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PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals)

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Dolphins Forced To Perform Cruel and Dangerous Tricks at SeaWorld

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By Emma Caldwell
High school is not just preparation for college. In fact, many students leave high school with no intention of going to college. Some join the military and others already have job prospects to pursue.

While preparing you for the future, high school is where you learn exactly what it means to be a good citizen. A major component of being a good citizen is interaction with your community. One of the most common ways of involving young adults in community activities is through volunteerism. In order to truly complete the education the public school system promises, high school students should spend time volunteering in their community.

"Without community service, we would not have a strong quality of life. It's important to the person who serves as well as the recipient. It's the way in which we ourselves grow and develop," said Dr. Dorothy Height, president and CEO of the National Council of Negro Women. What Height says is undeniably true, and it needs to begin in our educational system.

People who volunteer at an age where social interaction is essential, high school, will carry this message with them through life. The life lesson of service is just as important in "the real world" we teenagers so often hear about as that "A" on our last calculus exam.

Making community service a requirement ensures students will at least spend the minimum time volunteering in their community. If at least a third of these students are able to grasp the importance of community service, then they can take that skill and apply it not only to their professional lives but also to the general well being of their communities. If these same students use the lessons they learned from volunteering, they could solve many of today's economic and social problems.

By requiring students to do community service in high school, we are not only ensuring good and informed citizens, but also a better economic and social climate.
Emma Caldwell is a senior at Gull Lake High School.

By Rachael LeFevre

If you haven't played Wii with a couple of 80-year-olds, you're missing out. Each week, my best friend and I hang out with senior citizens. Volunteering at a retirement village provides us with a great opportunity to meet new people and enrich the lives of the people we meet.

We have learned so much from talking with senior citizens, and we are blessed to have this opportunity to reach out to those in our community. Nothing is more rewarding than seeing the faces of the elderly light up when you walk into the room.

Though my school only requires a minimum of 10 community service hours freshman year, I have continued to volunteer throughout high school. While our initial 10-hour requirement is a good start, schools should require more volunteer hours. Volunteering offers students an irreplaceable way to help their community and expand their knowledge of the world.

Some believe that forcing students to volunteer is defeating the purpose of volunteering because it's not volunteering if you are required to do it. However, sometimes students need an extra push to reach out in their communities. While some students aren't initially interested in volunteering, requiring community service hours would force them to participate in community-outreach projects.

Besides teaching valuable life skills, volunteering may lead to a part-time job opportunity. If students prove their dependability and hard work ethic while volunteering, employers may take that into consideration and offer them a job. My best friend got her summer job after volunteering several summers at the Boy Scout camp. Because of her experience acquired through volunteering, she was able to get a job much more easily.

Volunteering offers countless benefits for teenagers. Besides making a difference in people's lives, students develop communication skills and acceptance of others. Additionally, reaching out to others less fortunate teaches us to be grateful for what we have. Overall, volunteering is an extremely rewarding activity which should be required.

Rachael LeFevre is a senior at Portage Central High School.

By Olivia Reed
Every spring students at my school start to hear reminders for seniors to turn in their community service hours in order to graduate. At the same time, students also hear seniors complain about how it is unfair for them to be required to volunteer.

However, high schools should have a certain number of community service hours students have to complete before graduation. Volunteering promotes leadership and awareness as students take an active role in their communities.

Requiring community service allows schools to help students become more educated in how they can help others and the impact they can have. Having students volunteer gives them a better understanding of how many people need help in their own communities.

In the news, kids hear about struggling families, but may never realize there are families in their own neighborhoods who need assistance. Through community service, students get hands-on experience at an early age about how they can improve society and the lives of others.

Some students may not know what they can do or where to go to volunteer. With the school involved, there are often announcements about opportunities for students to complete their community service. It makes the task of helping others more fun when kids can sign up to volunteer with their friends. Having students volunteer makes it easier for them to have an opportunity to be leaders and make a difference.

Volunteering also improves leadership skills. When students volunteer, they can gain real skills they can use in their jobs. That advantage could help make them leaders when they go on to college and then to work. Helping students develop these traits now sets them up to become leaders for the rest of their lives.

When students are doing community service, they are benefitting the public. Even though students may not be willing participants, the hope is that by having students help the community, they become volunteers and make a difference.
Olivia Reed is a senior at Plainwell High School. High school students representing 17 high schools and the Home School association in southwestern Michigan schools serve on the Kalamazoo Gazette's Young Editorial Staff (YES), which is coordinated by freelance writer Phyllis Rose. The students pick their own discussion topics. The views expressed in Our Turn are solely those of the students, not the Gazette.

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Should high school students be forced to volunteer? (Our Turn column)

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While preparing you for the future, high school is where you learn exactly what it means to be a good citizen. A major component of being a good citizen is interaction with your community. One of the most common ways of involving young adults in community activities is through volunteerism.

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10 Most OVERPAID and OVERRATED Athletes In Sports Right Now (2019)

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Reptiles and Amphibians | Healthy Pets, Healthy People | CDC

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Pets provide many benefits to humans. They comfort us and they give us companionship. However, some animals can also pass diseases to people. These diseases are called zoonoses.

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Does TikTok belong in school? | Interactive Worksheet by Kaitlyn Stokes | Wizer.me

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Wizer.me free interactive argument, worksheet - Does TikTok belong in school? by teacher Kaitlyn Stokes

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Parent's Guide: watch Common Sense Media's What is TikTok? advice video to help you make informed decisions with your children.

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Information on how to care for pet snakes.

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#29 - My Nonfiction Article: Snakes as Pets 

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Two Horn Lake Middle School teachers are motivating their students to stay engaged while learning from home.Abby Legge and Bekah Blake are seventh grade math and English teachers in the DeSoto County School District. When teaching went from inside the classroom to over a laptop, Ms. Legge and Ms. Blake wanted to keep the motivation going as if nothing changed.Legge started making the videos when she asked herself "How can I make sure my kids are ready for the eighth grade?"She said, "In the classroom, students were motivated by us offering incentives like playing games, winning candy, or five free minutes on Fridays." Legge wanted to continue that extra motivation and participation via distance learning but in a different way.She said, "When teachers aren't in the classroom, we worry about students not understanding work or we worry kids are focusing on other things."She said when they started the videos, they saw a rise in student activity and participation.She will normally make a TikTok video if everyone completes an assignment, does well on a test, or needs extra motivation.She has had support form colleagues, and parents saying their families love the videos.

Two Horn Lake Middle School teachers are motivating their students to stay engaged while learning from home.

Abby Legge and Bekah Blake are seventh grade math and English teachers in the DeSoto County School District.

When teaching went from inside the classroom to over a laptop, Ms. Legge and Ms. Blake wanted to keep the motivation going as if nothing changed.

Legge started making the videos when she asked herself "How can I make sure my kids are ready for the eighth grade?"

She said, "In the classroom, students were motivated by us offering incentives like playing games, winning candy, or five free minutes on Fridays."

Legge wanted to continue that extra motivation and participation via distance learning but in a different way.

She said, "When teachers aren't in the classroom, we worry about students not understanding work or we worry kids are focusing on other things."

She said when they started the videos, they saw a rise in student activity and participation.

She will normally make a TikTok video if everyone completes an assignment, does well on a test, or needs extra motivation.

She has had support form colleagues, and parents saying their families love the videos.

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Two teachers motivate students using TikTok videos

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Two Horn Lake Middle School teachers are motivating their students to stay engaged while learning from home.Abby Legge and Bekah Blake are seventh grade math and English teachers in the DeSoto County School District.

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Nothing grates on the nerves of a grammar fiend like techspeak creeping into inappropriate places but as a new generation is being raised communicating via text messaging and social media, traditional grammar skills are going the way of the telephone cord and busy signal.

This infographic from OnlineCollege.org explores the impact all those LOLs and emoticons are having on the next generation and their ability to make themselves understood using good, old-fashioned English.

Via OnlineColleges.org.

Like infographics? So do we.

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Does texting hurt your grammar? [infographic] - Alltop Viral

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Nothing grates on the nerves of a grammar fiend like techspeak creeping into inappropriate places but as a new generation is being raised communicating via text messaging and social media, traditional grammar skills are going the way of the telephone cord and busy signal. This infographic from OnlineCollege.org explores the impact all those LOLs ...

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#29 - My Nonfiction Article: Texting & Writing 

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SeaWorld Is Working to Protect Wild Animals

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The capturing and keeping of killer whales puts a black mark on the entire human species. The conditions in which these majestic animals are forced to live is atrocious and when you research and analy...

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The capturing and keeping of killer whales puts a black mark on the entire human species. The conditions in which these majestic animals are forced to live is atrocious and when you research and analy...

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Kids get excited because it usually means no school. But with the pandemic, online instruction makes it easier for schools to simply shift to remote learning.

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Students in U.S. high schools can get free digital access to The New York Times until Sept. 1, 2021.

In response to a large storm that hit the East Coast this week, school districts across the United States continued with virtual instruction instead of canceling classes. The change could become permanent. How do you feel about the possible end of snow days?

What snow-day rituals do you look forward to most? Do you enjoy outdoor activities like snowball fights, ice skating and sledding? Or do you prefer to cozy up indoors with a good book or a favorite movie?

In " Children Love Snow Days. The Pandemic May End Them Forever," Troy Closson writes about how snow days could become a bygone tradition:

In New York, it is still unclear whether the pandemic has eliminated snow days forever, but on Tuesday Mayor Bill de Blasio called them a "thing of the past."

"I'm kind of sad for the kids on the one hand," Mr. de Blasio said, but he also noted that not losing more class time this school year is particularly important. "On the other hand, we've got a lot of learning that needs to be done and lot of catching up."

Similar plans have emerged elsewhere. In Philadelphia, teachers plan to continue classes virtually if the expected storm hits. In Denver, schools moved fully online for large snowfall in late October. And officials in Omaha said last month that students would learn online regardless of snow, even beyond this year. School will not be canceled; instead, snow days have been.

Some parents, however, said they were ready and willing to declare their own snow day regardless of the school's decision:

Sarah Allen, a parent in the Kensington neighborhood of Brooklyn, said if streets near her home are coated, her four children will not be attending classes as usual.

"I felt like no matter what kind of learning we're doing this year," she said, "this isn't something that needs to be taken away from kids who have already lost a lot, ranging from not being able to see friends to losing parents to Covid."

Instead, Ms. Allen said that her husband would take the children to the park to build snowmen and enjoy the weather. Ms. Allen, a first-grade teacher at Public School 372 in Brooklyn, will be indoors, leading instruction for students who show up for class.

But she said she expected attendance to be lighter than normal, given that many of the school's parents have told her they have similar plans for letting their children have a one-day vacation.

Students, read the entire article, then tell us:

How do you feel about snow days in general? Are they exciting breaks from the monotony of a school routine or do they create anxiety about missing lessons and schoolwork? Would you be upset if your school no longer had snow days?

Do you live in a school district that uses a lot of snow days? If so, do you enjoy the seasonal activities that come with winter, or do you dread the ice and cold? If you live in a warmer climate, have you ever wished you could experience a snow day? Has your school ever been closed for a weather-related event?

Is it fair for school districts to take snow days away from students (as well as teachers and parents)? Should schools be expected to cancel school even though so many districts are able to hold classes virtually?

Many education experts have said that keeping students in class is especially vital given the disruptive events of the past year. Do you think the educational and social tumult caused by the coronavirus pandemic is justification to forgo snow days and continue holding class? Or does it strengthen the case for giving students an academic break?

How do you feel about parents, like Ms. Allen, who said they planned to flout the rules and allow their children to take a snow day even if school was held virtually? Is it acceptable for parents to let their children skip school for the purpose of memory-making? Would you feel comfortable enjoying a snow day if it meant missing school?

About Student Opinion
* Find all our Student Opinion questions in this column.
* Have an idea for a Student Opinion question? Tell us about it.
* Learn more about how to use our free daily writing prompts for remote learning.

Students 13 and older in the United States and the United Kingdom, and 16 and older elsewhere, are invited to comment. All comments are moderated by the Learning Network staff, but please keep in mind that once your comment is accepted, it will be made public.

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Should There Still Be Snow Days? (Published 2020)

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Students in U.S. high schools can get free digital access to The New York Times until Sept. 1, 2021. In response to a large storm that hit the East Coast this week, school districts across the United States continued with virtual instruction instead of canceling classes. The change could become permanent.

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Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning I get a commission if you decide to purchase through my links, at no cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Read the full disclosure here.

Just because it's cold doesn't mean you shouldn't go outside and play!

After all, aren't some of your fondest winter memories those of being outside playing in the snow?

Maybe it was having a snowball fight or building that incredible snow fort out of the plowed snowbank.

Snow gives us options! Options to play, build and create. Whether it's a fun game of snow baseball or that artistic design made from food coloring in the snow, there's always fun to be had.

Outdoor Snow Games

1. Footprint Tag

Play tag as you normally would...but stepping only in others' footprints.

2. Snow Baseball
Directions

1. Set up a baseball diamond with a mound of snow representing home plate and first, second and third bases.

2. Place an empty water bottle on the top of each mound.

3. The pitcher stands in the middle of the diamond and hurls snowballs first at home plate, then around the bases.

4. Whoever knocks down the bottles with the fewest pitches wins.

Want to keep throwing? Check out these other throwing game options.

3. Snow Golf

Take some time to smooth out a fairway and a green. Take an open can and plant it in the snow-this is the hole.
For golf balls, use hockey pucks. For clubs, use hockey sticks or real golf clubs.

4. Powder-Puff Football
Directions

1. All you need are two teams of three or more people to play, along with a spray bottle filled with a mix of water and food coloring to mark the playing field (a large rectangle with a centerline should suffice).

2. The teams line up at opposite ends of the field (the North and South poles) for a kickoff.

3. Once someone on the receiving team catches the ball, he tries to move it back across the defense's goal line by running with it or passing it to a teammate.

4. Play stops if the person with the ball is tagged by an opponent or slides out of bounds.

5. The teams then face off again on the spot. After four tries or a touchdown, the ball goes to the other team.

6. The game ends when either team gets cold.
Source:familyfun.go.com

5. Find the Snow Flag

This is a great game to play on the playground. Tie a white cloth to the end of a short stick. Give each child a chance to hide it by staking it anywhere within an area with boundaries. Note how long it takes for the rest of the group to find it. Whoever hid the flag with the group that took the longest time to find it wins the game!

6. Jump Snow Hurdles

Lightly pack a lot of basketball-sized snowballs and then use them to build a course of hurdles to jump over in a round of 'Follow the Leader'.

7. Rope Snow Tug

Have you ever tried TUG OF WAR in the snow?! Fun!!!
Directions

1. Team up for a slip-sliding variation of tug-of-war.

2. Tamp down a wide, shallow trench in the snow to serve as the midline. Then, take up positions at the ends of a long, thick rope and let the tugging and towing begin.

3. Whichever team pulls the entire opposing group over to its side of the trench wins.
WE have a winter Olympics and this is one of the things we do! Frodo/Colorado

As Frodo mentions above...Have an Olympics day with many of the activities on KidActivities. Snow hurdles, Tug of War, Relay races, etc.

8. Hula Hoop Challenge

Have you ever tried using 'Hula Hoops' all bundled up in winter clothing? Have a contest to see who can last the longest!

9. Freeze Tag

What fun in the winter-time! Play this just as you would indoors and any other time of the year. The person who is 'It' tags someone; that person stays frozen until another player tags him/her again to 'unfreeze' them.

10. Snowball Target Practice

In the winter- kids (and adults) like to throw snowballs. PLACE A SNOWBALL TARGET in a conspicuous place where it's fine to throw snowballs. Make sure rules are established so no one gets hurt. It's a great source of exercise for all kids, even those that are not athletically inclined. (This is also a good way to get the snowballs directed a 'safe' spots and not at other kids!)

No snow? Roll up those 'saved" pieces of white paper and pretend they're snowballs!

Similar to the above...HIT THE TARGET
Make a target by creating a bright circle in the snow with colored water in a squirt bottle.

11. Snowball Strike Out Game

Good for older kids!
First mound up snow to create three bases and a pitcher's mound-the three mound piles should each be about 2 feet high and 20 feet apart. Next, build a tin can pyramid on each base. The challenge is to knock down the stacks in order-from first to third base by throwing snowballs from the pitcher's mound. The child who succeeds with the fewest pitches wins.

12. Snowman Hat Trick

Build a plump, snowman in the yard/play-field. Make a game of taking turns trying to land a hat on his head by throwing it like a frisbee from 10 or so feet away. Love frisbee? Check out these frisbee ideas.

13. Get On a Roll

Pair up for a contest in which the object is to finish with the biggest snowball. The contest ends when the teams can no longer roll their entries or when you run out of snow.

Freeze colored water in ice cube trays. Hide them outdoors for a wintertime SCAVENGER HUNT.

14. Snow-Boot Two Step

Materials:
✓ Snow boots
✓ Winter clothes
Directions

1. This tough-to-master version of follower the leader requires 2 or more players. The leader makes a path in freshly fallen snow.

2. His or her teammates must try to step in exactly the same spots.

3. The object of the game is to make it seem as if only one person has taken a walk through the snow.

4. Can you pull it off? It takes balance and agility! Be sure to bundle up to stay warm and dry.
Source:creativekidsathome.com

15. Winter Tag

✓ 5 or more players
✓ Ages 5 and up
✓ Played outdoors in the winter

Players prepare the course for the game, consisting of a maze of parts in the snow over a field or ice. The parts should be wide enough for one person to run on, about one meter wide.

What follows is a simple game of tag played in lanes in the snow. Players must stay on the paths always, but the person who is 'it' may jump from path to path in pursuit of his opponents.

This imaginative modification of tag in the winter could lead players to invent their own unique games for the winter season. Source: Thunder Bay Multicultural Association

Outdoor Winter and Snow Activity Ideas

16. Snow Molds

Just like sand, snow is wet and dense-and can be formed into shapes. When you go outside...take out the sandbox toys, buckets, containers, and molds. Create a snow castle (instead of sandcastle) - Create and have fun!

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18. Build a Large Snow Worm

Great for kids-no lifting heavy snow!
Directions

1. Make several large snowballs. (One bigger than the rest for the head.)

2. Use the fruit or vegetables to make eyes and a nose. Like you would with a regular snowman.

3. Mix the food coloring in with some water and fill up a spray bottle to spray your worm with whatever color you want. (or not) A fun winter "Earth Activity"!

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18. Jell-0 in the Snow

Make Jell-O according to directions on the package. Pour into clean baby food jars-one for each child. Place containers in a large tub and fill the tub with snow. When Jell-O is set-enjoy!

OR...MAKE IGLOO BLOCKS (OUTSIDE POPSICLE STICKS) A fun activity during winter. Have children pick their favorite drink (fruit punch, apple juice, etc) and then pour this into an ice cube tray. Have kids write their name on a popsicle stick and place it in the tray. Put this outside and let it freeze (if it is not cold enough you can put it in the freezer) The children then have an igloo block for a snack.

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19. Create a Bird Seed Snow Angel

This angel is easiest made together. One partner lies down to make a snow angel while the other partner stands by to help the maker get up without messing up the imprint. After the imprint is formed, pour cups of birdseed into the angel, filling the head and body with bands of variously colored seed. For a finishing touch, add pine boughs for the angel's spreading wings.

Extension Science Idea:
Watch this spot daily and record your observations in a journal. The journal can be made with paper and a construction paper cover. At the same time every day, write down what the weather is like, including temperature, how the sky looks if it is snowy or sunny and what animals you see, and how they look to you. Are they feeding? This can be a fun spectator activity!

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20. Snowman Building Race
Directions:
1. Pick 2 teams. The 2 teams make a snowman bottom.
2. Someone yells GO!
3. The 2 teams start to finish the rest of the snowman-The body, hat, nose, etc.
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21. Ice Man

Fill three balloons with water (one big, one medium, and one small). Let freeze overnight. Peel the balloon off and stack the balls (use salt between to help them melt and stick together. Have kids clothe him, put a carrot nose, stick arms, etc.

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22. Snow Treasure Hunt

Hide a chest full of 'fun' in the snow, then watch kids track it down clue by clue.
Directions

1. Pack a cooler full of treats and then hide the "treasure chest."

2. Create a series of clues leading to the chest. Use pictures from magazines or create your own with markers and paper.

3. Place each clue in a plastic bag and hide it in the snow.

4. Begin the hunt by handing the players their first clue.

VARIATIONS:
For more sophisticated players, give them their clues in riddles or use rebuses.
Look around the yard for a good clue hiding places and plot them on paper. Then create the picture clues for each spot and hide them in order (keep the master list just in case a clue gets lost). Source: familyfun.go.com

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23. Freeze Bubbles

When the temperature dips below the freezing point, many changes occur in our environment: water turns to ice, and rain turns to snow. The bubble activity demonstrates this.

It's a good idea to first chill the containers of bubble solution in the refrigerator; outside it has to be below freezing temp.

Have children observe the bubbles closely as they blow. They will notice ice crystals forming on the surface of the bubbles.

What happens when the bubbles pop? They shatter.

If the outside weather is below 32 degrees, you can make bubbles outdoors. Blow a bubble and catch it on the wand. Wait and watch as it freezes. It will turn into a crystal ball and then shatter like glass; you'll see ice crystals form. You'll also notice the vibrant colors!

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24. Snow Squirt Art

Give children squirt bottles filled with colored water and let them color the snow. Consider also using dish detergent bottles, filled with water and food coloring; they work more easily with mittens on.

( Having done this with children, using small squirt bottles is difficult for kids to press. If using 'squirt' bottles-use those with larger nozzles)
TIP: Get a supply of old-used mittens as to not soil children's' gloves. Image of 'Colored Snow AND Winter Bubbles' by KidActivities
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25. Self Portrait in the Snow
Directions
Create a snowy self-portrait that doubles as a tasty treat for animals who might stop by to admire and sample your work.

1. Start by prepping your art materials; fill the pump bottles with different hues of food-color-tinted water and cut up various fruits and vegetables. Then take the materials outside.
2. Next, start your masterpiece by lying back in the snow to make a body print. Gently rock your body to pack the print, then carefully get up (you may need a friend's help).
3. Create a portrait by filling in the shape with the seeds and vegetable pieces and adding details with the colored water.

Tips:
Younger kids may find it easier to work with fewer materials and to use cups or small pitchers (instead of their hands) to pour lines of seed. Remember to have the artists sign their initials somewhere, too! Source: familyfun.go.com

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26. Ice Block Designs

Younger children can observe how salt melts ice while creating colorful designs in large blocks of ice.
Need: Large blocks of ice, Coarse salt, Food coloring, Eye droppers This is science, art, and outside winter play!

Freeze water in empty one-gallon milk containers. Remove the cardboard when water is frozen.

Place ice blocks on trays covered with several layers of newspaper.

Sprinkle coarse salt on top of the ice blocks.

Drip various colors of food coloring on top of the ice block-tunnels of color are created as the salt melts through the ice block.

Put the colorful ice blocks outside. If cold enough- they should stay frozen for several days.

Children can continue to examine the melting process during outdoor play. If possible-(and if they are interested) give kids their own block of ice.

If you have a large group do this activity over a few days. Children will enjoy watching the changes that occur as the blocks melt away!(Image by KidActivities.net)

Idea adapted from Marjorie E. in KinderArt.com NOTE: When salt goes over the side of the ice block-it will quickly melt grooves into the sides. The color will travel down the grooves. KA placed the ice block in a tin pie pan with lots of paper to soak up excess colored water. The ice stayed solid (outdoors) for about a week. (It melted when we had a freakish 65 degree Michigan winter day in January!)

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27. Winter Sun Catcher

(For Preschool and up)
Directions
Materials:
✓ Ribbon or yarn (at least 12 inches long)
✓ Water
✓ Aluminum pie plate, or metal dish
✓ Food coloring or crayon shavings
✓ Flower petals, berries, leaves, or other materials

1. Make a loop with the ribbon and place it in the pie plate. Leave at least 5 inches of the looped end hanging over the edge. Fill the plate with water.

2. If you'd like your suncatcher to be colored, add a few drops of food coloring to the water and mix it around.

3. Add the crayon shavings, berries, or other materials for your suncatcher to the water.

4. Let the materials fall into place, or arrange them in a design. (Keep in mind that the materials may move around on their own.)

5. Put the plate in the freezer, or if it's cold enough, leave it outside to freeze.

6. Let the plate sit for at least one day. If it's outside, you may need to let it sit longer.

7. When the water is completely frozen, carefully remove the ice from the tin. (Mine popped out easily)

Hang the suncatcher outside from a tree or windowsill for friends and neighbors to admire. You can also try using cupcake tins and shorter ribbon (6 inches)to make several small sun catchers.
Source: fun.familyeducation.com

Note: I made the above samples as an example. The one with berries is made without 'food coloring or crayon shavings'. Next time I would add the color and spread out the materials. The other image is made the same way but with 'paper snowflakes' placed in it. Barb

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28. Viewing Snowflakes
Directions
Materials:
✓ Viewing platform: black velvet, dark cloth, or black construction paper
✓ Magnifying glass

1. Snowflakes are delicate creatures and their fine crystalline shape can vanish at a touch of warmth.

2. You'll need to freeze your viewing surface (keep it in the fridge or outside in a cold dry area).

3. If the snow is falling, just hold your platform aloft to catch a few flakes and view with your magnifying glass.

4. You may need to wear a scarf over the mouth and nose to avoid melting the flakes with a warm breath.
Source:fun.familyeducation.com

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29. Catching Snowflakes

Place a black sheet of paper into a freezer until cold. Take outdoors and use a magnifying glass to view snowflakes that land on the paper.

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30. Make Icecycles

Puncture a VERY SMALL hole into a hanging container, fill it with water and then leave it slowly dripping over-night. The next day you should have your own icicle.

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31. Have a Winter Picnic

Consider this for one of those all-day or half-day programs.

You need a clear winter day.

Children provide packed lunches- a hot one if they have an insulated bag. The program can provide warm drinks in thermoses.

Pre-choose your picnic site. Be sure to bring a blanket to sit on!

When you arrive, first play a warming game like leapfrog ... have your warm lunches ...followed by playing more active games! This would be a great time to play relay and planned games!
Weather not cooperating on the planned day? Do the same but inside!!!

DON'T FORGET ABOUT~
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* Looking for animal footprints...
* Making snow angels...
* Older kids puling the younger on sleds...
* Taking thermoses of hot chocolate outside...
* Wintertime nature scavenger hunt...
* Build houses, igloos, and forts...
* Don't just make snowmen-Make snow-women, animals, animals, and superheroes!

___________

32. Maple Syrup Snow Candy
Directions
Ingredients:
✓ 2 cups of brown sugar
✓ 3 tablespoons butter
✓ 1/2 cup water.

1. Bring water with other ingredients to a rolling boil. (Boil for about 10 minutes)

2. Have children make a smooth place in clean snow - pour the snow candy on it. You can pour in any desired design or pictures.

3. Don't touch until it has cooled.

IF THE SNOW ON THE GROUND BOTHERS YOU - scoop up some clean snow and place it in a bowl or dish-you can also take the snow inside and make your candy there!

(Image by KidActivities.net)

Outdoor Winter Animal Activity Ideas

33. A Tree for the Animals

Decorate a tree for the animals in the woods or around your home or program property. Use fruit, vegetables, nuts and peanut butter on pinecones so the animals will have food to eat when while it's cold. Don't forget, this is a great time to teach kids about hibernating.

__________________

34. Winter Necklace and Animal Feeder
Directions
Materials:
✓ Large needle
✓ String or fishing line
✓ Popped corn
✓ Dried fruit; raisins, cranberries, apple and apricot
✓ Pieces of orange peel (optional )

Measure the length of the line that you need to fit the necklace over a child's head. Don't forget to leave enough for tying off. Thread the needle and string the popcorn and other items alternately.
Children can wear their necklace for a while and then hang the necklace onto a tree or shrub for the local wildlife.

Tip: The orange peel adds a very pleasant scent. Put a bit of all-natural peanut butter on the necklace before placing it outside. The oils and protein are great for the birds!

_______
Directions
35. Outdoor Creature Popcorn Wreath

1. Cut wreath shapes out of cardboard.

2. Give each child a wreath and a plastic knife to spread peanut butter over the wreath shape.

3. Put birdseed over the peanut butter covered wreath. Use spots of peanut butter to "glue" pieces of popcorn onto the wreath in a bow shape.

4. Hang the wreaths outside where they will be seen-good for birds and other outdoor creatures...

_______________
Directions
36. Feeder

1. Tie a piece of string around the widest part of the cone.

2. Mix the lard and seed together, then press the mixture into the branches of the cone.

3. Use the string to tie the cone up in a tree or bush for the birds to enjoy.

_____________________
Directions
37. Feed and Observe Winter Birds

1. Wash the bottle or carton and rinse it well.

2. Cut several small (2-3″) holes in the sides, about 2″ from the bottom.

3. Cut or poke two small holes near the top and thread a long piece of string through them.

4. Fill the bird feeder with seeds and hang from a tree or shrub. Scattering some seeds on the ground can help the birds find the feeder.

5. Watch the birds. Be patient. Try different types of seeds and different locations. Record your observations.

There are 17 DIY Bird Feeder Ideas in the Bird Theme!

Conclusion

We hope you have enjoyed these 37 outdoor snow games and activities. We tried to include a little bit of everything.

There were outdoor game ideas, snow activities, and even science projects.

Now it's time to get outside and play in that beautiful white stuff we call snow!

More Winter Ideas

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37 Snow Games and Activities: Outdoor Winter Fun - Kid Activities

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Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning I get a commission if you decide to purchase through my links, at no cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Read the full disclosure here. Just because it's cold doesn't mean you shouldn't go outside and play!

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There's no question that professional athletes are paid too much. In 2018, the average annual salary for an M.L.B. player was $4.1 million. Mike Trout, a centerfielder for the Los Angeles Angels, gets $35.8 million a year. In the N.B.A., the average annual salary was $7.1 million. In the N.F.L., the average was "only" $2.7 million, but one of football's highest-paid players, Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers, just signed a four-year contract for $134 million.

Compare those wages with the national average salary for a firefighter: about $45,000 a year. It's about $56,000 for a schoolteacher and nearly $74,000 for an emergency room nurse.

Does it make any sense that someone who throws a football for a living is paid more than 700 times as much as someone who helps save people's lives, or that swinging a bat gets you nearly 650 times as much as educating kids? In my opinion, no.

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The Statista "Chart of the Day" currently focuses on two sectors: "Media and Technology", updated daily and featuring the latest statistics from the media, internet, telecommunications and consumer electronics industries; and "Economy and Society", which current data from the United States and around the world relating to economic and political issues as well as sports and entertainment.

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Infographic: The World's Highest-Paid Athletes

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The Statista "Chart of the Day" currently focuses on two sectors: "Media and Technology", updated daily and featuring the latest statistics from the media, internet, telecommunications and consumer electronics industries; and "Economy and Society", which current data from the United States and around the world relating to economic and political issues as well as sports and entertainment.

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#29 - My Nonfiction Article: Athletes Pay

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We all have busy lives, and that can make it difficult to find the time to volunteer. However, the benefits of volunteering are pretty amazing, not only to the communities you serve but for yourself as well.

Today, we'll be looking at the health benefits of volunteering, and how you can get find a way to give back!

Did you know that volunteering has a positive impact on health? A 2013 Study by UnitedHealth Group and the Optum Institute revealed some powerful health benefits of volunteering.

Health Benefits of Volunteering (Infographic)

Source: 2013 Health and Volunteering Study

6 Important Benefits of Volunteering:

1. Volunteering brings a sense of purpose and connects you to people and causes.

2. Volunteering has been shown to lower stress and anxiety levels, and improve overall mood.

3. Volunteering brings valuable social and career skills that can help you accomplish your career goals.

4. Volunteering increases happiness, bringing more fun and fulfillment into your life.

5. Volunteering creates lasting and meaningful relationships with like-minded individuals.

6. Volunteers feel physically healthier and may be more engaged in managing their health.

How to Get Started as a Volunteer

Identify your reason for volunteering

When you're looking for a way to give back, it's important to consider opportunities that will be personally fulfilling to you. Look for volunteer opportunities that are in line with your personal goals and passions. Ask yourself, "Why do I want to volunteer?" Is it to make a difference for a specific cause? To improve your neighborhood? To gain experience working with a population for your career goals? Identifying why you want to give back will help you look for the right opportunities that bring you the most benefits of volunteering your time and skills.
Think about your interests, skills, and preferences
So you've identified why you want to give back, now it's time to think about your personal interests, skills, and preferences to search for volunteer opportunities that will be right for you. Here are a few questions you can ask yourself to help you get started:

What causes am I passionate about?

What populations do I want to work with? (ie. children, animals, elderly)

What settings do I prefer working in? (ie. 1-on-1, group settings, from home)

How much time can I give? (Are you flexible or do you need a set schedule, can you give 1 hour per week or are you looking to help once in a while?)

What do I like to do? (ie. teach, work behind the scenes, personal hobbies, professional skills)

Looking for the Right Volunteer Opportunities

Popular Types of Volunteering

Mentoring

Teaching/Support Learning

Events

Administrative

Coaching/Outdoor Activities/Sports

Arts (Crafts, Music, Drama, Visual Arts)

Support Listening/Counseling

Resources to Find Volunteer Opportunities
Local (within your community)

Animal Shelters

Soup Kitchens

Youth Organizations

Local Nonprofit Organizations

National Parks

Museums

Retirement Homes

Online Resources
The benefits of volunteering are numerous and we hope these resources help you connect to the causes you care about for enriching volunteer experiences.

Making a Difference for Families Impacted by Childhood Chronic Illness

Since 2001, CoachArt has matched volunteer coaches with students for one-on-one or group lessons in arts and athletics. Dedicated to creating a transformative arts and athletics community for families impacted by childhood chronic illness, our vision is that one day every family impacted by chronic illness will be connected to a community of support and an opportunity to learn and grow together.
CoachArt offers free art and athletic lessons to chronically ill children and their siblings between the ages of 5-18 in Los Angeles, the San Francisco Bay Area, and San Diego. If your child has been diagnosed with a chronic condition, we invite you to fill out a student eligibility form to learn if CoachArt is right for your child.
Ways to Help

Do you have an artistic or athletic skill you would like to share with a child impacted by chronic illness? Become a CoachArt Volunteer.

Check out opportunities with CochArt on VolunteerMatch.

Learn how you can get involved with CoachArt to help kids impacted by chronic illness. Visit coachart.org/get-involved.

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The Benefits of Volunteering and How to Find the Right Opportunities - CoachArt

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We all have busy lives, and that can make it difficult to find the time to volunteer. However, the benefits of volunteering are pretty amazing, not only to the communities you serve but for yourself as well. Today, we'll be looking at the health benefits of volunteering, and how you can get find a way to give back!

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#29 - My Nonfiction Article: Volunteering

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For many kids, a snow day is cause for celebration. Instead of going to class, they can have snowball fights or go sledding. But snow days are a thing of the past in one South Carolina school district. Anderson School District 5 is the latest of several districts nationwide to replace snow days with classes online.

With e-learning, students log on to a computer to do assignments at home. E-learning is meant to keep the school year on track and reduce the need for makeup days in the summer. But not everyone thinks this is necessary. How would you feel if your school replaced snow days with online learning? Here, two TIME for Kids readers share their views.

YES!

COURTESY MANDEEP SINGH
by Raunak Singh, 10 Fair Lawn, New Jersey
I think kids should go to school online on a snow day. When there is a blizzard or a heavy snowstorm, school is closed and kids have nothing to do but watch television and play video games because they can't go outside. How boring! If students could attend school online on snow days, they would have something productive to do. On a snow day, parents would like to see their kids doing something other than lying around on the couch. With e-learning, kids would still get time to play in the snow, but they would also have something to do when they were stuck in the house. Attending school online lets kids learn new things while sitting at home on their comfy couch. E-learning on snow days is a welcome change for parents, students, and teachers.

NO!

COURTESY CASTELLANOS
by Gabriela Quesada, 10 Miami, Florida
Kids need to go to school, but they should not have to go to school online on a snow day. During blizzards and snowstorms, many people lose power. Sometimes, you lose Internet access. If kids don't have power, how are they going to use the computer? When I was small and lived in Spain, I experienced something similar. My dad wanted me to do online schoolwork on a snow day. But the power was out and there was no Internet, so I couldn't. Even if there is Internet, the online assignments might be confusing for students. They might need help from teachers. On a snow day, kids and teachers should use the time to rest and enjoy the snow. In my opinion, going to school online on a snow day is not a wise thing to do.
The next debate: Is technology making us rude? Email your opinion to tfkasks4you@timeforkids.com. Your response might be featured in an upcoming issue.

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Should Kids Have to Go to School Online on a Snow Day?

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For many kids, a snow day is cause for celebration. Instead of going to class, they can have snowball fights or go sledding. But snow days are a thing of the past in one South Carolina school district. Anderson School...

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#29 - My Nonfiction Article: Virtual Snow Days