Teaching Strategies, Tactics, and Methods

New Year’s Eve

New Year’s Eve (the 31st of December) is the final night of the calendar year. It’s celebrated worldwide, usually with fireworks and a big party.

History of New Year Celebrations Around the World

What is New Year’s Eve? New Year’s Eve is one of the most significant occasions in the calendar year for most places in the world, which means there’s a fascinating history surrounding how it’s celebrated, stretching back to the start of recorded history.

There are also multiple ways people celebrate the new year, whether it be fireworks in a city through our modern-day era or Spain’s tradition for people to stay at home, at least until midnight, and they like to see in the New Year by eating 12 grapes at the stroke of midnight. But, no matter how the new year is celebrated, there is something different and unique about it.

Ancient Babylon

The Babylonians were the first to celebrate New Year in some shape or form. We don’t know much about what they did, but maybe they had a big party at the Hanging Gardens of Babylon.

The earliest record of a New Year’s celebration comes over 4,000 years ago from the ancient Babylonians. They didn’t celebrate New Year at the same time we do, though. Instead, the New Year was marked by a big celebration at the spring equinox. To the rest of us, that’s the point of the year when the days become longer than the nights. Because they lived in the Northern Hemisphere, this was usually some point in late March.

The Babylonians knew how to party. They celebrated the New Year with an 11-day festival involving a different ritual each day. This is not much known, but what we know is pretty exciting. The festival was called Akitu and celebrated the victory of the sky god, Marduk, over the evil sea goddess, Tiamat.

The Romans

The Romans were the first to celebrate New Year’s Day on 1st January, thanks to a confident Julius Caesar.

Though we might think of the Romans as belonging to ancient history, they cropped up a whopping 1,500 years after the earliest traces of Babylonia! Anyway, they loved a good New Year’s party too. So they were also the first people to celebrate New Year’s Day when we did, on 1st January.

There’s a good reason for this. The Roman calendar was initially aligned with the sun but fell out of sync over time. So, to bring it back up to speed, Caesar added 90 days! This is the equivalent of roughly two extra months. As part of this, it was decided that each year would start at the beginning of Janus, after the god of new beginnings.

The Middle Ages

The start of the New Year changed again in the Middle Ages, but it didn’t stay like this for long.

In medieval Christian Europe, the leaders of the Church didn’t like the idea of the New Year being celebrated on a Roman feast day, so they played a little with the dates. At first, they changed the start of the year to the 25th of December, and then, deciding that Christmas is best left alone, to the 25th of March. Eventually, Pope Gregory XIII realized there was nothing wrong with the old way of celebrating New Year, so he changed the date to the 1st of January in 1582.

And there you have it, a short history of New Year celebrations worldwide! If you’d like to learn more about how the big day is celebrated in the 21st century, you might want to keep reading…

New Year Celebrations Around the World Today

Spain

Spain has the tastiest way to celebrate New Year’s Eve if you like grapes!

New Year’s Eve is known as Noche Vieja in Spain and a few other Spanish-speaking countries. This is because it’s traditional for people to stay at home, at least until midnight, and they like to see the New Year by eating 12 grapes at the stroke of midnight. This symbolizes their hopes and dreams for the year to come. It also sounds pretty tasty too… There are big parties in many towns across the country, but the most famous one is in Madrid, in the Puerta del Sol.

Italy

Over in Italy, New Year’s Eve is known as La Festa di San Silvestro, the feast day of Saint Sylvestre. Like many countries, families gather for a meal, which usually features pork and lentils. After dinner, it’s time to head to the streets for a big ol’ party. If you’re lucky enough to find yourself in a big city like Rome, Milan or Naples, you can expect to see a big fireworks show.

Oh, and don’t forget to wear red underwear! Some people in Italy believe that wearing red underwear on New Year’s Eve can bring you good luck. You’ll see loads for sale at the December markets!

USA

Times Square is home to the world’s most famous New Year’s Eve party.

In the US, New Year’s Eve is celebrated in much the same way as it is here in Australia. Families get together for a special meal with a whole load of fireworks. New York is home to the world’s most famous New Year’s celebration. Each year, thousands of party-goers gather in Manhattan to see the famous Times Square Ball (pictured above) being lowered at the stroke of midnight. The ball is made of Waterford Crystal, a patterned glass, so let’s hope no one ever drops it!

China

In China and a few other countries in South East Asia, New Year is celebrated at the start of the lunar calendar, which, in 2022, falls on the 1st of February. The festival lasts over two weeks, ending with the traditional Lantern Festival. Because there are significant Chinese and Asian communities in many countries worldwide, most cities will have some kind of Chinese New Year celebration, so you don’t have to worry about missing out on the fun.

Australia

If you’re in Sydney for New Year’s Eve, get to the harbor for a dazzling fireworks display!

Because Australia is in the far reaches of the Eastern Hemisphere, we’re one of the first places in the world to experience the New Year. However, people in other countries, like the UK, often wake up to pictures of people having fun at Sydney Harbour Bridge. Each year, the party has a theme. In previous years, this has been “we are one” and “unity,” but the theme for 2022’s event is still undecided.

Why do things float in water?

All objects, both those that sink and those that float, are made up of molecules. These molecules are groups of atoms and, depending on the thing, can be packed either super tightly or more spread out. The layout of the molecules within an object affects its density, which, in turn, affects its ability to float. If the molecules within an object are tightly packed together, the thing has a higher density than an object in which the molecules are more spread out.

So, how does this relate to floating? Well, water itself also has its density. If an object’s density is higher than the density of water, it will sink. On the flip side, if a thing is less dense than water, it will float.

What is floating?

Floating is what we call it when objects, either wholly or partially, rest on the surface of the water. Floating does not only occur in water; it can also occur in air, which we will dive into a little later. Many people associate floating with the weight of an object, but this isn’t necessarily true. As discussed above, floating is a lot more to do with density than it is to do with weight.

The science behind what things float and why

Density is not the only factor that plays into what things float; an object’s buoyancy also plays a role in this. Buoyancy, derived from the Spanish word ‘boyar,’ which means ‘float,’ is a force on an object that causes it to move upwards. It is created by the difference in pressure placed on the thing by either the liquid or air it is in. Buoyancy pushes less dense stuff to the surface of the fluid they are in, allowing them to float.

Have you ever wondered how massive metal ships can float quickly on the water? The answer is buoyancy. This force allows super-heavy objects, like ships, to seem much lighter than they are and rest on the surface of the water.

Misconceptions around density

In the initial discussions you will have with your students about what things sink and float, they may think they have it sussed. However, you will likely understand that heavy items sink and light things flow. While this is true in some cases, the principle of this statement is incorrect. For instance, a large ship will float while a tiny pin will sink. This is because, as previously mentioned, sinking and floating are to do with the density of an object, not its weight. Knowing this is one thing, but how do you explain density to your class?

To begin with, you must introduce your class to the idea of mass. Mass is simply the amount of matter that an object contains. The more matter an object has, the more it will weigh. Density involves two measurements: mass and volume and the relationship between the two.

This can be a confusing learning area for kids, as they are likely being introduced to many brand-new terms at once. For this reason, the best way to explain density to your kids is to show them. Get two objects, one of which should have a large mass but low density. This can be something like a plank of wood. The other object should have a smaller mass but a higher density. For this, you can use something like a pin or an earring. Let your kids pass around the objects to get a feel of each size and weight. Then, based on their observations, get them to make predictions about which entity will sink and what will float. After this, lower the objects into a water basin and let density do its thing. This will allow kids to see density at work and challenge their idea of what things sink.

What is the density of water?

The density of water is most commonly given as 1g/cm3. However, the density of water is subject to change depending on its temperature. For the density of water to change significantly, temperatures must be either extremely cold or hot. Water only has an exact density of 1g/cm3 at 4.0 °C. Once the water temperature drops below freezing point, the thickness of the water starts to decrease. This is because ice has a lower density than water. While you may expect the density of water to have the opposite reaction at boiling point, this is not the case. When the water reaches boiling point, it also decreases in thickness. This is because when water is heated, it increases in volume and becomes less dense when it rises in volume.

What do things float on water?

So, we know what floating is and what phenomena cause objects to float, but what are some examples of things that float on water? Before we get into that, let’s run through the basics one more time. For an object to float, it must have a lower density than water and be capable of water displacement. Water displacement allows massive ships, which are technically denser than water, to float. Water displacement is when an object occupies enough space by displacing its weight or removing enough water to maintain its buoyancy. This is why dense things with a large surface area can also float.

They must also be made of hydrophobic materials. A molecule possesses hydrophobicity when it appears to be repelled by a mass of water. These molecules are called hydrophobes. Common hydrophobic molecules include oils, fats, and greasy substances.

Now we’re ready to run through some examples! Here are some examples of what things float on water:

• Leaves,
• Wooden sticks,
• Paper,
• Ships,
• Plastic bottles,
• Bubble wrap,
• Sponges,
• Oil.

What do things float in the air?

Water is not the only substance that things can float in. There are also tons of examples of objects floating in the air. The same rule applies to standing in the same way that objects float when they have a lower density than water. When an object has a lower density than air or can cause enough air displacement to make room for its surface, it can float.

Here are some examples of things that float in the air:

• Paper,
• Kites,
• Balloons,
• Hot air balloons,
• Birds,
• Airplanes,
• Bubbles,
• Feathers.

Just like ships utilize buoyancy and displacement to float on water, airplanes use these same phenomena to float in the air. The low pressure on the upper side of the plane and the high pressure on the downward side of the wings create buoyancy, which allows it to float.

What do things float? – Examples

There are loads of examples of objects that float in our day-to-day lives. These objects are great for including in some class experiments to teach your kids about floating and sinking.

Here are some examples of objects that can float because they have a lower density than water:

• Ice cubes

If you put some ice into a glass and then fill it with water, you will notice that all ice cubes float to the surface. This is because ice, the solid form of water, is less dense than water in its liquid form. As a result, the molecules are forced to spread out when water is frozen, which lowers its density.

• Oils

Most oils have a lower density than water, allowing them to float. This is why, when you pour oil into a glass of water, the two liquids will remain completely separate and not mix.

• Wood

One of the most common examples of a material that floats on water is wood. Wood has a lower density than water, which allows it to float. For this reason, wood was one of the primary materials for making ships and other water-bound vessels.

Another factor that impacts an object’s ability to float is the substance that it is filled with. Balloons, for instance, would not float on their own. They can only swim in air and water when pumped full of air or gas.

Here are some examples of things that float because they are filled with air:

• Hot air balloons,
• Footballs,
• Bottles,
• Inflatable toys.

Food can also float! Many different fruits and vegetables can float because they have a lower density than water. For example:

• Apples,
• Oranges,
• Lemons,
• Leafy vegetables.

Lastly, rubber, wax, and plastic objects also float on water. Sponges also float on water, but there’s a catch. Much like paper, sponges only float on water when they are dry. The sponge will slowly absorb the surrounding water as they sit on the surface. The more water the sponge absorbs, the denser it becomes; eventually, it will sink below the surface. This same principle applies to paper. A dry sheet of paper will float, but as it sits and soaks up the water, it will get denser and sink.

What things sink? – Examples

We’ve looked at the science behind floating and sinking, and the role density plays in this. Next, let’s run through a few examples of things that sink if placed in water.

• Coins

Have you ever wandered past a fountain and seen people throwing coins in? If you have, you’ll also have noticed that the coins don’t float on the water’s surface, turning the whole fountain copper. Instead, the coins sink to the bottom of the fountain, where they remain until someone moves them. This is because coins are small, dense objects that sink instantly when placed in water.

• Stones

It is not always true that the larger an object is, the more likely it is to sink. Some things, regardless of their size, are too dense to float. Stones are a prime example of this. Whether you have a tiny pebble from your garden or a huge boulder, both will sink when placed into a water body. You may be thinking. Indeed ships are more extensive than stones, so how can they float? The reason boats can sail, despite their large mass, is that they are hollow. This means that ships have a lower density than stones despite being more significant than stones.

• Sponges

Unlike the previous two examples, this one is not so straightforward. Depending on its state, a sponge can either float or sink. A dry sponge has a super low density, allowing it to flow on the water’s surface. However, due to the porous nature of sponges, they soon begin to soak up water, which increases their density. At a certain point, the sponge’s density will overtake that of the water and begin to sink.

Fun facts about floating and sinking

Let’s take a look at some fun facts about floating and sinking:

• Just because an object floats in water does not mean it will float in all liquids. This is because all things and liquids have different levels of density. Therefore, if an object floats in water, it may sink into liquids like vegetable oil or alcohol.
• The shape of an object affects its ability to float. The larger the surface area of an object, the more likely it is to float, as its buoyancy increases the more surface area it has.
• An increased surface area makes it easier to float, so humans can float more quickly when spread out on their backs. This is why kids are taught to float in a ‘starfish position.’ It is also why we are told to lie on our backs and stretch out our arms and legs if we are ever in danger of drowning.
• Buoyancy makes objects seem lighter than they are. This is why it is easier to lift heavy objects in the water.
• Ships float at different heights depending on how heavy and dense the water is.
• Seawater, made up of salt water, has a much higher density than fresh water. For this reason, ships float higher in salt water than they do in fresh water.
• Due to the higher saltwater density, eggs can float in the sea but not in normal, fresh water.
• Ships also float higher in colder water than in warm water. Again, this is because of the increased density of colder water.
• Hollow objects can also float because air is much less dense than water. This is a big reason why ships can sail.

Conditional sentences discuss unknown factors or hypothetical situations and their consequences. The conditional part is referred to as the conditional clause. Conditional sentences consist of a main clause and a conditional.

To write conditional sentences, you must use an if and a main clause. The conditional clause usually starts with ‘if’ or ‘unless’ and can be placed either at the start or the end of a sentence. Similarly to a subordinate clause, a conditional clause can’t make sense without being preceded or followed by the main clause.

A conditional clause is an adverbial clause that states a hypothesis or condition, real or imagined. It’s made up of the if-clause and the main clause. There are dour things that your will need to learn about a conditional clause in grammar:

• There are four kinds of conditional sentences.
• It’s essential to use the proper structure for each of the various conditional sentences because they express different meanings.
• Pay attention to verb tense when using varying conditional modes.
• Utilized a comma after the if-clause when the if-clause precedes the main clause.

What are conditional clause examples?

Take a look at these fantastic examples of conditional clauses in action:

1. I will pass the exam.
2. You would have gotten wet if it had rained.
3. If I had known you were coming, I would have baked a cake.
4. If you give me your e-mail, I will be written to you.
5. We’ll be late for dinner if we don’t leave now.Top of Form

 

What are conditional verb tenses in conditional clauses?

Conditional verbs and verb tenses create conditional clauses in sentences, which express hypothetical or unlikely situations.

Conditional verbs can be utilized in the past, present, or future tense, including auxiliary verbs like can/could, will/would, and may/might, which are essential in forming conditionals.

What is the function of a conditional clause?

A conditional clause’s function is to express the likelihood of a particular action or event. Conditional clauses can also lay out the conditions that must be met to reach this outcome.

For example, the conditional sentence:

• If it had rained, you would have gotten wet.

Contains the conditional clause ‘if it had rained’ to demonstrate what would happen IF the weather was different.

What’s the difference between the conditional clause and the main clause?

The if-clause uses the present continuous or present simple tense, while the main clause uses a modal verb. Often, the conditional clause offers suggestions or advice.

They’re subordinate clauses, most commonly introduced by the conjunctions ‘if’ or ‘unless.’ However, they’re also sometimes caused by conditional subordinate clauses because of this reason.

Here are some examples of the if-clause and the main clause used together:

Before the Main Clause

• If you don’t wear a coat, you might get cold.
• If you eat too many sweets, you’ll get toothache.
• If we don’t leave, now we’ll be late.
• Unless you have a reasonable excuse, you need to do your homework.
• Unless you take a book, you might get bored on the plane.
• Unless you’re ready, you should prepare first.

After the Main Clause

• It’s easy to get distracted if you’re not careful.
• You should come along if you’re free later.
• Can you help me if you have the time?
• Let’s go home unless you have something better to do.
• I’ll drive you unless you can walk.
• I won’t attend the party unless I finish my homework soon.

Other conditional subordinators that you can use to connect the if clause and main clause include:

• Even if…

Even if you rush, you’ll be late.

• Provided that…

I’ll help you, provided that you permit me.

• On the condition that…

I’ll send out the invitations, on the condition that you provide the refreshments.

• As long as…

As long as we’re together, we’ll be fine.

• In the case of…

In the case of an emergency, use the fire exit doors.

Conditional clauses tend to come at the beginning of complex sentences (these are sentences containing an independent clause and one or more dependent clauses). However, like other adverbial clauses, they may come at the end.

How to punctuate a conditional clause?

Despite the complex nature of conditional sentences, punctuating them is easy! Try out these few Twinkl Tips and tricks to learn how to punctuate in and around conditional clauses.

Use a comma after the conditional clause when the conditional clause precedes the main clause. For example, ‘If I’d had time, I would have cleaned the house.’

If the main clause precedes the conditional clause, no punctuation is necessary. So, for example, ‘I would have cleaned the house if I’d had time.’

What are sunflowers?

Renowned for their tall stems and bright golden blossoms, sunflowers are the largest flowering plants known to man. They belong to the colorful Asteraceae, or Daisy family, and are a firm favorite with gardeners and non-gardeners alike.

Native to Mexico and the southern United States, sunflowers have large round faces and vibrant petals. And although we tend to associate sunflowers with the color yellow, they come in many other colors, too, including orange, peach, red, pink, and purple.

Seed to harvest: The stages of the sunflower life cycle

The sunflower life cycle consists of many steps. First, a seed is planted in the soil. Then, after a couple of weeks, a young sunflower’s first green shoots will rise from the ground.

Slowly but surely, the tiny plant will grow leaves, a bud, and eventually – after roughly three months – a golden flower. But that’s not the end of the sunflower’s story, not by a long shot.

Let’s look at the sunflower life cycle in more detail and discover what happens after a sunflower blooms…

• Seed

One day.

The sunflower life cycle begins with a seed.

• Germination

One week after planting.

Soon after they’re planted, sunflower seeds absorb moisture through their shells. As they soak up more and more water, their shells begin to crack open, unable to contain the extra moisture. The sunflower’s roots emerge first – their role is to stabilize the plant and absorb vital nutrients from the soil.

• Seedling

Two to five weeks after planting.

Once the roots have absorbed plenty of water, a tiny shoot will make its way out of the ground. This small plant – known as a “seedling” – comprises a thin stem and two leaves.

During this stage, as the stem grows taller and taller, the plant will produce many more leaves. The fledgling sunflower uses its leaves to absorb sunlight, turning it into food via photosynthesis.

Seedlings are highly vulnerable to environmental factors, such as extreme temperatures (high and low), lack of water, and insects.

• Bud

Five to 10 weeks after planting.

Also known as the “reproductive phase,” this stage is when a small bud develops at the tip of the stem. At first, the bud will be closed, but over time it will open up to display the bright golden petals within.

Did you know that, during the reproductive phase, sunflowers physically move toward sunlight? As the sun drifts across the sky, sunflowers will change position to ensure they get as much sunlight as possible. This behavior – known as heliotropism – is how sunflowers got their name.

• Full bloom

10 to 13 weeks after planting.

After two to three months, sunflowers begin to flower. Typically, sunflowers stay in bloom for three weeks, but you might get a whole month if you’re lucky.

At this stage, sunflowers are like a shining beacon for bees, butterflies, beetles, and many other pint-sized pollinators. Attracted by the vibrant petals, these insects drink nectar from the sunflower’s center.

In the process, their furry bodies pick up pollen from the male part of the plant (known as anthers), which they carry to the next plant. There, the bees deposit the pollen onto the female parts of the flower (known as stigma), fertilizing the plant and ensuring that it’ll produce fruit and seeds in the future.

• Wilt

13 to 15 weeks after planting.

All good things must come to an end. At 13 to 15 weeks, the petals turn from bright yellow to rusty brown, and the head of the sunflower starts to droop.

• Regeneration, or harvest

15 to 17 weeks after planting.

During the regeneration (or reproduction) stage, the sunflower withers completely, shedding its seeds on the soil below. Some will embed themselves in the ground, some scatter on the breeze, while birds and squirrels will eat others. This process – known as seed dispersal – allows the sunflower life cycle to begin again.

How long does it take for sunflowers to grow?

On average, it takes between 10 and 14 weeks for a sunflower to fully mature. Your sunflower will grow faster if you place it in direct sunlight and water it frequently.

Top tips for growing your sunflowers

Looking to grow your sunflowers this summer? Then you may be interested in these gardening hints and tricks. Follow these five steps, and come August, your garden will be a shining sea of golden blooms.

• Water regularly. Ensure you water your sunflowers often, especially in the early stages of growth. A good time to water your plants is in the morning before the sun gets too hot.
• Give your sunflowers space. A sunflower’s roots extend deep beneath the ground, sometimes as far as 1.5 feet. So, it’s essential to ensure they have plenty of room to grow. If they don’t have the space to develop a robust root system, they won’t be able to support their weight.
• Support them. When your sunflowers reach around three feet tall, prop them up with supporting stakes. For these, you can use any long, thin piece of wood you have lying around. This will help your plants grow strong and tall.
• Fend off pests. Many insects and birds are attracted to the tasty seeds in the center of blooming sunflowers. Try trimming the leaves nearest to the flower to stop them from damaging your plants. This will make it harder for insects to reach the flower.
• Keep on sowing. If you sow a new batch of sunflower seeds every two weeks in the spring, you’ll have a constant supply of blooms until fall.

Sunflower myths

According to Greek mythology, Apollo, the God of the Sun, fell in love with a spirit called Clytie. But following a brief romance, he left her for Leucothea, the Goddess of the Sea. Clytie is said to have been so devastated that she didn’t take her eyes off the horizon for over a week, hoping to catch a glimpse of Apollo in his golden chariot. Finally, having not eaten or slept for nine days, Clytie passed away.

Did you know that the scientific name for sunflower is helianthus, which combines the Ancient Greek words for the sun (helios) and flower (Anthus)?

What do sunflowers symbolize?

Sunflowers are a symbol of loyalty in many cultures. This could be down to the Apollo and Clytie myth in which Clytie refused to give up hope that Apollo would return.

Native Americans associate sunflowers with new life, sustenance, and harvest because they were among the first to realize you could eat and make oil from sunflower seeds. And when sunflowers die in the wild, they provide vital food for insects, birds, and mammals, so they’re nature’s pantry too.

In China, sunflowers represent longevity, good fortune, and spirit.

And sunflowers are closely associated with happiness, joy, friendship, optimism, and positivity worldwide. This makes them an excellent choice for wedding bouquets, gifts, and decorations.

Harvesting seeds at the end of the sunflower life cycle

Sunflowers are the gift that keeps giving. They’re a constant source of anticipation, joy, excitement, happiness, and food from seed to death!

To harvest sunflower seeds, wait until the back of the head turns brown, then cut it off. You can remove the seeds by rubbing your hand over the center of the flower. Once you’ve harvested all the seeds, wash them in cold water, and leave them to dry overnight. The next day, they’ll be ready to eat as they are, but we prefer to roast them.

Baking sunflower seeds give them a more robust, nuttier flavor, which works great in sweet and savory recipes. To roast them, preheat your oven to 300 degrees, lay your seeds on a cookie sheet, and bake for half an hour.

Or, if you’d like to share your sunflower bounty, you can scatter the seeds in your backyard for the birds and squirrels to feast on.

How to preserve sunflowers

If, like Clytie, you can’t face the prospect of saying goodbye to your sunflower, we have a handy tip for you: dry them. By drying your sunflower blooms, you can preserve them in all their glory for years to come. All you have to do is hang your sunflower/s in a dark, dry place for three weeks. Closets, spare rooms, and attics are all great spots. Once the three weeks are up, you’re dried sunflowers will be ready to use as decorations, keepsakes, and gifts.

Ten fun facts about sunflowers

We think it’s time for some fun facts, don’t you? OK, then, let’s dive in!

1. The world record for the tallest sunflower is held by Hans-Peter Schiffer, a gardener from Karst, Germany. His sensational sunflower measured a whopping 30.1 feet, 10 feet higher than the average American house! The sunflower was so tall that the local fire department had to be called in to measure it.
2. Sunflowers can contain as many as 2,000 seeds.
3. The Vincent van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam has a gigantic sunflower maze in front of its main entrance hall. This bright yellow labyrinth honors Vincent van Gogh’s iconic sunflower paintings and contains roughly 125,000 sunflower plants.
4. There are 70 different species of sunflowers. However, the United States’ rarest sunflower is “Schweinitz’s sunflower,” a small, elusive plant native to North and South Carolina.
5. In France, sunflowers are called “tournesol,” which translates to “turns with the sun.”
6. Don Pettit, a green-thumbed U.S. astronaut, took a handful of sunflower seeds to the International Space Center in 2012.
7. Believe it or not, some people are terrified of sunflowers. This irrational fear is known as helianthophobia.
8. Sunflower seeds and oil contain high vitamin D levels, often called the “sunshine vitamin.” Vitamin D is proven to strengthen the immune system, reduce depression, and aid weight loss.
9. Most people only eat the seeds, but every part of the sunflower is edible, from the stem to the bright yellow petals.
10. The sunflower has been the state flower of Kansas since 1903.

Why is it important for children to learn about nature?

Whether hunting for bugs in the backyard or planting sunflowers in the school garden, connecting with nature benefits children in so many ways – both physically and emotionally.

Let’s take a look at how nature positively impacts children’s health, development, and well-being:

Spending time in nature is proven to improve children’s concentration and mood.

Studies show that people who spend time outdoors have lower levels of the hormone cortisol, which is heavily linked with anxiety and depression.

Children who regularly play outdoors have greater levels of physical fitness than those who don’t.

Spending time outdoors allows children to learn about various scientific topics, including plant life cycles, photosynthesis, taxonomy, insects and animals, ecology, and weather.

Children who develop a love of science early on are more likely to excel in STEM – a rapidly growing industry – later in life.

What is Rosa Parks Day?

Rosa Parks Day is marked each year on 4^th February, the day of her birthday. On this day, schools and colleges worldwide will explore the impact Rosa Parks made in the Civil Rights Movement for Black Americans.

Rosa Parks Day is also celebrated on December 1^st when she was arrested.

What are vital facts about Rosa Parks for kids?

• On the 4th of February 1913, Rosa Parks was born in Alabama. Her father worked as a carpenter, and her mother as a teacher.
• Rosa Parks’s parents separated when she was a little girl. She and her brother, Sylvester, moved to Montgomery, the capital of Alabama, with their mother.
• Rosa Parks was a hardworking student at school. However, she had to stop studying when she was 16 to look after her ill grandmother and her mother.
• She married Raymond Parks when she was 19 years old. She was able to resume her studies and achieve her high school diploma.
• Rosa Parks then became a tailor.
• She was arrested in 1956 after refusing to move seats on a bus so a white person could sit in her place.
• Rosa Parks’s arrest meant she lost her job and had to look for a new one. Her husband also had to move jobs because he could not talk about his wife or her legal case at work. They made a new home in Hampton, Virginia.
• Rosa Parks would then become a spokesperson for the Civil Rights Movement.
• Later, she wrote a book about the events of her life
• Rosa Parks was 92 years old on her death.
• The date of the death of Rosa Parks was 24th October 2005.

What is segregation?

If you were a Black person in 1955, your life would likely be full of hardships. Black and white people were kept apart (segregated) on public transport, restaurants, parks, and public toilets. Children were also educated separately in some states, and the schools were often poorly funded and inadequately equipped.

Furthermore, some states did not allow Black people to vote.

Why is Rosa Parks famous?

The events of 1^st December 1955 would be necessary to the civil rights movement. Here’s what happened.

• On the 1^st of December 1955, Rosa Parks finished work and got on the bus home. The bus seats were allocated according to whether you were white or Black. She took a seat on the first row intended for Black people.
• All the ‘whites only’ seats were taken by the third stop on the bus route. So, the white bus driver stepped back onto the bus to tell Rosa Parks and the three other Black people in the front row to move back so that the white people could take their seats.
• The three other people agreed to the bus driver’s request. However, Rosa Parks refused to move seats. The driver threatened to call the police, and Rosa Parks told him to go ahead. She was arrested and detained.
• The next day, three of Rosa Parks’s friends paid her bail, which meant she was allowed to leave the cells.
• Rosa Parks and her friends then began to put in place a bus boycott. This meant that all Black people would not take any buses until changes were made to the current policy of segregating seats. Martin Luther King Jr. also became involved.
• For the next 381 days in Montgomery, Black people boycotted the buses. Some white people also joined them. Many walked to their destination instead.
• The bus boycott that Rosa Parks initiated finally ended on 20^th December 1956, when the government passed laws to stop bus segregation.
• Rosa Parks’s act was pivotal to the progress of the civil rights movement and would lead to her development as a critical civil rights activist.

Music can improve our mood and comfort us when times are hard; this is equally true for children. Research has shown that listening to music can reduce anxiety and make us happier. Empowering songs with a positive message can make a big impression on kids, but there are millions of songs to choose from.

Do you remember songs from your childhood? These can live in our memories forever and take us back to a particular place and time. So many people make solid emotional connections with the music they listen to, which can also be used to focus the mind while studying.

Upbeat and up-tempo tunes can motivate us when working out or doing chores. Elementary teachers can use songs to encourage a growth mindset in their students.

Here are our favorite inspirational songs that are suitable for preschool age.

Try Everything – Shakira
The lyrics from the movie Zootopia’s soundtrack talk about trying new things and never giving up.

1. Get Back Up Again – Anna Kendrick
2. Don’t Hide Your Magic – Emily Arrow
3. Count On Me – Bruno Mars
4. Don’t Stop Believin’ – the cast of Glee
5. The Climb – Miley Cyrus
6. Courage to Change – Sia
7. Brave – Sarah Bareilles
8. Rise – Andra Day
9. How Far I’ll Go – Auli’i Cravalho
10. Here Comes the Sun – The Beatles
11. This Is Me – Keala Settle and The Greatest Showman Ensemble
12. Roar – Katy Perry
13. Unwritten – Natasha Bedingfield
14. What a Wonderful World – Louis Armstrong
15. I Will Survive – Gloria Gaynor
16. Fight Song – Rachel Platten
17. Stronger – Kelly Clarkson
18. Good Job – Alicia Keys
19. Show Yourself – Idina Menzel and Evan Rachel Wood
20. Shake It Off – Taylor Swift
21. Everything is Awesome – Tegan and Sara feat. The Lonely Island

I Hope You Dance – Lee Ann Womack

What are Lesson Objectives?

The teacher wants the children to have learned or achieved a lesson objective (or a teaching objective or a learning objective) by the end of a lesson. It’s also known as a WALT (We Are Learning To). Learning objectives are often differentiated depending on students’ ability levels, and they should be such that children can see what they need to do to progress.

Ideally, a learning objective should be something that children didn’t know before the start of the lesson. That way, teachers can avoid any repetition in their classes. They should also look to continue from work done in the previous study and end where the next one is due to begin. Because of this, some teachers like to use planning overviews to help them organize their learning objectives.

But what are lesson objectives? Here are some examples of teaching objectives that you could use, depending on the subject that is being taught:

• After a lesson about bullying, students should be able to explain the difference between a friend and a bully by writing a short paragraph. This should include a thesis statement as well as a call to action.
• Students will be able to describe their scientific observations after a week-long terrarium unit accurately.
• After a lesson on storylines and narrative, students should be able to identify the rising action, climax, and falling action on a plot diagram.
• Once students have finished an independent reading activity, they should be able to recommend the book that they read to other students and create a single-paragraph book review.
• Students can summarise their day’s events in a personal journal once they have learned reflective writing.

How to write Lesson Objectives

So they’re aware of what is expected of them during the lesson, children need to know the lesson objective. Because of this, teachers will often have the lesson objective written on the board before their class starts. As well as this, teachers usually write the lesson objective on their lesson plan to keep track of what they’re teaching their children.

Looking for guidance on how to write lesson objectives? Different schools, subjects, and teachers may all have slightly varying approaches. So if you’re new to teaching or need a refresher, we’ve got some general guidance for creating a practical lesson objective.

When planning a lesson, you need to establish a clear objective. This objective must be clear to all the pupils. They’ll need to know the following:

WHAT they are learning.

WHY they are learning it.

HOW it links to their more expansive learning.

Ideally, lesson objectives should be SMART: Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relative, and Timely. Only at the end of the lesson, or series of studies, will you know for sure if your lesson objective was specific enough to be measured through some form of assessment.

Lesson objectives should also be specific statements of what learners can do by the end of the lesson. They are not the activities or outcomes of the study but the learning gained from those activities and products.

To know how to write a lesson objective, you need to be clear about what you want pupils to be able to do or know by the end of the lesson. You also need to know their prior learning. This will help you to design a learning sequence in your planning that takes them from what they already know (or can do) to the next level.

Once you know your learning needs, you can formulate your lesson objective. It’s also a good idea to keep the primary national curriculum handy to ensure your lesson objective corresponds with the aims set for your year group and the subject you’re teaching.

As we’ve already mentioned, a great way to frame your lesson objective is to use the initialism WALT or ‘We are learning to….”. The key to writing reasonable goals is to keep them clear and challenging enough for all learners.

Step 1: Identify the noun or noun phrase for what you what the children to learn.

e.g., adjectives

Step 2: Use Bloom’s Taxonomy to decide on the level of learning.

e.g., comprehension

Step 3: Identify a measurable verb from Bloom’s Taxonomy.

e.g., describe

Step 4: Add additional information to add context to the learning.

e.g., We are learning to express a cave using adjectives and explain our ideas.

Here’s a handy table of sample verbs to help you with choosing a measurable verb:

Knowledge	Comprehension	Application	Analysis	Synthesis	Evaluation
define identify label list match name recall recognize record relate repeat select state	classify compile conclude discuss describe explain express give examples identify interpret recognize summarize translate	apply calculate demonstrate develop interpret locate operate perform practice predict present report use	analyze calculate categorize classify compare contrast determine differentiate distinguish examine outline test	arrange assemble compose construct design develop diagnose manage organize plan propose relate summarize	assess compare critique decide determine establish evaluate judge measure rate recommend select

Why is cohesion necessary?

Cohesion means that writing is well structured with linked ideas that follow a logical pattern. Sentences and paragraphs flow smoothly and are written in the same tense, meaning the piece is fluid and makes sense.

Children need to learn about cohesion, which builds literacy and creative writing skills.

Cohesion is essential as:

• It teaches children how to order and structure sentences and paragraphs
• It means related ideas are kept together and flow logically from one to another
• It helps children express their ideas in a way that the reader will clearly understand

How can cohesion be achieved?

To achieve cohesion, children must be able to select appropriate nouns, verbs, adjectives, and adverbs for a sentence to make sense.

They must then write appropriate sentences which organize their ideas and follow a logical sequence.

There are four main types of sentences that children can choose from:

Statements – convey information

Questions – ask something and usually end with a question mark

Commands – give instructions or tell you to do something

Exclamations – typically begin with ‘What’ or ‘How,’ includes a verb, and can end with an exclamation mark

What are cohesive devices?

Cohesive devices are techniques that can be used to help create cohesion. Some examples of these are:

Adverbials

Expressing place, time, or manner, adverbials can help create cohesion in or across paragraphs. Take a look at this example:

Without adverbials:

“Tim left home. He realized he had forgotten his homework.”

With adverbials:

“Tim left home early in the morning. Later that day, he realized he had forgotten his homework.”

The adverbial of time keeps the sentences in a logical order and makes it easier for the reader to follow the text.

Ellipsis

Ellipsis is another cohesive device that can improve the flow of a sentence. Ellipsis refers to removing superfluous words, as the meaning can be inferred from the preceding clause. For example:

Without ellipsis:

“If James listens to music, he will have to dance to the music.”

With ellipsis:

“If James listens to music, he will have to dance.”

In this case, the sentence with an ellipsis avoids repeating words but still makes sense.

Repetition

Repetition can also be a cohesive device to highlight or emphasize important information. For example:

“Peter was running late. He had promised not to be late this time. If only he could get to places on time!”

In this example, the repetition of the adjective/adverb ‘late’ helps create a sense of urgency across the sentences.

Pronouns

Using pronouns in a sentence allows you to refer back to a noun without repeating it. For example:

Without pronoun:

“Billy listened to music while sitting in Billy’s car.”

With pronoun:

“Billy listened to music while sitting in his car.”

In this example, using a pronoun helps the sentence flow smoothly while still making sense.

This is also known as an anaphoric reference. A cataphoric connection is the opposite of this, referring to something later in a text. For example:

“Jess couldn’t wait to see him, but Jack would not be back until next week.”

In this case, the pronoun ‘him’ refers to Jack.

Bone and Skeleton Facts

Where is the most prominent bone in the body?

The femur, or the thigh-bone, is the longest and largest bone in the human body. It is usually around 19.9 inches long.

Where is it in the body?

It can be found in the leg, measuring from the hip down to the knee area.

The second-biggest bone is a bit further below that. The subsequent most prominent bone is the tibia or the shin-bone. This is typically about 16.9 inches long. Then there’s the fibula, which is about an inch shorter at 15.9 inches. The fibula is found in the lower leg.

The most significant bone in the arm is the humerus or the upper arm bone. This bone is generally about 14.4 inches long.

Kids vs. adults

Babies have more bones than adults, though they are, of course, much, much smaller. Babies have around 300 bones, but adults have about 206. Some of these baby bones are made of a firm tissue called cartilage, which is softer than bone. As kids grow, some of this cartilage hardens and turns to bone. Some of this bone then fuses to form larger bones.

Children’s bones continue to grow as they get older. They are also more flexible. Their bones won’t stop growing until their late teens or early twenties. Adult bones are more brittle and are more likely to break, whereas children’s bones can sometimes bend. Children heal faster than adults, and their bones can be reshaped.

Children have these things called ‘growth plates’ at the end of long bones in their arms and legs. If they stay open, then you can still grow.

Bones gain in density until adults turn 30 years old. After this, the thickness can decline if you don’t get enough vitamins (A, K, and D) and calcium. Exercise can also help with bone density.

How can I protect my bones?

• Wear a helmet when riding a bike or playing sports where you can hit your head. If you’re riding a scooter, roller skates, or even skateboarding, it’s essential to wear a helmet and consider wearing elbow and knee pads too. Wearing them absorbs some of the shocks when you fall and can mean you hurt yourself less.
• Staying active can strengthen your bones too. Walking, running, dancing… whatever ways of moving you enjoy the most!
• Many dairy products, like milk and cheese, are chock-full of calcium. You can also take multivitamins with calcium and other vitamins to help your bones grow and stay strong. Soy milk, almonds, and many leafy green veggies like kale and broccoli also have calcium.

What are bones made up of, and how do broken bones heal?

Adult bones are made up of four things:

• The top layer is called the periosteum. This is a membranous tissue that covers your bones’ surface. It’s essential for repairing and growing bones.
• Then there’s compact (or complex) bone. This layer is heavy and very dense. It gives the bone strength. This is the part you see when you look at a skeleton.
• There’s also cancellous (or spongy) bone. There are lots of layers of this spongy bone. The spaces in the cancellous bone are full of blood vessels and bone marrow. Red blood cells, some white blood cells, and platelets are made. Bone marrow is thick and jelly-like, and its job is to make blood cells.

Bones are made out of a protein called collagen. A mineral called calcium phosphate makes the framework of the bones hard and strong. Bones store calcium and release some into your blood if other body parts need it.

If you break a bone, blood vessels form in the area as quickly as possible to help the healing process to start. Within three weeks, collagen forms to hold the broken bits of bone in place. The damaged surfaces bind together to create new bone. Sometimes this new bone can be even more potent than the original bone!

Collagen is constantly replenishing itself. This means that you have a completely new skeleton roughly every seven years!

Where are the most bones in the body?

There are 54 bones in an adult hand! In addition, in your fingers, wrists, and hand, many smaller bones move together to make it possible for you to write, play instruments, and even use controllers to play video games!Top of Form

Are teeth bones?

While teeth contain calcium and minerals like bones, they don’t have collagen. This means that they do not count as bones. They are, however, still a part of your skeleton.

Is the funny bone natural?

You don’t have a bone called the funny bone, no. Instead, it’s something called the ulnar nerve inside your elbow. If you hit it, it makes you feel a strange tingly, prickly pain.

Other minor parts of the body

We now know the answer to the question ‘Where is the smallest bone in the body?’ but what about other most minor body parts?

The little organ in the human body is the pineal gland. It can be found near the middle of your brain. It’s the human body’s most minor endocrine gland. The pineal gland’s job is to produce melatonin. Melatonin is a hormone that affects how we sleep. It also reacts to seasonal changes too. It’s called the pineal gland because it’s shaped like a little pinecone.

The smallest blood vessels in the body are capillaries. They also have the thinnest walls. Capillaries connect veins and arteries. They can be as small as 5-10 micrometers wide. Each adult human being contains about 10 billion capillaries. If these were laid next to each other in a line, they would stretch to about 25,000 miles!

The tiniest muscle in the human body is the stapedius. This muscle is connected to the stapes bone and contracts to pull back the stapes and protect your inner ear from thunderous noises. The stapedius is only about 1 millimeter in size. This muscle also stops your voice from sounding too loud in your head.

What is a Newspaper?

A newspaper is printed on paper and disseminated, typically once daily or weekly. It gives information and opinions written by journalists about current events and news. Newspapers usually report on various topics, including current events, politics, celebrity news, crimes, sports, and popular opinions.

What is a Newspaper Report?

A newspaper report is a news story that’s found in a newspaper. Its purpose is to inform the readers about what’s happening worldwide. A single newspaper report will usually focus on a specific event that has just happened.

Most newspaper reports aim to be objective and present the information without bias. This means they shouldn’t take sides and should give the information to the reader, leaving them to decide their own opinion about it. However, this is not always the case.

Newspaper reports also follow a specific structure and have key features. For example, they will always have a headline, a short introduction, and the article’s main body. They sometimes use images and visuals too.

Types of Newspaper Reports

Now that we know the answer to ‘what is a newspaper report?’, we can look at different types of newspaper reports.

There are several types of newspapers, which are divided between the newspaper articles they publish.

Editorial columns and opinion articles

These are pieces by opinionated writers, often celebrities and experts in other specialist fields, and they are often written to inform and entertain. Columnists develop a style of their own through vocabulary choices and rhetorical devices.

Tabloid newspaper articles

Tabloids tend to have shorter sentences and paragraphs and use more basic vocabulary. This style’s reports are sensationalized, use emotive language, and may focus more on celebrities and gossip.

Five Fun Facts about Newspapers

1. Julius Caesar commissioned the very first record of a newspaper in 59BC. It was a daily list of announcements carved into metal or stone and publicly displayed.
2. Across the globe, more than 24 billion newspapers are published every year. That’s a lot of ink!
3. On July 1, 1822, the first Gujarati newspaper, the Bombay Samachar, was published in Bombay. This is now the longest-running and oldest print newspaper today!
4. Newspapers often include puzzles and games. The first crossword in a British newspaper was published in the Sunday Express on November 2, 1924.
5. Newspapers are a trendy read! Nearly 105 million people read the newspaper in print or online daily in the UK alone, and more than 110 million adults read the Sunday newspaper.

Top Tips for Newspaper Articles

1. Write an eye-catching headline.

Make your headline short and snappy with a critical observation about the news story. Make sure this title matches the article’s tone and is informative to the topic you’re writing about. Lots of newspaper headlines use puns to make them more memorable, too.

2. Be direct.

Newspaper articles are an example of non-fiction writing, as they report actual events that have happened recently or in the past. You must keep your writing direct and concise, including factually correct information. Lots of people skim-read newspapers to find out the events that happened, so it’s essential to keep your writing direct and easy to read at a glance.

3. Write in the third person.

Writing in the third person is from the third-person point of view, or outsider looking in and using pronouns like he, she, it, or they. Writing in the third person also helps to make the newspaper report more objective and less personal. For example, if you use the first person, you naturally use the pronouns ‘I,’ ‘me,’ or ‘my.’ This invites the writer to share their opinion, which newspaper reports shouldn’t do.

4. Use reported speech.

Many journalists (writers of newspaper reports) will gather quotes from the people involved in the event they’re writing about. This helps to make their newspaper report appear more credible to the reader and often provides new insight. If you use quotes to make your report more interesting, don’t forget to use reported speech by using speech marks!

5. Think about the 5 W’s when writing.

The 5 W’s are who, what, why, where, and when. Who is involved in the story? What happened? Why did it happen? Where did it happen? When did it happen? These five questions will help you plan and structure your newspaper article and ensure that you tell the whole story.