Ho Ho Ho for Christmas

 Christmas is celebrated around the world, both as a religious event and as a cultural or commercial time. The following activities offer lots of ways to celebrate the season in many ways.

 

CONNECT:

• Chris IS the reason for the season, and here is why Christmas is celebrated on December 25: https://www.whychristmas.com/customs/25th.shtml
• Read up on the history of Christmas at https://www.history.com/topics/christmas/history-of-christmas
• See how Christmas is celebrated around the world at https://www.countryliving.com/entertaining/g4933/christmas-traditions-around-the-world/
• Watch about poinsettias (including their history and pronunciation) at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ymgdsWr326A

 

CREATE:

• Follow Santa around the world with NASA at https://www.noradsanta.org/en/ (available in 8 languages)
• Get crafty about Christmas at https://www.thebestideasforkids.com/christmas-crafts-for-kids/
• Get a taste of Australia by making these kid-friendly Christmas treats at https://www.bestrecipes.com.au/entertaining/galleries/christmas-recipes-fun-christmas-recipes-kids-cook/67u8212d
• OR go British with these yummy Christmas baking recipes for kids: https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/howto/guide/christmas-projects-kids
• Ready to play Christmas games? There are 35 fun ones for the family to enjoy at https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/holidays/christmas-ideas/g2725/christmas-games/

 

CARE:

• Keep your holiday peaceful with these holiday safety reminders: https://saferide4kids.com/blog/holiday-safety-reminders/
• Candlelight is lovely but candle burns and uncontrolled fires are not, so here are candle safety tips for kids: https://smartkids101.com/blog/candle-safety/
• Cookie dough ice cream is fun to eat, but you shouldn’t eat raw cookie dough: here’s why: https://www.cdc.gov/foodsafety/communication/no-raw-dough.html

 

CAREERS:

Christmas is just one calendar day, but year-round careers are built around Christmas: not only the Christian religious life, but also tree farming, event planning, costuming and performance, designing and manufacturing Christmas items – and then selling and using them. Some jobs can make Christmas seem like every day. See samples here.

https://theundercoverrecruiter.com/top-christmas-jobs/https://www.careeraddict.com/christmas-jobs

https://www.coburgbanks.co.uk/blog/friday-funnies/10-weird-christmas-jobs/

https://www.bbc.com/worklife/article/20141222-where-christmas-is-a-way-of-life

 

Fall for Leaves

 

Leaves are fun to see and collect – AND are necessary for the planet, so explore them with these online activities.

CONNECT:

• Get the facts about leaves at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dhpvSGLBEPE
• Find out why leaves change colors in the fall by watching https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xk4-6II8l5Q
• Learn how to identify trees by their leaves at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nrqBW1NILuA

CREATE:

• Try some of these fun science activities for kids about leaves at https://igamemom.com/fun-science-activities-for-kids-about-leaves/
• How do leaves breathe? Do this experiment to discover the answer: https://www.kcedventures.com/blog/how-do-leaves-breathe-a-simple-science-experiment-for-kids
• Get crafty with leaves at https://www.diys.com/kids-crafts-made-with-leaves/

 

CARE:

• Leaf play is beneficial; see why at https://www.melissaanddoug.com/blogpost/?postId=sensory-benefits-of-leaf-play
• Learn how to recycle leaves at https://greenliving.lovetoknow.com/Recycle_Leaves_and_Grass
• Compost leaves by following the directions at https://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/Kindergarden/kidscompost/CompostingForKids.pdf

 

CAREERS:

Don’t leave a leaf unturned for careers associated with leaves. Explore the possibilities below.

• https://mrplantgeek.com/2021/01/05/20-careers-to-consider-if-you-are-fascinated-by-plants/
• https://www.seedyourfuture.org/careers
• https://www.learnhowtobecome.org/career-resource-center/careers-with-plants/
• https://croplife.org/news/top-10-jobs-in-plant-science/

 

 

 

Who came first to America?

 

It’s hard to beat 30,000 years ago; that is the latest calculation as to when humans arrived in the Western Hemisphere. Indigenous People’s Day, celebrated in the United States on October 11, honors the rich heritage and contributions of Native Americans. By doing the following activities, you too can appreciate these varied peoples throughout the year.

 

CONNECT:

• Learn the history of Indigenous People’s Day by watching https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nET5LBB_wLE.
• Discover 10 Native American inventions commonly used today at https://www.history.com/news/native-american-inventions
• Explore Alaska Native history and culture by watching “Grandpa's Drum” from “Molly of Denali”: https://ca.pbslearningmedia.org/resource/mod19-soc-grandpasdrum/grandpas-drum-molly-of-denali/ . “Molly of Denali” was created by Alaska Native writers and advisers. It’s also one of the first children’s television programs to have a Native American lead.
• Watch pow wows at https://youtu.be/jQ-9QCDp9Ho. You can find more details at https://www.powwows.com/what-is-a-pow-wow/

 

CREATE:

• Try some of the ways that kids can observe Indigenous People’s Day: https://www.rebekahgienapp.com/indigenous-peoples-day/
• Sing a Native American lullaby at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pB9W5PntH3s
• Hungry to know about native life and food? Chew on this information: https://www.historyforkids.net/native-american-food.html You may already have tried some of their native food!

 

CARE

• Enjoy with your family the video read aloud We Are Water Protectors read by the author, Carole Lindstrom: https://youtu.be/2YHaRmj9wLU  What are ways that you can help water become clean again?
• A lovely, earth-conscious way to honor indigenous culture and to “give back” is to plant some Native American plants as a family. Some native plants to consider are milkweed plants and pawpaw trees. You can consult the U.S. Forest Service website (https://www.fs.fed.us/wildflowers/) to learn more about native plants and how to plant and care for them.
• How are Black-Indigenous youth working to advance social justice? This Indigenous Peoples’ Day program highlights youth of blended Black and Native heritage who use art, activism, and policy to advance Black and Indigenous solidarity and affect positive change in their communities: https://americanindian.si.edu/nk360/student-programs/distance-learning/#indigenous-peoples-day

 

CAREERS:

Indigenous people often encounter barriers to employment. Understanding these obstacles can lead to thinking about ways that you can become more culturally aware and competent, which can help all people to find meaningful work: https://www.ictinc.ca/blog/8-basic-barriers-to-indigenous-employment

 

Don’t Say Goodbye to Animals and Plants Yet

 

There are between 7 and 10 MILLION species on earth, but up to a third are threatened with extinction. Let’s try to explore these animals and plants before they become extinct – and try to help them thrive.

 

CONNECT:

• Learn top 10 facts about endangered species: https://www.theschoolrun.com/homework-help/conservation-and-endangered-species
• This century has been called the 6^th age of extinction. Watch out why at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kaKTGJ1UAGM
• Why do animals become endangered? Several answers are given at https://kidsdiscover.com/spotlight/endangered-species/
• Plants are endangered too; see some examples at https://www.pbs.org/video/endangered-species-endangered-plants-vmc1fj/

 

CREATE:

• Give a hand to endangered animals at https://www.greenkidcrafts.com/endangered-animal-handprint-craft/
• Here are 13 activities for kids to learn about endangered species: https://www.naturespath.com/en-us/blog/13-activities-kids-learn-endangered-animals/
• Get arty with these project ideas about endangered species: http://www.savingendangeredspecies.org/art-and-craft-activities.html

 

CARE:

• See some of most endangered animals – and what you can do to save them at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M1IDQSeJ1cs
• Here are 9 ways you can help threatened species: http://www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/threatened/publications/factsheet-green-kids-guide-threatened-species-9-ways
• Worldwildlife.org suggests several ways that you can make a big difference in helping endangered species: https://www.worldwildlife.org/how-to-help

 

CAREERS:

There’s no danger that a job involving endangered species will go extinct. Check out some of the lively career possibilities.

• https://wildlife.org/next-generation/career-development/careers/
• https://www.trade-schools.net/articles/wildlife-jobs
• https://www.environmentalscience.org/career/endangered-species-biologist

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