Did You Feel the Earth Move?

While the earth isn’t really alive, it is certainly dynamic. And it can be a moving experience. The following activities focus on geologic disasters: earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, sinkholes, avalanches and landslides. We can’t prevent them, but we can be prepared for them.

CONNECT:

•  Learn lots of facts and have fun at from the U.S. Geological Survey: https://earthquake.usgs.gov/learn/kids/
• Stromboli is not a pasta dish; it’s an active volcano in the Mediterranean. Stroll through Stromboli at http://www.swisseduc.ch/stromboli/volcano/index-en.html
• Can yelling cause an avalanche? Get the facts by watching Avalanches 101: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wcr1Sl-T9S0
• What’s a sinkhole, and how does it happen? Watch this video at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZqKuSKCO6o8

CREATE:

• Make a homemade volcano following the directions at https://www.learning4kids.net/2012/04/11/how-to-make-a-homemade-volcano/
•  Ever think of lava as cake batter? To understand some of the geological processes and the structures that form as lava flows across planetary landscapes, you can use cake batter as an analog for lava, at http://www.spacegrant.hawaii.edu/class_acts/CakeLava.html
• Use a computer to simulate an earthquake at http://qcnexplorer.org/
•  Create a model of an avalanche; to see how they work, go to https://sciencing.com/create-model-avalanche-4866747.html

CARE:

• Did you feel the earth move? The government collects information from people who felt an earthquake and creates maps that show what people experienced and the extent of damage.  Report local earthquakes at https://earthquake.usgs.gov/data/dyfi/
• Practice earthquake safety by following the tips at http://www.weatherwizkids.com/weather-safety-earthquake.htm
• Landslides can be disastrous. What can prevent landslides? Watch the causes and interventions at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RCxvbosa4fU
• You never know when a disaster might come, so be prepared by building a family disaster kit: https://www.ready.gov/kids/build-a-kit

CAREERS:

The earth can provide a solid foundation for a great career! Be a mover and shaker by pursuing careers such as a geophysicist, meteorologist, and disaster relief expert.

https://content.wisestep.com/jobs-created-by-natural-disasters-calamities/

https://earthquake.usgs.gov/learn/kids/become.php

http://www.sciencemag.org/careers/2005/08/careers-science-disasters

https://www.workitdaily.com/career-paths-disaster-management/

https://www.environmentalscience.org/career/disaster-management-specialist

Shake, Rattle, and Roll -- the Earth

It’s been shaking here in California – and other places throughout the world. Find out how the earth moves – and how you can take action.

CONNECT:

Explore the science behind earthquakes at http://www.exploratorium.edu/faultline/index.html

Watch National Geographic Society’s videos on earthquate format: www.nationalgeographic.com/eye/earthquakes/phenomena.html

See animations about earthquakes at http://www.pbs.org/wnet/savageearth/earthquakes/index.html

What earthquakes occurred on this day? Find out at http://earthquake.usgs.gov/learn/today/

Read a child’s view of earthquakes in this ABC: http://earthquake.usgs.gov/learn/kids/abc/

Know about Pangaea? It’s the earth’s supercontinent; watch it move at http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/geology/anim1.html

CREATE:

Try these activities that demonstrate earthquake principles: http://www.exploratorium.edu/faultline/activezone/activities.html

Try your hand at one or several of these earthquake activities: http://earthquake.usgs.gov/learn/kids/kidsLearningLinks.php

Test out earthquake science experiments at http://earthquake.usgs.gov/learn/kids/sciencefair.php

A seismograph measures earthquake activity; Bill Nye the Science Guy explains them at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1qbg7orb1lc.  Make your own seismograph following the directions at http://www.mrsec.psu.edu/education/nano-activities/sand/make_a_seismograph/make_a_working_seismograph.pdf

Check out earthquake simulations at http://smartr.edc.org/earthquake

CARE:

Learn how to construct an earthquake-proof building at http://school.discoveryeducation.com/lessonplans/programs/earthquakeproof/

How can you be safe in an earthquake? Create a family earthquake ready kit following the guidelines at http://teacher.scholastic.com/activities/wwatch/earthquakes/ready.htm

The U.S. Geological Survey provides several booklists on earthquake preparedness: http://earthquake.usgs.gov/learn/preparedness.php

The US government shows how to be prepared and support your community in earthquake times: http://www.ready.gov/earthquakes

CAREER:

What’s shaking in civil engineering? Find out at http://www.civilengineeringcareers.org/earthquake-engineering

Learn more about earthquake-related careers at http://www.classzone.com/books/earth_science/terc/content/careers/es1004.cfm

Find out what it takes to become a geophysicist: http://earthquake.usgs.gov/learn/kids/become.php

Explore a career in seismology at http://www.seismosoc.org/society/education/careers.php

Robots R Us

People of all ages have been intrigued by robots for centuries, reading about them and trying to develop them. Think about the movies that have featured robots. You can experience robots and robotics first hand in the following activities. You may find out that robotics can make us more human!

CONNECT:
•    Tech Museum - Robotics (http://www.thetech.org/exhibits/online/robotics/index.html)
features an introduction to the history of, and issues raised by, robots and robotics.
•    The Field Robotics Center (http://www.frc.ri.cmu.edu/) introduces various types of machines that helped scientific research, especially in the field of astronomy, geography, and environment.
•    How have people felt about the ever-changing technology, particularly robots, around them. Find out at http://www.the-robotman.com/
•    Read the 1920 play that defined robots: R.U.R. by the Czech author Karel Capek: http://ebooks.adelaide.edu.au/c/capek/karel/rur/ Has the author’s future arrived?
•    What are the best robots of the year? Find out “who” 17,000 people voted into the Robert Hall of Fame: http://www.robothalloffame.org/

CREATE:
•    Use a computer drawing / painting program to visualize your ideal robot. Then watch a robot draw a person: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bbdQbyff_Sk. You can also go to Pinterest (http://www.pinterest.com) and compare robot images.
•    Not only can people collaborate, but robots can too. You can even control one of those robots at http://www.cs.cmu.edu/~Xavier/
•    Make your own Nonorover, and use a 3D simulation to build and run your own robot, and many other activities: http://a2zhomeschooling.com/explore/physics_kids/robotics_kids/
•    Build your own robot, step by step. There’s also a helpful section for parents: http://www.mos.org/drop-in-activities/design-challenges
•    Experiment and do robotics projects at Science Kids: http://www.sciencekids.co.nz/robots.html
•    Choose from over 20 robotic projects to choose from at Science Buddies: http://www.sciencebuddies.org/science-fair-projects/search.shtml?v=ia&ia=Robotics
•    Does your family have a budding programmer? Try ColoBot simulations: http://www.ceebot.com/colobot/edu-e.php

CARE:
•    Save a life with robotic surgery: http://www.childrenshospital.org/views/aug10/demystifying_robotic_surgery.html
•    See how GoodRobots can help older people: http://www.goodrobot.com/en/
•    Watch how robots can help youth with Autism Spectrum Disorders: http://www.today.com/video/today/50007872
•    Robots are used increasingly in health care, as these videos illustrate: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pzCnnKxd_a8
http://money.cnn.com/video/technology/2011/09/19/t_in_irobot_ava.cnnmoney/
http://dsc.discovery.com/tv-shows/curiosity/topics/c-angle-what-role-can-robots-play-in-healthcare.htm
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bFexeUheZOk


CAREER:
•    As you have seen, robots and robotics play important roles in a range of industries. NASA showcases several of these at http://robonaut.jsc.nasa.gov/default.asp  and http://www.nasa.gov/audience/foreducators/robotics/home/
•    Science News for Kids shows cool robotic jobs: http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/2012/05/wide-world-of-robots/
•    Razor Robotics discusses careers and education at http://www.razorrobotics.com/careers-and-education/

The Circle Of Life

We’re all connected, not just in our families or communities, but with all living things. And they are also connected to water, air, and the rest of the earth. Find out how these elements work together in the great circle of life.

CONNECT:

• Different types of plants animals grow in different climates. Imagine a cactus in the Arctic or polar bears  in the jungle. To appreciate the differences, try some of the activities at http://www.nclark.net/CommunitiesBiomes
• Plants and other living things depend on each other; the system is called ecology.  Explore some ecology activities at http://www.biologyjunction.com/unit9_ecology.htm#POWERPOINTS
• What’s a food web? Think of it as an inter-related food chain.  Spin your food web in this simulation: http://www.nclark.net/CommunitiesBiomes (you might want to check out the whole ecolab set of activities as background information).
• The status of one animal impacts the status of another; see how moose and wolves reflect predator-prey dynamics at http://www.onlinelearningexchange.com/texas_demo/assets/bio_11b_interactive_art_moose/elab2.html
• How do diseases spread? See how populations impact the dynamics of diseases at Speed Sim (https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/speed-sim-spatial-population/id437545518?mt=8).

CREATE:

• The prairie is one of North America's great ecosystems, and a vital habitat for many plants and animals. Can you turn a bare dirt field into a thriving prairie? Take the restoration challenge in this interactive game! http://www.bellmuseum.umn.edu/games/prairie/build/index.html
• Explore the amazing world of recycling for kids with a range of fun experiments, free games, crazy facts, cool projects, interesting videos, quizzes and more! http://www.sciencekids.co.nz/recycling.html
• Recycle these great ideas of crafts made from recycled materials: http://www.planetpals.com/recycle_crafts_kids.html
• Here are 20 toys you can make from trash: http://bigspringenvironmental.com/20-toys-to-make-from-trash/

CARE:

• The Greenhouse Effect is not the result you want when growing plants. Since out how greenhouse gases affect climate at http://phet.colorado.edu/en/simulation/greenhouse
• Smog:  smoke and fog – and more. Try the simulation Smog City (http://www.biologycorner.com/worksheets/smogcity.html) and accompanying activity to find out what causes smog -- and the worst conditions for smog. What can your family to to help address the smog problem?
• Want to go green? Play these environment games to learn about some of the issues, and how to deal with them:  http://ecogamer.org/environmental-games
• Find out ways that your community can reduce waste by checking out the garbage scene at http://www.learner.org/interactives/garbage/intro.html

CAREER:

• Brainstorm all the careers that come to mind when you think about ecology. The list may be longer than you think: http://careerservices.rutgers.edu/ecology.shtml
• Here are some simple descriptions of ecologist careers, along with ecology projects: http://kids.nceas.ucsb.edu/ecology/careers.html
• Want to make some “green” while work in the the green work sector? Check out http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/green-jobs-in-ecology.html