Category: Events

Kid Inventors’ Day

January 17^th is marked on the calendar as “Kid Inventors’ Day.” The ingenuity of kids can be astounding. Not scared to think outside the box, historically kids were a leading force behind many inventions still used today. Through STEM education in schools, kids today continue to change the world with their innovative minds. Here’s a list of 5 inventions, some old and some new, made by kids:

Toy Truck: First patented by 6-year old Robert Patch in June 1963 and a favorite toy of kids everywhere today, the first play vehicle could be taken apart, rebuilt, and transformed into other types of vehicles.
Ear Muffs: In the winter of1873, 15-year old Chester Greenwood was out trying to enjoy a new pair of ice skates. Frustrated that his ears were getting so cold, the teenager tried tying a scarf around his head but found that was too itchy and bulky. His solution: Chester bent wire into two round loops and asked his grandmother to sew fur on them. Connected by a steel headband, Ear Muffs were invented.
Braille: After an eye injury at the age of 3 caused sight loss in one eye and a disease at age 5 left him completely blind, French-born Louis Braille invented his own reading and writing method using raised dots arranged in specific patterns at the age of 15. Although not a method widely used upon it’s initial invention, after Braille’s death at the age of 43, the sophisticated method for communication for the blind was widely adopted and is still used today.
Smart Wheel: “Safe Motorist Alert for Restricting Texting, Tweeting, Typing, Touch screens, and Touch ups” was invented by a group of teenagers some even too young to drive themselves with the intention to help curb distracted driving. The Smart Wheel is a steering wheel cover that contains censors and LED lights that determines when a driver no longer has two hands on the wheel.
Sign Language Translator: After watching a translator verbalize a fast food order for a group of dead people in 2002, Ryan Patterson, then 17, invented a glove that contained sensors to translate the motions of American Sign Language on a digital display. Later added was an audio feature.

Jan 17, 2014 | 0 comments | View Post

100th Day of School

A hundred days of school is a milestone worth celebrating in a student’s education, particularly at the younger grade levels. Students new to the school arena by now have successfully gotten through the rough adjustment period of being out of the comfort of their home with their parents and in an environment where rules and expectations are most likely different. A hundred days earlier, students embarked on a learning adventure and have made it to the halfway point enlightened and eager to continue learning. Here are a few ways to celebrate learning achievements on the 100^th Day of School:

100-Day Edible Necklaces: Have students count out 100 pieces of ring or donut shaped cereal like Fruit Loops, Cheerios, etc. With a being of yarn or bakers twine, string the cereal together. For a little touch of added sweetness, use candy such as Gummy Life Savers. Ask students to create a pattern using the cereal and candy. Suggestion, limit the candy to 10 pieces per student otherwise you’ll be peeling kids off the wall!
100 Years Ago Essay: Ask students to research what life was like 100 years ago. Topics could include the President and moments in political history during that year, inventions, fashion, methods of transportation, etc. For this assignment, get as general or specific as you would like. Have students do a comparative essay of “Then and Now.” If you want to make the assignment more personal to students, ask them to interview the oldest person in their family. While not everyone has someone in his or her family that has lived to 100+ but it is likely everyone has someone that has heard a story from something that occurred 100 years ago from their elder. For example, a student’s Grandparent may be able to share stories they heard while growing up from their own parents. The history in the stories will fascinate students.
Word Scramble: Ask students to make as many words as they can out of the letters used in “One Hundred Days.” Award a prize to the student who makes the most.
“If I had $100…”: Ask students to finish the sentence “If I had $100…” Have them draw an image depicting what they would do with the money and create a bulletin board display using their answers and drawings.

Jan 09, 2014 | 0 comments | View Post

Don’t Be Tricked…Drugs are No Treat!

Keeping kids healthy and safe is our top priority. That’s why we encourage you to combine the drug prevention messages stressed during Red Ribbon Week with Halloween fun and safety. Here are lists of drug prevention and Halloween safety tips for kids to keep in mind when out Trick or Treating and every day to lives from becoming ‘frightful!’

Don’t Get Caught in the Web of Drugs!

If someone offers you drugs, tell them to “bug off!”
Help others be drug free by telling them how scary drugs are.
Be Yourself. You’re great the way you are!
Choose Your Friends. Real friends won’t ask you to do things that are bad for you.
Stay away from all drugs, including medicines. Only your parents or doctor should give you medicine when you’re sick.
Ask for help. When you have a problem, talk to someone you can trust.

Stay Safe on Halloween:

Don’t get stuck in dangerous places. Visit only well-lit areas and homes of people you know.
Use a flashlight so you won’t be surprised by things that creep and crawl in the night.
Make sure your costume lets you see and hear perfectly. You need to be able to watch and listen for cars.
Wear brightly-colored clothing. Put glow-in-the-dark patches or strips on your costume so drivers can see you.
Have your parent or guardian check your candy before you bit into it.
Make this and every Halloween a safe and happy one!

Oct 10, 2013 | 0 comments | View Post

Guest Blog: Kathryn Everest of the Fort Worth Independent School District on Disrespect

“Disrespect: it’s not okay!” is about the most exciting thing on the planet for us right now. This is an initiative that allows kids control and is thriving! Kids thriving, excited about their world is the greatest reward for an educator.

When adults turn kids loose to choose activities that promote respect, civility and integrity – they will be amazed. Last year our INOK projects included a high school campus creating a day of “Hunger Games” designed as a fun day of games and activities between classes that raised enough money to feed 200 orphans for one year. They are planning on doing it again “Catching Fire”. Why? “Hunger: it’s not okay!” Another campus teamed with AT&T to support “It Can Wait” because “texting and driving: it’s not okay!”

Students are teaming up with Kelly Clarkson and State Farm Insurance and the Celebrate My Drive campaign because “reckless driving: it’s not okay!”

Kids learn so much when they are the beginning and the end. They identify issues requiring them to listen to each other. They have to evaluate the data of student needs assessments. They are in control. They choose what matters to them, design a project and then they can be the change they want to see in the world.

Disrespect: it’s not okay is the underpinning of everything. The concept holds up a student code of conduct, classroom rules, every discipline interaction – it is genius because it is simple, easy to follow and consistent. It is genius because it is the work of kids!!!

This year our students have been asked by the City of Fort Worth do to the Diversity Forum for all city employees. The students plan to encourage adults to create workplace environments that foster collegiality, creativity and productivity by embracing each other – and saying “disrespect: it’s not okay!” Different is not better or worse – it’s just different!” We all matter!

Oct 01, 2013 | 1 comment | View Post

Celebrate Black History Month

Black History Month is a time to remember the people and the events that shaped the present-day situation of African-Americans. It is a situation filled both with hope and lamentation for the difficulties experienced on the roads into and out of slavery. If you intend to speak about Black History Month or teach a class to young children about the subject, we recommend these items to help illuminate the events and people that changed history.

People

• Frederick Douglass – His story of life as a slave and his emergence from slavery was one of the first to move American hearts prior to the Civil War.

• Sojourner Truth – She escaped slavery and told her story to amazed audiences in the North.

• Harriet Tubman – After escaping slavery, she went back and brought others to freedom through the Underground Railroad.

• Nat Turner – His slave rebellion was one of the sparks that brought on the conflagration of the United States Civil War.

• Rosa Parks – Her refusal to take the back seat helped to bring about the culmination of the Civil Rights movement.

• Martin Luther King – He was pastor to his local flock before he became a shepherd for all African-Americans in the 1960s.

• Barack Obama – As the nation’s first black president, he sailed into a second term and proved that improved racial harmony was here to stay.

Events

• 1619 – This year, the first Africans were brought into slavery in the region of North America that would eventually become the United States of America.

• The Boston Massacre – As the American Revolution neared, tempers flared against the British, and some African-Americans, such as Crispus Attucks, stood for independence even in a country that enslaved their brothers and sisters.

• The Civil War – African-Americans fought for and received their freedom in this bloody struggle between a free society and a slave society.

• The Civil Rights Movement – It took nearly a century after the war for African-Americans to make moves against the headwinds of racism in the United States.

Each of these themes can be developed fruitfully. Black History Month is an opportunity to learn from our past to create a brighter future. This February, let our products help you deliver the inspiring messages of Black History Month.

Dec 19, 2012 | 0 comments | View Post

National Parental Involvement Day

From Tiger moms, to helicopter parenting, to the idea “it takes a village,” no matter the parenting style or ideology, parents play the biggest role in their child’s life. Far spread across every phase and area in life, parental influence will impact physical, emotional, and intellectual development. As teachers, it should be no surprise to you that an education fosters the same kind of development in kids. That is why there are so many reasons why it is important that parents be involved in their child’s education.

Parental involvement in a child’s education both in and out of the classroom offers additional support for the good that you as teachers do for your students and their children. For National Parental Involvement Day here is a list of a few ways a parent can get involved in the classroom:

For Younger Students

Be a class reader: Story time for younger students is one of the most looked forward to time of day. Bring in a parent to read to students whether as a group or with select students who may be struggling. Parents reading in the classroom will reinforce reading skills and encourage students to read at home with their own parent.
Be a parent tutor: If available in the afternoons, even if it’s not their own child, encourage parents to spend some time tutoring students in the library for a little extra hands-on help. While most teachers offer extra help themself, sometimes it takes a different perspective for students to understand a lesson.
Work as a “specials class” helper: If a parent has a particular interest in music or art, or is a soccer coach looking to help during that unit in gym class, allowing parents to come in to help in these classes not only assists the teacher but also shows the students that what they are learning can turn into a hobby and passion to last a lifetime. It’s more of a life lesson than an immediate pencil sketching or lesson on the recorder.
Volunteer as class parent: Generally, class parents can be as involved as their schedules make them available to be. Whether it is planning classroom parties, chaperoning field trips, organizing special classroom events like speaker presentations, plays, or book fairs, parents can help bring additional learning resources into the classroom.

For Older Students

Lead a Special Interest Group: Teachers are spread thin enough with most having over 20 students per class and having lesson plans to create and papers to grade with fewer resources than in the past. Parents taking on the after school extracurricular activities such as the drama club, SADD program, or science club could keep many of these beneficial programs running in the schools.
Sign up for Career Day: Parents coming into the classroom to share with students about their career broadens student’s horizons beyond what their mom and dad, aunt and uncle do for a living. Opening their eyes to different careers they may not have otherwise been exposed to offers the endless possibilities for a successful career in something they have a real interest in. A parent sharing with students how they got to be successful at what they do is reinforcement and inspiration for the hard work a student needs to put in to be successful too.
Coach a sports team: Athleticism is a talent but also a critical part to physical and emotional health. Parents with the ability to lead a sports team can help students develop their own skills and offers a safe healthy environment for them to thrive in.
Work as a library assistant: Similar to career day, parents can help students discover and learn about their interests by helping them do research on areas that spark an interest.

How do you get parents involved in their student’s education at home AND in the classroom? Share your ideas with us on our Facebook page or leave a comment below.

Nov 15, 2012 | 0 comments | View Post

Year Round Halloween Safety Tips

Halloween was almost a week ago so we realize it’s a little late to be giving pointers to keep the kids safe this October 31st. Unfortunately, Hurricane Sandy reared her ugly head and put a damper on the East Coast celebrations. The devastation was immense so much so that you could say that the dark, cold atmosphere after the storm was as eery as any Halloween should be but not in a fun sort of way. So although this years tips are a little behind schedule and may not be useful for “Trick or Treating” going from door to door with the kids, they are useful tips for community safety (some more than others.)

Adult Supervision – Younger children should always be accompanied by a trusted adult, while “Trick or Treating” – Teach younger children to “Be Smart Play It Safe On Halloween” with this educational safety kit.
Stay in a Group – If children are older make sure your children stay with a group if they are not going to be with an adult.
Map it Out – Plan out a route around the neighborhood before your children go out “Trick or Treating” be sure to explain to them why it is important to them to stick to the route.
Stay Within Well lit Areas – Have your kids trick-or-treat in areas where there are a lot of people around. Tell them to avoid shortcuts through alleys and parking lots.
Stick to Friendly Homes – Tell your kids to approach houses with lights on and to avoid homes that are dark. You may want to include avoiding homes with no decorations at all.
Stay Outside – Tell your children they are never to go inside someone’s home, even if they were invited. They can get their candy at the doorstep.
Be Visible – Bright costumes can be seen more easily then dark costumes, if your child is wearing a dark costume make sure they wear reflective gear. Make sure your children carry a glow stick, bracelet, necklace or a flashlight if they are traveling at night.
Check Costumes – Make sure the costume your child decides to wear is comfortable. You don’t want their costume to make it hard for them to move around or too long they can trip.
Try to Avoid Masks – If possible instead of masks use makeup. Masks make it harder for children to see and you want them to be alert to their surroundings.
Check it First – All candy should be checked over by a parent first before a child eats it. Throw out any candy that is not in its original wrapper or looks as if it was tampered with.
Avoid Strangers – Make sure to tell your kids to never accept rides or go anywhere with a stranger, tell them to avoid approaching anyone in a vehicle.
Obey the law – Make sure your kids understand all the rules for walking around and crossing roads. Children should always cross at corners and at traffic lights where traffic is busier.
Have Fun – Most importantly make sure your kids have tons of fun and get a whole bunch of candy!

HAVE A HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

Nov 06, 2012 | 0 comments | View Post

Respect For All Week Idea Guide

Hold a “Walk Away From Bullies” group walk around the school campus. Have students sign the “Take a Stand Against Bullying” Pledge Banner before the walk. Reward students with a “Take A Stand, Lend A Hand” Tag With Chain to remind them of their pledge.

Nov 06, 2012 | 0 comments | View Post

Remind Children to Remain Drug Free during Red Ribbon Week

Red Ribbon week is a week where teachers, parents and other role models teach children about the dangers of alcohol, drugs, bullying and more. Each year, the week of October 23rd through the 31st is used to enlighten and motivate children to treat themselves and one another with respect.

Red Ribbon week spotlights the healthy habit of choosing to live above the negative influence. Positive Promotions offers a variety of items children can take home as a constant reminder to stay drug free. During the last week of October, we bring awareness to the effects of drug and tobacco use, and how children should act when encountering bullying in their schools or on the Internet.

Children learn to incorporate skills through fun games, educational materials and encouragement from others. This one-week celebration focuses on teaching children how to stand up when they see others being bullied, and demonstrates how they should react when they are offered drugs and cigarettes. Our products with “Drug Free” messages also pronounce, through a variety of materials, how children should act in a hazardous situation. Also, children are empowered to make a promise to stay away and stand against challenging circumstances.

You can make Red Ribbon week a memorable week through the use of messages stamped on wristbands, ribbons, and colorful “paw” dog tags. Our educational kits are perfect to spread the positive message in a classroom setting. In addition, we carry different style bookmarks, bags and wallets from which to choose. These souvenirs extend this week as a daily token of the pledge to stand up against drugs and stop those who bully others.

When children hold and wear these symbols of commitment, they will also encourage other children to take a stand and follow the right path toward a successful future. Our drug-free activity books and candy, respect t-shirts, and awards can be used as prizes for children and adults who win games at your event.

You will be able to promote this special week through colorful attention-getting banners, balloons and posters screaming out drug-free and anti-bully dialogue to spruce up any Red Ribbon event.

Sep 21, 2012 | 0 comments | View Post