plugged in play – It's All Kid's Play

>#292: See If Your Name is a Website

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 00:50:00 +0000

>Type your name into a search engine and add things like .org, .com., and .ca to it to see if there is a website. For example: JeanOram.com.

Hint: If you type your name directly into your browser’s address bar, you could end up going to a ‘bad’ site. Check it out on a search engine first—just to be safe.

Make this a family activity: Check out everyone’s names.

This activity promotes global awareness.

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>#240: Send a Friend a Text Message, Instant Message or Email

Wed, 23 Sep 2009 13:07:00 +0000

>Send a friend or family member a text message, instant message or email. Did you meet a friend over the summer and want to stay in touch? Want to say, ‘hi’, to your mom or dad? Send them a message to let them know you are thinking of them.

Make this a family activity: Everyone chooses someone outside the family to contact and sends their message.

This activity promotes communication, technology and literary skills.

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>#169: Visit Via Webcam

Sat, 04 Jul 2009 13:31:00 +0000

>Do you know someone who lives far away? Use a webcam to visit your cousins, grandparents, friends, aunts, uncles or even your parents.

Make this a family activity: Visit with family.

This activity promotes staying in touch with people.

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>#61: Search for Yourself on the Internet

Wed, 18 Mar 2009 13:13:00 +0000

Use a search engine to look for yourself online. Put your name in quotes like this: “Your Name” and see what comes up. Is it really you, or is it someone else with the same name?

This activity promotes literacy, research and computer skills.

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Research Favourites on the Internet

Thu, 12 Feb 2009 15:28:00 +0000

What is your favourite animal? Your favourite movie? Your favourite person in history? Or maybe you are simply curious about how a pet-friendly restaurant works. Research it! Being curious is the best part of being kid. Feed that curiosity with a little researched info on what interests YOU!

The Internet has become an amazing tool for looking up things you are interested in or curious about. With the help from a parent, do some research on some of your favourite things.

Here are a few safe Internet sites to get you started on your research (these links are also helpful if you have a school project you need to research):

How Stuff Works (A very cool site that explains how things work.)

Info Please (It’s an encyclopedia, atlas, almanac, dictionary, thesaurus and pile of biographies all rolled into one.)

Fact Monster (Like infoplease, only for younger kids.)

Kids Click (A pile of great links all in one place thanks to many wonderful librarians.)

This activity promotes literary and research skills as well as a passion for one’s interests.

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