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

Squash / Pumpkins

 

It’s pumpkin time – as well as time for other winter squashes. But pumpkins are older than Halloween, and they are more international than you might think. Don’t squash your interest in them; instead, dig out interesting facts about pumpkins in these activities.

 

CONNECT:

• Watch your fill of pumpkin videos at https://www.simplykinder.com/pumpkin-videos/
• Get the facts about pumpkins at https://www.sciencekids.co.nz/sciencefacts/food/pumpkins.html and dig deeper at https://kids.kiddle.co/Pumpkin
• Learn about the history of pumpkins and Halloween at https://www.halloweenexpress.com/the-history-behind-pumpkins-and-halloween/

 

 

CREATE:

• You can try more than 40 kid-friendly pumpkin activities at https://handsonaswegrow.com/40-pumpkin-activities-for-kids/
• Sing about pumpkins at https://www.morganmanagesmommyhood.com/9-pumpkin-songs-perfect-for-fall/.  Then make up your own pumpkin song.
• Pumpkins are more than decoration; you can cook them too. Just follow the recipes at https://www.kids-cooking-activities.com/pumpkin-recipes.html

 

CARE:

• Carving pumpkins is good for kids; here are five reasons why: https://sunshinehouse.com/blog/carving-decorating-pumpkins-5-benefits-for-your-child/
• AND you need to carve safely so here are some tips: https://www.thekitchn.com/3-ways-to-make-pumpkin-carving-with-kids-more-fun-261998
• You can grow your own pumpkin too; see the directions at https://www.thompson-morgan.com/growing-pumpkins-with-kids

 

CAREERS:

Pumpkins can be a gateway to several careers: from growing and selling them to decorating with them and cooking with them. See the possibilities at https://www.monster.com/career-advice/article/jobs-if-you-love-halloween-0916

Shark!

 

Sharks seem to be a hot summer topic. But there’s a lot more beyond surface knowledge about them. Plunge into these online activities. They don’t bite!

 

CONNECT:

• Watch this kid-friendly video that share “all” about sharks at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tfWMwG6aYzQ. Pay special attention to their teeth!
• Imagine a 5-foot long baby that can weight more than 2 tons as an adult! That’s the great white shark. Discover more details about this shark at https://kids.nationalgeographic.com/animals/fish/facts/great-white-shark
• There are many different species of sharks that range in size from the size of a person's hand to bigger than a bus. Compare their sizes at https://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/sharks/anatomy/Size.shtml

 

 

CREATE:

• Learn the Baby Shark song at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XqZsoesa55w
• Here’s a week of shark-themed activities for you to try: https://theeducatorsspinonit.com/sharks-themed-activities-for-shark-week/
• Dive into virtual shark camp at https://www.sharks4kids.com/virtual-shark-camp

 

CARE:

• Going to the beach? your risk of being killed in a shark attack is miniscule—approximately 1 in 3,749,067. But there are still some shark safety tips to follow (they work for most open water swimming): https://www.smartertravel.com/shark-safety-tips/
• Read how kids are helping sharks at https://www.sharks.org/kids-helping-sharks
• Shark fin soup is an ancient Chinese tradition; it’s especially favored at weddings. But it’s at the expense of sharks: about 100 million sharks are killed each year (much more than sharks kill people). Find out about this controversial practice at https://savingoceans.org/blog/f/the-controversy-of-shark-fin-soup

 

CAREERS:

It’s true that you can make money from shark parts, such as their teeth, but there are several more positive ways to make money from sharks without hurting them: as a conservationist, marine biologist, zoologist, shark driver, and lifeguard.

• https://www.sharksider.com/job-working-sharks/
• http://www.professorclarkthescienceshark.com/
• https://scubadiverlife.com/cool-scuba-jobs-great-white-shark-guide/

.

Pleasures of Pineapples

 

What comes to mind when you think of pineapples? Hawaii? A prickly plant? A funny name for a fruit is that neither a pine nor an apple? Get the inside juice on pineapples with these activities.

 

CONNECT:

Check out these fun pineapple facts for kids: https://www.sciencekids.co.nz/sciencefacts/food/pineapples.html

Watch how pineapples are processed from baby plants to your table at What comes to mind when you think of pineapples? Hawaii? A prickly plant? A funny name for a fruit is that neither a pine nor an apple? Get the inside juice on pineapples with these activities.

 

CONNECT:

• Check out these fun pineapple facts for kids: https://www.sciencekids.co.nz/sciencefacts/food/pineapples.html
• Watch how pineapples are processed from baby plants to your table at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=25uSmiw2HNo
• Cloth from pineapples? Read how it’s done at https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/cloth-made-from-pineapples

 

CREATE:

• Try making these pineapple snacks and crafts by following the directions at https://www.chfusa.com/blog/back-to-school-pineapple-snacks-crafts/
• From kids to teens there are pineapple crafts to do at https://casawatkinsliving.com/17-diy-pineapple-crafts-kids-teens/
• Sing a song about pineapples at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=19AcV4htTe8

 

CARE:

• Watch how to grow a pineapple at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=25uSmiw2HNo
• Is pineapple healthy for little children? Here is good advice for parents to read: https://www.healthline.com/health/parenting/can-babies-eat-pineapple
• Pineapples used to be a status hostess gift, and continue to be a symbol of hospitality. Find out why at http://www.learn2grow.com/inspirations/gettingstarted/findingideas/WelcomingPineapple.aspx

 

CAREERS:

Aloha! Does a pineapple career call to you? Not only could you grow them, but you can sell them, cook with them, and even make designs with them. Find out about the pineapple industry from the ground up.

https://www.rd.com/article/summer-job-pineapple-picking/

 

Make It Your Mission

Make It Your Mission

Spanish missions are distinctive features of South and Southwestern United States. Easter time is a good time to discover these historic structures.

CONNECT:

• Read about the role of Spanish missions in US history at https://www.history.com/topics/religion/california-missions
• See how Spanish missions were built: http://www.designing-america.com/contenido/the-spanish-missions-in-the-united-states/?lang=en
• Read about the cultures of Texas missions at https://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/its02
• Remember the Alamo! At https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rTCcnbzSMc8

CREATE:

• Sing about missions with these songs set to familiar songs: http://home.snu.edu/~hculbert/songs.htm
• Use games to teach about missionaries: https://oureverydaylife.com/childrens-games-to-teach-about-missionaries-12083036.html
• Use a map to virtually walk on the California Missions Trail: https://www.visitcalifornia.com/feature/california-missions
• Try living in a mission with these activities: https://education.texashistory.unt.edu/lessons/notebook/SpanishMission/docs/Mission_PlacardC_J.pdf

CARE:

• You can use crafts to remind the family about missionary work and caring for others at https://www.ehow.com/info_8170549_missionary-crafts-kids.html
• How were people cared for in mission times? It depends on whom you ask. Here is an indigenous perspective: https://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/its02
• Read how the National Park Service is trying to preserve historic Spanish Colonial missions: https://www.nps.gov/subjects/travelspanishmissions/architecture-and-preservation.htm
• Many missions were made of adobe clay; here is how to maintain it: https://www.nps.gov/tps/how-to-preserve/briefs/5-adobe-buildings.htm

CAREERS:

Want to make it your mission to work on missions? You can be an historian, a preservationist, an archeologist, an anthropologist, a park ranger, an architect, a photographer or artist, a landscaper, a writer, or even a religious member. Get inspired from the possibilities.

https://www.drkit.org/historic-preservationist/

https://www.environmentalscience.org/career/preservation-planner

https://today.uconn.edu/2011/08/the-impact-of-anthropology-on-native-american-culture/#

https://www.saa.org/about-archaeology/archaeology-as-a-career

Go Gaelic!

Around Christmas time, you may see Gaelic art or hear Gaelic-inspired songs. Discover this rich culture with the following activities. Start with watching a Scottish Gaelic Christmas: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a8v0_Hj_cG4 and learn Christmas words in Gaelic: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WDg_6CT87tI

CONNECT:

• Football means different things in different countries. Gaelic football is the most popular spectator sport in Ireland. See this explanation of this form of football at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vSOe-USZzok
• Gaelic is a Scottish language related to Irish. Find out about its history and use at https://wiki.kidzsearch.com/wiki/Scottish_Gaelic_language
• Gaelic first names started in the 4^th century and still continue; see the variety at http://www.babynames.net/all/gaelic
• With English rule in Ireland, Gaelic language was threatened. So in the late 1800s, its culture was revived. Learn about those efforts then and now at http://www.gaelicmatters.com/gaelic-revival.html
• Watch Irish Gaelic dancing at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F__a-30Axc4

CREATE:

• Learn simple Gaelic online at https://learngaelic.net/lg-beginners/index.jsp
• Learn traditional songs as a family activity at https://www.gaelic4parents.com/nip/listen-and-sing
• You too can sing Gaelic. This is a song about emigration from Scotland: https://learngaelic.scot/beginners/beagairbheag/songs/illean/index.jsp
• The Celtic cross has it’s beginning in Gaelic Ireland. Discover its meaning at http://www.gaelicmatters.com/celtic-cross-meaning.html. Try your hand making your own.

CARE:

• Learn Celtic and Irish Christmas blessings in Gaelic at: http://www.celticchristmasmusic.com/christmas-traditions/learn-celtic-irish-christmas-blessings-in-gaelic.htm
• How about using drama to learn a language or share a culture? See a Gaelic nativity play as an example: http://gaelic.co/gaelic-nativity/
• Color Celtic art (https://www.colorwithfuzzy.com/celtic-coloring-pages.html), and give it to a friend.
• Try writing with the Irish Gaelic alphabet; it looks great on holiday cards that you can make for others: http://www.gaelicmatters.com/gaelic-written-alphabet.html

CAREERS:

Learning other languages can broaden your career options. You can also use knowledge about Gaelic history and art can also lead to lifelong work.

http://www.feisean.org/en/feisgoil-en/gaelic-learning/gaelic-arts-culture-heritage/

https://gradireland.com/career-sectors/languages-and-culture/careers-using-the-irish-language

https://www.teagasg.com/en

https://www.e-careers.us/lifestyle-interests/languages/scottish-gaelic-package

What’s Up, Doc?

We all need to keep healthy, and many kinds of people in the health care industry can help use. Find out more about what they do in the following activities. You might want to become one of those helpers yourself!

CONNECT:

• Watch a day in the life of a pediatrician (a doctor who treats youth): https://www.fda.gov/drugs/developmentapprovalprocess/howdrugsaredevelopedandapproved/
• What does it take to run a hospital? It’s a complex system, as you will find out at http://blog.soliant.com/healthcare-workers/what-it-takes-to-run-a-hospital/
• Watch 200 year of medicine at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qxx14RCxblg
•  How are drugs developed and approved? The federal government shares their perspective: https://www.fda.gov/drugs/developmentapprovalprocess/howdrugsaredevelopedandapproved/

CREATE:

•  "Lose a Million (Bacteria)" is a fun, interactive game; its object is to lose bacteria: https://www.fda.gov/Food/FoodScienceResearch/ToolsMaterials/ucm212691.htm
•  Playing doctor for little ones can include art activities, games, and songs as seen at http://www.childfun.com/themes/people/doctors/
•  Here are health crafts to make: https://www.daniellesplace.com/html/doctor-nurse-crafts.html
• Make your own doctor or nurse costume: http://www.ziggityzoom.com/activity/easy-nurse-costume-or-doctor-costume-make and https://www.care.com/c/stories/7201/how-to-make-a-doctor-costume/

CARE:

• Sports injuries are a serious problem for both amateur and professional players. Here is an online guide to sports medicine for youth: http://kidshealth.org/en/teens/sports-injuries.html?ref=search&WT.ac=msh-t-dtop-en-search-clk
• Here’s the place for girls’ health: mind and body. This website includes healthy tips, videos and games: http://www.iemily.com/
• What is it like to stay at a hospital and have an operation? Get advice at http://www.chop.edu/patients-and-visitors/kids-health-galaxy-our-web-site-kids
• Be healthy and safe this Halloween by following these tips: https://www.fda.gov/ForConsumers/ConsumerUpdates/ucm230283.htm

CAREERS:

• Interested in a career in health care? Look at all the jobs you could do: https://www.snagajob.com/job-descriptions/healthcare
• Here’s how to navigate your journey through medical school: https://students-residents.aamc.org/
• Who does what in a medical office: http://managemypractice.com/who-does-what-in-a-medical-office-basic-position-descriptions/
• Want to manufacture medicines? Find out about the industry at https://collegegrad.com/industries/pharmaceutical-and-medicine-manufacturing