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

Out with the Old, In with the New

It’s the end of the old year, and the beginning of the new year. But what makes a year? And does it matter? And what was that about the end of the world because the Mayan calendar said that? And what calendar is right? Let’s spend a little time on time.

Connect:

• What makes a year? It’s physically defined as one Earth orbit around the sun.  Find out about years and days at http://www.kidport.com/reflib/science/space/Earth.htm#RotationRevolution
• What’s the source of leap year? Find out the science behind that “extra” day at http://scienceworld.wolfram.com/astronomy/LeapYear.html
• So what’s with the Mayan calendar? http://people.howstuffworks.com/mayan-calendar.htm shows how it works.
• Did you know that the word calendar comes from the word “calare,” which means to proclaim. Find out the meaning of other calendar words and astronomical origins (including Star Wars) at http://www.webexhibits.org/calendars/
• Walk through time, virtually. The U.S. Department of Commerce has online exhibits about timekeeping history, clock mechanisms, and even atomic clocks: http://www.time.gov/exhibits.html

Create:

• What is your birthday according to the Persian calendar or the Mayan one – or what is its UNIX value? You can convert any date with this calendar converter: http://www.calendarhome.com/converter/.
• Speaking of which, you can find out about Martian years, and convert Earth time to Martian time (which might make your parents younger), at http://pweb.jps.net/~tgangale/mars/faq.htm
• You can make your own Mayan calendar with tools found at http://www.pauahtun.org/Calendar/tools.html
• Even before clocks and print calendars there were sundials. You can found out how they work, and make your own at http://www.sundials.co.uk/  (This site is also available in Czech, German,  Dutch,  French, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, and Hungarian.
• Another way to mark time is through a timeline. You can make a family timeline using http://www.ourtimelines.com/index.shtml

Care:

• Calendar activities are not very meaningful for children younger than six years old. They CAN understand the concepts of before, after, and later. Families can take pictures of the day’s activities, and put them on a calendar as a way to concretize the day’s activities. A good article about calendars and child development is found at http://www.isbe.net/earlychi/pdf/beneke_calendar_time.pdf
• One way to show that you care about others is to remember their special days. You can make a family calendar using tools at www.calendarhome.com/
• Celebrate! Almost every day has special meaning for someone. Locate an event for each day of the year, and figure out a way to celebrate it: http://www.earthcalendar.net/index.php
• Care for your body by keeping fit. You can use http://www.bam.gov/sub_physicalactivity/physicalactivity_activitycalendar.html to create a personlized physical activity calendar.
• Calendars often have great pictures. You can recycle them as pictures for your walls or the walls of institutionalized people.

Careers:

What are some careers that link with calendars? Try historians and astronomers as a start.

• http://www.historians.org/pubs/free/careers/Index.htm, http://jobs.lovetoknow.com/Historian_Careers  and http://www.library.csi.cuny.edu/dept/history/career.html give career advice for history lovers. 
• http://curious.astro.cornell.edu/careers.php not only talks about astronomy careers, but also explains the difference between astronomy and astrology.

‘Tis the Season for (Wise) Shopping!

Ok, the holidays are for family get-togethers and fun, not about material things. But, let’s face it, shopping is one component of the holidays. Learning how to do comparison shopping and other responsible shopping behaviors is a gift that can last all year (even a lifetime) –and can save some family stress….  These activities give your family a chance to talk about finances within a pleasurable framework – and consider ways to use money wisely.

Connect:

* What are your shopping habits? Do you make smart choicees? Compare your shopping habits with these consumer tips: http://www.homefamily.net/?p=342

* How do you do comparison shopping? As a family, you can create criteria for judging products as well as determining how to compare them in terms of features and csosts. http://www.ebizmba.com/articles/shopping-websites is a website that lists popular comparison shopping websites. Compare the prices of items you might want to buy – between websites.

* Similarly, http://www.ebizmba.com/articles/coupon-websites lists popular coupon websites. Some people save money by using coupons, which are becoming a big trend online. Here are some of the websites that focus on coupons: Have a family discussion about the pros and cons of couponing (remember that sometimes a brand coupon costs more than a generic brand –and that a coupon might entice you to buy something that you wouldn’t have purchased otherwise; companies aren’t stupid….).

* Online shopping has become increasingly popular. Some people even buy diapers online! What are the cost benefits – and other considerations, such as turn-around time and convenience? Take a store such as Target, and compare their online prices with  in-store prices. Make sure you calculate in the cost of driving as well as shipping.

* Companies have many ways to entice you to buy something. Find out some of their strategies at http://www.uen.org/Lessonplan/preview.cgi?LPid=465

* Do you save money when buying something used? Think about the pros and cons of buying used items (such as hidden wear and germs versus lower price and “better deals”).  Even a car in perfect condition, and never driven, depreciates over a year (meaning that it is financially less valuable). You can find out about cars and other consumer savvy tips at http://www.cybraryman.com/consumerism.html

* Many appliance and other hardware salespersons offer service contracts to help cover the costs of repairs that happen when the product’s warranty runs out. Should you buy these service contracts? The Federal Trade Commission has some good tips on such contracts: http://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0240-extended-warranties-and-service-contracts

Create:

* http://www.natefacs.org/JFCSE/vol19no2/v19no2Wheeler.pdf offers a number of activities for teens to do to learn good consumer strategies.  

Can shopping dull your creativity? Your family can debate the following article about consumerism vs creativity: http://voices.yahoo.com/consumerism-vs-creativity-10807277.html

* Have you ever taken a poll online or been asked about your favorite movie? Increasingly, companies use social media as part of their marketing strategy.  These companies can get free input from their current and potential customers, which can then help them develop and sell more desirable products. It makes you feel like your opinion counts, and it’s a relatively cheap strategy for companies too. Look at what the media are saying about teens and marketing: http://www.talentzoo.com/digital-pivot/blog_news.php?articleID=13197 and http://www.ypulse.com/. How does that make you feel? How do you want to act, based on that information? 

* What are the cost savings of  making a cake “from scratch,” buying a cake mix (and needed ingredients), or buying a ready-made cake? Don’t forget the cost of electricity for baking, and the cost of water for clean-up!  Find out more at http://www.uen.org/Lessonplan/preview.cgi?LPid=5350 and http://www.uen.org/Lessonplan/preview.cgi?LPid=4623

* Say you like to sew. What if you want to go into business selling something you’ve made? What’s involved? Find out how to starting a clothing link business at http://www.powerhomebiz.com/vol66/clothing.htm.

Care:

* What are some ways to spend money AND care for the planet? NBC News offers ways to shop in order to save the world: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/24622958/ns/business-retail/t/shopping-literally-help-save-world/#.UNKW_HfNmSo

* Want to make over $40,000 from saving less than 50 cents a day? One way to care for your family (and yourself) is to save, the earlier the better.  See how your money can grow by starting early: http://www.massmutual.com/planningtools/educationalarticles/articledisplay?mmcom_articleid=a09730e5e885a110VgnVCM100000ee6d06aaRCRD

* Want to save the planet AND save some money? One way is to save on home energy costs. You can find out how much electricity a TV or refrigerator uses per hour. You can also research ways to conserve energy uses, and test a couple of ideas over the  month to see if  the energy bill declines. Start by conducting a home energy audit:  http://www.earthcarecanada.com/EarthCARE_Resources/home_energy_audit.asp .  Then look at: http://www.tvakids.com/electricity/conservation.htm and http://energy.gov/public-services/homes

Connect:

Are you a savvy shopper? Do you know what sells? All along the way in shopping there are jobs: from manufacturers to transporters, from buyers to marketers, from displayers to sales and financiers. There’s bound to be a job that involves shopping.  Here is a starting list of possibilities:

http://retailindustry.about.com/od/retailjobscareers/p/personalshopper.htm

http://career-advice.monster.com/job-search/company-industry-research/professional-shopping-jobs/article.aspx

http://www.careerthreads.com/CareersMerchandising.html

http://marketing.about.com/od/careersinmarketing/u/marketingcareers.htm

http://www.careers-in-marketing.com/

http://www.ecu.edu/cs-bus/marketingcareers.cfm

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