Root, Root, Hooray!

 Roots can refer to hair or family roots. This topic focuses on plant roots, which are valuable to nature and humans. Dig into roots with these activities.

CONNECT:

• What do roots do? Watch their functions at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aNmZOJHuf3k&ab_channel=HungrySciANNtist
• Watch how fast roots can grow at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w77zPAtVTuI&ab_channel=GPhase
• Would you eat a root? Watch how people grow root vegetables at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VJ7KwES45GY&ab_channel=nmsuaces

CREATE:

• Know your roots with this trivia quiz: https://www.funtrivia.com/trivia-quiz/ForChildren/Know-Your-Roots-323200.html
• Chomp on these fun carrot root activities: https://artsymomma.com/fun-carrot-crafts-for-kids.html
• Have a root vegetable tasting party by following these family-friendly directions: https://food.unl.edu/free-resources/newsletters/food-fun-young-children/exploring-roasted-root-vegetables

CARE:

• Another reason to root for vegetables is that they are healthy for you; read what a doctor says at https://www.webmd.com/diet/what-are-root-vegetables
• Soil conservation is made possible largely because of roots; watch how at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qNXke_-cnEc&ab_channel=RandburgMontessoriLearningCommunity
• Watch how to plant a garden at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0TJuJTFEBbs&ab_channel=SciShowKids

CAREERS:

Want to find your roots in a growing career? You can root for gardeners, cooks, scientisst, and grocers. Consider the possibilities:

• https://mortonarb.org/educators/planted-podcast/
• Visit a sustainable tree farm at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zwflaaZ6HNo&ab_channel=MarylandFarm%26Harvest

Nature's Geometry

 

When you think of math, does nature come to mind? Think of all the shapes you find in nature – and maybe some you don’t find. Explore new dimensions of math by trying these activities about geometry in nature.

 

CONNECT:

• Start your tour of geometry in nature by watching this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4_q1z4k0o8A
• Why are bee honeycombs hexagonal (6-sided)? Find out at https://www.npr.org/sections/krulwich/2013/05/13/183704091/what-is-it-about-bees-and-hexagons
• Spirals are common shapes in nature – and they are mathematical in nature (pun intended). Find out how nature creates the Fibonacci sequence at http://www.montessori-blog.org/2017/08/29/geometry-in-nature-the-fibonacci-sequence/
• Explore the geometry of minerals at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rkNM6666hG4,  and for teens see https://www.ted.com/talks/graham_baird_how_do_crystals_work/transcript?language=en

 

CREATE:

• Use this guide to find geometry for your next nature walk – even in the city: https://medium.com/purple-museum/finding-geometry-in-nature-797523737555
• Have fun in this geometry playground: http://annex.exploratorium.edu/geometryplayground/resources.php
• Create hexagonal paper snowflakes by following this video’s directions: http://youtube.com/watch?v=a3mpmly9b2o
• Can you make a cubic bubble? See how at https://www.rookieparenting.com/make-a-square-bubble/

 

CARE:

• Views of nature impact our mind, our feelings. See how biomorphic forms and patterns influence us at https://blog.interface.com/geometry-in-design/
• See how architects use geometry in landscaping, which helps enjoy nature’s geometry: https://land8.com/geometry-brings-out-the-best-in-landscape-architecture-at-the-earthly-pond-service-center/
• You can help others by uploading photos of your observations of geometry in nature to share on https://www.projectnoah.org/missions/37000089

 

CAREERS:

What jobs link nature and math? The most obvious career is photographer. But what about scientists, jewelers and landscapers? Check out the possibilities below. The benefits may be incalculable!

• http://passyworldofmathematics.com/jobs-with-geometry/
• http://theatlantic.com/education/archive/2014/10/10-creative-careers-that-use-science-and-math/382160/
• https://www.cooperhewitt.org/2019/12/11/the-geometry-of-nature/
• https://land8.com/wurth-la-rioja-museum-gardens-how-to-merge-geometry-with-nature/

Get Buzzy with Insects

 

What do honeybees, mosquitos, butterflies, and cockroaches have in common? 6 legs and an exoskeleton. In short, they are all insects. AND they make up 90% of all living things on earth. Don’t let them “bug” you; instead, go buggy for insects with these activities.

 

CONNECT:

• Get the facts about insects at https://www.coolkidfacts.com/insect-facts/
• Learn 25 cool thing about bugs at https://www.natgeokids.com/uk/discover/animals/insects/15-facts-about-bugs/
• Watch 15 exotic insects you won’t believe exist at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y9Ym4EO0Zjk

 

CREATE:

• Play these interact insect and pest games, or try to ace quizzes on bug trivia at https://www.pestworldforkids.org/for-kids/games/
• Even primary children can be insect investigators at https://learning-center.homesciencetools.com/article/early-elementary-insects-science-lesson/
• Make your backyard a biology bug lab; see how at https://nourishingmyscholar.com/backyard-biology-insects-kids/
• Have fun with these insect craft ideas: https://iheartcraftythings.com/insects-arts-crafts-ideas.html

 

CARE:

• Bugs can care for gardens; find out how at https://www.seewhatgrows.org/kids-guide-beneficial-bugs-garden/
• What are safe insects that kids can explore? Find out at https://www.moms.com/safe-insects-kids-explore-bugs/
• How do you treat insect bites? Follow the advice at https://www.webmd.com/allergies/ss/slideshow-bad-bugs

 

CAREERS:

Do you go bug-eyed over insects? You might make a living because of them: as a beekeeper, pesticide expert, teacher, illustrator, scientist (entomologist and more), photographer, public health professional, or even habitat designer. Jobs are a-buzzing!

• https://1zootree.weebly.com/careers-insects.html
• https://www.careercast.com/career-news/6-creepy-crawly-careers
• https://www.ent.iastate.edu/careers
• https://entomology.unl.edu/scilit/careers-entomology

.

Stick with Cacti

Cacti (Cactuses) are one of the earliest plants on Earth. They have many uses for humans so it’s great that they are still around. Prick your interest as you explore the following activities about cacti.

CONNECT:

• Check out these cool cacti facts: https://www.scienceforkidsclub.com/cactus-plants.html (and more advanced facts at https://www.eduscapes.com/nature/cactus/index1.htm)
• How do cactus live without water? Watch the answer at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nq-dw1nsX3Y
• Cacti are an American plant. See where they live at https://cactiguide.com/places/
• How did a candy craze almost wipe out the barrel cactus? Read the story at https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/cactus-candy
   

CREATE:

• Here’s an oasis of desert-themed activities for kids: https://www.childfun.com/themes/world/desert/
• How do you eat a cactus? Find out how at https://www.timeforkids.com/g2/eating-cactus/
• Try some of these fun cactus crafts: https://www.hellowonderful.co/post/12-utterly-cute-cactus-crafts/
• Make your own prickly cactus garden by following the directions at  http://www.bbc.co.uk/gardening/gardening_with_children/homegrownprojects_cactus.shtml

CARE:

• Some cacti can be poisonous; here are some safe cacti for kids and pets: https://homewarranty.firstam.com/blog/5-safe-succulents
• How do you maintain cacti? Here are tips: https://www.society.bcss.org.uk/coolcacti/grow-cacti.html
• Cacti can be dangerous – or at least ouchy. Learn what to watch for and how to treat cacti “attacks” at https://www.webmd.com/allergies/features/itchy-plants#1
• Cacti can keep you healthy; read how at https://www.herbwisdom.com/herb-prickly-pear-cactus.html

CAREERS:

Are cacti your career oasis? Whether you’re thinking of growing them, protecting them, creating art related to cacti, making cacti products, cacti can grow on you.

https://www.landscapeindustrycareers.org/discover-the-industry/career-paths/

https://www.nps.gov/aboutus/nps-careers.htm

https://careertrend.com/list-6828168-list-jobs-desert.html

Take Time to Smell the Roses …

When we think of spring, we often think of flowers, but they can be found year round in some places. Flowers are more than something to look at and smell. Discover the colorful world of flowers here.

CONNECT:

• Explore flowers with PBS: http://www.pbs.org/parents/catinthehat/activity_exploring_flowers.html
• Find lots of flower facts at http://www.avasflowers.net/facts-about-flowers-for-kids. Try making a trivia game using these facts.
• Did you know that flowers can be a secret language, and have different meanings around the world? Find out at http://www.livingartsoriginals.com/infoflowersymbolism.htm
• Have you heard of Xrays for flowers? Take a look at floral radiographs to get an inside picture: http://www-personal.umich.edu/~agrxray/

CREATE:

• Celebrate wildflowers, and add color, in your own home by using the Plant Conservation Alliance's coloring books: http://www.nps.gov/plants/color/
• Make your own blooming tea; watch how to do this at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FaQ-FJAZfXM.  Here’s a list of herbs for teas: http://www.garden.org/foodguide/browse/herb/unusual/1339
• Solve the mystery of the Great Plant Escape: http://urbanext.illinois.edu/gpe/gpe.html
• “Eat your weeds, dear.” Yes, you can eat dandelions. Watch how to pick them safely, and prepare them in dishes to eat: http://www.seriouseats.com/2010/03/eat-your-weeds-tips-for-picking-and-cooking-dandelions.html

CARE:

• Help create life – and help sustain your family by following the FUNdamentals of “My First Garden”: http://urbanext.illinois.edu/firstgarden/index.cfm
• Take greening to the community by trying one of the service-learning projects detailed at http://www.epa.gov/osw/education/pdfs/svclearn.pdf
• The Great Plans of the MidWest used to spread out over half a million square miles; now less than 2% of the native prairie remains. You can turn a bare dirt field into a prairie in this restoration challenge game: http://www.bellmuseum.umn.edu/games/prairie/build/index.html
• Create flower crafts, and give them to someone to brighten up their day: http://www.freekidscrafts.com/girls-crafts/flower-crafts-girls-crafts/

CAREERS:

Like getting your hands dirty? Try growing flowers for a living. Like to creat something beautiful? Do flower arranging? Like selling? There are flowershops and gardening centers waiting for you. Here are some starting websites about such careers.

http://www.aboutflowers.com/about-the-flower-industry/floral-industry-careers.html

http://endowment.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/AFE-Grow-Your-Future-Career-Brochure.pdf