I remember the excitement of being a kid and my parents taking me on an afternoon adventure to the "big city" to explore the science center. Hate to say it but I haven't taken that same trip to Detroit with my own kids even though it was such a memorable moment of my own childhood. Most adults who grew up in southeastern Michigan paid a visit to the science center in Detroit either as a family outing or on a school field trip at some point as a child. If you are a parent like me who has been negligent in sharing that same experience with your own kids this upcoming weekend is a chance to rectify that. Saturday, March 12, 2016 is FREE ADMISSION Day at the Michigan Science Center courtesy of the Ford Motor Company Fund.
From 10 am - 6pm general admission to the Michigan Science Center located at 5020 John R. Street in Detroit is at no charge to the public. Experience 250+ hands-on exhibits that explore heath, physical science, space, and engineering plus view live stage shows, lab activities and more. Additionally there is a Planetarium experience, IMAX Dome Theatre movie presentations, and a special exhibit called Toytopia that are available to enjoy for an additional cost. Visit mi-sci.org for more information about the science center's programs and theater times.
For decades Saturday morning was prime time for children's television viewing. You wouldn't know that now as television channels are filled with news programs, infomercials, and sporting events aimed at adult audiences in what was once the realm of cartoons, tween sitcoms, and educational programming for kids. So I was pleased to find out that the Nat Geo WILD cable channel is launching a National Geographic Kids themed block of programming dubbed Nat Geo WILDKiDS, on Saturday mornings from 7 to 9 am ET ( 6 - 8am CT) beginning March 5, 2016.
Nat Geo WILDKiDS will feature natural history, science, and wildlife content. Spearheading the line-up will be two original productions from emerging talent within the WILD family. First, Nature Boom Time is a fast-paced adventure series designed to grab kids' attention and get them psyched about nature. In each episode, young viewers join 2014 National Geographic Expedition Granted winner Charlie Engleman on an adventure across the U.S. Together viewers will join Charlie in exploring some of the nation's coolest forests from a new perspective - literally climbing the tallest trees, flying over vast canopies and studying hidden treasures on the woodland floor.
Another showwill feature adventure filmmaker and winner of Nat Geo WILD's second annual Wild to Inspire short-film competition, Filipe DeAndrade, who will document his month-long safari in Africa through video diaries and short vignettes designed to inspire future conservationists.
Saturday mornings will also showcase a collection of popular online series from Nat Geo Kids, including 50 Birds, 50 States featuring an animated rapping bald eagle; excerpts from the "kid on the street" quiz show Real or Fake, and characters from Iggy Arbuckle and the popular virtual world, Animal Jam.
Rounding out the schedule, Nat Geo WILDKiDS will offer exciting segments from some of Nat Geo WILD's and National Geographic Channel's most beloved shows, including: Dog Whisperer, Everything You Didn't Know About Animals, The Incredible Dr. Pol, Vet School, World's Weirdest and Brain Games, among others.
Nat Geo WILD Vet School
The Incredible Dr. Pol
"Kids have so much
love for animals and the wild world around us that we wanted to create
something totally unique to fuel their passion and natural curiosity," Geoff Daniels, executive vice president and general manager for Nat
Geo WILD told A Geek Daddy. "By tapping into Nat Geo Kids' incredibly popular original web
series, apps, photography and talent, we'll deliver something that
doesn't just entertain but inspires a new generation of digitally savvy
kids."
A Geek Daddy is a member of the National Geographic Kids Insider
blogger program. Insiders get a behind-the-scenes look at National
Geographic’s
resources, activities, content and projects for kids and families. They
also review copies of books, magazines and toys, and are
offered interviews with authors, explorers and editors.
** A Geek Daddy received the featured product for free to review **
The winter months can be cold and dreary in Michigan, but that hasn't prevented my kids from exploring tropical habitats filled with lush vegetation and exotic creatures over the last few weeks. They've been able to go on a Rainforest Journey without having to leave the comfort of our home thanks to an innovative online science and reading curriculum program created by the company EdTechLens. Designed for children 5 - 12 years old, EdTechLens' Rainforest Journey teaches the life science components of elementary school science curriculum through taking kids on a vibrant, multimedia tour of a rainforest. Students are walked through five multi-chaptered units of study during their Rainforest Journey which include the big picture of the rainforest, adapt or die, animals, plants and fungi, and ecosystems.
(c) EdTechLens - Rainforest Journey
Whether using for home schooling or to supplement what a child is being taught at school, the curriculum format of this program ensures kids are learning during their Rainforest Journey. Parents can customize the reading level and educational complexity so it is appropriate for their child's grade in school from Kindergarten through 5th Grade. We've been utilizing the first grade edition (CLICK HERE to sample one of the lesson segments my kids have used) and it has meshed well with where my twins are in their studies at in school. If children are struggling to read along through the presentation on their own there is also an optional audio narration component that reads the text as a child follows along. Scientific concepts such as ecosystems and the water cycle are explained through easy to understand graphs and illustrations. Plus there is a focus on using this experience to expand a child's vocabulary as they make their way through each section of this online teaching aid.
To reinforce the lessons learned in each unit of the Rainforest Journey includes a printable activity sheet that parents and kids can work on together before they move on to the next topic. Also each section concludes with an online test that measures a student's comprehension of their grade appropriate material and provides parents with an assessment. Parents can block children from moving on to next unit of material until a satisfactory score has been achieved.
Rainforest Journey's online educational portal will work with any computer or handheld device that can connect with the Internet. It's lessons are aligned with the Next Generation Science Standards and the New York State Science Standards plus each lesson includes a non-fiction reading passage to promote literacy. To further assist with reading skill development each of the learning sections provides parents with a Lexile score and word count to assist with measuring a child's abilities.
To prevent children from considering the educational aspects of Rainforest Journey as being boring or burdensome, lessons include video clips and photographs specifically selected to pique a child's curiosity. Brilliantly colored amphibians, bug eating plants, camouflaged predators, distorted fungi, and rhinoceros-looking insects will wow and intrigue kids into wanting to learn more.
My son's favorite animal is the jaguar and he was just thrilled by the photos and video of this ferocious feline when we came upon them.
It is nice that you can select a specific grade level from K - 5 so that you know the material is relevant and relatable to the child using a Rainforest Journey. My twins are beginning readers and their teacher has asked parents to make sure students read for 30 minutes every night after school. With pages that feature one line sentences crafted for first grade aged children to read this was a perfect opportunity to get in their reading every night while enhancing their interest in nature, conservation and science.
An annual subscription to Rainforest Journey is normally $50 per grade level. So for example using the program for one child in first grade would cost just $50 for twelve months access. But say for example you have multiple children in kindergarten, third grade and fifth grade and want to customize the complexity for each of their individual learning levels that would be a $150 subscription fee. Unless you use this special code ETLN2015 which will provide new subscribers to Rainforest Journey with a 50% discount on their order! This is a limited time offer and I'm not sure when it will expire.
Before making a decision, CLICK HERE to take a walk through Rainforest Journey to get an in-depth overview of the activities and resources provided through this educational tool. Check out samples of the five lesson units as well as compare how the kindergarten version differentiates from the fifth grade. Take a few moments to watch a video orientation that explains the program and its merit. Note that a Rainforest Journey isn't fun and games meant to amuse kids but rather a serious educational tool which utilizes interesting topics and visuals that entice children to be enthusiastic about learning. Put those cold winter days where your kids may be trapped in the house to good use with a Rainforest Journey.
Reading the Sunday morning newspaper this last weekend I noticed that stories about people being ripped off because they weren't very financial savvy or literate and that analyzed how competitive the Detroit Lions may be in this upcoming football season dominated the headlines. With the new school year in Michigan officially starting today and the Lions battling the San Diego Chargers in their first game of the season this week, it seemed like a good time to highlight a fun video game that utilizes a football theme to teach people on being financially savvy. Financial Football which was created in partnership between the Jump$tart Coalition for Personal Financial Literacy, Visa's Practical Money Skill's for Life program, and the NFL lets children, teens, and adults test their money
management skills by answering questions that allow you to move down the
field and score touchdowns when you make the correct choices.
Available to play online via your personal computer or laptop for FREE, Financial Football
puts players fiscal knowledge to the test in an online simulation
game environment by combining the structure and rules of the NFL with
financial education questions of varying difficulty. Visa has also
released the game as a FREE iPhone app on iTunes, along with an
optimized HD iPad version. The game can be played in single player mode or against a friend in head-to-head action. It really is a fast-paced, fun game that can be challenging for all ages.
To start the game you can pick its length ranging from 5 minutes to 20
minutes plus select which NFL team you want to play as. Difficulty
settings are also available with Rookie (Ages 11 -14), Pro (Ages 14-18)
and Hall of Fame (18+) to choose from. Players are than able to select
defensive and offensive plays with difficulty levels of easy, medium and
hard which are followed up with questions about financial literacy and
money management that correspond to the selected play's difficulty.
If you get a question right you than your team is
successful with their play, but if you get the question wrong than your
QB will get sacked, your running back hit for a loss, or a wide receiver
drops the ball. The harder the successfully completed question the
better your players do so an easy question might get you one or two
yards, a medium question 5 yards and a hard question could get you ten
yards or maybe even a break away touchdown.
This game takes a topic that can be boring and mundane for many kids and
adults and adds some excitement to it that will help ingrain important
tips and information into people's heads as their competitive instincts
get them involved with this game. As a parent, I'm always keeping an
eye out for opportunities that combine entertainment and education to
assist getting kids to embrace learning. Financial Football is a great
way to catch children and teens' interest and help them become
financially savvy.
In recognition of National Food Allergy Awareness Month, A Geek Daddy Blog will be co-hosting with the Life of Dad Bloggers Network a special Twitter Chat to promote awareness and information on the topic of food allergies. Join us on Thursday, May 14, 2015 from 9 to 10pm ET as we are joined by special guest Doctor Dave Stukus, pediatric allergy and asthma specialist at Nationwide Childen's Hospital in Columbus Ohio.
During this chat about food allergies and kids, A Geek Daddy Blog will randomly be giving out four $10 iTunes gift cards to participants who are actively participating in the conversation throughout the hour. To eligible for winning one of the gift cards that we'll be giving out every 15 minutes during the chat, participants must be following the Twitter accounts of @LifeOfDadShow & @Geekdad248 , use the hashtag #LifeofDad in their tweets, and be a United States resident over 18 years old. No RSVP for this event just show up and engage in the conversation.
In addition to the #LifeofDad Food Allergy Awareness Twitter Chat make sure to participate in A Geek Daddy Blog's Food Allergy Trivia Contestfor a chance to win a great gift pack courtesy of Comcast #Xfinity. Answer some trivia questions for a chance to win a backpack filled
with a mobile recharging kit for smart phones and tablets, coffee mug,
baseball cap, and a water bottle. Must be a US resident and over 18
years old to participate in the trivia contest. CLICK HERE to give it a shot.
You can become a food allergy action hero this month by taking a moment to educate yourself on this matter and pledging to make an effort to be considerate of those who suffer from this medical condition. If you are up to the challenge CLICK HERE to download the template to create your very own food allergy action hero costume. Print a teal mask and a hero emblem for your shirt then cut out and wear them to have fun as you show your food allergy spirit. Take a picture of you in your action hero outfit and tag it with #FoodAllergyMonth on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. There are adult and children's sizes of the masks available to download.
Once you have your food allergy action hero gear, take a moment to read this one page handout that contains facts about food allergies that can be shared and used to help educate others about this growing public health issue. Download Now.
For more information about food allergies visit FARE (Food Allergy Research & Education) at www.foodallergy.org.
DISCLAIMER:A Geek Daddy Blog will be responsible
for selecting the winner of these contests and delivery of the prizes. By
participating in this contest, you waive any and all liability to A Geek Daddy Blog and its publisher
that may arise from your involvement with
this promotion. Winner is
subject to eligibility verification. No P.O. Boxes are allowed as
mailing addresses. A Geek Daddy Blog is hosting this contest as a
benefit to our
readers and as a public service to promote awareness on the topic of food allergies. Any opinions in this post are my own.
If you are going to be in the vicinity of New York City this summer you should swing by the DISCOVERY TIMES SQUARE MUSEUM to check out their newest exhibit: Marvel's Avengers S.T.A.T.I.O.N. It is an out of this world experience where Marvel & NASA have teamed up to promote S.T.E.M. (Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics) lessons in a fun way through immersing visitors into the cinematic universe of Captain America, The Hulk, Iron Man, and Thor. I haven't been to it yet, but a friend of mine took his kids and gave the experience a big green Hulk's thumbs up!
Apparently walking through the exhibit is like having a walk on role in a Marvel Super Heroes movie and the whole experience stays in character to a point that it feels as if you are part of a comic book adventure. The theme of the exhibit is that you have been recruited to become S.H.I.E.L.D.'s newest agent and you are attending the top secret Avengers S.T.A.T.I.O.N. (Scientific Training & Tactical Intelligence Operatives Network) to be initiated and trained about the history and secrets of the super heroes you will be working with in your new job. The exhibit is filled with movie props and replicas from the Marvel films plus high-tech displays and experiments that utilize super hero and villain themes that make educational lessons entertaining. As you walk through the S.T.A.T.I.O.N., you are funneled through various rooms dedicated to each of the main Avengers characters.
For example, Captain America has relics from his World War II days, the super soldier chamber that gave him his special abilities, and his current Avengers costume on display. There are a variety of challenges in his room where you can pit your strength and reflexes against his. Thor's area features a star map with a focus on astronomy where you can locate Asgard and other spacial items. The Hulk's room is filled with microscopes and discusses the science behind Bruce Banner's transformation. While you can't wear the armor, you can get a good look at an Iron Man suit from the movies. Plus there are what are called JARVIS visors that give you the experience of being in control of Iron Man through scanners that track your eye movement.
In addition to the tier one characters, they also have the outfits for characters like Hawkeye, Black Widow, Loki, and S.H.I.E.L.D.'s Agent Coulson....plus a bad guy from the first Avengers movie captured in suspended animation after the Battle of New York, a Chitauri (also know as a Skrull to those of us who grew up reading comic books but Fox owns the movie rights to that name through its Fantastic Four license so the name was changed in the film)
My friend who visited said that while the Marvel props are a thrill to see the best part of the exhibit is experiencing all of the interactive features available to play around with. So don't rush through the displays are meant for people to linger. Taking that into consideration you may want to plan a visit avoiding peak attendance times so you have the least crowds to contend with. Admission is by time slots so it does appear as there are some limitations to help provide everyone a nice opportunity to enjoy themselves without it being too hectic of a surrounding.
Marvel's Avengers S.T.A.T.I.O.N. really looks to be an exciting opportunity for both kids and kids at heart. This Geek Daddy really tries to focus on making education entertaining for my children and this exhibit really seems to take this attitude to heart. I really like the NASA partnership to combine its science with the fiction of Marvel to create a scifi event that showcases how science and math can be cool. I'm really hoping we have the opportunity to take a family roadtrip to New York this summer or fall to experience Marvel's Avengers S.T.A.T.I.O.N. at the Discovery Times Square Museum.
The one downside is that like all things in the Big Apple it seems a little pricey. Tickets are $27 for adults, $19.50 for kids 3 to 11 (children 12 and over are adults prices - yikes!) and Seniors 65+ are $23.50. So a trip to this exhibit would cost my family $93....ouch! Plus they charge extra for things like digital photo ops and other souvenirs, you didn't think you could leave without exiting a gift store did you? They do offer a nice $25 parking deal with ticket packages which sounds like a bargain if you are driving into Manhattan and if you are going take advantage of the American Express sponsorship deal that gives you a free digital photo op at the exhibit if you buy your tickets with their credit card.
For more information about Marvel's Avengers S.T.A.T.I.O.N. visit www.discoverytsx.com
