Category Archives: Reader Activities

Don’t Be a Rat, Unpack!

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Every week we feature a fun and/or educational activity you can try at home or in the classroom. Today is National Pack Rat Day and like pack rats, some of us tend to collect more belongings than we really need. Here at Heifer International we encourage people to practice Sharing and Caring, one of Heifer’s 12 Cornerstones for Just and Sustainable Development. If you’ve got some things to unpack, here are a few options to lighten your load.

Pack Rat

Photo credit: oddlovescompany.com

  1. Hold a Clothing Swap
    Donating old clothing is helpful, but a swap can make a more direct impact in your neighborhood or organization. Ask participants to bring a few articles of clothing and then have fun haggling over the trades. A swap can also be done with shoes, toys and books.
  2. Upcycle With Style
    Old T-shirts for quilt squares, abandoned toys as planters and plastic grocery bags to make trash cans-Pinterest is filled with DIY intructions. Inventive minds are a powerful tool in caring for the earth. Before you recycle, try to find ways to upcycle the weary and worn things in your cluttered closets.
  3. Give Your Time
    If you have a “load” of time on your hands, why not use it to help others organize their abundant belongings? Or, use it in other meaningful ways like taking a meal to new parents, offering to walk your elderly neighbor’s dog or care for the Earth by picking up trash.

Through cooperation and friendship, there are many ways to share and care. Be creative and get involved in your community. Small acts of kindness will spread, building a large network of giving to Pass on the Gift® of hope, unity and friendship.

Learn how you can spend meaningful time at Heifer

 

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Watch Love Grow on Mother’s Day

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Every week we feature a fun and/or educational activity you can try at home or in the classroom. The U.S. wears a mask of western wealth, but hunger and poverty are still a reality for many communities in the Arkansas Delta and Appalachia. Heifer International is making a difference in our own backyard with the Seeds of Change project.

On Mother’s Day, you can make a difference too. Heifer’s Gift Catalog offers ideas that will impact mothers worldwide and create positive, lasting change. And to present your mom with this alternative gift, make a Mother’s Day card that will let her watch love grow.

Flower Pot Card
Photo credit: karewares.blogspot.com

How to make a growing flower pot card.

What you need:

Follow these steps:

  1. Cut out the flower pot from the printable template.
  2. Once your seed paper is ready, cut out four flowers that are one inch smaller than the width of the flower pot.
  3. Write a message on the first three flowers like “I love you,” or “World’s Best Mom.” (One word on each flower.)
  4. Glue the photo to the fourth flower.
  5. Cut out grass to place at the top of the flower pot, or use the grass template.
  6. Cut a piece of yarn long enough to place all four flowers on its length.
  7. In order of your message, glue (tape or staple) the flowers to the yarn; leaving a small tab at the top to pull the flowers out of the pot when finished.
  8. Glue the bottom of the yarn to the inside bottom of the flower pot.
  9. Glue the flower pot template together, let dry.
  10. Write “Happy Mother’s Day” on the front of the flower pot.

Once you are done, insert the flowers and yarn into the flower pot. When you pull on the yarn tab, the flowers will come out revealing your message and lastly, your photo. Make sure Mom plants her seed paper flowers so she can watch love grow from her Mother’s Day card. Simply place the seed paper flowers into raked ground, cover with about half an inch of soil and keep moist. Germination should take about six to eight weeks.

Learn how Heifer is growing Seeds of Change.

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Mini Pinatas Burst With Fun on Cinco de Mayo

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Every week we feature a fun and/or educational activity you can try at home or in the classroom. To date, Heifer Mexico has helped rural families in 23 states with over 3,000 farm animals, mainly pigs, sheep and dairy cattle.Over the weekend many families in Mexico will celebrate Cinco de Mayo, the anniversary of one victorious battle in the fight for independence from the French. It is a festival of Mexican pride and heritage celebrated with parades, traditional food and of course, a party with family and friends.

Read about Heifer’s work in Mexico.

Mini Pinatas

Photo credit: onecharmingparty.com

Create your own mini pinatas

Paper mache pinatas can be time consuming and messy, but these mini pinatas are a simple, fun activity for kids at a Cinco de Mayo party. They can also be passed out as party favors!

What you need:

  • Paper Cone Cups
  • Colorful Ribbon
  • Hot Glue Gun
  • Colorful Tissue Paper
  • Scissors
  • Candy, etc.

Follow these steps:

  1. Cut the tops off two paper cone cups
  2. Top cone: loop ribbon over and tie a knot, then push through the top hole.
  3. Bottom cone: knot two pieces of ribbon together and push the loose ends through the hole.
  4. Fill the cones with candy and other party favors.
  5. Hot glue the top and bottom cones together.
  6. Use scissors to make fringes with tissue paper.
  7. Decorate the pinata.

Mini Pinatas
Photo credit: onecharmingparty.com

Learn more about Cinco de Mayo

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Help End Hunger and Poverty, Improve the Environment

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Every week we feature a fun and/or educational activity you can try at home or in the classroom. Ending hunger and poverty can not be accomplished without also caring for the Earth, and Heifer International believes achieving environmental sustainability is key. In honor of Arbor Day, try this long bean tepee project in your own backyard. You can improve the environment, create a shady spot to rest and boost your family’s nutrition.

Arbor Day 2013

Photo credit: e-infopages.com


Materials:

  • 6-8 six foot branches or poles
  • Rope
  • Long Bean Seeds
  • Fertilizer

How to Build A Long Bean Tepee

  1. Stake the poles into the ground in a wide circle, leaving an open section for a door.
  2. Then, tie the tops of the poles together with rope.
  3. Plant your long bean seeds around the tepee’s frame.
  4. Water and fertilize the seeds.
  5. After several days, (7-14 to germinate) the seeds will sprout and need to be loosely tied to the poles until they begin to grow up the poles on their own.
  6. With proper watering, sprouts should reach the tepee’s top in about 7-8 weeks.
  7. Trim extra growth as needed and enjoy!

Learn about Heifer’s work toward reforestation

Help families build healthy, sustainable lives worldwide

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Earth Day Dinner With Mother Nature

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Every week we feature a fun and/or educational activity you can try at home or in the classroom. Teaching kids to live healthy, sustainable lives can be a challenge. On April 22, celebrate Earth Day 2013 with an eco-friendly meal and invite Mother Nature to dine with your family.

Earth Day Meal

Photo credit: sheknows.com

How to Prepare an Earth Friendly Meal:

  1. Grow Your Own Food: If you don’t have a green thumb, a few easy-to-grow herbs can help you make tasty treats like mint tea or rosemary bread.
  2. Visit a Farmer’s Market: At your local market, you can find healthy, organic foods and also support local farmers.
  3. Shop Seasonal: If a farmer’s market is unavailable, explore the option of visiting a local farm to pick your own produce. During the trip, explain the planting and harvesting process to your kids.
  4. Reduce Packaging Waste: Foods packaged in plastic and boxes use a lot the Earth’s resources. Start with a simple switch and make your own bread. Artisanbreadinfive.com gives healthy, fast tips for fresh bread.
  5. Use Cloth Napkins: You can turn this step into a project all its own. White cotton napkins, or faded colored napkins, can be naturally dyed using tea. By upcycling old items, excess waste is reduced and creative expression flourishes.
  6. Create a Centerpiece: Pick up extra fruit and colorful vegetables at the farmer’s market to make a “green” centerpiece for your table; you can always eat it later. Rather have flowers? Keep an eye out for wild flowers growing on the roadside or make a bouquet from backyard trimmings.

Visit the Earth Day Network and learn about The Face of Climate Change

See how Heifer cares for the Earth in its projects around the world.

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Discover Power in the Wind

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Every week we feature a fun and/or educational activity you can try at home or in the classroom. April 12, 1934, was named Big Wind Day in honor of the fastest wind speed recorded on Earth at 231 mph. The U.S. held the record until 1996 when a 253.5 mph Australian wind blew it away.

Wind Turbines

Photo credit: hub.jhu.edu

As one of earth’s natural resources, wind power is considered renewable energy. A wind turbine can be used to turn an electrical generator, which creates electricity. This healthier, sustainable technology is growing worldwide with land and off-shore wind farms.

Find out how wind turbines work

Make your own wind turbine!

Materials:

milk carton turbine

Photo credit: tlc.howstuffworks.com

  • empty half-gallon milk carton
  • hammer and nail
  • masking tape
  • pitcher of water
  • string
  1. Using the hammer and nail, punch a hole in the center top of the milk carton.
  2. Also, punch a hole in the bottom right corner on each side of the carton.
  3. Tape the holes with masking tape.
  4. Place a string through the top center hole.
  5. Hang the carton outside where it can freely swing.
  6. Fill the carton with water.
  7. Once you are all set up, pull the tape off one of the corner holes. Observe what happens.
  8. Now, pull the tape off two opposite corners. What happened this time?
  9. Pull the tape off all the corners. What happens?

You have just experienced Isaac Newton’s principle-for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction. The force of the water exiting through one hole makes the milk carton turn. The more holes, the faster it turns.

Learn about wind power and do experiments

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World Health Day Teaches Kids to Relieve the Pressure

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Every week we feature a fun and/or educational activity you can try at home or in the classroom. World Health Day is held on April 7 to celebrate the founding of World Health Organization (WHO) in 1948. The 2013 theme is “Control Your Blood Pressure,” which is not usually associated with children; however, among infants and children hypertension can be linked to kidney problems or excess weight.

Photo credit: timeanddate.com

Photo credit: timeanddate.com

Celebrate World Health Day 2013

WHO’s goal for World Health Day is to raise awareness about high blood pressure, heart attacks and strokes. Healthy habits improve detection and lower risk of hypertension.

  • Know the health consequences of high blood pressure
  • Encourage others to check their blood pressure
  • Establish healthy behaviors
  • Reduce salty foods
  • Stay active

WHO also encourages individuals to share their experiences through social media, host a local discussion group or organize an event, such as an art exhibit or concert, to spread the news.

Kidshealth.org provides health information for parents, teens and kids. The site’s games and activities teach children about growing up, staying fit and eating healthy. ‘How the Body Works’ scavenger hunt is head to toe fun as kids learn how their body functions. Parents and kids can also watch movies, read articles, take quizzes and other activities to learn about heart health.

World Health Day 2013

Photo credit kidshealth.org

Heifer International project participants learn how to live healthier lives by eating more nutritious foods and improving living conditions. When participants receive an animal, or other gifts like seeds or trees, they also receive training on how to successfully care for that gift. As they begin to sell milk, eggs, cheese, honey, meat and wool, they reap the benefit of increased income and improved diets. Some also share with their neighbors when they have extra.

Join Team Heifer to create a healthier world

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Earth Hour 2013: I Will If You Will Challenge

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Every week we feature a fun and/or educational activity you can try at home or in the classroom. I Will If You Will is an Earth Hour campaign to encourage positive action for the environment. It empowers individuals, communities and organizations to share a commitment to the planet locally and globally.

Earth Hour Challenge

Photo credit: earthhour.org

The challenge is easy: simply make a promise to do something, big or small, and get a certain number of people to agree to commit to an ongoing action for the environment beyond observing Earth Hour. You set the required number of people to accept the challenge, then promise to do something once the challenge is met. Every challenge can make a difference.

Create or accept your own I Will If You Will challenge

If you accept or create challenge, we’d love to hear what it is and/or how it went in the comments!

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A Simple Project Teaches Importance of Irrigation

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Every week we feature a fun and/or educational activity you can try at home or in the classroom. Water is a vital resource for agriculture, sanitation and for all human existence. Yet 780 million people do not have access to clean water. In recognition of World Water Day on March 22, Heifer International is highlighting the need for those struggling to emerge from poverty to have reliable access to water.

Garden at Heifer International's Overlook Farm
Vivienne Wychorski holds up a carrot at Overlook Farm in Rutland, Mass., to show volunteer Elizabeth Joseph (right). Photo courtesy of Heifer International

 

Many countries around the world, and states such as Arizona and Nevada, do not receive adequate rainfall to sustain crops. These dry areas may have lakes and rivers, which can provide water for crops, but farmers must first transport water from the natural source. A fun, team irrigation project can help kids understand how farmers have solved this problem.

Photo credit: peacepalacelibrary.nl

Photo credit: peacepalacelibrary.nl

What You Need:

  • Garden or Plants
  • Watering Can
  • Garden Hose
  • Garden Spigot
  • Inflatable Wading Pool
  1. If possible, find an outdoor garden with growing plants. Place the water-filled wading pool about 20-30 feet away.
  2. Gather your group around the garden and ask the kids to pretend there is not enough rain to water the plants where they live. The pool will serve as a pretend nearby lake.
  3. Have the kids work together, suggesting ways to supply the garden with water using only the tool of a watering can.
  4. Once they decide to carry water from the “lake” to the garden, discuss the method’s disadvantages (heavy, water spills, tiring, etc.).
  5. Now it’s time to show the group a better way to irrigate crops. Explain how farmers store water in tanks instead of only relying on natural water sources.
  6. Have a volunteer attach a garden hose to the water spigot, then run the hose to the garden. Compare the garden hose to pipes which farmers run through their fields to quickly irrigate crops without wasting water.

See Complete Irrigation Project

Find Out More About World Water Day

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Kids are Absolutely Incredible

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Every week we feature a fun and/or educational activity you can try at home or in the classroom. Absolutely Incredible Kid Day is an annual holiday created by Camp Fire USA to build kid’s self esteem through encouragement and inspiration.

AIKD Logo

Photo courtesy of campfireusawmc.org

At Heifer we want to commend some of our own kids (young goats) on their incredible work worldwide. A dairy goat can supply a family with up to several quarts of nutritious milk a day and extra milk can be sold or used to make cheese, butter or yogurt. Families also use goat manure to fertilize gardens. With the help of goats, families in Nepal, Haiti and other countries lift themselves out of poverty.

Make Your Own Goat Mask

Materials:

  • Card Stock
  • Printer
  • Scissors
  • String or Yarn
Goat Mask

Photo courtesy of artisthelpingchildren.org

Print out the goat mask on card stock paper. Cut out the mask and the black section of the eyes. Make slits on both sides of the mask. Cut two pieces of string and knot one end of each string through the slits. Then, secure the mask by tieing the other ends of the string for the child’s head size.

Find out more about how goats are helping families around the world.

Do you have an incredible kid? Submit a photo of your child being incredible by emailing media@heifer.org and Heifer will post the photos to our blog.

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