Let there be Light - Festivals!

India just finished celebrating Diwali, and several more light-centric festivals are scheduled soon.

Explore these activities to see the light about these important events.

CONNECT:

• Get the facts (and history) of light festivals at https://facts.net/events/17-facts-about-light-festival/
• See pictures of light festivals from around the world at https://communityoflights.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1117:spectacular-festivals-of-lights-from-around-the-world&catid=68&Itemid=239
• Experience the Hanukkah story at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7tws_uMAEOs&list=RDQMtOA86jhwn5c&start_radio=1
• Enjoy the story of Ramaya: the origins of Diwali, at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pp59n0So-XE&list=RDQMtOA86jhwn5c&index=4
• Discover the origin of Kwanzaa at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LUIdFiOMX5k

CREATE:

• Try these ideas to celebrate light in dark times: https://www.kidfriendlydc.com/2020/12/02/ideas-for-at-home-celebrations-of-light-in-dark-times-from-the-washington-waldorf-school/
• Reinact lantern festivals with these activities: https://lanternfestival.uk/lantern-festival-games-and-activities/
• Light up a party with these light festival ideas: https://theimaginationtree.com/light-party-crafts-and-games-for-kids/
• Make your own advent wreath by following the directions at https://happyhooligans.ca/cardboard-roll-advent-wreath-craft/

CARE:

• Get smart candle safety tips at https://smartkids101.com/blog/candle-safety/
• Make luminaries and candle holders as a holiday gift by trying some of the ideas at https://www.redtedart.com/diy-luminaries-and-candle-holders/
• Be a point of light by engaging in service projects for kids: https://www.pointsoflight.org/blog/12-service-project-ideas-kids/

CAREERS:

Do you like to celebrate with light? There's light at the end of the career tunnel for you: as a party planner, an anthropologist, a scientist, a historian, an artist, a cook, or a religious leader. Light the way for others. Light up some ideas with these resources:

• Festival planners: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TSlPhaLxV28
• Careers in religion: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=woCgbVWFRIg
• https://www.mashed.com/885179/what-its-really-like-being-a-disney-chef/

Look into Lunar New Year

You may have heard of Chinese New Year, but the underlying concept crosses several cultures. Hop into 2023 – the year of the rabbit – with these enlightening activities about Lunar New Year

CONNECT:

• Watch how people celebrate Lunar New Year at https://youtu.be/Mm9LJC_5g2o
• Discover the legend of the Lunar New Year and the Chinese zodiac at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GVPHdFX9iHY&ab_channel=PandaExpressTV
• Find out some things things are unlucky do to during Lunar New Year at https://www.chinahighlights.com/travelguide/festivals/chinese-new-year-taboos.htm

CREATE:

• Try eating lucky food for Lunar New Year; get the details at https://www.tasteofhome.com/collection/lucky-foods-for-your-chinese-new-year-feast/
• Find out your Chinese zodiac sign at https://www.buildingbeautifulsouls.com/zodiac-signs/chinese-zodiac-for-kids/
• Celebrate Chinese lantern festival with the activities found at https://www.misspandachinese.com/happy-lantern-festival-closing-out-chinese-new-year-celebrations-with-a-lantern/

CARE:

• Lunar New Year is a time to wish people good fortune. Read about how Chinese people give money in red envelopes for good luck at https://artsandculture.google.com/story/8-things-you-should-know-about-the-lucky-red-envelope/PwKiICEFJXMOJg
• Fireworks are often part of Lunar New Year – and New Year's eve celebrations. Keep safe by following these tips: https://kidshealth.org/en/kids/fireworks.html
• New year is a good time to make a fresh start for yourself and how you connect with other people Here are some idea for kid-friendly new year resolutions: https://aroundthekampfire.com/2021/12/50-new-years-resolution-ideas-for-elementary-kids.html

CAREERS:

Looking to the future for a career? How about planning events? Starting planning your eventful job with these ideas.

• https://online.jwu.edu/blog/8-careers-people-who-love-plan-events
• https://www.socialtables.com/blog/event-planning/event-planning-careers/
• https://www.bls.gov/ooh/business-and-financial/meeting-convention-and-event-planners.htm

Spring into Action

Spring has sprung, and that means daylight outshines and outlasts moonlight. So put some spring into your step, and enjoy these springtime Internet activities.

CONNECT:

• Try out some of these family-friendly spring activities from England: http://www.activityvillage.co.uk/spring
• It’s time to get movin’, especially for the birds. Track spring migration at http://www.learner.org/jnorth/
• What is the reason for the seasons? Watch this video to see why: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UlCLX27NqMg
• Why do animals have more babies in the spring? Find out the reason for this another spring happenings at http://www.topmarks.co.uk/spring/BabyAnimals.aspx?age=ks2.
• Read how baby animals resemble their parents at http://www.hometrainingtools.com/a/learn-about-baby-animals

CREATE:

• Different cultures celebrate spring in unique ways. Experience Hina Matsuri, Dolls’ Festival, by making  Japanese paper doll; follow the directions at http://www.wikihow.com/Make-Hina-Matsuri-Dolls.  You can read more about the festival at http://www.japan-talk.com/jt/new/hina-matsuri
• Join the chorus of spring songs at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DobrRgD5aOU
• Here are lots of spring crafts to make: http://theimaginationtree.com/2012/04/15-spring-activities-for-kids.html
• Create life! – by gardening. Here are some ways to engage children in digging up fun in the garden: http://www.sheknows.com/parenting/articles/952457/spring-gardening-ideas-for-young-kids

CARE:

• Brighten up someone’s day by making a spring craft for them. There are lots of ideas at http://theimaginationtree.com/2012/04/15-spring-activities-for-kids.html
• Share a spring story with family and friends; reading aloud can be a welcome activity for a bedridden person. You can start with this list of top children’s books for celebrating spring: http://www.amightygirl.com/mighty-girl-picks/top-books-for-celebrating-spring
• Do you have extra time during spring break? Why not share with others? Here are some simple service projects that chase away boredom and help others: http://penniesoftime.com/acts-of-kindness-and-simple-service-projects-for-spring-break/
• Spring into actoin by building a community nature trail; follow these steps: http://www.walterreeves.com/how-to-archive/how-to-build-a-school-nature-trail/

CAREERS:

What jobs get really busy in the spring? They say, “Everyone talks about the weather, but no one does anything about it.” Not true, if you ask a meteorologists (weather scientists). Spring has the most varied weather of the four seasons. And the season also impacts veterinarians (animal doctors) and farmers, to name a few. What other jobs spring to mind this season?

http://www.weather.gov/careers

https://aavmc.org/Students-Applicants-and-Advisors/Careers-in-Veterinary-Medicine.aspx

http://www.agday.org/education/careers.php

https://www.ffa.org/home

August AUGUST

August is sometimes considered a transition month, signaling the end of summer and looking forward to the school year. No U.S. national holidays occur in August. But August is full of meaning and events; it is truly august (check out its meaning at http://www.dictionary.com).  And after doing the activities here, you might develop a parallel set of activities for other months.

CONNECT:

• Read about the history of the month of August: http://www.infoplease.com/spot/history-of-august.html
• The Soap Box Derby is a youth racing program which has run nationally since 1934.World Championship finals are held each August at Derby Downs in Akron, Ohio: http://www.aasbd.org/
• On August 6, 1945,  was the bombing of Hiroshima. Read the story of a survivor at: http://teacher.scholastic.com/activities/wwii/hiroshima/index.htm

CREATE:

• August is known as the best month for looking at meteor showers. Here are some tips: http://www.nasa.gov/jpl/asteroids/best-meteor-showers/#.U91YzWPQo2R
• Here are 14 offbeat holidays you can celebrate in August: http://mentalfloss.com/article/58173/14-offbeat-holidays-you-can-celebrate-august
• Research some of the famous events and birthdays that occurred in August: http://www.historyplace.com/specials/calendar/august.htm

CARE:

• Celebrate your family as the Japanese do: during their Bon (or Obon) Festival. See if there is a festival in your area by checking at http://www.japanese-city.com/calendar/events/japanese-city-events-locations-summer-obon-odori-taiko-line-dancing-dango-drums-games-food.php.
• Pakistan celebrates its Independence Day, which was established August 14, 1947. India’s Independence Day started this next day. You can send a friend an independence day card at http://search.123greetings.com. Just search by the keywords of “independence day.”
• Each month has an associated birthstone. Learn about the history of birthstones, and find out about August’s TWO birthstones: peridot and sardonyx at  http://www.americangemsociety.org/birthstones. Some people think these stones have healing properties: http://www.healing-crystals-for-you.com/

CAREER:

Want an august career? Probably the most obvious theme of the activities above is sociology: how people behave in groups.

• Here is a good list of sociology-related jobs: http://sociology.nd.edu/undergraduate-program/careers-for-sociology-majors/ 
• Look at some of the links provided at http://www.bhsu.edu/academics/programsmajors/behavioralsciences/sociology/careers/tabid/4810/default.aspx