Their Native Land

The first immigrants to North America probably walked across the Bering Strait and sailed across the Pacific Ocean. And many of their descendants continue to live on this continent. What are their stories and other contributions? Find out by trying these activities below.

CONNECT:

• Explore the diversity of the Native people of the Americas at the National Museum of the American Indian.
• Learn about World War II Navajo Code Talkers.
• Listen to the Pledge of Allegiance in Tewa, Navajo, Zuni, Choctaw and Blackfeet: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q1HmUm2AOdw
• Watch Native American dancing styles and meanings at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MONgmqIpaW8

CREATE:

• On whose land do you live? Go to the map on https://native-land.ca/ to find out the original residents.
• Make your own Native American food, from flapjacks to snow candy, by following these recipes: https://nativeamericans.mrdonn.org/recipes.html
• Recreate Native American games, based on https://www.wnit.org/outdoorelements/pdf/408nativeamerican_ga.pdf
• Try your hand at making some simple Native American crafts: https://socalfieldtrips.com/13-easy-native-american-crafts-for-kids/

CARE:

• How can you help Native Americans? Here are some real, practical and meaningful ways that you can give support to indigenous people in your community and around the country: https://www.powwows.com/can-help-native-americans/
• Several Native American organizations welcome your help; explore them at https://www.diversitybestpractices.com/news-articles/top-native-american-organizations-to-know
• The National Tribal Preservation Program helps Indian tribes protect resources and traditions important to them.
• Help preserve Native American words by learning some of them: http://www.native-languages.org/vocabulary.htm.  You probably already new some of those words, such as skunk, squash and hickory; see a short list of them and their history at https://www.merriam-webster.com/words-at-play/native-american-words/bayou

CAREERS:

Native American will face job discrimination, as this radio program relates: https://www.npr.org/series/559149737/you-me-and-them-experiencing-discrimination-in-america

You can help Native Americans and have a fruitful career, as these websites show:

https://cla.umn.edu/wcidwami/american-indian-studies

https://www.bia.gov/jobs

https://www.ihs.gov/careeropps/

Father's Day Every Day

Fathers come in all sizes and shapes, and serve in different roles: from founders of our country to spiritual advisors. It’s not just biology that makes a father; it’s how one acts and how others perceive a father. Discover the variety – and the universality -- of fathers in these activities.

CONNECT:

• Read the stories of America’s Founding Fathers: http://colonialhall.com/
• Did you know that Father’s Day started in Spokane in 1910? Sonora Smart Dodd wanted to honor her father, who was a civil war veteran who singlehanded raised his six children. (Trivia fact: Ms. Dodd was this blogger’s Sunday School teacher.) It took 62 years for Father’s Day to become a national holiday. Get the details from the History Channel: http://www.history.com/topics/holidays/fathers-day
• What’s the word for “father” in different languages? Pick out some name at http://www.loveyoufather.com/father-in-different-languages.html, and use them with a father you know.
• See the animal kingdom’s top ten dads at http://www.animalplanet.com/wild-animals/10-animal-dads/

CREATE:

• Learn how to write a poem from Father Goose (aka Charles Ghigna): an American children’s poet: http://www.charlesghigna.com/poemhowto.html
• Try these activities and resources for the celebration of Father's Day, including games, clip art, stories, and  crafts: http://www.dltk-holidays.com/dad/
• Make some fun father’s day food: http://kidsactivitiesblog.com/53963/fun-fathers-day-food
• Here’s Father’s Day by the numbers; try creating a game from them: http://www.census.gov/newsroom/facts-for-features/2016/cb16-ff11.html

CARE:

• Here are 29 Father’s Day gifts that kids can make for someone’s dad: https://www.care.com/a/29-fathers-day-gifts-kids-can-make-1305280622
• Father Flanagan founded Boys Town, a place for at-risk children. Find out about this caring person and service at http://www.boystown.org.
• “Father” is a name often given to Catholic priests. Find out  how they became fathers: http://bustedhalo.com/questionbox/when-did-the-use-of-father-become-a-practice-in-the-catholic-church-for-ordained-priests
• This national initiative helps men be better fathers: http://www.fatherhood.org/

CAREERS:

Being a father is a career in itself. This article points how how fathers can affect one’s career: http://www.forbes.com/sites/kathycaprino/2013/12/23/7-ways-your-father-affected-your-career/#6efc08cb7537

Germany Uber Alles

Germany has been in the news lately, but you might not know about other aspects of Germany – so “Viel Spass” (have fun) with these activities about this historic European country.

CONNECT:

• Read about the daily life of German youth at http://www.germany.info/Vertretung/usa/en/04__W__t__G/05/__Kids__Teens.html
• ·Anne Frank was a German Jewish teenager who experienced the traumas of World War II. Experience her life at http://www.annefrank.org/
• ·Did you know that blue jeans were invented by a German? Find out about him and other German inventors at http://www.enchantedlearning.com/inventors/germany.shtml
• Visit Munich’s museum virtually: http://www.deutsches-museum.de/index.php?id=1&L=1
• Werewolves feature in several German legends. Read some of them at http://www.pitt.edu/~dash/werewolf.html

CREATE:

• Use these fun facts about Germany (http://www.journey-to-germany.com/german-fun-facts.html)  to create a fact-based “Trivia” game.
• Find out about typical German cuisine, and try making your own versions, by following the directions at http://www.globalgourmet.com/destinations/germany/#axzz1Kp7evGgR
•  You can learn German words by doing some of the activities at http://www.hello-world.com/languages.php/?language=German
• http://www.52composers.com/german-composers.html has stories and sample music about several German composers.
•  What are some common German first names, and what do they mean? Generate a list at https://www.germany101.com/german-baby-boys-names

CARE:

• Germany has taken in more refugees than any other country in the world.  Read some ways that people help these refugees: http://www.thelocal.de/20150903/five-ways-you-can-help-refugees-in-germany
• If you are taking care of younger children, you might entertain them by playing traditional German games: http://www.globalawareness.com/for-kids/games-from-around-the-world/games-from-germany/
• The Berlin Wall separated West and East Germany for 28 years. Read President Kennedy’s speech at the Berlin Wall, and his call for peace: http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/american_originals/kennedy.html

CAREERS:

Are you interested in Germany? Can you speak German? Many international schools and companies have branches in Germany. Governments also have offices in Germany.  Here are some tips:

http://www.make-it-in-germany.com/en/for-qualified-professionals/working/guide/looking-for-a-job

https://www.csbsju.edu/languages-and-cultures/german-studies/careers-in-german

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