Iconic Symbols

 Nowadays we tend to think of icons as those tiny little pictures on the computer or phone, but icons have a long history – and have been associated with other concepts than technology. See the possibilities with these online activities. It could be an iconic experience.

CONNECT:

• Legos, the Beatles, and tea are all cultural icons. Find out why at https://kids.kiddle.co/Cultural_icon
• Read about computer icons and how are they used at https://wiki.kidzsearch.com/wiki/Computer_icon
• Watch the background about Orthodox religious icons at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8gvrkF3XDBk 

CREATE:

• Get fun ideas about drawing customized social media icons at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iieii87lCIM
• Symbols can be icons, such as United States symbols. Test your memory with the U.S. symbols match game at https://matchthememory.com/kimbrowning
• Can you guess these logs in 3 seconds? Try it as a family at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6PNX8MY9lZw

CARE:

• What does the wheelchair symbol actually mean? Watch at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ppNYZq-hYTw
• Have you seen food safety icons? Check them out at https://www.foodprotection.org/resources/food-safety-icons/
• Health Icons is a volunteer effort to create a ‘global good’ for health projects all over the world. These icons are available in the public domain for use in any type of project. https://healthicons.org/about

CAREERS:

Dreaming about an iconic career? You could be a graphic designer, a sign maker, a religious leader, or an international communicator.

• (Almost) everything you need about icons in under 3 minutes at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lCXFJEK_lVk
• https://usajobs.github.io/design-system/icons/
• https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/finding-a-job/graphic-design-jobs

 

Count on Carbon

What do coal and diamonds have in common? They are both carbon! Dig into this fundamental element with these online activities.

CONNECT:

• Get the facts about carbon at https://easyscienceforkids.com/uses-of-carbon-video-for-kids/
• Watch the carbon cycle – and why it is so important at https://youtu.be/p3R-dB9K4ss
• See carbon chemistry at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gipyujuKMf4

CREATE:

• Draw with carbon in the form at charcoal at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UsK2KQoxa-U
• Manage carbon in your garden with the guidance of https://kidsgardening.org/resources/digging-deeper-carbon-cycle-and-carbon-sequestration/
• Experiment with carbon dioxide at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7JcEQnDHLi4

CARE:

• Carbon and oxygen together can be healthy or deadly. Discover the impact of carbon monoxide on your body at https://www.funkidslive.com/learn/safety-seymour/effects-carbon-monoxide-can-have-on-our-bodies-find-out-with-safety-seymour/
• What is a carbon footprint, and how do you reduce it? Find out at https://www.gokid.mobi/activities-for-kids-to-reduce-carbon-footprint/
• Check out ways to reduce carbon emissions at https://8billiontrees.com/carbon-offsets-credits/carbon-ecological-footprint-calculators/kids/

CAREERS:

Do you see the many career facets of carbon? Scientist, manufacturer, jeweler, artist, health care professional, chef, geologist, policy maker? Here is a glimpse of job opportunities.

• https://www.ziprecruiter.com/t/Most-Popular-Types-Of-Carbon-Emissions-Jobs
• Pencil manufacturing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qqs3fxfmWr4
• How to cut a diamond: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8lk8p0re8Eg
• Carbon projects: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yt5ySWAWWWw

Adding Ads to Your Life

 

You are surrounded by advertisement every day: on TV, in publications, on the radio, on billboards, and online. You might understand what is being communication, but do you know what is NOT stated? ADd to knowledge about ads with these activities.

 

CONNECT:

• Watch the evolution of advertisements in 60 seconds at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7d3VAYGnXjY
• Read about the history of ads targeted to children at https://exhibits.library.duke.edu/exhibits/show/childrenads/intro
• See how food commercials are made at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d7iSFl5cp84
• What are some advertising techniques related to business and economics? See Christmas examples at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IhPuRSiqvgM

 

CREATE:

• Enjoy this great advertising game and learn how to successfully create attractive and informative brochures and leaflets: https://www.funenglishgames.com/writinggames/advertising.html
• Targeting middle schoolers: analyze these ads: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qQTrTiFbdSI. What do you see? What do you hear? is the message? How does the ad affect you – why? What techniques do they use for impact you?
• Watch how to make an advertisement at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V7KJmZSrOao

 

CARE:

• Become more aware about online advisements by watching  this kid-centric video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zQptrlOFMDw
• As a family, become ad smart by practicing these tips: https://www.commonsensemedia.org/articles/how-kids-can-resist-advertising-and-be-smart-consumers
• Watch how advertising rewires kids’ brains at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hGN1ZEABk_Y

 

CAREERS:

Want to produce advertisements as much as consume them? Then maybe advertising is the field for you! Know that there are many aspects of advertising: marketing, writing, filming and photographing, layout, selling, budgeting, personnel. May I sell you on the advertising industry?

• https://advertisingindustry.careers/
• https://www.bls.gov/ooh/management/advertising-promotions-and-marketing-managers.htm
• How to get started in advertising: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X_Yxnwmp_No

 

Potatoes are Hot!

 The potato is a cuisine mainstay of many cultures, impacting those cultures more over the centuries. Dig into these activities to chew on the facts about this famous vegetable.

 

CONNECT:

• Did you know that potatoes were the first vegetable grown in space? Discover this fact and 49 more potato facts at https://facts.net/potato-facts/
• Watch history through the eyes of the potato at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xROmDsULcLE
• See the potato king who grows 400 different kinds of potatoes: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p9qWJ89m-hY

 

CREATE:

• Play with your food: here are 10 games that use potatoes: https://tinybeans.com/play-with-your-food-10-games-that-use-potatoes/
• Paint with potatoes by following the directions at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RlTfDtTesKY
• Try experimenting with potatoes at https://sciencing.com/fun-science-experiments-potatoes-8216496.html

 

CARE:

• Try these healthy, kid-friendly potato recipes: https://mana.md/healthy-kid-friendly-potatoes/
• Grow your own potato; see how at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5spUhmGneGw
• Learn how to buy and handle potatoes at https://www.usfoods.com/great-food/great-food-resources/produce-resources/potato-resources.html

 

CAREERS:

Are you eye-ing a potato career? Keep your eye out for the possibilities: as a farmer, cook, scientist, or even exporter.

• Watch how an Australian potato farm operates at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fmuueelyQww
• https://innovature.com/article/meet-natalie-kaiser-scientist-harnessing-power-potatoes-through-plant-breeding-innovation
• https://www.nationalpotatocouncil.org/benefits-of-potatoes/potato-economics-jobs/

No Kidding on April Fools

 

April Fools' Day has a long history. No kidding! There are lots of fun with these activities.

CONNECT:

• Check out the top 10 facts about April Fools' Day at https://www.funkidslive.com/learn/top-10-facts/top-10-facts-about-april-fools-day/
• Watch historical April Fools' Day pranks around the world at https://www.natgeokids.com/uk/discover/history/general-history/april-fools-pranks/
• There's more than one history of April Fools' Day. Read versions at https://greenlight.com/learning-center/fun-facts/april-fools-day

CREATE:

• Play these safe pranks on April Fools' Day: https://www.natgeokids.com/uk/discover/history/general-history/april-fools-pranks/
• And here some more kid-friendly April Fools' Day pranks to play: https://www.kindercare.com/content-hub/articles/2017/march/10-hilarious-april-fools-jokes-kids-will-love
• And here are 26 more harmless April Fools' pranks for family and friends: https://www.today.com/life/holidays/april-fools-pranks-rcna75932

CARE:

• For parents: At what age do kids understand pranks? Read pediatricians' answer at https://pediatricassociates.com/community/at-what-age-can-kids-understand-pranks/
• For parents: Pranks and other foolish behavior can get out of hand. Find out how to talk with your children about such consequential actions at https://www.webmd.com/parenting/features/why-your-child-acts-that-way
• For parents: Not all pranks are bad; read this advice on teaching your children how to respond to pranks: https://www.languageoflistening.com/pranks-arent-all-bad/

CAREERS:

It's probably not a good idea to do pranks for a living, but you CAN do magic tricks as a job. You might also become a psychologist to help people cope with pranks.

• A magician's life: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E010Ne2ST-I
• A child psychologist's life: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wIM2WCeWaeY

Blood is Good

 

We owe our lives to blood, even if sometimes we don’t like to look at it. Get an inside view about blood by delving into these online activities.

 

CONNECT:

• Get the facts about blood at https://kidshealth.org/en/kids/blood.html.  (A teen version is available at https://kidshealth.org/en/teens/blood.html#:~:text=Blood%20brings%20oxygen%20and%20nutrients,carries%20hormones%20around%20the%20body.
• What’s the use of blood? Watch the answer at https://www.pbs.org/video/blood-video-short-plzfgf/
• Not all blood is red. Find out about the rainbow colors of animal blood at https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/article/animal-blood-comes-in-a-rainbow-of-colors?loggedin=true&rnd=1710954751879

 

 

CREATE:

• Experiment with these science activities about blood: https://www.science-sparks.com/science-activities-about-blood/
• Try these kid-friendly hands-on circulatory system activities (outside of the real circulatory system): https://www.weareteachers.com/circulatory-system-activities/
• You too can make (a model of) blood by following the directions at https://letsgolivescience.com/activity/how-to-make-blood/

 

CARE:

• Find out how easy it is to donate blood at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JY5fPvW_YUQ
• Watch what happens to blook after it is donated at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oZwtv9IJH6A
• See how a blood transfusion is done for kids: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bDbd2y0oYM4
• Bonus: You might have an accident that results in a blood stain on your clothes. Here’s how to remove blood stains: https://thefabricofourlives.com/care-tips/stain-removal/blood-stains

 

CAREERS:

You don’t have to be a vampire to think about a career related to blood. Obviously, there are lots of options in the medical and health professions.  You can also go into the dry-cleaning or insurance business.  

• https://thefabricofourlives.com/care-tips/stain-removal/blood-stains
• Blood centers career video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MVVGilvcAvk

 

A tisket, a tasket, let's talk about a basket

 

We see baskets at home, at school, in public places. They are often a big part of Easter. How old are baskets? How have they been used? These questions weave a fun story that you can untangle by exploring these online activities.

CONNECT:

• Get the facts about baskets at https://kids.kiddle.co/Basket
• Baskets are almost 10,000 years old! Explore their history at https://www.haaretz.com/archaeology/2023-09-27/ty-article/earliest-baskets-in-europe-from-almost-10-000-years-ago-found-in-spanish-cave/0000018a-d71f-d476-abcf-f7ff5b860000
• Compare baskets from around the world at http://blog.projectbly.com/basket-case-baskets-from-around-the-world/

CREATE:

• Start with a couple of easy baskets to make for Easter – or any time – at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tz1ccR4A_Pk
• Have fun with a laundry basket at https://www.first5california.com/en-us/activities/basket-of-fun-toddler/#:~:text=Who%20knew%20a%20simple%20basket%20could%20be%20so%20much%20fun%3F&text=Place%20an%20empty%20laundry%20basket,them%20out%20one%20by%20one.
• Create and use a learning basket at https://www.freeandunfettered.com/montessori-inspired-learning-basket-activities-for-6-year-olds/

CARE:

• Make a morning basket for your family and friends at https://simplyfun.com/blogs/simplyfun-blog/fun-summer-morning-basket-ideas-for-kids
• Gain respect for the Cherokee when you try your hand at native American basket weaving at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rt3Zw7WzHCs
• See an example of basket giving at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ozam1uC0rTg. Maybe your friends can adapt this idea.

CAREERS:

Basket weaving techniques have been handed down through generations, and you can still leran the craft and even make a career of it. Here are a couple of examples.

• Watch how African American history has informed basket weaving at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D8tEbC1nC0E
• See the genius of a traditional basket weaver at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dJOuuoWay-0

And even if you can't make a basket, you can make a career from studying them as an archeologist, selling them, and using them as an interior decorator and gift packager – including for Easter!

OR you can make a basket as a basketball player ;-)