Friday, June 5
ASL Alphabet for Beginners
If you've attended any one of our Zoom meetings lately, especially any on a Wednesday, then you are already well aware we mean business when to comes to learning the ASL alphabet. We've almost got the whole thing nailed! If you are stuck on any particular letter or spot or just want to practice a bit on your own, this great video shows you each and every letter slowly and from different angles. It'll have you spelling "wahoo!" in no time!
Even More to Explore!
Oh the places you'll go! Back in April we posted about a few National Parks you could take virtual tours of from the comfort of your own home. We're back again another list of 62 National Parks you can now visit from your couch! From canyons to volcanoes to deserts and coral reefs there is no shortage of scenery to behold.
https://upgradedpoints.com/virtual-tours-of-national-parks-in-us
Death Valley National Park
Art Club
Next Tuesday at 11 AM on Zoom we will be holding the very first meeting of Art Club! In art club we will be doing simple at-home projects using common art supplies. If you would like to be involved in Art Club then e-mail Lauren (LrRafal@gmail.com).
Our first project for Tuesday requires only a piece of paper and any sort of drawing instrument or instruments you'd like! (Pens, pencils, markers, colored pencils, crayons, etc.)
Friday Movie Recommendation!
Elisabeth's Friday Movie Recommendation is the 2019 live-action Disney remake of Aladdin! It can be watched free on Disney+ or rented from all other streaming services.
"Aladdin with Will Smith is my favorite movie at this time because it is funny, and I recommend that you all at LES or out in the world watch this movie because it is a great amazing movie.
The exciting part of this movie is Will Smith who plays the Genie and grants Aladdin his three wishes and he is very funny and I really love the Genie in Aladdin. He has always been my favorite character in that movie." - Elisabeth
Thursday, June 4
How We Can Help
A lot of difficult things are going on in the world today, but that is not to say that we are unable to do anything about it. Here are a few things that we can do to help.
Use your voice: Perhaps one of the easiest and most overlooked act of support is just that, voicing your support. If you see somebody being unfairly targeted then say you support them. Do not put yourself into danger doing it, but if the situation feels safe then always offer that helping hand and let your voice be known you will not stand for unfair treatment to others.
Support black owned businesses: This not only supports people financially but shows them they are cared about and welcome. Shopping locally is preferred, but here are some online Etsy shops too!
No money for donations? No problem: You don't have to have money to help. Turn off any ad-blockers you might have and do not skip any ads. This video by Zoe Amira is an hour long and features music and art from black creators. All money generated by watching the ads will be split up and donated across various organizations. Even letting it run in the background while you cook dinner or do a puzzle will generate donation money!
Petitions/Contacting Officials/Donate Directly: If you do have a little money to spare, time to contact representatives, or even just a quick second to give your John Hancock on a form, here are some links for you:
The official White House petition for George Floyd
George Floyd's Memorial Fund - GoFundMe
Split one donation between 70+ bail funds, aids, and organizations
Resource listings: 75 Things to do for racial justice
Google Doc of Resources 1
Google Doc of Resources 2
Lastly, EDUCATE!: Part of the issue is that we just don't understand. Much the same way a person might not understand how life in a wheelchair impacts a person's day, people who don't experience a certain thing might not get why it's such a big deal.
If we take the time to learn we'll learn to understand!
Wednesday, June 3
The creative act of listening to a talking frog
Have you ever gotten a pep talk from a frog?
When you were a kid did you ever have an imaginary friend? When you saw an elevator for the first time did you imagine it was a rocket ship or ever make up a story for your favorite childhood toy? As people get older they might do these things less but still hold the ability of all those creative thoughts. In this TED Talk, Kermit the Frog (yes, you heard me right, folks) explains how this sort of thinking can and should continue through a person's entire life in what he lovingly calls a "conspiracy of craziness."
Tuesday, June 2
Weekly A-SIGN-ment!
Tomorrow during our Wednesday 1 PM Zoom meeting we will be sharing another word we've learned in sign language. This week's word theme is Your Favorite Food! What is your favorite thing to eat? Learn how to sign it!
As usual, feel free to refer to HandSpeak for reference and guidance in finding your word!
Green Thumbs:
Our LES Garden Blooms
Garden Club has been working hard to cultivate and maintain the plants beds and pots at the LES building, and their efforts are showing! Herbs and vegetables such as parsley, peas, and tomatoes have been planted and are showing lots of growth. Soon we will have a luscious garden full of tasty treats for all to share. Garden Club meets Thursdays at 11 AM at Zoom, but all are welcome who would like to help chip in and maintain our little garden. E-mail Cindy (cindystewartjp@gmail.com) for more information!
A list of everything that has been planted will be available soon for reference, so stay tuned!
Arashi says: "I don't get the big deal about green thumbs... I mean, I have FOUR thumbs, and you don't see me bragging."
Monday, June 1
The Evelyn Memories Project
Howdy, y'all!
For the next week or so we will be compiling memories, stories, and quotes from our friend Evelyn to send to her parents as part of an ongoing project. If you have a particular story which you'd like to share then please reach out to Lauren (LrRafal@gmail.com) with your memory. We will also be reaching out to you to gather them directly.
Historic Launch:
SpaceX sends US astronauts into space for the first time in almost 10 years!
Last Saturday at 3:20 PM from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida two SpaceX astronauts (Robert Behnken and Douglas Hurley) were launched into space. They spent less than a day aboard the Crew Dragon capsule until docking at the International Space Station. This is just the first part of their journey. If all goes well, SpaceX hopes to begin making routine trips to and from the space station.
They were welcomed aboard the International Space Station by NASA astronauts.
Below is a video tour from inside the Dragon (aka Capsule Endeavor)!
Friday, May 29
If you still haven't voted in our poll for Your Favorite Flavor of Ice Cream then you are not too late! The poll is still up on yesterday's posting and can be found on the Past Days' Activities page! On Monday the results will be posted here!
Let's Game!
Besides reading, cooking, and catching up on all those shows and movies you've been meaning to watch there are few other activities as well suited for self quarantine than playing video games. What you may not be aware is there are a lot of free games out there, many of which don't even require downloading to play!
Good Morning! is a short series of mini-games revolving around you waking up and starting your day. The only part that threw me off was the "Work on a project!" mini-game, but here's a hint: Clicking on the Question Mark button will turn all those tiny pictures into readable text!
In Impeached you are the president and must choose between two wildly wacky bills to sign into effect. Whichever bill you choose you must defend while answering a series of questions from reporters! But be careful how you answer... your very livelihood as a president falls on every word you say!
KittyClinic is a little simulator that puts you in the roll of a nurse in charge of caring for a slew of adorable sick cats. It's based on holistic nursing practices and how they can improve mood. Can you figure out what's ailing these poor cats and give them the help they need?
Lastly, P.E. Noire is a gritty school-aged point-and-click adventure where you, an esteemed hall monitor from Sunnyside Elementary School, are tasked to solve mysteries. Speak to shady students, collect clues, and most importantly click on everything you see!
Dropkick Murphys Return!
Streaming Outta Fenway Live Tonight
The Dropkick Murphys are taking to the stage and to streaming once again on Friday May 29 (tonight!) at 6 PM to give us a free livestream concert. The band will also be joined remotely by musician Bruce Springsteen for a special performance. It'll be simulcast worldwide from Fenway Park and available to watch on their website along with their Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, and Twitch pages. This event will be help raise money for various charities.
http://www.dropkickmurphys.com/
Friday Movie Recommendation!
This week Matty recommends the recently released Netflix romantic comedy-drama The Half of It.
"The movie is about two teenagers who help each other. They become friends even though they seem to have very little in common. Both of them become better people by the end of the movie. The movie is both funny and sad, but always very sweet. You will like almost all of the memorable characters in this movie. And the music of the movie is good too." - Matty
Thursday, May 28
I scream, you scream,
We all scream for ICE CREAM!
(And frozen yogurt!)
It's that time of the year again where we all crave that sweet, creamy, icy treat. If you can't make it to the store to pick some up or swing by your local ice cream stand there is a super easy and delicious way to make frozen yogurt at home to satisfy that cold treat fix! All you need are a few ingredients, a food processor (or good blender), and a freezer. Oh, and of course a mouth.
Flavor options are endless and are only limited by your imagination. This video has some flavors like mango and lime, chocolate banana, and cake batter, but there's a follow-up video with 5 more recipes including blueberry cheesecake, peach melba, and cookies and cream!
Ice Cream Flavors Word Search
Still craving more? How about trying this fun word search of different ice cream flavors. You can print it out onto paper or even search for words directly from your computer, tablet, or phone! Happy hunting.
CAST YOUR VOTE!
Let us know what YOUR favorite ice cream flavor is! If you don't see it listed select "Other" and type it in!
Wednesday, May 27
The Muppets Perform
Queen's Bohemian Rhapsody
Sometimes you don't know you needed to see a troop of puppets singing a rendition of the 70's rock band Queen's ballad Bohemian Rhapsody until it's right there in front of you. Well, here it is!
Gonzo, Kermit, and the rest of the gang all team up in a concert event of epic proportions to bring us their cover of the famous song. Call it a parody or call it an homage; I just call it a lot of fun!
Extra! Extra!
Read all about it!
It's finally out, folks! The latest edition of the Life Experience School Newsletter is hot off the presses. Come and get it!
Arashi says: "You guys keep rocking out... I'm just gonna take a little snooze."
Tuesday, May 26
We hope you all had a
Happy Memorial Day!
Weekly A-SIGN-ment!
Tomorrow during our Wednesday 1 PM Zoom meeting we will be sharing another word we've learned in sign language. This week's word theme is Memorial Day Activities! Share with us something you did on Memorial Day weekend as a sign!
As usual, feel free to refer to HandSpeak for reference and guidance in finding your word!
The Oddities of the First American Election
When it comes to American history there may not be as admired and celebrated an event as the election of our nation's very first president, but the first election was nothing like how we do it today. Like anything new, America had to learn and learning takes time. Check out this video to see how elections first got their start!
Friday, May 22
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, JIMMY!!
Today is Jimmy's birthday so be sure to wish him a great one!
Chrome Music Lab:
Sounds You See
The Chrome Music Lab main page sums itself up best: "Chrome Music Lab is a website that makes learning music more accessible through fun, hands-on experiments." It is an array of interactive music games that are as great a way to play around with to pass the time as they are to brush up on your music skills!
There are currently 13 experiments to interact with and range from a Song Maker, to a Voice Spinner (you record a snippet of audio and adjust its pitch), to Kandisnky (you draw random shapes that get translated into music). You can also fool around with rhythms, arpeggios, and chords.
Mercury and Venus in Rare Conjunction Tonight
Gaze into the Western sky just after sunset tonight to witness a rare sight: the planets Mercury and Venus will be in conjunction (meaning they will be able to be seen very close to each other!). Venus will be very bright and just above the horizon with the tiny red dot of Mercury directly below it. They will only be 0.5 degrees apart making it one of the closest planetary conjunctions of 2020 and one of the easiest times to see Mercury all year!
The period of closest conjunction will occur around 3 AM, but it will be visible before then as well.
If you have anything left to submit to the April/May newsletter then today is your final day! You can submit them to Lauren (LrRafal@gmail.com). Looking forward to sharing all of your hard work in the latest edition of the LES Newsletter with you all in the following week!
Final Newsletter Call!
Friday Movie Recommendation!
Today’s movie recommendation comes from Ian, and his pick is the 1996 action/thriller Twister! It is available to rent through all major streaming services.
“The movie is about married couple Jo and Bill Harding, and they’re storm chasers. They take along a group of people to go into a twister. They are put in grave danger. It’s a good movie." - Ian
Thursday, May 21
Weathering this Together!
With the sun finally shining and the warm weather rolling in many of our Life Experiencers have taken to soaking up the sun and taking advantage of this wonderful weather! Allison loves helping water the family garden with her favorite watering can, Eric and Mary were hard at work at LES's garden Wednesday morning, and Courty went out the other day for a lovely neighborhood stroll!
Can you become a Bird Song Hero?
If you are at all interested in learning to identify all of those bird calls you've been hearing but think it will be too hard then give this short instructional video a try. The Cornell Lab of Ornithology ("ornithology" is a fancy word meaning the study of birds) has made this identification game that teaches you how to visualize and remember bird songs! Give it a go!
If you have anything left to submit to the April/May newsletter then today and tomorrow are your final days! If you can get them to Lauren (LrRafal@gmail.com) by today that would be ideal. Looking forward to sharing all of your hard work in the latest edition of the LES Newsletter with you all in the following week!
Final Newsletter Call!
Wednesday, May 20
In our current climate we are sometimes clambering to hear some good news, and that is exactly what the SomeGoodNews YouTube channel aims to deliver!
The channel page description reads, "We would love to hear Some Good News and share it with the world," and it lives up to the task. John Krasinski and his team of friends and celebrity guests bring you only the most positive and uplifting stories from the day with a heavy dose of humor to boot.
Sometimes they even go above and beyond to make some good news happen, such as the case of a young girl named Aubrey who received her very own personal Zoom performance of her favorite song from Hamilton... performed by the cast themselves!
Four Ways to Capture the Essence of Lilacs
If you're like me, you're soaking up those freshly blooming lilac flowers while you can. Incredibly fragrant, these flowers only blossom during one short period of the year, but here are a few ways to extend your enjoyment of these incredible plants.
From aromatic oils to even delicious fritters, lilacs are more versatile than they may seem!
https://www.hobbyfarms.com/4-ways-to-capture-the-essence-of-lilacs/
Tuesday, May 19
Weekly A-SIGN-ment!
Tomorrow during our Wednesday 1 PM Zoom meeting we will be sharing another word we've learned in sign language. This week's word theme is Summer Time Fun! Share with us a word that makes you think of Summer time!
As usual, feel free to refer to HandSpeak for reference and guidance in finding your word!
An Ode to Living on Earth
Have you ever thought about what it's like living on our planet called Earth? I mean really thought about it? In some ways it's all we know, but there is a lot a person can learn just from simple observations of the world around them. If you had to explain this big, strange, wonderful new place to an alien explorer how would you do it?
Things get glowy under the sea
Speaking of "those weird fish things that have their own headlight," an often neglected yet huge part of our planet Earth are our oceans. We may just think of them as where the sand meets the beach or where dolphins and whales live, but deep down in the underwater caverns of the great big blue lay creatures and environments that sci-fi fans would swoon over - only they're real!
The Monterey Bay Aquarium in Monterey, California takes us on a deep dive into the diverse and colorful world of these bioluminescent and fluorescent creatures, what their incredible colors might be used for, and what the differences between them are!
Monday, May 18
Newsletter Coming Soon!
It's the final week to get your articles, stories, interviews, and written pieces in, folks! We're SO CLOSE!
For those who have segments to submit, we would like to have everything done and in by no later than Friday, May 22nd. E-mail them to Lauren at LrRafal@gmail.com!
Don't loose your marbles!
Marble Racing Leagues
Last week we explored how sports announcers have been spending their time out of the stadiums and off the fields, but today we'll be looking into what sports have managed to bypass the safety restrictions. If there are no humans involved for human contact then there's nothing to worry about.
That is where competitive marble racing comes in! Jelle's Marble Runs is a YouTube channel and group of leagues dedicated to the fine art of racing marbles across vast tracks and courses. There are teams, fan favorite marbles, and even themed events. This year's league is set to premiere this June, so get those bracket sheets ready!
The Company Meeting
Speaking of sports, our good friend Andrew Cotter and his two dogs, Olive and Mabel, are back at it again! Only this time to experience the trials and tribulations of everyone's new favorite application and technological burden, Zoom.
Shanti says: "There's nothing like enjoying the outdoors and getting your body moving!"
Friday, May 15
Today's Good News
Sometimes the news is just too much to follow, but hidden among all the worrying and squabbling are often ignored pieces of good news! Here are a few stories to brighten up your day and your weekend.
Hamilton to premiere early on
Disney Plus, July 3rd
Hamilton will be coming exclusively to the Disney Plus streaming service one year early! Originally planned as a theatrical release for October of next year, Disney announced that the world-wide smash hit musical about America's founding father Alexander Hamilton will be streaming to homes instead.
Rare blue bee returns from "extinction"!
Image Source: https://bugguide.net/node/view/394005/bgpage
Seen for the very first time since 2016 and assumed extinct, the blue calamintha bee has researchers buzzing about its grand return. It was rediscovered this week in Florida during a routine search. This special bee was first discovered in 2011 and feeds upon Ashe's Calamint, a threatened plant found only in Florida.
Researchers are hopeful this marks more blue bees to be found!
Conscientious
Objector
Day
At 11 AM in Sherborn, Massachusetts USA at the memorial stone for Unknown Civilians Killed in War on the grounds of the Pacifist Memorial, flowers were laid and a period of silence shared in honor of the enormous contribution conscientious objectors have made throughout the world.
Friday Movie Recommendation!
"Miracle is a Disney movie about the 1980 USA Olympic Hockey Team, all of which were college students. There were a lot of players from Massachusetts and Minnesota. The Soviet Union, now Russia, was looking for their 5th straight gold medal in hockey in Lake Placid, NY. The United States, who only just started their team in 1979, were huge underdogs going into the game against the Soviet players. What happened next no one saw coming. People remember Michael's famous call when there were 5 seconds left in the game, "DO YOU BELIEVE IN MIRACLES? YES!!!" " -Phil