Super Snakes

 

St. Patrick owes some of his fame to snakes. These reptiles play important roles in the environment – and they are famous in mythology too. Don’t let snakes throw you a curve. Instead, seek out snake information by exploring these online activities. (And at the end of this list, get the real story about snakes in Ireland).

 

CONNECT:

• ·         Watch snakes in action at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BOHFt15eVD4
• ·         There are more than 3000 species of snakes, and live almost everywhere but a few islands. Find out more interesting facts and see dozens of videos about snakes at https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/reptiles/facts/snakes-1
• ·         All through history snakes have been both good and evil.  Here are some historic examples: https://www.kidzone.ws/lw/snakes/facts13.htm

 

CREATE:

• ·         Discover how snakes move at https://kidzone.ws/lw/snakes/facts04.htm. Then try moving like a snake.
• ·         Make some of these kid-friendly snake crafts: https://theeducatorsspinonit.com/snake-craft-for-kids/
• ·         Try these fun snaky activities: https://www.childrens-museum.org/blog/2020/03/game-pattern-snake-hide-and-seek

 

CARE:

• ·         Snakes as pets? Here are tips for getting a family-friendly snake: https://pethelpful.com/reptiles-amphibians/Best-Pet-Snake-Species-For-Children-Of-Any-Age
• ·         Snakes in lots of different habitats. So how do you avoid getting bitten by them – or how to treat a snake bite? Forest rangers have good advice for you at https://www.fs.usda.gov/visit/know-before-you-go/snakes
• ·         Find out why we should save snakes – and how you can help at https://www.childrens-museum.org/blog/2020/03/game-pattern-snake-hide-and-seek and http://savethesnakes.org

 

CAREERS:

Are you tempted to pursue a career in snakes?

• ·         You might be amazed at the number of possibilities; over 90 careers for reptiles, including snakes, are listed at https://1zootree.weebly.com/careers-reptiles.html
• ·         For instance, how about becoming a snake milker? https://www.jobmonkey.com/uniquejobs/snake-milker/
• ·         Get more in-depth information at https://www.reptilesmagazine.com/working-with-reptiles/
• ·         Or read an interview with a herpetologist (the study of amphibians and reptiles) at https://jobshadow.com/interview-with-a-herpetologist/

 

Read the real story of snakes in Ireland at https://www.reptilesmagazine.com/did-st-patrick-really-banish-snakes-from-ireland/

 

 

Go Gaelic!

Around Christmas time, you may see Gaelic art or hear Gaelic-inspired songs. Discover this rich culture with the following activities. Start with watching a Scottish Gaelic Christmas: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a8v0_Hj_cG4 and learn Christmas words in Gaelic: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WDg_6CT87tI

CONNECT:

• Football means different things in different countries. Gaelic football is the most popular spectator sport in Ireland. See this explanation of this form of football at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vSOe-USZzok
• Gaelic is a Scottish language related to Irish. Find out about its history and use at https://wiki.kidzsearch.com/wiki/Scottish_Gaelic_language
• Gaelic first names started in the 4^th century and still continue; see the variety at http://www.babynames.net/all/gaelic
• With English rule in Ireland, Gaelic language was threatened. So in the late 1800s, its culture was revived. Learn about those efforts then and now at http://www.gaelicmatters.com/gaelic-revival.html
• Watch Irish Gaelic dancing at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F__a-30Axc4

CREATE:

• Learn simple Gaelic online at https://learngaelic.net/lg-beginners/index.jsp
• Learn traditional songs as a family activity at https://www.gaelic4parents.com/nip/listen-and-sing
• You too can sing Gaelic. This is a song about emigration from Scotland: https://learngaelic.scot/beginners/beagairbheag/songs/illean/index.jsp
• The Celtic cross has it’s beginning in Gaelic Ireland. Discover its meaning at http://www.gaelicmatters.com/celtic-cross-meaning.html. Try your hand making your own.

CARE:

• Learn Celtic and Irish Christmas blessings in Gaelic at: http://www.celticchristmasmusic.com/christmas-traditions/learn-celtic-irish-christmas-blessings-in-gaelic.htm
• How about using drama to learn a language or share a culture? See a Gaelic nativity play as an example: http://gaelic.co/gaelic-nativity/
• Color Celtic art (https://www.colorwithfuzzy.com/celtic-coloring-pages.html), and give it to a friend.
• Try writing with the Irish Gaelic alphabet; it looks great on holiday cards that you can make for others: http://www.gaelicmatters.com/gaelic-written-alphabet.html

CAREERS:

Learning other languages can broaden your career options. You can also use knowledge about Gaelic history and art can also lead to lifelong work.

http://www.feisean.org/en/feisgoil-en/gaelic-learning/gaelic-arts-culture-heritage/

https://gradireland.com/career-sectors/languages-and-culture/careers-using-the-irish-language

https://www.teagasg.com/en

https://www.e-careers.us/lifestyle-interests/languages/scottish-gaelic-package

'Tis the Irish

March 17 is St. Patrick's Day, and you don't have to be Irish or Catholic to celebrate it. The concept of legendary heroes, particularly those who reflect the spirit of a country or other group, is universal. In this thematic set of activities, your family gets to explore various links to a real human legend. These activities can help you think of other cultural legends, and how they link us together.

CONNECT:

• What’s the story behind St. Patrick? Here’s a whole website about the day and the man: http://www.st-patricks-day.com/about_saintpatrick.html. It also features a cartoon video about St. Patrick.
• Why What other events and people are celebrated on March 17 (the date that St. Patrick died)? Find out at http://www.reference.com/thisday/
• Several symbols and traditions are associated with St. Patrick’s Day. Read about their meaning and origin at History Channel’s article:  http://www.history.com/topics/st-patricks-day-symbols-and-traditions.
• There are many Irish proverbs and sayings. See if you can figure out what they really mean: http://www.irishabroad.com/culture/proverbs/. For instance, “A good beginning is half the work.”

CREATE:

• Several myths about St. Patrick’s Day abound. Did he really drives all the snakes out of Ireland? Was he Irish? What is blarney? Referring to the National Geographic Society’s article about St. Patrick (http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2005/03/0315_050315_stpatricksday.html), create a “blarney” or trivia game about St. Patrick. See if players can guess which statements are facts or blarney. You can make up your own myths, or research more facts, and add them to the game.
• Enchanted Learning (http://www.enchantedlearning.com/crafts/stpatrick/) has lots of ideas for fun crafts for youngsters, many of them using items around the house.
• You don’t have to be Irish to eat like one. Here is a handful of traditional Irish recipes to try: http://www.history.com/topics/irish-recipes-st-patricks-day
• Have fun playing games with a St. Patrick’s Day theme: http://spoonful.com/st-patricks-day/st-patricks-day-games. You can change some of the details, and make them work for other holidays – or any day!

CARE:

• Saint Patrick was known for supporting the Irish, who were sometimes mistreated by others. Even today, some people are mistreated. Sometimes people who have disabilities, who are poor, or who are very young or very old may be mistreated. Cyberbullying is a form is mistreatment.  Here are some websites that can help you address cyberbullying mistreatment: http://www.stopcyberbullying.org/, http://cyberbully411.org/, http://www.stopbullying.gov/cyberbullying/index.html
• The potato is often associated with Ireland.  Find out what happened to the potato in Ireland: http://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/historyonline/irish_potato_famine.cfm. Famines still occur in the world. For instance, East Africans suffer from hunger. CNN suggests ways that you can help: http://www.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/africa/07/20/iyw.howtohelp.somalia.famine/index.html
• St. Patrick is the patron saint of Ireland. Most countries have special heroes who have cared for those people. Can you think of some? Ganghi? Martin Luther King? Can you think of someone who is a special hero to your area or your family? How can you be a special helper to others?

CAREER:

How might St. Patrick’s Day link to careers? You could become a historian, a religious leader, a party or events planner, a travel agent, a linguist, a costumer, a chef, a media maker. Or you might want to work in Ireland. It’s amazing how an interest can lead to a career. Get inspired by these ideas of travel-related careers.

http://matadornetwork.com/abroad/20-awesome-travel-jobs-and-how-to-get-them/