Get nosey about smell

Smell is one of our five senses, so it makes sense to nose around about odors through these activities.

CONNECT:

• Watch does your nose work? Watch the video at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hzOSzX_HXE4
• How many smells can you identity? This fun video may surprise you: https://thekidshouldseethis.com/post/70522180054
• See some of some of the strangest animal noses at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FpdNwrqafCo

CREATE:

• Try one or even 20 fun ways to explore the sense of smell at https://theinspiredtreehouse.com/20-activities-for-kids-to-explore-the-sense-of-smell/
• Make a game about these fun facts about smell at http://redtri.com/nosey-facts-about-smell-your-kids-will-love/
• Make scented soaps by following the directions at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5J2O2SEY6UU

CARE:

• Watch how to care for your nose at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H7RtOJ6xHBI
• Here are easy kitchen ideas to banish cooking odors: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dMYEZKxeQEg
• Play it safe with food smells; read the details at https://www.abc.net.au/news/health/2017-06-07/can-you-smell-if-food-is-off/8594238

CAREERS:

Do you have a nose for smells? Your job may help your life smell like a bed of roses.

https://www.totaljobs.com/insidejob/jobs-for-the-senses-smell/

https://www.monster.com/career-advice/article/jobs-that-smell-good-0816

https://ask.metafilter.com/126581/Professional-smell-tester-am-I-part-dog

Praise Palms

Palms are found around the world and have many uses. Praise palms through these activities.

CONNECT:

• Learn 10 surprising facts about palm trees at https://www.mnn.com/earth-matters/wilderness-resources/stories/10-surprising-facts-about-palm-trees
• Palm trees in Antarctica? Yep, 53 million years ago. See the evidence at https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/ancient-climate-change-meant-antarctica-was-once-covered-with-palm-trees-12098835/
• Read about the historical role of palms in human culture at http://www.fao.org/docrep/x0451e/X0451e04.htm
• Discover why South Carolina is called the Palmetto State at https://statesymbolsusa.org/symbol-official-item/south-carolina/state-nickname-state-quarter/palmetto-state

CREATE:

• Try growing a coconut palm from a store-bought dehusked coconut by following this video’s instructions: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KsuesiVJgtI
• Make a palm date milkshake from this recipe: https://www.spiceupthecurry.com/date-milkshake-recipe/
• Make your own paper palm tree by following the video directions at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XXildBLq43w
• You can use real palm leaves to make a coaster, mat and fish; see how at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x74MI-0jGIw

CARE:

• Hawaii is trying to conserve palm trees; look at the efforts at http://www.palms.org/
• Find out the health benefits of palm oil for children: https://parentinghealthybabies.com/health-benefits-palm-oil-children/
• Some religions incorporate palms; find out the details at https://www.whats-your-sign.com/palm-tree-symbolism.html
• What are the consequences of the palm oil industry? https://phys.org/news/2017-06-palm-oil-responsible-global-deforestation.html

CAREERS:

Perhaps you can be the one to make the palm oil industry more ecological. Or you can make a difference in palm use as a forester, chemist, nutritionist, artist, or manufacturer. Palms may be waved for your contribution. See possibilities here.

https://www.worldwildlife.org/industries/palm-oil

https://www.scidev.net/asia-pacific/forestry/news/science-can-keep-palm-oil-industry-sustainable.html

Pastries: Tasting the Sweet Side of Life

Most countries make special pastries, usually as sweet desserts. They also adapt other countries’ recipes. Put some icing on your cake of life with these pastry activities below. Yum!

CONNECT:

• Feast your eyes on these pastries from around the world: http://mentalfloss.com/article/89565/12-delectable-pastries-around-world
• Imagine a special day for pastries? Find out about fun and weird facts about pastries as you celebrate their special day: https://www.entitymag.com/national-pastry-day-5-facts/
• In Sweden they celebrate national Cinnamon Bun Day (Kanelbullar Dag). Discover its history at http://kanelbullensdag.se/en/
• Watch the chemistry of bread at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qylxpwNhFYI

CREATE:

• Make your own kanelbullar using this recipe: http://www.thekavanaughreport.com/2018/01/easy-cinnamon-roll-recipe-for-kids.html
• Pastry dough is very adaptable. Try at least one of these kid-friendly puff pastry dough recipes: https://www.epicurious.com/expert-advice/all-the-things-your-kids-can-make-with-puff-pastry-dough-article
• Watch this video of kids trying 100 years of pastries:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bvPMFz_7jWM   DO try this at home!
• Sweet! Science experiments with pastry: https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/succulent-science-the-role-of-fats-in-making-a-perfect-pastry/

CARE:

• Kitchens are fun places to explore, but they ca also be dangerous. Here are tips for keeping safe in the kitchen: https://kidshealth.org/en/kids/safe-in-kitchen.html
• At some time you are likely to get burned. Here is how to treat burns: http://www.cyh.com/HealthTopics/HealthTopicDetailsKids.aspx?p=335&np=285&id=1796
• Lots of schools hold back sales; here’s one that targets puppies: https://www.tearfund.org/2017/04/The_Pastry_Project
• How do orphans and pastries mix? Find out at https://www.tearfund.org/2017/04/The_Pastry_Project

CAREERS:

Cook up a great career based on pastry. Here are some ideas:

https://www.theartcareerproject.com/careers/pastry-chef/

http://learningpath.org/articles/Baking_Pastry_Careers_Salary_Info_Job_Description.html

http://www.starting-a-bakery.com/

Don't take it sitting down!

Most of us are used to sitting in chairs, but we rarely think about chairs. It’s time to stand up – for chairs!

CONNECT:

• What is the origin of the word “chair”? Find out its history – and the social history of chairs at http://www.randomhistory.com/2008/11/11_chair.html
• Sit like an ancient Egyptian. Read examples of their chairs and other furniture at http://www.historyforkids.net/egyptian-furniture.html
• Do you have designs on chairs? See how chair design has changed over the ages: http://denverartmuseum.org/article/staff-blogs/brief-history-chair-design
• Travel the world of chairs at https://rincarnation.wordpress.com/category/around-the-world-in-80-chairs/
• Watch how wooden chairs are manufactured: at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h5hmgpuS3AE

CREATE:

• If you haven’t played musical chairs, here are simple directions: http://www.kidspot.com.au/kids-activities-and-games/Music-for-kids+53/Musical-chairs+240.htm. Brainstorm some other games you can play that uses chairs in creative ways (e.g., relays with chairs, speed race to set up lawn chairs, obstacle course, etc.).
• College students created parts that children can assemble into chairs for themselves: http://www.gizmag.com/kids-imagination-furniture/36268/  See if you can recreate these pieces yourself for children to assemble.
• Watch this video of a teen who designed and produced a comfy cardboard chair: http://www.pbslearningmedia.org/resource/phy03.sci.engin.design.zchair/kid-designer-a-comfortable-cardboard-chair/
• Think with the box: see how children can use boxes to make doll house chairs and other furniture at http://www.artistshelpingchildren.org/kidscraftsactivitiesblog/2010/03/how-to-make-cardboard-doll-house-furniture-with-old-boxes/

CARE:

• Be kind to your body. Learn how to choose an ergonomic chair at http://www.lushome.com/how-select-best-student-desk-chair-ergonomic-kids-room-design/85043
• Read how research into chairs turned into a kindergarten service project and Chair Museum: http://www.dukeschool.org/Page/Learn/Project-Work/Kindergarten-Chair-Project
• Some children use modified chairs for unique experiences. Read about these students who built chairs that calm children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: http://www.kansascity.com/news/local/article5011941.html
• Kids can paint chairs as a service; see an example at http://www.republican-eagle.com/content/kids-needed-paint-chairs
• You can make a difference to a mobile-bound person by donating to buy a wheelchair: http://www.joniandfriends.org/wheels-for-the-world/

CAREERS:

Time to sit up and see how chairs can lead to jobs: interior design, carpentry, manufacturing, health care.

http://www.myjobsearch.com/careers/furniture-maker.html

http://www.theartcareerproject.com/furniture-design-where-function-meets-fashion/240/

https://www.asid.org/content/becoming-interior-designer#.VhA5KHpViko

What a gas!

Gas is everywhere: in vehicles, in homes, in signs, even in your body. And air itself is a gas. Where does it come from, and how does it work? It’s a gas doing these activities to learn about gas.

CONNECT:

• Did you know that sea plants and animals are the source of gas? Read how natural gas is formed, and how we access it at https://www.electricchoice.com/kids/gas/
• What’s a fart? Gas! Read how it happens at https://kidshealth.org/en/kids/fart.html
• The planet Saturn is largely gas. If you could put all of the planets into a pool of water, Saturn is the only one that would float. Read about this gas giant at https://www.esa.int/esaKIDSen/SEMJL6WJD1E_OurUniverse_0.html

CREATE:

• Create a trivia game based on these gas facts: http://www.sciencekids.co.nz/sciencefacts/earth/gas.html and http://www.scienceforkidsclub.com/gas-facts.html
• How do you see gas? Watch this experiment at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EDTF6l2WhYo. Then you might try this at home.
• Here are 10 kid-friendly experience on the science of gas: https://www.kiwico.com/blog/2017/02/02/kid-friendly-science-experiments-gas/

CARE:

• Follow these rules for natural gas safety: http://www.alliantenergykids.com/PlayingItSafe/NaturalGasSafety/000557
• Meet the greenhouse gases at https://climatekids.nasa.gov/greenhouse-cards/
• What is the connection between humans and carbon dioxide? Watch the impact at https://www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/global-warming/global-warming-causes/

CAREERS:

Working with gas isn’t just hot air. Check out the opportunities below.

https://www.oilandgasiq.com/strategy-management-and-information/articles/oil-gas-industry-an-introduction

https://www.acs.org/content/acs/en/careers/college-to-career/chemistry-careers/oil-petroleum.html

https://money.usnews.com/careers/best-jobs/auto-mechanic