Iconic Symbols

 Nowadays we tend to think of icons as those tiny little pictures on the computer or phone, but icons have a long history – and have been associated with other concepts than technology. See the possibilities with these online activities. It could be an iconic experience.

CONNECT:

• Legos, the Beatles, and tea are all cultural icons. Find out why at https://kids.kiddle.co/Cultural_icon
• Read about computer icons and how are they used at https://wiki.kidzsearch.com/wiki/Computer_icon
• Watch the background about Orthodox religious icons at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8gvrkF3XDBk 

CREATE:

• Get fun ideas about drawing customized social media icons at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iieii87lCIM
• Symbols can be icons, such as United States symbols. Test your memory with the U.S. symbols match game at https://matchthememory.com/kimbrowning
• Can you guess these logs in 3 seconds? Try it as a family at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6PNX8MY9lZw

CARE:

• What does the wheelchair symbol actually mean? Watch at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ppNYZq-hYTw
• Have you seen food safety icons? Check them out at https://www.foodprotection.org/resources/food-safety-icons/
• Health Icons is a volunteer effort to create a ‘global good’ for health projects all over the world. These icons are available in the public domain for use in any type of project. https://healthicons.org/about

CAREERS:

Dreaming about an iconic career? You could be a graphic designer, a sign maker, a religious leader, or an international communicator.

• (Almost) everything you need about icons in under 3 minutes at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lCXFJEK_lVk
• https://usajobs.github.io/design-system/icons/
• https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/finding-a-job/graphic-design-jobs

 

Paralympics Proud

 

There is a lot of news about the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games, but do you know that the world Paralympic Games is also happening now in Tokyo? Get to know about these great athletes too.

 

CONNECT:

• Watch what is Paralympics sport? This video has an Australian focus: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eRrRf2yvAaA  And this video is in Spanish: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DZKfthh59kc&list=PLaSegn4AdJAz5NJH6CLfUkQe8BlA5zbYd
• Get the details about the Tokyo Paralympic Games at https://education.tokyo2020.org/en/games/about/paralympic-games/
• Did you know that physicist Stephen Hawking spoke at the opening ceremony of the 1992 Paralympic Games? Discover the history of the Paralympic Games at https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/medal-quest/past-games/

 

CREATE:

• Do this kids’ WebQuest about mobility and athletics at https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/kids/mobility.html
• Meet some Paralympians and their inspiring stories at https://www.paralympic.org.au/athletes/
• Recreate a Paralympic-inspired sports event at home, using these ideas: https://www.paralympicheritage.org.uk/Handlers/Download.ashx?IDMF=cbadfda3-0e5a-40b4-8bed-fbed22aee751

 

CARE:

• Share this fairy tale about William the One Winged Dragon and the Castle Football World Championships at https://www.paralympic.org/sites/default/files/document/120305113307821_Card_8_A_Fairy_Tale.pdf
• Find out how to volunteer in special needs sports programs at https://bethebestsport.org/how-to-volunteer-in-special-needs-sports-programs/
• Support Special Olympics Young Athletes at https://www.specialolympics.org/our-work/inclusive-health/young-athletes

 

CAREERS:

Paralympics combines two careers: sports and working with people with disabilities. Help others be all that they can be! You might be helping at one of the biggest sports events in the world!

• https://www.paralympic.org/careers and https://www.paralympic.org/athlete-careers
• https://www.specialolympics.org/about/careers
• https://www.allaboutcareers.com/career-path/paralympics-disability-sport/

Don't take it sitting down!

Most of us are used to sitting in chairs, but we rarely think about chairs. It’s time to stand up – for chairs!

CONNECT:

• What is the origin of the word “chair”? Find out its history – and the social history of chairs at http://www.randomhistory.com/2008/11/11_chair.html
• Sit like an ancient Egyptian. Read examples of their chairs and other furniture at http://www.historyforkids.net/egyptian-furniture.html
• Do you have designs on chairs? See how chair design has changed over the ages: http://denverartmuseum.org/article/staff-blogs/brief-history-chair-design
• Travel the world of chairs at https://rincarnation.wordpress.com/category/around-the-world-in-80-chairs/
• Watch how wooden chairs are manufactured: at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h5hmgpuS3AE

CREATE:

• If you haven’t played musical chairs, here are simple directions: http://www.kidspot.com.au/kids-activities-and-games/Music-for-kids+53/Musical-chairs+240.htm. Brainstorm some other games you can play that uses chairs in creative ways (e.g., relays with chairs, speed race to set up lawn chairs, obstacle course, etc.).
• College students created parts that children can assemble into chairs for themselves: http://www.gizmag.com/kids-imagination-furniture/36268/  See if you can recreate these pieces yourself for children to assemble.
• Watch this video of a teen who designed and produced a comfy cardboard chair: http://www.pbslearningmedia.org/resource/phy03.sci.engin.design.zchair/kid-designer-a-comfortable-cardboard-chair/
• Think with the box: see how children can use boxes to make doll house chairs and other furniture at http://www.artistshelpingchildren.org/kidscraftsactivitiesblog/2010/03/how-to-make-cardboard-doll-house-furniture-with-old-boxes/

CARE:

• Be kind to your body. Learn how to choose an ergonomic chair at http://www.lushome.com/how-select-best-student-desk-chair-ergonomic-kids-room-design/85043
• Read how research into chairs turned into a kindergarten service project and Chair Museum: http://www.dukeschool.org/Page/Learn/Project-Work/Kindergarten-Chair-Project
• Some children use modified chairs for unique experiences. Read about these students who built chairs that calm children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: http://www.kansascity.com/news/local/article5011941.html
• Kids can paint chairs as a service; see an example at http://www.republican-eagle.com/content/kids-needed-paint-chairs
• You can make a difference to a mobile-bound person by donating to buy a wheelchair: http://www.joniandfriends.org/wheels-for-the-world/

CAREERS:

Time to sit up and see how chairs can lead to jobs: interior design, carpentry, manufacturing, health care.

http://www.myjobsearch.com/careers/furniture-maker.html

http://www.theartcareerproject.com/furniture-design-where-function-meets-fashion/240/

https://www.asid.org/content/becoming-interior-designer#.VhA5KHpViko

GIve a Big Hand for Hands

Aren’t hands amazing? They move in so many ways, and have so many uses. They certainly come in handy, as these activities show.

CONNECT:

• What are hands made of? Bones, joints, ligaments, tendons, muscles, nerves, and blood vessels. See each of them at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zyl6eoU-3Rg
• How does the hand work? Read the details at http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK279362/
• Did you know that your hand can be used to understand math beyond just counting your fingers? Discover how your hand demonstrates the Divine Proportion and other math concepts at http://www.goldennumber.net/human-hand-foot/
• Create a trivia game based on these fun facts about hands: http://www.eatonhand.com/hw/facts.htm

CREATE:

• Try some of these hands-on crafts for kids: http://www.craftsforkids.com/
• Hands are the main way that we use the sense of touch. This website on the senses includes many experiments and activities in which the participant is blindfolded in order to heighten the sense of touch: http://faculty.washington.edu/chudler/chsense.html
• Think drawing a hand is just drawing a circle and 5 lines? There is so much more! Look at the possibilities at http://design.tutsplus.com/tutorials/human-anatomy-fundamentals-how-to-draw-hands--cms-21440
• What kind of fingerprint are you? Try this experiment: https://www.nsta.org/sciencematters/docs/Shippensburg-FingerPrinting2.pdf

CARE:

• Show your care of the environment by making crafts from recycled materials: http://www.handsoncrafts.org/
• No matter how old you are or what you do for a living, you are always using your hands. When there is something wrong with them, you may not be able to do your regular activities. Find out about possible hand problems and how to prevent or deal with them at  https://medlineplus.gov/handinjuriesanddisorders.html
• Choosing the right pair of gloves or mittens for snow sports can be the difference between a fun-filled, comfortable outing and a miserable trip with frigid fingers. Learn the details at https://www.rei.com/learn/expert-advice/snow-gloves-and-mittens--how-to-choose.html
• And if you have ink on your hands (say you did fingerprint experiments), be crafty, and make something for a friend: http://www.triciagoyer.com/15-fingerprint-crafts/

CAREERS:

Do you like to work with your hands? Almost all jobs use hands, but some jobs specialize in hands: hand care specialists, health professionals hand models, clothiers, forensics.

• Here are top jobs for hands-on workers: http://www.insidejobs.com/blog/top-jobs-for-hands-on-workers
• Communicate with your hands as a sign language interpreter: http://www.deafwebsites.com/sign-language/career-sign-language-interpreter.html
• Watch how detectives use fingerprints at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ohDwGPeqgE

Easy as ABC or एबीसी

Little children learn their ABCs – or or other writing system. Each language has its own system of grammar or writing, and that system may change over time. Maybe ABC isn’t so simple after all.

CONNECT:

·         Explore writing systems from around the world from prehistory to the present day:  http://www.ancientscripts.com/ws.html

·         The ancient Sumerians were the first people to develop an actual written language:  cuneiform. Fnd out  more at http://mesopotamia.mrdonn.org/cuneiform.html

·         Uncover the holy writings of Egypt: hieroglyphics, at http://www.ngkids.co.uk/history/Hieroglyphics-uncovered

·         Not all alphabet letters last. What happened to the letters wynn, yogh, ash, and eth, for instance? Find out about these extinct letters (at least in English) at http://mentalfloss.com/article/31904/12-letters-didnt-make-alphabet

·         Even a single alphabet can be written in several ways, as shown in this typeface periodic table:

http://www.squidspot.com/Periodic_Table_of_Typefaces/Periodic_Table_of_Typefaces_large.jpg

CREATE:

·         Public TV offers fun ABC activities for little ones: http://pbskids.org/games/abc/

·         Play alphabet whack-a-mole and other alphabet game: http://www.learninggamesforkids.com/alphabet_games.html

·         An anagram is a word or phrase formed by reordering the letters of another word or phrase, such as satin to stain. At http://www.wordsmith.org/anagram/index.html you input words or names and it will rearrange the letters into combinations of other words.

·         Write a message in ASCII (computer binary system to code letters) and ASCII-based graphics (such as barbwire, tinker toy, trek) using this ASCII generator: http://www.network-science.de/ascii/

·         Try your hand at calligraphy: http://tinkerlab.com/introduce-kids-calligraphy/

·         Make your own alphabet or even your own language: http://www.instructables.com/id/Making-your-own-Language/

CARE:

·         Morse Code was often used to signal for help. Try communicating using Morse Code letters:  http://www.happychild.org.uk/ifs/00003mrs.htm

·         The most commonly used system of writing by and for blind persons is called Braille: a system of 63 raised characters made of clusters of dots. Learn how to write in Braille, even music notation! http://braillebug.afb.org/Braille.asp

·         Some people with hearing impairments communicate in sign language: creating letters and words with your hands and body. Watch sign language about school at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5uW2OQtEzUc

·         Make an alphabet book for a little child following these simple directions: http://www.education.com/activity/article/letterbook_preschool/

CAREERS:

The writing system is a key to communicating across the world and over the ages. You can make a career studying and using alphabets: as a anthropologist, linguist, graphic designer, publisher, and book maker, to name a few.

http://www.allaboutcareers.com/careers/career-path/calligraphy-typography

http://www.theguardian.com/careers/behind-the-job-title-typeface-designer

http://orthographic-projection.weebly.com/who-uses-orthographic-drawings.html

It's a puzzlement!

Puzzles are fun to do, and can strengthen the brain. Puzzles come in all sizes and formats. Try some web-based ones, and make your own.

CONNECT:

Did you know that the crossword puzzle is just a little over 100 years old? Read about its history, and see the first one at http://thinks.com/crosswords/first1.htm. You’ll also find lots of other puzzlements on that website.

Puzzles come in lots of different “flavors,” as “The Ultimate Puzzle Site” attests to: http://www.puzzle.dse.nl/index_us.html (note it can be read in English, French, and German).

Optical illusions can be very puzzling. Challenge your eyeballs at http://www.sandlotscience.com/

Do you find science puzzling? This may be YOUR corner: http://www.sciencespot.net/Pages/classpuzzle.html

Games and puzzles can be a fun way to test your knowledge about various cultures; try a few at http://www.coedu.usf.edu/culture/activity.htm

Try some fun brain teasers created for kids: http://www.squiglysplayhouse.com/BrainTeasers/index.html

Build your family’s vocabulary using this online interactive tool: http://www.vocabulary.com/

Try these interactive map puzzles to learn continents, countries, states, capitals, borders, physical features and cultural monuments: http://www.yourchildlearns.com/map-puzzles.htm

CREATE:

The Lemelson Center of the Study of Invention and Innovation knows that play is an important component of invention. Go inside their invention playhouse at http://www.inventionatplay.org/

How about a crossword puzzle that is customized for YOUR needs? Click on Cricklers: http://crickler.com/crossword.html

Create your own puzzles using the free generator tool: http://www.discoveryeducation.com/free-puzzlemaker/?CFID=3068813&CFTOKEN=84890352

Do you like jigsaw puzzles? At http://www.jigzone.com/ you can choose your level of difficulty from 6 to 247 pieces. You can also upload your photos to make them into pigsaw puzzles.

Have you ever heard of tangrams? Read the legend of tangrams, play with them, and create your own puzzle magic at http://www.creativeimaginations.net/PAGE4.html

Cryptology can be considered as language puzzles. Learn about this secret communication at http://www.cerias.purdue.edu/education/k-12/teaching_resources/lessons_presentations/cryptology.html.  You can even create your own secret messages

CARE:

Memory puzzles can help people with learning disabilities. Try some yourself at http://www.ababasoft.com/games/learning_disability.html, and introduce them to someone who could use help developing their memory.

http://www.e-bility.com/links/games.php links to several games and puzzles for people with disabilities.

Puzzles can help older people keep their brains in gear. http://www.generationon.org/service-clubs/make-your-mark/projects/puzzles-to-remember provides directions on how to set a a club to donate puzzles to organizations that serve seniors – and to play puzzles with them.

Want to do service projects? This website teaches project measurement skills through logic puzzles: https://www.nationalserviceresources.gov/americorpsstatenational-logic-model-puzzles#.U2wCgFfiiSo

 CAREERS:

Do you love to solve puzzles? Here are some careers that might solve your career puzzle: mathematician, scientist, engineer, forensics, computer programmer, linguist, puzzle maker, repairer.

http://jonasadhitya.wordpress.com/2010/01/02/5-careers-for-people-who-love-solving-problems-and-puzzles/

http://www.bls.gov/opub/ooq/2003/fall/art02.pdf

http://careers.collegetoolkit.com/career-search/criteria/skills/complexproblemsolving.aspx

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L4BF3_ICgXY

Family Fix-it

Is your family in a fix? All family members should feel confident about doing household repairs; you never know when something might need fixing – and such practice are good for the environment. Family members can teach each other – and they can consult reputable online resources. In addition, reading repair documents helps one follow and create good directions, which is a valuable lifelong skill.

CONNECT:

• Yahoo contribute Sylvia Branch lists five basic home repair skills for kids: https://shine.yahoo.com/five-basic-home-repair-skills-kids-223800824.html
• Ms. FIXIT’s how-to library has lots of advice on home repairs. Here’s her list of ways to deal with laundry and stains: http://www.mrsfixit.com/fixits/FixitCategoryList.asp?id=16
• Watch about electricity safety at http://www.ogepet.com/videos/kids-safety-video.aspx
• Kids can be rough on clothes, so it’s good to involve them in repairing those occasional rips. The University of Kentucky cooperative Extension Service provides useful factsheets on clothing repair: http://www2.ca.uky.edu/hes/fcs/factshts/CT-MMB-147.PDF

CREATE:

• Children should learn how to use basic repair tools, such as screwdrivers, hammers, and even can openers. Get some starting tips at http://www.stretcher.com/stories/10/10dec06e.cfm
• How do parents start teaching children about home maintenance and repair? Get some ideas from http://voices.yahoo.com/involve-kids-home-maintenance-repairs-teach-self-12314086.html?cat=25
• There are some tips for teaching children basic plumbing skills: http://plumbernw.com/teaching-your-children-basic-plumbing-skills/
• Youngsters can have fun with these fire prevention activities: http://www.sparky.org/

CARE:

• You may find that directions need improvement, or you might discover a better way to do something. http://www.wikihow.com/ provides a venue for contributing how-to-ideas to the public.
• Here are some great youth programs focused on “recycle-a-bicycyle”: http://www.recycleabicycle.org/youth-programs.  See if something similar is in your area – or consider starting such a program. You can become a member of this program, and get ideas for helping.
• RePlay for Kids is an organization that provides free repair services to agencies tht work with kids with disabilities. Teens often participate in this service, so maybe your family can get involved too: http://www.replayforkids.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=109&Itemid=54
• Find good resources on bike maintenance and bike repair for kids at http://www.partselect.ca/resources/bicycle-maintenance-and-repair.aspx. Maybe you can host a neighborhood bike repair day.

CAREERS:

Do you have handy family members? Even in this “throw-away” culture, there are always repairs to do, and as people become more resource conscious, repair/recycle jobs will become even more important. There a lot of ways to get a fix on jobs in repairs:

http://www.bls.gov/opub/ooq/2010/fall/art03.pdf

http://money.usnews.com/careers/best-jobs/maintenance-and-repair-worker

http://occupations.careers.org/field/49/installation-maintenance-and-repair

https://www.collegetoolkit.com/careers/category/installation__maintenance___and__repair/49.aspx

http://www.careerprofiles.info/installation-repair-careers.html

FOR PARENTS:

Be sure to discuss with your family as to when a repair should be done by an outside expert rather than dealing with it by yourselves. This note applies particularly when high-voltage electricity is involved.