Learning Links
School Lunches
If you care about whether the food served at your public school cafeteria is healthy, you will be excited about the Edible Schoolyard project. Their goal is to improve what children eat for lunch at school and to use gardening and cooking to expand students’ skills in math and science. The Edible Schoolyard began in 2004 in the Berkeley Unified School District in California and now operates in five other districts across the country. For more information see:
http://www.chezpanissefoundation.org
Great Reading!
Students learn a tremendous amount about history, geography and science, and grow their vocabulary and writing skills by reading good literature. Reading helps students of all ages raise their academic achievement levels while broadening their worldview. The librarian can help your student choose books that are the right reading level. Historical fiction with young people as the main characters have won awards through the years. Favorites include Shades of Gray by noted children’s author Carolyn Reeder (1990), Sarah Plain and Tall by Patricia MacLachlan (1986), and Bud, Not Buddy by Christopher Paul Curtis (2000).
The Scott O’Dell Award for Historical Fiction for Children has been honoring books for 30 years and the complete list can be found at:
http://www.scottodell.com/pages/ScottO%27DellAwardforHistoricalFiction.aspx
Since 1938, the Caldecott Medal has honored beautifully crafted picture books with stories that are enjoyed by both adult and child. They make excellent gifts for birthdays and for new parents. Among older favorites that are still published are Make Way for Ducklings by Robert McCloskey (1942) and The Funny Little Woman, by Blair Lent and Arlene Mosel (1973).
To find the entire list go to:
The Newberry Medal was first presented in 1922 and the winners are works that capture the imagination of young people and their parents and grandparents. Ask your librarian to help your young person select books that are the right reading level. These are great books for reading aloud to one child or for a family read. Look at the list for some ideas:
The website for the Association for Library Services for Children gives lists of the most recent notable books that may not have actually won an award. Categories are given for younger, middle, and older readers, which is very helpful for selecting books that are appropriate to the student’s age and interests as well as reading level. For the 2011 Notables List:
http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/alsc/awardsgrants/notalists/ncb/index.cfm
Cosmetics and personal care products
Almost all shampoos, lotions, deodorants, and make-up are manufactured from petrochemicals and other ingredients that are absorbed through the skin, which is the human body’s largest organ. Personal care products are a serious source of exposure to toxins, and children and teens are especially at-risk. Some products say on the label that they are “natural” or “organic” but a reading of the label shows that they may contain only one healthy ingredient mixed in with a variety of chemicals that should be avoided. You may want to look at the websites of two companies that were founded with total dedication to providing high-quality and very safe products.
Wild Carrot Herbals® is a family-owned business located on a farm in rural Rickreall, Oregon, where organic creams and lotions have been hand-crafted since 2000. Their products are so rich that it’s necessary to use only a small amount of any of their moisturizers. If there isn’t a store near you that carries Wild Carrot, you can order from their on-line store.
http://www.wildcarrotherbals.com/
Help Shelter Cats and Dogs by Answering Fun Trivia
Go to http://www.freekibble.com/about.asp to learn about Freekibble, founded by Mimi Ausland from Bend, Oregon, when she was only 11 years old. If you click on the Freekibble button or the Freekibble Kat button, you will find the trivia questions about dogs or cats. You can sign up to get a question sent to you by email every day. Even if you give the wrong answer, kibble is contributed to animal shelters every time you play. Freekibble has donated nearly 400 tons of healthy pet food to hungry dogs and cats. Have fun practicing reading, learning more about pets, and helping out animal shelters everywhere!
