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 ;-)

Presenting U.S. Presidents

 

When the United States became a nation, it chose to be led by a president rather than a king – and with a limited term. We honor past presidents officially once a year – but hopefully every day. Discover those presidents in these activities.

 

CONNECT:

• Watch what it takes to be U.S. President at https://youtu.be/GikqTRSvbSo
• Read fun facts about U.S. Presidents at https://kids.nationalgeographic.com/history/article/presidential-fun-facts
• George Washington was the first U.S. President. See what made him special at https://youtu.be/gQsVhebhJ0A

 

CREATE:

• Get active about U.S. presidents with these fun things to do: https://childcarelounge.com/pages/presidents-day-theme-and-activities
• Eat some favorite foods of the U.S. Presidents: https://www.businessinsider.com/presidents-favorite-food-dishes-white-house-2019-5
• Have a party for U.S. presidents with these ideas: https://www.easy-party-ideas-and-games.com/holidays-and-celebration.html

 

CARE:

• Last year the President signed the Keep Kids Fed Act. Get the details at https://www.agriculture.senate.gov/newsroom/dem/press/release/president-signs-the-keep-kids-fed-act
• U.S. Presidents are voted in. What is voting and why is it important? Find out the answers at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GrG7zBUDiqQ
• Watch a pep talk from Kid President to you: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l-gQLqv9f4o

 

 CAREERS:

If you are a U.S. citizen and at last 35 years old, you could become President. And there are many jobs that help the President carry out the duties. Here are a few.

• White house residence staff: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GrG7zBUDiqQ
• President’s press secretary: https://kpcnotebook.scholastic.com/post/conversation-white-house-press-secretary
• Congress: https://www.timeforkids.com/g2/congress-work/?rl=en-450

 

 

Praise Pottery

 

Pottery has a long, international history. It is not only a useful draft but also an artful one. Get cracking with these activities!

 

CONNECT:

• One of the first civilizations to make pottery were the Egyptians. Get the facts at https://www.historyforkids.net/egyptian-pottery.html
• See how pottery is made around the world at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NnsyAmwdIlI
• One special type of pottery is porcelain. See you it is made at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kab29IfdomQ
• LOTs of facts about pottery can be found at https://kids.kiddle.co/Pottery

 

CREATE:

• Make your own clay by following the directions at https://www.highlightskids.com/activities/crafts/make-homemade-clay#:~:text=Put%202%20cups%20of%20baking,Divide%20it%20into%204%20pieces.
• One of the easiest ways to produce pottery is starting by making a pinch pot. Learn how by watching this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bELgM8aSqLc
• Another easy fun pot to make is a coil pot; see how at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5GcpERzRVys
• Act like an archaeologist by piecing the history of pottery together: https://www.amnh.org/explore/ology/archaeology/piecing-it-all-together2#:~:text=One%20of%20the%20most%20common,as%20decorative%20bowls%20and%20vases.

 

CARE:

• Paint your own pottery party with these ideas: https://gluesticksblog.com/paint-your-own-pottery-party-for-kids/
• Have you ever broken pottery? The Japanese transform that breakage into an art form: Kintsugi. Get the details and try it out yourself at https://kids.discoveryplace.org/rockingham/stay-at-home-science/kintsugi-inspired-activity
• For parents: Read about the benefits of pottery for kids at https://ceramic.school/pottery-for-kids/?epik=dj0yJnU9NGo1SWZ1WTRQbUJ1SlJFVmdZelgxUDFQdWJhemV5MW8mcD0wJm49Y2ZQMUVuZEYtNExTSG9ocy1SVDNyUSZ0PUFBQUFBR1dMZG0w

 

CAREERS:

Do you go “potty” (as in very excited) about pottery? A career may await you: as an artist, a chemist, a manufacturer, an interior decorator, a teacher, a sales person, or even an archeologist! Dig into the possibilities here.

• https://learn.org/articles/Careers_in_Pottery_Frequently_Asked_Questions.html
• https://ceramicartsnetwork.org/daily/article/A-Pottery-Paycheck-Expert-Insights-into-Making-a-Living-as-a-Potter
• https://www.uwlax.edu/mvac/process-of-archaeology/lab-analysis/ceramic-analysis/

Crystal Clear

 

Wintertime is a good time to see crystals. But they are around us all the time. Get clear about crystals by doing these fun activities.

 

CONNECT:

• Watch the surprising science of snow crystals at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-6zr2eLpduI
• Watch about the super crystal, diamond, at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2tgnkoygbD0
• Crystals can be liquids – and can be used in many ways: see the possibilities at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MuWDwVHVLio
• It's time for time crystals. It’s a new kind of matter. See the reality at https://youtu.be/TjVi5L7cYLQ

 

CREATE:

• Try these cool crystal science projects: https://www.kiwico.com/diy/lists/6-cool-crystal-science-projects-for-kids
• Create your own crystals without freezing by watching https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4fqjrFzR0HE
• Grow rock candy by following the directions at https://www.thoughtco.com/how-to-grow-sugar-crystals-607659

 

CARE:

• Some people think that crystals can heal.  Is that fake or fact? Find out at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jn4BcFKQoGc
• Does your family have any crystals? Here is how to take care of them: https://www.unearthedstore.com/blogs/guides/crystal-care-101-how-to-take-care-of-your-crystals

 

CAREERS:

There are lots of facets to crystal-related careers: scientist, teacher,  manufacturer, jeweler. Get crystal clear about the possibilities here:

• https://work.chron.com/jobs-use-crystals-20275.html
• https://www.acs.org/careers/chemical-sciences/fields/crystallography.html
• https://www.careerexplorer.com/careers/jeweler/