How Do You Measure Up?

 When you think of measurement, do you think of a ruler? Or maybe a kitchen measuring cup? Or the bathroom scales? How do those measurements connect with each other? Even a ruler may have two different scales. Measurement is more complex than you think – it can even be political (such as measuring votes). Measure your learning by exploring the following activities.

 CONNECT:

• Why is it important to measure? How do we do it, and what are the units? Find out the answers at  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zsv7bYSrzMU
• Watch how your body and other concrete items led to metric and standard measurement systems at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DQPQ_q59xyw
• What are some different ways to measure things? Watch the possibilities at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JCmqVAYujv4
• Watch the Measurement League use their incredible powers of measure to perform amazing feats of science and engineering at https://www.nist.gov/kids

CREATE:

• Solve this video mystery using measurement at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7omxmCDpW7U
• Play these measurement games online: https://pbskids.org/games/measurement
• Your house is filled with things to measure. Discover the fun at https://kidadl.com/articles/measurement-activities-for-kids
• Measurement can be delicious! See how with these cooking activities at https://www.landolakes.com/expert-advice/kids-in-the-kitchen-measuring-techniques/

 

CARE:

• Find out more about your body by measuring it with string: https://igamemom.com/fun-body-measurement-activities-with-a-piece-of-string/
• Learn how to read food labels, which measure nutritional information, at https://www.fda.gov/food/new-nutrition-facts-label/read-label-youth-outreach-materials
• Watch how water quality is measured at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=94YcjbYBchc
• Discover how measurement helps to level the sports playing field at https://www.nist.gov/pml/weights-and-measures/metric-sports

 

CAREERS:

Think of a job that doesn’t include measurement. It’s hard, isn’t it. Sciences, service, education, business, construction, arts, entertainment, politics, sports all use measurement. There’s even an Instrument Society of America that focuses on careers based on measurement: https://www.aip.org/jobs/profiles/careers-instrumentation-measurement.

https://vpm.org/articles/3788/math-and-measurement-fair-prepares-students-for-future-careers

 

Stand Up for Statues

 

Statues memorialize important people and animals: not only famous ones but also unknown ones who made a difference in history. Discover the importance of statues in the following activities.

 

CONNECT:

• Get the facts about the most famous statue in the US that greets newcomers: The Statue of Liberty: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=usHRc7G0gVo
• Another famous American statue is the Oscar; see how it is made at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HNPPHBZjUXI
• Do you wonder about Egyptian statues? Dig up the facts about them and other Egyptian sculptures at https://www.historyforkids.net/egyptian-sculpture.html
• Watch how a marble statue is made at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vR8ZiT9JTcg
• There are lots of horse statues in Washington, DC: Why? Get the answer – and find out some myths -- at https://www.washingtonian.com/2008/10/02/washingtoniana-whats-up-with-those-horse-statues/
• See 23 unbelievable statues and other sculptures at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jh6QiH9ZVSk

 

CREATE:

• Statues can be made with different kinds of materials; experiment with some and even create your own Statue of Liberty at https://www.ehow.com/list_6504456_activities-kids-build-statue-liberty.html
• Play Statues by following the directions at https://www.mainstages.com/blog/statues/
• Draw Easter Island Moai statues; see how to do that at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D5Kr-1JY3qE – and watch the story of those statues at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c4U5Y7MSAJc
• Want a fun hobby? Photograph action statue figures; watch how a professional does it at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PZlOnW8ovjc

 

CARE:

• Statues wear down by weather and use. See how they can be preserved at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2BFK3pas-J4
• Learn how to care for your own toy statues and action figures at https://www.thesprucecrafts.com/care-for-action-figure-collection-17920
• Does your family have a plaster statue? See how to waterproof them at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2BFK3pas-J4

 

CAREERS:

Don’t just stand there; statues can lead you to a great career: studying them, making them, selling them, displaying them, preserving them – or be a living status. See some possibilities here.

• https://www.theartcareerproject.com/careers/sculpture/
• https://work.chron.com/careers-art-majors-7336.html
• https://study.com/articles/Sculpture_Artist_Information_for_Sculpture_Art_Students_Starting_a_Career_in_Sculpting.html
• https://careerplanet.co.za/careers-listing/living-statue/

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Don’t Say Goodbye to Animals and Plants Yet

 

There are between 7 and 10 MILLION species on earth, but up to a third are threatened with extinction. Let’s try to explore these animals and plants before they become extinct – and try to help them thrive.

 

CONNECT:

• Learn top 10 facts about endangered species: https://www.theschoolrun.com/homework-help/conservation-and-endangered-species
• This century has been called the 6^th age of extinction. Watch out why at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kaKTGJ1UAGM
• Why do animals become endangered? Several answers are given at https://kidsdiscover.com/spotlight/endangered-species/
• Plants are endangered too; see some examples at https://www.pbs.org/video/endangered-species-endangered-plants-vmc1fj/

 

CREATE:

• Give a hand to endangered animals at https://www.greenkidcrafts.com/endangered-animal-handprint-craft/
• Here are 13 activities for kids to learn about endangered species: https://www.naturespath.com/en-us/blog/13-activities-kids-learn-endangered-animals/
• Get arty with these project ideas about endangered species: http://www.savingendangeredspecies.org/art-and-craft-activities.html

 

CARE:

• See some of most endangered animals – and what you can do to save them at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M1IDQSeJ1cs
• Here are 9 ways you can help threatened species: http://www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/threatened/publications/factsheet-green-kids-guide-threatened-species-9-ways
• Worldwildlife.org suggests several ways that you can make a big difference in helping endangered species: https://www.worldwildlife.org/how-to-help

 

CAREERS:

There’s no danger that a job involving endangered species will go extinct. Check out some of the lively career possibilities.

• https://wildlife.org/next-generation/career-development/careers/
• https://www.trade-schools.net/articles/wildlife-jobs
• https://www.environmentalscience.org/career/endangered-species-biologist

What makes intelligence artificial?

 Can only humans have intelligence? What about pets? What about ants? So can only living things have intelligence? We may have to rethink this whole idea – which takes lots of intelligence. The following articles may make you more intelligent.

 

CONNECT:

• Get started by watching this short video that defines artificial intelligence (AI): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HdIppwUJ0f8
• Read a kid-friendly through introduction to artificial intelligence at https://kids.kiddle.co/Artificial_intelligence
• Imagine yourself in this Chinese classroom: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JMLsHI8aV0g. How would you feel?

 

CREATE:

• No need for a computer for these unplugged activities to experience AI: https://www.iste.org/explore/Computer-Science/3-unplugged-activities-for-teaching-about-AI
• Semi-conductor allows you to manage a real orchestra just like a real-life conductor. All one has to do is look at the camera of the mobile device and move his hands! The Semi-conductor can be found at https://tinyurl.com/AIEx-SemiConductor
• How do animals show their intelligence? Try this animal smarts challenge at http://www.kidsciencechallenge.com/year-four/as.php

 

CARE:

• Meet the AI robots helping take care of elderly patients: https://time.com/5660046/robots-elderly-care/
• Can AI help children? So children should be part of that discussion. See that UNICEF is doing at  https://www.unicef.org/globalinsight/featured-projects/ai-children
• Meet Moxie, social robot designed for children. https://youtu.be/LQlNtxurleo Would you like Moxie?

 

CAREERS:

AI has a great future – and so could you with an AI career. Here are some of the possibilities.

• https://www.cnbc.com/2021/06/01/10-of-the-most-in-demand-ai-jobs-that-pay-at-least-95000.html
• https://builtin.com/artificial-intelligence/career-in-artificial-intelligence
• https://www.computersciencedegreehub.com/faq/skills-job-artificial-intelligence/

Paralympics Proud

 

There is a lot of news about the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games, but do you know that the world Paralympic Games is also happening now in Tokyo? Get to know about these great athletes too.

 

CONNECT:

• Watch what is Paralympics sport? This video has an Australian focus: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eRrRf2yvAaA  And this video is in Spanish: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DZKfthh59kc&list=PLaSegn4AdJAz5NJH6CLfUkQe8BlA5zbYd
• Get the details about the Tokyo Paralympic Games at https://education.tokyo2020.org/en/games/about/paralympic-games/
• Did you know that physicist Stephen Hawking spoke at the opening ceremony of the 1992 Paralympic Games? Discover the history of the Paralympic Games at https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/medal-quest/past-games/

 

CREATE:

• Do this kids’ WebQuest about mobility and athletics at https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/kids/mobility.html
• Meet some Paralympians and their inspiring stories at https://www.paralympic.org.au/athletes/
• Recreate a Paralympic-inspired sports event at home, using these ideas: https://www.paralympicheritage.org.uk/Handlers/Download.ashx?IDMF=cbadfda3-0e5a-40b4-8bed-fbed22aee751

 

CARE:

• Share this fairy tale about William the One Winged Dragon and the Castle Football World Championships at https://www.paralympic.org/sites/default/files/document/120305113307821_Card_8_A_Fairy_Tale.pdf
• Find out how to volunteer in special needs sports programs at https://bethebestsport.org/how-to-volunteer-in-special-needs-sports-programs/
• Support Special Olympics Young Athletes at https://www.specialolympics.org/our-work/inclusive-health/young-athletes

 

CAREERS:

Paralympics combines two careers: sports and working with people with disabilities. Help others be all that they can be! You might be helping at one of the biggest sports events in the world!

• https://www.paralympic.org/careers and https://www.paralympic.org/athlete-careers
• https://www.specialolympics.org/about/careers
• https://www.allaboutcareers.com/career-path/paralympics-disability-sport/

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/

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Are you trying to trick me?

 

The television series “Loki” focuses on a magical trickster. He comes from a long line of tricksters in folk tales. You may learn a trick or two by exploring the following activities.

 

CONNECT:

• What has been so special about tricksters? Watch and see at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jELsxA28CgM
• Get kid-friendly facts about Loki at https://kids.kiddle.co/Loki

• Native Americans have DOZENS of tricksters from various tribes. Find out about them and read some of their stories at http://www.native-languages.org/trickster.htm
• Foxes hold a special place in Japanese culture, including as tricksters; watch some stories at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F2T2Q0NVRcM
• Tricksters are found in many cultures; sample them at https://kidworldcitizen.org/trickster-tales-around-world/

CREATE:

• Act out the trickster tale of the baby turtle, found at https://www.cbc.ca/kidscbc2/the-feed/have-you-ever-heard-a-trickster-tale
• Discover tricksters from different cultures and try a quiz about them at https://kevpass.weebly.com/quiz.html
• Extend your experience with Anansi the spider with these activities: https://classroom.synonym.com/activities-anansi-spider-12041731.html

 

CARE:

• Want to experience being a junior historian? Read this newsletter about coyote stories and do some of the activities: https://history.idaho.gov/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/coyote.pdf
• Write a trickster tale to amuse your friends by following these tips: https://amymacdonald.com/educators/writing-tip-trickster-tales-in-7-steps/
• Draw Lego Trickster for a friend who loves Legos (https://www.drawingtutorials101.com/how-to-draw-lego-trickster)  – or create your own idea of a trickster.

 

CAREERS:

It’s probably not wise to be a trickster at work – unless you’re a storyteller, or a magician. Or you could share information about tricksters as a historian, a teacher, or a filmmaker.

• https://www.themuse.com/advice/5-career-paths-for-people-who-love-telling-stories
• https://www.apu.edu/articles/i-love-telling-stories-what-majors-are-best-for-launching-storytelling-careers/
• https://www.ziprecruiter.com/Career/Magician/What-Is-How-to-Become