The Light and Shadow of Nightshade

 You may have heard of the term “nightshade.” It is often associated with poison. But did you know that one of the four types of vegetables belong to the nightshade family? Learn to tell the difference by “eating up” these online activities.

 

CONNECT:

• See the various types of nightshade at https://kids.kiddle.co/Nightshade
• Watch what eatable foods belong to the nightshade family at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xdFSi2csCag
• Hogwarts students learned to plant mandrake, which is a member of the nightshade family. Get the real facts about mandrakes at https://kids.kiddle.co/Mandrake
• Is a tomato a fruit or a vegetable? Explore the controversy at https://youtu.be/9m81GlfA1BE

 

CREATE:

• Play with your nightshade food: potatoes; get the details at https://tinybeans.com/play-with-your-food-10-games-that-use-potatoes/
• Try fun things to make with potatoes at https://stpeterfood.coop/crafts-with-potatoes/
• Get active with tomatoes at https://seedstosuccess.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/HfHK_Tomatoes_Activity_Plan.pdf

 

CARE:

• Deadly nightshade is just that: highly poisonous. Learn how to recognize it at https://www.wildlifetrusts.org/wildlife-explorer/wildflowers/deadly-nightshade
• For centuries, people thought tomatoes were poisonous; find out why at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BBXwTVlwvQ8&t=86s
• Learn how to grow potatoes from a potato at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AzcXXuYBDqg

 

CAREERS:

Not scared about nightshade? Want to follow the light to a career with nightshade? You could be a scientist, a chemist, a doctor, a farmer, a gardener, a cook, a nutritionist, a grocer. Check out some possibilities:

• Vegetable grower: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k2mJHn_I-T0
• A day in the life of a vegetable packing factory: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u5sRBzIqeLc
• The ketchup industry: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nKVGzKoQ8X4
• Jobs in vegetables for the future: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=boaZLAful3I

Piano Fun on the Internet

As a change of pace, here are some fun piano-related activities for families to do on the Internet:

CONNECT:

Watch and listen to this brief history of the piano at https://youtu.be/63snnLQqBLQ

Go into depth about its history at https://www.piano-keyboard-guide.com/history-of-the-piano.html

Find out how the piano works at https://www.ducksters.com/musicforkids/how_the_piano_works.php

Watch how a piano is made at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jAInt7hIZlU

CREATE:

Try these piano inspired music activities including crafts, motor activities and play: https://www.andnextcomesl.com/2016/02/piano-inspired-music-activities-for-kids.html

These piano games help get kids excited about piano lessons: https://fireinsidemusic.com/kid-piano-games/

Play these online games to learn how to read piano notes: https://takelessons.com/blog/learning-piano-notes

CARE:

A piano can be an expensive investment, so here are some factors to consider when buying one: http://www.ptg.org/document//36/

The piano teacher makes a real difference in helping you to learn how to play. Here are tips of the Piano Teachers Federation on choosing the right teacher: http://pianoteachersfederation.org/Choosing_the_Right_Teacher

A piano needs care just like any other musical instrument. Here are tasks you can do at home to keep your piano in good condition: https://www.yamaha.com/en/musical_instrument_guide/piano/maintenance/

CAREERS:

Think of all the steps in involved in piano performance: making and selling and fixing pianos; writing and publishing piano compositions; learning and teaching how to play the piano; performing for competitions and at a workplace; recording and producing piano performances; incorporating piano music in education and health. Any of these careers could be the (piano) key to success.

https://www.careersinmusic.com/