Hail Hydrogen!

Hydrogen is the simplest and lightest element on Earth – but by mass, Hydrogen makes up about ¾ of all matter in the universe.  Uncover the hidden depths of hydrogen in these activities.

CONNECT:

• Watch the story of hydrogen at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KiNRls_pBnU
• Hydrogen is an element of contrasts: necessary to create water – and can be explosive – as seen in this actual hydrogen balloon tragedy: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CgWHbpMVQ1U
• What do fertilizers, transportation and electricity have in common? Hydrogen! Read all about these uses of hydrogen at https://hydrogeneurope.eu/hydrogen-applications

CREATE:

• Read these kid-friendly facts about hydrogen and do your own hydrogen experiment at https://www.scienceforkidsclub.com/hydrogen.html
• Hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) is a common household liquid made of molecules with two hydrogen and two oxygen atoms. You can do several science experiments with H₂O₂ at https://diyeverywhere.com/2017/12/11/6-fun-science-experiments-you-can-do-with-hydrogen-peroxide/
• Make elephant toothpaste by following this video’s directions: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JSWHRwGaOqs

CARE:

• Hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂)  is sometimes used as medication. Find out its safety factors with kids at https://www.mskcc.org/cancer-care/patient-education/hydrogen-peroxide
• Hydrogen is now powering some cars because it is such a clean and efficient form of energy. See how they work at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r5b6SthDbsE
• There are several ways to clean toys, including with Hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂); use the guidelines at http://theguidefortoys.com/Blogs1/The-Cleaning-Guide-for-Toys.htm

CAREERS:

Getting a hydrogen-related job may be elemental: as a chemist, scientist, doctor, manufacturer (and seller) or even astronaut! Get energetic with hydrogen!

https://www.energy.gov/eere/fuelcells/careers-hydrogen-and-fuel-cells

https://www.sciencemag.org/careers/2006/07/energetic-future-hydrogen

https://www.nasa.gov/topics/technology/hydrogen/index.html

Are you a fan of fans?

Are you a fan of fans?

Summers can get hot, and fans can help cool us. Fans can also cool other animals and inanimate objects, such as computers. Try these activities to fan your interest in fans.

CONNECT:

• Fans are 5000 years old! Explore their history at the Fan Museum:  https://www.thefanmuseum.org.uk/fan-history
• Electric fans have a much shorter history: less than 150 years old. Read about their development at https://www.fancollectors.org/fanhistory.htm
• How did mosquitos lead to air conditioners? Watch the connection at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EGX3P7P5AOE
• You can dance with fans; watch these Chinese folk dancers at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XlQsVY3z4TI and these Korean folk dancers at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uuF0OosXR78

CREATE:

• Try these fan experiments with your little ones: http://nerdybaby.blogspot.com/2011/01/fan-experiments.html
• Make your own pocket folding fan at https://gluesticksblog.com/diy-pocket-fans/
• This is a game to use fans and put balloons to the space of your competitor: https://45mix.net/en/fan-the-balloon-game/
• Learn the romantic language of the hand fan at https://www.whalingmuseum.org/online_exhibits/fans/language.html

CARE:

• Fans can feel good – until you get hurt by them. Here are some safety measures to consider when using fans around children: http://www.ourhousefamilies.org/are-cooling-fans-safe-for-children.html
• Here are tips for keeping cool in the car, especially in a car seat: https://thecarseatlady.com/keepingcool/
• Your pets get hot in the summer too. Follow these strategies to keep your furry friends cool without fans: https://www.humanesociety.org/resources/keep-pets-safe-heat
• Computers need fans to keep the elements from overheating. Here are some ways for older family members to keep those fans in good condition: https://www.computerhope.com/issues/ch001339.htm

CAREERS:

Do you FANcy a career with fans? You can study fans as a historian or museum curator, you can make handmade fans or manufacture HUGE fans, you can sell fans, and you can repair fans. Fan your interest here.

https://www.justrightair.com/webapp/p/632/6-reasons-why-you-should-consider-hvac-as-a-career

Into the Internet

For this, the 199^th theme, Cyberfamilies is featuring the Internet: the communication backbone of this blog. Nowadays, more than ever, the Internet has become a way to learn more than even – as well as a way to be entertained. With the activities below, you can learn WITH the Internet to learn ABOUT the Internet.

CONNECT:

• What happens in an Internet minute? See the action at https://www.visualcapitalist.com/what-happens-in-an-internet-minute-in-2019/
• What’s the difference between the Internet and the World Wide Web? Find out this and many more fun technology facts for kids at https://www.sciencekids.co.nz/sciencefacts/technology/internet.html
• Watch how the Internet works at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UXsomnDkntI
• Several virtual museums exist; welcome to the Big Internet Museum at http://symbolics.com/museum/

CREATE:

• Staying at home a lot? Check out these free online events and activities for kids: https://www.commonsensemedia.org/blog/free-online-events-activities-kids-at-home-coronavirus
• And https://www.livescience.com/coronavirus-kids-activities.html
• Try an hour of code activities (or more) at https://code.org/learn
• Choose from a variety of hands-on activities that introduce simple machine learning models through games and interactive projects at https://www.ibm.org/activities/machine-learning-for-kids

CARE:

• Get kid-friendly Internet safety tips at https://www.searchrpm.com/internet-safety-for-kids/kid-and-teen-resources
• Here’s more in-depth information about Internet dangers and ways to address them: https://www.safewise.com/resources/internet-safety-kids/
• Watch what’s in your digital footprint at https://www.commonsense.org/education/videos/whats-in-your-digital-footprint
• Not everyone has good access to the Internet; learn about the digital divide at https://kids.kiddle.co/Digital_divide

CAREERS:

The Internet is part of the majority of jobs in the U.S. You can be part of creating the Internet as well. Go from virtual to reality as you check out these possibilities!

https://www.careerfaqs.com.au/news/news-and-views/10-jobs-that-the-internet-created

https://www.jobsites411.com/web-internet.html

https://learn.org/articles/What_are_Some_Popular_Careers_in_Internet_Technology.html

https://www.entrepreneur.com/slideshow/306474

Bravo for Blacks!

Africa is the second largest continent, only after Asia, and humankind started in Africa. Africans were some of the earliest arrivers to America, and they have helped shape and advance the United States from the beginning. Explore the following activities to appreciate what Africans and African Americans have contributed over the centuries.

CONNECT:

• Significant African kingdoms have existed since thousands of years ago: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Akca0mUW2K0
• Connect with these African-American heroes at https://kids.nationalgeographic.com/explore/history/african-american-heroes/
• Children’s books celebrate African Americans; watch interviews with some of those books’ authors at www.readingrockets.org/calendar/blackhistory
• Over 600 locations share the legacy of the Underground Railroad to freedom. Explore the National Park Service’s program at https://www.nps.gov/orgs/1205/index.htm
• Noted Black scientist Dr. George Washington Carver developed more than 300 new uses for peanuts, which helped save the economy of the South. Look at the amazing list at https://www.tuskegee.edu/support-tu/george-washington-carver/carver-peanut-products

CREATE:

• Try 10 fun ways to cultivate greater appreciation of African-American history: https://www2.ed.gov/free/features/african-american-history.html
• Take it slow or take it fast: hip hop kids’ songs to dance to at last: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2oRh2yPDzpg or https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=20O8_XXiWFY
• African cuisine reflects a wide variety of regions, each with its own blend of foods and their preparation. Experiment African cooking for kids at  https://www.leaf.tv/articles/african-cooking-for-kids/
• Staying at home? You can have fun playing these traditional African children’s games: https://pemburytours.com/traditional-african-childrens-games/

CARE:

• Watch some quick tips for African American and multiracial children’s hair care at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tS0xuBClSPY
• Get involved with these nonprofits dedicated to empowering young brown girls: https://www.nbcnews.com/news/nbcblk/7-nonprofits-dedicated-empowering-young-brown-girls-n742776
• AND the National Youth Alliance for Boys & Men of Color creates leadership opportunities: https://fcyo.org/programs/national-youth-alliance-for-boys-and-men-of-color
• UNICEF offers age-appropriate ways to talk with your kids about racism: https://www.unicef.org/parenting/talking-to-your-kids-about-racism

CAREERS:

Society benefits when careers are inclusive and encourage diversity. Blacks have been discriminated for centuries in the job market and work place, even though they have so much experience and insights that society needs. Here is just a sample of Black STEM innovators: https://www.idtech.com/blog/black-stem-innovators-who-defined-modern-world

Career networking is important for everyone, so these are a few groups that support careers for African Americans.

Black Professionals Network: https://mybpn.org/

Organization of Black Aerospace Professionals: https://www.obap.org/

Black Caucus (inc.) American Library Association: https://www.bcala.org/

National Alliance of Black School Educators: https://www.nabse.org/

National Association of Black Journalists: https://www.nabj.org/