Summer Fun: Web Resources

www.exploratorium.edu/sport/index.html

Here kids learn not only about baseball, cycling, surfing, and the like, but also the fascinating science behind each sport, from how bicycle gears work to how the angle of a baseball bat can determine a foul ball or a home run. Created by: The Exploratorium Museum, San Francisco, CA. Don't miss: “Skateboard Science” to learn how those boards seem to magically stick to a skater's feet during a jump. Then try some (skateboard-free) experiments to experience it yourself.

www.funology.com/boredombusters

How to beat the summer blahs, when kids complain that there's nothing to do? Check out Boredom Busters for craft ideas from stuff to make and wear to recycled playthings. (Among my favorites: the Juice Box Cell Phone.) Created by: FunBurst Media, Centreville, VA. Don't miss: Make homemade treats with the help of the “Yummy Recipes' section for you and your pet. And don't miss “Games.” I especially liked B.E.F.A.—crazy funny!

kidshealth.org/kid/watch/index.html

kidshealth.org/teen/safety

Two cool sites, one designed for younger children, the other for teens, provide a wealth of summer health and safety tips. Created by: The Nemours Foundation's Center for Children's Health Media, Wilmington, DE. Don't miss: “Watch Out” for kids covers home safety, the outdoors, and first aid, from nosebleeds to 911. “Staying Safe” for teens includes new-driver tips. Print a few of these articles to share with users this summer.

www.sports4kids.org/images/stories/sports4kids%20playbook.pdf

This nifty 277-page PDF book is your resource for kids' playground games and physical activities. Created for K–12 teachers, Sports4Kids Playbook will also benefit librarians, camp staff, and parents. Consider printing and binding the whole guide to add to your library collection. Created by: Sports4Kids, Oakland, CA. Don't miss: “Core Playground Games” will help kids master the finer points of the classics, such as dodgeball.

pbskids.org/zoom/activities/index.html

Zoom Activities is another “We're bored, what's there to do?” Web site, this time focused on middle schoolers. Chock full of craft ideas, games—the offline type—and experiments, Zoom is ideal for librarians looking to enhance a summer reading program. Created by: PBS and WGBH, Boston, MA. Don't miss: The great projects on “ZoomBuild,” “Sneaker Launcher,” a “Bubble Blowing Machine”—need we say more?