The Ironic Story Behind My Sweet Bessie Van
Eight to ten years ago, back when I lived in a South Durham Home Owner's Association (HOA), my neighbor across the street complained about the chalk drawings on our driveway, then my Obama signs, then our vegetable garden - all of which resulted in violation letters and my presence before the HOA board of directors to defend my actions…
Halgo European Deli and Groceries
“After providing a uniquely Polish experience in Durham, NC, for 12 years, Halgo European Deli has closed it’s doors. In memoriam, I’m reposting my review of them back in 2017. I’m sad not to be able to go through their doors again.”
Celebrate the benefits of Musical Education on World Music Day (June 21)
This June 21, musicians of all skill levels and genres around the world will show off their prowess on World Music Day. Founded 38 years ago in Paris, France, the Fête de la Musique is a public celebration of the musical arts that has blossomed into a beloved international event. As it draws near, it's a good time to learn more about the important role music plays in our children's education…
Teaching Density to Elementary Students: Lesson Plans for Building Lava Lamps Using Materials Found at Home
The craft-store franchise AC Moore went out of business just before the Covid Quarantine was imposed. One of the prizes among the windfall we brought home was a do-it-yourself lava lamp kit. My son followed the first of several recipes provided with the kit and, with the help of his teenage brother, created a lava lamp that garnered the admiration of everyone in the family that evening. What follows is how we constructed more lava lamps using stuff we already had in our kitchen…
Easy Scientific Explorations of Eggs in honor of Easter or Any Time
It's time for another eggs-cellent Science at Home experiment from the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences! I received these easy and super fun activities via email and couldn't find a link with the instructions. Therefore, I am posting them here and referencing the NCMNS, which is a wonderful and *free* place to expose your kids (and yourselves) to science…
Elementary Plants Rotation, Days 3 and 4: Roots!
Last week, I introduced our Plants Rotation (for advanced 1st and 4th graders) with two lessons covering the evolution of plants and life, in general. Days 3 and 4 were spent on the parts of the plant, particularly the ROOTS. Here is a pdf of my *Roots* PowerPoint presentation…
Coronavirus Homeschool Week 3: Plants, Days 1 and 2
This week, I am in charge of the 11AM-1PM interactive educational component of our Coronavirus Homeschool each day. The stormy skies of the last two weeks have made all 3 elementary-school kids itchy with cabin fever. After taking a water sample from my miniature backyard pond, I began our Plants rotation with the following 5-minute BBC video about the origin of complex cells and life…
Why is the News always Bad?
I had the radio on this morning when my 9-year-old walked into the kitchen. "Why is the news always about bad stuff?" he lamented (repeatedly). "We all know Coronavirus is taking over the world, and we're doing what we're supposed to do. Why do they have to make us think about it all the time?” For today, John Krasinski’s interview of Steve Carell on “Some Good News” helped.
Teach Electricity (to kids as young as 4) using Elenco Snap Circuits
…While the kids built increasingly complex circuits, including games they could play with one another, I spouted on about Ohm's law and the reasons their circuits were doing the things they were observing. You might think they weren't listening (I did), but when I asked them about Ohm's law during free time at the end of the day, each one of them told me how Voltage, Resistance, and Current are all related; and the two older ones actually remembered the equation…
Children's Picture Book, *I Chalk*, Supports In-School Gardening Program
Purchase my children’s picture book “I Chalk” with a container of sidewalk chalk for a unique birthday, Xmas or "just-because" gift. The Amazon price is $12, but I can ship signed copies for $10 a piece (including shipping) if you contact me at melissarooneywriting@gmail.com. Any proceeds this year will be used to fund the in-school garden club I conduct on a weekly basis at Title-1 EK Powe Elementary School in Durham, NC. …
*Proposal to SAVE THE CATSBURG STORE in Durham, NC*
I first saw the Catsburg Country Store on February 24, 2019, when I was on my way to Eno Valley Elementary School, shortly after we adopted a beautiful and intelligent black cat named Kale from the Durham APS. I pulled over, took a picture of the place, and made it my cover photo on Facebook with the following accompanying text: “At Hamlin and Old Oxford Roads. Someone must open a cat-prioritized local pet store and cat cafe here.”
Keeping it Cool in Durham
… Given the positive feedback I received regarding my previous article on family-friendly outdoor activities for Durhamites and the record temperatures we’ve already encountered this summer, I submit part two of this series: Indoor Kid-Friendly Activities for Budget-Strapped Durhamites .…
Taxes provide Practical High School Math and Sociology Assignment
An incredibly practical high-school math (and social studies) assignment would be to do the current year’s taxes based on an income of $150,000 for a family of four with a child in college. Talk about a STEM spin on Hasbro’s game of LIFE! Perhaps the resulting discussion will result in a simpler and more equitable tax system in which the rich cannot avoid paying their intended %age, though it may not happen in my lifetime ;-) …
Fun Places for Kids
… After my last column, several people requested information about places and programs for young kids in the Triangle. I could write a book on this, but given the great spring weather I’ll concentrate on outdoors..…
My Video Game Addiction (Part 2)
… I ask these questions because I have begun to rationalize my PvZ (Plants versus Zombies) game playing even farther. I call it my “Sunflower Theory”…
Durham Teacher Authors Children's Book Featuring a Family of Color
I just read EK Powe Elementary School counselor Therese Daye’s newly released children’s picture book, “Daddy’s Little Girl”, and it melted my heart and teared up my eyes. "Daddy's Little Girl" tells the story of an African American elementary student whose father often stands her up, how she gets up the nerve to tell him how she feels, and how the results reaffirm his love and improve their relationship.
My Video Game Addiction (Part 1)
Do you or anyone in your family play Plants versus Zombies on Xbox? If not, keep reading. If so, I have a couple questions for ya: Do you prefer to play as Plants or as Zombies? And which character is your favorite? Why am I asking you these questions? Because I am a PvZ addict…
Real Good and For Free
… Over the last ten years, I have attended many wonderful and free children’s programs, including story-times, craft and drawing programs, and music and theatre performances, many occurring through Durham County Library.…
Rana Hablar (en Espanol)
¡Feliz año nuevo! Pensé que publicaría aquí el primer borrador de mi libro para niños de lectores tempranos / desafiados. El libro demuestra la diversidad cotidiana y la cortesía entre múltiples especies de ranas que habitan en el mismo espacio de manera pacífica. Si las ranas pueden hacerlo, ¿podemos nosotros?
Frog Talk: A Free Online Book for Early or Challenged Readers
Thought I'd post the first draft of my early/challenged-reader children's book here. The book demonstrates the day-to-day diversity and politeness among multiple species of frogs inhabiting the same space peacefully. If frogs can do it, so can we!? The educational/curriculum components of the book are discussed herein.