'Tis the Irish

March 17 is St. Patrick's Day, and you don't have to be Irish or Catholic to celebrate it. The concept of legendary heroes, particularly those who reflect the spirit of a country or other group, is universal. In this thematic set of activities, your family gets to explore various links to a real human legend. These activities can help you think of other cultural legends, and how they link us together.

CONNECT:

• What’s the story behind St. Patrick? Here’s a whole website about the day and the man: http://www.st-patricks-day.com/about_saintpatrick.html. It also features a cartoon video about St. Patrick.
• Why What other events and people are celebrated on March 17 (the date that St. Patrick died)? Find out at http://www.reference.com/thisday/
• Several symbols and traditions are associated with St. Patrick’s Day. Read about their meaning and origin at History Channel’s article:  http://www.history.com/topics/st-patricks-day-symbols-and-traditions.
• There are many Irish proverbs and sayings. See if you can figure out what they really mean: http://www.irishabroad.com/culture/proverbs/. For instance, “A good beginning is half the work.”

CREATE:

• Several myths about St. Patrick’s Day abound. Did he really drives all the snakes out of Ireland? Was he Irish? What is blarney? Referring to the National Geographic Society’s article about St. Patrick (http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2005/03/0315_050315_stpatricksday.html), create a “blarney” or trivia game about St. Patrick. See if players can guess which statements are facts or blarney. You can make up your own myths, or research more facts, and add them to the game.
• Enchanted Learning (http://www.enchantedlearning.com/crafts/stpatrick/) has lots of ideas for fun crafts for youngsters, many of them using items around the house.
• You don’t have to be Irish to eat like one. Here is a handful of traditional Irish recipes to try: http://www.history.com/topics/irish-recipes-st-patricks-day
• Have fun playing games with a St. Patrick’s Day theme: http://spoonful.com/st-patricks-day/st-patricks-day-games. You can change some of the details, and make them work for other holidays – or any day!

CARE:

• Saint Patrick was known for supporting the Irish, who were sometimes mistreated by others. Even today, some people are mistreated. Sometimes people who have disabilities, who are poor, or who are very young or very old may be mistreated. Cyberbullying is a form is mistreatment.  Here are some websites that can help you address cyberbullying mistreatment: http://www.stopcyberbullying.org/, http://cyberbully411.org/, http://www.stopbullying.gov/cyberbullying/index.html
• The potato is often associated with Ireland.  Find out what happened to the potato in Ireland: http://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/historyonline/irish_potato_famine.cfm. Famines still occur in the world. For instance, East Africans suffer from hunger. CNN suggests ways that you can help: http://www.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/africa/07/20/iyw.howtohelp.somalia.famine/index.html
• St. Patrick is the patron saint of Ireland. Most countries have special heroes who have cared for those people. Can you think of some? Ganghi? Martin Luther King? Can you think of someone who is a special hero to your area or your family? How can you be a special helper to others?

CAREER:

How might St. Patrick’s Day link to careers? You could become a historian, a religious leader, a party or events planner, a travel agent, a linguist, a costumer, a chef, a media maker. Or you might want to work in Ireland. It’s amazing how an interest can lead to a career. Get inspired by these ideas of travel-related careers.

http://matadornetwork.com/abroad/20-awesome-travel-jobs-and-how-to-get-them/

Read Across America

On March 1 people across the United States will “read across America.” The celebration focuses on reading that reflects the uniqueness of each state in the country. Your family can join in the fun. Even if you don’t make it on that day, remember that you can read across American EVERY day.

CONNECT:

The National Education Association, who started this celebration in 1998, offers resources and activities to enjoy: http://www.nea.org/grants/886.htm

One of the inspirations for “Read Across America” is Dr. Seuss, whose birthday is March 2. Salute Dr. Seuss with some of the activities mentioned at http://www.seussville.com/activities/RAA13_EduKit_Booklet_WEB.pdf

Watch prior Read Across America celebrations at http://www.readacrossamerica.org/?page_id=38

Love to travel but don’t have the money or the time? Here’s a way to travel across America by reading about all of the 50 states: http://www.nea.org/grants/50-state-booklist.html

What are some award-winning books to read for this occasion? First Book Marketplace has some great suggestions: http://www.fbmarketplace.org/

Want to hear what families say about about books for young readers? Listen to these podcasts: http://www.readwritethink.org/parent-afterschool-resources/podcast-series/chatting-about-books-recommendations-30130.html. There’s txting about teen readings too: http://www.readwritethink.org/parent-afterschool-resources/podcast-series/text-messages-recommendations-adolescent-30214.html

CREATE:

Even if someone in your family can’t read, there are always wordless books. Find out how to share one at http://vimeo.com/17817448 

Cook up some Seussical recipes: http://www.nea.org/grants/Seuss-inspired-recipes.htm

You can follow great reads at Google Lit Trips: http://googlelittrips.org/. You might try planning your own literacy trip using these tools.

Each state has its own reading awards. The list is found at http://www.cynthialeitichsmith.com/lit_resources/awards/stateawards.html.  Find out what’s being nominated in your state, and read those books. You might be able to vote to the winning one!

CARE:

Start reading at home. Even if your child is a baby, the experience of reading aloud to that baby in your lap sets up an atmosphere of love and literacy. Here are some more keys to helpin a child become a good reader: http://www.cta.org/raa

Reach Out and Read (http://www.cynthialeitichsmith.com/lit_resources/awards/stateawards.html)is a project that uses volunteers to help provide literacy-rich doctors’ literacy-rich waiting rooms. Family can help by reading aloud to children as well as donating gently used reading materials and furniture.

Like to read aloud? LibriVox volunteers read and record chapters of books in the public domain, and make them available for free on the Internet. Check out details and register at http://librivox.org/volunteer-for-librivox/

Reading is Fundamental (RIF) motivates children to read, and there are many ways to volunteer and donate. Check out the options at http://www.rif.org/us/get-involved/volunteer.htm

CAREER:

Almost all careers involve reading. If you like to read, here are some good career starters: librarain, writer, editor, publisher, teacher, historian, lawyer.

http://www.bls.gov/k12/reading.htm

http://education-portal.com/articles/Careers_for_Reading_Lovers.html

http://careers.collegetoolkit.com/career-search/criteria/skills/readingcomprehension.aspx

What's the Problem?

We encounter problems every day throughout our lives. And we usually cannot wish them away. If it’s the same problem we’ve solved before, then we can solve it the same way – or maybe we can think of a better solution. Different problems sometimes require different ways to address them. The following activities look at a variety of kinds of problems and ways to solve them – using technology. You’ll find that they can be fun to do – and can help you with those real-life problems that seemed impossible to solve before.

CONNECT:
•    Engineers often use design briefs as a systematic way to define and solve a problem. Read about this approach at http://www.technologystudent.com/designpro/problem1.htm. Think about your home; can you apply a design brief to solve a problem there?   
•    What is computational thinking? Think with and outside this interactive student’s box to find out: http://www.iste.org/Files/CT-animation_student.swf
•    Sometimes making ideas explode is a good idea. See how problem-solving techniques can result in a great fireworks display: http://artsedge.kennedy-center.org/multimedia/series/AEMicrosites/art-of-the-explosion.aspx
•    How do inventors solve problems? Watch this video about Thomas Edison: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lgt9NCSqCjI. You can search for lots of inventors at http://web.mit.edu/invent/i-archive.html. This site also has fun interactive games about inventions: http://web.mit.edu/invent/g-main.html
•    Have you ever invented something? What would it take to get a patent for it? Find out at http://web.mit.edu/invent/h-main.html

CREATE:
•    Can you link art, baseball, and problem-solving? ArtsEdge can help you do that. Try their activity at: http://artsedge.kennedy-center.org/educators/lessons/grade-3-4/All_Around_The_Baseball_Field.aspx
•    A math problem a day keeps the dead brain cells away. Choose from over 100 activities, listed by grade: http://illuminations.nctm.org/ActivitySearch.aspx/ Here’s one to start with (and you’ll learn some programming techniques!): http://illuminations.nctm.org/ActivityDetail.aspx?ID=83
•    How about systems thinking? Break it down! In this interactive simulation: http://sciencenetlinks.com/media/filer/2011/10/07/breakitdown.swf  (here is the teacher’s guide to this activity: http://sciencenetlinks.com/lessons/break-it-down/)
•    Play with ideas! Learn how inventors problem solve by playing these games: http://sciencenetlinks.com/tools/invention-at-play/
•    Try your hand at experimenting. Jefferson labs links to many hands-on and online activities: http://education.jlab.org/indexpages/teachers.html

CARE:
•    Closely related to design briefs is design thinking: http://www.edutopia.org/blog/design-thinking-betty-ray. This article refers to the Big Ideas Fest: http://www.bigideasfest.org/ Most of these Big Ideas improve the community. Do you see any Big Idea that you might adapt  to solve a problem in your own community?
•    Can kids solve community problems? YES! Get inspired by reading what these teens did: http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/2012/09/pathways-to-research-problem-solving/
•    Want to help map your community to help solve geographic problems? Find out how to participate at http://www.esri.com/software/arcgis/community-maps-program/ If you get hooked on Geographic Information Systems, go to http://www.educationworld.com/a_tech/tech/tech186.shtml for lots of cool projects.
•    The KIDS Model promotes service learning and youth engagement to help the community. There are several projects for different ages to choose from. Maybe your family can adopt one: http://www.kidsconsortium.org/kidsmodel.php
•    Thinking about your future? Futures problem solving tries to think ahead so your world will be a better place to live. Find out how this approach is done worldwide at  http://www.unesco.org/education/tlsf/mods/theme_d/mod25.html

CAREERS:
•    Do you like to solve problems? Every job entails problem solving, but some jobs really focus on this kind of activity. Find out about some of those jobs at
http://careerthoughts.com/jobs-solving-problems
http://www.employmentspot.com/employment-articles/careers-for-people-who-like-to-problem-solve/
•    The following site explains the benefits of learning how to problem solve in your job: http://targetjobs.co.uk/careers-advice/skills-and-competencies/300766-problem-solving-the-mark-of-an-independent-employee

Picture This!

Family photos capture precious memories. Photos can mark times along life’s journeys, both big and small. Consider taking sequential photos of haircuts, room changes, seasons; these can be used to teach processes to youngsters. Even the same event or place looks different to each family member, so try to let everyone have a shot at photography. Of course, with digital photography, it’s easier to take and share photos. Enjoy!

CONNECT:

* This rich website explains key camera terms, links to tutorials, and suggest fun activities to do with digital cameras: http://www.teachersmousepad.com/Digital%20Camera%20Fun/Digital%20Camera%20Fun.htm

* Because photographs can be easily digitized, several photography museums can be visited virtually. Take a look at some of these: http://www.icp.org/research-center/library/professional-links/photography-museums

* Picture the last century in photos: http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/picturing_the_century/index.html

* Photography has been around almost two hundred years, and it’s changed much in that time period, as you can see at http://teachertube.com/viewVideo.php?video_id=272302  

* Digital photography can be easily edited, including a false impression. However, photo trickery has been around for over a century. Explore photo fiction at http://www.photographymuseum.com/phofictions1.html

CREATE:

* This site provides you basics about choosing a digital camera: http://www.apte.com/tools/photography/index.cfm  

* Like oatmeal? Even if you don’t, you can turn an oatmeal box into a pinhole camera: http://users.rcn.com/stewoody/

* How much light do you need to take photographs? This website shows how you can create the materials do night photography: http://library.thinkquest.org/5135/photography.htm

* This video shows you tips for taking good photos: http://teachertube.com/viewVideo.php?video_id=89672  

* You can create a video from photos. See you at http://teachertube.com/viewVideo.php?video_id=145185

CARE:

* National Geographic Society has a photo gallery for kids: http://kids.nationalgeographic.com/kids/photos/gallery/. The Society also sponsors international children’s photo contests

* Photography has helped people become more famous, especially as copies can be distributed widely and quickly. But there is a cost to fame by photography, such as privacy. See how photography has impacted fame at http://www.moma.org/exhibitions/1999/fameafterphotography/ 

* This site gives you tips on sharing your pictures safely: http://artsedge.kennedy-center.org/educators/how-to/tipsheets/going-public.aspx

* Read this online article, which discusses a workshop that taught youth how to use documentary photo methods for civic engagement. You can get involved too! http://msue.anr.msu.edu/news/youth_and_adults_learn_how_to_use_photography_as_a_tool_for_civic_engagemen

CAREER:

* Here are some sources of information about becoming a photographer:

http://www.bls.gov/ooh/media-and-communication/photographers.htm

http://www.theartcareerproject.com/shoot-for-the-sky-learn-about-a-career-in-photography/90/

* Know that many careers incorporate photos: science, business, art, entertainment, engineering, fashion, politics. So whether you’re in front or the camera or behind it, picture your future.

PARENTS:

* As you might imagine, many photo websites have images that are targeted to adults rather than youth, so it’s wise to check out websites before starting family activities.

* In addition, sharing photos can be problematic since, sadly, some people check out photos to see when families go on vacation or buy expensive things. Some people even stalk individuals, so share carefully and make sure that you can stipulate who sees your photos.

Water, water, everywhere, nor any drop to drink

Most of us take water for granted, but less than 1% of the water worldwide is drinkable. Of course, water can be used in many water: brainstorm all the possible uses of water! That can start your adventure in finding out about water and the problems that are associated with the lack or quality of water. It can sometimes be hard to swallow.  And, unlike the weather, you CAN do something about it.


CONNECT:
+ Where does water come from? What happens to it? Find out about the real flow of water at http://water.nationalacademies.org/basics_part_2.shtml
+ Where does water go – and where is it scarce? You can find out the water situation in 193 countries, thanks to the United Nations Water Assessment Program
http://www.greenfacts.org/en/water-resources/index.htm
+ The Peace Corps has collected hundreds of pictures and stories about water, focusing on Africa: http://wws.peacecorps.gov/wws/educators/enrichment/africa/resources/index.html
+ Have you ever thought of water as a lethal weapon (beyond a balloon water “bomb”)? People have had conflicts over water for thousands of years. The Pacific Institute provides a timeline and map about water as a weapon, a military target, and a terrorist tool: http://www.worldwater.org/conflict.html
+ Did you know that more than twenty diseases are connected to water? Lenntech  lists waterborne diseases and  treatment solutions.
http://www.lenntech.com/library/diseases/diseases/waterborne-diseases.htm

CREATE:
+ The National Parks WebRangers site has 8 interactive activities about water, from rip currents to water quality. Just type in WATER in the search box at http://www.nps.gov/webrangers/.
+ You can go to a virtual water science school at http://ga.water.usgs.gov/edu/. This site is available in English, Spanish, and Chinese.
+ What causes water pollution: What kinds of water pollution exist, and what are their dangers? And how can you prevent and treat water pollution? Find the answers at http://www.water-pollution.org.uk/
+ Make up a trivia game by incorporating these Interesting facts about water: http://www.foodandwaterwatch.org/water/interesting-water-facts/
+ Reinvent the toilet, and compare your ideas with this Gates Foundation project:
http://www.gatesfoundation.org/watersanitationhygiene/Pages/home.aspx

CARE:
+ Your family should be prepared in case of water-related crises. Here are directions for a family emergency kit: http://emergency.cdc.gov/preparedness/kit/disasters/
+ Learn how to be a good pool citizen at
http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=50298
+ Project River Keepers shows you how to investigate the quality of water in a nearby river. You can also join the “Adopt Your Watershed” campaign in partnership with the Environmental Protection Agency: http://www2.gsu.edu/~mstjrh/riverkeepers.html
+ The EPA has several other ways that you can protect water at home and in the community: http://www2.epa.gov/learn-issues/water
+ Create your own storm water education campaign, focuses on who to prevent polluted storm water. The Water Environment Federation has free online resources to help you get started: http://www.wef.org/communications/

CAREERS:
Think that a job involving water is “all wet”? Think again!
+ The Water Resources Program as Spokane Community College lists examples of water-related careers: http://www.scc.spokane.edu/?waterres
+ Water for Jobs shows how water infrastructure impacts jobs  http://www.waterforjobs.org/
+ EPA Office of Water offers several  careers that make a difference: http://water.epa.gov/aboutow/careers/index.cfm