End of Year Activities: Looking for something to use with your students during the last couple of weeks of school?
I am hoping you will find my teaching resources of value to use in your classrooms. I taught for 33 1/2 years. I was awarded both the NY State Elementary Social Studies Teacher and the National Council for Social Studies Elementary Social Studies Teacher of the Year(1988). I am the author of over 35 books for children and teachers.
End of Year Activities: Looking for something to use with your students during the last couple of weeks of school?
Note: I will not be able to update my blog until May 22nd....
Scientists that study viruses(virology) in Netherland have trained about 150 bees, known for their keen sense of smell, to detect the odor of Covid. Using a conditioning technique, the bees received a reward of sugar water when they correctly sniffed out the virus. The trained bees can detect the Covid virus in only a matter of seconds. Learn more: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-9550297/Bees-Netherlands-trained-detect-COVID-19-infections.html
Illustrations from pixabay and Wpclipart.com
Did You Know?
May is Asian American and Pacific Islander(AAPI) Heritage Month!
There is a Black History Month, Native Americans Heritage Month, a Hispanic American Month and a Woman’s History Month. Asian American and Pacific Islanders Heritage Month is a time to highlight the contributions of these groups of people to the culture of the United States. It is celebrated in the month of May but could be used throughout a school year whenever you are wishing to highlight contributions of famous people to our world.
Did YOU Know?
1. Could the people of Polynesia have sailed across the Pacific to Hawaii? In 1973, a group of people tried to prove this was possible.
Using just traditional sailing and navigational methods, the Hokule’a sailed, in 1975, from Hawaii to Tahiti and returned back to Hawaii. Eventually, the Hokule’a did a 3 year voyage covering 47,000 nautical miles around the world.(completed in 2017)
Extension Activities:
Ask the students if they can identify Asia and Pacific Island nations. Use a world map to locate the countries.
Scroll down to Map of Asia Pacific region: http://worldmapwithcountries.net/2018/07/26/asia-pacific/
1. Try Japanese Origami: https://www.origamiway.com/very-simple-origami-for-kids.shtml
2. Make a Chinese paper Lantern: https://chalkacademy.com/easy-chinese-paper-lanterns-template/
3. Try Rangoli, an Indian art: https://www.kidsartncraft.com/rangoli-designs-kids/
4. Try learning a Filipino dance called tinkling. https://kidskonnect.com/social-studies/tinikling/
5. Lunar New Year: https://www.kids-world-travel-guide.com/chinese-new-year.html
6. Learn about the Hula, Traditional Hawaiian dance: https://textproject.org/wp-content/uploads/fyi4k/FYI-for-Kids-5-11-Hula.pdf
7. https://www.nypl.org/blog/2021/05/19/aapi-heritage-month-recommendations-teen-ambassadors
Book recommendations
8. https://www.education.com/worksheets/asian-pacific-american-heritage-month/ Coloring sheets
9. Learn about the Cherry Blossom Festival: https://www.tripsavvy.com/japan-cherry-blossom-festivals-1550069
10. Dragon Boat Festivals: https://raisingworldchildren.com/2018/10/31/dragon-boat-festival-kids/
11. Animals native to Asia: https://www.worldatlas.com/articles/what-animals-live-in-asia.htmlhttps://www.worldatlas.com/articles/what-animals-live-in-asia.html
12. Animals native to Pacific Islands: https://animals.sandiegozoo.org/regions/pacific-islands
13. Languages from Pacific Islands: https://www.allaroundthisworld.com/learn/oceania-and-the-pacific-%20islands/polynesia/polynesia-language/#.YR2MJi1h3Fwhttps://www.allaroundthisworld.com/learn/oceania-and-the-pacific-%20islands/polynesia/polynesia-language/#.YR2MJi1h3Fw
14. Languages from Asia: https://www.allaroundthisworld.com/learn/oceania-and-the-pacific-islands/polynesia/polynesia-language/#.YR2MJi1h3Fw
15. There are many people to highlight in a resource on Asia/Pacific Islanders including Here are additional names you may wish to share with your students:
Michelle Kwan: Figure skater, Olympic medalist(Hong Kong ancestry).
Kristi Yamaguchi: Olympic Gold Medalist, figure skating(Japanese ancestry).
Apolo Ohno: Japanese American speed skater/ 8 time medalist at Olympics.
Iwao Takamoto: Japanese American animator and creator of Scooby Doo. Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson: WWE World Heavyweight Champion and
actor, Samoan and African American descent. Jordan Ta’amu NFL quarterback, Samoan descent.
16. https://www.allaroundthisworld.com/listen/pacific-islands-songs-for-kids/kafa/#.YPGepS1h2FU listen to music from Pacific countries(see instruments). Sing songs such as a Lullaby from Tonga, Tahiti, etc. Click on Oceania and the Pacific Islands.
17. For teachers: http://www.hokulea.com/voyages/our-story/
Additional Links for Teachers:
https://asianpacificheritage.gov
https://imdiversity.com/villages/asian/asian-pacific-american-heritage- month-for-kids/
https://www.teachervision.com/holidays/asian-pacific-american-heritage-month
Check out my webquest: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Asian-American-and-Pacific-IslanderAAPI-Heritage-Month-A-Webquest-7160633?st=2b36c5629de6ed9a0fa1ad3d3d7cb07b
Free illustrations from Pixabay