Spill the Beans!

 July is National Baked Bean month. Baking is just one way to serve beans, and beans have been srving us for thousands of years. Use your “bean” (brain) to spill the beans on beans with these activities.

CONNECT:

• Read fun facts about beans at https://justfunfacts.com/interesting-facts-about-beans/
• What's inside a bean? Get the inside story at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UFmBKpQxf-U&ab_channel=SciShowKids
• Watch the life cycle of a bean at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9C1snqYyf-0&ab_channel=CesarIbarra
• How do Mexican jumping beans jump? Solve the mystery at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iZ45se_3TKA&ab_channel=BBCStudios

CREATE:

• Experiment with beans in the kitchen by following the directions at https://www.kids-cooking-activities.com/bean-facts.html
• Get crafty with beans with these fun activities: https://funfamilycrafts.com/bean-crafts-kids/
• Act out being a bean with these warm-up ideas: https://www.teachingideas.co.uk/warm-up-ideas/beans-activity
• Taste-test these 42 kid-friendly bean recipes: https://www.lizshealthytable.com/2020/06/08/42-bean-recipes-kids-and-families-will-love/

CARE:

• Green beans are one of the easiest plants to grow, as seen in this video. Try it yourself: https://youtu.be/OZr4KBcPXiY
• Grow your own lima beans; learn how at https://smartclass4kids.com/lima-beans-facts/
• Beans help you take care of yourself. Get the facts about beans – their history, their variety, and their benefits – at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u9ivVEcs6b8&ab_channel=HealthFacts

CAREERS:

Want to grow beans or cook them – or spread the good news about beans? Here are some careers that could sprout up for you.

• https://start.rm.edu/exercise-science-careers/7-careers-in-nutrition/
• Coffee bean growing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3kMKRY9AN4U&ab_channel=PotluckVideo
• Exporting beans abroad: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u4qvHynyPS0&ab_channel=FarmKenya

Farms: Outstanding in their Field

 

What would we do without farms? 800 million people work on farms, which makes sense since everyone has to eat. The following activities “farm out” lots of information for you.

 

CONNECT:

• First, read some fun farm facts at https://www.twinkl.com/teaching-wiki/farm
• You may have a mental picture of a farm, but there are more kinds of farms than you might imagine. See of their varieties at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3TamwdrJLvk
• Take a video field trip to an animal farm at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hg2ZX0PF-jI
• See how farming differs around the world at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BDoV4I0XQSs

CREATE:

• Get ready for fall (and spring) with 60 farm activities for kids: https://www.123homeschool4me.com/25-farm-activities-for-kids_53/
• Feed the animals, plant veggies and learn about life on the farm with these fresh farm crafts for kids! https://artsycraftsymom.com/farm-crafts-for-kids/
• Make hay for a farm-themed party with these farm games: https://www.scarymommy.com/parenting/farm-games-for-kids

 

CARE:

• How can we create the perfect sustainable farm? See possible strategies at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xFqecEtdGZ0
• Is your family visiting a farm? Watch safety tips for children at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FsFtVol0C7Q.  Parents: here are specific factors for children at different ages: https://nasdonline.org/1278/d001082/farm-safety-for-young-children.html
• How do you safely handle livestock? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XGudMrUnZgk

 

CAREERS:

Does farming feature in your career dreams?

• Imagine being a farmer at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WtH7hNKyOD8
• Take a virtual field trip to explore career in agriculture at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QJjBpELWXZ0

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Nuts to You!

Thinking about nuts is NOT nuts! and it's not just peanuts.  Get out of your shell, and have fun chewing on these nutty activities.

CONNECT:

• Learn 7 nutty things about nuts at http://www.huffingtonpost.com/kristin-kirkpatrick-ms-rd-ld/diet-and-nutrition_b_5234528.html
• Can bears really live on nuts and berries? Find out at http://www.covebear.com/BlackBearFoods.htm
• When is a nut not a nut? When it’s a peanut. They are actually legumes, like peas.
• Why do squirrels hoard nuts? Ready why at http://sciencenetlinks.com/science-news/science-updates/squirrel-hoarding/
• How old are walnuts? Would you believe 50,000 years ago in Iraq? The Nutcracker Museum shares the history of nuts at http://nutcrackermuseum.com/history_nuts.htm
• Discover the story behind idioms about peanuts at http://idioms.thefreedictionary.com/peanut

CREATE:

• See how peanuts grow: at http://nationalpeanutboard.org/the-facts/how-peanuts-grow/. You can even grow your own peanuts: at http://nationalpeanutboard.org/farmlife-sustainability/how-to-grow-peanuts-in-your-own-garden/
• Are you nuts about peanuts? Cook up some nutty treats, following the directions at  http://txkidskitchen.com/blog/kids-in-the-kitchen-thursday-we-are-nuts-about-peanut-butter/
• Go natural with these nutty crafts: http://www.artistshelpingchildren.org/seashellsnutshellseggshellsartscraftsideaskids.html
• Learn how to play the British game of conkers, which traditionally uses horse chestnuts: http://resources.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/customs/conkers.html. You can even watch the World Conker Championships at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3_j4BtYGufY

CARE:

• What is the story behind nut and peanut allergies? They really are nothing to sneeze at, as you’ll see at http://kidshealth.org/kid/health_problems/allergiesimmune/nut_allergy.html
• Learn how the Amazon Conversation Association is protecting Brazil nuts: http://www.amazonconservation.org/ourwork/livelihoods.html
• Jobs depend on rainforests, and specifically tagua nuts, as you can see at http://www.oneworldprojects.com/products/tagua.shtml
• Help donate peanut butter for the hungry: http://www.peanutbutterforthehungry.org/

CAREERS:

Nuts to you: they start from trees or the ground, then to manufacturers, packagers, all the way to stores and other retailers. And there are jobs associated at every stage.

• Get the inside story about almond growing at http://www.almonds.com/growers
• Crack open the peanut industry at https://www.peanutsusa.com/about-peanuts/the-peanut-industry3.html