.com/11110/go-to-sleep-go-to-sleep

CARE:

Do you owe your body a debt – of sleep? This video explains how much sleep do you need: https://sleepfoundation.org/how-sleep-works/how-much-sleep-do-we-really-need

Do you sleep walk, or know someone who does? What accommodations should you make? Find out at http://kidshealth.org/kid/stay_healthy/body/sleepwalking.html

When you’re sick, rest and sleep is usually recommended. http://www.cyh.com/HealthTopics/HealthTopicDetails.aspx?p=114&np=304&id=1717#5 gives good advice about child sickness and their body needs.

Know somewith with a baby? Create a lullaby playlist for them by following the directions at http://www.mommasociety.com/momma-society/how-to-create-a-lullaby-playlist-and-giveaway

CAREERS:

Want to sleep for a living? It can be more than mattress testing. The field of sleep medicine, for instance, offers several career options: http://school.sleepeducation.com/sleepcareers.aspx

Bone Up on Bones

Are you a bone head? That can be a good thing. Bone up on bones here.

CONNECT:

• What do you and a mouse lemur have in common? Bones! Compare anatomies of different animals are http://www.eskeletons.org/
• The world’s first dinosaur skeleton wasn’t found until 1858; Read your that discovery at http://www.levins.com/dinosaur.shtml
• Look at six creative uses of animal bones in history: http://www.topsixlist.com/2013/09/27/top-6-creative-uses-animal-bones-in-history/
• Why are skeletons and skulls featured in Day of the Dead? Find out at http://kidworldcitizen.org/2012/10/19/why-so-many-skeletons-and-skulls-for-day-of-the-dead/

CREATE:

• “Oh, the neck bone is connected to the ? bone…” Try putting a human skeleton together at http://www.lawrencehallofscience.org/kidsite/portfolio/mr-bones/
• Bone up on your fossils by matching the bones of ancient dinosaurs and other animals at http://www.amnh.org/explore/ology/paleontology/?fid=29407
• Learn how to play an instrument that was played in ancient Egypt: the bones: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ltzekqKM7k
• Make your own Irish bones: http://www.irishbones.com/bones.html
• Try this skeleton crafts for kids: http://www.artistshelpingchildren.org/halloween-skeletonsmakingcraftsideaskids.html

CARE:

• What helps keep you together? Your bones. How can you keep your bones healthy? Find out at http://niams.nih.gov/Health_Info/Kids/healthy_bones.asp
• Is milk good for your bones or not? Recent studies show some surprising results: http://www.pcrm.org/health/health-topics/calcium-and-strong-bones
• Your pet needs healthy teeth just like you do. Find out about dental care for your pet at http://www.toothvet.ca/dentalcare.html

CAREERS:

• Are you bone to be wild? Flesh out a career devoted to skeletons and people: http://esciencecommons.blogspot.com/2013/05/bone-to-be-wild-fleshing-out-career.html
• Imagine digging up bones for a living. That’s one of the things that archeologists do. Dig up the factors about different kinds of archeologists at http://www.nps.gov/archeology/public/kids/index.htm
• Explore the variety of careers related to anatomy: http://www.myplan.com/majors/anatomy/related-careers-26.0403.html

Paper the World

Think of all the paper around you – in every room in the house, from lamp shades and coffee filters to the bathroom. Paper is so common that we use and toss it out every day.  But do you know how it’s made. Explore the different sides to paper – and create your own.

CONNECT:

• “Attend” paper university to learn fun facts and do neat paper activities: http://www.tappi.org/paperu/welcome.htm
• Paper and the process of creating it using pulp is said to have developed in China 2000 years ago.  Read about its history, and make your own Chinese paper cut out at http://asiasociety.org/chinese-cut-outs
• Read how paper was made in the middle ages: http://scholar.chem.nyu.edu/tekpages/paper.html
• Watch how paper is made now: http://www.arvindguptatoys.com/arvindgupta/paperscience1.pdf
• Bananas are not only good to eat, but they can be recycled into paper! Read and see how Costa Rica uses the waste from bananas to make their paper: http://www.ecopaper.com/how-paper-is-made

CREATE:

• Recycle paper by turning olds newspapers into “new” paper; just follow the directions at http://pbskids.org/zoom/activities/sci/recyclingpaper.html
• Origami is an ancient craft  and still popular. There’s a range of fun origami to try at http://www.origami-fun.com/origami-for-kids.html
• Print and make your own paper toys from the designs at http://www.mcguirezone.com/mcguirezone/goodies/toys.html
• Even preschoolers can make paper crafts. See some fun ideas at http://www.makingfriends.com/precrafts.htm
• Experiment with 100 science projects using paper: http://www.arvindguptatoys.com/arvindgupta/paperscience1.pdf

CARE:

• Find out how paper waste is recycled at http://www.eschooltoday.com/waste-recycling/paper-waste-recycling-process.html
• Help care for the earth and support paper recycling. Gather paper grocery bags, decorate them, and donate them. The details are found at http://www.earthdaybags.org/
• Do you know about Flat Stanley? He’s a storybook character who travels around the world. You can find out about the Flat Stanley project, when is now 20 years old, and start your own Flat Stanley adventure: http://www.flatstanleyproject.com/
• Make your own paper dolls, and share them with a friend, using these patterns at  http://marilee.us/paperdolls.html. Then you can try your own paper doll designs.
• Let’s wrap it up with idea on how to wrap gifts: http://bphotoart.com/quick-easy-diy-creative-gift-wrapping-for-kids/

CAREERS:

Even in the digital society, there’s a future career in paper.

• Here’s an ecological view of the pulp and paper industry: http://www.worldwildlife.org/industries/pulp-and-paper
• Here’s an industry’s view of paper manufacturing: http://www.internationalpaper.com/US/EN/Company/Careers/Manufacturing.html
• Here’s a science view of paper processing careers: http://work.chron.com/production-operator-paper-manufacturing-careers-30240.html