This Land is Your Land; This Park is Our Park

The U.S. National Parks belong to all of us. They are public lands set aside for conservation purposes.  Check out how your tax dollars are being spent – and how you can enjoy that investment.

CONNECT:

• Join Sesame Street at they visit national parks: http://www.nationalparks.org/connect/npf-kids
• How does land become a national park? Find out the process at http://www.nps.gov/aboutus/history.htm
• Discover the Power of Parks; check out National Geographic Society’s free guides or download their free app and start exploring! http://travel.nationalgeographic.com/travel/national-parks/
• The Mapping the National Parks collection documents the history, cultural aspects and geological formations of areas that eventually became National Parks. The collection consists of approximately 200 maps dating from the 17th century to the present, reflecting early mapping of the areas that would become four National Parks, as well as the parks themselves. https://www.loc.gov/collection/national-parks-maps/about-this-collection/ See if you can tell from the maps that the area would make a good park.

CREATE:

• Take a quiz about U.S. national parks at http://blog.elmonterv.com/index.php/rv-camping-quizzes/u-s-national-parks-quiz/
• The National Park Services has thousands of facts and figures: http://www.nps.gov/aboutus/news/factsfigures.htm.  Make your own trivia game using those data.
• Wonderland is in the US: at the first national park: Yellowstone. Explore its resources and treasures on this eTrip: http://www.windowsintowonderland.org/
• Are you a fourth-grade (or 9-year old home schooler)? This is your lucky year: you and your family can receive an Every Kid in a Park pass that will give you free access to hundreds of parks, lands, and waters for an entire year. Get your pass at http://www.nps.gov/kids/features/2015/everyKid.cfm
• Not close to a national park? Become a webranger by taking part in activities similar to what might be provided in on-site Park Ranger programs. http://www.nps.gov/webrangers/entry_gate.cfm

CARE:

• Foxes on islands? Yes, Channel Islands National Park, off the coast of Southern California, is the home of the island fox. But those foxes are increasingly rare.. Learn about factors contributing to their decline, and about what is being done to recover this rare and unique species. And find out what you can do to help: http://home.nps.gov/chis/learn/nature/island-fox.htm
• Foxes aren’t the only endangered species in national parks. Find out how the National Park Service’s Biological Resources Division provides scientific expertise and technological assistance to support the sound management, protection, conservation and preservation of biological resources and related ecosystem processes in our national parks: http://www.nature.nps.gov/biology/
• Just recently this Alaskan national park was renamed: from Whitney to Denali. Find out the history of that naming, and why it is so important: http://www.livescience.com/52056-mount-mckinley-renamed-denali.html
• Learn how you can take charge to help protect our national parks for future generations by visiting the National Park Conservation Association: http://www.npca.org

CAREERS:

Did you know that national parks employ more than 28,000 people? Think of all the jobs that are needed to maintain a park: rangers, scientistis, landscapers, architects, facilities staff, security, firefighters, educators, communications specialists, food staff, sales people, technicians. http://www.nps.gov/aboutus/workwithus.htm

Like the great outdoors? Consider becoming a park ranger: http://www.parkrangeredu.org/

Football is Super!

Super Bowl is a U.S. national sport in itself. Its basis is a game that has existed in some format for centuries. Get a kick out of football.

CONNECT:

• Read all about football including a glossary of terms, players, rules, and strategy of American style football at http://www.ducksters.com/sports/football.php
• See how football equipment has evolved at http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1642538-the-evolution-of-football-equipment
• It’s Greek to me; that’s where football started. Read about football history at http://www.hornetfootball.org/documents/football-history.htm\
• In England, the kind of sport that the U.S. calls football is called rugby. http://www.englandrugby.com/ explains English rugby.
• Make a game about Super Bowl facts: http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/football/50-super-bowl-50-facts-drop-super-bowl-party-article-1.2521152

CREATE:

• Play football AT http://www.nflrush.com/.   
• Get tips and advice on cheerleading, tryouts, and listen to different football cheers at http://www.topcheers.com/footballcheers
• Play “pro football” online at http://www.primarygames.com/arcade/sports/profootball/
• Use your math knowledge in these brainiac aspects of football: http://www.funbrain.com/football/
• Plan a football-themed party using these ideas: http://www.birthdayinabox.com/party-ideas/football.html
• Have fun making football-based crafts, following the directions at http://www.dltk-kids.com/sports/superbowl.htm

CARE:

• At what age is football safe for kids? Watch the video at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dsRLGqJ2niQ
• Debate the procs and cons about kids playing football: http://www.primarygames.com/arcade/sports/profootball/
• Football can be a dangerous game. See how sport injuries can be prevented and treated at http://footballmedicine.net/

CAREERS:

Make your passion for football a smashing career success! Several don’t even need a helmet.

https://www.livecareer.com/career-tips/getting-the-job/career-change/jobs-for-football-fans

http://career-advice.monster.com/job-search/company-industry-research/jobs-behind-the-game/article.aspx

http://study.com/articles/Careers_in_Football.html

Over (and Under) the Ocean Blue

How much do you know about the majority of planet earth: its oceans? It’s a lively topic, and one you can really plunge into. Try some of these activities below, and make waves!

CONNECT:

• Did you know that the ocean forms currents? What causes currents? Why is the sea salty? Find out the answers to these questions at http://www.amnh.org/exhibitions/permanent-exhibitions/rose-center-for-earth-and-space/david-s.-and-ruth-l.-gottesman-hall-of-planet-earth/what-causes-climate-and-climate-change/the-world-ocean
• Discover marine creatures from the tiny zooxanthellae that make the coral reefs home to the giant mammals of the vast seas: at http://www.mbgnet.net/salt/index.htm
• Virtually visit the Smithsonian Ocean Planet exhibit at http://seawifs.gsfc.nasa.gov/OCEAN_PLANET/HTML/ocean_planet_overview.html
• Explore marine life “down under” at http://portphillipmarinelife.net.au/
• Discover planet ocean at http://school.discoveryeducation.com/schooladventures/planetocean/ocean.html
• Look at the history of ocean life through NOAA’s photo library: http://www.photolib.noaa.gov/

CREATE:

• This site allows you to do several activities related to sea life: https://www.fi.edu/sites/default/files/SummerCampDiscovery_Week8_Dangers_of_the_Deep_Newsletter.08.14.pdf
• Explore the splendors of the sea at http://www.seasky.org/sea.html
• Watch a kelp forest “live” at http://www.montereybayaquarium.org/animals-and-experiences/live-web-cams/kelp-forest-cam. You might even see a wolf eel!
• Become a Junior Oceanographer! Take the quiz and earn a certificate. Join at http://sealevel.jpl.nasa.gov/education/stuffforkids/junioroceanographer/

CARE:

• How much oil is usually lost to an oil spill and who cleans it up? Find out on this site from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration: http://response.restoration.noaa.gov/oil-and-chemical-spills/oil-spills
• Want to help oceans and the living things therein? http://www.vanaqua.org/act/direct-action has a list of conservation projects that you can participate in.
• Make waves at this interactive website:  http://waves.marine.usf.edu/news_menu/news_menu.htm
• Imagine living underwater to study and preserve marine ecosystems. You can get involved without even getting wet, at http://aquarius.fiu.edu/
• You don’t have to be a scientist to help save coral reefs. Try one of the following ten steps to help: http://www.nature.org/ourinitiatives/habitats/coralreefs/ways-to-help-coral-reefs/index.htm

CAREER:

You can make waves in a career related to oceans. Here are few starters:

http://www.oceancareers.com/2.0/index.php

http://www.marinecareers.net/

http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/edu/oceanage/welcome.html

http://www.cosee.net/about/careers/

http://www.marineinsight.com/careers-2/a-list-of-unique-and-interesting-marine-careers/

https://marine-conservation.org/who-we-are/jobs/career-resources/

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

Take Flight with Angels

Angels aren’t just tree toppings. They have existed in the minds of people around the world. And many other things are named “angel.” Let your imagination take flight with these angel-related activities.

CONNECT:

• Angels are mentioned in several cultures and religions, as outlined at http://english-magazine.org/english-reading/english-for-culture/1166-culture-article340
• Angel Falls is the highest waterfall in the world; find the facts at http://primaryfacts.com/1322/angel-falls-facts-about-the-highest-waterfall-in-the-world/
• Explore the history of Angel Island in San Francisco Bay, from the Miworks to the Spaniards to immigrants and tourists: http://angelisland.org/history/
• Read Hans Christian Andersen’s fairy tale “The Angel” as an expression of kindness this season: http://hca.gilead.org.il/angel.html
• Can you play baseball like an Angel? Follow the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim at http://losangeles.angels.mlb.com/index.jsp?c_id=ana

CREATE:

• Angel hair can refer to a type of thin noodle. See the various shapes of pasta, and how their shapes are used for different kinds of dishes: http://www.lifeinitaly.com/food/pasta.asp
• Make fun angel cookies, with pretzel wings and almond hands: http://www.bettycrocker.com/recipes/almond-angel-cookies/009d2865-e138-40e3-aefa-558ca2dc7d4f
• Here’s lots of angel crafts to make around the year: http://www.freekidscrafts.com/holidays/christmas-crafts/angel-crafts/
• Here are some angel costumes and wings to make: http://www.artistshelpingchildren.org/howtomakeangelcostumeshalloweencraftskids.html

CARE:

• Dogs can be angels; canine angels help children with special needs be more independent. Learn about this service at http://www.canine-angels.org/
• The Blue Angels serve as positive role models and goodwill ambassadors for the U. S. Navy and Marine Corps. Watch a 360-degree video demonstration at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H6SsB3JYqQg
• Los Angeles is called The City of Angels. That city owns a zoo and botanical gardens. Read about their conservation efforts at http://www.lazoo.org/conservation/. You can support those efforts too.
• Project Angle Food cooks thousands of meals every week to people who are too sick to shop and cook for themselves (http://www.angelfood.org). Perhaps there is a similar service in your area where you can help.
• You can have your own angel: an angelfish. Reel in facts about caring for them at http://small-pets.lovetoknow.com/fish/10-facts-about-angelfish.
• Can coins save a life? Read about the myth of the French Angel coin at http://www.gainesvillecoins.com/tips/25/the-extraordinary-legend-of-the-french-angel-coin.aspx

CAREERS:

You can be a guardian angel for someone by helping to care for them. Healthcare positions offer many opportunities: http://kidshealth.org/teen/school_jobs/jobs/health-care-careers.html

Religion can lead to many careers: http://www.studyreligion.org/where/skills.html