We're All Ears

 

Ears are one of animals’ most important organ – and they come in different sizes and shapes. ‘Ears hoping you will perk up your ears with these online activities.

 

CONNECT:

• Watch how the ear works at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mptjEoHF2aI
• And how do hearing aids work? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cJBjIEUbaeM
• Watch the different kinds of ears that animals have at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qAo3gsDptFM
• Guess which animal hears best – and check your guess at https://www.pbs.org/video/hearing-which-animal-hears-best-vnwtlx/

 

CREATE:

• Make your own animal ear headbands by following the directions at https://kidspot.co.nz/activities/make-your-own-animal-ears-headbands/
• What would you hear differently if your ears were shaped differently? Experiment at https://www.exploratorium.edu/snacks/designer-ears
• Discover how to create your own ear model at https://www.123homeschool4me.com/ear-anatomy-science-project_86/
• Learn some basic sign language signs at http://youtube.com/watch?v=CUy9Dos9264

 

CARE:

• Ears are subjected to lots of conditions: water, sun, even piercing. Here’s some ways to take care of your ears: https://kidshealth.org/en/kids/ear-care.html
• What is hearing loss? And how do you communicate if you can’t hear? Here are some explanations: https://kidshealth.org/en/kids/hearing-impairment.html
• Earwax is healthy – until it builds up too much. Parents can read how to safely clean their children’s ears at https://www.choa.org/parent-resources/everyday-illnesses/ear-cleaning-in-kids
• What are ear infections? What are the symptoms? How do you treat them? Read the answers at https://www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/ear-infections-children

 

CAREERS:

Are you hearing a call for an ear-related career? You could become an ear doctor (audiologist), veterinarian – as well as a sign interpreter, sound engineer, musician, jewelry maker, or even ear piercer

• http://www.listencarefully.org/5-careers-in-hearing/
• https://www.jewelers.org/ja/careers-education/jewelry-careers-guide
• https://www.planitplus.net/JobProfiles/View/715/62
• https://thebestschools.org/careers/jobs-working-deaf-hard-hearing/
• https://www.disabledperson.com/blog/posts/top-10-jobs-for-people-with-hearing-impairments
• And here are 8 jobs that lead to hearing loss – and how to prevent it: https://health.clevelandclinic.org/8-jobs-that-lead-to-hearing-loss-and-how-to-prevent-it/

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Children Relate to Human Characters in Books More Than Animals

 According  to the results from a new study, young children are more likely to learn and apply character lessons from books that feature human characters than from stories that center on human-like animals. In this study, children who read the human story showed increases in altruistic giving, but those who read the anthropomorphic story or a control story showed decreases. Thus, contrary to common belief, realistic stories including humans as the main characters, not anthropomorphic ones, are better for promoting young children’s prosocial behavior. This study is important because it adds to the growing body of research on how picture books with realistic stories and human characters are more likely to transfer real-world knowledge and prosocial behavior to children.

Larsen, N. E., Lee, K., & Ganea, P. A., (2017). Do storybooks with anthropomorphized animal characters promote prosocial behavior in young children? Developmental Science. https://dx.doi.org/10.1111/desc.12590      

Study on children's books that portray animals

Animals with human traits in children's books lead to less-factual learning
A recent study showed that children's books that portray animals with human characteristics hindered factual learning, abstract thinking and conceptual reasoning about animals. "Books that portray animals realistically lead to more learning and more accurate biological understanding," said the study's author Patricia Ganea, a psychologist at the University of Toronto.
Ganea, P.  et al. (2014). Do cavies talk? The effect of anthropomorphic books on children's knowledge about animals. Frontiers in Psychology, 5.
http://journal.frontiersin.org/Journal/10.3389/fpsyg.2014.00283/abstract

Do cavies talk?: The effect of anthropomorphic books on children's knowledge about animals - See more at: http://journal.frontiersin.org/Journal/10.3389/fpsyg.2014.00283/abstract#sthash.fsyrfpDa.dpuf

Do cavies talk?: The effect of anthropomorphic books on children's knowledge about animals - See more at: http://journal.frontiersin.org/Journal/10.3389/fpsyg.2014.00283/abstract#sthash.fsyrfpDa.dpuf

Do cavies talk?: The effect of anthropomorphic books on children's knowledge about animals - See more at: http://journal.frontiersin.org/Journal/10.3389/fpsyg.2014.00283/abstract#sthash.fsyrfpDa.dpuf