Paralympics Proud

 

There is a lot of news about the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games, but do you know that the world Paralympic Games is also happening now in Tokyo? Get to know about these great athletes too.

 

CONNECT:

• Watch what is Paralympics sport? This video has an Australian focus: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eRrRf2yvAaA  And this video is in Spanish: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DZKfthh59kc&list=PLaSegn4AdJAz5NJH6CLfUkQe8BlA5zbYd
• Get the details about the Tokyo Paralympic Games at https://education.tokyo2020.org/en/games/about/paralympic-games/
• Did you know that physicist Stephen Hawking spoke at the opening ceremony of the 1992 Paralympic Games? Discover the history of the Paralympic Games at https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/medal-quest/past-games/

 

CREATE:

• Do this kids’ WebQuest about mobility and athletics at https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/kids/mobility.html
• Meet some Paralympians and their inspiring stories at https://www.paralympic.org.au/athletes/
• Recreate a Paralympic-inspired sports event at home, using these ideas: https://www.paralympicheritage.org.uk/Handlers/Download.ashx?IDMF=cbadfda3-0e5a-40b4-8bed-fbed22aee751

 

CARE:

• Share this fairy tale about William the One Winged Dragon and the Castle Football World Championships at https://www.paralympic.org/sites/default/files/document/120305113307821_Card_8_A_Fairy_Tale.pdf
• Find out how to volunteer in special needs sports programs at https://bethebestsport.org/how-to-volunteer-in-special-needs-sports-programs/
• Support Special Olympics Young Athletes at https://www.specialolympics.org/our-work/inclusive-health/young-athletes

 

CAREERS:

Paralympics combines two careers: sports and working with people with disabilities. Help others be all that they can be! You might be helping at one of the biggest sports events in the world!

• https://www.paralympic.org/careers and https://www.paralympic.org/athlete-careers
• https://www.specialolympics.org/about/careers
• https://www.allaboutcareers.com/career-path/paralympics-disability-sport/

Shark!

 

Sharks seem to be a hot summer topic. But there’s a lot more beyond surface knowledge about them. Plunge into these online activities. They don’t bite!

 

CONNECT:

• Watch this kid-friendly video that share “all” about sharks at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tfWMwG6aYzQ. Pay special attention to their teeth!
• Imagine a 5-foot long baby that can weight more than 2 tons as an adult! That’s the great white shark. Discover more details about this shark at https://kids.nationalgeographic.com/animals/fish/facts/great-white-shark
• There are many different species of sharks that range in size from the size of a person's hand to bigger than a bus. Compare their sizes at https://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/sharks/anatomy/Size.shtml

 

 

CREATE:

• Learn the Baby Shark song at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XqZsoesa55w
• Here’s a week of shark-themed activities for you to try: https://theeducatorsspinonit.com/sharks-themed-activities-for-shark-week/
• Dive into virtual shark camp at https://www.sharks4kids.com/virtual-shark-camp

 

CARE:

• Going to the beach? your risk of being killed in a shark attack is miniscule—approximately 1 in 3,749,067. But there are still some shark safety tips to follow (they work for most open water swimming): https://www.smartertravel.com/shark-safety-tips/
• Read how kids are helping sharks at https://www.sharks.org/kids-helping-sharks
• Shark fin soup is an ancient Chinese tradition; it’s especially favored at weddings. But it’s at the expense of sharks: about 100 million sharks are killed each year (much more than sharks kill people). Find out about this controversial practice at https://savingoceans.org/blog/f/the-controversy-of-shark-fin-soup

 

CAREERS:

It’s true that you can make money from shark parts, such as their teeth, but there are several more positive ways to make money from sharks without hurting them: as a conservationist, marine biologist, zoologist, shark driver, and lifeguard.

• https://www.sharksider.com/job-working-sharks/
• http://www.professorclarkthescienceshark.com/
• https://scubadiverlife.com/cool-scuba-jobs-great-white-shark-guide/

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Are you trying to trick me?

 

The television series “Loki” focuses on a magical trickster. He comes from a long line of tricksters in folk tales. You may learn a trick or two by exploring the following activities.

 

CONNECT:

• What has been so special about tricksters? Watch and see at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jELsxA28CgM
• Get kid-friendly facts about Loki at https://kids.kiddle.co/Loki

• Native Americans have DOZENS of tricksters from various tribes. Find out about them and read some of their stories at http://www.native-languages.org/trickster.htm
• Foxes hold a special place in Japanese culture, including as tricksters; watch some stories at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F2T2Q0NVRcM
• Tricksters are found in many cultures; sample them at https://kidworldcitizen.org/trickster-tales-around-world/

CREATE:

• Act out the trickster tale of the baby turtle, found at https://www.cbc.ca/kidscbc2/the-feed/have-you-ever-heard-a-trickster-tale
• Discover tricksters from different cultures and try a quiz about them at https://kevpass.weebly.com/quiz.html
• Extend your experience with Anansi the spider with these activities: https://classroom.synonym.com/activities-anansi-spider-12041731.html

 

CARE:

• Want to experience being a junior historian? Read this newsletter about coyote stories and do some of the activities: https://history.idaho.gov/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/coyote.pdf
• Write a trickster tale to amuse your friends by following these tips: https://amymacdonald.com/educators/writing-tip-trickster-tales-in-7-steps/
• Draw Lego Trickster for a friend who loves Legos (https://www.drawingtutorials101.com/how-to-draw-lego-trickster)  – or create your own idea of a trickster.

 

CAREERS:

It’s probably not wise to be a trickster at work – unless you’re a storyteller, or a magician. Or you could share information about tricksters as a historian, a teacher, or a filmmaker.

• https://www.themuse.com/advice/5-career-paths-for-people-who-love-telling-stories
• https://www.apu.edu/articles/i-love-telling-stories-what-majors-are-best-for-launching-storytelling-careers/
• https://www.ziprecruiter.com/Career/Magician/What-Is-How-to-Become

We’re All Ears

 

Ears are one of animals’ most important organ – and they come in different sizes and shapes. ‘Ears hoping you will perk up your ears with these online activities.

 

CONNECT:

• Watch how the ear works at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mptjEoHF2aI
• And how do hearing aids work? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cJBjIEUbaeM
• Watch the different kinds of ears that animals have at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qAo3gsDptFM
• Guess which animal hears best – and check your guess at https://www.pbs.org/video/hearing-which-animal-hears-best-vnwtlx/

 

CREATE:

Make your own animal ear headbands by following the directions at https://kidspot.co.nz/activities/make-your-own-animal-ears-headbands/

What would you hear differently if your ears were shaped differently? Experiment at https://www.exploratorium.edu/snacks/designer-ears

Discover how to create your own ear model at https://www.123homeschool4me.com/ear-anatomy-science-project_86/

Learn some basic American Sign Language signs at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CUy9Dos9264

 

CARE:

• Ears are subjected to lots of conditions: water, sun, even piercing. Here’s some ways to take care of your ears: https://kidshealth.org/en/kids/ear-care.html
• What is hearing loss? And how do you communicate if you can’t hear? Here are some explanations: https://kidshealth.org/en/kids/hearing-impairment.html
• Earwax is healthy – until it builds up too much. Parents can read how to safely clean their children’s ears at https://www.choa.org/parent-resources/everyday-illnesses/ear-cleaning-in-kids
• What are ear infections? What are the symptoms? How do you treat them? Read the answers at https://www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/ear-infections-children

 

CAREERS:

Are you hearing a call for an ear-related career? You could become an ear doctor (audiologist), veterinarian – as well as a sign interpreter, sound engineer, musician, jewelry maker, or even ear piercer

• http://www.listencarefully.org/5-careers-in-hearing/
• https://www.jewelers.org/ja/careers-education/jewelry-careers-guide
• https://www.planitplus.net/JobProfiles/View/715/62
• https://thebestschools.org/careers/jobs-working-deaf-hard-hearing/
• https://www.disabledperson.com/blog/posts/top-10-jobs-for-people-with-hearing-impairments

And here are 8 jobs that lead to hearing loss – and how to prevent it: https://health.clevelandclinic.org/8-jobs-that-lead-to-hearing-loss-and-how-to-prevent-it/

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Recording Music

 

How do you make music immortal? Record it. People have been recording music for thousands of years, and technology has greatly expanded the ways that music can be recorded. Find out with these online activities.

 

CONNECT:

• The first way that music was recorded was by writing it down: notation. See the history at https://kids.kiddle.co/Musical_notation
• Read about the history of recording technology at https://kids.britannica.com/students/article/sound-recording/273007
• Watch how to record a song at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jexlyS0QG-o

 

CREATE:

• See how to read sheet music at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ybQ8nWNVZRo
• Compose your own music using https://www.classicsforkids.com/games/compose_your_own_music.php
• Try one of these apps to create your own music: https://www.cbc.ca/parents/learning/view/8-music-making-apps-for-kids

 

CARE:

• Here are tips to help take care of music CDs and DVDs: https://www.framedestination.com/cd-dvd-storage-archiving
• Find out how making music can help students cope with trauma at https://www.framedestination.com/cd-dvd-storage-archiving
• For parents: Music can help children feel better; read the benefits at https://www.zerotothree.org/resources/1514-beyond-twinkle-twinkle-using-music-with-infants-and-toddlers and https://www.healthychildren.org/English/healthy-living/emotional-wellness/Pages/Music-and-Mood.aspx

 

CAREERS:

Want to record music for a living? Here are some leads.

• https://work.chron.com/types-jobs-can-degree-recording-arts-3318.html
• https://www.careerexplorer.com/careers/music-producer/how-to-become/
• https://wiki.kidzsearch.com/wiki/Audio_engineer

By the way, the music industry is hard to get into as a child so here’s some advice: https://www.thebalancecareers.com/how-can-i-help-my-child-break-into-the-music-business-2460288

 

 

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Lucky Charms

 

Lucky Charms is more than a cereal. Most cultures have some kind of lucky charm: for the four-leaf clover to evil-eye symbols. Find some good luck as you explore the following activities. You’ll be charmed!

 

CONNECT:

• Many cultures have charms against the Evil Eye. Indeed, about 40% of the world believe in that symbol.  Read about its history and use around the world at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evil_eye
• Another lucky charm found throughout the Mediterranean and the Middle East looks like a hand: hamsa. Watch this video of many artistic ways to create hamsas: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vKob1IFyzYE  Try making one yourself.
• You may have seen waving cat statues in East Asian restaurants. Discover their history – and luck – at https://www.catster.com/lifestyle/maneki-neko-fortune-cat-5-interesting-facts

 

CREATE:

• Create a welcoming sign, inspired by the tradition of hex signs in Pennsylvania Dutch communities: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t83ELNEN2DY
• Make your own lucky Egyptian amulet by following the directions at https://www.kiwico.com/diy/art-creativity/quick-easy-crafts/egyptian-amulet
• Make a fun spinning four-leaf clover by following this step-by-step video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WXpOp95KiH0

 

CARE:

• Can talismans help your health? Here’s what doctors discovered: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10804902/
• You might bring good luck to your home by hanging up a horse shoe; here’s why: https://www.dailysabah.com/life/2019/04/15/superstitions-busted-hanging-a-horseshoe-for-good-luck
• Thai taxi drivers may have amulets for safety’s sake; read their story at https://www.thephuketnews.com/culture-thai-taxi-talismans-good-karma-protective-amulets-and-road-safety-in-thailand-59032.php

 

CAREERS:

Want a charmed life? These days we usually think of charms and jewelry. Here are some types for that kind of career. You could get lucky.

• https://www.jewelers.org/ja/careers-education/jewelry-careers-guide
• https://www.ganoksin.com/article/on-jewellery-career-options/

 OR you could study people’s beliefs in, and use of, lucky charms as an anthropologist or historian:

• https://www.americananthro.org/AdvanceYourCareer/Content.aspx?ItemNumber=1783
• https://www.geteducated.com/careers/anthropology-jobs/

May Rainforests Reign

 

Rainforests may seem exotic – but they are also very down-to-earth. And they are vital for the earth. Explore rainforests around the world with these online activities.

 

CONNECT:

• See how rainforests are layered – and the living things who grow within each layer at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KMdD6TTDZ_
• Rainforests aren’t just in the hot tropics; they can be in temperate areas too; find out about their variety at https://www.kidcyber.com.au/temperate-rainforest
• Choose your favorite rainforest animal at https://www.rainforestanimals.net/

 

CREATE:

• How much do you know about rainforests and the animals that live there? Take this quiz and find out at https://animalcorner.org/rainforest-quiz/
• Try 13 activities about the wild and wonderful rainforest at https://www.weareteachers.com/rainforest-activities/
• Bring the rainforest home with these 7 everyday foods that come from the rainforest: https://blog.therainforestsite.greatergood.com/cs-rainforest-foods/

 

CARE:

• See 10 easy ways kids can help save rainforests at https://www.rainforest-alliance.org/articles/10-ways-kids-can-save-the-rainforest
• Adopt a rainforest tree at https://www.kidssavingtherainforest.org/
• Learn how to become a junior rainforest ranger at https://blog.therainforestsite.greatergood.com/cs-kids-rainforest/

 

CAREERS:

• How are a career in a tropical rainforest? See this slideshow about the possibilities: https://prezi.com/itq3ruw-xbw8/life-in-tropical-rainforests-living-working-and-travel/
• Read how you can become a rainforest research scientist at https://crees-manu.org/career-change-banking-published-scientist/