Carolyn’s Nation
Carolyn has just started playing Nation States, a simulation where you are the leader of a country. Each day you make a decision about a political issue that has come to a head. Since she can’t read yet, I read, summarize, and/or interpret the brief statements made by delegates about each position. It’s a fascinating dip into politics and democracy for both of us. Since she recently decided that clothing should be optional in her country, her encyclopedia entry now includes the following sentence.
The government is seen to favor Catholics, citizens can be frequently spotted going about their business stark naked, the tenet of free speech is held dear, and the cat is a protected species.
It’s quick, easy, and thought-provoking. Every couple of days we log in and check the issues waiting for decisions. For each issue, short statements are made by fictional members of opposing viewpoints. Carolyn picks to side with one of them or abstain.
This is a complex simulation designed for adults, so I have the ominous feeling it’s going to blow up in my face one day. In the meantime, however, it’s a fascinating informal way to explore politics. 
Nation States was created by author Max Barry. Read his humorous writing about an encounter with the UN, or visit the Nation States home page.
Barbie’s Teeth
A new collection of games on the Mattel web site allow kids to “try out” (sort of) various careers. While picking up crayons may not be the essence of teaching, the games are original and the themes are appealing. If you start on the “games” page (link below), the advertising is minimal. You can create an account and enter secret codes to unlock extra pets or extra dentist tools, but they’re not as imperative as they seem.
If you’ve ever dreamed of brushing Barbie’s teeth, now’s your chance.
Mattel has also streamlined their general games portal, which gives relatively easy access to American Girl, Polly Pocket, Barbie, and other games for various ages. Visit them at Mattel Games
Pen vs. Sword
It’s true, the pen is mightier than the sword. 
About a year ago, Tumblr had a service which allows you to compare trends – the popularity of keywords across all their tumblogs. I can’t find the service today, but thought I’d post this graph I created last year. As you can see, the pen (green) was clearly mightier than the sword (blue) in this sample from July 22 – August 5, 2009. Another search (not shown) revealed that the iPhone outstripped both pen and sword.
Since no units are marked to expres the difference, it’s impossible to tell whether thousands of tumblr-using bloggers prefer the pen to the sword, or if it’s only a handful.
Viewpoint: Obama wins Peace Prize
“In less than a year in office, he has transformed the way we look at ourselves and the world we live in and rekindled hope for a world at peace with itself,”
— former Nobel Peace Prize winner Mohamed ElBaradei, director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency
Surprising news – Obama won the Nobel Peace Prize today. Yes, that Nobel Peace Prize. No, this isn’t a misprint. Among 205 nominations, the Nobel committee chose Barack Obama – accomplishments still TBD – as this year’s Nobel Peace Prize winner. As my husband put it, “He hasn’t done anything.”
It’s true. And yet, it’s an insightful choice. Obama hasn’t evidenced a tangible accomplishment, but he has “done something” just by remaining hopeful in a climate of despair and fear.
Virtual Lap Harp
You can really “play” the Virtual Lap Harp. Move your mouse over the strings to hear the notes, or listen to MP3′s of 9 songs played on lap harp. To extend the activity a little, grab a xylophone and play the matching notes. It’s a short and fun musical diversion.
Virtual Lap Harp Click the kids’ harp; it loads faster and is easier to enjoy.
Identifying Fall Leaves
What kind of leaf do you have?
Steve Nix has created an interactive quiz that will lead you directly to the answer. Even the weird leaf we picked up at the library was no problem – it’s a birch. Very satisfying.
About.Com: Tree Leaf Key
More Activities for learning about Autumn:
Project Learning Tree has activities for signs of fall, looking at leaves, a tree life cycle, and more.
Author Beth Harpaz appreciates some of the events of Autumn in the article, Searching for Early Signs of Fall.
Viewpoint: Play
As it turns out, I might be an unschooler. I’m shy of the term, since I’m in favor of the idea of schooling, and the first time I heard the word unschooling it was applied in a derisive manner. Surely I can’t be one of them.
Today’s post, however, isn’t about unschooling. It’s about play. It just happens that my focus quote is by an unschooler. There’s really nothing in her article that links the two. So for now I can remain on the margins of that category.
Play, however, is not something I am in the margins of. There are situations that call for learning to be dry and disconnected, but certainly these should be the sidebars of any learning situation. There’s no substitute for learning which occurs naturally through discovery, curiousity, exploration, and play.
Read more about play:
The Importance of Play from Brookes Publishing
Quotes about Play from the Strong Museum of Play
Peaceful Playgrounds – all about the spaces we use for recess
Playing with Your Child from the Child Development Institute
Maria Montessori: Play is the Work of the Child from the Child Development Institute
Viewpoint: Multitasking
“Your brain may be in trouble.”
News Release from Stanford University
Researchers at Stanford University hoped to learn some productivity tips by studying multitaskers, but they found nothing to emulate. “They can’t keep things separate in their minds,” said lead researcher Eyal Ophir. Colleague Professor Clifford Nass commented, “They’re suckers for irrelevancy.”
The next question, researchers say, is whether multitaskers have an innate tendency towards distraction or if multitasking helps create a distracted brain. That’s a question parents and educators have been debating for years, as the rise of video games, commercials, and “factoids” have continued to chop up children’s attention spans.
Read more below.
Stanford University: Multitasking
–> “It’s an inherent part of the job description.“ ~ Parenting writer Katherine Lee
–> “Staying focused and not fragmented is ‘the next best thing’ to happiness.“ ~ Judith Timson, columnist for The Globe and Mail
–> “Any kind of disruption can make driving dangerous.“ ~ Science Daily, in 2008
–> “We do not learn as well when we are distracted“ ~ Science Daily, in 2006
Home: Sleepover Results
Life at Home: I had a sleepover in Carolyn’s room. Then I fed her cinnamon cereal for breakfast, and now she’s having a crazy reaction. Maybe I mean
Continue Reading August 27, 2009 at 11:26 am Leave a comment
Dolls: A Dolly’s World
A Dolly’s World has an impressive collection of stuff for bears and dolls.
