The Bear Necessities

 

What comes to mind when you think of bears? Stuffed toys? Polar bears? Bear claws? Yogi Bear? Polar bears?  (By the way, the second week in November is Polar Bear Week!) Maybe you have just bear-ly scratched the surface about bears. Dig into these activities – I bet you can bear-ly wait to start!

 

CONNECT:

• They're big, furry, and found many places around the world. Did you know there are only eight species of bears? Watch these international species at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=54CDgurNMSI
• Did you know that teddy bears are named after a US President: Read the story: https://wonderopolis.org/wonder/how-did-the-teddy-bear-get-its-name
• Why do bears hibernate? Watch the answer at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DfV-r3s9meQ. And How do bears get ready to hibernate? EAT! Watch them dine at https://kids.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/facts/brown-bear

 

CREATE:

• Get crafty about bears at https://artsycraftsymom.com/bear-crafts-for-kids/
• Here are 10 fun ways to celebrate a teddy bear day: https://theeducatorsspinonit.com/teddy-bear-day-activities/
• What keeps a polar bear warm when their natural habitat is so harsh? Try this fun polar bear blubber experiment to find out the answer: https://littlebinsforlittlehands.com/winter-polar-bear-blubber-science-experiment/

 

CARE:

• What if you meet a bear in the wild? Here’s what to do: https://www.nps.gov/subjects/bears/safety.htm

• Celebrate Polar Bear Week and help them at https://polarbearsinternational.org/act-now/awareness-events/polar-bear-week/

• Relax with a bear hug; see how at https://kidsrelaxation.com/uncategorized/big-bear-hug/

 

CAREERS:

Can you imagine a bear career? Find out about jobs that involve bears at https://work.chron.com/jobs-involve-bears-24643.html

Hail Hydrogen!

Hydrogen is the simplest and lightest element on Earth – but by mass, Hydrogen makes up about ¾ of all matter in the universe.  Uncover the hidden depths of hydrogen in these activities.

CONNECT:

• Watch the story of hydrogen at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KiNRls_pBnU
• Hydrogen is an element of contrasts: necessary to create water – and can be explosive – as seen in this actual hydrogen balloon tragedy: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CgWHbpMVQ1U
• What do fertilizers, transportation and electricity have in common? Hydrogen! Read all about these uses of hydrogen at https://hydrogeneurope.eu/hydrogen-applications

CREATE:

• Read these kid-friendly facts about hydrogen and do your own hydrogen experiment at https://www.scienceforkidsclub.com/hydrogen.html
• Hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) is a common household liquid made of molecules with two hydrogen and two oxygen atoms. You can do several science experiments with H₂O₂ at https://diyeverywhere.com/2017/12/11/6-fun-science-experiments-you-can-do-with-hydrogen-peroxide/
• Make elephant toothpaste by following this video’s directions: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JSWHRwGaOqs

CARE:

• Hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂)  is sometimes used as medication. Find out its safety factors with kids at https://www.mskcc.org/cancer-care/patient-education/hydrogen-peroxide
• Hydrogen is now powering some cars because it is such a clean and efficient form of energy. See how they work at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r5b6SthDbsE
• There are several ways to clean toys, including with Hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂); use the guidelines at http://theguidefortoys.com/Blogs1/The-Cleaning-Guide-for-Toys.htm

CAREERS:

Getting a hydrogen-related job may be elemental: as a chemist, scientist, doctor, manufacturer (and seller) or even astronaut! Get energetic with hydrogen!

https://www.energy.gov/eere/fuelcells/careers-hydrogen-and-fuel-cells

https://www.sciencemag.org/careers/2006/07/energetic-future-hydrogen

https://www.nasa.gov/topics/technology/hydrogen/index.html

Are you a fan of fans?

Are you a fan of fans?

Summers can get hot, and fans can help cool us. Fans can also cool other animals and inanimate objects, such as computers. Try these activities to fan your interest in fans.

CONNECT:

• Fans are 5000 years old! Explore their history at the Fan Museum:  https://www.thefanmuseum.org.uk/fan-history
• Electric fans have a much shorter history: less than 150 years old. Read about their development at https://www.fancollectors.org/fanhistory.htm
• How did mosquitos lead to air conditioners? Watch the connection at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EGX3P7P5AOE
• You can dance with fans; watch these Chinese folk dancers at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XlQsVY3z4TI and these Korean folk dancers at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uuF0OosXR78

CREATE:

• Try these fan experiments with your little ones: http://nerdybaby.blogspot.com/2011/01/fan-experiments.html
• Make your own pocket folding fan at https://gluesticksblog.com/diy-pocket-fans/
• This is a game to use fans and put balloons to the space of your competitor: https://45mix.net/en/fan-the-balloon-game/
• Learn the romantic language of the hand fan at https://www.whalingmuseum.org/online_exhibits/fans/language.html

CARE:

• Fans can feel good – until you get hurt by them. Here are some safety measures to consider when using fans around children: http://www.ourhousefamilies.org/are-cooling-fans-safe-for-children.html
• Here are tips for keeping cool in the car, especially in a car seat: https://thecarseatlady.com/keepingcool/
• Your pets get hot in the summer too. Follow these strategies to keep your furry friends cool without fans: https://www.humanesociety.org/resources/keep-pets-safe-heat
• Computers need fans to keep the elements from overheating. Here are some ways for older family members to keep those fans in good condition: https://www.computerhope.com/issues/ch001339.htm

CAREERS:

Do you FANcy a career with fans? You can study fans as a historian or museum curator, you can make handmade fans or manufacture HUGE fans, you can sell fans, and you can repair fans. Fan your interest here.

https://www.justrightair.com/webapp/p/632/6-reasons-why-you-should-consider-hvac-as-a-career

The Heart of the Matter

It’s Valentine’s Day: a good time to learn about hearts. The heart isn’t just an organ in the body; it’s also a popular symbol. So give a hearty cheer for hearts with these activities.

CONNECT:

• Follow this song about how your heart works at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JFSF9n0zu18
• Read hearty facts at https://www.coolkidfacts.com/facts-about-the-heart-for-kids/
• Explore the variety of animal hearts at https://blog.nwf.org/2013/02/amazing-animal-hearts/
• Learn about the six strangest hearts in the animal kingdom at https://www.livescience.com/49795-strange-animal-hearts.html
• Why do drawn hearts look nothing like real hearts? Get the answer at http://www.todayifoundout.com/index.php/2015/02/drawn-hearts-commonly-look-nothing-like-real-hearts-draw-way/

CREATE:

• Here are 30 awesome heart activities for kids: https://www.playdoughtoplato.com/heart-activities-for-kids/
• Learn how to play Hearts with these easy-to-follow rules and get a game started with your friends and family at https://www.familyeducation.com/fun/card-games/how-play-hearts
• Try these 21 quick and easy heart crafts for kids: https://pintsizedtreasures.com/21-quick-easy-heart-crafts-kids/
• Do you heart science? Experiment at https://www.steampoweredfamily.com/education/heart-science-experiments-to-inspire-a-love-of-learning/

CARE:

• Keep your heart healthy through life’s simple 7: https://www.heart.org/idc/groups/heart-public/@wcm/@fc/documents/downloadable/ucm_461359.pdf
• Try this heart healthy workout for the whole family: https://www.activekids.com/parenting-and-family/articles/heart-healthy-workout-for-the-whole-family
• Make your own heart pump following these directions: https://www.homesciencetools.com/article/how-to-make-a-heart-pump-science-project/
• Did you know that your heart has electricity activity? EKG/ECGs (electrocardiograms) can test how your heart is working. Watch what that test looks like at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2OaTtVgg16o

CAREERS:

Just your heart beat at the thought of a job dealing with hearts? Get pumped up with these websites of hearty advice:

https://careertrend.com/medical-careers-related-to-the-heart-13654516.html

https://work.chron.com/list-jobs-careers-involving-cardiovascular-system-16564.html

https://www.verywellhealth.com/cardiology-jobs-overview-1736145

Swimming in Information

People have been swimming even since they needed to cross water, and animals have been swimming for millions of years before then. Swimming isn’t just a matter of necessity; it is also a sport. Plunge into this life skill and recreation in these activities.

CONNECT:

• Swimming has been enjoyed as early as by the ancient Egyptians in the Nile. How did it become an Olympic sport? Dip into the facts at https://www.olympicchannel.com/en/stories/news/detail/the-history-of-olympic-swimming/
• Speaking of history, how did swimming strokes originate? You can look at cave paintings, but this website is more convenient to find out: https://www.livestrong.com/article/347359-history-of-swimming-strokes/
• Swimming is applied physics as you can see at https://www.real-world-physics-problems.com/physics-of-swimming.html
• Can all mammals swim? No. Which can – and can’t? Read about the strange experiments to find out: http://www.bbc.com/earth/story/20170320-the-cruel-experiments-that-revealed-most-mammals-can-swim

CREATE:

• Enjoy the last days of summer with the fun pool games for kids: https://www.activekids.com/parenting-and-family/articles/10-fun-pool-games-for-kids
• Sink or swim? Find out with this hands-on water activity: https://www.cbc.ca/parents/play/view/sink-or-swim-water-activity
• Make your own pool / water toys by following the directions at https://www.craftfoxes.com/blog/6-great-diy-pool-toys-for-kids-and-adults
• Here are 31 ideas to help you throw an epic pool party (even if you just have sprinklers): http://redtri.com/summer-splash-pool-party-ideas/

CARE:

• Watch the minions show you swim safety at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iNO18rEMR1o
• Pools are fun but they can be dangerous too. Feel safe around pools by following these rules: https://www.swimmingpool.com/pool-living/pool-safety/safety-for-kids
• What about outdoor water safety? Here are some times based on the type of water: https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/water-safety-outdoors.html
• Don’t toy with water toys; know their risks and what to do at https://www.royallifesaving.com.au/families/at-home/home-pool-safety/pool-toys-safety

CONNECT:

Yes, you can be a professional swimmer, but there are lots of other swimming-related jobs to choose from: lifeguard, swimming coach, camp counselor, marine biologist, physical therapist, sports doctor, pool manager or manufacturer, photographer, reporter. Hopefully, you are swimming with career ideas now.

https://www.goldfishswimschool.com/blog/2016/august/swimming-for-a-living-9-careers-for-kids-who-lov/

https://www.swimmingworldmagazine.com/news/swimming-find-a-job/

https://www.theodysseyonline.com/11-career-lessons-learned-from-competitive-swimming-career