Thursday, May 21, 2020

How Can I Learn About Astronomy this summer?

I just had a wonderful conversation with a high school student from Michigan who would like to use the summer (as a rising senior) to explore her interest in astrophysics. 

There are summer research experiences out there for high schoolers. I'll add links to any I find here if I find any, but I couldn't think of any off the top of my head, and I am completely overwhelmed with undergraduate summer researchers this year. 

But I did have these ideas for how to do self directed astronomy useful stuff this summer, at an appropriate level (I think) for motivated and self-directed high schoolers/undergraduate - so I'm sharing them here in case it's useful to others: 

Tuesday, May 19, 2020

Off Screen Ideas for Kids Who Don't Like Sports

Being a full time college Professor and a Mum during pandemic stay home orders is rough at times. Just over a day ago, I tweeted in desperation "ISO solo off screen activities for my son (10) who says he's "different from other 4th graders and doesn't like sports". I thought my Twitter followers might have awesome suggestions." The response was so awesome it nudged me to write my first blog post in almost two years (oops! what can I say I've been busy).

In whatever random order it was Twitter showed these replies here's a list of seventeen different suggestions. Son has decided to go with Lego animation (which I count as number 18), and I added two more from some "IRL" friends to make a total of 20.

I might update these with tips/links as he does them (if he does them). Thanks all - you are amazing!

1. Photography

2. Pottery
3. Writing letters to nursing homes
4. Kite making
5. Pinata making (paper mache)
6. Fire starting (with sticks only)
7. Paint rocks with inspirational quotes
8. Tie dying
9. Puffy painting thrift store clothing


10. Learn to play guitar

11. Anything with Lego



12. Start a fish tank/ant colony
13. Electronics
14. Cooking

15. Science experiments


16. Paintining minatures (e.g. Warhammer)


17. 3D printing


18. Make stop motion animations with Lego (what my son decided to start with). 

Also to complete the set, my irl friends have so far suggested: 

19. Plan and build a tree house
20. Take up skateboarding