Recording Music

 

How do you make music immortal? Record it. People have been recording music for thousands of years, and technology has greatly expanded the ways that music can be recorded. Find out with these online activities.

 

CONNECT:

• The first way that music was recorded was by writing it down: notation. See the history at https://kids.kiddle.co/Musical_notation
• Read about the history of recording technology at https://kids.britannica.com/students/article/sound-recording/273007
• Watch how to record a song at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jexlyS0QG-o

 

CREATE:

• See how to read sheet music at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ybQ8nWNVZRo
• Compose your own music using https://www.classicsforkids.com/games/compose_your_own_music.php
• Try one of these apps to create your own music: https://www.cbc.ca/parents/learning/view/8-music-making-apps-for-kids

 

CARE:

• Here are tips to help take care of music CDs and DVDs: https://www.framedestination.com/cd-dvd-storage-archiving
• Find out how making music can help students cope with trauma at https://www.framedestination.com/cd-dvd-storage-archiving
• For parents: Music can help children feel better; read the benefits at https://www.zerotothree.org/resources/1514-beyond-twinkle-twinkle-using-music-with-infants-and-toddlers and https://www.healthychildren.org/English/healthy-living/emotional-wellness/Pages/Music-and-Mood.aspx

 

CAREERS:

Want to record music for a living? Here are some leads.

• https://work.chron.com/types-jobs-can-degree-recording-arts-3318.html
• https://www.careerexplorer.com/careers/music-producer/how-to-become/
• https://wiki.kidzsearch.com/wiki/Audio_engineer

By the way, the music industry is hard to get into as a child so here’s some advice: https://www.thebalancecareers.com/how-can-i-help-my-child-break-into-the-music-business-2460288

 

 

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Lucky Charms

 

Lucky Charms is more than a cereal. Most cultures have some kind of lucky charm: for the four-leaf clover to evil-eye symbols. Find some good luck as you explore the following activities. You’ll be charmed!

 

CONNECT:

• Many cultures have charms against the Evil Eye. Indeed, about 40% of the world believe in that symbol.  Read about its history and use around the world at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evil_eye
• Another lucky charm found throughout the Mediterranean and the Middle East looks like a hand: hamsa. Watch this video of many artistic ways to create hamsas: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vKob1IFyzYE  Try making one yourself.
• You may have seen waving cat statues in East Asian restaurants. Discover their history – and luck – at https://www.catster.com/lifestyle/maneki-neko-fortune-cat-5-interesting-facts

 

CREATE:

• Create a welcoming sign, inspired by the tradition of hex signs in Pennsylvania Dutch communities: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t83ELNEN2DY
• Make your own lucky Egyptian amulet by following the directions at https://www.kiwico.com/diy/art-creativity/quick-easy-crafts/egyptian-amulet
• Make a fun spinning four-leaf clover by following this step-by-step video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WXpOp95KiH0

 

CARE:

• Can talismans help your health? Here’s what doctors discovered: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10804902/
• You might bring good luck to your home by hanging up a horse shoe; here’s why: https://www.dailysabah.com/life/2019/04/15/superstitions-busted-hanging-a-horseshoe-for-good-luck
• Thai taxi drivers may have amulets for safety’s sake; read their story at https://www.thephuketnews.com/culture-thai-taxi-talismans-good-karma-protective-amulets-and-road-safety-in-thailand-59032.php

 

CAREERS:

Want a charmed life? These days we usually think of charms and jewelry. Here are some types for that kind of career. You could get lucky.

• https://www.jewelers.org/ja/careers-education/jewelry-careers-guide
• https://www.ganoksin.com/article/on-jewellery-career-options/

 OR you could study people’s beliefs in, and use of, lucky charms as an anthropologist or historian:

• https://www.americananthro.org/AdvanceYourCareer/Content.aspx?ItemNumber=1783
• https://www.geteducated.com/careers/anthropology-jobs/

May Rainforests Reign

 

Rainforests may seem exotic – but they are also very down-to-earth. And they are vital for the earth. Explore rainforests around the world with these online activities.

 

CONNECT:

• See how rainforests are layered – and the living things who grow within each layer at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KMdD6TTDZ_
• Rainforests aren’t just in the hot tropics; they can be in temperate areas too; find out about their variety at https://www.kidcyber.com.au/temperate-rainforest
• Choose your favorite rainforest animal at https://www.rainforestanimals.net/

 

CREATE:

• How much do you know about rainforests and the animals that live there? Take this quiz and find out at https://animalcorner.org/rainforest-quiz/
• Try 13 activities about the wild and wonderful rainforest at https://www.weareteachers.com/rainforest-activities/
• Bring the rainforest home with these 7 everyday foods that come from the rainforest: https://blog.therainforestsite.greatergood.com/cs-rainforest-foods/

 

CARE:

• See 10 easy ways kids can help save rainforests at https://www.rainforest-alliance.org/articles/10-ways-kids-can-save-the-rainforest
• Adopt a rainforest tree at https://www.kidssavingtherainforest.org/
• Learn how to become a junior rainforest ranger at https://blog.therainforestsite.greatergood.com/cs-kids-rainforest/

 

CAREERS:

• How are a career in a tropical rainforest? See this slideshow about the possibilities: https://prezi.com/itq3ruw-xbw8/life-in-tropical-rainforests-living-working-and-travel/
• Read how you can become a rainforest research scientist at https://crees-manu.org/career-change-banking-published-scientist/

Amazing Asian Americans

 

May is Asian-Pacific Islander Heritage month, celebrating Asian and Pacific Islanders in the U.S. These peoples have contributed significantly: through inventions, fashion, medicine, food, technology, entertainment, architecture.  The list goes on and on. Discover more about these varied Americans through the activities below.

 

CONNECT:

• Check out these famous firsts by Asian Americans: https://www.infoplease.com/history/apa-heritage/famous-firsts-by-asian-americans
• AND here are 16 Asian American heroes kids should know about: https://redtri.com/asian-american-historical-figures/slide/1
• The first record settlement of Filipinos in American predates the American Revolution. Trace Asian American history’s timeline at http://www.cetel.org/timeline.html
• Asian Americans have encountered much prejudice in the United States, one of the worst being Japanese American confinement during World War II. Manzanar National History Site was once one of ten camps where Japanese American citizens and resident Japanese were incarcerated. Explore their stories at https://www.nps.gov/manz/index.htm

 

CREATE:

• Celebrate the rich history and culture of the generations of Asian and Pacific Islanders who have contributed to America’s diversity and success through 12 activities at https://www2.ed.gov/free/features/asian-pacific-heritage.html
• Enjoy some of these traditional Chinese games with your family: https://www.activityvillage.co.uk/traditional-chinese-games
• See lunches that Asian American kids brought to school: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p0QycccIKLs
• Now here are tips to make Asian food kid friendly: https://thegingeredwhisk.com/category/cuisine/asian/

 

CARE:

• Watch how Netflix shows what Asian American families love about their culture at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XIN6TX3Zc90
• Explore how 50+ Hawaiian practitioners care about their culture at https://smithsonianapa.org/aekai/.
• For parents: Watch this video about explaining hate crimes to children: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8vpdGqbnPj8. CNN also provides tips on ways to support kids  during this time of anti-Asian American hate: https://www.cnn.com/2021/03/18/health/parents-support-kids-asian-hate-crime-wellness/index.html

 

CAREERS:

You’ll find Asian Americans in all walks of life and all kinds of careers. Maybe you’d like a career that links you to Asia. You might become a teacher, an historian, an interpreter, an international business expert, a foreign service officer, a travel agent, a writer, and more. Check out some of the possibilities here.

• https://files.upei.ca/careerservices/careers_asianstudies
• https://career.ku.edu/ealc

 

Nature's Geometry

 

When you think of math, does nature come to mind? Think of all the shapes you find in nature – and maybe some you don’t find. Explore new dimensions of math by trying these activities about geometry in nature.

 

CONNECT:

• Start your tour of geometry in nature by watching this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4_q1z4k0o8A
• Why are bee honeycombs hexagonal (6-sided)? Find out at https://www.npr.org/sections/krulwich/2013/05/13/183704091/what-is-it-about-bees-and-hexagons
• Spirals are common shapes in nature – and they are mathematical in nature (pun intended). Find out how nature creates the Fibonacci sequence at http://www.montessori-blog.org/2017/08/29/geometry-in-nature-the-fibonacci-sequence/
• Explore the geometry of minerals at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rkNM6666hG4,  and for teens see https://www.ted.com/talks/graham_baird_how_do_crystals_work/transcript?language=en

 

CREATE:

• Use this guide to find geometry for your next nature walk – even in the city: https://medium.com/purple-museum/finding-geometry-in-nature-797523737555
• Have fun in this geometry playground: http://annex.exploratorium.edu/geometryplayground/resources.php
• Create hexagonal paper snowflakes by following this video’s directions: http://youtube.com/watch?v=a3mpmly9b2o
• Can you make a cubic bubble? See how at https://www.rookieparenting.com/make-a-square-bubble/

 

CARE:

• Views of nature impact our mind, our feelings. See how biomorphic forms and patterns influence us at https://blog.interface.com/geometry-in-design/
• See how architects use geometry in landscaping, which helps enjoy nature’s geometry: https://land8.com/geometry-brings-out-the-best-in-landscape-architecture-at-the-earthly-pond-service-center/
• You can help others by uploading photos of your observations of geometry in nature to share on https://www.projectnoah.org/missions/37000089

 

CAREERS:

What jobs link nature and math? The most obvious career is photographer. But what about scientists, jewelers and landscapers? Check out the possibilities below. The benefits may be incalculable!

• http://passyworldofmathematics.com/jobs-with-geometry/
• http://theatlantic.com/education/archive/2014/10/10-creative-careers-that-use-science-and-math/382160/
• https://www.cooperhewitt.org/2019/12/11/the-geometry-of-nature/
• https://land8.com/wurth-la-rioja-museum-gardens-how-to-merge-geometry-with-nature/

Super Snakes

 

St. Patrick owes some of his fame to snakes. These reptiles play important roles in the environment – and they are famous in mythology too. Don’t let snakes throw you a curve. Instead, seek out snake information by exploring these online activities. (And at the end of this list, get the real story about snakes in Ireland).

 

CONNECT:

• ·         Watch snakes in action at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BOHFt15eVD4
• ·         There are more than 3000 species of snakes, and live almost everywhere but a few islands. Find out more interesting facts and see dozens of videos about snakes at https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/reptiles/facts/snakes-1
• ·         All through history snakes have been both good and evil.  Here are some historic examples: https://www.kidzone.ws/lw/snakes/facts13.htm

 

CREATE:

• ·         Discover how snakes move at https://kidzone.ws/lw/snakes/facts04.htm. Then try moving like a snake.
• ·         Make some of these kid-friendly snake crafts: https://theeducatorsspinonit.com/snake-craft-for-kids/
• ·         Try these fun snaky activities: https://www.childrens-museum.org/blog/2020/03/game-pattern-snake-hide-and-seek

 

CARE:

• ·         Snakes as pets? Here are tips for getting a family-friendly snake: https://pethelpful.com/reptiles-amphibians/Best-Pet-Snake-Species-For-Children-Of-Any-Age
• ·         Snakes in lots of different habitats. So how do you avoid getting bitten by them – or how to treat a snake bite? Forest rangers have good advice for you at https://www.fs.usda.gov/visit/know-before-you-go/snakes
• ·         Find out why we should save snakes – and how you can help at https://www.childrens-museum.org/blog/2020/03/game-pattern-snake-hide-and-seek and http://savethesnakes.org

 

CAREERS:

Are you tempted to pursue a career in snakes?

• ·         You might be amazed at the number of possibilities; over 90 careers for reptiles, including snakes, are listed at https://1zootree.weebly.com/careers-reptiles.html
• ·         For instance, how about becoming a snake milker? https://www.jobmonkey.com/uniquejobs/snake-milker/
• ·         Get more in-depth information at https://www.reptilesmagazine.com/working-with-reptiles/
• ·         Or read an interview with a herpetologist (the study of amphibians and reptiles) at https://jobshadow.com/interview-with-a-herpetologist/

 

Read the real story of snakes in Ireland at https://www.reptilesmagazine.com/did-st-patrick-really-banish-snakes-from-ireland/

 

 

MARvelous MARS

 

For centuries, people have imagined what Mars was like.  The space vehicle Perseverance landed on the planet Mars February 18, 2021. Maybe you will help colonize Mars.  In the meantime, explore Mars in the following activities. May they raise your eyes to the skies.

 

CONNECT:

• NASA is a great launching pad to learn about Mars: https://spaceplace.nasa.gov/all-about-mars/en/
• Do Martians exist? Watch the possibilities at https://www.esa.int/kids/en/Multimedia/Paxi_animations/English/Do_Martians_exist
• See how Mars was viewed in popular culture at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aPcRPqvdEog
• Discover how people might colonize Mars at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i5D8e71c75U

 

CREATE:

• Explore life on Mars through this variety of activities: https://www.lpi.usra.edu/education/explore/LifeOnMars/
• Ready Jet Go with these games about Mars: https://pbskids.org/learn/readyjetgo/
• Make a paper Mars helicopter by following the directions at https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/edu/learn/project/make-a-paper-mars-helicopter/
• Join the Mission to Mars student challenge at https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/edu/mission-to-mars-student-challenge/#education-plan.all.week1

 

CARE:

• How much would you weigh on Mars? Calculate your weight – or any other object – on Mars using this online calculator: http://www.learningaboutelectronics.com/Articles/Weight-on-mars-conversion-calculator.php
• Read about the student-based Mars Metropolis Project at https://www.vivifystem.com/blog/2019/4/30/design-a-colony-on-mars-stem-project. Maybe your school can follow their lead.
• Help scientists imagine Mars by joining the Imagine Mars Project at https://mars.nasa.gov/imagine/leaders/getting_started/The_Imagine_Mars_Project.pdf
• Are you looking for the ultimate project-based STEM challenge? Do you need an engineering or science fair project or summer STEM showcase? Try designing a Mars colony, as detailed at https://www.vivifystem.com/blog/2019/4/30/design-a-colony-on-mars-stem-project

 

CAREERS:

This is a universe of space careers. Explore the opportunities; the sky is NOT the limit.

• https://www.bls.gov/careeroutlook/2016/article/careers-in-space.htm
• https://www.nasa.gov/audience/forstudents/careers/index.html
• https://www.space-careers.com/
• https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2019/07/22/six-space-jobs-you-can-train-for/1638131001/