Spring into Summer

It’s now officially summer. What does that entail? What’s special about this time of the year? And how do you make the most of summer days? Find out with these Internet-based activities.

CONNECT:

• Why are the days so long in the summer? Get the inside angle about the summer solstice at http://www.factmonster.com/spot/solsticeforkids.html
• On June 21 you might have seen a strawberry moon. If not, you can see this rare phenomenon (and learn the background of this special moon view) at http://www.space.com/33240-delicious-strawberry-full-moon-wows-stargazers.html
• Step into the Way Back Machine to see what summer camp and family car trips were like years ago: http://kids.pbskids.org/wayback/summer/features.html
• Imagine dancing for 16 days! Discover the Native American Sun Dance ceremony: http://www.brownielocks.com/sundance.html

CREATE:

• June 6 was National Yo-Yo Day. Watch this video to see how to make a yo-yo: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5uoldaHVt0s.  Then watch how to play with one: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KDiioSreoPc
• Now that school is out, you have lots of time for summer crafts: https://www.care.com/a/62-summer-crafts-for-kids-1307010525
• Try some of these creative car games for summer road trips: http://www.pbs.org/parents/summer/road-trip-games-for-kids/
• Gear up for the summer Olympics by finding out its history, symbols, and competitions: http://www.scholastic.com/teachers/collection/gear-summer-olympics.  Hold your own summer olympic games.

CARE:

• Need a special day to show you care? Go to https://www.checkiday.com/06/01/2016. Just on June 1 alone you can observe Heimlich Maneuver Day, Global Day of Parents, Say for Children, and Say Something Nice Day!  
• Take care of your summer skin. Here are natural sunscreen alternatives as well as natural sunburn treatments: https://sunwarrior.com/healthhub/natural-sunscreen-alternatives
• Got bitten by an insect or spider? Here are some home treatments that doctors suggest: http://www.webmd.com/first-aid/tc/insect-bites-and-stings-and-spider-bites-home-treatment
• Did you know that a lemonade stand can help fight cancer? Check it out at http://www.alexslemonade.org/campaign/kids-corner.  You can help too.

CAREERS:

• Is there a teen in your family? This website provides a great collection of summer seasonal jobs and tips: https://www.livecareer.com/quintessential/summer-job-sites
• What about working abroad this summer? Here are some good short-term jobs abroad: http://www.transitionsabroad.com/listings/work/shortterm/summer_jobs_abroad.shtml
• College Board provides tips on how to find a great summer job – and why: https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/get-started/outside-the-classroom/how-to-find-a-great-summer-job

Put Some Skin in the Game

What’s the largest organ of your body? Your skin! Your skin has a big role in keeping your body together – in several ways. Explore the following websites – they are more than skin deep.

CONNECT:

• Skin can tell stories; explore the stories about the art and culture of Polynesian tattoo at http://www.pbs.org/skinstories/
• Do you wear animals? How about their skins? Here are the top 12 animals you probably didn’t realize suffered for fashion: http://www.petakids.com/photos/animals-people-wear/
• Read the history of leather at http://www.leatherresource.com/history.html
• Compare how real and synthetic leather are made: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AM0MR2fyYRk and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TGUZgs2TYTI
• What do movies and skin have in common? Watch how films have treated skin conditions, which actors have coped with skin diseases, and how movies promote myths about acne and other skin conditions -- at http://www.skinema.com/

CREATE:

• What is Mahndi? This is a 5000 year old form of body art that started in the Middle East and North Africa. Try your hand at it, consulting http://ssbea.mercer.edu/patelr/mehndi.htm and http://www.hennadesignsideas.com/henna-designs-for-kids/ and http://www.crayola.com/lesson-plans/mehndi-hands-lesson-plan/
• Pattern your art after animals with these nature-inspired activities: http://www.kidsplaybox.com/preschooler-pattern-activity/
• Try these leather crafts (remember than you can use “fake” leather): http://www.artistshelpingchildren.org/leather-artscraftsideaskids.html
• Got that itchy feeling from poison ivy, oak or sumac? “Leaves of three, let them be.” Teach this tip and other recommendations found at http://poisonivy.aesir.com/view/

CARE:

• Find out how to take care of your skin so it will keep care of you: http://kidshealth.org/en/kids/skin-care.html
• Explore symptoms, treatment, and prevention of skin conditions at https://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/skinconditions.html
• Get the “skinny” on acne, at http://www.niams.nih.gov/Health_Info/Acne/default.asp
• What’s the most common cancer? Skin cancer. You find see trends in indoor tanning among US high school students, and that could raise their risk for later cancer. Leran how to protect yourself and your family at http://www.cdc.gov/cancer/skin/index.htm
• How safe are the cosmetics that your family buys for the skin? Search the cosmetic database at http://www.ewg.org/skindeep/ to find out.

CAREERS:

There will always be skin, so skin-related careers have a clear future: doctor, chemist, manufacturer, sales staff, esthetician, even artist. Check out these career leads:

http://meded.ucsf.edu/ume/career-information-dermatology

http://money.usnews.com/careers/best-jobs/esthetician-and-skincare-specialist