Get Spirited!

 

Halloween is a time when some folks call on the spirits. Spirits can mean several things, but these spirited online activities focus on things like souls and ghosts. Don’t get spirited away!

 

CONNECT:

• Are ghosts real? Watch the answer at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pw0K0Yfa29A&ab_channel=ColossalCranium
• Ghosts are usually defined as the spirit or soul of a dead animal that appears to be living. Read facts about them at https://kidpillar.com/ghost-facts-for-kids/
• Discover ghostly celebrations from around the world at https://hashtaglegend.com/5-famous-ghostly-celebrations-by-nations
• Who is the Holy Spirit (sometimes called the Holy Ghost)? Watch a Christian video about this spirit at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wYjT1_wnsXk

 

CREATE:

• B is for Boo! And preschool spooky fun. Get the details at https://thechirpingmoms.com/ghost-activities/
• Try some of these 14 easy ideas for kids to inspire the spirit of Halloween: https://columbiamom.com/14-easy-ideas-for-kids-to-inspire-the-spirit-of-halloween/
• Here are some activities to introduce children to spirituality: https://www.ulc.org/ulc-blog/fun-ideas-to-introduce-children-to-spirituality

 

CARE:

• What is fear? And how can kids deal with it? They can watch a video to help them: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2pxJoxqZyCs&ab_channel=SmileandLearn-English
• For parents: Read these tips for helping children deal with fear and worry: https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/anxiety.html#:~:text=Comfort%20your%20infant%2C%20toddler%2C%20or,These%20can%20cause%20fears
• Keep up your spirit and safety at Halloween with these pediatrician tips: https://www.healthychildren.org/English/safety-prevention/all-around/Pages/Halloween-Safety-Tips.aspx
• Spirit of Children brings fun and funding to patients and their families. Their online fall campaign is Spirit Halloween. Read what they do and how you can support Spirit Halloween at https://lovetotherescue.org/how-you-can-help/get-involved/become-a-corporate-partner/spirit-halloween

 

CAREERS:

Is there a ghost of a chance that spirits could lead to a career for you? Several religions include the concept of spirits so you might become a spiritual leader. Or maybe you like Halloween and similar celebrations. You could become an event planner, an interior decorator, an artist, a costumer, a chef, all to make such events successful. Check out some possibilities here.

• https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/finding-a-job/spiritual-careers
• https://www.careeraddict.com/halloween-jobs

 

 

Truth or Consequences

We are taught not to lie or mislead others. Yet lying, misleading, misinformation does happen, and it can have serious consequences. Get the truth about honesty and lying, misinformation and disinformation, as you do these online activities.

CONNECT:

• Watch these kid-friendly videos about honesty and lying: https://www.socialworkerstoolbox.com/videos-for-kids-on-honesty-and-lying/ There are also worksheets that accompany the videos.
• What is fake news? Watch how to identify them at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D0Cd9-eJ-No&ab_channel=SmileandLearn-English
• For preteens and up: Now is election time, and voters need to know the truth about the candidates. See examples of misinformation that can falsely influence voters at https://misinfodashboard.newslit.org/?utm_source=election-2024&utm_campaign=election-resource-bundle-cvc-oct15-24b&utm_medium=email&emci=0e37ec2f-238b-ef11-8473-0022483029fa&emdi=1137ec2f-238b-ef11-8473-0022483029fa&ceid=8384968

 

CREATE:

• Build up your honesty superpower with these 10 honesty activities for kids: https://mentalhealthcenterkids.com/blogs/articles/honesty-activities-for-kids
• Can you believe everything you read? Sometimes it is hard to know the truth. Follow these tips to spot fake news, and test your ability, at https://kids.nationalgeographic.com/magazine/article/fake-news
• Play these games to learn about fake news: https://teachingkidsnews.com/fakenews/

 

CARE:

• Watch how to be safe on social media at https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=9osg-yh6uA0&ab_channel=TwinklTeachingResources-UnitedStates
• For parents: here are tips for teaching kids at different ages about honesty: https://www.parents.com/toddlers-preschoolers/discipline/improper-behavior/fantastic-fibs/ and here are insights about fibbing as part of child development: https://houstonfamilymagazine.com/featured/lying-or-pretending-teaching-kids-to-tell-the-truth/
• For preteens and above: watch these 3 tips on how to deal with a lie: https://www.tiktok.com/@justaskjefferson/video/7341850295942548778?lang=en

 

CAREERS:

Are you a truth seeker? News reporting can be a good career for you, or you might consider becoming a teacher or a librarian. Get the truth about these careers at the following websites.

• https://kpcnotebook.scholastic.com/post/what-it-be-journalist
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZO02Z_l38VA&ab_channel=ABCBigKids
• https://www.ucumberlands.edu/blog/high-impact-jobs-with-a-journalism-degree
• What are librarian careers? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MyOpL1Q8N-Y&ab_channel=CareerOneStop
• A day in the life of a children’s librarian: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oy-vERPOqdU&ab_channel=CityofDenton
• What do teachers do? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rMZRaMWxkps&ab_channel=LittleBoat

Think Ink

 

How often you think about ink? It’s in pins, printers, even animals! Draw upon your new knowledge as you do these online activities.

 

CONNECT:

• Watch how ink is made at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=01aeHXuiXig
• See how ink was discovered at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v0NgOLF8f2M
• What is squid ink? Discover the answer at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uiT79Lfxwps
• Read 16 surprising facts about printer ink (and toner) at https://www.tonerbuzz.com/blog/ink-and-toner-fun-facts/

 

CREATE:

• Make your own ink from household ingredients. See the directions at https://www.nps.gov/articles/ink-activity.htm#:~:text=Directions%3A%20Boil%20the%20raspberries%20with,it%20is%20ready%20to%20use!
• Create secret ink(shhh!) by following the directions at https://www.cmosc.org/invisible-ink-science-experiment-for-kids/
• Blow an ink monster ! See how at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gWZHOzOmGQw

 

CARE:

• For parents: to tattoo or not to tattoo: https://www.healthday.com/health-news/conditions/b-9-10-kids-temporary-tattoos-can-harm-skin-function-2654951206.html
• Watch how to remove ink safely at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=atDn_Zi7dSU
• Know someone with a tattoo? See what happens during laser tattoo removal at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N6z2VO6pxwM

 

CAREERS:

Want to “ink in” your career? You can become a printer, an artist, a calligrapher, a tattoo artist, an ink manufacturer or seller, or a scientist. That’s a lot of ink! See some possibilities here.

• https://www.ziprecruiter.com/t/Most-Popular-Types-Of-Ink-Jobs
• https://www.careerexplorer.com/careers/calligrapher/
• How to become a tattoo artist: https://youtu.be/MRdl0tn1H0E

Cheer for Cheese!

 

By itself and in combination with other food, cheese is great! Find out why with these online activities.

 

CONNECT:

• Check out 11 fun facts about cheese at https://www.popcornforthepeople.com/blogs/blog/11-fun-facts-about-cheese
• Watch the different types of cheese at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gATmYIO5p48
• See how cheese is made at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D8AIamucOVQ
• Cheese is over 7000 years old! Read about its global history at https://kids.kiddle.co/History_of_cheese

 

CREATE:

• You can play with your food if it’s cheese. Discover how at https://www.himama.com/learning/child-activities/activity/yummy-cheese-play
• Cheese can also facilitate practical life activities: see how at https://www.howwemontessori.com/how-we-montessori/2019/09/six-practical-life-activities-using-cheese.html
• Make your own cottage cheese by following the directions at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FAPwpYDicT0
• Experiment with stretching cheese at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HGkIY4q6ttI

 

CARE:

• As a family, read about the benefits of cheese for kids at https://thelaughingcow-sea.com/articles/the-benefits-of-cheese-for-children-why-cheese-is-a-healthy-choice-for-kids/
•  And you can get more details per kind of cheese at https://thelaughingcow-sea.com/articles/the-benefits-of-cheese-for-children-why-cheese-is-a-healthy-choice-for-kids/
• Yes, you can care for cheese. See how at https://www.idfa.org/cheese-facts
• Find out how safe moldy cheese is at https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/nutrition-and-healthy-eating/expert-answers/food-and-nutrition/faq-20058492

 

CAREERS:

Thinking about a cheese-y job? You can make cheese, taste it, sell it, cook with it, and study it. Here are some yummy possibilities:

• https://careers.stateuniversity.com/pages/7/Cheese-Industry-Worker.html
• Selling cheese as a cheese monger: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=51w7gSHVqAc
• Cheese and milk processing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v9_yIMWsdTs

Lauding Labor Day

Labor Day is celebrated in the United States on the first Monday of September. Many workers, even teachers, get the day off. Find out why by working on these activities. It’s a labor of love.

 

CONNECT:

• See the history of Labor Day at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KY_L8--kNB0
• Read these facts about Labor Day: https://countryhomelearningcenter.com/labor-day-facts-for-kids/
• When and how is Labor Day celebrated around the world? Find out the answers at https://www.timeanddate.com/holidays/common/labor-day#:~:text=When%20and%20Where%20Is%20Labor,May%201%20as%20a%20holiday.
• The US has its own Department of Labor. Be impressed with their history at https://blog.dol.gov/2021/07/27/labor-department-history

 

CREATE:

• Try these family-friendly Labor Day activities: https://www.splashlearn.com/blog/labour-day-activities-for-kids/
• Dress up for Labor Day! Get inspired by these ideas: https://superminis.in/blogs/news/labour-day-fancy-dress-competition-ideas?srsltid=AfmBOooeJIgDouT2nO6QRO9A50pvGgQG1nZ3lqOyJkEMZZnl62aQMAeJ
• Get crafty on Labor Day at https://nationaltoday.com/blog/labor-day-crafts/

 

CARE:

• Learn about child labor reform at https://www.britannica.com/video/226768/did-you-know-child-labor-in-the-United-States
• See how people are combatting current child labor at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ckz4qccSVpY
• Labor Day can be a day of service as several of these activities demonstrate (such as thanking workers, volunteering): https://www.care.com/c/6-labor-day-activities-for-kids/

 

CAREERS:

“Labor” means work, especially work that is hard physical work. What are some jobs that demand hard physical work and can be very satisfying? Don’t want to take a job lying down? Get moving with these physically demanding jobs:

• https://stacker.com/careers/50-most-physical-jobs-america
• 15 riskiest jobs in the world: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nbx_-uvOZCg

Clean Up with Soap

 Can you imagine a world without soap? Get the dirt on soap with these online activities.

 

CONNECT:

• How does soap work? Watch how at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XR7agvwDOD4
• Watch this history of soap and how it is made now at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FST4B_IXjUQ
• You can make a soap timeline by using these fun historical facts about soap: https://ukcleaning.co.uk/2017/12/11/15-fun-facts-about-soap-2/

 

CREATE:

• Watch soap grow at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_WA30cC9gy0. Then try it yourself!
• Make your own super soap bubbles the scientific way at https://www.homesciencetools.com/article/how-to-make-super-bubbles-science-project/
• Have some clean fun with these soap experiments: https://teachmama.com/soap-experiments/

 

CARE:

• How do soap and water make us clean? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XR7agvwDOD4
• Make a special soap gift by carving it. Follow the directions at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mlonSS210Qs.  You can make your own design.
• For parents: get tips on cleaning safety for kids at https://www.cleaninginstitute.org/cleaning-tips/parents-and-caregivers/cleaning-safety-for-kids

 

CAREERS:

Think you’d like to “clean up” by having a soap-related career? Think of the possibilities: car washer, hair dressers, pet groomer, soap maker or seller, cleaner, scientist, even soap artist.

• A day in the life of a pet groomer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vXQ9pjEmjkk
• Liquid soap manufacturing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YzH2YrT9_p4
• Dry cleaning process: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i6ZU0Hc3ap8

 

Meteors Rock!

 Think of meteors as space rocks. August is usually the best time to see meteors in the sky. Look into these activities and then look up for meteors.

 

CONNECT:

• What are meteors? Watch the answer and more at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HBFfBz0n_SE
• Discover the history of meteors and meteorites at https://bedtimehistorystories.com/history-of-meteors-and-meteorites-for-kids/
• Visit Arizona’s meteor creator virtually at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yy3KXDQiTaY
• For teens and adults: watch the tragic history of a meteorite and the Inuits https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yvdtWfHpCR4

 

CREATE:

• Learn how to catch a meteorite at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SjCK0lRpX04 and here’s a real story of a family who found a meteorite on their driveway!: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0EHGZywspR8
• Make creators with mini-meteors following the directions at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T0a-rN5ARLw
• Have a shooting star party! See the details at https://spaceplace.nasa.gov/meteor-shower/en/

 

CARE:

• Find out what stops meteors hitting Earth and hurting people at https://theconversation.com/curious-kids-what-stops-meteors-hitting-earth-and-hurting-people-228783
• Find meteorites in your house gutters; watch how at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ej0X60b5dSI
• Learn how to catch a meteorite at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SjCK0lRpX04 and here’s a real story of a family who found a meteorite on their driveway!: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0EHGZywspR8

 

CAREERS:

Want a spacy career? Meteors and their “relatives” may lead to a job where the sky is the limit – like these examples:

• What is a planetary scientist? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CoTSNHD6S_U 
• and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ngVmV3eokpA
• What is a meteorite hunter? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j5sIkYHjVeI