learning with fun

One of the most famous monuments in the US is the Lincoln Memorial. The building's theme represents the union, so there are 36 columns to represent the 36 Union states that existed at the time. The Reflecting Pool was added in 1922. The memorial was initially only supposed to be 10 feet in height. In the end, it was 19 feet high and weighs nearly 175 tons! We hope you and your student(s) enjoyed learning about this famous monument! If you want even more information, head over to our website and download one of our many free high-interest reading lesson plans, full of activities, worksheets, and more!

What's the difference between a wildcat and a wild cat? Well, you could probably say you own a wild cat as a pet because of its crazy personality. But yours would not be considered a wildcat. In this video, you and your kids will learn interesting facts about a group of species that scientists call wildcats, such as tigers, lions, jaguars, cheetahs, and leopards. Wildcats are carnivorous, so they eat a lot of meat. They have excellent eyesight and hearing to help them find and capture their prey. Their diet includes antelopes, rabbits, giraffes, and even reptiles for some of them. Wildcats that live near human settlements often prey on poultry like ducks and geese. These majestic animals are part of every culture and can be found on the oldest of cave drawings. They are often the face of companies and sports teams as mascots. Sadly, lots of wildcat species are endangered, and many others are vulnerable or near threatened. Their populations are declining because of habitat loss. Sometimes, habitat loss happens naturally, but in most cases, it's because of the increased use of land by humans for homes, buildings, and roads. We hope you and your student(s) enjoyed learning about these cool cats! If you want to learn even more, head over to our website and download one of our many lesson plans about animals, full of activities, worksheets, and more!

Apart from that recognizable laugh, what do you know about hyenas? Why do they laugh in the first place? Hyenas for Kids is a great video to teach you some fun facts about these mammals and their behaviors. That laugh, for instance, is a way for them to communicate with each other to say hello and all is well. Hyenas are very skilled predators and are capable of taking down small and large animals. They are also scavengers and will consume the remains of dead animals, either ones that died naturally or were killed by other predators. A hyena's stomach juices acids and digestive enzymes allow them to break down substances that would be difficult for other animals to digest. Because they clean up after other animals, hyenas are like hidden superheroes that work hard to maintain balance in their environment. It would be a huge mess if all this old food piled up and there weren't any animals to take care of it. Hyenas are up for the job because those strong stomach juices can break down even bones and kill germs that would make other animals sick. We hope you and your student(s) enjoyed learning about these cool dogs! If you want to learn even more, head over to our website and download one of our many lesson plans about animals, full of activities, worksheets, and more!

It's one thing to read about dinosaurs, but why not sing about them? Learn some quick facts about dinosaur history while you rap the words with us! Here are the lyrics so you can follow along: The Mesozoic Era was millions of years ago With varieties of reptiles calling the earth home. Triassic, Jurassic, and Cretaceous— Three geological times will convey this. What's a species that can run, fly, and be scaly, Jump and even roar and do these things daily? Some are long, short, but all start as babies. There are some dino dudes and some dino ladies. Let's take it back to a land before time, Where reptiles were big, small, or medium-sized. They loved to roll in packs or even fly. Some were so majestic, but some would horrify. Brontosauruses were long from head to tail. Ankylosauruses were spiny, short, with hard shells. Velociraptors ran at these speeds or more. Iguanadons walked on two legs or four. Some had sharp teeth for tearing meat; Some ground their food with wide flat teeth. Brachiosauruses were tall and ate their lunch up high. Microraptors looked low for their food supply. We wanted to name a few, so we made a list . . . . . . And it goes like this: Aptosaurus Diplodocus Iguanodon Lambeosaurus Velociraptor Stegosaurus Microraptor Tyrannosaurus Rex Their large bodies needed a lot of food. There are three major types that we will include. Stegosauruses liked their meals to be green. As herbivores, they loved to munch on leaves. The omnivores were not picky at all. Fruit, seeds, and animals that were small. The Tyrannosaurus rex, which was the most vicious— They're carnivorous, meaning animals were delicious. Dinosaur babies were hatched from eggs. Hatchlings had wings and some had legs. Dinosaur families found safety in numbers Whether they were awake or as they slumbered. They traveled in packs or even roamed alone. That's what the unearthing of fossils and what bones have shown. These ancient lizards are a thing of the past. A special kind of scientist was able to trace their paths. A paleontologist studies the fossils and bones To determine if their feet had claws or toes. Robert Plot found the first dino bone. He thought it was from a human and he hadn't known. It's interesting to study these reptile giants. It's important to our history and also to science. These creatures were incredibly unique. Their habitat was destroyed, and now they're extinct.

What is a memorial? In Lincoln Memorial for Kids, your students will learn the history surrounding this famous structure. Memorials or monuments (like statues) represent something unique to everyone who sees them. Monuments have meaning and significance to the people who visit them. Although there are thousands of monuments across the United States, many of the most famous monuments are in our nation’s capital—Washington, DC. One of the most famous monuments in the US is the Lincoln Memorial. Abraham Lincoln is a true American success story. He was the son of a poor farmer who lived on the frontier. He read books that he borrowed after long days working on the farm. But eventually, in 1837, Lincoln worked hard enough to earn a law degree. In 1846, he was elected to the House of Representatives. His calm demeanor and willingness to compromise helped heal the war-torn nation and reunite the North and South into one country. Unfortunately, Lincoln was assassinated in April of 1865, in the middle of his second presidential term. Congress began work to create a memorial to remember his patriotism two years after his death. In March of 1867, Congress created a commission to design and build the memorial. It would be another 43 years—1910—before Congress would pass a bill that allowed work to begin on the Lincoln Memorial! It took another 12 years to complete the project from the day of the design and construction. In 1922, President Harding and Chief Justice of the Supreme Court Robert Taft officially accepted the memorial on behalf of the American people. Ironically, although many African Americans were invited and attended the event, they were moved to a segregated area near the monument. The very people Lincoln had fought so strongly to free still faced racial discrimination nearly 60 years after the Civil War ended in 1865.

What is a graphic organizer? In this video for kids, your students or kids will learn about several types of graphic organizers that they can use to take notes or organize information. They are likely very familiar with Venn diagrams, which are easy to create and understand. Venn diagrams are an excellent way to compare and contrast information. But what about when you want to simply make connections or show a chain of events or sequence? There are plenty other types of organizers that allow us to evaluate things differently. One is a circle map, which helps you define things. You could write a main idea, such as sharks, and then write what you already know and what new information you learn. Similar to the circle map, another type is a prior knowledge chart. The main topic is in the center. The outer circles can include new information, things you would like to know, or things you already know. Text connects help you better recall information you have read. Chain or sequence of events organizers allow you to show different steps in a process, or the chain of events that lead to a discovery. You can organize them in different ways as well. The last organizer we discuss is main idea and details, which works really well for nonfiction passages. You can write the main ideas from different paragraphs then write out their supporting details.

Dolphins are among the most unique mammals. In Dolphins for Kids, you will learn all about these beautiful creatures. Despite the fact that they look like really big fish, they are not! They breathe air, give live birth to their young, nurse their babies with milk, have hair at some point, and are warm-blooded. Did you know that dolphins are actually part of the larger group of animals called whales? (And did you know the killer whale is a species of dolphin?) Dolphins come in different colors, like black, white, or grey. Their skin is smooth and rubbery, like a bar of slippery soap. They have a flipper on either side of their body and a triangular-shaped fin on their backs. Dolphins look a lot like porpoises, so people often confuse the two. Generally, dolphins live in groups called pods that usually range from 2 to 30 dolphins. During mating season, they form superpods that can have hundreds of dolphins! How do they keep track of each other? Well, one really interesting fact about dolphins is that they have names. Each dolphin is given a unique whistle right after their birth. They learn their whistle from their mother.

Have you ever visited a farm? Or perhaps you live on a farm! Farm Animals for Kids explores facts about some of the animals that live on farms and what they do. You might learn some fun facts along the way that you didn't know before! For instance, did you know So what is a farm, exactly? A farm is an area of land used to grow crops and raise animals to produce food. The animals that live here are different from your average house pet. This is because farm animals usually have important jobs to do to keep the farm running. For instance, many farms have horses that help farmers prepare their crops. One farm animal you're probably very familiar with is the cow. Cows are large and eat about 25 pounds of food per day. That's six to eight times as much as the average adult human! Most dairy farms have more than a thousand cows. These animals produce milk, that farmers can then sell to dairies that produce other dairy products like ice cream and cheese. Chickens are another common farm animal. Some chickens can produce up to 300 eggs a year! Believe it or not, chickens didn't always live in America. But now there are more chickens in the U.S. than there are people! Another animal on the farm is the sheep. Farmers can sheer the sheep's wool once a year that they can then sell to companies that make clothing. Other farm animals include pigs, ducks, donkeys, and rabbits.

When you hear the name Galileo, what do you think about? Galileo Galilei is often associated with telescopes, the universe, and being imprisoned for his discoveries. In Galileo Galilei for Kids, you will learn a lot more about this amazing scientist and mathematician and his inventions and scientific discoveries. Galileo was the oldest of six kids. Galileo studied medicine in college and later switched to mathematics. However, he ran out of money and had to drop out. This setback didn't stop him from continuing to study on his own time. He supported himself by teaching math and art to others. Around the year 1609, Galileo learned about the telescope. Some people think he invented the tool, but that is not true. He was simply the first to use it (or use the one he built and improved) to study the stars. He discovered that Venus had phases, and he discovered four moons that revolve around Jupiter. These moons are now known as the Galilean Satellites in his honor. Galileo also studied Copernicus's theory that the sun was the center of the universe, and even had evidence to support his theory. This led to his arrest and imprisonment by the Roman Catholic church. The church still taught that Earth was the center of the universe, which Galileo discovered wasn't the case. Despite being told not to teach Copernicus's ideas or beliefs anymore, Galileo continued to do so and was branded a heretic. He was sentenced to life in prison. The church officially apologized for arresting Galileo in 1992, which is 392 years after Galileo's death!

Part of becoming financially literate is understanding how to calculate interest. In this video, your kids or students will learn what exactly interest is and how they can calculate it. Interest is an amount of money that you either pay or earn. Whether you pay or earn depends on the situation. If you borrow money, you have to pay interest. If you save money at a bank, you will earn interest. There are a few terms you should be familiar with. The principal is the amount of money you start with that you are borrowing or spending. Another term to know is rate. The rate is the percentage you are charged (if borrowing money from a bank/company) or paid (if saving money in a bank). You will be able to use the rate and principal to determine the interest using an equation: Interest = Principal x Rate x Time (years). The video goes through a helpful example scenario to walk you through calculating interest when saving money at a bank. In this case, Frankie Finance is starting with $200. The rate will be 0.15. Based on the equation, Frankie will earn $30 dollars per year in interest. Next, you can follow another scenario in which Frankie borrows money and owes $30 extra a year! The equation is the same regardless of whether or not you're borrowing or saving.

Writing short sentences all the time an get pretty boring. Conjunctions are a way to spice up your prose! In Conjunctions for Kids, you will learn about the three different types of conjunctions and how they work in sentences. Conjunctions can combine words, phrases, and sentences. But this video concentrates specifically on combining sentences. Sometimes, using conjunctions in your writing can make it more interesting, and even easier to understand! But what exactly is a conjunction? Well, let's first explain what a junction is. A junction is a place where two different things come together. Think of a train junction where a road meets train tracks. Conjunctions do the same things in language. Coordinating conjunctions are the ones you might be the most familiar with. These are the words like and, but, and or. A common acronym people use to remember the seven coordinating conjunctions is FANBOYS: for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so. If you can remember that acronym, it will really easy to remember the coordinating conjunctions! Another type of conjunction is the correlative. To correlate means to compare or relate. These conjunctions are used in pairs to combine alternative or equal elements. Examples of correlative conjunctions include either/or, if/then, and not only/but also. Subordinating conjunctions are the last type. These are words or phrases that connect dependent clauses to independent clauses. You can also use subordinating conjunctions to introduce adverb clauses.

Did you know that over 8 million metric tons of plastic end up in the ocean each year? In our Importance of Oceans for Kids video, we discuss why it's so essential to take care of the water that covers our beautiful earth. In fact, seawater makes up two-thirds of our planet! Most of that water flows in the five interconnected oceans. And this water provides us with so many important benefits. The ocean is vital to our planet because it produces over half of the world's oxygen supply. It also absorbs 50 times more carbon that the atmosphere. We can also turn to the ocean for food, transportation, and recreation. When it comes to food supply, we are talking about more than just fish. Did you know that ingredients in peanut butter and soymilk are also found in the ocean? In addition, the ocean helps regulate weather patterns, creates employment opportunities, and provides ingredients for medicines. Ocean mining and plastic pollution are two major problems for our oceans. Ocean mining produces plumes of sediment that blanket sections of the ocean floor. It chokes filter-feeding species and the fish swimming amidst the debris and destroys habitats. Plastic is a major concern because it doesn't decompose. The constant movement in the water simply breaks it down into smaller pieces called microplastics. The Great Pacific Garbage Patch is a collection of debris between Hawai'i and California that is twice the size of Texas. This floating mass of plastic is estimated to be 80,000 tons. We hope you and your student(s) enjoyed learning about the world's beautiful ocean! If you want to learn even more, head over to our website and download one of our many lesson plans about the ocean, full of activities, worksheets, and more!

Have you ever heard of the painting we call the Mona Lisa? It's one of the most famous paintings in the whole world, and it was painted by one of the most famous artists ever: Leonardo da Vinci. In Leonardo da Vinci for Kids, you and your students will learn all about him and his life and accomplishments. Leonardo da Vinci was born on April 15, 1452, in a city called Vinci, Italy, which is pretty close to Florence. He lived during the Renaissance period, the start of the Modern Age. A lot of famous artists, writers, and philosophers lived during this time as well. As a kid, Leonardo loved being out in nature and never went to school. Instead, he learned reading, writing, and mathematics at home. At age 15, he became an apprentice for a prominent artist, but he soon surpassed the skills of his mentor. Some of the most famous artworks in da Vinci's lifetime include The Last Supper, the Mona Lisa, and Vitruvian Man. Interesting fact: The Duke of Milan asked Leonardo da Vinci to paint a mural on his dining room wall. And The Last Supper is what he painted! Da Vinci also did a lot of important things besides art. In fact, he had over 20,000 pages of notes filled with inventions and other ideas. We hope you and your student(s) enjoyed learning about Galileo! If you want even more information, head over to our website and download one of our many free lesson plans, full of activities, worksheets, and more!

Can you name five natural disasters? How about ten? Twenty? Natural Disasters for Kids discusses quite a few of these crazy storms. It specifically discusses ten of the most common and what causes them to occur. In addition, you'll learn a few things you can do to get ready for a natural disaster in your area. The most common type of natural disaster in the U.S. is flooding. Nearly 90% of all disasters actually involve flooding in some way. Floods can result from tropical storms, hurricanes, extreme rains, or even thawing snow. On the opposite end of the spectrum is a drought. When an area experiences a drought, it means that there is intense heat and an extreme lack of precipitation. Droughts can kill plants and reduce freshwater supply. Another common natural disaster is the tsunami. Tsunamis are rare in the United States. These large ocean waves that form after an earthquake happens end up flooding coastal land. Hurricanes similarly produce excessive rainfall and often a lot of flooding. Wind speeds during a hurricane can reach up to 150 miles an hour! Still, the worst wind storm would be a tornado, with speeds up to 300 miles per hour. Luckily, there are things we can do to help get ready for these storms. These are the three Ps: plan, prepare, and practice. It always helps to have a plan that outlines what you should do in case a natural disaster occurs. Then it's important to prepare by gathering necessary supplies. And like practicing for a fire drill at school, it's a good idea to practice the plan you made and ensure it works. We hope you and your student(s) enjoyed learning about these common storms! If you want to learn even more, head over to our website and download one of our many lesson plans about natural disasters, full of activities, worksheets, and more!

How many countries make up North America? A lot of people think of Canada, the USA, and Mexico. In All about North America for Kids, you and your students will learn that this continent actually includes 23 countries! These include Costa Rica, Honduras, Panama, Grenada, Saint Vincent, Cuba, and Haiti. North America is the third largest continent in the world, behind Asia and Africa, and covers 16.5% of the earth's land area. It was named after the Italian explorer Amerigo Vespucci. The continent borders the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans, the Caribbean Sea, and South America. It also includes all the major biomes or habitats, such as tundra, coral reef, and desert. The geography of the countries of North American vary as much as its wildlife. There are around 965 different mammal species that call different parts of the continent home. You will also learn a lot about the history of the continent. Scientists believe the Paleo-Indians from Eurasia used a land bridge between modern-day Siberia and Alaska to travel to North America to settle. They developed organized societies, and some ancient civilizations even built temples and created writing systems and calendars. Eventually colonizers from Europe traveled to the continent, which often displaced the native peoples of North America and settling on their lands. There is so much more to learn about this continent. The video includes information on famous landmarks, such as Niagara Falls and the Great Pyramid of Tenochtitlan. These are only a few of the many attractions that millions of people visit every year. We hope you and your student(s) enjoyed learning about the continent of North America! If you want even more information, head over to our website and download one of our many free lesson plans, full of activities, worksheets, and more!

When did people first start to inhabit North America? Try 27,000 years ago! In Earliest Peoples in America, your kids will learn about some of the history surrounding the people who first stepped foot on this continent. The first thing they'll learn is that the earth was much, much colder then because it was in the middle of an ice age. Asia and North America used to be connected by the Beringia land bridge. But once the ice melted as the earth warmed up 10,000 years ago, the people could no longer migrate. The earliest humans were hunter-gatherers. This means they hunted for food and ate wild plants they found. The people eventually became much less nomadic and started to settle in specific areas in tribes. The people passed on their traditions and culture from generation to generation. Sadly, once the Europeans started to colonize America, a lot of that culture was lost. Archaeologists have studied the artifacts left behind from thousands of years ago to learn more and more about these early peoples and what their lives might have been like. We hope you and your student(s) enjoyed learning about what life might have been like for people 27,000 years ago! If you want even more information, head over to our website and download one of our many free lesson plans, full of activities, worksheets, and more!

Did you know that there are over 20,000 species of butterfly living throughout the world? In Butterflies for Kids, you and your students will learn lots of interesting facts about these lovely bugs. Speaking of lovely, butterflies actually have two types of coloration: pigmented and structural. And some species have ultraviolet patterns that we humans can't even see! Butterflies eat lots of things some of which you likely wouldn't expect. They have a long tongue called a proboscis that they use to slurp up juices and nectar and tree sap. But butterflies also eat aphids, drink from mud puddles, and consume rotting or dead matter! And believe it or not, they've only got a few taste buds on their "tongue" because most of their taste buds are on their feet. Butterflies are essential to the environment. Along with other pollinators, they help pollinate plants and increase biodiversity. Scientists can also study them to learn about the health of a particular ecosystem. Because of habitat loss, the populations of various butterfly species are on the decline. In addition, climate change has also caused butterflies to struggle. Unpredictable temps lead to unpredictable hatching times, which can be disastrous for caterpillars. We hope you and your student(s) enjoyed learning about these beautiful insects! If you want to learn even more, head over to our website and download one of our many lesson plans about animals, full of activities, worksheets, and more!

When you think of Halloween, do you ever think of Ireland? Well, turns out, most of our Halloween traditions, including the name, come from the Celts! Dressing up in disguises is all thanks to the Samhein festival. Even our tradition of pumpkin carving originated from an Irish folk tale. Halloween is one of the oldest traditions in world history and comes from the Celts. It marked the end of summer and beginning of fall/winter season. That's why it's celebrated in the fall. The Celts passed down their history and culture orally, meaning they didn't write any of it down. Druids, or Celtic priests, were the ones responsible for passing it on to the next generation. The Celts believed people transitions from physically living on Earth to living in a spiritual world when they died. During the Samhein festival, the Celts would stock up on supplies for the winter and welcome guests from the afterlife. If spirits appeared that had been wronged by a living person, the living person would disguise themselves with masks or with ashes from a fire. This was called guising, and it's where the word disguise comes from! Keep watching to learn more, and follow along with the lesson plan!

So what's with those small, plastic cards that adults use to buy stuff? In Financial Literacy—Debit and Credit, your students will discover the answer to that question. They will also realize that credit cards and debit cards are different, and each one can be helpful in different ways. Credit cards and debit cards are both small, hard, plastic cards. But apart from that, they are quite difference. Credit cards, for instance, are not linked to a bank account, but debit cards are. That means you can use debit cards to pay for things with money you already have. Generally speaking, a debit card is directly linked to a checking account. Credit cards use money that is loaned. You can use it to buy something and pay for it later. Credit card companies issue credit cards, and it's like a type of loan. You can pay back the loan according to the credit company's schedule. You usually have to make a minimum payment each month to reduce your debt. They can also charge interest if it takes you longer to pay the money back or if you don't pay the full amount back every month. However, if you pay your credit card bills in full every month, you won't be charged any interest. We hope you and your student(s) enjoyed learning about these important skills! If you want even more information, head over to our website and download one of our many free lesson plans, full of activities, worksheets, and more!

What exactly are vitamins and minerals? Many people think these two substances are the same, but they are not. But they are both important to keep our bodies strong and healthy. Vitamins are organic substances, meaning that plants and animals produce them. Minerals are inorganic and come from the soil and water. Then they are absorbed by plants or eaten by animals. Vitamins are divided into two categories—fat soluble or water soluble. Which category a vitamin falls into depends on whether it dissolves best in fats or in water. The fat-soluble vitamins can be stored in the body, but the water-soluble vitamins need to dissolve in water before the body can absorb them. In addition, the body can’t store water-soluble vitamins. For this reason, we need a fresh supply of water-soluble vitamins each day. When it comes to minerals, our bodies cannot break down or change them. Minerals can, however, form part of the structure of bones, teeth, nails, muscles, and red blood cells. There are several minerals the body needs. Calcium is one of the most common minerals. Our bodies need calcium to build and protect bones and teeth, support our muscles, and help with blood clots and nerves. We hope you and your student(s) enjoyed learning about these essential nutrients! If you want to learn even more, head over to our website and download one of our many lesson plans about health, full of activities, worksheets, and more!

What is the difference between a checking and savings account? In Financial Literacy—Checking and Savings Accounts, your students will learn the basics behind these two accounts and how to manage them. For instance, they will learn that they can transfer money from one to the other and vice versa. Checking accounts allow us to use debit cards. This means that we can pay with our debit cards, and the money will come out of the checking account. This way, we don't have to go get the money from the bank every time we need to use it. Savings accounts, on the other hand, do not have cards to use. They do, however, gain interest. Interest in additional money that grows over time according to how much money is in the account. Speaking of money in the account, that number is the balance. Whenever we spend money from our checking account, the balance goes down. When we add money, the balance increases. The same is true for savings accounts as well. When we add money, the balance goes up, and taking money out of savings brings the balance down. The great thing about these bank accounts is that they can be linked. If you need to put more money into your checking account, you can move it from your savings to your checking. This is helpful if you need to buy something but don't have quite enough to pay for it in your checking account. And of course, you can move money from checking to savings too. The more money in your savings account, the higher the interest! We hope you and your student(s) enjoyed learning about these important skills! If you want even more information, head over to our website and download one of our many free lesson plans, full of activities, worksheets, and more!

Venture into the majestic savannahs of Africa and beyond with our captivating video, "10 Amazing Facts of Lions". Tailored to young minds, this presentation showcases some of the most fascinating facts about lions in an approachable and exciting manner. Children, whether in preschool or kindergarten, will be engrossed as they unearth facts about lions for kids that are both educational and thrilling. From the playfulness of the lion cubs to the prowess of adult lions, our video touches upon diverse aspects of the lion's life. Did you know that the roar of a lion can be heard from miles away or that lion cubs start to grow their manes as they approach their teenage years? These are just a couple of the many fun facts about lions that we've packed into this video. Additionally, the segment dedicated to facts about lions in Africa will introduce kids to the lion's natural habitat and their importance in the ecosystem. But that's not all. Our video also delves into the comparisons between lions and their feline cousins, presenting some intriguing facts about lions and tigers. With the help of our comprehensive lion facts list, viewers will gain a deeper understanding of this majestic animal, from its habitat to its hunting techniques and more. Through vivid visuals and clear narration, our lions facts video ensures that young viewers remain engaged while absorbing key information. So, if you've been on the hunt for a comprehensive resource on lion facts for kindergarteners, preschoolers, or just about any young nature enthusiast, this video is a roaring success. Dive in to explore the world of lions, their behaviors, habitats, and more through this mesmerizing animal facts presentation!

Do you know how to calculate sales tax? In part six of our Financial Literacy for Kids series, you will learn how to do just that! Sales tax is an extra cost that is added to a product or service that you buy. The government uses sales tax money to pay for things, such as new roads and water lines. Some states don't use a sales tax. Those states are Delaware, Alaska, Montana, New Hampshire, and Oregon. That means that if you want to buy something for $100, you only pay exactly $100, and no more. There are also states that don't charge sales tax on certain kinds of purchases, such as groceries and food or prescription medications. Sales tax is calculated as a percentage of the purchase price of an item. Generally, the percentage is somewhere between 4% and 9%. Keep watching to follow along with the example to figure out how to calculate sales tax. You will also learn a cool trick for calculating sales tax easily! We hope you and your student(s) enjoyed learning about these important skills! If you want even more information, head over to our website and download one of our many free lesson plans, full of activities, worksheets, and more!

Do you know how to figure out the absolute value of a number? In this video, you'll learn just that. It can be a tricky concept at first, but once you get it, it's super easy! Absolute value is basically determined by its distance from zero on a number line. And every single number has one except for zero, since zero is value-less. Absolute values are written in two straight lines. For comparison, other expressions are in brackets or parentheses. But those two straight lines means absolute value. In addition, the placement of the negative sign is very important. If the negative symbol is inside the absolutely value lines, the you are figuring out the absolute value of a negative number. For instance, the absolute value of -5 is 5 because -5 is five away from zero. On the other hand, if the negative sign is outside the absolute value lines, then you need to add it after you figure out the absolute value expression. For instance, –|6| is –6. Here's a trickier one: The expression – |7 – 9| becomes – |–2|, which becomes –|2|, which is –2. Watch the video for more examples, and to learn how you can apply absolute value in real life. We hope you and your student(s) enjoyed learning about absolute value! If you want even more information, head over to our website and download one of our many free lesson plans, full of activities, worksheets, and more!

Did you know that hawks are the most common birds of prey? In this video, you and your kids will learn lots of interesting facts about the hawk. For instance, even though they are similar to eagles and buzzards, only 50 kinds of true hawks exist. These beautiful birds build large nest in the tops of trees, on cliff peaks, and even on cactuses. Most species have long tails and short rounded wings so they can fly fast and low through areas full of trees and bushes. Hawks are quite intelligent birds, too. They use sticks and stones as tools to catch insects to eat if they cannot find any other prey. Because hawks are birds of prey, they hunt and kill animals for food. And they truly are fierce hunters. They can see their prey from high up in the sky because of their incredible eyesight. In fact, they have the best eyesight of any animal in the animal kingdom! Once they spot their food, they will dive down and scoop up the animal. Imagine flying through the air at 150 miles per hour. That's how fast hawks are! When it's mating season, the male hawks will do lots of tricks in the air to attract a mate. Once they find their mate, hawks stay together forever. Baby hawks are called ayes (pronounced just like eyes). When they are about 50 days old, they leave the nest to fend for themselves. We hope you and your student(s) enjoyed learning about these beautiful birds! If you want to learn even more, head over to our website and download one of our many lesson plans about animals, full of activities, worksheets, and more!