The Very First Thanksgiving Day, by Laura Krauss Melmed, works backwards from the first Thanksgiving to the Mayflower in rhyming verse that builds on itself. Simply told, the book gives an overarching sense of the cause and effect of history.

This First Thanksgiving Day: A Counting Story, by Rhonda Gowler Greene, shows how pilgrim and native children might have helped their parents prepare for a big feast. The focus is on the bounty of the earth.

One Little, Two Little, Three Little Pilgrims, by B. G. Hennessy, builds on the well-known song to show Pilgrim and Wampanoag children working playing and celebrating. This book is a cute read for younger children who will enjoy singing along.

Littlest Pilgrim, by Brandi Dougherty, follows a young pilgrim who wants to help like the older children but finds everyone is too busy to teach her how to do the chores. Children will relate to the frustration of being told they are “too little” to help and learn basic information about colonial lifeways.

This Is the Feast (ages 3-8), by Diane Z. Shore, tells the story of the Pilgrim’s journey, settlement, and feast in rhyming verse. Most pages have just a few lines, paired with detailed and vivid images, making it manageable for preschoolers and even more patient toddlers. The vocabulary, however, is varied and challenging enough for bright grade school students. The book is a fascinating introduction for young children to this episode in history.

Pilgrim Cat (Ages 4-8), by Carol Antoinette Peacock, helps young children relate to the story of the Pilgrims’ journey and settlement by telling the tale through the eyes of a young girl. Faith Barrett befriends a cat she names Pounce and Pounce offers her comfort through the moldy food, frightening storms, and life-threatening illness that were part of the trying passage across the Atlantic. The book ends on a hopeful note with the first Thanksgiving feast.

Five Silly Turkeys, by Salina Yoon, is a funny little counting rhyme. You won’t learn much about turkeys but toddlers will enjoy counting along. And the crinkly feathers have a fun texture babies love to touch.

Sometimes Its Turkey, Sometimes Its Feathers, by Lorna Balian, is the story of an elderly woman and her cat, who watch their turkey chick devour food all year in anticipation of a fat bird for their Thanksgiving Feast. When the day arrives, the woman realizes she just can’t serve up their friend for dinner. My children were very amused by this story and were surprised by the ending. They also loved seeing all the traditional Thanksgiving foods laid out on the table–minus the turkey, of course.

Gobble, Gobble, by Cathryn Falwell, illustrates a flock (or rafter, or gobble) of wild turkeys throughout the year in a young child’s back yard. We also had the good fortune of spotting a trio of wild turkeys in our yard earlier this year, although they have not been back, and my children are fascinated by the birds. The text describes what the turkeys are doing in each season. Although the narrator is a young girl, there is not much of a storyline beyond the birds’ habits. At the end, there are some interesting facts about turkeys and tips for starting a nature journal and creating collage pictures.

We say: “You teach the child, not the subject.”

A student who is worried about a serious problem or is making unhealthy choices cannot focus on school work, chores, or anything else.

Teachers have a way of knowing which students are struggling with an issue in their lives. Maybe a kid has a sudden change of personality, or she starts having trouble focusing in class, or he lingers after the bell rings. That’s when a great teacher can make all the difference.

I didn’t teach “health” but I had my fair share of conversations with teens about pressures and anxieties. You never know when a kid is going to open up and you do not want to drop the ball on this opportunity. I would have loved some resources to guide my discussions with my students. This grid of “Conversations at Different Ages” from Ask, Listen, Learn gives parents, teachers, coaches, and counselors a “head’s up” on what questions might come their way at each stage, along with tips on how to respond.

Now, as a mom of four, I appreciate a little help in this department. If I had this guide before, I would have known my nine year old would suddenly wonder why adults can have an alcoholic drink with dinner but she cannot.

While I am on the topic of pre-teens, the impact of peer-pressure is so important during these years. This is a great lesson that builds on the viral response to Kyle Schwartz’s assignment, “I wish my teacher knew…” For both parents and teachers, there is also an excellent list of books about peer-pressure in the tween years. I especially appreciate that the lesson addresses the way “peer influence” can be used as a power for good. Too often kids hear mainly negative messages; this turns that stereotype on its head and challenges teens to use their influence for good. With social media, influence is a key concept for kids to master–and knowing that they have the power to influence others may increase their sense of responsibility and confidence.

I am also homeschooling one of my kids this year and I am required by my state to teach him about “health education regarding alcohol, drug and tobacco misuse.” Since he’s very interested in science and enjoys playing sports, I think this lesson on The Importance of a Healthy Body will grab his attention and, along with this great visual or this more sophisticated diagram, cover some biology as a bonus!

Ask, Listen, Learn has some more lesson plans I will use to teach my children about resisting negative peer pressure, making healthy choices, and saying no to alcohol.

My son and his peers love mazes and codes and a good word scramble!

For my daughter, “Fortune Tellers” are still all the rage with the pre-teen set.

Some of the resources mentioned:

• Conversations about Alcohol at Different Ages
• The Impact of Peer Pressure
• The Importance of a Healthy Body
• Play Defense for Your Body
• Brain Drain
• Find Your Way
• What On Earth Are You Saying? (Decoder)
• Say Yes to a Healthy Lifestyle (Scramble)
• Fortune Teller

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Disclosure: This post is sponsored by The Foundation for Advancing Alcohol Responsibility. All opinions are my own.

Original Photo by: Jordan Richmond

My daughter and I shared a laugh when I realized we both put on the same t-shirt, a fan shirt for one of our favorite books. With her bright orange fan-girl shirt, curly brown hair, and green eyes, she looked just like a mini-me.

Some days it is like looking in the mirror. My kids will use one of my phrases, with the exact same inflection. Depending on what they’re mimicking, I either swell with pride or cringe and make a mental note to watch what I say in the future.

I don’t need a study to tell me that I have a strong influence on my kids.

Pre-Teen Rebellion

Of course, in a few years, she may not be so thrilled to look just like mom. During their teen years, my kids will consciously rebel and reject some of that influence–that is just part of growing up. My preteen is already asserting her own individual identity in opposition to me and her father.

Some days I swear she would claim the sky is green and the grass is blue just to contradict me.

So, in addition to discussing “unsafe” behaviors, we’ve talked about safer ways to show herself and the world that she’s growing up to be a unique individual. Most likely, she will not care about my opinion on her clothes, her hair, or the “is that what they call music these days?” tunes she’ll play. Her peers will have a far greater influence on her than I will in those areas. She’ll start to mimic their quirks or parrot things she hears on television.

Kids Listen When It Counts

Turns, out, though, when it really counts, teens do listen to their parents. One study suggests that 80% of teens believe parents have a say in whether or not kids drink alcohol.

Two separate studies show that parents are decidedly the strongest influence over whether or not kids drink.

Yes, kids are influenced by peers and they are influenced by advertising–but they are anchored by and return to the core values their parents taught.

Start Talking

That’s why it is so important that parents are good role models of responsible behavior. Children watch what we do far more than they listen to what they say.

If we tell them that we expect them to behave responsibly, and talk about healthy choices (rather than joke about binge drinking to de-stress), they are much more likely to make the right decision under pressure.

The more kids try to rebel against their parents, the more they are going to find themselves coming back to our core values. People are like homing pigeons that way. Although we venture far afield and try on new identities and attitudes, we eventually find ourselves tracking home. My kids might dye their hair shocking colors, turn the volume up to eleven, or break curfew a few times but when it comes to standing up to peer pressure, they are more likely to look to me and their dad.There are no guarantees in life. Good kids sometimes make bad decisions. However, by talking early and often, keeping the lines of communication open, and letting our kids blame us when they want to say “no” to peer pressure, we increase the odds that our kids will do just fine.

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Disclosure: This post is sponsored by The Foundation for Advancing Alcohol Responsibility. All opinions are my own.

At this point, we are having a lot of discussions about teenage and adult-type situations I hope do not happen for a very long time (and some I hope never happen). These dilemmas not the easy, clear cut situations of her early childhood. I cannot simply have her memorize Mommy and Daddy’s cell phone number and teach her to recognize community helpers to prepare her for these challenges.Her armor will be her own good judgment. Link by link, plate by plate, with lots of discussion and practice, she’ll have to layer this on over the years.

You cannot cram for these tests. You have to build a solid basis from the start with open lines of communication.

Here is how we work to keep the lines of communication open:

• Invite Conversation: Just when kids are articulate enough to hold up their end of the conversation, many seem to develop an allergy to their parents. Already my third grader insists I give her our morning hug before the school bus pulls into view. A news article, an advertisement, or a favorite television show can be a great opening for talking about drinking and other important issues. Some kids may find it easier to chat while doing something else, like crafting, preparing dinner or doing chores. Others will open up during car rides–no eye contact makes this ideal for embarrassed kids.
• Make it a Habit: Rather than saving up all those important things for one big “talk,” discuss big issues in little bites. One of the reasons experts say family dinners are so important is that these are daily opportunities to check in with your children.
• Listen: During these discussions, it is even more important to listen, than to talk, no matter how much valuable life experience we may think we have. When we listen, we learn where our kids are and can meet them there. We find out how they are thinking and what they value. We have the opportunity to get to know our children better as the young people they are. We also build their confidence–which will be key later when they need to say “no” to peer pressure or make decisions we haven’t anticipated.
• Give Them Input: Once you really listen to your kids, you need to take the next big step and give them age-appropriate input. If kids know that their needs and opinions will be taken into account, they are more likely to come to you in the future. Maybe your child is looking for opportunities to prove she is more grown up. You can talk with her about some privileges she can earn if she shows she is responsible. This way your child can prove she is grown up without trying risky, more adult behaviors, like drinking.
• Safe Space: We want our children to come to us and be honest. At the same time, we want them to know their are consequences for their actions. I really struggle with balancing this. One way we approach this is by emphasizing how much we appreciate their honesty. Any necessary discussion of consequences happens later. We also explain that the sooner we know about a situation, the better we can help them find ways to make amends or reduce potential consequences. If my child ever finds herself at a party with alcohol and drugs, or feels pressured to try these, I want her to feel like she can call me.
• Your Village: From an early age, I always told my children that I want them to come to me or their dad and that I hope they will trust us. At the same time, I know that there are some things it is just too embarrassing to say to Mom and Dad. My children know that there are adults in the family we trust. We would much rather them get their information or help from their grandparents, aunt, or godparents, than from a peer.

Keeping these lines of communication open is hard work–but doing this now may save us a lot of trouble later!

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Disclosure: This post is sponsored by The Foundation for Advancing Alcohol Responsibility. All opinions are my own.

Original photos by StockMonkeys.com and Flickr user FrankieLeon, Creative Commons 2.0

If you are in Manhattan this spring and summer, make sure to check out Life at the Limits and Nature’s Fury.

Life at the Limits just launched at the beginning of April and will continue through the rest of the year until January 3, 2016. The astounding and inspiring thesis of the exhibit is the tenacity of life on this planet. My kids were most fascinated by the tardigrade, which is sort of the exhibit mascot and is featured in Cosmos.

These super-tiny survivors can be boiled, frozen to near absolute zero, dessicated, and even be sent into the vacuum of space, and still keep on living.

The exhibit is organized around the themes of courtship and reproduction, breathing in low-oxygen environments, locomotion, highly-attuned and extra senses, eating, defense systems, and endurance. As part of the exhibit, visitors enter a cave to learn about creatures and other organisms that live without light. Other interactive elements include a giant Hercules beetle on which the kids can climb and a motion-capture “game” that allows visitors to “test the ‘super powers’ of several species that they encountered in the exhibition.”

Nature’s Fury, which opened in November and continues through August 9, 2015, focuses on Earth’s natural disasters. The exhibit examines these phenomena from a scientific, historical and cultural, and current events perspective. So, visitors learn about natural disasters in mythology, some of the worst recorded earthquakes in history, and Hurricane Sandy (which hit the New York metro-area in 2012).

Some of the hands-on elements of this exhibit include creating a volcano, playing with models of different types of fault-lines, jumping to create and measure seismic activity, and using a pinball like plunger to observe waves.

We always enjoy the AMNH exhibits and I thought the interactive elements of this exhibit were particular outstanding. They were both attractive and engaging to the kids, as well as essential to understanding some of the more challenging concepts. At their best, museum exhibits allow visitors to grasp ideas that would normally be too abstract or advanced for a layperson. AMNH consistently makes ideas like these accessible to even children.

Of course, while you are at the AMNH, you cannot miss the dinosaurs or the meteors!

Disclosure: The American Museum of Natural History provided me with media passes to facilitate my review. All words, opinions, and images are my own.

I always say that you shouldn’t ask a question if you do not want to hear the answer–and that goes triple on social media.

Arne Duncan asked and people answered with over 42,000 tweets and counting, including over 15,000 tweets on New Year’s Day.

What the politicians fail to grasp is that there is substantial literature on best practices but:

(A) what the DOE is pushing is not it.

(B) unfunded mandates and excessive testing are taking away the resources necessary to implement best practices.

Unlike the state tests, I will give you the answer right away–both choices are correct.

The Washington Post compiled some great responses and here are a few more:

#WhatIf we spent the millions that we spend on tests on musical instruments, gym equipment, books. You know. Actually on kids. @arneduncan

— Bonnie C. Margolin (@GatorBonBC) December 31, 2014

#whatif we let kinders play dress up instead of taking worthless standardized tests? @arneduncan pic.twitter.com/o0fuW90u1I — Badass Teachers Asso (@BadassTeachersA) December 31, 2014

#whatif @arneduncan, children got their lives back, their joy of discovery and a safe place to learn to think critically? Play is real. — Karen Lewis (@KarenLewisCTU) December 31, 2014

.@arneduncan #whatif dept of education staffed actual teachers instead of economists and political blowhards?

— allison carr (@hors_doeuvre) January 2, 2015

#whatif elem kids didn’t have to take online tests before they learned how to keyboard. Crazy @arneduncan #TBATs pic.twitter.com/hSxcqm3SFn

— Nancy Osborne (@NancyOsborne180) January 2, 2015

#whatif teachers weren’t pulled from instruction time to plan with people who do not work with actual students

— Arkansas BATS (@BATSJudy) January 2, 2015

We saw these adorable Angel Ornaments made out of pasta on a Christmas tree at our local community center and wanted to make them at home.

This is a craft for older children primarily because you are better off using a glue gun. My eight and six year old kids were very excited to have (supervised) use of the hot glue gun. If you want to try with another fast-drying glue or pre-glue the bodies for the children to paint, you could do it with younger kids.

The ones at the community center were entirely painted white, had tiny pasta for hair, gold-tipped robes and wings, and some carried song books or other objects. We decided to leave the beads the natural wood color, use permanent marker for hair, skip the gold, and use only star beads.

Materials (per angel):

• rigatoni pasta (body)
• bow-tie/farfalle pasta (wings)
• 2 elbow macaroni (arms)
• wagon wheel pasta (optional – for collar or to extend the length of the body)
• permanent marker (black, gold, etc.)
• gold chenille stem/pipe cleaner
• star bead or other object for the angel to hold (optional)
• string
• fast-drying glue or hot glue gun

Directions:

1. Assemble the pasta bodies by gluing together rigatoni pasta (body), bow-tie/farfalle pasta (wings), and elbow macaroni (arms). You can also use a wagon wheel pasta to give a collar. Our wagon wheels were the same diameter as our rigatoni so we just used them to add some length to the robes.

2. While you have the glue gun out, insert your string or hook into the top of the bead and add some glue.

3. If you are painting just the bodies white, paint those now and allow them to dry. If you are painting the heads white as well, you can glue them to the bodies, first.

4. Use permanent marker to draw faces on the angels. You could also use marker to create different skin tones on the angels.

5. Create a halo from a gold chenille stem/pipe cleaner.

6. Glue the halo to the top of the bead and the bead/head to the body.

7. Glue on a star bead or another object for the angel to hold.

Educational Connections:

• Religion / Culture: Learn about the role angels have played in Christianity and in other cultures. In what ways are angels associated with Christmas?
• Art: Find and explore representations of angels in art. The earliest angels were not depicted with wings. Why did Christian artists later add wings? Why are angels often shown with halos? Why did Western artists shift from the portrayal of angels as adults to showing angels as small, chubby children. Older kids may wish to explore some of the theories about the facial expressions of these singing angels on the Ghent altarpiece.

It was a magical experience for us–the music, the dancing, and the sets were all stunning! Ballet can potentially be challenging for young children but this performance was very accessible. A narrator told the story, which goes a long way towards keeping children engaged. This Nutcracker makes a number of small changes, primarily changing the setting to Colonial America. Mother Ginger was even “from Brooklyn,” which earned a big laugh from the audience, and dropped the classical ballet style long enough to rock-out while her children spun around the stage. My children were also excited by the athletic ballet dancing and the different styles of the various “candies,” the focus of the performance.

If you take your children to the ballet, you can help make the experience more enjoyable and educational by:

• Reading a children’s version of the story: Even if there is narration, children like to know the story in advance. Do not worry about “spoilers”; repeat readings and viewings will only add to their enjoyment. Just think about how many times your child has asked for his or her favorite book or movie! For the Nutcracker, I like this version, by Susan Jeffers. With older children, you can ask questions about the themes and messages of the story. After the performance, ask if any of their ideas or interpretations changed.
• Listening to the score in advance: Any preparation will build your child’s anticipation and also keep her engaged during the performance. Dance around to the piece–imagine how you might choreograph this music! With older children, you can explore the composer and style of music, learn more about the instruments used in each piece, and consider how the music supports the story.
• Learning some of the terminology of ballet and dance: When my daughter was younger, we watched Prima Princessa: Swan Lake. The same production company has also released The Nutcracker and Sleeping Beauty. Or, just search your library or YouTube for other resources about ballet. Older kids may be fascinated to learn about the hard work and training that goes into become a ballerina or may consider why this classical form of dance is still performed today and whether or not it remains a vital form of expression.
• Exploring the historical background and setting: This performance of the Nutcracker took place in Colonial America and framed the battle with the Mouse King as the Battle of Yorktown. A little prior research on the Revolutionary War and colonial traditions adds interest.
• Engaging in hands-on activities: Most children today have probably never seen a nutcracker before: buy some nuts still in the shell and crack them. Make your own no-sew tutu. Learn a few ballet steps. Try the traditional sweets highlighted in the ballet. Craft some ballerina paper snowflakes (version 1, version 2) or nutcrackers with craft sticks (Fireflies and Mudpies), cardboard tubes, or clothespins (The Yule Log), to decorate your own home.

Some more educational posts about The Nutcracker:

• Ideas for Teaching About the Nutcracker (Real Life at Home)

• Christmas Unit: The Nutcracker (Every Star is Different)

The Colonial Nutcracker has one performance at The Brooklyn Center per year. There are many more scheduled children’s and family programs for the beginning of 2015, however! Visit BrooklynCenter.org or call the box office at 718-951-4500 (Tues-Sat, 1pm-6pm). The Target Storybook Series, based on classic and contemporary children’s literature, has titles including The Adventures of Harold and the Purple Crayon (Sunday, March 29, 2015 at 2pm); The Very Hungry Caterpillar and Other Eric Carle Favourites (Sunday, April 19, 2015 at 2pm); Jim Henson’s Dinosaur Train Live: Buddy’s Big Adventure (Sunday, April 26, 2015 at 12pm and 3pm); and The Musical Adventures of Flat Stanley (Sunday, May 17, 2015 at 2pm).

Disclosure: Brooklyn Center for the Performing Arts has provided tickets for me and a guest, our family is paying for our children’s tickets. As always, all opinions are my own.

This is the “Pilgrim” version of some witch hats we’ve made before and they are very simple to make.

Ingredients:

• chocolate or fudge stripe cookies
• peanut butter cups (my son substituted a Dove chocolate for his peanut butter cup)
• icing
• orange fruit leather

Directions:

1. Unwrap the peanut butter cups and put some icing on the top.

2. Push the peanut butter cups onto the cookie so it creates a “hat band.”

3. Cut fruit leather to look like buckles and add to the hats.

Educational Connections:

• History and Culture: Who were the Pilgrims and why did they come to the new world.
• History and Culture: Buckles on hats did not become popular in England until after the Pilgrims left. Given that the Pilgrims were not very wealthy and dressed plainly, they would not have been likely to adopt this style. The black clothing was also primarily worn for church days. People tended to wear their nicest clothing for portraits so that is the image we have of Pilgrims today. Can you think of other examples where clothing reflects the beliefs or status of the wearer?

Here are a few fiction picture story books that will inspire girls in science, technology, engineering, and math with bonus positive messages about community, perseverance, tolerance, curiosity, and confidence–and no body dismorphia-inspiring illustrations, too!

Rosie Revere, Engineer: Rosie invents brilliant gizmos and gadgets and dreams of a future career in engineering. In the meantime, she wants to fulfill her great-great aunt’s (Rosie the Riveter) dream of flying. This book highlights the all-important STEM message that mistakes are not failures–they are just steps along the road to success.

Violet the Pilot: Another flying-centric girl stem book, this time focusing on a young inventor named Violet Van Winkle. In this story, Violet and her brilliant invention help save a Boy Scout troop and even the mayor!

I Wonder: A young girl walks with her mother and wonders about all the amazing things she sees. This book is a springboard for scientific inquiry and curiosity that also tells young readers it is okay not to have all the answers.

Sophie Scott Goes South: When nine-year-old Sophie goes on a month-long adventure to Antarctica with her dad, the captain of an icebreaker, she learns about the ecology of Antarctica.

Amanda Bean’s Amazing Dream (Marilyn Burns Brainy Day Books): This tale of a young girl who loves to count both shows a girl who enjoys mathematics and encourages children to embrace a challenge.

The Most Magnificent Thing: Our young female protagonist is “..going to make the most MAGNIFICENT thing! She knows just how it will look. She knows just how it will work. All she has to do is make it, and she makes things all the time. Easy-peasy!” Of course, nothing is as easy as it seems at first. Again, the focus is on hard work and perseverance. Evocative action words will increase any kid’s maker vocabulary.

One Grain Of Rice: A Mathematical Folktale: We included this elegantly illustrated book in our recent study of South Asia but I love how it shows a woman using mathematics to outsmart the Raja and give back to her community.