Don’t Desert Deserts

 What comes to your mind when you think of deserts? Dry, hot, empty? Deserts are found on every continent. Try these online activities to get more truths about deserts.

 

CONNECT:

• Explore deserts with National Geographic Kids at https://kids.nationalgeographic.com/nature/habitats/article/desert
• Watch details about deserts at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WwS05igCcx4
• Watch and learn about desert animals at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JxgC0B9Vjvc
• See how ancient engineers kept a desert city wet at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2cU0H58eG2A

 

CREATE:

• Create a desert-themed trivia game based on 50 desert facts shared at https://www.mkewithkids.com/post/desert-facts-for-kids/
• Try these desert activities for preschoolers: https://stayathomeeducator.com/desert-preschool-theme/ and these desert activities for grade and middle schoolers: https://www.imthecheftoo.com/blogs/stem-for-kids/cool-desert-stem-activities-for-kids
• Play games about deserts at https://sciencetrek.org/topics/deserts/games
• Virtually visit desert national parks at https://www.nps.gov/subjects/deserts/visit.htm 

  

CARE:

• Watch how to live in the desert at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gaZKEc59g1w
• Visiting a desert? Prepare for travel safety with a great infographic and more at https://desertsoftheworld.com/desert-travel-safety-guide/
• See ways to conserve the Mojave desert at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fA8hrRh_PIw

 

CAREERS:

Does a desert-related career whet your appetite? Lots of opportunities exist: as a park ranger, a tour guide, an archaeologist, a conservationist, a doctor, an historian, a scientist, an energy expert, an engineer, an artist, a manufacturer, and more. Look into some of these examples.

• https://www.livingdesert.org/conservation/
• Ask an archaeologist at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l7dlKOjRot0&t=12s
• Desert farming and energy: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gMCJXum7QU0
• Desert-inspired creatives: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oXV1egVqi2c

 

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/