Count on Carbon

What do coal and diamonds have in common? They are both carbon! Dig into this fundamental element with these online activities.

CONNECT:

• Get the facts about carbon at https://easyscienceforkids.com/uses-of-carbon-video-for-kids/
• Watch the carbon cycle – and why it is so important at https://youtu.be/p3R-dB9K4ss
• See carbon chemistry at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gipyujuKMf4

CREATE:

• Draw with carbon in the form at charcoal at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UsK2KQoxa-U
• Manage carbon in your garden with the guidance of https://kidsgardening.org/resources/digging-deeper-carbon-cycle-and-carbon-sequestration/
• Experiment with carbon dioxide at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7JcEQnDHLi4

CARE:

• Carbon and oxygen together can be healthy or deadly. Discover the impact of carbon monoxide on your body at https://www.funkidslive.com/learn/safety-seymour/effects-carbon-monoxide-can-have-on-our-bodies-find-out-with-safety-seymour/
• What is a carbon footprint, and how do you reduce it? Find out at https://www.gokid.mobi/activities-for-kids-to-reduce-carbon-footprint/
• Check out ways to reduce carbon emissions at https://8billiontrees.com/carbon-offsets-credits/carbon-ecological-footprint-calculators/kids/

CAREERS:

Do you see the many career facets of carbon? Scientist, manufacturer, jeweler, artist, health care professional, chef, geologist, policy maker? Here is a glimpse of job opportunities.

• https://www.ziprecruiter.com/t/Most-Popular-Types-Of-Carbon-Emissions-Jobs
• Pencil manufacturing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qqs3fxfmWr4
• How to cut a diamond: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8lk8p0re8Eg
• Carbon projects: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yt5ySWAWWWw

Plastic Lives!

 

Plastic is all around us. It is hard to imagine not using plastic in our daily lives: eating with, using items made of plastic, even wearing it. But what really is plastic? And how does it affect us? Explore the answers with these online activities.

 

CONNECT:

• Get the facts about plastic at https://kids.kiddle.co/Plastic
• Watch how plastic is made at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6PgjA3HISmw
• What is plastic used for? Can you think of 100 uses? Jot down your ideas and compare them with https://allusesof.com/chemical/100-uses-of-plastic/

 

CREATE:

• What can you do with empty plastic bottles? Here are 25 kid-friendly craft ideas using them: https://www.playideas.com/plastic-bottle-crafts-for-kids/
• Try some of these tips for avoiding single-plastic: https://www.greenchildmagazine.com/single-use-plastic/
• Too much plastic is not good. Use National Geographic’s toolkit for tips on hosting a plastic-free party and give plastic-free gifts: https://kids.nationalgeographic.com/nature/kids-vs-plastic

 

CARE:

• See how plastic harms the environment at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dC5zUU1TSYg
• But what about saving trees? What is better to use: paper or plastic? Get the pros and cons at https://climatekids.nasa.gov/paper-or-plastic/ to decide.
• Britain has a Kids Against Plastic organization. See what they do – and consider how you could take action: at https://www.kidsagainstplastic.co.uk/

 

CONNECT:

You saw how plastic is used in so many ways. That means there are lots of jobs waiting for people who want to work with plastic. Discover some of those options here.

• https://www.plasticsindustry.org/careers
• https://www.ziprecruiter.com/Career/Plastic/What-Is-How-to-Become
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eN8w22B-GZU

Hail Hydrogen!

Hydrogen is the simplest and lightest element on Earth – but by mass, Hydrogen makes up about ¾ of all matter in the universe.  Uncover the hidden depths of hydrogen in these activities.

CONNECT:

• Watch the story of hydrogen at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KiNRls_pBnU
• Hydrogen is an element of contrasts: necessary to create water – and can be explosive – as seen in this actual hydrogen balloon tragedy: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CgWHbpMVQ1U
• What do fertilizers, transportation and electricity have in common? Hydrogen! Read all about these uses of hydrogen at https://hydrogeneurope.eu/hydrogen-applications

CREATE:

• Read these kid-friendly facts about hydrogen and do your own hydrogen experiment at https://www.scienceforkidsclub.com/hydrogen.html
• Hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) is a common household liquid made of molecules with two hydrogen and two oxygen atoms. You can do several science experiments with H₂O₂ at https://diyeverywhere.com/2017/12/11/6-fun-science-experiments-you-can-do-with-hydrogen-peroxide/
• Make elephant toothpaste by following this video’s directions: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JSWHRwGaOqs

CARE:

• Hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂)  is sometimes used as medication. Find out its safety factors with kids at https://www.mskcc.org/cancer-care/patient-education/hydrogen-peroxide
• Hydrogen is now powering some cars because it is such a clean and efficient form of energy. See how they work at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r5b6SthDbsE
• There are several ways to clean toys, including with Hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂); use the guidelines at http://theguidefortoys.com/Blogs1/The-Cleaning-Guide-for-Toys.htm

CAREERS:

Getting a hydrogen-related job may be elemental: as a chemist, scientist, doctor, manufacturer (and seller) or even astronaut! Get energetic with hydrogen!

https://www.energy.gov/eere/fuelcells/careers-hydrogen-and-fuel-cells

https://www.sciencemag.org/careers/2006/07/energetic-future-hydrogen

https://www.nasa.gov/topics/technology/hydrogen/index.html

Craving Cookies?

Cookies are great to eat any time of the year, but the holiday season brings even more kinds of these delicious treats. And there are e-cookies as well, which might be less of a treat. Good food for thought.

CONNECT:

• Cookies are older than Christmas! The first ones date by to the 7^th century BC in Persia. Trace the history of cookies at http://whatscookingamerica.net/History/CookieHistory.htm
• On http://en.translatethings.com/c/o/o/cookie.html, you can translate “cookie” into 148 languages.
• What the chemistry of cookies at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n6wpNhyreDE.
• How do cookies get on your computer? And what ARE computer cookies? Find out at http://www.wisegeek.org/what-are-computer-cookies.htm

CREATE:

• Here are kid-friendly cookie recipes for the holidays: http://www.bhg.com/christmas/cookies/christmas-cookies-for-kids/ and http://www.parents.com/recipes/holidays/christmas/12-kid-friendly-christmas-cookies/
• Try making cookies from different countries: http://globalcookies.blogspot.com/ and http://www.christmas-cookies.com/recipes/bycountry.php
• When is a cookie not a cookie? When it’s a craft (such as an ornament or house): create some fun at http://www.ivillage.ca/food/recipes/easy-christmas-cookies-kids-holiday-baking-crafts

CARE:

• Can cookies be healthy? Here are WebMD’s recommendations for healthier holiday cookies: http://www.webmd.com/food-recipes/features/healthier-holiday-cookie-recipes
• Help the hungry. Donate food to a food bank this season. To find a book bank near you, go to http://www.feedingamerica.org/
• Learn ways to be a good cookie through the Cookies for Kids’ Cancer at http://www.cookiesforkidscancer.org/

CAREERS:

Wouldn’t it be great to make money from cookies? You could be a baker or a nutritionist, a seller or a party planner. Or you could become a computer programmer. Look at these possibilities:

https://collegegrad.com/careers/bakers

http://www.bls.gov/ooh/computer-and-information-technology/computer-programmers.htm

http://careers.stateuniversity.com/pages/535/Party-Planner.html

Kitchens are Cookin'

There’s a world to explore: in your kitchen!

Connect:

• Build your knowledge about kitchen machines at http://www.edheads.org/activities/simple-machines/frame_loader.htm
• Trace the history of kitchen appliances at http://inventors.about.com/od/kstartinventions/a/kitchen.htm
• See this infographic that traces the history of kitchen design at http://www.kitchencabinetkings.com/blog/history-of-kitchen-design/
• Discover the history of the kitchen stove at http://www.oldhouseonline.com/history-of-the-kitchen-stove/
• Eat up the history of pasta: http://oldwayspt.org/sites/default/files/Pasta%20for%20Children2012.pdf

 

Create:

• This site introduces kids to cooking with beginner tips and skills and tons of step-by-step video recipes: http://www.spatulatta.com/
• If you're hungry, grab your apron and get cooking! Making food yourself - with a little help from a parent - is a great way to learn about food and meal preparation. And this site has plenty of recipes for you to try - from pizza to pancakes! http://kidshealth.org/kid/recipes/index.html
• Play these kitchen clerning games: http://www.cleaning-games.net/kitchen-cleaning-games
• Test these food chemistry experiments: http://a2zhomeschooling.com/explore/chemistry_kids/food_chemistry_experiments/ and http://www.science-sparks.com/2013/04/27/kitchen-science-round-up/
• Cooking with children can be fun. Here are tools that every child chef needs: http://www.webmd.com/food-recipes/features/kitchen-tools-kids

 

Care:

• What are developmentally appropriate kitchen chores for children? Find out at http://www.clean-organized-family-home.com/kitchen-chores.html#sthash.HWsnl1mO.dpbs
• Be safe in the kitchen by following the tips at http://kidshealth.org/kid/watch/house/safe_in_kitchen.html
• http://www.nutrition.gov/life-stages/children/kids-food-safety covers several aspects of good safety.
• Watch tips about knife safety for kids: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ICQL5H9qfY
• Kids can help with simple plumbing skills; find out at http://plumbernw.com/teaching-your-children-basic-plumbing-skills/.

 

Careers:

Look around you in the kitchen: food, appliances, utensils, furniture, interior design, cleaning. These items all lead to careers: agriculture, design, carpentry, manufacturing, services, sales, cookery, architecture,plumbing, electrical engineering.  Here are some starting websites:

http://www.pbs.org/food/tag/kitchen-careers/

http://education-portal.com/how_to_become_a_kitchen_designer.html

http://careerplanning.about.com/od/occupations/p/chef_cook.htm

http://www.careeroverview.com/home-appliance-repair-careers.html

http://www.bls.gov/ooh/architecture-and-engineering/home.htm

Book a Book

There's more to a book than its cover. Open up the world of books in the following activities.

CONNECT:

·    Follow book history with this timeline: http://www.mediabistro.com/galleycat/timeline-a-brief-history-of-publishing_b79150

·    Watch how books are made at http://vimeo.com/38681202

·    Get Free access to high-quality digital books from around the world at http://en.childrenslibrary.org/. Browse by age, genre, book length, character types, or even the color of a book's cover.

·    You can find out about your favorite author and illustrator here: http://comminfo.rutgers.edu/professional-development/childlit/AuthorSite/index.html

·    Do you link comic books with chemistry? Well, the periodic table of comic books does: http://www.uky.edu/Projects/Chemcomics/

CREATE:

·    At http://storybird.com/ you can use your imagination (and your computer!) to create illustrated stories by yourself or with your family or friends. You can also read stories by other kids.

·    Continue the magic of Harry Potter at http://harrypotter.scholastic.com/ and http://www.kidsreads.com/kidsreads-gets-potter-fied-this-july

·    Is there a writer inside you? Here are directions for writing: http://www.wikihow.com/Create-a-Children%27s-Book. And here are directions for making 8 types of books: http://www.makingbooks.com/freeprojects.shtml

·    Find out how children’s books are illustrated through this hands-on activity: http://www.wordplayhouse.com/2011/05/free-printable-for-kids-how-childrens-books-are-illustrated.html

CARE:

·    Books are special, so take good care of them. Here are some tips for teaching good book care: http://www.powerfulmothering.com/how-to-teach-kids-to-care-for-books/

·    Read Aloud (http://www.readaloud.org) is a campaign to get families to red aloud every day for 15 minutes. You can join the campaign – and you can read aloud to your friends and others as well.

·    There are many ways for you to donate books: to your library, to service clubs, and so on. The American Library Association lists groups that donate books internationally: http://www.ala.org/offices/iro/iroactivities/intlbookdonations

·    Become a book reviewer, and get your reviews published at http://www.spaghettibookclub.org/

CAREERS:

The video on making books illustrates just a few of the many jobs that are involved: from mechanic to distributor. There are also writers, illustrators, agents, editors, sales people, book store owners, plus all the behind-the-scenes people such as paper makers, ebook programmers, and so on. Read about some of those jobs at:

http://depts.washington.edu/engl/ugrad/publishjobs.php

Fireworks are a bang!

Fireworks can be spectacular – and a bit scary! Find out the back story of fireworks. It can be a real bang!

CONNECT:

• NOVA Online explains how fireworks explode and why fireworks have different colors: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/kaboom/
• Watch a video on creating dazzling fireworks shows at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5apJqP1KvWA
• Who is Guy Fawkes and why are there fireworks set off in his memory? Find out about the English Bonfire night at http://www.bonfirenight.net
• Fireworks as a dazzling history: trace its evolution at http://www.history.com/news/fireworks-vibrant-history
• All that color of fireworks? It all depends on chemistry. See the list at http://www.fireworks.com/fireworks-university/chemistry-fireworks/ and see the colorful video at http://www.pbslearningmedia.org/resource/phy03.sci.phys.matter.fireworkcol/fireworks-making-color/

CREATE:

• Create a trivia game based on fireworks facts: http://www.infoplease.com/spot/fireworks1.html
• Create fireworks in a glass by following the directions at http://chemistry.about.com/od/4thofjulychemistry/a/waterfireworks.htm
• Watch the science of fireworks at http://www.sciencekids.co.nz/videos/chemistry/fireworks.html
• Celebrate fireworks from a global perspective: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fireworks#Fireworks_celebrations_throughout_the_world

CARE:

• Fireworks can be dangerous; how do you stay safe around them? http://www.chp.edu/CHP/Fireworks+for+Parents
• Can you imagine how birds react to fireworks? Here are tips to take care of your feathered friends during fireworks time: http://www.birdchannel.com/bird-diet-and-health/bird-care/birds-and-fireworks.aspx
• You can help your dog overcome its fear of fireworks through this training: http://www.animalcareclinicslo.com/pet-health/handouts/help-my-dog-is-afraid-of-fireworks/
• It’s useful to know the laws and regulations about fireworks: http://www.pyrouniverse.com/statelaws.htm

CAREERS:

Want to get paid to create explosions? Here’s an interview with a demolition woman: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/kaboom/loizeaux.html