Category: Elementary

With the increasing number of infections and rising death toll due to the pandemic, people have realized the importance of STEM-based skills to help combat the effects of future viruses of a similar nature that could plague the world just as COVID-19 did. We were unprepared for the pandemic, but knowledgeable scientists, researchers, and medical professionals worked hard to lessen its blows to public health by working on health and safety protocols and formulating vaccinations. In addition, engineers also stepped up to launch innovations to help the general population cope with the virus, like face shields that utilize 3D-printing technology.

STEM-based knowledge is definitely advantageous during these crucial times, which is why it’s more relevant than ever to promote resources that encourage developing these skills to youth. Let’s look at some of these resources below.

STEM-Works (http://stem-works.com/activities)

This website provides a wide range of STEM-based topics, from health care innovations to robotics. If you’re someone who’s just beginning to enhance your STEM knowledge, the website will be a useful tool for you to get more familiar with the different avenues that involve STEM. The website has a user-friendly design that makes learning more fun. A bonus is that it also provides a platform for you to provide feedback or suggested activities, so you can get your creative juices flowing and even help to improve the site.

Exploratorium (https://www.exploratorium.edu/explore)

Exploratorium offers STEM-based knowledge that goes beneath the surface. This website takes a deep dive on a variety of topics and provides an in-depth look into subjects that will surely catch your interest, like Mars exploration or mummification. If you’re the type who likes to do experiments, this website gives you ideas on activities you can do safely at home to widen your knowledge.

HowStuffWorks (https://science.howstuffworks.com/)

This is a great website when you truly want to take a deep dive on everything under the sun that relates to STEM, from innovations to engineering. While the presentation may be encyclopedic, it does help to have an ample amount of information to fully understand how stuff works. The website also has an interesting section titled “Science Vs. Myth” which delves into topics which often have us wondering whether they’re real or not, like crop circles and werewolves. This website is definitely worth investing your time in.

Science Buddies (https://www.sciencebuddies.org/)

This website not only provides extensive information on STEM topics, it also encourages and inspires young students to gain their own perspectives by asking them thought-provoking questions. While the website’s presentation may be simpler than other similar sites, it’s still a great one to bookmark!

Funology (https://www.funology.com/)

If developing your STEM knowledge in a fun way is more to your liking, then this website suits you best. Funology has a wide range of offerings that go beyond providing mere information and suggested experiments, like arts and crafts activities, games, magic tricks, trivia, and jokes. With Funology, there’s never a dull moment while you boost your STEM knowledge.

There’s no better time to build up your STEM know-how than now. Have fun and happy learning!

 

SOURCES

https://thejournal.com/articles/2020/09/18/teaching-stem-during-covid.aspx

By Erin Rebello

Due to the coronavirus, there have been numerous changes to our everyday way of life. Besides social distancing and various restrictions, students have also dealt with a number of changes pertaining to how school will be offered. Instead of traditional in-person learning, many Catholic school boards have switched to a hybrid learning module consisting of both in person, synchronous-online, and asynchronous learning. School boards have also switched to a “quadmester” system – which is just about as confusing as the name sounds! As a high school student who’s been using this new system for the past 4 months, I’ve definitely got a lot to say about it!

Getting the Definitions Down

• Quadmester: A learning model in which students take two courses over a ten-week period. This occurs 4 times over the course of the 10-month school year. It can be difficult to conceptualize a quadmester, but it’s much easier to understand if you think of it like a halved semester.
• Synchronous Online Learning: A teaching method where students are learning in real time, but instead of being in the classroom, they’re at home. Synchronous learning usually takes place via video conferencing. An example of synchronous learning would be attending a Zoom meeting.
• Asynchronous Learning: A teaching method where students learn on their own time. Asynchronous learning is student-directed. If a class is listed as asynchronous, you still have to do work, and may have to log on at a certain time, but you won’t be attending a teacher-directed lesson.

How it Works

The Catholic hybrid model works by giving students a mix of synchronous, asynchronous and in-person learning. Students take two subjects per quadmester, and each quadmester lasts roughly 10 weeks, or 2.5 months. The first quadmester ran from early September to mid-November.

When using the hybrid model, students still attend school every week, but instead of going daily, it is every other day, reducing the amount of time they will be in contact with other students. As well, in-person only occurs in the morning, for about 2.5 hours. In the afternoon, students attend school virtually for synchronous learning time with their other course. Every week, the course taken in-school and the course taken online switch, so that students get to interact with their teachers both in person and online over the course of the quadmester.

My Experience

If his hybrid model sounds difficult to understand, trust me, it was even harder to get used to! At the start of September, I remember confusingly trying to navigate my schedule to no avail. What’s worse, I only knew my two immediate courses for the first quad – everything else was a mystery. This became even worse when my guidance counsellor emailed me saying that I couldn’t fit all my courses in, and that I had to take calculus in night school.

Although taking only two courses might seem simple, I found it to be quite the opposite. Since we only had two months to complete each course, I constantly felt overwhelmed with what I was learning. Even though my teachers removed several chapters of material, we were still working through the course at record speeds. It seemed like there was a mountain of tests, lab reports, and homework every single day! After the first semester, I felt really burnt out, and I had no time to catch a break because only one day after my exams for quad 1, I was thrown into quad 2.

Overall, I’ve had a somewhat negative experience with this style of learning so far. However, I’m only in my second quad right now, so I’m staying optimistic for the future! Hopefully by my 3rd and 4th quad, teachers will be able to make the workload more manageable and fix any issues with the hybrid learning system. Fingers crossed for 2021!

Taking up a new hobby has been especially common due to the virus-induced lockdown. Simply go online and scroll through social media accounts, and you’ll find individuals who are showing off their newly acquired skills like banana bread baking, painting, calligraphy, and others.

Starting a new hobby is not only a good way to pass the time and be productive while we face stay-at-home orders; it actually helps us to avoid getting into routines and thus be able to distinguish days from each other, instead of them being lumped together in our minds. A recent study on the “Routine and the Perception of Time,” from the Journal of Experimental Psychology, revealed that a variety of tasks allow people to perceive time to move faster whereas being stuck in routines causes them to think time is longer and one day just blends into another. The adage “Time flies when you’re having fun” is true!

So if you’re still on the fence about developing a new skill, like learning a musical instrument, don’t be. The perfect time to start is now. And while it may seem daunting to learn on your own and not have the luxury of taking a stab at it within a traditional classroom setting, remember that the pandemic has opened a slew of resources for learning things on a virtual level. That includes learning a musical instrument. Let’s look into a few surefire tricks to start you off on the right note.

Remember, small steps lead to big things.

Most of the time, when people throw themselves into learning something new, they don’t have the patience for baby steps. They often fall into the trap of reaching for grandiosity at an early stage and then end up getting frustrated when they come across a stumbling block. This also happens when one is getting acquainted with a musical instrument, like a piano, for example. It’s okay to think big, but when you’re starting out, it’s not the time to take up something as complicated as the “Flight of the Bumblebee” thinking that you can easily imitate famous pianist David Helfgott. Instead, go for something simple like Debussy’s “Clair de Lune.”

Rejoice at the little achievements.

Keep in mind to not be too hard on yourself when you’re a beginner in exploring your musical talents. There’s a learning curve to everything, so if you’re able to get over one hurdle at a time, it’s enough reason to celebrate. You won’t be able to memorize a piece right off the bat, so if you’re able to read notes at a fast pace than when you initially started, then it’s time to give yourself a pat on the back. You deserve it!

Keep up to standards.

When you’re a newbie, it’s ideal to stick to common techniques when it comes to playing a musical instrument. Hold off on the eccentricities until you’ve developed enough skills, like playing the guitar upside down or the violin blindfolded. This means you have to follow the rules, no matter how boring they may seem to be at this time. Soon enough, you’ll be ready to go more out of the box.

Keep an open mind to nontraditional resources.

If there’s one lesson to be learned from COVID-19, it’s that technology can help us during the direst of times. Just think, we may not have been able to spend quality face-to-face time with our loved ones who live far away due to travel limitations, but we have been able to stay connected with them through technological platforms like Zoom. And when it comes to studying how to play a musical instrument, there are loads of apps available with easy-to-follow instructions to help you out.

Improvise!

If you need to save up to buy your preferred musical instrument, don’t fret and wait until then to learn the skills. You can focus on reading notes on sheet music or get your hands familiar with the moves with a makeshift guitar which you can craft out of cardboard paper. A handful of stores also offer secondhand items for a fraction of the price, so you definitely can consider this option as well.

Learning a musical instrument may be unnerving at first, but it’s an exciting one that will be worth your time.

 

SOURCES

https://www.cbc.ca/music/now-s-the-time-to-learn-how-to-play-music-here-s-what-you-ll-need-1.5501564

https://www.classicfm.com/discover-music/latest/learning-musical-instrument/

https://www.fastcompany.com/90570071/every-day-since-march-has-felt-the-same-heres-the-fix

https://psycnet.apa.org/record/2003-09669-005

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/03/13/technology/personaltech/online-music-lessons-apps.html

Stretching is something everyone does, but not everyone stretches all the muscles in their body. Daily stretching is very beneficial in many different ways. If you would like to know the benefits of stretching and how to make it a habit, below are some tips and information that will surely help you!

Why is Stretching Good for You?

There are several different reasons why stretching is good for you. The following are a few reasons that will surely convince you to begin stretching more often!

1. Stretching the muscles in your lower back, shoulders, and chest helps improve your posture and keep your back in better alignment.
2. Decrease the stiffness in your muscles and increase your range of motion.
3. Prevent injuring a muscle if you make a sudden move.
4. Help your muscles hold less tension, which can reduce and manage your feeling of stress.
5. Finally, stretching your muscles after a workout keeps your muscles loose which can help prevent post-workout soreness and pains.

Making Stretching a Habit

After reading a few reasons why stretching is good for you, you’re probably wondering how to make it a habit. It is something everyone should learn. Below are some steps to help you include stretching in your daily routine and make it a habit.

• Start small! If you’re beginning to add stretching into your routine, it’s best to start small. You could stretch for a few minutes and increase the amount as your body gets used to it.
• Find different stretches! Doing the same stretches over again will only benefit certain muscles. Find different stretches and rotate between them to stretch all areas of your body.
• Create a schedule! As mentioned earlier, stretching daily is very beneficial. To stick to stretching, it is best to set a time to stretch every day.
• Spice it up! You could stretch anywhere and at any time. It could be done while you’re in bed, sitting at a desk, or in the shower. You could also add music in the background to get you motivated.

Tips for Proper Stretching

Did you know that you could injure yourself if you do not stretch correctly? Learning how to stretch properly is something everyone should learn. If you would like to learn how to stretch properly, these tips are for you!

• Don’t begin stretching with cold muscles! Cold muscles are muscles that have not been warmed up. Before stretching, take 5 to 10 minutes to do some light cardio. This could include walking or jogging.
• Don’t overstretch! Stretching the same muscles several times a day can damage your muscles.
• Don’t stretch to the point of discomfort! It is normal to feel tension while stretching, but it is never good to feel pain. If you feel pain, stop stretching that area and let the muscle rest.

Stretching may not be safe for you if you have an existing injury or have any physical limitations that can keep you from properly stretching. If you do have an injury or physical limitation, you should talk to your doctor before stretching.

 

Resources

https://pnthn.com/knowledge/how-to-make-stretching-a-habit

https://indianexpress.com/article/lifestyle/fitness/simple-stretching-exercises-new-year-2020-healthy-lifestyle-6194538/

https://www.premierhealth.com/your-health/articles/women-wisdom-wellness-/the-essential-benefits-of-stretching

https://www.healthline.com/health/benefits-of-stretching#safety-tips

By Erin Rebello

With winter in full swing, and another lockdown starting up, you may find yourself coming down with a serious case of cabin fever! Being cooped up is hard on anyone during the winter, but this is especially true when you’re not allowed to visit friends or loved ones. Personally, this has really been difficult for me, so I decided to find a cure for cabin fever. For the past few weeks, I’ve been testing out some fun winter activities for quarantine, and I think I’ve found some really good ones! Keep reading for some great ideas on how to pass the time!

1. Host a Family Movie Night. Even when there isn’t a quarantine, I love snuggling up with my loved ones to watch a movie together. Although you might not be able to have your friends over, you can still watch movies with those in your household for a great family bonding experience. Whenever my family does movie night, we all take turns choosing a movie, so well all get to watch something that we like. This is a simple yet fun winter activity for quarantine, and you may even start a brand-new family tradition! (Bonus points if there’s popcorn!)
2. Indoor Camping. Camping in the woods can be cold, wet, and uncomfortable – and there’s no bathroom either! On the other hand, indoor camping has all the fun with none of the hassle. My younger sister and I love pitching a tent in the basement and spending the night telling scary stories and doing puzzles. Even if you don’t have a tent, you can make your own blanket fort with some old sheets and pillows. You can also combine a movie night with camping for a fun weekend. Easy-peasy!
3. Family Bake Off. If you or anyone in your family has a knack for baking, I highly recommend having a family bake-off! If you’re all really good at baking, you can get into teams and compete for whoever can make the better cake. If you want to make things easier, you can also work together to make something simple like cupcakes, then compete to see who can decorate or garnish theirs the best.
4. Online Videogames. If you still miss your friends a lot, you might want to consider playing online games together. As someone who enjoys gaming I’ve been using quarantine to hang out with my friends virtually, and the winter is no exception! My personal favourite games are Scribbl.io and Among Us, which are both free to play. You can also use a voice call app such as Discord to talk while gaming.
5. Arts and Crafts. Whether it’s summer, winter, fall, or spring, you can never go wrong with some good old-fashioned arts and crafts. During the winter specifically, I love knitting and crocheting. It feels really rewarding to be able to create your own hats and scarves. I’ve also recently developed an interest in Amigurumis, which is the Japanese art of crocheting cuddly figures out of yarn. Some people think that yarn crafts are for grandmas, but hey, everyone loves grandmas!
6. Reading a Good Book. Maybe I’m a bit of a nerd, but I absolutely love reading! Even during quarantine, when all my friends seemed far away, picking up a good book allowed me to escape the dread of isolation and instead travel on a magical adventure. If you’re an avid reader, be sure to make full use of your local public libraries. Most library systems are allowing users to place holds on books online, and then pick them up in person. Libraries also usually have a treasure trove of online materials, like ebooks and audiobooks, so you never have to leave the comfort of your own home!

The term “bored” often has a negative connotation. Do a Google search of “I am bored” and most likely the next phrase that comes up is “what should I do?”, as if being bored is a disease in need of a cure. However, being bored doesn’t necessarily have to be a bad thing if you take on a different perspective.

In fact, a study published in the journal Academy of Management Discoveries revealed that one’s boredom can actually lead to individual productivity and creativity. In this research, the people who were asked to sort a bowl of beans by colour, one by one, were discovered to have performed better on idea-generating tasks than those who were asked to do an interesting craft activity.

Of course, don’t take this to mean that you’ll have to force yourself to be idle so that it could spark your creativity. It doesn’t work that way. Doing that will only lead to your tasks piling up, and you certainly wouldn’t want that. The type of boredom that can stimulate your imagination is happenstance, something that happens when you’ve completed all your things to do. You have free time to do whatever you please – whether to watch that buzzworthy new TV series on Netflix or play that trendy videogame on your new PS5 – but still end up feeling bored. In times like this, don’t beat yourself up as you could actually be on the road to a more creative and imaginative headspace.

Yes, it can happen! Here are tips on how to get the most out of being bored.

Enjoy it!

It does seem contradictory, but who’s to say that you can’t enjoy being bored, especially if you’ve spent the whole of 2020 buried in schoolwork and your piano lessons while babysitting for your neighbours? There’s nothing to be ashamed of if a day comes up in your daily planner with zero tasks and nothing to check off on your to-do list, which can be extremely stressful. Take this time to recharge your batteries and enjoy it.

Unplug!

We’ve been so reliant on our technological gadgets that the minute we find ourselves doing nothing, we instinctively reach out for our mobile phones and tablets. If you’re having the urge to do this, stop yourself and keep those devices out of your reach. Don’t fall into the temptation of searching for new apps that help fill your time or looking for memes of the day. It’s a hard habit to break, for sure, but a few hours being without your cellphone won’t kill you.

Say yes to mundane tasks!

Perhaps there’s a task you’ve put off for so long because you think it’s too boring or it wasn’t that urgent in the first place, like sorting your wardrobe by colour or organizing your computer files. Give these tasks a chance and try your best to find joy in it. Seeing a closet where your clothes are arranged by shade is definitely pleasing to the eyes, right? Or an organized file setup on your laptop means you’re able to find what you need easily. Doing these small duties also allows you to feel a sense of pride and accomplishment.

Now it’s time for “autobiographical planning.”

This is a term coined by cognitive psychologists and neuroscientists like Sandi Mann of the University of Central Lancashire and the author of The Upside of Downtime: Why Boredom is Good. Mann believes that when one is bored and lets their mind wander or daydream, the possibility to do autobiographical planning becomes much stronger, where we examine our lives, look at the big (or small) moments, and set a goal for ourselves and think about the steps to reach those goals. This is when your creativity will most likely kick in.

So the next time you find yourself bored, don’t fight it. Instead, embrace it with all your might! The process will have its rewards.

 

SOURCES

https://www.ted.com/talks/manoush_zomorodi_how_boredom_can_lead_to_your_most_brilliant_ideas/transcript

https://www.wired.com/2017/01/clive-thompson-7/

https://qz.com/1020976/the-scientific-link-between-boredom-and-creativity/

https://time.com/5480002/benefits-of-boredom/

https://www.theedgemarkets.com/article/everyday-mattersare-we-there-yet-%E2%80%94-ode-boredom

By Erin Rebello

If you’re anything like me, you know how difficult it is to keep your computer home page clean! No matter how much effort I put into keeping everything neat and tidy, within a week it goes back to its usual state of chaos. As a result of the mess, it’s been harder to feel motivated to get my work done and be productive. I decided that I needed to make a change to boost my productivity, so that’s exactly what I did! Over the winter break, I took another shot at keeping my computer tidy, and so far it seems to be working well. Without all the clutter, it’s much easier to focus on my work, and I find myself being far more motivated than I was before! Below are a few helpful tips and tricks that I used to keep my computer files organized.

1. Delete what you don’t need. Whether it’s an old book report from elementary school, or some image files you downloaded for a project, there is bound to be a lot of junk cluttering up your computer. Not only is this unpleasant to look at, but having too many files will actually slow your computer, which is certainly not ideal! The best way to deal with this issue is by setting aside a day to thoroughly sort through your computer files, and by discarding old, irrelevant, or unnecessary ones.
2. Take advantage of cloud storage. If there are any files that you want to access from multiple computers, consider using cloud-based storage solutions. Instead of saving your data to a single computer hard drive, saving to the cloud allows you to access your data from anywhere at any time – no need for those pesky USBs! You also don’t have to worry about constantly saving your work, as it autosaves! Some great cloud drive systems are Dropbox, Google Drive, Microsoft OneDrive, and Apple iCloud.
3. Use folders to create categories. After you’ve decided what files you want to keep, you should go one step further and organize them into categories. What the specific categories are is up to you, but personally I like to have one folder for each of my grade levels, and within these folders, I have separate folders for each of my subjects. This way, I can keep all my school-related items in one place on my computer. Other important folders I have include “Photos” “Jobs and Resumes” and “Microsoft Applications.”
4. Keep games off your main screen. As someone who loves gaming, I have had my fair share of video games saved to my computer. Although I love spending my free time playing these games, having them on my home screen can make them tempting to play when I have more important things to be doing. For this reason, I recommend putting all your games into a tidy folder and keeping it in the corner of your home screen. Personally, I’ve found that this prevents me from a lot of “impulse-playing” and has allowed me to be more productive
5. Follow the 40/60 rule. When organizing your files and folders on your home screen, make sure that you only cover 40% or less of the screen, leaving the remaining 60% empty. If you have too many files to do this, use more folders! I’ve found that this rule helps a lot with managing my files. It also makes my main screen more appealing, and less overwhelming to look at.

Although this certainly isn’t a conclusive list, following these tips and tricks should put you on the path towards a more productive computer setup!

By Erin Rebello

We’ve all been there at one point: the words your teacher is speaking seem to be fading away and you just can’t concentrate – the class is too boring to stay focused. As a student, you’ll likely have to deal with your fair share of mind-numbing classes over the years. Although they can be difficult to handle, here are some ways to approach and perhaps even improve a boring class.

Do Your Research About the Class Before Signing up for It

If you’re a high school student and have the option to choose your classes, you should definitely be doing a bit of research about the class before putting it on your schedule! You might think that a class seems interesting, but consider looking at the syllabus or talking with the teacher. As well, you can also get in touch with students who have taken the course in the past, to ask for their opinions on the course and get a student perspective. Doing research will prevent you from taking a class you’re disinterested in.

Try to Engage with the Class

If you’re only passively taking notes during class and not doing anything else, even the most interesting course can seem incredibly boring. The best way to improve your interest in a class is by engaging with its content. Engagement looks very different depending on the class, but for most courses, asking and answering questions is a great start. Participating will give you a better grasp of the content you’re learning, and is very beneficial in the long run. An added bonus is that your teacher will love you for participating in class, and you might even get extra credit!

Speak with Your Teacher

Communication is key to any good relationship, and a teacher-student relationship is no different. If you’re having trouble engaging with the content, speak with your teacher about it. Although it might be scary to speak with your teacher, they’re humans too and they care about your learning. Feel free to talk about specific issues with the course, and perhaps some (reasonable) ideas for changes that would make the class more interesting. Many teachers are always trying to improve, and are searching for ways to make their class more engaging for their students, so they will likely appreciate your feedback. If they choose to implement your ideas, you may find immediate changes in how interesting the class is!

Consider Deeper Issues

Finally, if you find that you’re constantly having trouble with being interested in the class, there may be a deeper problem at play than simply being disinterested in the subject. Last semester I took a physics class that I thought was really boring, and I was constantly falling asleep in class. This was a recurring pattern, and I ended up speaking with my doctor and soon learned that I had a health issue that made me feel more tired than normal. Similarly, there are conditions like ADHD and depression, that make it difficult to engage with a class. If you think that you might have an underlying medical condition, you should speak with your parent or guardian, and talk to you family doctor for further direction.

By Erin Rebello

Do you love working with children? Have you considered a career in the medical field? Does diagnosing illnesses sound like fun to you? If you’ve answered “yes” to any of these questions, then a career in pediatrics might just be the one for you! Pediatricians are a specific type of doctor that work with children ranging in age from 0 to 18. Most pediatricians facilitate check-ups with patients in a clinic or doctor’s office, but a few of the more specialized ones work with specific populations, like premature-babies, or children with cancer. In fact, you might have even visited a pediatrician in the past as a young child without knowing! A career in pediatrics can be very fulfilling, but there’s definitely a lot you have to do before you perform your first check-up.

Education Level

Like any other doctor specialty, a career in pediatrics is a lifelong commitment, and thus requires a lot of education. After high school, you’ll first spend the next four years in university to get your bachelor’s degree. Then, you’ll need to spend another four years in medical school to get your MD. Although you’re technically a doctor after getting your MD, you still need at least three more years of training in a residency before you’re a fully-fledged pediatrician! After that, many pediatricians go into outpatient care (clinics) while the minority will spend more time in specific residencies for further training. In total, training to be a pediatrician takes over 11 years and is definitely a huge commitment. Not only this, but being a physician in Canada is extremely difficult, and only around 10% to 20% of applicants get into medical school every year. Although being a pediatrician is doable, you’ll have to make sure to study really hard!

Salary Level

Although being a doctor requires a lot of education, there’s definitely a huge payoff in terms of salary. During your three or more years of residency after getting your MD, you’ll typically make around $60,000, which is no “chump change!” After being a fully-fledged pediatrician, your salary will likely double or triple. In Ontario, the average pediatrician will make around $230,000 every year. In most other provinces, the average salary of a pediatrician remains in the $200,000 to $300,000 range, and only fluctuates slightly based on the cost of living in the region.

Outlook and Opportunities

Another great thing about a career in pediatrics is the fact that physicians are always in demand. In fact, with Canada’s physician shortage, pediatricians are more in demand than ever before! For this reason, there is a very positive outlook for a career in pediatrics, both now and in the future.

In addition to the longevity of a career in pediatrics, being a pediatrician also opens the door to many other opportunities. As mentioned early, many pediatricians have the ability to further advance their careers by taking an additional residency to learn a new set of skills. Some pediatric specialties include surgery, emergency medicine, oncology (cancer specialty), and much more. Because of this, pediatricians have a lot of options as to how they can shift their careers if they want a change from outpatient care.

How to Get Started

If you’ve read this far, you’re probably very eager to learn about what you can do to start on your path to becoming a pediatrician. In elementary and even high school, there isn’t much that you can do to prepare for a career in medical school. Your grades start to matter more in university, and even then, you’ll only start to learn actual medicine in medical school. Although this might seem disheartening, it’s actually really good, as it gives you plenty of time to learn and grow as a person. That way, when you’re in university you’ll have thought long and hard about whether a career in medicine and pediatrics is right for you.

 

Sources:

https://www.payscale.com/rcsearch.aspx?category=&str=Resident+doctor&CountryName=Canada&SourceId=Country

https://www.shemmassianconsulting.com/blog/medical-schools-in-canada

https://www.dr-bill.ca/blog/practice-management/doctor-starting-salary-in-canada-by-specialty/#:~:text=Resident%20doctor%20salary%20is%20around,first%20year%20doctor%20starting%20salary

Have you been feeling bored throughout this COVID-19 lockdown? Your lockdown doesn’t have to be boring and your days don’t have to be repetitive! The following are fun things to do inside during the COVID-19 lockdown.

Look Through Old Family Photos

Your family probably has old dusty albums or boxes filled with old family photos. If so, how long has it been since you’ve looked through them? Go find your old family pictures and go through those treasured memories! If you’d like, you could also save them digitally just in case anything happens to the physical photo.

Learn a New Language

Are you interested in learning a new language? If you are, then this lockdown is the perfect time to put your brain to work. You could find helpful videos online or you could even download fun apps such as Duolingo and Memrise to help you. If you’d like, you could also watch shows or movies, listen to music or podcasts in the specific language you are trying to learn.

Read

During this lockdown, it may be very tempting to binge-watch your favourite shows all day. You should switch up your routine. Add in some time during your day to read a good book. If you do not have any physical books at home, you could always go on your local library’s website and you will find e-books there.

Learn How to Cook or Bake

Everybody loves to eat but not everybody knows what it’s like to be the one to prepare the food. During this lockdown, you should take some time to follow recipes online or from cookbooks. For an extra challenge, you should try to prepare the plate as if you are a chef on a show, ready to win a challenge!

Make a Bucket List

Everyone has many things they would like to do or achieve. Some people want to travel the world, go sky diving, or learn how to drive. Creating a bucket list can help you keep track and look forward to all the things you would like to do in the future.

Learn Sign Language

Sign language might be quite intimidating but it is a very good skill to have. There are several sources online that can help you learn sign language and become a pro in no time. Once you learn sign language, you can teach your family and friends as well!

Learn to Play an Instrument

Playing an instrument can be very fun. If you have an instrument sitting around your house, you should pick it up and learn how to play! The internet has many useful tutorials which you could learn from.

Write a Journal

Writing in a journal can be very fun and can help you get your mind off of anything that may be stressing you. You can write whatever you want and at any time. You could doodle, write a story or even create a list of goals for 2021!

Redecorate Your Room

Ever since lockdown has begun, you have probably been in your room a lot. If you are bored with how your room has been looking, you could redecorate it! Move around furniture, put up some photos, or decorate for any upcoming holidays. Changing up your room every once in a while can help you feel refreshed.

Host a Game Night

Have you ever hosted a game night? If not, this lockdown is the perfect time to do so. You could play with your family or host one with your friends through a video call. If you don’t have any games, you could make them, order some card or board games online, or even play virtually!

Now that you have ten more ideas of things you could do during the COVID-19 lockdown, you could try some of them out. Start by doing something you’ve never done before!

Don’t forget to share these ideas with your friends and family so they can also have fun during the lockdown!

 

Resources

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/to-do-list-amid-covid19-1.5552691

https://www.hellomagazine.com/healthandbeauty/health-and-fitness/2020040387411/productive-things-to-do-during-lockdown/

https://www.glamourmagazine.co.uk/article/things-to-do-at-home