WORDLESS WEDNESDAY - Wii U

 

 

NEW - Disney Pixar's CARS Micro Drifter

New to the toy store is Disney's Pixar Cars Micro Drifter. The kids fell in love with the toy cars at first sight. The cars were fast and easy to carry in one hand. The test area for the kids was filled with all (60) Cars Micro Drifters. 

A very micro CAR that speeds through the super motorized speedway....

Three micro CARS come in one package that are priced at approximately at $6.99. The CARS Micro Drifters are handsome and super fast. The kids will want to collect all of them.  The speedway will cost approximately $39.99 depending on where you go. This is a great gift for kids 4 years and older, due to the size of the toy.  They are so small that you could hold (5) CARS Micro Drifters in one hand. (Please make sure they do not go in your little ones mouth.)

 

All the characters were available to be seen at a recent Mattel toy launch.  

 

Will you be a CARS Micro Drifter collector?  There are (60) reasons why you should consider collecting them soon.

 

The silver ball bearing underneath the CARS is the reason for the Micro Drifters to go super fast! 

 

These won't last long at the store. Go and start Christmas shopping early and surprise your kids. 

 

Just watch these kids playing having a great time. It was hard to pull my kids away from the CARS Micro Drifter toy test drive.  Need more proof.... 

 

Kids were not eating dinner just to continue playing. This is what they passed up on: 

 

Mattel Disney CARS Micro Drifter launch was a success. The kids enjoyed their experience of trying something new while having a great time playing. I loved watching them smile and enjoy themselves.

The whole family had a great time making fun memories at the "Mattel Micro Drifters Toy Test Drive".  Just want to say thank you to all the people at Golin Harris, Mattel and Disney for putting on such a great event. :)

Disclaimer: I was not paid to advertise this product. All opinions are my own from my own experience. I was given a light dinner and a gift bag as a thank you for participating in this great event. Thank you for reading my post! :)

We will never forget 9/11

I will never forget the day. I wish I could, but it's too hard to block it from my memory.  Although I was not there in person, I witnessed it through the news and watched in horror the second attack as it was happening on live TV.  The thought of us going to war and sending innocent soldiers haunted me.  After time passed, I would cry when I saw a military uniforms.  It was hard for me as an American as I love my country and the people in it.  I struggle answering, Why so much hate from others? Why does war have to happen? Why harm innocent people?  I wish kids did not have to witness losing family and friends for the cause of a religion that hates others.  I never want to understand why it is okay to kill innocent people in the name of religion.   Take a moment of silence to pray for the persons of the 9/11 tragedy, their family and friends.  Pray for our soldiers and rejoice those who have served us bravely and placed their bodies in the line of danger for our freedom.  Let us pray!

A description of the events that occurred on 9/11 Taken from: http://www.911memorial.org/sites/all/files/DocServer/911_Education_P5.pdf

"On September 11, 2011  nineteen al Qaeda terrorists hijacked four commercial

airplanes, intending to strike the World Trade Center in New York City and

targets in Washington, D.C.

The hijackers deliberately crashed American Airlines Flight 11, carrying

87 passengers and crew, into 1 WTC, the North Tower, and United Airlines

Flight 175, carrying 60 passengers and crew, into 2 WTC, the South Tower.

The hijackers also deliberately crashed American Airlines Flight 77, carrying

59 passengers and crew, into the Pentagon near Washington, D.C.

After learning of the other attacks through cell phone calls, passengers

on United Airlines Flight 93, carrying 40 passengers and crew, launched a

counter-attack on the hijackers to seize control of the aircraft. As a result of

their actions, Flight 93 crashed into an empty field in Somerset County in

western Pennsylvania, instead of the hijackers’ intended target, believed to

have been the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C.

In New York City and Washington, D.C., thousands of people evacuated safely.

Tragically, nearly 3,000 lives were lost – representing the largest death toll

from a hostile attack by a foreign entity on American soil.

The attacks triggered immediate rescue and recovery operations at all three

sites. In the aftermath, donations of money and supplies poured in and people

came from all over the world to volunteer their help. Vigils, memorials, and

prayer services were held in New York City, Washington, D.C., Pennsylvania,

and all over the world. While the voids in New York City’s lower Manhattan

and the destruction at the crash sites are reminders of loss, the outpouring

of generosity and assistance in response to the attacks demonstrates the

resilience of the human spirit."

For additional information about 9/11, including personal perspectives

on the events of the day, as well as features on the historical origins of the

attacks and expert analysis of ongoing issues, please visit our Web site:

www.national911memorial.org/education

. You will find a downloadable video,

as well as timelines, webcasts, images and articles to support teaching about 9/11,

and recommended links to other 9/11 teaching resources, including those available

on the September 11th Education Trust Web site, www.learnabout9-11.org.

Happy School Year!!!

School is now in session and a new year has begun. As we go through this year we focus on homework, getting to school on time and eating healthy. This year for me will be very different. I have two different drop-off times and two different pick-up times. My time is even more precious then ever. But I will not stop volunteering at my children's school. Last year I saw a great need for extra hands in every single class. Every class has too many kids, not enough teachers or teachers aids and not enough money for supplies. It is not any easy decision for so many reasons. But I only get to be a parent once. There is only one chance to get it right. Everyday for the next year I will continue to make education interesting and fun. Field trips are my way of bring classroom education to life. I want to encourage you to do more with your kids. Try to volunteer in the schools at least once this year. Volunteering will make a difference in your life and in your child's life.  Go ahead and have a great school year!!!


Ocean Institute, Orange County Zoo and Irvine Regional Park

Stay tune more coming up......

Labor Day Weekend - Things to do

Just a brief Labor Day around town fun events.

Los Angeles County Fair - It is that time again to have fun at the fair. There are rides, food, contests and music. During the day is the best for young families. Wear comfortable shoes and lots sunscreen. Be prepared to walk long distances. They charge for parking so bring cash.  Information from their link:

Daily Highlights

Opening Day, Friday Aug. 31 Today’s hours: 3 p.m. - midnight Today’s Deals: - $1 admission from 3-6 p.m.; $1 22-oz soft drinks from 6-9 p.m.; $2 carnival rides from 6-9 p.m.; $2 carnival games from 9 p.m.-midnight - Season Pass: presented by Walgreens, $24.99 for ages 6 and older at participating Walgreens - Ralphs Any-Day Tickets: admission tickets $10 for adults, $6 for ages 6-12, comes with exclusive unlimited carnival ride wristband ($35). Restrictions apply. Presented by Ralphs. - Costco Savings Pack: $54.99 for 4 any-day tickets, one parking pass and 44 carnival ride/game tickets. At participating Costco store. - Children 5 and younger are free everyday. http://www.lacountyfair.com/2012/newsroom/index.asp

Orange County International Food Fair - There are several things happening here is what Friday August 31, 2012 will look like:

http://www.orangestreetfair.org/at-the-event/entertainment-schedule/no-sidebar-page/
Main Stage

• Mango
  5pm-6pm
• Opening Ceremonies
  6:30pm-7:30pm
• The Who Revue
  8pm-9pm

All-American Street

• Flashpoint6pm-7pm
• The Wild Adults
  8pm-9pm

English Street Stage

• The Big Boy Band
  5pm-6pm
• The Big Boy Band
  7pm-8pm

German Street Stage

• The Europa Band
  5pm-6pm
• The Europa Band
  7pm-8pm

Greek Street Stage

• Synthesi
  6pm-7pm
• Synthesi
  8pm-9pm

Irish Street Stage

• American Wake
  6pm-7pm
• American Wake
  8pm-9pm

Mexican Street Stage

• Latin Lowdown
  5pm-6pm
• Latin Lowdown
  7pm-8pm

Polynesian Street Stage

• The Eliminators
  6pm-7pm
• The Eliminators
  8pm-9pm

Childrens Street Stage

• Chelsney Thompson
  5pm-6pm
• Sweet Mojo
  7pm-8pm

Orange County Great Park - Flights and Sounds Summer Festival

Admission is free, but parking is $10.00. So pack-up your car and head down to the OC Great Park to have some great fun with your family. Bring a blanket and watch the kiddos run around having fun, while you hear music. Arrive early it gets very busy.
The  Lavay Smith and Her Red Hot Skillet Lickers at 8:15pm. will be playing on the lawn.

http://www.ocgp.org/events/lavay-smith-her-red-hot-skillet-lickers/


Whatever you decided to do this weekend make sure you have fun and spend it with your family.


Happy Labor Day,


Field Trip Mom

Alert: THE ART INSTITUTES HOSTING FOOD TRUCK TOUR

Just hot off the email box. I got a notification that a fun event will be happening here throughout Southern California. The  debut will be at the Los Angeles County Fair September 3, 2012 with several appearance throughout Southern California. There will be a TV finale September 30th  on the Food Network channel. Here is a brief description about the event which was taken from The Art Institutes email:

Culinary Arts students to battle it out with Food Truck favorites in four cities

The Art Institutes (Ai) Food Truck Tour coincides with the third season of Food Network’s hit reality competition series The Great Food Truck Race, which can be seen on Sunday nights at 9:00 p.m. through the September 30 finale.  Culinary Arts students from The International Culinary Schools at The Art Institutes will be asked to battle local food truck favorites. The trucks will each be challenged to create a dish that includes the same ingredients.  Celebrity chefs, including James Beard Award-nominees Jon Shook and Vinny Dotolo, plus contestants from previous seasons of The Great Food Truck Race, The Lime Truck and Sky’s Gourmet Tacos, will be on-site to judge the matchups.  


The Art Institutes (Ai) Food Truck Tour – Event Information
The community is invited to enjoy The Art Institutes (Ai) Food Truck Tour experience at several venues. The truck will make its debut at the Los Angeles County Fair on September 3 and make an additional community appearance on the Huntington Beach Pier on September 15.
The cooking battles will be held at Art Institutes’ campuses at the following locations at no cost to attend:

Cooking Battle - September 5, 2012
4:00 – 8:00 p.m.
The Art Institute of California - Inland Empire, a campus of Argosy University
674 East Brier Drive
San Bernardino, CA 92408

Cooking Battle - September 8, 2012
1:00 – 5:00 p.m.
The Art Institute of California - Los Angeles, a campus of Argosy University
2900 31st Street
Santa Monica, CA 90405

Cooking Battle - September 13, 2012
4:00 – 8:00 p.m.
The Art Institute of California - Orange County, a campus of Argosy University
3601 W. Sunflower Avenue
Santa Ana, CA 92704

Cooking Battle - September 22, 2012
1:00 – 5:00 p.m.
The Art Institute of California - San Diego, a campus of Argosy University
7650 Mission Valley Road
San Diego, CA 92108

Let's go and visit our local ART Institutes of California and have a great food at the same time. See you soon!
As always may your dreams come true and keep field Tripping with your family.

This is not a paid advertisement. Your comments are welcomed and very much appreciated.

Field Trips - Zimmer Children's Museum

I believe everyone knows parents are a child’s first teacher. Every outing is a learning moment and can be considered a family “Field Trip.” With today’s work demands, it can be hard to plan your own field trips. Additionally, with all of the technology that is around us, it is very easy to stay inside the home and simply relax. For many, going outside is not a priority anymore. Most are so busy with other events that we miss big educational opportunities and experiences that we could be broadening our minds and our children’s. Dr. Seuss said, “Sometimes questions are complicated and the answers are simple.”

Field trips with the family or school can bridge the gap between education and hands –on experience. Just look to private and charter schools as examples, you will see that field trips are a vital requirement of their educational curriculum.  

It is here where public schools lack funding and effort to have more access to providing field trips for its students.  Studies published by RAFT, Resource Area for Teaching at www.raft.net, show “Teachers who conduct hands-on learning activities on a weekly basis out-perform their peers by more than 70% of a grade level in math and 40% of a grade level in science.”  

I believe if we had more field trips, education would be more creative and effective in getting kids to successfully graduate high school and college. As well as preparing them to make big differences to communities and life as we know it.  Field trips are crucial for every student to acquire increased knowledge, culture and hands on experience.

1. Educational hands-on learning – First, let’s talk about the hands-on experience that is so valuable in gaining any job in today’s market. As an adult, we are expected to have the experience to be successful at our jobs. Employers expect prospective employees to be self-starters, motivated and willing to jump into a role with little to no training. Why wouldn’t a student become more successful at school and future employment if he/she had more knowledge of a subject matter? If there was more hands-on field trip experience, the student would feel more confident and less stressed towards learning. For example, as a plumber, you can’t learn how to find a leak from a book. It takes the hands-on experience to perfect the art so the leak is found with minimal effort. Only hands-on experience will help with this.

2. Seeing is believing – Experiencing a visit to the zoo may be more memorable than reading about it. For example, seeing a giraffe for the first time will give you an everlasting impression of what super tall really means versus reading about it. Seeing a zoo, a telescope, a nature trail or science museum can help a student connect to the reading material with the field trip making the learning experience more fun and easy to remember. Who doesn’t remember that childhood visit to the zoo when they were in school?

3. Remembering material that has been observed - Another example is your college Chemistry course, although you don’t realize it, half of your learning experience was in a lab. A “Field Trip” to another classroom where you applied the reading material to physical hands-on experiments. After working hands-on with the experiment, wasn’t the reading material placed into perspective and far more clear than simply reading it?

4. A better understanding of the world we live in through active participation via Field Trips - This can help a child be aware of how things are related and how they work together. For example, milk comes from the farm and then arrives at the grocery store via truck. There is a connection between how the milk arrived at the store. Understanding that a grocery store has various vendors who provide services takes the mystery of how milk arrives at the store helping the child become more aware of how the community works.

5. Storing memories for future reference – Field trips can help produce memories that will be used later on in the classroom. Having a previous experience can help understand lesson plans with little explanation. For example, what is a Fire Station? If you have never seen one to understand how it functions, it may cause you to stress if you had a test about it. Visiting a fire station not only takes the mystery out of the learning but allows for questions to be explored and further discussion helping others at the same time.

6. Break from the daily school activities – Looking forward to getting out of the classroom and breaking the daily routine. Children love a fun surprise and a fun adventure. Adventure and fun have been proven to spark the memory allowing for ease of learning and memory retention.

7. Finding out if this is of interest to me – Children will tell you if the field trip was exciting to them and if it was something they will look forward to doing again. This allows for tailoring the learning experience in the future to maximize the learning experience for all.

8. Discovery of the community around us – Who is in our community and who supports us. How are they part of the community and how do I support them. What challenges is the community facing and how those challenges affect us all can spark innovative thinking allowing for greener, more logical advancements and solutions to everyday problems?

Southern California is full of exciting places where learning can be the focal point of the field trip. The Zimmer Children’s Museum is a great place for kids to go to learn that hands-on experience. Kids can try on fireman’s gear, jump on a small plane and pretend to fly or jam with instruments from across the globe. These are just a few of the many fun play areas that enrich a child’s hands-on learning experience. For example:

1. Stage your own show with friends old and new at The Mann Theatre!

BIG IDEA: Identity & Diversity as well as Respect & Dignity

2. Jam with instruments from across the globe at Rhythms of the World!

BIG IDEA: Identity and Diversity

3. Fly a real plane to lands far and near at the Discovery Airport!

BIG IDEA: Identity and Diversity

4. Offer your time, talent and treasure to their world at the Giant Tzedakah Pinball!

BIG IDEA: Philanthropy and Tzedakah, Repair the World (Tikkun Olam)

5. Be a hero on land and sea at the S. Mark Taper Foundation Aid and Rescue Center.

BIG IDEA: Aid and Rescue, Compassion

6. Shop, gather read and feast at the places on Main Street!

BIG IDEA: Community Responsibility as well as Respect and Dignity

7. Serve up cuisines from different cultures at the Blue Bagel Café!

BIG IDEA: Community Responsibility as well as Respect and Dignity

8. Meet your friends and enjoy our own “Greenspace” at the Community Park!

BIG IDEA: Taking care of planet Earth and Tu B’Shevat

9. Build the world of tomorrow in the Construction Zone!

BIG IDEA: Community Responsibility as well as Respect and Dignity

10. Dream about what could be at the Wishing Well!

BIG IDEA: Repair the World and Compassion

11. Navigate this precious resource and discover what depends on it at Water Ways!

BIG IDEA: Taking care of planet Earth and Tu b’ Shevat

Field trips are the gateway to advanced learning. Studies show a direct correlation between learning and hands-on experience. Private and Charter Schools incorporate 3-4 field trips a month into their educational curriculum allowing students to expand their minds. Field trips do not have to be expensive to get the full benefit. Most museums and other businesses have incentives to get groups/schools to their facility. For these reasons, we as parents must take an active role in our children’s’ future. Get off the computer and take your children to a local museum or business for a tour. Help fundraise and bring awareness to our public schools showing how beneficial Field Trips are to the education of our future leaders. Take a stand and petition our government officials to ensure funding is available to schools for field trips. Bring a field trip to your child’s school by volunteering and coordinating an on-site visit by a scientist, poet, artist or mathematician. Get involved in a Field Trip today! 

The Zimmer Children’s Museum has set a goal and is fundraising to provide free field trips to 2500 Head Start and Kindergarten students. Field Trip Mom is asking you to assist with this goal by helping with a small donation. We would like to ask you to support the Zimmer Children’s Museum with a $25.00 donation. We understand some budgets are stricter than others so any amount you are able to provide will help towards a child’s visit to this amazing museum for that hands-on experience with this field trip opportunity. If your budget can support it, a $250.00 donation will help 25 children with their admission and put a smile on their faces. Please donate today and tell them your donation is a result of this blog post by Field Trip Mom. Thank you for taking a stand!

Click here to donate: http://www.razoo.com/story/Whatsyourpower

Zimmer Children's Museum

6505 Wilshire Blvd., #100 

Los Angeles, CA 90048 

Front Desk: (323) 761-8984 

(323) 761-8984 

Fax: (323) 761-8990

Email: info@zimmermuseum.org 

HOURS

Tuesday-Friday: 10am-5pm

Sunday: 12:30pm-5pm

VIB Hour (under 2 only): Wednesday, 9am-10am

Members Only Hour: 

Friday, 9am-10am 

Monday & Saturday: CLOSED