Did You Know? Let it Snow!

Interesting and informative facts from The Farmer’s Almanac:

Have you ever wondered how snow forms?

Snow begins as a tiny ice crystal or even a speck of dust. This moisture brings condensation and these drops or particles begin to stick together and form hexagonal crystals, sometimes in clumps, as they descend through warmer air.

Is every snowflake different?

Let’s just say that it’s highly improbable that you will ever find two snowflakes that are alike. The snowflake’s hexagonal symmetry has its origin in the shape of a water molecule, which consists of an atom of oxygen and two atoms of hydrogen. They are connected in such a way that the hydrogen “arms” make an angle like the arms on the letter x. This angle ensures that when the water molecules link to form a crystal, the resultant symmetry will be hexagonal.

Regarding the probabilities of combination, a single snow crystal consists of something like one quintillion molecules of water! The number of ways that many molecules can be arranged into six-sided crystals is astronomical. So the odds are huge that no two snowflakes have ever been exactly alike.

How many different types of snowflakes are there? Below are some of the more unusual snowflake shapes, courtesy of www.SnowCrystals.com.

Letter from Betty for December 2020

Hello Friends,

Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah! Even though this is a difficult year, we can still indulge ourselves in the acts of kindness and gift-giving. Get your holiday spirits flowing by browsing through our annual list, "10 Delightful Gift Ideas for Children." Ho, ho, ho!

While you are searching for seasonal bliss, why not try your hand at cooking up an easy sweet treat for the whole family? We have just the recipe in our bonus article this month, "You Can Do It: Peppermint Fudge." That should put some smiles on faces!

Whatever your educational needs, Foundation for Learning is ready to assist you with caring, one-on-one, individualized tutoring, and ISEE/SSAT test prep. Make sure to check out the latest test schedule.

Don't hesitate to give us a call at 973-425-1774 or send an email to betty.foundationforlearning@gmail.com for a free consultation.


Best regards,

Betty

Test Schedule for December 2020

Important notes about '20/'21 testing.

SAT
From the College Board:

“Search here to find out if your test center will be closed on an upcoming test date and if it's offering a makeup test. Remember, test centers may close or make changes on short notice, including on test day, and they may close for the scheduled makeup date. Test center data is updated every three hours—be sure to search any closings the night before and morning of your scheduled test.

Only fully closed test centers will show in the search results. Check any recent College Board notifications for your personal registration status and any test center updates, and make sure they have your contact information.

Their top priorities are your health and safety. Learn the latest test center policies.”

ACT
The ACT organization is working to offer on-line testing in 2021.

SSAT
The December 19th test date is the last paper testing option for 2020. At Home testing provides students in the US a secure computer-based testing option as COVID-19 limitations continue to evolve. Learn more about this option, test dates, and registration here.

ISEE
ISEE at Home via ProProctor is now available in the US. Find out how to register for this option here.

All Tests: Please make sure to check with the testing center ahead of the test date to make sure that there are no closings.

10 Delightful Gift Ideas for Children

Here is our annual list of fun, educational, and creative gift suggestions for 2020! Because so many people will be shopping online this year rather than going out to the stores, we recommend you do your own shopping early this month to ensure the items that you want will still be in stock and will be delivered to your home in time for the holidays!

1. Children who are curious about birds, bees, and the natural world, will appreciate the gift of a pair of these great Dreamingbox binoculars.
Amazon.com: Dreamingbox Toys for 3-12 Year Olds, 8x21 Compact Binoculars

2. For those who love to build: a Zoob Mind-Building Modeling System. Gears, axels, and joints all snap together, enabling kids to move and rotate whatever it is that they build.
Amazon.com: ZOOB BuilderZ 500 Piece Kit

3. Science-minded children will love GraviTrax. It’s a cool kit that enables them to design and build their own marble runs. No electronics here, just gravity, magnetism, and kinetics. This kit includes over 100 pieces and 18 different construction elements, including junctions and a magnetic cannon.
Ravensburger Gravitrax - Starter Set : Target

4. You can bring the world to your doorstep with a subscription to Little Global Citizens. What child doesn’t love to get mail! Bi-monthly boxes of crafts, activities, and books, all tied to learning about a different country.
Little Global Citizens | Kids Subscription Box | Countries & Cultures (little-global-citizens.com)

5. The Root Coding Robot lets children learn to code. Download the companion app and they’ll quickly master putting together sequences of code to make Root do things like draw pictures, sing songs, and even walk up a wall.
Amazon.com: Root rt1 iRobot Coding Robot: Programmable STEM/STEAM Toy That Grows with You, Creative Play Through Art, Music, and Code, Voice-Activated, Bluetooth Connection, App-Enabled (Android, iOS Compatible)

6. Here’s your new favorite board game! Bugs in the Kitchen is loads of fun for all ages. Guide the battery-operated bug into the trap by strategically adjusting the maze.
Amazon.com: Bugs in the Kitchen - Children's Board Game

7. Gnomes at Night is a really fun search-and-find maze game. Think of it as an at-home escape room, where the gnomes won’t get out unless every member of the team works together.
Amazon.com: Peaceable Kingdom/ Gnomes at Night- A Cooperative Maze Game for Kids!

8. National Geographic describes 5,000 Awesome Facts (About Everything!) as “brain candy and eye candy rolled into one.” This book is so fun and stimulating, your children won’t even realize that they’re learning!
Amazon.com: 5,000 Awesome Facts (About Everything!)- National Geographic Kids

9. You loved these books as a child, and now you can introduce your own children to the joys of The Boxcar Children. This box set includes the first 4 mysteries, all in a cardboard case.
Amazon.com: The Boxcar Children Books 1-4: Warner, Gertrude Chandler

10. This is a special edition of Storymatic, a game full of zany story prompts that will get imaginations spinning. Great for bedtime stories, car trips, creative writing activities, and family game nights.
Storymatic Kids Game | Writing Prompts, How To Tell A Story | Uncommon Goods

You Can Do It: Peppermint Fudge

Here is a super quick and easy recipe to make your own peppermint fudge!


Ingredients:

• Cooking spray

• 3 cups semisweet chocolate chips

• 1 can sweetened condensed milk

• Red peppermint candies

Directions:

1. Line an 8x8 square inch baking pain with aluminum foil and spray the foil with cooking spray.

2. In a medium saucepan over low heat, combine the chocolate chips and sweetened condensed milk, and stir until melted and smooth. Pour into the prepared baking pan and spread to even out the surface.

3. Crush a handful of peppermint candies into tiny bits, and sprinkle over the top of the chocolate. Refrigerate for 2 hours.

4. Lift the foil out of the pan and peel off the fudge. Cut into small squares.

5. Enjoy!

Letter from Betty for November 2020

Hello Friends,

Many children are shy or insecure and are growing slowly into the confident adults they will become. During this time of remote learning there are extra challenges for the bashful or apprehensive young student. We have some timely advice for parents in our feature article for November, "Helping Your Shy or Introverted Child with Remote Learning Anxiety."

Welcome to the season of falling leaves! If you are looking for a clever DIY project to decorate your home for the season, look no further than our crafty bonus article for November, "You Can Do It: Fall Leaves Table Cloth." Enjoy!

Whatever your educational needs, Foundation for Learning is ready to assist you with caring, one-on-one, individualized tutoring, and ISEE/SSAT test prep.

Don't hesitate to give us a call at 973-425-1774 or send an email to betty.foundationforlearning@gmail.com for a free consultation.


Best regards,

Betty

Test Schedule for November 2020

Here are some important notes about '20/'21 testing.

SAT
From the College Board:

“Search here to find out if your test center will be closed on an upcoming test date and if it's offering a makeup test. Remember, test centers may close or make changes on short notice, including on test day, and they may close for the scheduled makeup date. Test center data is updated every three hours—be sure to search any closings the night before and morning of your scheduled test.

Only fully closed test centers will show in the search results. Check any recent College Board notifications for your personal registration status and any test center updates, and make sure we have your contact details.

Our top priorities are your health and safety. Learn the latest test center policies.”

ACT
The ACT organization is working to offer on-line testing in 2021.

SSAT
Beginning Summer 2020, the SSAT at Home will provide students in the US a secure computer-based testing option as COVID-19 limitations continue to evolve. Learn more about this option here.

ISEE
ISEE at Home via ProProctor is now available in the US. Find out how to register for this option here.

All Tests: Please make sure to check with the testing center ahead of the test date to make sure that there hasn’t been a closing.

Helping Your Shy or Introverted Child with Remote Learning Anxiety

If your child is normally shy or introverted in “normal” classroom situations, he may be struggling with the additional challenges of remote learning for a number of reasons. He may be concerned about what the home space looks like or how he appears on camera. He may be dealing with performance anxiety, made more difficult by the lack of nonverbal communication such as supportive nods and smiles which make in-class learning a bit more comfortable. He may feel uneasy having a class full of students looking at him. There might be difficulties with inconsistent internet access or struggles with the video software, leading to stress about participation or missing out.

So what can a parent do to help?

1 – While you’re both in a comfortable situation, such as riding in the car, playing together, or doing some other focused activity, talk to him about what you’ve noticed. Be calm, be curious, but don’t judge. Listen to what he has to say and let him know it’s ok. It is, after all, quite natural to feel uneasy in this totally new and awkward situation, so validate those feelings. Reassure him that everyone is feeling off-kilter in this new learning environment – including the teachers, his classmates, and even parents. Everyone is trying to figure our how to best make this new situation work, together.

2 – With your child create a comfortable and quiet space, Include a water bottle, a lap blanket, favorite photo, or anything else that brings comfort. Together, check out the background so he can get a better idea of what his classmates will be seeing in his space.

3 – Make sure your child is prepared for class and that all supplies and books are readily available and within reach before the class begins.

4 – Set aside some time for him to video chat with friends or family. This more relaxing practice, outside of the remote classroom setting, will likely help him get used to interacting on-line, seeing himself and his surroundings on the screen, and acclimating to the inevitable video quirks that interfere with the audio and video connections.

5 – Encourage him to take small steps, because a daily reach outside of his comfort zone will eventually add up to a big leap when it comes to conquering his anxiety. Begin with the goal of speaking up in class, just once a day, whether it’s to pose a question or make a comment.

6 – Give him feedback and remain positive and hopeful about the progress he’s making. If it’s early on and you’re not seeing progress yet, focus on the attempts that he’s making towards that end. Steer away from negative criticism and be sure to let him know that you’re proud of him for continuing to work at it.

7 – This is a great time to teach anxiety relieving tools such as calming breathing techniques, focusing on muscle relaxation, empowering mantras, and comforting visualizations. These life lessons can be used now as well as in the future.

8 - Talk to his teacher about the difficulties he is facing with on-line classes. If possible, let him speak with his teacher directly, outside of classroom hours, so that they can do a little situational problem solving and he can receive a needed pep talk. Just to know that his teacher is aware of his discomfort and is rooting for him to succeed, will likely make him feel supported.

Remote learning is not ideal, we know this, and for some students, extra creativity and understanding may be needed. Be patient. Be supportive. Give everyone time to assess and adjust while navigating this new distance learning. Most of all, be your child’s cheerleader, supporter, and soft place to land when he needs it. He’ll be all the better for it.

You Can Do It: Fall Leaves Table Cloth

Create a beautiful table runner or tablecloth for the season using found leaves of different shapes and sizes. 

What You'll Need:

• Fabric paint in your chosen colors

• White tablecloth or strip of linen

• Leaves (select a nice variety from your yard or neighborhood)

• Foam brush or small paint roller

• Paper towels

• Paper bag, newspaper, or another covering to protect your work surface

Pick fabric paints in fall colors, such as brown, dark green, and deep red, or gold. To begin, measure and cut a length of linen to the size of your table; fray the fabric edges by pulling out individual threads, lengthwise. If you’re making a whole table covering, then choose a finished white or light neutral colored cloth, sized to fit your table. Using a paint roller or foam brush, gently coat the vein side of a fallen leaf in fabric paint and place it, paint-side down, onto the cloth. Then place a piece of paper towel on top and gently press to capture all of the little details. Carefully lift the paper towel and the leaf to reveal your colorful print. Continue this process with the various leaves until you are happy with your design. Allow the fabric paint to dry for at least 20 minutes, and then set your print by gently pressing with a warm iron.

Letter from Betty for October 2020

Hello Friends,

Our published test schedule is back for October 2020, but please note the additional information we are providing regarding how to check for test site closings, and about current or upcoming online testing options.

If you look back through the Foundation for Learning archives, you’re going to find several articles with information on building good parent-teacher relationships. This year we need to look at this topic in a slightly different way. We offer some timely perspective and advice in our feature article for October, "Maintaining a Good Parent-Teacher Relationship During COVID-19."

For all you night sky watchers, something special will be happening when we cast our eyes upwards on Halloween night this year. Read all about it in our October bonus article, "Did You Know? Halloween Blue Moon." Enjoy!

Whatever your educational needs, Foundation for Learning is ready to assist you with caring, one-on-one, individualized tutoring, and ISEE/SSAT test prep.

Don't hesitate to give us a call at 973-425-1774 or send an email to betty.foundationforlearning@gmail.com for a free consultation.


Best regards,

Betty

Test Schedule for October 2020

Here are some important notes about '20/'21 testing.

SAT
From the College Board:
 
“Search here to find out if your test center will be closed on an upcoming test date and if it's offering a makeup test. Remember, test centers may close or make changes on short notice, including on test day, and they may even close for the scheduled makeup date. Test center data is updated every three hours—be sure to search any closings the night before and morning of your scheduled test.

Only fully closed test centers will show in the search results. Check any recent College Board notifications for your personal registration status and any test center updates, and make sure we have your contact details.

Our top priorities are your health and safety. Learn the latest test center policies.”

ACT
The ACT organization is working to offer on-line testing in 2021.

SSAT
Beginning Summer 2020, the SSAT at Home will provide students in the US a secure computer-based testing option as COVID-19 limitations continue to evolve.  Learn more about this option here. 

ISEE
ISEE at Home via ProProctor is now available in the US. Find out how to register for this option here.

All Tests: Please make sure to check with the testing center ahead of the test date to make sure that there hasn’t been a closing.

Maintaining a Good Parent-Teacher Relationship During COVID-19

The ’20/’21 school experience is going to be very different, with distance learning, various scheduling changes, social distancing, and a host of other changes. It will be different not only for the students, but also for parents and teachers as well. It’s still important though, to build and maintain a good working relationship.

To begin with, we need to realize that the "new normal" conditions of 2020 give us a bit of a clean slate. Everything has changed, so we get to decide if we are going to complain and buck the changes, or if we can work together to figure out how to make the school year the best it can be during these weird times.

We have to recognize that these new challenges are going to be frustrating for everyone. Frustrations about “how things ought to be” can lead to unnecessarily irritating interactions, but it doesn’t need to be that way. Maybe we need to look for those things that are familiar. We need to look for and focus on the things that are going well, and we need to make sure to root the parent-teacher relationship on communicating with each other about care for our student’s experience.   

We can support each other, ask how we can help, and ask how we can meet the shared goals for our student in the best way. When there is confusion, we can speak up. If we see a problem, we can talk about it rather than letting things fester. And importantly, we can resist assuming that the other, parent or teacher, isn’t doing their job properly. After all, this situation is new to everyone.

Most teachers were not trained to teach remotely and are probably also struggling to deal with the new technology to do so. Parents are facing the tough situation of working from home while dealing with their child’s schooling at the same time, and many teachers are in the same situation with children of their own. And all of this, on top of dealing with the stresses of this really confusing and worrisome era of COVID-19, and helping our student to personally navigate through these times as well. So, let’s remember to come from this place: our goal of giving the student what he needs to be a success this school year. Both parent and teacher place a high importance on this shared goal and we need to remember that all of this is new, to everyone. We need to work together to figure out what works, what doesn’t, and we need to be flexible enough to adjust as needed.

If we can all work together during this extraordinary year, express a willingness to help and support, and patiently assume that everyone is doing the very best that they can, the parent-teacher relationship can be stronger than ever.  

Did You Know? Halloween Blue Moon

The year 2020 has been full of surprises, and here’s another: a blue moon will be appearing in the night sky on Halloween! What’s a blue moon? Well, full moons usually rise once a month, but October 2020 will grace us with two. Normally, we only see two full moons in a single month once every three years or so. A full moon on Halloween night? Well, that only happens once every 18-19 years. 

Will it actually be blue? No, it will still be the pale grey and white that we’re used to seeing, but it did indeed have a lovely blue tint in 1883 when the volcano Krakatoa erupted and filled the atmosphere with dust and smoke.

So enjoy the particularly spooky sky this Halloween night. It only happens “once in a blue moon!” And yes, this rare event did lead to the coining of this popular phrase, all the way back in 1821.

Letter from Betty for September 2020

Hello Friends,

An overlooked challenge of this "new normal" era of remote learning is the lack of in-person socializing. How do children continue to improve their social skills in this new environment? We have some helpful answers in our feature article for September, "Helping Your Children Practice Social Skills During the Pandemic."

If we must spend more time at home, we might as well make the best of it! You can help your family develop a green thumb, while providing hours and days and weeks of educational fun. Bring the outdoors inside with our September bonus article, "You Can Do It: Build a Terrarium!" 

Whatever your educational needs, Foundation for Learning is ready to assist you with caring, one-on-one, individualized tutoring, and ISEE/SSAT test prep.

Don't hesitate to give us a call at 973-425-1774 or send an email to betty.foundationforlearning@gmail.com for a free consultation.


Best regards,

Betty

Helping Your Children Practice Social Skills During the Pandemic

Our children take away a lot of new information and life skills during the normal school year and through their after school activities. During these times when social distancing, remote learning, and other safety restrictions are in place, how do we help our children learn and practice the social skills they need?

1 - While Zoom and other apps are great for large group “visits,” more personal one-on-one play-dates will be more enjoyable and beneficial. Relationships with others are important to our children’s mental health, and the more personal the virtual visit can be, the more gratifying and enriching the experience. That’s not to say that larger Zoom visits aren’t helpful. Just make sure to schedule one-on-one dates as well. And to add more umph to those visits, plan an activity for the two friends to share while on-line together. Perhaps knitting, painting, or baking. Parents can provide materials or if needed, serve as project tutor during these daily or weekly activities. Your child will be getting good social skills practice during these virtual visits.

2 – Along those same lines, make connections with a study buddy – virtually. Yes, some parents will be forming in-person “pandemic pods”, and while this arrangement has its advantages, it also comes with potential health risks. Consider identifying a parent with a child in the same class and set up a time each day for the two children to practice their spelling, math facts, vocabulary words, study for tests, and anything else that may be assigned? Skype, FaceTime, Google Duo, there are all kinds of free and easy apps that can be used to make these virtual connections so that the two partners can easily “meet up”.

3 – Make video calls to loved ones. Not only will everyone benefit from the emotional connection made while virtually visiting with family and friends, but it will also be a great time to help your child practice picking up on social cues. Yes, it’s more challenging to pick up on tone of voice or subtle nuances in facial expressions or gestures while gazing at someone on a screen, but it’s still a great way for your young one to tune in to other people’s emotions or signs that they might be tired, etc. This is a valuable way for your child to learn how to recognize cues and respond appropriately.

Ideas for in-person opportunities:

1 – It’s always a good time for family game nights, and even more so now that many youth sports and recreation department and other programs are on-hold. Playing games as a family can help a child learn good sportsmanship and enhance rule-following skills. And a note to parents: make sure you model important behaviors while you play, and show your child how to both win and lose gracefully, to avoid criticizing, complaining, quitting, and to play to the end of the game when you then congratulate the winner. 

2 - Learning to work together is an important skill and one that is fairly easy to develop at home. Working together on various household tasks or projects encourages both collaboration and cooperation, so clean out the toy closet and donate the offerings to needy kids, plan a meal and cook it up together, or plant a garden! There are many things you can do around the house that will help your child to work with and support others.

And finally, two quick tips for parents:

1 – Make time to have a good chat with your child. Ask open-ended questions which will allow the conversation to flow and may very well lead to any anxious thoughts that your child may be having during this unusual pandemic life. Let him see you make good eye-contact, listen to what he has to say, model respectful disagreement and other aspects of conversation skills.

2 – Give honest and immediate feedback that will help your child to navigate social pitfalls, allowing him to build better social behavior. For example, if your child is wanting your attention but keeps interrupting a conversation that you are having with another person, stop and turn your attention to your child. Explain that he needs to wait his turn to speak and help him to understand different strategies to get your attention that would be more appropriate and polite.

These are extraordinary times we’re having during this pandemic. The world has turned upside down and social life as we know it has changed in many ways. Take comfort, knowing that children are generally resilient and able to adapt well in challenging circumstances. As parents, we can help them to learn and practice good social skills that they will need in life, even during this time of social distancing and distance learning.

You Can Do It: Build a Terrarium!

You and your child can have your very own self-sustaining ecosystem and maintain a lovely science experiment/work of art too!

1 – Choose a good container. Kitchen canisters or jars, empty bottles with lids, anything interesting looking, as long as it’s clear glass and can be closed to allow humidity to help your plants thrive.

2 – Choose a few plant varieties that thrive in high humidity and enjoy diffused light. This can include ferns, mosses, air plants, orchids, friendship plants, strawberry begonia, and more. Just be sure to avoid succulents and cactus.

3 – Place a 1” layer of pebbles on the bottom of your jar to allow for drainage, followed by a thin layer of horticultural charcoal, then a layer of potting soil. 

4 – Nestle your plants into the soil so that the roots are covered, making sure that any leaves, petals, and stems do not touch the interior glass.

5 – Very lightly spritz the plants with water (twice is all that’s needed), and place the lid onto the jar. Keep an eye on your little garden because you never want to have water pooling at the bottom of the jar. An occasional spritz or two will do!

How to keep your garden tidy:

Terrariums are tiny greenhouses and condensation will build inside. If you find that too much moisture forms, move your terrarium to a spot with a little less light, or remove the top for an hour or two. 

Once a week or so, clean the inside of your terrarium of water spots or algae buildup using a long- handled fork or other implement with a piece of cloth secured at the end for wiping. Use long-handled tweezers or scissors to prune dead leaves or any plant material from the edge of the glass. Chopsticks work very well when debris needs to be removed from the top of the soil. Give your plants a spritz and then replace the lid so the humidity can build up again.

It's easy!

Letter from Betty for August 2020

Hello Friends,

"Field Trip!" Those are magical words for most children and adults. For schools and teachers the new normal across the country and the world is becoming virtual education, so virtual field trips are the order of the day. We have a great roundup of inspiring trips in our feature article for August, "Amazing Virtual Field Trips." Enjoy your adventures!

But don't give up on the joys of book reading either. There is nothing like snuggling up with a good book on a summer day in the shade (or the air conditioning). We have a quick list of both Young Adult and chapter books for readers of many ages in our bonus article for this month, "You Can Do It! More Reading Suggestions." Happy reading!

Whatever your educational needs, Foundation for Learning is ready to assist you with caring, one-on-one, individualized tutoring, and ISEE/SSAT test prep.

Don't hesitate to give us a call at 973-425-1774 or send an email to betty.foundationforlearning@gmail.com for a free consultation.


Best regards,

Betty

Amazing Virtual Field Trips

We know you’ve spent months coming up with activities for your children during the pandemic, and as we move through the summer, the temperatures are getting hotter and indoor activities are definitely needed. We have ideas for fun, educational experiences! From the safety and comfort of your own homes, you and your children can enjoy incredible virtual field trips, offered by museums, aquariums, zoos, and other institutions around the world. Enjoy! 

Zoos & Aquariums
San Diego Zoo, California
The San Diego Zoo’s website is kid-friendly and easy to navigate. Visitors can click on an animal to learn more about it and even watch live cams of some of the zoo’s most popular residents, including the pandas. Also found on their site are videos that teach easy crafts and also fascinating tours with zookeepers.

Monterey Bay Aquarium, Monterey, California
The Monterey Bay Aquarium website has activities for all age groups, loads of online resources, and cute live cams. Who doesn’t love live cams?

Cincinnati Zoo, Ohio
Zookeepers host daily “home safaris” on Facebook at 3:00 p.m. ET, and previous home safaris are available to watch on the zoo’s own website.

Science
Kennedy Space Center, Florida
On their Facebook page, educators at the Kennedy Space Center host periodic live videos about all things space. Perfect for your budding astronaut or space fanatic.
 
California Science Center, Los Angeles, California
While they are closed during the pandemic, the California Science Center releases its Stuck at Home Science! videos every weekday at 1:00 p.m. ET. Each week has a theme like “All Cooked Up!” and “1, 2, 3, Blastoff!” Visitors can follow along with science experiments that use household items that you likely already have on hand.
 
National Air and Space Museum, Washington, DC
The Air and Space Museum is one of the most visited museums in the world — and now you can visit it without leaving your house. Tour the halls of the museum thanks to Google Arts & Culture. You can enjoy interactive exhibits and games too!
 
American Museum of Natural History, New York, New York
The American Museum of Natural History has Ology, an entire website for children to explore. Each section lets children choose an “ology” to learn about, like paleontology or archaeology, and includes related games, videos from resident scientists and fun activities.
 
KidsQuest Children’s Museum, Bellevue, Washington
KidsQuest offers daily YouTube streams featuring at-home activities and storytime. Activities are centered around art, math and science.
 
Mars (Yes, Mars!)
This is another opportunity for budding astronauts and space fanatics of all ages. It enables kids of all ages to visit Mars. Yes, the actual Mars. The Curiosity Rover allows us to join for a virtual ride-along thanks to a partnership with Google, Access Mars and NASA.

Art
The Kennedy Center, Washington, DC
Mo Willems, the current Kennedy Center Education Artist-in-Residence, is hosting Lunch Doodles every weekday at 1:00 p.m. ET. Budding artisits can learn how to draw some of Willems’ popular characters, like Elephant and Piggie. They can also create their own art work. 

The International Museum of Children’s Art, Oslo, Norway
If your children need even more inspiration, they can take a virtual tour of the first museum dedicated to art made by children from over 180 different countries. Google Arts & Culture has made a selection of works available that range from sweet to silly to downright profound.

History
Colonial Williamsburg, Williamsburg, Virginia
Colonial Williamsburg is allowing visitors to travel back in time from wherever they are with videos and educational resources. The “Explore from Home” series on YouTube includes videos with some of the historical interpreters, including the people who portray Martha Washington and Thomas Jefferson.

National Museum of American History, Washington, DC
Civil War buffs will love the chance to solve their very own mystery — and explore the archives of the Smithsonian — with Ripped Apart, an iPad app from the Smithsonian. Could there be ghosts trapped in the basement of the National Museum of American History? Play this educational game and find out!

The British Museum, London, England
Middle and high school teens will enjoy exploring The Museum of the World, an interactive timeline that gives them a look at some of the museum’s 8 million works. The timeline is elegantly organized by date, geographical area and theme. Click on an object to learn more and even get a mini lecture from a curator. Parents will love this too!

You Can Do It! More Reading Suggestions

8 Great Read-Aloud Chapter Books
Hitty, Her First Hundred Years, by Rachel Field (ages 8 to 12)
James and the Giant Peach, by Roald Dahl (ages 8 to 12)
Charlotte’s Web, by E. B. White (ages 8 to 12)
Anne of Green Gables, by L. M. Montgomery (ages 8 to 12)
The Search for Delicious, by Natalie Babbitt (ages 8 to 12)
Stuart Little, by E. B. White (ages 8 to 12)
Uncle Wiggily series, by Howard R. Garis (ages 8 to 12)
The Hobbit, by J. R. R. Tolkien (ages 12+)

11 Great Young Adult Books
Hatchet, by Gary Paulsen (ages 10+)
The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (ages 12+)
Tuck Everlasting, by Natalie Babbitt (ages 10+)
Black Boy, by Richard Wright (ages 14+)
Treasure Island, by Robert Louis Stevenson (ages 12+)
Jamaica Inn, by Daphne du Maurier (ages 12+)
The Greatest: My Own Story, by Muhammad Ali (ages 12+)
Murder on the Orient Express, by Agatha Christie (ages 12+)
Behold Your Queen!, by Gladys Malvern (ages 14+)
The Halloween Tree, by Ray Bradbury (ages 12+)
Nine Stories, by J. D. Salinger (ages 14+)

Letter from Betty for July 2020

Hello Friends,

This summer, like all those that have come before, is a great time to continue sparking students' interest in learning with fun, educational activities. For some much-needed inspiration, please take a look at our feature article for July, "Fun STEM Activities and Good Reads Too."

Happy 4th of July! Do you know how many signers of the Declaration of Independence actually signed that document on July 4th, 1776? Find the answer and much more in our bonus article for this month, "Did You Know? Fun Facts About Independence Day." Enjoy!

Whatever your educational needs, Foundation for Learning is ready to assist you with caring, one-on-one, individualized tutoring, and ISEE/SSAT test prep.

Don't hesitate to give us a call at 973-425-1774 or send an email to betty.foundationforlearning@gmail.com for a free consultation.


Best regards,

Betty