red-roko: Know It

Showing posts with label Know It. Show all posts

Showing posts with label Know It. Show all posts

Friday, January 8, 2010

15 Minutes : Know It : Bentley's Snowflakes

image via snowflakebentley.com

The above image was taken by Wilson Bentley, the first person to photograph a snowflake. His first successful photo was taken in 1885, and by the time of his death in 1931, he had taken over 5ooo photographs of snowflakes. You can see some of that collection in the book, Snowflakes in Photographs. Or, examine them closely by visiting SnowflakeBentley.com.

Interesting facts about snowflakes:

*Snowflakes always have six sides.

*The largest snowflake on record fell in Montana in 1887; it measured 15 inches in diameter and 8 inches thick.

*A blizzard occurs when you can't see more than 1/4 mile; the winds are at least 35 mph; and the storm lasts at least 3 hours. If any of these conditions are not present, it is only a snowstorm.

*Stampede Pass in Washington state receives the most snow in the USA: an average of 430 inches annually.

*A snowflake falls at an average speed of 3 mph.

Facts via suite101 and here.

Want more information about snowflakes or their photographer?

*Read the Caldecott Award-winning book about Wilson Bentley, aptly entitled, Snowflake Bentley.

*Learn more about Wilson Bentley here: Highlights Gallery of Bentley's Snowflakes

Tuesday, December 22, 2009

15 Minutes : Know It : Merry Christmas in other Languages

image via here

Christmas is celebrated all over the world. Pick a country that you can learn about with your children and learn to say Merry Christmas in that language. Here are just a few to get you started... (via theholidayspot.com)

Arabic: Milad Mijad
Brazil: Feliz Natal
Chile: Feliz Navidad
Czech: Prejeme Vam Vesele Vanoce a stastny Novy Rok
Danish: Glædelig Jul
German: Froehliche Weihnachten
Hawaii: Mele Kalikimaka
Philippines: Maligayan Pasko!

Monday, November 30, 2009

15 Minutes : Know It : Gifts

image via here

I drive myself almost crazy trying to ponder and order and find the perfect Christmas gifts for my kids. I take into account their wishlists, interests, abilities, and the skills I want them to work on. For instance, last year I wanted my 4-year-old to master the alphabet, have his own game, and incorporate animals (his true love). Found it. My 10-year-old loves Sudoku, but I'm looking for something a little unique? Found that, too.

And then there's the question that looms in every parent's mind: Will it be enough? Or, most often in my mind: Will it be too much? My husband and I balance each other in this game. I, though not at all a Scrooge, tend toward the practical, traditional, lovely yet cool, and of course educational. Staying power, that's what I'm looking for. He looks at my purchases a few days before Christmas and says, "I'm going to Target." He wants to be sure each kid has one really neat-o toy that will bring instant magic to Christmas Day. He isn't concerned that the little r/c helicopter is shelved a week later, that the fancy princess shoes fall forgotten to the bottom of the dress-up box. He just wants them to have fun for a few hours. Like I said, we're the perfect combination of sensible and spontaneous.

So, regarding gift-giving plans, I can say this: I make the plans, my husband adjust the plans, and the kids are happy. It's enough.

Read some more great thoughts about gifts here:

Christmas gifts by Design Mom

Tuesday, November 3, 2009

15 Minutes : Know It : Vote

image via stltoday.com

My main way of showing my kids how Election Day works consists of one activity: taking them with me to the polls. I answer any questions they ask, and have occasionally had a short political discussion with my 10-year-old. It's a start, right?

I may print off a word search or coloring page as well. My oldest would like some of the activities I found at About.com.

Julie had more ideas about Election Day. Find those here.

Monday, October 12, 2009

15 Minutes : Know It : Columbus Day

image via californiapatriot.org

Scholastic.com provides the following helpful information about this lesser-known holiday. (In the state where I grew up, we always had school off.) In addition to telling your kids a bit about about Christopher Columbus, you can find short quizzes here and here.

Also, here are some coloring pages for your kids to work on today.

Columbus Day is celebrated on the second Monday in October. (It was formerly observed on October 12.)

The holiday honoring Christopher Columbus' sighting of America on October 12, 1492, is observed in the states of the United States and also in parts of Canada, in Puerto Rico, and in some cities in Italy and Spain. Although Columbus was not the first explorer to set foot in the Western Hemisphere, his landing at San Salvador Island in what is now the Bahamas was very important. It opened the way for the settlement of America by Europeans. It is probable that the first celebration honoring the event was held in 1792. Columbus Day became a legal holiday in the United States in 1892, 400 years after the famous voyage. It was then called Discovery Day. Many cities and organizations sponsor parades and banquets honoring the holiday.

October 12 is celebrated in Latin American countries not only as Columbus or Discovery Day, but also as the Day of the Race (El Día de la Raza). It honors the many different peoples of Latin America. Schoolchildren in the larger cities parade. Fiestas, sometimes lasting several days, are held in the areas with large Indian populations.

Monday, October 5, 2009

1 Hour : Know It : Incentives

image via here

I'm not usually a fan of money-based reward systems, but I just read a very interesting article that explains how to "pay" for behaviors in an appropriate, temporary way. Here are a couple of the suggestions:

Use monetary rewards as a last resort solution.
A small amount--even a nickel or quarter--is often sufficient to motivate.
Use incentives in combination with teaching about the principle (eg., delayed gratification).

I can think of one specific, ongoing issue at our house where these ideas might help: staying up way too late reading. Maybe a quarter for on-time lights out? I may try it.

Read the article: Good Habits Start with...Money?

Thursday, July 2, 2009

15 Minutes : Know It : Fireworks Safety

image via farmvillescrapbook.com

Nothing says Fourth of July in this country like fireworks, but home firework shows can be quite dangerous. According to the CDC children 14 years and younger sustain about 45% of injuries related to fireworks. Thankfully my two youngest are still too frightened to even get near anything hot but my 7 year-old's curiosity is growing. Below are some ideas to help the kiddos (and adults) stay safe this Saturday night.

- Only buy fireworks legal for your area.
- Have an adult supervise all lighting of fireworks.
- Always have a bucket of water nearby and never leave hot, used fireworks on the ground (i.e. sparklers).
- Light only one firework at a time.
- Wear shoes.
- Use lighter sticks instead of matches.
- Light fireworks outside in wide open areas but not close to any kind of dry vegetation.

Since we have so many little ones around our house my favorite Fourth of July purchase has been glow-in-the-dark bracelets. The kids (and even teenager) love being creative designing their own glow-in-the-dark wear and it makes it much easier for mom to keep an eye on them when it gets dark.

Wednesday, April 22, 2009

15 Minutes : Know It : Earth Day

image via noaa.gov

In honor of Earth Day today below is a list of simple items we all can do to help our homes be a little more green. We're all doing our best but, if you're like me, there's certainly more we can be doing. Please leave a comment with some of your favorite green-techniques.

Recycle, recycle, recycle! The city bins are a lot cheaper than your trash bin and you'll be amazed at how much you contribute each week.
Use Environmentally-friendly cleaners. They're not only better for the environment but much better for your family's health. We love Method products and Costco's Environmentally-friendly laundry detergent.
Limit disposable water bottles. Our family has really liked switching to a Brita water pitcher and Camelbak water bottles. My kids love having there own water bottle and use it ALL day long. It keeps them drinking more water and we're not adding waste by constantly throwing out plastic bottles.
Plant a garden! We're still working on setting ours up but really looking forward to it.
Start a compost. Free fertilizer for your garden and a great way to get rid of kitchen scraps.
Donate old clothing and unwanted items to local charity groups. Your junk could easily be another one's treasure.

Wednesday, April 15, 2009

15 Minutes : Know It : TV-Turn Off Week

image via groovygreen.com

Next week (April 20-26) marks the annual TV-Turn Off Week. According to a study published by the Children's Hospital and Regional Medical Center in Seattle in April of 2004 for each hour of t.v. a child watches there is a 10% increase in the risk of attention deficit disorder (ADD). We may all be guilty of using the television a little too often once in a while but for next week our family is committed to keeping the TV OFF. Will you join us?

Wednesday, April 8, 2009

15 Minutes : Know It : Easter Traditions

image via celebrating-easter.com

My kids can hardly wait for the Easter Bunny to make his arrival this week. Since our family has deep religious beliefs we let the Easter Bunny leave his goodies Saturday morning so Sunday can be devoted to thoughts of our Savior, Jesus Christ. Below are listed some of the tips and tricks of our Easter Bunny. How about you? What are your favorite Easter traditions?

Friday night empty baskets are left on the kitchen table labeled with each child's name (so he won't mix up the baskets, of course) so Mr. Bunny can have easy access to fill and hide them.

On Saturday morning the treasure hunt begins. We limit the hiding to certain areas of the house and the kiddos love finding their own baskets as well as helping their siblings.

Since I'm not a huge fan of piles of candy around my house we try to get creative when filling their baskets. Items usually include: their new Easter clothes (they're getting them anyway, why not make it a surprise), a yogurt smoothie, organic pop tarts, a couple of candy filled plastic eggs (I can't resist), a couple of toy trinkets, and this year a surprise DVD gift (which I'm most excited about). Hopefully it's enough to get them excited but not too much to overwhelm them.

We also try to include a family Easter Egg hunt with all the cousins. Some of our favorite egg fillings include money, stickers and goldfish.

Tuesday, March 17, 2009

15 Minutes : Know It : St. Patrick's Day

image via kaboose.com

St. Patrick's Day, also known as St. Paddy's Day is a holiday to celebrate the Irish Saint, Patrick. It originated as a religious holiday but is mostly celebrated today for it's secular meaning with many more added traditions (color green, leprechauns, etc.).

Click here for some printables (coloring pages, word puzzles, mazes)
Here are some fun facts about the holiday for your family to enjoy.

facts via Kaboose.com

Facts about St. Patrick's Day Holiday

St. Patrick’s Day is observed on March 17 because that is the feast day of St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland. It is believed that he died on March 17 in the year 461 AD. It is also a worldwide celebration of Irish culture and history. St. Patrick’s Day is a national holiday in Ireland, and a provincial holiday in the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador.
In Ireland on St. Patrick’s Day, people traditionally wear a small bunch of shamrocks on their jackets or caps. Children wear orange, white and green badges, and women and girls wear green ribbons in their hair.
Many cities have a St. Patrick’s Day parade. Dublin, the capital of Ireland, has a huge St. Patrick’s Day festival from March 15-19, that features a parade, family carnivals, treasure hunt, dance, theatre and more. In North American, parades are often held on the Sunday before March 17. Some paint the yellow street lines green for the day! In Chicago, the Chicago River is dyed green with a special dye that only lasts a few hours. There has been a St. Patrick’s Day parade in Boston, Massachusetts since 1737. Montreal is home to Canada’s longest running St. Patrick’s Day parade, which began in 1824.

Facts about Saint Patrick

St. Patrick was born in 385 AD somewhere along the west coast of Britain, possibly in the Welsh town of Banwen. At age 16, he was captured and sold into slavery to a sheep farmer. He escaped when he was 22 and spent the next 12 years in a monastery. In his 30s he returned to Ireland as a Christian missionary. He died at Saul in 461 AD and is buried at Downpatrick.

Facts about the Irish

34 million Americans have Irish ancestry, according to the 2003 US Census. That’s almost nine times the population of Ireland, which has 4.1 million people.
Some American towns have “Irish” names. You could visit: Mount Gay-Shamrock, West Virginia; Shamrock Lakes, Indiana; Shamrock, Oklahoma; Shamrock, Texas; Dublin, California and Dublin, Ohio.
The harp is the symbol of Ireland. The color green is also commonly associated with Ireland, also known as “the Emerald Isle.”
The Irish flag is green, white and orange. The green symbolizes the people of the south, and orange, the people of the north. White represents the peace that brings them together as a nation.
The name “lephrechaun” has several origins. It could be from the Irish Gaelic word “leipreachan,” which means “a kind of aqueous sprite.” Or, it could be from “leath bhrogan,” which means “shoemaker.”

Facts about Clovers

According to the Guinness Book of World Records, the highest number of leaves found on a clover is 14!
One estimate suggests that there are about 10 000 regular three-leaf clovers for every lucky four-leaf clover.
Legend says that each leaf of the clover means something: the first is for hope, the second for faith, the third for love and the fourth for luck.

Wednesday, February 25, 2009

15 Minutes : Know It : Recycle

image via St. Cloud State University

Last year we signed up for the recycling program in our area. I've loved teaching my kids to read the labels of our plastic containers to find out if they're the right number for recycling. I've also loved helping them sort through their papers, cereal boxes, cans, etc. to see what can go in our recycle bin. We all know how important it is to start going green. Check out your local waste management to see what kind of recycling programs are in your area.

Monday, February 23, 2009

15 Minutes : Know It : Car Lessons

I read this idea in my FamilyFun magazine: Tape a "lesson" to the back of the front seat (ie. so the kids can see it). The picture in the magazine had a money sheet listing coins and what they were worth. I could adapt this idea to put up words we're working on, math problems, or shapes and colors. I would even try putting up copies of my favorite art pieces. Something to look at, something to think about, a little change from the "Alphabet game".

Saturday, January 24, 2009

15 Minutes : Know It : Red Envelope

image via http://www.hchq.biz/

My kids' favorite part of our Chinese New Year celebration certainly includes receiving Red Envelopes from Mom and Dad, aunts and uncles and grandparents too. According to wikipedia the red envelope is a symbol of good luck and good fortune and usually contains money in even numbers (except the number "4" which tone is similar to that of "death").

Our family traditions include giving red envelopes (or Lai See) only to younger children or siblings who are not married. We also ask the children to tell the adult who is giving them the envelope "Gung Hay Fat Choy" (Happy New Year in Cantonese) and accept the gift with both hands. It's almost like our second Christmas.

Saturday, January 10, 2009

15 Minutes : Know It : Snow

image via flickr

Did you know...the greatest North American snow storm in history occurred on Feb. 13–19, 1959 when 15 feet, 8 inches of snow fell in a single snow storm at Mt. Shasta Ski Bowl in California.

Snow crystals are born in the clouds when water vapor freezes on a particle of dust, a floating bit of bacteria, or another solid material. While no two snowflakes are alike, they can be generally classified into six basic patterns. Each type of flake is a result of unique atmospheric conditions. Think of them as a kind of "cloud diary" or a record of weather conditions when the crystal was formed.

Star: Star crystals are born at temperatures near -15 degrees C, and are among the most common type of snowflakes. They are as delicate as they look, and superstars are rare, because large flakes tend to become broken by wind and midair collisions with other crystals. Under ideal conditions several stars my join to form a larger snowflakes. The largest snowflake on record was reported to be a whopping 8" by 12" (about the size of a sheet of typing paper). It was reported to have fallen, probably with a thud, in Bratsk, Siberia in 1971.
Dendrites: Dendrites are stars with attitude. Essentially, they are three dimensional star crystals with branches growing on more than a single plane. Branches (or arms) connect randomly to a central structure. These complex critters form under extremely cold conditions (-20 to -25 degrees C) when high levels of atmospheric moisture are present.

Columns: Columns are produced when the air is dryer. They are generally smaller, have a higher density than star crystals, and form over a wide range of temperatures (15 to -25 degrees C).

Plate: Plates are wanna-be stars that are essentially moisture starved. They form at temperatures of -10 to -20 degrees C when there isn't enough atmospheric water vapor available to form the delicate arms of a classic star.

Column capped with plates: Capped columns are composite flakes formed when the particle of snow passes through different temperature and moisture zones on its journey to the ground. The columns form first, usually at higher and dryer regions of a cloud, and combine with star flakes as they fall through lower and wetter cloud elevations.

Needles: Needles are formed at the upper end of the temperature spectrum, usually when ground temperatures are at or near the freezing point. To grow, these crystals need an air temperature in the -5 to -10 degrees C range. Needles tend to produce a dense, stiff snow pack which can produce an avalanche under the right conditions.

Friday, December 26, 2008

1 Hour : Know It : Celebrating Boxing Day

Boxing Day, an English observance that encourages giving to the poor, is the perfect day to clean the closets and especially the playroom. We plan to give away some of our older toys, books, and games that are still in good condition. While we're cleaning out, I'll tell the kids how this day began.

The celebration of Boxing Day, which takes place on December 26 - the feast of St. Stephen, is a part of the holiday season unique to Great Britain. Traditionally, it is on this day that the alms box at every English church is opened and the contents are distributed to the poor. Also, this is the day that servants traditionally got the day off to celebrate with their families. It became traditional for working people to break open their tip boxes on this day. Boxing Day began in the mid-nineteenth century when the custom of tipping by rich persons to persons in service positions had apparently gotten out of hand. Children and others pretended to be in the trades and solicited tips. The custom was expanded to giving to anyone and everyone who had less money than you did, and soon the streets at Christmastime were full of aggressive soliciting of tips. To contain the nuisance "Boxing Day" was designated as the one day for giving to the less fortunate. (via www.the-north-pole.com)

Wednesday, December 17, 2008

15 Minute : Know It : Gingerbread

Gingerbread originated in Europe many many years ago. It came in many different varieties - crispy, chewy, spicy, sweet, flat and fluffy. It was known as a delicacy and only the finest professionals made it. Throughout the years the value and purpose of gingerbread has changed and in America it has evolved into a Christmas tradition.
Today we are most familiar with gingerbread during Christmas time because of the gingerbread man and gingerbread houses.

Click here for a Gingerbread man coloring page.

information via homeschooled-kids.com

Tuesday, December 16, 2008

15 Minutes : Know It : The North Pole

image via wagglearena

Did you know that the North Pole is the most northern place on the Earth? That's why it's called the North Pole. Makes sense doesn't it! Besides knowing that Santa Clause and his elves live there, did you know that there are no trees at the North Pole because the ground is made entirely of ice? It's true.
Here are five more cool facts about the North Pole that you might not have known...

* The average temperature at the North Pole is zero degrees- about thirty-seven degrees colder than the inside of you refrigerator.

* The North Pole is not as chilly as the South Pole. Water underneath the icy North Pole helps keep the temperature warmer.

* The first explorer reached the North Pole in 1909. Now it has about 200 visitors each year.

* It's light out twenty-four hours a day in summer, and dark all winter.

* The North Pole gets so little rain or snow that it is actually a desert.

facts via Martha Stewart Kids 2004

Thursday, December 11, 2008

15 Minutes : Know It : Christmas in Chile

image via flickr

In Chile, Santa Claus is called Viejo Pascuero, or Old Man Christmas. In some areas, he strongly resembles Santa Claus in a red and white outfit and comes in a reindeer-drawn sleigh. However, he climbs in windows since chimneys aren't large in this warm climte. In other areas, Viejo Pascuero is seen as a local rancher and is often in the company of a llama. December and Christmas also fall in the summer months in Chile, so children are out of school and the weather is warm.

The midnight mass on Xmas Eve is where most of the people and families go. Afterwards, the families celebrate Holiday Dinner together. This meal often includes azuela de ave, a chicken soup filled with potatoes, onions and corn on the cob and pan de pasqua, a Christmas bread filled with candied fruit similar to fruit cake. Afterwards, the gifts are unwrapped and everyone stays up till the wee hours of the morning.

Wednesday, December 10, 2008

15 Minutes : Know It : Reindeer

image via Intelligent Travel

Did you know Reindeer are the only deer species in which both sexes grow antlers? Adult males shed their antlers every fall and females and adolescents, every spring. Therefore, any reindeer you spy pulling Santa's sleigh are either females or young males.

Source: Martha Stewart Magazine Dec 2008 p.41

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