Spidey Sense

 

You see spiders all year round, not just at Halloween. While they may seem scary sometimes they benefit the environment. Develop your spidey sense with these online activities

CONNECT:

• Get 15 fun facts about spiders at https://www.toucanbox.com/facts-for-kids/spider-facts
• Watch various spider species at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=04BrlLW8dDU&ab_channel=KidzNCrew
• Learn why spiders make the best roommates at https://www.oneearth.org/eight-surprising-reasons-why-spiders-make-the-best-roommates/

 

CREATE:

• Do you know the song “The Itsy-Bitsy Spider? If not, go to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w_lCi8U49mY&ab_channel=TwinkleLittleSongs-NurseryRhymes and if you do, you can sing it at the same website.
• Get crafty with these artsy spider ideas: https://www.artycraftykids.com/craft/easy-spider-crafts-for-kids-to-make/
• Go natural with these outdoor spider activities: https://childsplayabc.wordpress.com/2023/06/29/spider-activities/
• Think like a scientist with these spidery experiments: https://inspirationlaboratories.com/spider-stem-and-steam-activities/

 

CARE:

• Consider having a pet spider? Here’s what to know and do: https://www.wikihow.com/Keep-Spiders-As-Pets
• Maybe you want to keep spiders – away. Here are some natural tips: https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-keep-spiders-away
• For parents: here’s how to identify and treat spider bites: https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/spider-bites-sheet.html

 

CAREERS:

Want to go beyond just singing about spiders and have a spider-related career? You can be an arachnologist (a person who studies spiders), a scientist, a zookeeper, veterinarian, health care professional, a pet shop owner, a writer, or a photographer. See some possibilities at

• https://www.americanarachnology.org/aas-meetings/aas-meeting-2021/featured-artists/
• https://www.philadelphiazoo.org/spiders-alive/
• https://vethelpdirect.com/vetblog/2023/02/11/are-there-vets-for-spiders/

Think Like a Computer

Step-by-step, following directions, is how many computer work. People know how to create those directions to make things and solve problems. Explore how to think like – and better than – a computer with the following activities about computational thinking.

CONNECT:

• Learn about the 4 key techniques to computational thinking at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mUXo-S7gzds&t=76s
• Here’s how Google uses computational thinking to solve problems: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SVVB5RQfYxk
• Use cooking to teach algorithms and computational thinking: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MnS7lwXENts

CREATE:

• Build your brain with these free games: http://www.exquisite-minds.com/best-thinking-games-online/
• Use computational thinking to break these CIA codes: https://www.cia.gov/kids-page/games/break-the-code
• You too can code – with Scratch Jr. See how at https://unlcms.unl.edu/ianr/extension/4-h-youth-development/designlab21/computational-thinking-young-children

CARE:

• Make your own puzzles to keep your sick friends or relatives engaged: http://puzzlemaker.discoveryeducation.com/
• Make chores fun with computational thinking at https://www.stem.family/activities/computational-thinking-activities/
• Use computational thinking (sorting algorithms) to sort laundry: https://classic.csunplugged.org/sorting-algorithms/

CAREERS:

Computational thinking is a logical step for a great career: from statistician to managing, from emergency planner to fashion designer, from computer programmer to military officer. Get the facts here.

https://www.enterprisetimes.co.uk/2018/07/04/computational-thinking-will-be-vital-for-the-future-job-market/

https://careerswithstem.com.au/computational-thinking/

https://minutehack.com/opinions/how-thinking-like-a-computer-will-help-save-our-jobs

The White House

The White House is the U.S. President’s residence, and the center of lots of activity over the years. Time to get the inside scoop.

CONNECT:

• See the inside of the White House from top to bottom architecturally at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BW6hxlThB_o
• Check out the history of the White House at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QT5ZsE-o6U4
• Dolly Madison played a significant role in history of the White House; find out the details at https://www.biography.com/people/dolley-madison-9394952
• What’s the Executive Branch, and what does it do? Find out at https://www.congressforkids.net/Executivebranch_index.htm

CREATE:

• Make a trivia game using these fun facts about the White House: https://www.scholastic.com/teachers/articles/teaching-content/fun-facts-know-about-white-house-residents/
• Ever wanted to play President for the day? Or for four years? Experience it at https://www.icivics.org/games/executive-command
• Recreate the White House Easter Egg hunt from now or yester year: https://www.whitehousehistory.org/questions/what-is-the-history-of-the-white-house-easter-egg-roll https://www.whitehouse.gov/eastereggroll/
• Create your own pop-up White House by following these directions: https://www.scholastic.com/teachers/articles/teaching-content/craft-pop-white-house/

CARE:

• Have something to say to the President? Make your voice known at https://www.whitehouse.gov/contact/
• Learn how you can become a White House intern; it’s never too early to find out how to participate in this leadership program: https://www.whitehouse.gov/get-involved/internships/
• The White House supports students’ interest in STEM through its Maker Faire and other efforts; join the movement at https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/node/316486
• Did you know that the cost of preserving and maintaining the historic furnishings and art within the White House Collection isn't covered entirely by public money or by a federally-funded agency? Support the White House History Organization at https://www.whitehousehistory.org/support

CAREERS:

There are hundreds of people who work for the White House: from security to cleaning, from economic advisors to decorators. Of course, there are political jobs – and all of their support staff, as well as thousands of government jobs from Peace Corps to janitors and military to forest rangers. In a way, if you work for the government, you are working for yourself. See some of the opportunities here.

https://www.learnhowtobecome.org/career-resource-center/government-careers/

https://career.berkeley.edu/Government/Government

https://www.usajobs.gov/

Pick Up Steam

Steam is a lot more than hot air. Steam-related activities start heating up right here.

CONNECT:

• View and read about vintage steam engines at http://www.retroweb.com/steamtrains.html
• Watch steamboats, and hear their steam whistles, at http://www.steamboats.org/index.php
• Did you know that steam flows exist in the New York subways? Dig below the surface at http://www.nationalgeographic.com/features/97/nyunderground/docs/nymain.html
• “Pick up steam,” “Blow off steam,” “Full steam ahead.” What do all those idioms mean, and how did they originate? Look them up – and other steam-y phrases -- at http://idioms.thefreedictionary.com/steam

CREATE:

• Learn how to steam cook vegetables at http://steamregister.com/cooking-with-kids-bowtie-pasta-and-vegetables/
• Why does water turn into steam? Why does steam take up more room than water? Experiment with steam at http://scienceforkids.kidipede.com/chemistry/atoms/doing/steam.htm
• STEAM is also an acronym for Science/Technology/Engineering/Art/Mathematics. Test some of the STEAM activities at http://showmelibrarian.blogspot.com/p/all-things-steam.html and http://babbledabbledo.com/25-steam-projects-for-kids/
• You can make a model steam engine by following the directions at this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=co7U6_bvkOw

CARE:

• How did steam help society? Read the list at http://classroom.synonym.com/did-invention-steam-engine-change-way-people-worked-13612.html
• Steam has enhanced people’s health for thousands of years. Trace the history, and see how to helps now, at http://www.livestrong.com/article/267957-steaming-for-sinus-congestion/
• Steam irons eliminate wrinkles. Discover how it works at http://www.wisegeek.org/what-is-a-steam-iron.htm
• The National Girls Collaborative Project is helping girls get interested in STEAM; find out their steps at http://www.ngcproject.org/collaborative/new-york-steam-girls-collaborative

CAREERS:

Over the years, transportation largely depended on steam. Transportation remains a big industry sector. Track down a possible career that can take you places.

• http://www.khake.com/page44.html
• http://www.transportation.gov/womenandgirls/resources-girls
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bVVp0t1hfQI