String Me Along

String me along

The lowly string has a long history and many purposes. It is fun to play with (just ask a kitten) and it can save lives when you need to get stitched up from an operation. Try this string of activities below.

CONNECT:

• How do stringed musical  instruments work? Research it at http://www.ducksters.com/musicforkids/string_instruments.php
• What do sheep intestines and violins have in common? Watch how gut strings are made: at http://www.kansastravel.org/balloftwine.htm
• String theory: you may have heard about it on the Big Bang Theory TV show; here’s an 11 year old’s version: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SXqvwGT8l9w
• What is a quipu? It’s how Incas communicated. See how to share information with string at http://www.ancientscripts.com/quipu.html
• Watch the history of string in art: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-By5ZAFCmwE

CREATE:

• The famous French writer Guy de Maupassant said he could write about anything, so he was challenged to write a short story about a piece of string. Here it is: http://www.classicshorts.com/stories/string.html. What story could you write about string?
• Try weaving with string: http://www.handsoncrafts.org/002.htm
• Have fun playing string games: http://www.kidspot.com.au/kids-activities-and-games/Activity-ideas+30/5-top-string-games-fun-string-figures-for-kids+11984.htm
• Make your own stringed instrument by following the directions at http://www.artistshelpingchildren.org/make-guitars-crafts.html
• Strings can help you learn math. Making your own string art picture, and you’ll be connecting the dots about math at the same time: http://www.mathcats.com/crafts/stringart.html

CARE:

• Entertain a sick friend by making string figures: http://www.alysion.org/figures/introkids.htm
• Wrapping packages often uses string. See how 4-Hers wrapped gifts as a community service project: http://elkhartcounty4h.org/Manuals/GiftWrappingManual.pdf. You might try this activity as a fund-raiser too.
• In Kansas you can visit the largest ball of twine (a kind of string): http://www.kansastravel.org/balloftwine.htm   Maybe you can raise money with a string-collecting contest, and then give the balls of string to service agencies.

CAREERS:

No, I’m not stringing you along. There are a string of careers that use string: musicians, packaging and delivery services, manufacturing. You might even stretch the idea to including dentists (floss daily!). Look at some of these career sites:

https://www.careersinmusic.com

http://www.packworld.com/what-i-have-learned-%E2%80%A8about-career-packaging

http://www.bakercheese.com/   (string cheese!)

http://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/physicians-and-surgeons.htm

http://www.ada.org/en/education-careers/careers-in-dentistry/

Watch How You Eat

Don’t play with your food. Set the table properly. Eating habits are not all the same around the world – and they have changed over the years. So watch HOW you eat.

CONNECT:

• Forks are a relatively recent piece of silverware, according to some people. You can see and read its history at http://www.slate.com/articles/arts/design/2012/06/the_history_of_the_fork_when_we_started_using_forks_and_how_their_design_changed_over_time_.html
• When in Rome, do as the Romans. How about eating as the ancient Romans did? Find out more at http://www.historyforkids.org/learn/romans/food/dishes.htm
• What do kids around the world eat for breakfast? Read all about it at http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2014/10/08/magazine/eaters-all-over.html
• Ever try eating with a spork or a trong? Look at these fun eating utensils: http://www.bonappetit.com/test-kitchen/tools-test-kitchen/article/13-weird-eating-utensils-from-sporks-to-trongs

CREATE:

• By age 5 children should be able to handle chopsticks. Here are simple directions on how to use them: http://www.parenting.com/article/teach-your-child-to-use-chopsticks. And you can learn culturally-sensitive practices at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AbldexGclbw
• Start early to learn how to use eating utensils with Sesame Street (… or not): http://watchknowlearn.org/Video.aspx?VideoID=25430&CategoryID=7498
• Try some of these food customs from around around the world at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D2RnaViWuuE

CARE:

• Here’s a video about teaching children how to set the table: http://watchknowlearn.org/Video.aspx?VideoID=7886&CategoryID=7498
• Help make eating time pleasant by following Crawford the Cat’s habits: http://watchknowlearn.org/Video.aspx?VideoID=33823&CategoryID=7498
• Eat to make money – to donate to a worthy cause. Here are some starting ideas: http://www.fundraiserinsight.org/ideas/eating-contest.html

CAREERS:

Getting a job, like eating, entails good manners. Here are some tips:

• http://study.com/articles/How_Good_Manners_Can_Help_You_Land_a_Great_Job.html
• https://www.umass.edu/careers/jobsearch/interviews/manners
• http://www.livecareer.com/interview-tips/during/attitude