Daddy Dearests

Rather than try to re-tell a story that's already been published, I figured I'd just link to the U-T's story about the D.A.D.S. -- Dedicated And Determined Support -- Group. Great educational topic, and also something that would have been worth bringing up in one of my women's studies classes :)

Preparation for the global world

It's no secret that our world is increasingly becoming more globalized. Countries such as Japan and China are producing electronics, cars and a myriad of other products and toys that children here in the U.S. enjoy on a daily basis.

It's important for children to know where their favorite things are coming from and who's making them, but it's also a good idea to have some background knowledge from the culture that's producing these things.

In the seventh grade, I learned all about Japan, as there was a Japan unit in my language arts class. My teacher familiarized us with the overall landscape/map of Japan, major cities, historical events, and we even had a Japanese food day and learned how to use chopsticks. Which brings me to the meat of this post:

How to use chopsticks:
(Watch About.com video)


How to make oragami
There is a site, Origami KinderCrafts that has step-by-step illustrations (brightly colored and cute, too) for how to make popular oragami that I grew up making (fortune tellers, jumping frogs), as well as more unique creations, such as a "hexaflexagon" and butterfly.

In fact, there is a whole Japanese Crafts section of the site, featuring how to make a Japanese garden, hanging fish and more.

How to make sushi:
Don't let your kids wait 'til they're 19 (like I was) to try sushi for the first time. Yes, some kids are picky and may be grossed out by the whole raw-fish aspect (they don't have to know, though), but having an appreciation for different culture-based foods may help in building and strengthening an open mind to aspects of all different cultures.

Now, there are tons of resources online for how to make sushi, but I liked Tawnee Prazak's (last year's managing editor of The Daily Aztec) article on how to make (and enjoy) sushi.

Skateboards in the classroom?

In my recreation class the other day, we had a guest speaker, Paul Schmitt of PS Stix (Schmitt Stix) skateboards. Now in his 40s, Schmitt has been making skateboards since he was 14. Originally from Costa Mesa, Calif., Paul lives and works in San Diego, and has a factory in China and one opening in Tijuana, Mexico soon.

Schmitt will only use Maple wood from the Great Lakes region because of the conditions that allow the trees to have such great strength. His company produces boards for major brands, such as Element, another company he helped found.

At the beginning of his lecture, I was amazed at the astounding number of skateboards produced on a weekly basis and felt sorry for all the trees being cut down. But he later went on to explain that they are being as environmentally friendly as technologically possible right now. All extra wood not used for the skateboards is used as lumber for making furniture, and the factory where the boards are made is completely self-sustaining and uses all recycled water and energy.

He extended his love of skating and environment to education. Students can petition their schools to offer the CreateAskate program, a 5- to 10-day program (40 to 80 minutes per day) where students literally make their own skateboards. The best part? The students plant a tree in their school or a nearby park at the end of the program.

Click the play button to watch what the program is like in action:


Video from the CreateAskate Web site.

Lessons from the zoo

The Education Department's mission is to increase the knowledge and appreciation of animals and plants in people of all ages through a wide variety of educational programs and services.—www.sandiegozoo.org


On the San Diego Zoo's Web site, there is a link to an "Education" section. This part of the site is a helpful resource to teachers and parents alike, or even kids who want to get involved in learning about and helping wildlife. When I was in elementary school, I was part of the Sydney's Koala Club (or the kids' version of the Zoological Society of San Diego membership), and was quite active in saving the rainforests through letters I mailed out to who knows where.

The point of all this is, activism or simply a project here and there can be very valuable to children in a number of ways. First of all, they're learning more than Hannah Montana's latest song lyrics or which video game has the most violence. Second, in this age of "going green," it's important for youth to have an appreciation of the species we are trying to protect — from plants and animals, to recycling our cans, bottles and papers. Finally, being involved in a project, such as those offered through the San Diego Zoo, can help children make friends and feel a part of a community, helping to build self-esteem and an identity.

For more information on the types of information and programs offered through the San Diego Zoo and Wild Animal Park, visit the Education section of the zoo's Web site, or call (619) 557-3962.

Visit the Zoo Blogs or check out the Photo Journal to see what it's like to be involved with the zoo.

Photo credits:
1) Koala (sandiegozoo.org)
2) Recycling symbol (vims.edu)
3) Child in garden (prairienursery.com)