Go Green!

This set of activities is being created on Earth Day: April 22. This annual observance started in 1970, and the message is as timely as ever: take care of the earth because it takes of you. What are YOU doing to “go green”?  Find out some ways here.

CONNECT:

• What is Earth Day, and how did it start? Read all about it at http://www.livescience.com/50556-earth-day-facts-history.html
• What is geen living? Find out at http://pbskids.org/itsmylife/family/greenliving/
• Take a look at Earth day by the numbers: http://www.timeforkids.com/news/earth-day/87036
• hese titles will help demonstrate how beautiful nature is, whether it's through stunning visuals, interesting facts, or both: https://www.commonsensemedia.org/lists/green-games-for-kids-0
• NASA isn’t just about the sky; they have there eyes on the earth too; get active with them at https://climatekids.nasa.gov/go-green/

CREATE:

• Meet the Greens, and play games with them at http://www.meetthegreens.org/
• Play in Recycle City: https://www3.epa.gov/recyclecity/mainmap.htm
• No need to buy art supplies; you can recycle lots of things around the house; try these recycled art projects: http://handsonaswegrow.com/recycled-art-projects-for-kids-green/
• We celebrate Earth Day on April 22nd but every day should be Earth Day!  Every Day is a great day to take care and appreciate the planet. Here are some other special days to celebrate the planet: http://www.kidsplayandcreate.com/fun-earth-day-facts-activities-and-crafts-for-kids/.  Plan a party to celebrate Mother Earth.

CARE:

• Help keep our planet green; become an earth ranger. Find out how at https://www.earthrangers.com/
• Greenpeace is an international organization that fights for the environment. Get involved at http://www.greenpeace.org/international/en/about/Greenpeace-and-You/
• Explore this eco-family comic website, and find out how to go green in your home: http://greenplanet4kids.com/
• Here are 45 ways to make going green fun: http://www.solarresourceguide.org/45-ways-to-go-green-with-kids/

CAREERS:

Go green and get “green” (that is, money). Yes, you can do well by doing good for a living. You can be an environmental scientist, landscaper, architect, cook, designer, writer, photographer, engineer, manufacturer. The sky is the limit – or rather the earth is. Here are some places to start:

http://www.greencareercentral.com/

https://www.bls.gov/green/home.htm

https://www.careeronestop.org/GreenCareers/green-careers.aspx?&frd=true

http://www.environmentalscience.org/careers/sustainability-and-green-jobs

http://www.letsgosolar.com/consumer-education/green-careers/

http://career-profiles.careertrends.com/stories/9332/highest-paying-green-careers-outdoors-nature

http://environment.nationalgeographic.com/environment/sustainable-earth/11-of-the-fastest-growing-green-jobs/#/rio-20-green-jobs-roof-top-garden_55050_600x450.jpg

Seeing Through Glass

Glass is all around you, but do you really see its value? Look into glass with these activities.

CONNECT:

• Can you imagine a world without glass? Here are SOME of the ways that glass is used: http://www.glassallianceeurope.eu/en/applications
• Corning (New York) is a brand of glass, and the town has a whole museum dedicated to glass. See what’s inside at http://www.cmog.org/
• Did you know that glass making started over 7000 years ago? Read about the history of glass at http://www.historyofglass.com/
• Watch this video about glass artist Louis Comfort Tiffany: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bV_9mQgZVdU
• Can you break glass with your voice? Is this a myth or real? Read the science behind the reality at https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/fact-or-fiction-opera-singer-can-shatter-glass/

CREATE:

• Visit Alice “through the looking-glass” with these interactive adventures: http://www.ruthannzaroff.com/wonderland/index.htm
• Here are super cool window crafts for kids that look just like stained glass! http://buggyandbuddy.com/16-faux-stained-glass-crafts-for-kids/
• Upcycle Mason jars and other glass bottles with these crafts and projects: http://www.inhabitots.com/16-kid-friendly-recycled-mason-jar-crafts-and-projects/
• Learn how to make a monoprint with glass: http://redtri.com/kids-art-idea-monoprints/

CARE:

• Here are tips for caring for your eyeglasses: http://www.allaboutvision.com/eyeglasses/how-to-clean-glasses.htm
• Billions of people wear glasses, but how many people make their glasses? This video shows how one person made eyeglasses from scratch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ef2_aaYpZSI
• Lions Club recycles eyeglasses. See how to participate – at http://www.lionsclubs.org/EN/how-we-serve/health/sight/eyeglass-recycling.php
• What is safety glass, and how is it made? Look here: http://auto.howstuffworks.com/car-driving-safety/safety-regulatory-devices/question508.htm
• Find the facts about glass recycling, and participate in this ecological effort at http://www.gpi.org/recycling/glass-recycling-facts

CAREER:

Do you see glass in your future as a career? Here are some options to look into:

http://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.php?id=12631

http://www.theartcareerproject.com/interview/brent-young-glass-artist/

https://www.thebalance.com/recycling-and-new-job-creation-2878003

A Flood of Information

Natural disasters, such as floods, show the power of nature. So flood your mind with these interesting facts and activities.

CONNECT:

• How disastrous can a flood be? See these pictures of the worst floods in U.S. history: https://www.bustle.com/articles/85907-the-8-worst-floods-in-us-history-show-how-devastating-extreme-weather-can-be
• Lots of people know the story of Noah and the flood, but do you know that there are flood stories from the Ivory Coast, Figi, Alaska and other places around the world? Read some of them at http://www.talkorigins.org/faqs/flood-myths.html
• There’s a famous legend about a little Dutch boy who plugged up a hole in a dike to save Holland from flooding. Find out the truth at http://easyscienceforkids.com/all-about-the-little-dutch-boy-who-saved-holland/
• What’s a levee, and how do they stop floods? Watch scientists discuss these temporary dikes at http://www.nationalgeographic.org/encyclopedia/levee/

CREATE:

• Watch this simulation of a flood to see a behind-the-scenes look at how a flood is initiated from rainfall!: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=89O7cx6mR_Y
• Different parts of the United States are more flood-prone. Click on this interactive map to see flood-risk areas: http://water.weather.gov/ahps/long_range.php
• Experiment with a flood map. Change the sea level and see what effects it has on different countries:  http://flood.firetree.net/
• Dams help stave off floods. Build your own mini-dam by following the instructions at http://pbskids.org/zoom/activities/sci/buildadam.html

CARE:

• What damage can a raindrop do? With a LOT of other raindrops, rain can be dangerous. A mere 2 feet of water can float a large vehicle or even a bus; This is why you should never drive through flooded roads. Watch the impact at https://weather.com/news/weather/video/facts-about-flooding
• How do you prepare for a flood, especially a flash flood? Follow the tips at http://www.floodsafety.noaa.gov/
• Learn how to keep your family safe during a flood: http://www.redcross.org/get-help/prepare-for-emergencies/types-of-emergencies/flood
• What happens AFTER a flood? Here’s an activity book about being safe after a flood: https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/disasters/documents/childrensmagazinebesafeflood.pdf

 CAREERS:

Want to manage disasters? There will always be jobs to prepare for and deal with natural disasters. Open the career floodgates now!

https://www.workitdaily.com/career-paths-disaster-management/

http://www.environmentalscience.org/career/disaster-management-specialist

http://www.sciencemag.org/careers/2005/08/careers-science-disasters

http://www.careeraddict.com/5-jobs-created-by-natural-disasters

http://www.transitionsabroad.com/listings/work/articles/working-in-disaster-relief-and-humanitarian-aid.shtml

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Is It A Fake?

How real is the information you see and hear every day? How can you tell if that information is fake? Don’t get fooled.

CONNECT:

• Here’s the honest truth about fake news: https://ww2.kqed.org/lowdown/2016/12/06/the-honest-truth-about-fake-news-with-lesson-plan/
• News matter; just listen to what these New York students say about checking out the news: http://www.timeforkids.com/photos-video/video/news-matter
• Do you believe in fairies? Some have even claimed to have captured two particular types of fairies - pixies and gnomes on film! Whether you believe the fairy pictures are real or not is entirely up to you...here are some of their fairy tales: https://exemplore.com/cryptids/The-Cottingley-Fairies-Photos-of-Real-Fairies

CREATE:

• Magicians are experts in illusion; they make the false seem real. Watch these kid-friendly magic tricks, and try them on your friends: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_y9ViVn1tF4
• Even early photographs could manipulate images, and with digital tools, it’s easier than ever to fake photos; see if you can pass this hoax photo test: http://hoaxes.org/quiz/phototest/1. 
• Play money can be fun for games and costumes. Follow these directions to learn how to make fake money: http://www.wikihow.com/Make-Fake-Money

CARE:

• Get smart about advertisements when buying: http://pbskids.org/dontbuyit/
• For parents: why imaginary friends can be good for little children: https://www.highlights.com/parents/articles/imaginary-friends
• Here are ten imaginary friends in children’s and teen fiction that you can read to your real friends: https://www.theguardian.com/childrens-books-site/2014/oct/23/top-10-imaginary-friends-in-fiction-af-harrold

CAREERS:

The media industry needs good communicators: literate and ethical. Here are some possible career guides.

http://www.kidzworld.com/article/20136-becoming-a-journalist

https://www.mynextmove.org/find/browse?c=51

https://kids.usa.gov/teens/reading-and-writing/index.shtml#jump-jobs