Big Learning News 2-16-05
Big
Learning News
Karen Cole's Guide to Real-World Learning with Kids
Issue 3:6 February 16, 2005
Welcome to Big Learning News, and a special welcome to our new subscribers.
Visit BigLearning.org for past BLN issues, education headlines, and more!
Subscribe! Send a blank e-mail to on-531@ezezine.com
Advertise in Big Learning News or on BigLearning.org.
Our rates are reasonable and our subscribers have excellent taste, at least in
newsletters. E-mail for rates and other information: info@biglearning.org .
Table of Contents
Math Moment- Fast Food Nutrition
Activity: Make a Tornado Bottle
Book Review: Mr. Lincoln's Whiskers
Web Site: Hunkins Experiments
Alert: Changing E-mail Addresses?
**** ADVERTISEMENT***
Do you care about your health? Do you care about your family's health? Do you care about the environment?
Would you like to work from home with a company that makes a difference in our world and have a team to help, train and guide you to success?
If you answered yes to any of these questions please contact me through my web site www.athome4myfamily.info
Fast Food Nutrition
Some fast food restaurants have nutrition calculators that let you build a meal and see the fat grams go up as you add more food. Although I shy away from corporate web sites normally (and am in no way endorsing a restaurant or commenting about the value of fast food), I think the math is interesting:
- A "running total" is a good concept for kids who are learning about addition. They learn that you can add more than two numbers, and that you don't have to start over with a new problem each time.
- Kids will use their chart reading skills to process the information.
- Many incorporate "Percent of Daily Values" which gives you a chance to talk about percentages.
- The exercise is a good application of math to nutrition.
Here are some to get started.
McDonalds: http://www.mcdonalds.ca/en/food/calculator.aspx
Taco Bell: http://www.yum.com/nutrition/menu.asp
Make a Tornado Bottle
Ok, technically it's a vortex bottle. This is an engaging toy kids can make for themselves. It's fun to play with and it's a science lesson in a bottle - a chance to watch swirling water in action. One web site I found suggests that you even put tiny toy game pieces in the bottle to model the destructive power of the vortex.
The tornado bottle is two 2-liter soft drink bottles attached at the necks, so one flows into the other. The easiest way to make one, if you don't mind waiting, is to get the little gizmo that attaches the bottles (click the picture or text for buying information):
Tornado Tubes, Pkg. of 2 and 10.
The function of the Tornado Tube is to (1) attach the two bottles and (2) narrow the opening between the two bottles. If you prefer, you can do it yourself as follows, using two empty bottles, some duct tape, water, and a washer:
1. Find a washer (a flat, donut-shaped piece of hardware) about the same diameter as the bottle spout.
2. Fill one of the bottles 2/3 full of water. The vortex looks even better if you add a few drops of food coloring or colored lamp oil.
3. Put the washer over the bottle opening - when taped in place, the water will pour through the hole in the washer.
4. Invert the second bottle and hold it spout-to-spout with the first bottle.
5. Attach the two bottles with duct tape around the necks.
6. Invert the assembly so the bottle with water is on top.
7. To make the vortex, swish the top bottle in a quick circular motion until the vortex forms.
Here's a link from the Exploratorium that explains the science:
http://www.exploratorium.edu/snacks/vortex.html
Mr. Lincoln's Whiskers by Karen B. Winnick (Scholastic, 1997)
For ages 6-10.
It's President's Day in the U.S.A., so here's a charming book related to Abraham Lincoln. It's the true story of 11-year old Grace Bedell, who wrote to Lincoln during his presidential campaign. She wrote a reasoned persuasive letter, suggesting that if Lincoln wanted to get elected, he should grow a beard, because his face looked too thin without one. Lincoln actually wrote her a personal response. At the end of the story she goes to see the newly-elected Lincoln at a whistle-stop. Sure enough, he has grown a beard.
The writing includes humorous touches in the dialog, along with insight into 19th-century life and times. The bright oil-painting illustrations add to the appeal.
I like the empowering message - a little eleven-year-old got the attention of a national leader and, who knows, maybe even changed history. Although our access to our leaders has changed since the Civil War era, it's never too early to help kids see themselves as possible instigators of change.
More History Books for Kids! http://www.biglearning.org/books-history-for-kids.htm
You can help Big Learning stay online, and it won't cost you a cent. When you buy books from Amazon.com, just enter the site from any of our Buying information or Amazon.com links. We earn a commission no matter what you buy! Thanks in advance for helping.
Hunkins Experiments
http://www.hunkinsexperiments.com/
"Hunkins Experiments" are little science-related activities and demonstrations, written comic-book style and simple enough to be explained in a single pane. You'll find plenty of variety, from true science demos to fun parlor tricks. Find out how to balance a chair on a broomstick, build your own ant colony from scratch, and how to invert a mug of water without spilling. Sometimes the science isn't clear, but the ideas are fun nonetheless.
Changing Your E-mail Address? Don't Lose Your BLN Subscription!
Sadly, each week, BLN subscriptions are cancelled because the e-mail address no longer exists. If you are about to change your e-mail address, don't forget to resubscribe to BLN!
Just send a blank e-mail from your NEW address to on-531@ezezine.com
or fill out the subscription form at http://www.biglearning.org.
*******************************************
Fight Hunger
You Visit. Corporate Sponsors Pay. The Hungry Eat.
http://www.thehungersite.com .
*******************************************
***Advertisements***
Life is only natural, so why not live it more naturally? Let Natural Family Online Journal show you how. NFO is your toolbox for natural family living and natural parenting. No matter what your personal or parenting style, we offer tips, tools and information every family can use! Visit us online every month for a new issue packed with information on natural homes, natural beauty, pregnancy and birth, breastfeeding, health and wellness, education and learning and much, much more. Join our free monthly newsletter at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Natural_Family_Online_newsletter/join for previews of each month's issue and exclusive, subscriber-only articles. Natural Family Online ... natural parenting tools every family can use.
Shop Big Learning Affiliates (www.biglearning.org/shop-affiliates.htm): You can help keep Big Learning online by entering sites like Target, Gardeners Supply, Hearthsong, and other great merchants through our site. It won't cost you a thing, and some are offering special discounts.
Big Learning News © 2005 Karen Cole
All Rights Reserved.