Once upon a time, learning was all about mastering the three Rs (reading, writing, and arithmetic). The basic skills are still important, but things have changed and the goal posts have been moved. Where kids once learned to read, today they learn to read so they can read to learn.
Education is no longer about learning just enough of the three Rs to be employable, productive citizens. We care about challenging the mind. It’s important to us that children know how to think, reason, and question. Educators are willing to experiment in the classroom in order to keep students engaged with the material, because when children are engaged, they’re learning. As a result of this evolution in the field of education, teachers now strive to make learning both interesting and entertaining.
There is also a greater understanding of the fact that anything can be a learning experience when approached from the right perspective. There is nothing that cannot be turned into grist for the learning mill. The boom in technology has certainly made a big difference here.
History Fun with Interactive Maps
Take this set of interactive maps, for instance. Remember those dreaded maps in geography class where you had to label odd blank shapes with their correct names? That classroom task was the downfall of many a student. But these maps in Gif form are a whole ‘nother story. They offer up reams of history in a short time span.
The map that tells the story of the rise and fall of the Ottoman Empire, for example, held us formerly clueless geography students in thrall for a good 15 minutes. There’s a reason they call the page “Map Gif Porn.” What you’ve got here is a handy way to spark an interest in world history, cartography, and graphic design in any student, young or old.
Fun, Fast History Lessons
Speaking of world history, check out History at Home, which turns one into an expert on a variety of history subjects in minutes, making it perfect for the child with a short attention span. Choose from lessons like “How Teddy Roosevelt Inspire the Teddy Bear,” or “The History of Handwashing.” The lessons are given by real people, historians, authors, and even actors such as Laurence Fishburne. Should your child find themselves intrigued and wanting to learn more, there are links to more detailed sources, all beautifully illustrated.
Beautiful Libraries
The death of the book is a painful thing to witness. There’s a movement to encourage children to read books (with actual pages). One way to encourage kids to read is to present the concept of reading in an attractive manner. That is the purpose of 20 of the World’s Most Stunning Libraries, an inspired collection of photographs of beautiful places to read.
Atmosphere may not be the most important part of reading, but it certainly helps. Think of curling up on a sofa or at a window seat with an afghan wrapped around you. Add a great book, a cup of hot cocoa (with marshmallows), and you’re good to go!
Curling up for a cozy read is rare pleasure requiring no technology whatsoever. But if you can’t persuade your child that books are da bomb, these photos should help explain it better than any words you might find in an um, book. The Hearst Castle Library, for example, is dreamy.
Speaking of dreamy, we all daydream about having lots of money and what we would do if we had it, but have you ever thought about making another person’s dream come true? It’s got to be the best feeling ever: to help another human being like that. Who knows? Maybe it’s even better than being the recipient of that help!
But here’s a gift that masquerades as a prank. Actually, it really is a prank, except it’s different because it isn’t mean, like so many other pranks. In fact, this prank is the epitome of kindness, which makes it ultra-appropriate viewing material for children. Learning kindness is certainly at least as important as learning the Three Rs.
The waitress in the clip struggled with an eating disorder and has come out stronger than ever. She’s paying it back by teaching others the discipline that helped her master her addiction (yoga). No one is as hardworking as this young woman and the producers decided to give her a waitressing day she’d never forget. It took a lot of planning and coordination to make it all happen but the results will leave you with that amazing warm feeling inside.
Kindness is mostly something kids learn at home, from their parents. One of the most moving expressions of kindness is to “pay it forward.” The above “pranking it forward” clip is the perfect vehicle for giving over this particular life lesson. Watch the video with your child and then talk about how they might do someone a random kindness to bring happiness into another person’s life!
About Varda Epstein
Varda Meyers Epstein serves as editor in chief of Kars4Kids Parenting. A native of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Varda is the mother of 12 children and is also a grandmother of 12. Her work has been published in The Washington Post, The Huffington Post, The Learning Site, The eLearning Site, and Internet4Classrooms.