From brushing your teeth to packing the floaties, boring things are important! Try this lesson, which uses the Bluey episode "The Pool" as the kickoff to a classroom conversation about the importance of being prepared. The lesson includes printables for three activities in which kids go on a scavenger hunt to find everything they need to be successful for a day at school or the pool, complete a maze to match different objects to what Bluey should use them for, and figure out where Bluey and her family are going based on what they’ve packed.
The Pool Episode Summary: As they prepare for a trip to the pool, Bluey and Dad tease Mum about being fussy and over-prepared. But they soon find out the hard way that doing the boring things makes the fun stuff possible.
Watch the episode here! (Click here to watch in Australia.)
Being an astronaut is no joke — for your brain and your body to be prepared, you need to train, not unlike sports or school. Want to train for a soccer match? You may need to go for runs or lift weights. Need to prepare for a math test? You may need to repeat your times tables. Going into space soon? You may need to put on a space suit and get strapped into a full-sized replica of the International Space Station, then submerged in a 12-meter (40-foot!) deep pool for six hours. At least, that’s what astronaut Rosemary Coogan did to make sure she was ready for her spacewalk.
Coogan was chosen from 22,000 applicants to become a European Space Agency astronaut and may be the first Englishwoman to set foot on the moon.
Space preparation is daunting, but she had teams of supporters like divers and control room workers to make sure she was safe. The spacewalk test is meant to make sure that Rosemary could survive the conditions off of earth, even when things don’t go according to plan.
In Preparing Flowers for Chinese New Year, a farm in Kunming, China’s Spring City, prepares flowers for the busy Chinese New Year season. Flowers travel from farm to auction, where buyers purchase them for shops. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Chinese New Year: The Biggest Celebration on Earth, a documentary series detailing the world's largest annual human migration (Chunyun), where over 1.5 billion people celebrate the Lunar New Year.
In Preparing for Chinese New Year, a family in Beijing prepares for Chinese New Year in 2016 by cleaning the house, getting haircuts, and preparing scrolls that they will hang outside their house. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Chinese New Year: The Biggest Celebration on Earth, a documentary series detailing the world's largest annual human migration (Chunyun), where over 1.5 billion people celebrate the Lunar New Year.
In How Trees Prepare for the Toughest Seasons, narrator Sir David Attenborough explains how trees survive harsh winter environments. In northern forests, trees prepare for the cold by pulling water into their trunks and creating a sugary antifreeze. But while most trees lose their leaves, pine trees can survive temperatures as low as -40°F and keep their needles all winter. One special type of pine, the bristlecone, can live for up to 5,000 years, with its cones growing for only six weeks each year. This video is excerpted from BBC's Life, a show that explores the remarkable strategies animals and plants use to ensure their survival.
Cut out the pictures and paste to make a meal for Four and his friends. Square cheese on square bread. Crackers, waffles, fruit, biscuits and cake... it’s all square! Yummy!
Watch full episodes of Numberblocks on their official YouTube channel!
In Inside the Indian Relay Race, learn about the thrilling tradition of the Indian Relay, a horse race held in the Rockies. Oliver, a trainer, shares how he and his family prepare for the race, training for months to master the tricky skill of jumping from one horse to another — bareback! The relay is filled with excitement, as riders complete three laps while switching horses after each round. With skill, preparation, and a bit of tradition, Oliver and his family bring pride to their tribe as they race to victory! This video is excerpted from BBC’s Mountains: Life Above the Clouds, which showcases wildlife thriving in the world's highest mountains.
Underwater volcanoes are some of the least visible — but most important — geological features on Earth. Scientist Dr. Isobel Yeo studies these deep-sea volcanoes near the Greek island of Santorini using remotely-operated underwater robots. These robotic tools allow researchers to safely explore volcanic regions and locate hydrothermal vents, where hot gases and fluids escape from cracks in Earth’s crust.
Her team is focused on understanding how underwater eruptions behave differently from those on land. The surrounding water pressure, temperature, and ocean currents can all influence how magma and gases move during an eruption. By studying these systems, scientists can improve predictions of volcanic activity and better understand potential risks.
Although an eruption is not expected soon, this research is important for improving early warning systems and helping nearby coastal communities prepare for future volcanic events.
Let’s catch the bus to... the museum. (But only because you’re secretly in love with the bus driver!) Here's how to play:
- Try to get around the board without the grannies causing too much chaos!
- Grab a counter* (or two, if you’re playing with a friend) and place it on the start. *A button or small toy work well!
- Take turns rolling a die and moving the number of steps you roll. Be prepared for granny stops! The first one to the end wins.
The article "9 Stargazing Tips to Enjoy the Night Sky From Home" from BBC's Science Focus offers advice for stargazing without a telescope. It includes tips on dressing warmly, preparing your site, adjusting your eyes, spotting stars, planets, and meteors, and using apps to enhance your experience.
The article "6 Out-of-This-World Experiments Recreating Space on Earth" from BBC's Science Focus explores how scientists simulate space missions in remote and harsh environments. From the HI-SEAS habitat in Hawaii to NASA’s underwater NEEMO program, these experiments allow astronauts to practice survival skills, test space equipment, and prepare for life on Mars and beyond.
What if homework meant baking a cake, designing a board game, or building something creative instead of filling out worksheets? One elementary school has replaced traditional homework in subjects like math and reading with hands-on projects that students can choose themselves.
Supporters say the new approach makes learning feel more real and less stressful. Students report having more choice, more family time, and more fun. A cooking project, for example, can still involve math, reading, measuring, and following directions — all while making something you can actually eat.
But not everyone agrees. Some people wonder whether creative homework truly prepares students for the more demanding assignments they may face later in middle school, high school, and beyond. Others worry that without regular practice, students may miss chances to build discipline, organization, and study habits.
So what counts as real learning: finishing worksheets — or using skills in everyday life? This school’s homework experiment is raising big questions about how kids learn best.
From brushing your teeth to packing the floaties, boring things are important! Try this lesson, which uses the Bluey episode "The Pool" as the kickoff to a classroom conversation about the importance of being prepared. The lesson includes printables for three activities in which kids go on a scavenger hunt to find everything they need to be successful for a day at school or the pool, complete a maze to match different objects to what Bluey should use them for, and figure out where Bluey and her family are going based on what they’ve packed.
The Pool Episode Summary: As they prepare for a trip to the pool, Bluey and Dad tease Mum about being fussy and over-prepared. But they soon find out the hard way that doing the boring things makes the fun stuff possible.
Watch the episode here! (Click here to watch in Australia.)
Being an astronaut is no joke — for your brain and your body to be prepared, you need to train, not unlike sports or school. Want to train for a soccer match? You may need to go for runs or lift weights. Need to prepare for a math test? You may need to repeat your times tables. Going into space soon? You may need to put on a space suit and get strapped into a full-sized replica of the International Space Station, then submerged in a 12-meter (40-foot!) deep pool for six hours. At least, that’s what astronaut Rosemary Coogan did to make sure she was ready for her spacewalk.
Coogan was chosen from 22,000 applicants to become a European Space Agency astronaut and may be the first Englishwoman to set foot on the moon.
Space preparation is daunting, but she had teams of supporters like divers and control room workers to make sure she was safe. The spacewalk test is meant to make sure that Rosemary could survive the conditions off of earth, even when things don’t go according to plan.
In Preparing Flowers for Chinese New Year, a farm in Kunming, China’s Spring City, prepares flowers for the busy Chinese New Year season. Flowers travel from farm to auction, where buyers purchase them for shops. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Chinese New Year: The Biggest Celebration on Earth, a documentary series detailing the world's largest annual human migration (Chunyun), where over 1.5 billion people celebrate the Lunar New Year.
In Preparing for Chinese New Year, a family in Beijing prepares for Chinese New Year in 2016 by cleaning the house, getting haircuts, and preparing scrolls that they will hang outside their house. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Chinese New Year: The Biggest Celebration on Earth, a documentary series detailing the world's largest annual human migration (Chunyun), where over 1.5 billion people celebrate the Lunar New Year.
In How Trees Prepare for the Toughest Seasons, narrator Sir David Attenborough explains how trees survive harsh winter environments. In northern forests, trees prepare for the cold by pulling water into their trunks and creating a sugary antifreeze. But while most trees lose their leaves, pine trees can survive temperatures as low as -40°F and keep their needles all winter. One special type of pine, the bristlecone, can live for up to 5,000 years, with its cones growing for only six weeks each year. This video is excerpted from BBC's Life, a show that explores the remarkable strategies animals and plants use to ensure their survival.
Cut out the pictures and paste to make a meal for Four and his friends. Square cheese on square bread. Crackers, waffles, fruit, biscuits and cake... it’s all square! Yummy!
Watch full episodes of Numberblocks on their official YouTube channel!
In Inside the Indian Relay Race, learn about the thrilling tradition of the Indian Relay, a horse race held in the Rockies. Oliver, a trainer, shares how he and his family prepare for the race, training for months to master the tricky skill of jumping from one horse to another — bareback! The relay is filled with excitement, as riders complete three laps while switching horses after each round. With skill, preparation, and a bit of tradition, Oliver and his family bring pride to their tribe as they race to victory! This video is excerpted from BBC’s Mountains: Life Above the Clouds, which showcases wildlife thriving in the world's highest mountains.
Underwater volcanoes are some of the least visible — but most important — geological features on Earth. Scientist Dr. Isobel Yeo studies these deep-sea volcanoes near the Greek island of Santorini using remotely-operated underwater robots. These robotic tools allow researchers to safely explore volcanic regions and locate hydrothermal vents, where hot gases and fluids escape from cracks in Earth’s crust.
Her team is focused on understanding how underwater eruptions behave differently from those on land. The surrounding water pressure, temperature, and ocean currents can all influence how magma and gases move during an eruption. By studying these systems, scientists can improve predictions of volcanic activity and better understand potential risks.
Although an eruption is not expected soon, this research is important for improving early warning systems and helping nearby coastal communities prepare for future volcanic events.
Let’s catch the bus to... the museum. (But only because you’re secretly in love with the bus driver!) Here's how to play:
- Try to get around the board without the grannies causing too much chaos!
- Grab a counter* (or two, if you’re playing with a friend) and place it on the start. *A button or small toy work well!
- Take turns rolling a die and moving the number of steps you roll. Be prepared for granny stops! The first one to the end wins.
The article "9 Stargazing Tips to Enjoy the Night Sky From Home" from BBC's Science Focus offers advice for stargazing without a telescope. It includes tips on dressing warmly, preparing your site, adjusting your eyes, spotting stars, planets, and meteors, and using apps to enhance your experience.
The article "6 Out-of-This-World Experiments Recreating Space on Earth" from BBC's Science Focus explores how scientists simulate space missions in remote and harsh environments. From the HI-SEAS habitat in Hawaii to NASA’s underwater NEEMO program, these experiments allow astronauts to practice survival skills, test space equipment, and prepare for life on Mars and beyond.
What if homework meant baking a cake, designing a board game, or building something creative instead of filling out worksheets? One elementary school has replaced traditional homework in subjects like math and reading with hands-on projects that students can choose themselves.
Supporters say the new approach makes learning feel more real and less stressful. Students report having more choice, more family time, and more fun. A cooking project, for example, can still involve math, reading, measuring, and following directions — all while making something you can actually eat.
But not everyone agrees. Some people wonder whether creative homework truly prepares students for the more demanding assignments they may face later in middle school, high school, and beyond. Others worry that without regular practice, students may miss chances to build discipline, organization, and study habits.
So what counts as real learning: finishing worksheets — or using skills in everyday life? This school’s homework experiment is raising big questions about how kids learn best.