Lighten up for Auroras

 

You may know of Princess Aurora (also known as Sleeping Beauty), but do you know about the original auroras: bright dancing lights in the sky? Brighten up your life with these online activities.

 

CONNECT:

• Let NASA enlighten you about auroras at https://spaceplace.nasa.gov/aurora/en/
•  Watch the science behind the northern lights at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=we-MfBKx4Bc
• Read 20 Aurora Borealis facts you will love to know at https://hello-aurora.com/blog/20-aurora-facts

 

CREATE:

• Make a magical northern light sky with pastels at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mo8wee7blQ4
• Or paint the aurora with ice cubes at https://www.uaf.edu/museum/education/educators/heliophysics-aurora-outre/activities/pdfs/Paint-The-Aurora-With-Ice-Cubes-Activity.pdf
• Check the Aurora Tracker to find out if you can see the Aurora right now at https://www.explorefairbanks.com/explore-the-area/aurora-season/aurora-tracker/ and check out the Aurora live webcam on this website.
• Create an aurora borealis with milk, oil and food coloring at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YglrrA2XQ5Y

 

CARE:

• Auroras are typically seen in areas that are very cold. Stay warm with these tips: https://www.healthychildren.org/English/safety-prevention/at-play/Pages/Winter-Safety.aspx
• There is often ice in areas where auroras are seen. Stay ice-safe with these tips: https://www.blacklinesafety.com/blog/6-tips-for-dealing-with-black-ice
• Auroras are best seen in wilderness areas. Be prepared for the wilderness with these tips: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rBQfaxDiGlw

 

CAREERS:

Want your career to light you up? You would be a scientist, an engineer, a meteorologist (weather expert), a photographer, a tour guide, and more. Light up with these sample career tips.

• https://www.sciencefriday.com/articles/a-physicist-explains-the-shimmering-science-behind-auroras/
• https://globaledge.msu.edu/blog/post/57349/the-northern-lights-tourism-industry
• Meteorologists https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=npwXgH5t3o0&t=3s

 

Hunting Hurricanes

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It's hurricane season, so it's time to keep your eye on them. Follow these online activities to track the information about hurricanes.

 

CONNECT:

• Get the facts about hurricanes at https://kids.nationalgeographic.com/science/article/hurricane
• Watch how hurricanes form at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xKubdY2mHXc&ab_channel=SciShowKids
• How are hurricanes named? Watch the news at https://www.cbsnews.com/news/how-do-hurricanes-get-their-names-who-chooses-and-why-list/#:~:text=How%20are%20names%20chosen%3F,rotated%20through%20every%20six%20years.. See if you can find your name in one of the lists.

 

CREATE:

• Play a game about Hurricane Allie at https://scied.ucar.edu/kids/interactive/hurricane-allie
• Make a hurricane at home by following the video at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J6DYWp27X1E&ab_channel=PlayingWithRain
• Hurricane Irma was a BIG hurricane (watch is a kid's story about it at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z6pGIOVJOfE&ab_channel=AlinaCeleste). The storm inspired lots of hurricane activities for kids of different ages. Try some of them at https://www.alsc.ala.org/blog/2017/09/stem-hurricane-irma-activities-kids-tweens-teens/

 

CARE:

• Watch some of the hazards that hurricanes bring at https://scied.ucar.edu/kids/hurricanes/hurricane-hazards
• What should you do if a hurricane is headed your way? Get expert advice at https://www.ready.gov/kids/disaster-facts/hurricanes
• Try these activities to keep entertained during a hurricane: https://www.sun-sentinel.com/2021/05/26/ideas-for-keeping-kids-entertained-during-a-hurricane-or-tropical-storm/

 

CAREERS:

Hurricanes provide several career options: scientist, news reporter, photographer, emergency expert, or even hurricane hunter. Set your eye on these possibilities.

• Watch a hurricane scientist at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7suVdgfMjww&ab_channel=usoceangov
• Watch a storm chaser at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lyxA06M1_6k&ab_channel=AccuWeather
• Watch an emergency responder at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lyxA06M1_6k&ab_channel=AccuWeather

Rain, Rain, Don’t Go Away

 

Without rain, Earth would be a dead planet. Drop into these activities to learn the special aspects of rain.

 

CONNECT:

• Discover why it rains at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PPEoe1DW_5U
• Watch how rain is formed at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vfg_I70Q0Sw
• What is a thunderstorm? See the answer and more at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bsUjBiZiUFg
• What is the difference between rain and a monsoon. Get the Indian perspective at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Tl1qPIUkSw

 

CREATE:

• Try fun rainy activities for preschoolers: https://empoweredparents.co/rain-activities-for-preschoolers/
• What can you do on a rainy day? LOTS of activities; check them out at https://mommypoppins.com/ny-kids/50-indoor-activities-for-a-rainy-day
• Make a rain cloud in a jar by following the directions at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DB6GITF95es

 

CARE:

• Flash floods are the #1 weather-related killer in the U.S. Become aware of floods athttps://www.weatherwizkids.com/weather-safety-flood.htm
• Learn how to dress during the rainy season at https://ozkizglobal.com/blogs/ozkiz-blog/how-to-dress-your-child-during-the-rainy-season
• Discover how to stay safe in a thunderstorm at https://kidshealth.org/en/kids/thunderstorms.html

 

CAREERS:

It’s raining job about rain: as a meteorologist (weather expert), flood controller, storm chaser and more. Drop into these websites to find out about rain-related careers.

• https://www.weather.gov/careers/
• https://www.nssl.noaa.gov/people/jobs/careers.php
• https://www.ametsoc.org/index.cfm/ams/education-careers/careers/career-guides-tools/meteorology-fields/
• https://work.chron.com/list-weather-climate-careers-18217.html

 

 

Hats Off To Hats!

Hats can keep us warm and dry – and they can denote status as well as just be a fun thing to wear. Wrap your head around these online activities about hats. I’ll tip my hat to you.

CONNECT:

• Travel through 100 years of fashionable hats, for both him and her at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sqdTxWbtra4
• Who do so many religions have headwear? See the reasons at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=meZLctPgV88
• Hats off to the beret! Watch how they are made at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zQkYriD97Co

CREATE:

• Hats are fun to make as well as to wear: be a sailor, a bunny, and dragon – they are all possible as hats – and there are even more hat ideas. Just follow the directions at https://redtri.com/simple-and-fun-hat-crafts/slide/2
• And you thought paper plates were just for eating on… You can make hats for several holidays. See how at https://alphamom.com/family-fun/holidays/diy-holiday-hats-for-every-occasion/
• Let’s party with hat party games at https://www.kids-partycabin.com/kids-hat-party-games.html

CARE:

• Sunscreen doesn’t protect you completely from the sun – even better is wearing a hat. Find out why at https://www.sunsafetyforkids.org/sunprotection/hats/
• Why do you need to wear a hat when it’s cold outside? Harvard Medical School tells you at https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/cold-out-why-you-need-to-wear-a-hat
• Make a hat-themed game for a friend. Here are some great facts and pictures to use: https://kids.kiddle.co/Hat

CAREERS:

Use your head to make a career out of hats: in fashion design, manufacturing, sales, and event planning.

https://www.careerigniter.com/careers/milliner/

https://www.careershifters.org/success-stories/from-fashion-to-millinery

https://blog.printsome.com/best-event-planning-jobs/

And many jobs require hats: firemen, police, cowboys, cooks, athletics – what are some other jobs where you need to where a hat?

Wow! Wind!

What’s lighter than a feather but can destroy cities? The wind! Explore the power of wind in these online activities.

CONNECT:

• Watch Bill Nye explain what causes wind: at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uBqohRu2RRk
• Speak like a sailor about wind – and find out other fun facts about this phenomenon at http://www.weatherforkids.org/wind.html
• Did you know that there are different kinds of winds, some of which are local such as a Chinook, Santa Ana, Gibli or even Chili? Find out these cool wind terms at http://www.yourarticlelibrary.com/notes/keynotes-on-5-different-types-of-wind/12625
• Winds occur on the sun as well; see solar winds at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JGLRdAPPnMI
     

CREATE:

• Create a game based on these wind questions and answers: https://www.weatherwizkids.com/weather-wind.htm
• Try this riddles about wind with your family and friends: https://www.riddlewot.com/easy-riddles/wind
• Make and fly your own kite by following this video’s directions: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f0FeNdB2GDY
• Investigate the wind with these science experiments: https://www-tc.pbs.org/parents/curiousgeorge/activities/pdf/CGDG_04_science.pdf

CARE:

• Explore ways to conserve wind energy at https://sciencing.com/ways-to-conserve-wind-energy-12286219.html
• Learn how windmills work and make your own at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XgCHxMXkljQ
• Make a woodwind instrument to entertain your friends; choose from the videos found at https://diy.org/skills/instrumentmaker/challenges/11/make-a-woodwind
• Practice strong wind safety by following these recommendations: https://www.weather.gov/safety/wind-ww

CAREERS:

Does the idea of a job about wind blow you away? Set your wind sails with these career ideas: meteorologist, engineer, manufacturer, emergency preparedness personnel, energy project manager, insurer. It’s not a lot of hot air!

https://www.energy.gov/science-innovation/energy-sources/renewable-energy/wind

https://www.awea.org/

https://collegegrad.com/careers/wind-turbine-technicians

https://www.environmentalscience.org/career/meteorologist