Stories to Celebrate Brother and Sister Day

The Elder Sister
by
William Bouguereau, 1869

May 2 is Brother and Sister Day! My mother had 11 brothers and sisters so there were stories aplenty of sibling rivalry, household chores gone awry, playing tricks on their strict Irish mother, banding together to help the family during the Great Depression, and more. I’m sure you have your own stories as well. Make sure to write down those family stories; so many are worth remembering.

Here are some folktales and fairytales from around the world to help you celebrate siblings!

STORIES

Alenoushka and Her Brother – Russia
http://tinyurl.com/bbxjkgu

The Brother and Sister – Turkey
http://tinyurl.com/bkkbn5h

The Brother and His Sisters –West Africa
http://tinyurl.com/bdsyyj2 

The Enchanted Stag – Grimm/Germany
https://tinyurl.com/6w8x2ttt 

The Icon’s Warm Bread – Greece
http://tinyurl.com/b5a8m4f

Little Brother and Little Sister – Germany
https://www.pitt.edu/~dash/grimm011.html

The Little Sister: The Story of Suyettar and the Nine Brothers – Finland
http://tinyurl.com/az32zuq

Sivka-Burka - Russian
http://tinyurl.com/a4psurf 

Sister and Brother – Turkey
http://tinyurl.com/a3r2t9r

The Three Brothers - Serbia
http://tinyurl.com/agvodlo

The Two Sisters
http://whisperingbooks.com/Show_Page/?book=English_Fairy_Tales&story=Two_Sisters

Two Brothers – Jewish
https://storiestogrowby.org/story/two-brothers/

Quarrel of the Sun and the Moon - Inuit
https://www.firstpeople.us/FP-Html-Legends/QuarrelOfTheSunAndTheMoon-Eskimo.html

ACTIVITIES

20 Activities for Siblings to Bond, Compete and Cooperate
https://playtivities.com/activities-for-siblings/

BOOKS 

24 Children’s Books About Love and Siblings
https://bookroo.com/books/topics/love/siblings

100 Must Read Books About Siblings
https://bookriot.com/books-about-siblings/

Celebrating Siblings: 50 Mighty Girl Books About Sisters & Brothers
https://www.amightygirl.com/blog?p=11580

SOMETHING EXTRA

Bold Sisters in Fairy Tale Families
https://folklorethursday.com/folktales/bold-sisters-in-fairy-tale-families/

Family Fun – An older blogs with fingerplays, songs, and more on the theme of ‘family.’
https://tinyurl.com/cv6wkmus 

 

Please note, websites change at a rapid pace and weblinks may change or break without notice. I cannot be responsible for redirected or broken links.  At the time of this posting all links were in working order. Thank you for understanding.Karen Chace 2021 ©

This blog post was researched and compiled by Karen Chace. Permission for private use is granted. Distribution, either electronically or on paper is prohibited without my expressed written permission. For permission, please contact me at storybug@aol.com. Of course, if you wish to link to my blog via your website, blog, newsletter, Facebook page or Twitter please feel free to do so; I greatly appreciate your support and personal integrity.

 

 

Learning Together: Educational Resources - Art, Music, Math, and More!

Centennial High School Center Mural

Literacy and Oppression

Used with permission from the artist Glen Davies
View his other amazing works at
 http://www.glencdavies.com/educational

Millions of families around the world are home with their children, protecting themselves and others while we isolate from COVID 19. Although children are out of school educational institutions are encouraging families to continue the learning at home.

Teachers have done what they always do, work incredibly hard for our children; I am sure you already have resources that have been sent directly to you from your individual schools.I have put together a number of additional resources below to supplement what your educators have already shared. At the end of this blog you will also find a link to another blog that offers many resources on long distance entertainment from aquariums to zoos! I hope you find something fun to do together. Stay well and healthy everyone!

ACTIVITIES/CRAFTS

Download Coloring Pages from Over 100 Museums

https://tinyurl.com/wyg8v8u

Easy Nature Craft for Kids

https://tinyurl.com/w29q9lr

Eric Carle Printable Activities

https://tinyurl.com/uvop8og

110 Fun At-Home Activities for Families and Kids

https://tinyurl.com/r7s4c79

Lego Printables and Activities

https://tinyurl.com/rc2rh72

ART LESSONS

12 Free Art Lessons on YouTube Your Kiddos Will Love!

https://tinyurl.com/ruhfceb

Free Printable Mazes from the amazing cartoonist and storyteller Joe Wos.

https://tinyurl.com/utp6je3Free Drawing Classes from Famous Illustrators

https://tinyurl.com/urpxnlw

BOOKS AND MORE

6,000 Historical Children’s Book Online for Free

https://tinyurl.com/ufx4tuz

300,000 Books to Download for Free from the New York Public Library

https://tinyurl.com/suhnajv

Audible.com - For as long as schools are closed, we're open. Kids everywhere can instantly stream an incredible collection of stories, including titles across six different languages…All stories are free to stream on your desktop, laptop, phone or tablet. Explore the collection, select a title and start listening.

https://stories.audible.com/start-listen

EDUCATION

5 Canadian Virtual Field Trips for Fun and Learning

https://tinyurl.com/vu9xcnl

75 Educational Activities for When You’re Stuck Indoors

https://tinyurl.com/yx8bthcg

100 Lego Projects for Kids: Challenges, Instructions, STEM, Games, and More!

https://tinyurl.com/u4zr3ok

Chrome Extensions for Struggling Students

https://tinyurl.com/vj6rqd4

Free Printable Worksheets K-8 – A wide variety of worksheets for various grade levels on an number of subjects.
https://tinyurl.com/tm2nxqo

Learning Without Tears

They are providing free access to online programs supporting handwriting instruction, keyboarding, and early learning skills! Their website is

https://www.lwtears.com/

Maintaining Students’ Motivation for Learning as the Year Goes On

https://tinyurl.com/qkpxqtx

The Parent’s Guide to Google Classroom

https://tinyurl.com/t3cjp7v

Preparing to Teach Online: Webinar for Educators

https://tinyurl.com/trncez3

Scholastic Learn At-Home: Projects to keep kids reading, thinking, and growing.

https://tinyurl.com/u2n97f8

Schools Out Kids Podcasts Are In (Plus Many More Educate-At-Home Resources

https://tinyurl.com/qp5k6eu

Teaching Online

https://tinyurl.com/trncez3

I take no credit for the picture below. I have attempted to find the source online but it has been shared numerous times and I have been unable to track down the person who designed it. If you know please tell me so I can offer proper credit.

 

LAPSIT RESOURCES

27 Lapsit Program Themes form Apples to Zoos – From my own blog, songs, fingerplays, story stretchers to keep the youngest among us entertained.

https://tinyurl.com/trjlkdl

MATH

16 Card Games That Will Turn Your Kids Into Math Aces

https://tinyurl.com/tyk8x5v

64 Awesome Websites for Teaching Math

https://tinyurl.com/rlk32nu

School House Rock

https://tinyurl.com/se7vbzh

MUSIC

Folk Cloud – “This project is focused on original folk and traditional music of the different countries, nations and ethnic groups of the world. Definition of “folk” and “traditional” music in different cultures changes…”

https://tinyurl.com/tbxctyc

The Ultimate List of Online Music Education Games

https://tinyurl.com/vchhsto

READING

Children's Book Authors Are Offering Free Online Videos While Kids Are Home From School

https://tinyurl.com/v6gbsek

Eric Carle Read the Very Hungry Caterpillar

https://tinyurl.com/whqqzfo

Josh Gad of Frozen Reads Books to Kids on Twitter Every Night

https://tinyurl.com/u73cesw

Stay At-Home Read Alouds, Storytimes, Sing-Alongs and More

https://tinyurl.com/srcvg39

Storyline Online – “The SAG-AFTRA Foundation’s award-winning children’s literacy website, Storyline Online, streams videos featuring celebrated actors reading children’s books alongside creatively produced illustrations.”

https://tinyurl.com/yx5lufk2

Websites for Read Alouds and Activities

https://tinyurl.com/ukc8vyo

SPEECH

6 Free Online Speech Therapy Resources

https://tinyurl.com/r2cxscd

STEAM

STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Math) Free Arts Integration Lesson Plans – For grades K-12 fully-developed lessons, assessments, student handouts, PowerPoints and warm-ups.

https://educationcloset.com/arts-integration-lessons/

WRITING

Free Cursive Writing Sheetshttps://tinyurl.com/sp6m5mz

EXERCISE/PHYSICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES

GoNoodle - Movement, yoga, mindfulness videos, downloadable curricular activities, along with off-screen home activities. You can find information about it and join at
https://www.gonoodle.com/good-energy-at-home-kids-games-and-videos/

Kid Yoga Videos https://tinyurl.com/s8k5lue

YMCA – Sixty free online classes from Boot Camp to Yoga.

https://ymca360.org/

GAMES

Dice Games for Family and Kids

https://tinyurl.com/rx4es4h

HAVE SOME FUN MAKING SHADOW PUPPETS

I take no credit for the picture below. I have attempted to find the source online but it has been shared numerous times and I have been unable to track down the person who designed it. If you know please tell me so I can offer proper credit.

LIVE STREAMING COURSES

Disney: Imagineering in a Boxhttps://tinyurl.com/y4zzszr8

Kennedy Space Center – Free online activities and tours. “The videos will pair at-home activities kids can do using everyday items like paper towel tubes and rubber bands to build a rocket.”

https://tinyurl.com/vobgqku
Mindful Schools- Free online mindful classes for kids.

https://tinyurl.com/uoeoxbn

Virtual Marine Biology Camp

https://tinyurl.com/vss9jxb

Weathers Courses for Students K-12

https://tinyurl.com/v2hppz8

MISCELLANEOUS

Make lunchtime fun! How to make fruit and vegetable bug snacks.

https://tinyurl.com/vwr9nfl

Mo Willems on the Lost Art of Being Silly 

https://tinyurl.com/va4bcxa

Arm Chair Entertainment: From Aquariums to Zoos
https://karenchace.blogspot.com/2020/03/arm-chair-entertainment-from-aquariums.html

Please note, websites change at a rapid pace and weblinks may change or break without notice. I cannot be responsible for redirected or broken links.  At the time of this posting all links were in working order. Thank you for understanding.

Karen Chace 2020 ©

This blog post was researched and compiled by Karen Chace. Permission for private use is granted. Distribution, either electronically or on paper is prohibited without my expressed written permission. For permission please contact me at storybug@aol.com. Of course, if you wish to link to my blog via your website, blog, newsletter, Facebook page or Twitter please feel free to do so; I greatly appreciate your support and personal integrity.

Chinese New Year 2020: The Year of the Rat

The Chinese New Year of 2020 falls on January 25th and the festival will last to February 8^th. According to the Chinese zodiac 2020 is a Year of the Rat.

• The rat is the 1st animal in the Chinese Zodiac, an every 12th Chinese new year heralds the start of another year named for this clever animal.
• It has characteristics of an animal with spirit, wit, alertness, delicacy, flexibility and vitality. In Chinese culture, rats were seen as a sign of wealth and surplus. Because of their reproduction rate, married couples also prayed to them for children
• People born in the year of the rat are thought to be generous witty, alert, and flexible. On the other hand, they are also thought to be a bit stubborn and picky.
• The recommended occupations for rats are artist, author, teacher and doctor.

The above information is shared from the following websites:

https://secretserendipity.com/the-year-of-the-rat-2020-chineseastrology
https://holidappy.com/holidays/Printable-Coloring-Pages-for-Year-of-the-Rat-Kid-Crafts-for-Chinese-New-Year

https://www.travelchinaguide.com/intro/social_customs/zodiac/rat/jobs.htm

A well-known legend or origin of the Chinese Zodiac tells the tale of the Jade Emperor who invited the entire animal kingdom to take part in a race. The first 12 animals to cross the river would be assigned a year of the Chinese Zodiac system.

All of the animals were very excited and the news spread quickly. On the day of the race all of the animals gathered at the river and rat won the race. You see, although he was the smallest animal he used his bran and played a little trick! To read the rest of the story click the link below:

https://www.hutong-school.com/origin-chinese-zodiac-why-cats-and-rats-are-sworn-enemies

STORIES

The Cat and the Old Rat – Aesop
http://whisperingbooks.com/Show_Page/?book=Aesops_Fables&story=Cat_And_Old_Rat

The Monkey with the Tom –Tom – Southern India
https://www.pitt.edu/~dash/type0170a.html#kingscote

The Pied Piper of Hamelin - Germany

https://shortstoriesshort.com/story/pied-piper-of-hamelin/ 

You will find another version here:  
https://ofpanthers.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/The-Pied-   Piper-of-Hamelin.pdf

And the poem written by Robert Browning with gorgeous illustrations here.
https://archive.org/details/piedpiperofhamel00brownyctest2

Rat Hall – Scotland
https://www.sacred-texts.com/neu/celt/sfft/sfft83.htm

The Rat Princess - Japan

https://etc.usf.edu/lit2go/134/stories-from-around-the-world/5100/the-rat-princess/

The Rats and Their Daughter - Japan

https://www.pitt.edu/~dash/type2031c.html#japan

The Rat’s Wedding – Northern India
https://www.pitt.edu/~dash/type0170a.html#steel 

The Story of a Monkey – Philippines
https://www.pitt.edu/~dash/type0170a.html#cole

The Story of the Rat and Her Journey to God – Romania

https://www.pitt.edu/~dash/type2031c.html#romania

Why the Rat Kills Cats – Nigeria
https://www.worldoftales.com/African_folktales/Nigerian_folktale_18.html

Why the Woman and Rat Came to Stay in the Same House - Sudan
http://www.southsudanesefolktales.org/?project=how-the-woman-and-the-rat-came-to-stay-in-the-same-house

BOOKS

Gift of Curiosity – Books About the Chinese New Year for Kids

https://www.giftofcuriosity.com/books-about-chinese-new-year-for-kids/

CRAFTS AND ACTIVITIES

Education.com – Make a Chinese Zodiac Mask: Year of the Rat

https://www.education.com/worksheet/article/chinese-zodiac-mask-rat/

Enchanted Learning – Crafts and Activities for the Chinese New Year

https://www.enchantedlearning.com/crafts/chinesenewyear/

First Palette – Chinese Paper Lanterns

https://www.firstpalette.com/craft/paper-lantern.html

Make an Origami Rat

https://www.origami-resource-center.com/chinese-zodiac.html#rat

Printable Coloring Pages: Year of the Rat

https://holidappy.com/holidays/Printable-Coloring-Pages-for-Year-of-the-Rat-Kid-Crafts-for-Chinese-New-Year

FOOD

Food Network – Chinese New Year Recipes

https://www.foodnetwork.com/topics/chinese-new-year

SOMETHING EXTRA

Chinese New Year Taboos

https://www.chinahighlights.com/travelguide/festivals/chinese-new-year-taboos.htm

Please note, websites change at a rapid pace and weblinks may change or break without notice. I cannot be responsible for redirected or broken links.  At the time of this posting all links were in working order. Thank you for understanding.

Karen Chace 2019 ©

This blog post was researched and compiled by Karen Chace. Permission for private use is granted. Distribution, either electronically or on paper is prohibited without my expressed written permission. For permission please contact me at storybug@aol.com. Of course, if you wish to link to my blog via your website, blog, newsletter, Facebook page or Twitter please feel free to do so; I greatly appreciate your support and personal integrity.