The Bear Necessities

 

What comes to mind when you think of bears? Stuffed toys? Polar bears? Bear claws? Yogi Bear? Polar bears?  (By the way, the second week in November is Polar Bear Week!) Maybe you have just bear-ly scratched the surface about bears. Dig into these activities – I bet you can bear-ly wait to start!

 

CONNECT:

• They're big, furry, and found many places around the world. Did you know there are only eight species of bears? Watch these international species at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=54CDgurNMSI
• Did you know that teddy bears are named after a US President: Read the story: https://wonderopolis.org/wonder/how-did-the-teddy-bear-get-its-name
• Why do bears hibernate? Watch the answer at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DfV-r3s9meQ. And How do bears get ready to hibernate? EAT! Watch them dine at https://kids.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/facts/brown-bear

 

CREATE:

• Get crafty about bears at https://artsycraftsymom.com/bear-crafts-for-kids/
• Here are 10 fun ways to celebrate a teddy bear day: https://theeducatorsspinonit.com/teddy-bear-day-activities/
• What keeps a polar bear warm when their natural habitat is so harsh? Try this fun polar bear blubber experiment to find out the answer: https://littlebinsforlittlehands.com/winter-polar-bear-blubber-science-experiment/

 

CARE:

• What if you meet a bear in the wild? Here’s what to do: https://www.nps.gov/subjects/bears/safety.htm

• Celebrate Polar Bear Week and help them at https://polarbearsinternational.org/act-now/awareness-events/polar-bear-week/

• Relax with a bear hug; see how at https://kidsrelaxation.com/uncategorized/big-bear-hug/

 

CAREERS:

Can you imagine a bear career? Find out about jobs that involve bears at https://work.chron.com/jobs-involve-bears-24643.html

Are You Awake?

We spend a third of our lives sleeping. Here are facts and fun about sleep that will keep you awake.

CONNECT:

What are you sleepy? Can’t sleep? Get the answers and more about kids and sleep at http://www.aboutkidshealth.ca/En/JustForKids/Life/OnePagers/Pages/OnePagerSleep.aspx

What causes snoring? Find out all the facts at http://www.medicinenet.com/snoring/article.htm

How do astronauts sleep in space? Read how at https://www.esa.int/esaKIDSen/SEMAIP6TLPG_LifeinSpace_0.html

And watch the NASA sleep station: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ICCuD4M9nIs

Did you know snails can sleep for years, and that giraffes sleep about 20 minutes a day? http://mentalfloss.com/article/66194/15-amazing-sleeping-habits-animals has amazing facts about animal sleeping habits.

What are dreams? Why do we dream? Why do nightmares occur? Here’s the science about dreams: http://www.webmd.com/sleep-disorders/guide/dreaming-overview

Have you ever been asked, “Are you asleep?” You can see what sleep looks like in the brain by watching http://faculty.washington.edu/chudler/sleep.html

Find out about the universal language of lullabies at http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-21035103

CREATE:

Learn how to sing lullabies to babies by following the pictures at http://www.wikihow.com/Sing-Lullabies-to-Babies.

Here are 12 ways to make your bedroom more sleep-friendly: http://www.besthealthmag.ca/best-you/sleep/12-ways-to-make-your-bedroom-more-sleep-friendly

Have fun with sleep-related games and puzzles – and more—at http://www.sleepforkids.org/

Here is a collection of calming activities for kids: http://kidsactivitiesblog.com/11110/go-to-sleep-go-to-sleep

CARE:

Do you owe your body a debt – of sleep? This video explains how much sleep do you need: https://sleepfoundation.org/how-sleep-works/how-much-sleep-do-we-really-need

Do you sleep walk, or know someone who does? What accommodations should you make? Find out at http://kidshealth.org/kid/stay_healthy/body/sleepwalking.html

When you’re sick, rest and sleep is usually recommended. http://www.cyh.com/HealthTopics/HealthTopicDetails.aspx?p=114&np=304&id=1717#5 gives good advice about child sickness and their body needs.

Know somewith with a baby? Create a lullaby playlist for them by following the directions at http://www.mommasociety.com/momma-society/how-to-create-a-lullaby-playlist-and-giveaway

CAREERS:

Want to sleep for a living? It can be more than mattress testing. The field of sleep medicine, for instance, offers several career options: http://school.sleepeducation.com/sleepcareers.aspx

Sleep

We spend about a third of our life sleeping – but that’s not wasted time. Keep awake to find out more about this necessary activity.

CONNECT:

• Here’s a good introduction to several aspects of sleeping: http://www.aboutkidshealth.ca/En/JustForKids/Life/OnePagers/Pages/OnePagerSleep.aspx
• Why is sleep important? Find out why at http://www.sleepforkids.org/
• When we’re asleep the brain is still active. Find out about its work at http://faculty.washington.edu/chudler/sleep.html
• How do you sleep in outer space? Find at out at http://www.esa.int/esaKIDSen/SEMAIP6TLPG_LifeinSpace_0.html
• Learn how marine animals sleep: at http://marinelife.about.com/od/marinelife101/tp/SleepInMarineAnimals.htm
• Trace the historical and cultural perspectives of sleep at http://healthysleep.med.harvard.edu/healthy/matters/history

CREATE:

• Some animals are nocturnal: they sleep in the day and are active at night. Watch and listen to them at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VVloVe4jWMU.  Try making some animal night sounds yourself.
• Children sing lullabies around the world. Hear them, and sing along, at http://www.songsforteaching.com/lullabies/.   (And you can listen to 8 hours of lullabies at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vU0fYzuypXg).
• Having nightmares? Try drawing them, or making a mask about them. Get details at http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/the-wisdom-your-dreams/201004/working-childrens-dreams-especially-nightmares
• Create a dreamcatcher following these directions: http://www.kidzworld.com/article/26775-how-to-make-a-dream-catcher

CARE:

• What causes sleeping, and what happens when you walk in your sleep? How can you keep safe? Get the inside story at http://kidshealth.org/parent/growth/sleep/sleepwalking.html#
• Do you have nocturnal enuresis (that’s sleep wetting)? It runs in families. Found out how to deal with it at http://kidshealth.org/kid/health_problems/bladder/enuresis.html
• What can you do if you can’t sleep? Try these tips: http://kidshealth.org/kid/stay_healthy/body/cant_sleep.html
• Why do some teens have trouble sleeping? Find out at http://kidshealth.org/teen/your_body/take_care/sleep.html#

CAREER:

What is your dream career? Babysitting might be your first paying job that deals with sleep. Lots of adults deal with sleep: doctors, scientists, anthropologists, clothing designers and manufacturers, furniture makers and sellers, even artists. Here are a couple of leads:

http://school.sleepeducation.com/sleepcareers.aspx

http://healthcareers.about.com/od/healthcareerprofiles/p/SleepCareers.htm