Virtual Field Trip to the Museum of Natural History
It's a great time of year to visit New York City. Can't make it in person? Instead, try this Virtual Field Trip to the Museum of Natural History.
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Hurricane and Earthquake Preparedness
If you live on the East Coast of the United States, this is turning out to be quite the week for natural disasters. But regardless of where you live, it's always a good idea to be prepared for emergency situations. I wanted to share some links for you to make sure your family is ready if disaster should strike.
- Disaster Supply Kit
- Hurricane Prep (Good advice for general disaster preparedness)
- Earthquake Info for Kids
- Hurricane Info for Kids
- Kid's Activity Survival Kit (Don't forget entertainment for kids in your Supply Kit!)
- Family Disaster Plan
- Talking with Kids About Disasters (PDF from the Red Cross)
This is also a good time to make a backup of important files, including digital photos and storing them in a safe place, such as at your office or with a relative.
The Sims Social Launches Into Beta on Facebook
The much-anticipated The Sims Social game app went live on Facebook earlier this week. If you're a fan of The Sims, you'll want to head over and create your Sim. The online game has a lot of similarities to other versions, so you'll find yourself concerned with all the basic necessities, while building your house, making friends, and earning Simoleons!
SecuraChild Steps in Where Amber Alerts Cannot
A missing child is one of the biggest nightmares for parents. The feeling of helplessness adds to the fear of the unknown. Most of us are familiar with the Amber Alert system, but not everyone realizes that there are specific criteria for when an Amber Alert is issued:
- Law enforcement must confirm that an abduction has taken place
- The child is at risk of serious injury or death
- There is sufficient descriptive information of child, captor, or captor's vehicle to issue an alert
- The child must be 17 years old or younger
- It is recommended that immediate entry of AMBER Alert data be entered in FBI's National Crime Information Center. Text information describing the circumstances surrounding the abduction of the child should be entered, and the case flagged as Child Abduction.
What do you do when your child doesn't meet that criteria? One father had an idea and created SecuraChild, a website that uses social media to help the search for missing children. To use the service, sign up and provide information about your child, such as eye color, hair color, and identifying features. If your child goes missing, notify SecuraChild and they will spread the information through their social networks. The site is still relatively new and their social media reach is too small to have much of an impact, but I would expect it to grow over time.
What do you think? Is this a service that would make you feel more secure?
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Take off on a White House Scavenger Hunt
This webquest sends you through the virtual halls of the White House in search of a variety of artifacts. Can you find them all?
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Virtual Ride on the Yellow School Bus
My son starts kindergarten this year. It's a big deal for me because he's growing up so quickly. It's a big deal for him because he'll be taking the bus to school. Very exciting.
Our Contributing Writer, John Cavanagh, has put together a great virtual field trip to the infamous yellow school bus. He's got some cute videos, informational sites and links to safety tips. This is a wonderful resource for families sending a little one off to school for the first time, as well as those who just need some quick reminders.
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Get to Smurfing on Facebook
I mentioned The Smurfs website last month. This month I want to point out the Smurfs & Co. app from Ubisoft. If you're a fan of Facebook games, you'll enjoy this cute game that has you building Smurfy buildings, collecting resources and gathering a gaggle of different Smurf personalities. It's a fun way to delve into the Smurf's world.
Free Tech Tools for Busy Families
The back-to-school season can be stressful for parents. Coordinating which kid is at which activity and how they're getting there can be a monumental tasks. And then there are the volunteer responsibilities. And we can't forget the basics like laundry, food and generally staying on top of the house. I've put together a list of free tools that can help you with the craziness.
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Pottermore Invites You to Delve Deeper into the Harry Potter World
I always loved the magic of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and how much anticipation surrounded the search for the elusive golden tickets. This week, J.K. Rowling and Sony are creating plenty of anticipation of their own with Pottermore.com and the quest for the Magical Quill. For seven days, readers have the chance to gain early access to the mysterious new site.
From the information available, Pottermore is meant to be an extension of the Harry Potter books. J.K. Rowling will be providing additional information and backstories about the characters and locations in her famous books. Readers will be able to interact with each other and the stories in new ways. We still don't know the details, but they have said that we'll be able to purchase audio books and previously unavailable e-books.
This week, readers can visit Pottermore and try to solve the daily clue to the Magical Quill. Those who get through have the chance to sign on early to Pottermore. Be aware, though, that the daily spots fill up quickly!
Summer Reading and Classic Books Online
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