Into the Internet

For this, the 199^th theme, Cyberfamilies is featuring the Internet: the communication backbone of this blog. Nowadays, more than ever, the Internet has become a way to learn more than even – as well as a way to be entertained. With the activities below, you can learn WITH the Internet to learn ABOUT the Internet.

CONNECT:

• What happens in an Internet minute? See the action at https://www.visualcapitalist.com/what-happens-in-an-internet-minute-in-2019/
• What’s the difference between the Internet and the World Wide Web? Find out this and many more fun technology facts for kids at https://www.sciencekids.co.nz/sciencefacts/technology/internet.html
• Watch how the Internet works at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UXsomnDkntI
• Several virtual museums exist; welcome to the Big Internet Museum at http://symbolics.com/museum/

CREATE:

• Staying at home a lot? Check out these free online events and activities for kids: https://www.commonsensemedia.org/blog/free-online-events-activities-kids-at-home-coronavirus
• And https://www.livescience.com/coronavirus-kids-activities.html
• Try an hour of code activities (or more) at https://code.org/learn
• Choose from a variety of hands-on activities that introduce simple machine learning models through games and interactive projects at https://www.ibm.org/activities/machine-learning-for-kids

CARE:

• Get kid-friendly Internet safety tips at https://www.searchrpm.com/internet-safety-for-kids/kid-and-teen-resources
• Here’s more in-depth information about Internet dangers and ways to address them: https://www.safewise.com/resources/internet-safety-kids/
• Watch what’s in your digital footprint at https://www.commonsense.org/education/videos/whats-in-your-digital-footprint
• Not everyone has good access to the Internet; learn about the digital divide at https://kids.kiddle.co/Digital_divide

CAREERS:

The Internet is part of the majority of jobs in the U.S. You can be part of creating the Internet as well. Go from virtual to reality as you check out these possibilities!

https://www.careerfaqs.com.au/news/news-and-views/10-jobs-that-the-internet-created

https://www.jobsites411.com/web-internet.html

https://learn.org/articles/What_are_Some_Popular_Careers_in_Internet_Technology.html

https://www.entrepreneur.com/slideshow/306474

I’ve Got a Secret

Cryptology has nothing to do with crypts or coffins: it is the science of secret communication.  SHH! Uncover the secrets here.

CONNECT:

• Find out how cryptology has been used throughout history at http://www.cerias.purdue.edu/education/k-12/teaching_resources/lessons_presentations/cryptology.html
• Want to read hieroglyphs, see invisible ink, decode DNA? There are lots of fun code-related activities to try at

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/ancient/cracking-maya-code.html

• Improve your math skills by immersing yourself in the Crypto Club: http://www.cryptoclub.org/
• Did you know that spies existed in Elizabethan times? Relive history at http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/british/tudors/launch_gms_spying.shtml

CREATE:

• http://www.nsa.gov/kids/home.shtml: games and activities about codes and ciphers.
• Want to send messages secretly? Try these secret codes: http://youthonline.ca/spykids/.  Create your OWN secret code – but know that you need to share it with at least one other person.
• Want to try your hand as a computer programmer? Explore http://www.crunchzilla.com/code-monster
• Create and use a cypher wheel: http://www.topspysecrets.com/secret-codes-for-kids.html

CARE:

• October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month, but you should be tech-savvy trhoughout the year. Explore http://www.livebinders.com/play/play?id=346333 to learn about ways to keep your cyber presence private, and technology safer from hackers.
• Plan a Code Breaking Day by following the tips at http://www.mathsweek.ie/2012/puzzles/code-breaking-for-young-secret-agents
• Meet the female code-breakers of World War II at: http://www.cnn.com/2013/11/11/world/europe/lifting-the-veil-of-secrecy-codebreakers/
• One reason that the U.S. won World War II was the unbreakable code of the Navajos. Uncover the secret of the code talkers at http://www.history.navy.mil/faqs/faq61-2.htm

CAREERS:

So do you like puzzles, codes, secrets? You might want a career in cryptology and related themes. And don’t forget that computer programming is basically coding.

• Watch this CNN piece on coding careers: http://www.cnn.com/2012/01/12/opinion/rushkoff-write-code
• Spy on careers at the National Security Agency: http://www.nsa.gov/kids/home.shtml
• What about the CIA? https://www.cia.gov/careers