Earth Day recycled trash kids crafts: Decoder spy rings, printable secret codes | Examiner.com

For Earth Day or America Recycles Day how about cool recycled trash kids crafts? Here are free printable secret codes with patterns for decoder spy rings made out of recycled junk. Spy stuff was haute kid culture when I was young. Decoder spy rings are part Rosetta Stone cum Rubix Cube with retro 1950s flair. Secret codes are heaven for puzzle enthusiasts and the decoder spy rings of yore make a comeback regularly!  Earth Day recycled trash kids crafts: Decoder spy rings, printable secret codes | Examiner.com

History activities: Historical reenactment in living history wax museum lessons | Examiner.com

Spring means different things to different people and for me it's a time to prepare for summer historical reenactments. I'm a history nerd. So it saddens me to hear people say they hate history. But I don't blame them--those who dislike it usually weren't taught history properly. Their only contact with history was via boring textbooks, uninspiring paper and pencil lesson plans and rote memorization of facts. Nothing could be more antithesis to the way history should be learned.  History activities: Historical reenactment in living history wax museum lessons | Examiner.com

Free printable Passover kids crafts, Jewish activities on Hebrew Pesach holidays | Examiner.com

Passover or Pesach, is a high celebration in the Jewish Hebrew calendar. Passover is an eight-day holiday, beginning with two days of no work, four days of limited work and ending with two days of no work. The Passover celebration includes several Seder meals, with roast lamb, bitter herbs and matzo bread. Passover, or Pesach commemorates the passing over of the angel of death during the ten plagues of Egypt. God punished the Egyptians for the enslavement of the Hebrews. First born male infants were to die unless the blood of a lamb was put on the lintels and door posts. Passover, or Pesach, is part of Christian calendar as well; it was at the Passover meal that Jesus instituted the Holy Eucharist or communion.   Free printable Passover kids crafts, Jewish activities on Hebrew Pesach holidays | Examiner.com

Free printable Laura Ingalls Wilder book activities: Little House on the Prairie | Examiner.com

If you were a girl growing up in the 1960s and 1970s, you read and loved Laura Ingalls Wilder and her Little House on the Prairie book series. Maybe you were lucky to have the handsome boxed set of Laura Ingalls Wilder books. Then you loved the Little House on the Prairie TV series when it came out. Long before "Pioneer Woman" and settler survival type reality TV shows, there was Laura Ingalls Wilder and her stories about life in the 1880s midwest. Laura Ingalls Wilder fans will be happy to know that a new movie based on the Little House on the Prairie books is in the works at Paramount.   Free printable Laura Ingalls Wilder book activities: Little House on the Prairie | Examiner.com

Vintage Valentines Day gifts for women, distinctively different presents with a nostalgic, retro flair

Sick of the stereotypical Valentines Day gifts of card, candy and flowers? Want to get your lady something really special? Here are distinctively different Valentines Day presents for women. These are presents to impress her plus win you brownie points for being cultured and creative. First, ditch mainstream stores, Go off the beaten path to local antiques stores, consignment shops, secondhand retailers, even Good Will. Seriously, you'll find distinctive Valentines Day gifts reasonably priced.  Valentines Day gifts for women, distinctively different presents to impress | Examiner.com

Martin Luther King Jr. Day printables, civil rights worksheets, lesson plans

Martin Luther King, Jr. was born on January 15 which is celebrated as Martin Luther King, Jr Day the third Monday in January--Jan. 19, 2015. Teachers and homeschool parents, here are free printable lesson plans on MLK Jr., to teach children about this brave civil rights champion. For Black History Month, here are  Martin Luther King Jr. Day printables, civil rights worksheets, lesson plans | Examiner.com

Chinese New Year of the Monkey, Spring Festival, Lantern Festival party planner | Examiner.com

Chinese New Year of the Monkey begins Feb. 8, 2106. The Chinese zodiac is distinguished by 12 animals. 2016 is the Year of the Monkey and each year celebrates a different animal--rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, goat, monkey, rooster, dog and pig. Here are activities and ideas for parents to explore Chinese traditions.  Chinese New Year of the Monkey, Spring Festival, Lantern Festival party planner | Examiner.com

Chinese New Year of the Sheep lesson plans, party activities for kids | Examiner.com

Chinese New Year, also called the Spring Festival, begins late January or early February on the western calendar. CNY 2015 starts Feb. 19. It's Year of the Sheep or Goat. Here are easy, inexpensive ideas to throw a Chinese New Year festival in a school classroom or at homeschool or with your family. Sheep (goat) themed activities are included.  Chinese New Year of the Sheep lesson plans, party activities for kids | Examiner.com

Epiphany Magi history: Who were the Bible Wisemen, the Three Kings of the Christmas nativity

 Epiphany is a holiday observed in Catholic, Byzantine and Orthodox Christian faiths, Epiphany celebrates the visit of the three wisemen to the Holy Family in Bethlehem. In the Bible, the wisemen are also referred to as Magi (plural of"Magician"). Epiphany is also called Three Kings Day, or in Spanish, Dia de Reyes. Who were these wisemenThese three wisemen each came from a different country and none were Jewish. They were most likely Persian, Egyptian, Ethiopian or Turkish. The Christmas carol says "We three kings of Orient are" but none of the Magi were Oriental or Asian (from China, Japan or the Far East. Oriental means "eastern" (western is "occidental")--Orient referred to anywhere east of the Mediterranean and also the Middle East.  Epiphany Magi history: Bible Wisemen, Three Kings of Christmas nativity | Examiner.com

Veterans Day: WWII vet Kenneth Spilman got final rest in beloved Arlington

Does it sometimes seem, reading the news, that world is going to hell in a handbag? Well here's a Veterans Day story that might change that nihilistic mindset. A World War II veteran got his last wish. And it was simple, poignant one: WWII vet Kenneth Spilman got his final wish, to rest in peace in his beloved Arlington National Cemetery. Good Morning America reported Nov. 11, that Mr. Spilman was the unofficial caretaker and wreath-layer at Arlington. Even in his late 80s, the WWII vet continued to journey to Arlington National Cemetery from his home in Reston, Virginia. Spilman believed that Arlington was the greatest place on earth. He was the "Veterans Affairs" representative for the dead. On Veterans Day, Memorial Day, whenever he could, the WWII vet would visit. Spilman tended their graves, kept them company and mourned them, especially the newbies. Mr. Spilman had a special spot in his heart for the "residents" of Section 60--the spot where the newly dead are buried. Many are mere kids fresh from Iraq and Afghanistan--just as the WWII vet was a lad in the Army motorcycle police in Europe 70 years ago.Veterans Day: WWII vet Kenneth Spilman got final rest in beloved Arlington | Examiner.com