YOU’VE GOT THE WORLD ON A STRING

The word “puppet” comes from the Greek, and means “drawn by strings.”   Puppets come in many sizes and shapes, and have been around for centuries. Make the world of puppetry come alive with these activities.

CONNECT:

• Puppets came alive in this adult marionette comic theater. Take a virtual tour of this Turnabout Theatre: http://dbase1.lapl.org/turnabout/
• Virtually visit the puppet museum in Holland: http://www.poppenspelmuseum.nl/index2.html
• Punch is considered the traditional puppet of England, but variations on Punch are found around the world: http://www.punchandjudy.com/patw.htm
• Ever see puppets walk on water? They do on Vietnam’s Red River. Watch a performance at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rxIff980XyM
• Three people for one puppet? Read about Bunraku: Japan's professional puppet theater. http://factsanddetails.com/japan/cat20/sub131/item713.html#chapter-4

CREATE:

• Make your own puppet; here’s more than two dozen ideas: https://craftsbyamanda.com/kids-puppets/
• You can make a puppet out of almost anything: Watch how to make shadow puppets with your hands at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kz8wP2RYy64
• And here’s how to make Indonesian shadow puppets: http://www.thatartistwoman.org/2011/01/wayang-kulit-indonesian-shadow-puppets.html
• Try your hand at making a marionette, and see how a professional marionette is created: https://www.wikihow.com/Create-a-Marionette
• Act out these puppet play scripts (https://www.dramanotebook.com/plays-for-kids/puppet-plays-2/) – and make up your own.

CARE:

• Celebrate World Day of Puppetry! It occurs March 21, the first day of spring, but you can celebrate every day at https://www.puppeteers.org/discover-puppetry/world-day-of-puppetry
• Watch how puppets can be an effective play therapy: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m3EMiXzGymg
• Find out how socks become service puppets that help children speak: http://studentprograms.operationsmile.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Sock-Puppet.pdf
•  Put on a show for friends by creating a shadow puppet theater; follow the directions at http://www.kidspot.com.au/things-to-do/activity-articles/make-a-shadow-puppet-theatre/news-story/d9ed634b2e68caea28c52c263771a400

CAREERS:

Want the world on a string? Try a career connected with puppets: puppet designer, puppeteer, playwright, children’s party planner, therapist, as well as the digital world of puppets.

• Here’s how a professional takes care of puppets: http://articles.latimes.com/2007/mar/25/entertainment/ca-working25
•  Watch an interview with a Cirque du Soleil puppeteer at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AHGUV8nMpYg
•  Get behind the scenes of the Muppets at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OZW8T7WKG0Y

Me Gustan Los Latinos

Mid-September to Mid-October is National Hispanic Heritage Month, which recognizes the contributions of Hispanic and Latino Americans. And their contributions continue all year. Now’s a good time to learn about their heritage and leadership.

CONNECT:

• Check out these facts about National Hispanic Heritage Month: http://www.softschools.com/facts/holidays/hispanic_heritage_month_facts/786/
• It’s about Time to read about leading Latinos in the United States: http://content.time.com/time/specials/packages/0,28757,2008201,00.html
• Watch these PBS specials about Latino heritage and culture: http://www.pbs.org/specials/hispanic-heritage-month/
• Explore Smithsonian’s Latino Center Kids Corner: http://latino.si.edu/kidscorner/
• Learn how to read a Mayan calendar at https://www.dkfindout.com/us/history/mayans/mayan-calendar/

CREATE:

• Create Ecudorian migajon miniatures following these directions: https://kidworldcitizen.org/2011/11/29/make-miniature-figures-out-of-ecuadorian-migajon-clay/
• Try making some of these Mexican recipes: http://www.dltk-kids.com/world/mexico/recipes.htm
• Play a traditional Mexican game such as toma todo:  http://www.spanishplayground.net/traditional-game-top-printable/
• Come party! Make your own Ponce carnival mask: http://amhistory.si.edu/ourstory/pdf/puerto/carnival_mask.pdf
• Calculate using Mayan numerals: http://mathcentral.uregina.ca/rr/database/rr.09.00/hubbard1/MayanNumerals.html

CARE:

• Add a festive touch to your home with traditional Mexican punched papers called papeles picados: https://happythought.co.uk/day-of-the-dead/how-to-make-papel-picado
• It’s family time for movies that feature Latinos: http://quemas.mamaslatinas.com/parenting/117211/18_latino_movies_your_kids
• Adopt a Latino sister city at http://www.sistercities.org/
• Grow a salsa garden: https://www.chicagobotanic.org/plantinfo/growing_salsa_garden
• Read the stories of these kid reporters about Hispanic Heritage Month, from celebrating Quinciañera to an interview with Selena Gomez: http://www.scholastic.com/browse/collection.jsp?id=695. You too can interview a Latino whom you admire.

CAREERS:

More than even, it’s important to communicate in two or more languages – and it’s a good career move: from translator to service provider, from teaching to business.

http://louisville.edu/spanish/what-can-i-do-with-a-major-in-spanish.html

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

http://work.chron.com/careers-spanish-majors-bachelors-degree-8621.html

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Shine Some Light on the Sun

Do you like to bask in the sun? The sun is more than fun – it is necessary fo you to live! So shine some light on our nearest star by exploring these activities.

CONNECT:

• Read this introduction to our nearest star at http://www.michielb.nl/sun/
• How have people regarded the sun throughout history? Find out at https://www.nasa.gov/vision/universe/solarsystem/sun_history.html
• See the live coverage of the recent full solar eclipse at https://www.exploratorium.edu/video/live-coverage-eclipse
• The sun isn’t really all yellow; it has dark spots, some as large as 50,000 miles in diameter. Find out about sunspots at http://www.exploratorium.edu/sunspots/index.html
• Watch how sunflowers follow the sun at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g8mr0R3ibPU

CREATE:

• Here are six sundial projects for you to make: http://www.sundials.co.uk/projects.htm
• Let the sun help you create art by making sun prints: http://www.pbs.org/parents/crafts-for-kids/sun-prints/
• Try some of these 16 brilliant sun crafts for kids: http://aboutfamilycrafts.com/16-sun-crafts-for-kids/
• Read solar folklore at http://solar-center.stanford.edu/folklore/

CARE:

• Become Sunwise with these Environmental Protection Agency handouts: https://www.epa.gov/sunsafety/sun-safety-fact-sheets-and-handouts
• Brush up on suncreeen and sun protection for kids at http://www.webmd.com/children/features/summer-sun-protection-for-kids#1
• Watch how minions keep sun safe: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7UWvqNeqX6E
• Want to make your own sunscreen? Read this first: https://www.consumerreports.org/sunscreens/homemade-sunscreen-is-a-definite-dont/

CAREERS:

A sun-related career can be in your stars. See how:

http://www.astronomynotes.com/careers.htm

http://www.jobsforastronomers.com/careers

If you work outdoors, you need protection from the heat and scorching sun: https://www.concentra.com/resource-center/articles/keeping-employees-who-work-outdoors-safe-in-the-sun/

Up into the Air

Leaving the ground for the air is exhilarating – and can be hard to do. Take off on these airborne activities about flight.

CONNECT:

• Have you ever dreamt you were flying? Since the beginning of history, people have dreamed of flying, as you’ll see here: https://www.fi.edu/topics/flight
• The Museum of Flight is one of the largest air and space museums in the world. Browse current exhibits virtually at http://www.museumofflight.org/
• What’s the story behind the Wright brothers, who made the first successful flight of a motor-powered airplane? It’s at http://www.wright-house.com/wright-brothers/Wrights.html
• If you've ever been interested in taking a ride in a hot air balloon, this is the site for you: http://www.hotairballooning.com/

CREATE:

• Enjoy a variety of online activities exploring the principles of aviation and spaceflight: https://airandspace.si.edu/learn
• Connect with NASA’s interactive website for students: https://www.nasa.gov/audience/forstudents/index.html
• Have you ever wondered what the controls of a aircraft do? you have come to the right place! http://meriweather.com/flight-decks/
• Learn how to make paper airplanes with these easy instructions: https://www.origamiway.com/paper-airplanes.shtml
• Make your own model air balloon by following the directions at https://www.homesciencetools.com/a/make-a-hot-air-balloon

CARE:

• What safe is flying? Here are some comforting facts: http://www.gogetterjetsetter.com/how-safe-is-flying.php
• A commercial pilot answers questions about flying and its safety: https://www.thrillist.com/travel/nation/how-to-fly-commercial-pilot-flying-questions
• Follow these top ten child air travel safety trips: http://www.airsafe.com/kidsafe/kid_tips.htm
• Have fun watching this flight safety demo by little kids: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y17u5o5HVeo

CAREERS:

Even if you are afraid of flying, you can have a career related to flight: as a chef, travel agent, mechanic, engineer, and communicator. Let your imaginatin take flight with some of these aeronautic careers:

https://www.nasa.gov/centers/langley/news/factsheets/FS-2001-09-68-LaRC.html

http://www.nctaviationcareers.com/

https://www.eaa.org/en/eaa/aviation-education-and-resources/eaa-youth-education/work-in-aviation-and-start-your-aviation-career

http://www.learnhowtobecome.org/science-technology-careers/aviation/

https://www.faa.gov/jobs/

http://www.payscale.com/career-news/2011/08/jobs-in-aviation