Benjamin Franklin on Education

I've always been interested in the life of Benjamin Franklin.  The guy just seemed so unique!  And while I was disappointed to learn that the Disney cartoon I watched about Franklin and a mouse as a child was pure fiction (sigh!) I still enjoyed considering how he came up with all his inventions and theories.

So when I had a choice of class assignments on Franklin, I jumped at the activity.  Check out THIS ARTICLE for a brief explanation of what Franklin thought of the formal educational system in the early United States.

Although never a president, Franklin earned his way onto a bill.

All About Relational Aggression

Parents and teachers alike should be able to recognize the signs and symptoms of relational aggression and bullying.  Recognizing the difference between harmless teasing and cyberbullying is important, and could actually save a child's life.


Check out THIS ARTICLE for information on the subject, and view the other related articles at the bottom for more information on what relational aggression is, and how to report or prevent it from harming your child.

Set up a Recycling Center

Encourage your family (or even your classroom of students) to recycle more by setting up a recycling center for easier sorting and convenience.


Instead of dumping everything into one container, set up a complete shelving with baskets or bins for each type of recyclable.


Check out the article DIY Recycling Center for great tips, ideas, and even products you can integrate into your own center.

Creative Parenting- Turning ho-hum outings into traditions

When creating the article "How to Turn Outings into Traditions" I couldn't help but think of the great musical "Fiddler on the Roof".  Even though this article has nothing to do with the song, or the movie for this matter, I couldn't resist adding it to the blog.

But if you're interested in how to change everyday outings into fun traditions for the family check out THIS ARTICLE for more information, tips and ideas on parenting.  For more info on the resource I used for the article, check out Creating Family Traditions: Making Memories in Festive Seasons (Let's Make a Memory Series).

Science Project on Hand Washing

Is hand washing really as important as the Centers for Disease Control (and moms) tell us? Consider conducting a fun science experiment (instructions HERE) with information on how germs spread, and why washing your hand thoroughly is so important.


Be sure to click the link to the left for supplies you'll need for the experiment, such as glo-germ and a black light that shows how much "germs" on your hands before and after washing. This experiment makes a great science fair project, and also works as a great teaching activity for science class.