Videos and Projects for Heroes and Happenings Volume 2
Chapter 1: The Inventor
Videos
Coloring Pages
Lapbooks
Snacks and Recipes
Apparently, one of his favorite foods was apple dumplings. Feel free to use any recipe.
Chapter 2: The Engineer
Videos
A short history of the Invention of the Ferris Wheel
Audiobooks of books listed at the end of the chapter (where available)
Coloring Pages
Crafts
Simple Ferris Wheel Craft. I imagine this could be done with paper plates instead of cardboard to make it easier, but I haven’t tested that.
Snacks and Recipes
Scroll down near the bottom of the page to see food ideas that might go with the World’s Fair.
Chapter 3: The Marshall
Videos
Gunslingers Episode (not for sensitive children, please pre-watch if you have any concerns at all, contains violence)
He is called the Original Lone Ranger, so even though the race is completely wrong, your child might enjoy watching a few episodes of the old show.
Audiobooks of books listed at the end of the chapter (where available)
Snacks and Recipes
Assorted Western Food ideas
Chapter 4: The Statue
Videos
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OKaHusycmQ0
Audiobooks of books listed at the end of the chapter (where available)
The Story of the Statue of Liberty
Coloring Pages
Crafts
Snacks and Recipes
While this is a Minecraft party site, if you scroll down to the torch pretzels, I think they would work well for a fast and easy snack.
Chapter 5: The Botanist
Videos
Audiobooks of books listed at the end of the chapter (where available)
A Picture Book of George Washington Carver
Coloring Pages
Crafts
Snacks and Recipes
Dr. Carver’s Sweet Potato Biscuit recipe
Chapter 6: The Statesman
Videos
Fun presentation of Theodore Roosevelt’s life by a child using props
Audiobooks of books listed at the end of the chapter (where available)
Teedie: The Story of Young Teddy Roosevelt
Coloring Pages
Crafts
Snacks and Recipes
More bear crafts, including a handful of bear-themed snacks
Chapter 7: The Navigator
Videos
1-Minute Nickelodeon History video
Coloring Pages
Crafts
The Paper Eskimo craft (Inuit/Yupik) on this page could easily work for Henson.
Snacks and Recipes
Chapter 8: The Horticulturist
Videos
Audiobooks of books listed at the end of the chapter (where available)
Coloring Pages
I didn’t find a topic-specific page, but here are some garden-themed pages that seemed appropriate.
Crafts
Planting a tree is a great idea. But be sure to research which trees are native or nonhazardous to your region before beginning.
Other Tree crafts
Snacks and Recipes
Assorted tree-themed snacks
Chapter 9: The Photographer
Videos
Short documentary (you might wish to pre-watch, no harsh topics, but does refer to things like “wanted to fall to his knees and worship” his microscope on occasion), but it shows many of his photographs.
Audiobooks of books listed at the end of the chapter (where available)
Coloring Pages
https://siarchives.si.edu/sites/default/files/pdfs/3.%20Snowflake%20Coloring%20Book%20Activity.pdf
Crafts
Snacks and Recipes
Chapter 10: The Scientist
Videos
Short Biography for kids
Audiobooks of books listed at the end of the chapter (where available)
Coloring Pages
Crafts
Snacks and Recipes
A variety of science-themed snacks and party ideas can be found here (you do have to scroll an excellent way to get to the food ideas, and not just the pictures of the food, most of which are mostly only regular items with interesting names or different presentations).
Chapter 11: The Professor
Videos
Video with lots of beautiful photography
Audiobooks of books listed at the end of the chapter (where available)
Coloring Pages
Peru Coloring Pages (including Machu Picchu)
Crafts
Llama/Mountain Downloadable Project Guide
Snacks and Recipes
Some easier Peruvian recipes (I tried hard to look for easy ones, but I don’t think they are all as easy as I would like for this type of project).
I can not find a recipe for this, but this looks absolutely fun to make out of something like crispy rice bars.
Chapter 12: The Aviator
Videos
Audiobooks of books listed at the end of the chapter (where available)
Old Reading Rainbow episode of Ruth Law Thrills a Nation
“Paper Doll” style printables
Surprisingly, a paper-doll style printable referencing Ruth Law.
Snacks and Recipes
Fun Ruth Law style snack and activity
Chapter 13: The Painter
Videos
A voiceless showing of his artwork to music. You might need to read the titles of the paintings to your child.
Audiobooks of books listed at the end of the chapter (where available)
Coloring Pages
$3.00, but this is an outline of one of his paintings.
This is a guide to teaching painting, but the image on page 10 could easily work as a coloring page.
Crafts
Video for teaching your child how to use watercolors
Snacks and Recipes
Some fun art-themed snacks
Chapter 14: The Ball Player
Videos
I’ve never been a huge sports fan, so my knowledge of great baseball movies is limited. I have heard that the animated movie Everyone’s Hero is about Babe Ruth’s bat, but I’ve never watched it. Here is the review for it at Plugged In.
A 7-minute documentary
Audiobooks of books listed at the end of the chapter (where available)
Home Run (I can’t find one where they read the “baseball cards” on each page.
Coloring Pages
Crafts
Link to more links about assorted baseball crafts.
Snacks and Recipes
Assorted Baseball-themed snack ideas (I was trying to find options that look at least a little healthy, so these are more like foods you would have at a baseball game)Less healthy, but more fun-looking baseball-themed snacks.
Chapter 15: The Immigrants
Videos
A Reading Rainbow episode about immigration
Audiobooks of books listed at the end of the chapter (where available)
All the Way to America (read by the author)
When Jessie Came Across the Sea
Fiona’s Lace (Part 1)
Fiona’s Lace (Part 2)
Coloring Pages
A couple of different pages
Snacks and Recipes
Here is a list of foods that were eaten on Ellis Island. I found other similar lists, but they were all very long and filled with ads, and this one condensed it all. You might want to pick one of these, or you might want to try making some ethnic recipes from your own ancestors.
Chapter 16: The Dog
Videos
I found part of the silent movie mentioned in the book here. You might have to read aloud a lot.
I can’t seem to find the rest.
Lassie Come Home, also mentioned in the book, is available (today’s price) for $2.99 rental at Amazon Prime or Vudu. Also available on those sites are The Incredible Journey and Homeward Bound.
Audiobooks of books listed at the end of the chapter (where available)
Coloring Pages
I can not find a page for Bobbie, but there is a page here for a collie, of which Bobbie was half.
Crafts
Links to assorted dog-themed crafts
Snacks and Recipe
Breadstick Bones
Cute Dog-themed pasta
Chapter 17: The Puppeteer
Videos
Silent footage of a Macy’s parade with Pinocchio
One of Macy’s early parades, colorized
8-Minute mini-documentary showing puppets, balloons, etc.
Audiobooks of books listed at the end of the chapter (where available)
Coloring Pages
Crafts
Snacks and Recipes
Chapter 18: The Conservationist
Videos
Footage of Ruth and her Pandas
The Amazing Panda Adventure is a movie for rent your child might enjoy (although not about Ruth) Available for rent only (that I could find) from multiple sites.
Audiobooks of books listed at the end of the chapter (where available)
Coloring Pages
Crafts
Snacks and Recipes
Fun (but rather difficult-looking) panda food
Chapter 19: The Poet
Videos
I had trouble finding a child-friendly video that wasn’t just poetry reading, so I didn’t find much. Here is another picture book about a poem included in the chapter.
Several interviews with the author, including several poems being written by the man himself (some are better quality than others)
Audiobooks of books listed at the end of the chapter (where available)
Coloring Pages
Crafts
An interesting poetry craft, you can make some other critter than the one suggested
Snacks and Recipes
Assorted food-themed poems for kids; you can pick one and have any snack mentioned in the poem while reading it aloud.
Chapter 20: The Code Talkers
Videos
A short video by an actual code talker, but with lots of war images, so be careful, I weeded through dozens of videos, but this one explained it the best with fewer graphic images than others.
Audiobooks of books listed at the end of the chapter (where available)
I could not find the specific book listed, but this is a different one, not read aloud, but each page turned so you can read the words to your child as they flip pages. Keep in mind that every resource on this topic discusses war, so that it might be too much for some sensitive children, but overall reasonably mild.
Coloring Pages
There is a bronze medal awarded to a different tribe for being code talkers as well, which I think would make a great coloring page (and talking point)
Crafts
A free Teachers-Pay-Teachers list of code words and their meanings for children old enough to read and spell. There is a worksheet there for older children to try to decipher as well.
Snacks and Recipes
I don’t know how authentic this recipe is (and if it isn’t, I would love someone to point me to any recipe of any kind, more authentic), but here is an easy recipe that claims to be for Navajo fry bread.
Chapter 21: The Dance
Videos
A dance choreographed by Martha (I don’t know if she dances in this particular dance, I believe she was cast as the bride in the originals). It’s very beautifully (and modestly) done. It’s part 1 of 4, but all four parts are available.
Audiobooks of books listed at the end of the chapter (where available)
Coloring Pages
I believe this is a coloring page of the dance mentioned in the book.
Crafts
A few dance-related crafts. The coffee filter one especially caught my eye, but I have girls who love pink. The ribbon wands also look very fun, and I think they will appeal to most children.
Snacks and Recipes
Even though ballerinas aren’t 100% on the theme, I found these looked very quick, easy, and pretty.
Chapter 22: The Delivery
Videos
A video from the era (after the end of the war, though) showing large-scale deliveries from planes again; keep in mind this mentions war, so you might wish to stop after about the 1:30 mark (the rest of the video is about something else anyway)
Audiobooks of books listed at the end of the chapter (where available)
Boxes for Katje (The entire Reading Rainbow episode)
Crafts
Not precisely a craft, but there are many charities where children can send things to other children in need worldwide. One of my favorites is Gifts for Gracias, named after a small village called Gracias in Honduras. Several missionary families work there, including one, the Sowers family, who have been long-time Sonlight users. (I am not affiliated with them in any way, nor is our mission). They accept all kinds of gifts, from gently used clothing to new school supplies to all types of toys. Their website doesn’t get a ton of attention because they are often busy with many projects, but the mission is going strong. There is also a child sponsorship program, a feeding program, a bridge-building program, and many others.
Many other programs help children worldwide by sending them food, toys, clothes, and other supplies.
Snacks and Recipes
Very ambitious parents might like to try their hand at Tulip Bulb Soup. As the recipe describes, one needs to take great care in selecting the tulip bulbs and preparing them.
For less ambitious parents, one of these depression-era foods can help your child get an idea of foods eaten when certain ingredients were in short supply.
Chapter 23: The Programmer
Videos
This video might be a little dry for some children, but I liked it, and it’s short.
Audiobooks of books listed at the end of the chapter (where available)
Grace Hopper: Queen of Computer Code (with extra activities at the end. You will need beads in two or three colors and string to do one of the activities).
Here is another video of the same book without the activities.
Coloring Pages
Crafts
Coding activities that can be done without a computer
Snacks and Recipes
Make your own version of a Chex Mix, snack mix, granola snack mix, or another type of recipe. Have your child choose one kind of snack to be the ones and another to be the zeros and use them to practice coding. (see the above audiobook with activities for instructions)
Chapter 24: The Seamstress
Videos
A short video about Rosa Parks
Audiobooks of books listed at the end of the chapter (where available)
Coloring Pages
Crafts
Snacks and Recipes
A pancake recipe from Rosa Parks herself
Chapter 25: The Orator
Videos
There is an animated movie, but I hesitate to recommend it because it has a lot of teasing and bullying, mainly at the beginning of the film, but during the movie, it shows things like when Martin’s house was burned down. People wanted to react with “guns and knives,” and later the police using tear gas and such, so I think it would be a bit much for some children, but available if you feel your child is ready.
An inspiring 3-minute video by a kid. A little short on history but very cool.
It’s a short biography for kids, but it’s rather good that it covers a lot of history and covers many topics, including Rosa Parks again. It does mention some things, like how he died but doesn’t over-dramatize it.
Audiobooks of books listed at the end of the chapter (where available)
I Have a Dream (This one also plays the recording of the speech)
Child of the Civil Rights Movement
Memphis, Martin, and the Mountaintop
Coloring Pages
Crafts
Snacks and Recipes
Chapter 26: The Politician
Videos
Short Biography. There is a surprising void of kids’ videos on this topic.
Audiobooks of books listed at the end of the chapter (where available)
Lincoln and Kennedy: A Pair to Compare
A Time to Act (this is a very long video, but read by the author, with a lot of discussion before and after. The book itself starts somewhere close to the 22:30 mark)
Coloring Pages
I was really struggling to come up with a lot of other activities.
Snacks and Recipes
Finding items for pretty much every segment was far harder than it should have been for such a well-known man. Here are some of his favorite foods to choose from.
Chapter 27: The Astronaut
Videos
Short Nat Geo Kids video on the landing
Audiobooks of books listed at the end of the chapter (where available)
Coloring Pages
Crafts
A huge assortment of moon-related craft ideas
Snacks and Recipes
Chapter 28: The Entertainer
Videos
Video showing photographs of the walk
Audiobooks of books listed at the end of the chapter (where available)
The Man Who Walked Between the Towers
Crafts
These trapeze artists can slide down a string.
Snacks and Recipes
Animals on tightropes (if your child doesn’t like celery **mine**, the link is broken, but you can use pretzels dipped in chocolate as well)
Chapter 29: The Problem Solver
Videos
Great Interview and Biography with Temple, even for parents
Audiobooks of books listed at the end of the chapter (where available)
Snacks and Recipes
This website divides foods into categories, such as crunchy, cold, smooth, or sweet. Have your child try one or two foods from different categories and compare them. Have them pay special attention to how each food feels, tastes, and smells. Children with autism often feel those same feelings, but stronger, making certain foods more appealing than others.
Chapter 30: The Tree
Videos
A short video about the Yamaki Pine, as well as other bonsai trees
Audiobooks of books listed at the end of the chapter (where available)
Coloring Pages
Snacks and Recipes
it’s little hard to find good bonsai-themed snacks, but perhaps making mini foods could relate to the beautiful mini-trees.
2 comments
This is just what I need to help plan our upcoming school year. Thank you!
Thank you!