Animal Mothers

 Every animal has a mother. How are they alike – and different? Try these activities to find out. And hug your mom…

 CONNECT:

• Watch 10 caring and devoted animal moms in the world at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SS4JCfzJwz8
• Follow this read-aloud book about how animal babies travel with their mothers: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e4TIYk5QMbo
• Read about hard-working animal moms at https://www.doi.gov/blog/celebrating-hard-working-animal-moms

 

CREATE:

• Learn about the science of animal babies and their mothers at https://kidsdiscover.com/teacherresources/baby-animals-science-lesson/
• With your mom, act out your inner animal child with these activities:  https://mothernatured.com/children/
• Match animals with their baby names with this game at https://blog.allaboutlearningpress.com/baby-animal-names/ or create this animal baby name game at https://www.kitchencounterchronicle.com/are-you-my-mother-animal-memory-game/

CARE:

• Learn about animal mothers care for their young at https://ca.pbslearningmedia.org/resource/ilwnet17-sci-life-young/how-animals-care-for-their-young/
• Learn from animal mothers how to care for children at https://www.inverse.com/science/7-lessons-moms-can-learn-from-animals
• Create animal-based Mother’s Days cards with the templates at https://www.petakids.com/activities/mothers-day-cards/

 

CAREERS:

You can make a career from learning about animal mothers: veterinarian, zoo staff, biologist, wildlife specialist. Your mom would be proud. Read about some possibilities here.

• https://mothernatured.com/parenting/wildlife-and-animal-career-information-for-children-and-teenagers/
• https://brevardzoo.org/the-truth-about-the-best-job-in-the-world/
• https://www.uvisor.com/55-great-careers-working-animals/

 

 

Please Pass the Pasta

 

Almost every culture has cuisine that includes noodles or pasta. They really are staples in life. Get your “noodle” around this international dish.

 

CONNECT:

• Watch how pasta is made at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u03XLe4GBLQ
• Pasta is over 5000 years old! Watch is history is a few minutes at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GTOCBaDBVGI
• Here’s what noodles and pasta look like in 13 places around the world: https://www.insider.com/noodles-look-like-around-the-world-2018-8
• Examine this online pasta-noodle gallery: https://foodimentary.com/2013/03/11/national-eat-your-noodles-day/

 

CREATE:

• Even toddlers can have fun with pasta, not just playing with their food, at https://www.playideas.com/pasta-play-ideas/
• Learn how to dye pasta and then make the pieces into masterpieces: at https://artfulparent.com/pasta-art-activities-for-kids/
• Create a trivia facts game using the information found at https://www.factsjustforkids.com/food-facts/pasta-facts-for-kids/
• You can make your own pasta from scratch: watch how at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0mLFYqDxShE

 

CARE:

• Make pasty super healthy with these nutrient-packed, kid-friendly pasta recipes: https://www.superhealthykids.com/10-nutrient-packed-pasta-recipes/
• It’s good for kids to learn how to prepare food, and they should usually have an adult around. AND it’s just as important to be safe in the kitchen; watch some tips at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QVtwhOHLP44
• You have heard that chicken noodle soup is good when you’re ill; learn about its medical magic at https://www.webmd.com/food-recipes/news/20181226/the-secret-behind-chicken-soups-medical-magic

 

CAREERS:

When you think of pasta production, you can realize the many careers that are related to pasta: farming, manufacturing, selling, cooking – and more indirectly chemist, nutritionist, restauranteer and interior decorator, food critic, even historian.  There’s even a National Pasta Association: https://ilovepasta.org/

 

All American Benjamin Franklin

 

A new PBS series features one of our most famous American founding fathers: Benjamin Franklin. Explore these online activities to inspire your inner “Benny” self.

 

CONNECT:

• Watch this bedtime story about Ben Franklin at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aJhBtd8QA_4
• Watch the many things that Ben Franklin invented at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YN9hFfC0lz0
• Ben Franklin was one of the five men who the wrote the document that declared the independence of the United States; watch how and why it was created at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eIO-7dFz2JU

 

CREATE:

• Ben Franklin’s first job was using a printing press. You can try your own hand a printmaking with these activities: https://tinkerlab.com/printmaking-for-kids/
• Ben Franklin did many science experiments, especially related to electricity: conduct your own electricity experiment following these directions: https://hiphomeschoolmoms.com/ben-franklin-easy-electricity-science-experiment/ and https://benjaminfranklinhouse.org/event/virtual-class-ben-franklins-lightning-rod/
• Try some more Ben-inspired activities: https://www.daniellesplace.com/html/benjamincrafts.html

 

CARE:

• How do you become a better person? Ben Franklin knew that self-improvement was a hard job. Try Ben’s strategy for yourself by following this activity: https://edsitement.neh.gov/student-activities/benjamin-franklins-virtues
• Ben Franklin was known for clever sayings to advise people; read several of his most famous ones: https://www.fi.edu/benjamin-franklin/famous-quotes.  Which one do you like best? Try creating your own special advice saying.
• When Ben Franklin was doing electricity experiments, he sometimes got a shock. Watch these safety tips when dealing with electricity: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aCvScgI1MCs

 

CAREERS:

Want a career like Ben Franklin? You have a lot to choose from: printer, writer, businessman,  postmaster, scientist, inventor, diplomat, politician, culture promoter. Read this biography to discover his career(s) path: https://www.britannica.com/biography/Benjamin-Franklin/Achievements-and-inventions

.

Failure is an option

 

We all make mistakes or fail, but we can learn from thos experiences and become better people as a result. These online activities help you benefit from those failures – and help you not do define yourself as a failure.

 

CONNECT:

• Learn from failure by watching this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fld9I8WOong
• Explore the museum of failure at https://museumoffailure.com/. What would you add to it?
• Watch about 10 famous people who failed – and ended up succeeding in life: at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PaLanU3oMQU
• Scientists use a design process to solve problems, and learn from their failures. Watch how anyone can do that at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MAhpfFt_mWM

 

CREATE:

• What do you do when science experiments fail? Here are some good tips: https://blog.sonlight.com/science-experiment-fails.html
• Try this marshmallow experiment – and learn even if you fail: https://connectedprincipals.com/archives/3224
• Scientists use failure to solve problems, as seen in this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TcUX6eNT2j4&t=52s   Apply what you learned by redoing the marshmallow experiment.
• Try more ideas to test your design processing skills, and go from failure to success: https://stemgeek.com/engineering-design-process-for-kids/

 

CARE:

• Watch this inspiring commercial about failing – and succeeding: https://youtu.be/zsZ5yOImHQQ
• You’re not alone. Here are tips from kids about failure: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aDzgfwgacMc. Try some of these tips to help your friend recover from failure.
• Here are ways to create games that help kids deal with failure: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EyAzumTnLh8
• For parents: your children may feel bad when they fail; here are a few tips for helping your children develop resilience: https://www.pbs.org/parents/thrive/teaching-children-it-s-ok-to-fail

 

CAREERS:

Failing can actually help you in your life’s careers. Here are some tips for everyone in the family:

• https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/career-development/failing-to-success
• https://youtu.be/MQx39z99_Js
• https://career.uconn.edu/blog/2015/07/01/why-experiencing-failure-is-as-important-as-experiencing-success/

AND if all else fails, you can become a failure analysis engineer: https://www.zippia.com/failure-analysis-engineer-jobs/

.

Take Your Medicine

 

You’ve probably taken medicine at some time. What do they do, and how do they work? Cure-ious? Diagnose the reason with these activities.

 

CONNECT:

• Find out what medicines do at https://kidshealth.org/en/kids/kidmedic.html
• What’s the difference between medicine and a drug? Get the answer at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OmiBhxd2ljA
• Watch how medicines are prepared at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RY7uS9bm3Zk
• Watch the history of medicine around the world at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MwsUsQYU8yo
• Watch medieval medicine practices at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fuEuaSmDOec

 

CREATE:

• Explore kid-friendly medical and health games at https://www.claricode.com/content/Medical-and-Health-Games-For-Kids.aspx
• Doctors are professionals who prescribe medicines; here are doctor activities and fun ideas for kids: https://www.childfun.com/themes/people/doctors/
• Create a doctor dramatic play area by following the directions at https://earlylearningideas.com/doctor-dramatic-play/

 

CARE:

• For parents: here are 10 ways to get kids to take medicine: https://www.everydayhealth.com/kids-health/10-ways-to-get-kids-to-take-medicine.aspx
• For parents: read these topis for giving medicine safely to your child: https://medlineplus.gov/medicinesandchildren.html
• Here are says to use and keep medicine safe: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1M21HNpx05w

 

CAREERS:

Medicine is a vital way to stay healthy – which means that medicine-related careers are a healthy choice. Examine some of these resources about medical careers.

• https://www.aamc.org/cim/https://students-residents.aamc.org/choosing-medical-career/deciding-career-medicine
• https://pharmacyforme.org/pharmacy-careers/

 

The Spices of Life

 You are probably eating some of the same spices that people ate and used over 3000 years ago! Spice up your life with these activities about spices.

 

CONNECT:

• Spices have improved humans’ lives since ancient civilizations’ times; read the spicy history at https://www.mccormickscienceinstitute.com/resources/history-of-spices
• See how spices changed the ancient world at https://www.bbc.com/future/bespoke/made-on-earth/the-flavours-that-shaped-the-world/
• The earliest use of cinnamon was in religious ceremonies; discover more of this spices sacred uses at https://thespiceacademy.com/custom-and-belief-cinnamon-in-religion-and-folklore/
• Watch the science of spice at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8DnlkOSBWj8

 

CREATE:

• Stimulate your senses with sensory spice painting: https://craftulate.com/sensory-spice-painting/
• Watch this video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Qm89lMLkQ4) to see how to use herbs and spices in the kitchen.
• Your spice rack is historic! Look at it in a new way to see the history of five common spices: https://www.amexessentials.com/historical-facts-about-spices/
• Explore the science of seasonings at https://www.exploratorium.edu/cooking/seasoning/index.html

 

CARE:

• Explore medical uses of spices at https://unitproj.library.ucla.edu/biomed/spice/index.cfm?spicefilename=medspice.txt&itemsuppress=yes&displayswitch=0
• Does your medicine cabinet have these 12 spices? https://thewholejourney.com/12-spices-that-belong-in-the-medicine-cabinet/
• Discover how spices have been used in perfumes for centuries at https://www.carrementbelle.com/blog/en/2020/10/20/spicy-notes-perfume/#:~:text=Among%20the%20warm%20spices%20most,base%20notes%20of%20a%20perfume.
• Celebrate International Hot and Spicy Food Day – and check out a chart to find out about health-benefitting spices at https://studentaffairs.duke.edu/blog-entry/international-hot-spicy-foods-day

 

CAREERS:

Want a spicy career? You can be a chef, a chemist, a naturalist, a farmer, a manufacturer, a seller, and even a historian. Spice up your future with these possible jobs.

https://www.astaspice.org/asta-programs-resources/general-publications-and-resources/introduction-to-spices-for-new-industry-professionals/

https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/finding-a-job/careers-in-food

On The Ice

 It’s like magic how water can turn into ice. And all the associations we have with it: drinking with it, healing with it, fighting it, skating on it. Try these icy cool activities below.

 

CONNECT:

Watch the weird and wonder forms of ice at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TCsrOHjupio

Humans have appreciated ice for over 3000 years! Discover the history of ice at https://www.icecoldjustice.com/news/the-history-of-ice/#:~:text=The%20practice%20of%20putting%20ice,and%20the%20early%20Islamic%20world.

Refrigerators used to be called iceboxes; find out the reason why at https://www.icecoldjustice.com/news/the-history-of-ice/#:~:text=The%20practice%20of%20putting%20ice,and%20the%20early%20Islamic%20world.

How many ice sports can you think of? Check out 17 types of ice sports at https://www.urby.in/blog/types_of_icesports/

Get inspired with these amazing snow and ice sculptures from around the world: https://stacker.com/stories/3719/50-amazing-snow-and-ice-sculptures-around-world

 

CREATE:

Feel your way with the 33 freezing and fun ice sensory play ideas at https://besttoys4toddlers.com/freezing-fun-ice-sensory-play-ideas-kids/

Try a dozen ways to turn a bag of ice into the best toy ever at https://www.cbc.ca/parents/play/view/12-ways-to-turn-a-bag-of-ice-into-the-best-toy-ever

Explore this interactive science experiments with ice at  https://www.pbs.org/parents/crafts-and-experiments/observing-ice

These ice science experiments for kids – with good critical thinking questions – at https://parentingscience.com/preschool-science-experiment/

You can also have fun with ice games at https://kidadl.com/articles/ice-games-activities-kids

 

 

CARE:

IS it Ok to eat ice? Get the answer at https://www.bellevuekidsdentistry.com/mint-kids-blog/2019/1/16/my-child-loves-crunching-ice-will-it-damage-his-teeth

Did you know that the color of ice can indicate its safety? Learn that trick and watch other ice safety tips at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G21WyZrhRKw

Get ready for ice by following the guide at https://kidshealth.org/en/kids/winter-safety.html

Use this ice safety education checklist about when and where to go on ice:  https://www.whitehorse.ca/home/showdocument?id=12542

Learn how to properly ice an injury at https://www.verywellhealth.com/how-to-ice-an-injury-2548842

 

CAREERS:

You can put your career exploring on the ince – in a good way: ask a skater, a chemist, a food preparer, a recreation leader, transportation specialist, even a Zamboni* operator. Chill out with these jobs.

https://www.sciencenewsforstudents.org/article/cool-jobs-careers-ice

https://theartcareerproject.com/careers/ice-sculpture/

https://www.wikihow.com/Become-an-Olympic-Figure-Skater

 

*Zamboni: a machine at resurfaces ice

.