Note: As always, our 5 Minutes Smarter series is intended to help adults talk about difficult topics with kids. The episodes are not meant as an exhaustive explainer, but more of a jumping-off point for family discussion. 

Divorce has officially hit the Faatz extended family. We've been trying to figure out how to explain it to kids. To help others in the same situation, here's this week's episode of 5 Minutes Smarter: Divorce Edition. 

We break down what divorce is, a very brief explainer of what happens when a couple divorces, and explain how kids can talk about it with someone they trust. 

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Humans spend roughly a third of our lives sleeping...but what actually happens while we're sleeping?? In this episode we talk about the great mystery that is sleep science, what we know, and the great big things we don't know about this daily activity. 

Sources: 

Cleveland Clinic, "Why Do We Dream?" published August 18, 2022.

https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/body/12148-sleep-basics 

Cleveland Clinic, "All About Sleep Deprivation". 

https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/23970-sleep-deprivation 

Sleepoplis, "A Kids Guide to Understanding Sleep", Sharon Brandwin, April 9, 2025.

https://sleepopolis.com/education/kids-guide-understanding-sleep/

Kids Health, "What Sleep is and Why All Kids Need It", Marvin L. Gavin MD, June 2020.

https://kidshealth.org/en/kids/not-tired.html 

John Hopkins Medicine, "The Effects of Sleep Deprivation".

https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/wellness-and-prevention/the-effects-of-sleep-deprivation 

Kaiser Permanente, "Sleep Stages", Ignite Healthwise Staff, Updated February 2026. 

https://healthy.kaiserpermanente.org/health-wellness/health-encyclopedia/he.stages-of-sleep.hw48331 

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To help introduce our new series, "5 Minutes Smarter", we'll be releasing three smaller episodes this week! In this first installment, we're talking about what it takes for a person to be happy and healthy both in their body and their mind. 

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In this July 4th episode, we explore the history of National Anthems from around the world! Where they came from, why we have them, and how they impact nations around the world. 

It's a short one this week, but we'll be back with our regular longer episode after the holiday. 

SOURCES: 

One song under Heaven: A history of China’s national anthems, "A survey of nearly 150 years of Chinese history through the country's official and unofficial national anthems." Mads Vesterager Nielsen, Published February 25, 2021 

"Olympic Charter" (PDF). International Olympic Committee. Archived (PDF) from the original on 24 June 2016. 

“Facts about National Anthems” https://www.national-anthems.org/facts.htm 

“7 Types of Literary Themes” https://www.literatureandlatte.com/blog/types-of-conflict-in-literature 

“National Anthems: North Korea” https://nationalanthems.info/kp.htm

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If you live in the Western Hemisphere (North or South America) this episode is for you! We're talking about hummingbird conservation and how to help out your local hummingbird population. In this episode we'll talk about what hummingbirds need to survive, their life cycle, and how to support these incredible pollinators! 

HUMMINGBIRD FOOD RECIPE:

1 cup white table sugar (Do NOT use honey, organic sugar, or dyed sugar!)

4 cups water

Hard boil for 1 minute to remove impurities. Let cool. Fill hummingbird feeders. Remember to wash and clean your feeders at least once a week to keep them mold free. Mold is bad for hummers. Nobody likes eating mold. 

SOURCES:

United States National Parks Service, "Hummingbirds". 

https://www.nps.gov/articles/hummingbirds.htm

Hummingbird Society, "Predators of Hummingbirds". 

https://www.hummingbirdsociety.org/hummingbird-predators

Penn State College for Agriculture Science, "Hummingbird Gardens" and "What to Plant for Hummingbirds".

https://pollinators.psu.edu/landscaping-for-pollinators/what-to-plant/plants-for-hummingbirds

Grateful Gnome, "The Life Cycle of a Hummingbird". 

https://gratefulgnome.com/blogs/news/life-cycle-of-a-hummingbird-1?srsltid=AfmBOopZizvjHOt5Xb35UpOViqPjYziNh0RusQHIb2zFQi3xkEyqWdxB 

GoodHousekeeping, "40 Fascinating Hummingbird Facts", By Janaya Wecker, Andrea Blumenstein, Updated: Aug 10, 2022

https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/home/gardening/g19632825/hummingbird-facts/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=mgu_ga_ghk_d_bm_prog_org_us_g19632825&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=17943336231&gbraid=0AAAAADA2MErSUhFetqBPVkyazKSLdqy4U&gclid=Cj0KCQjwi8nRBhDhARIsAHZf_pYaRpfOF_BWWwC32ONSskEomGsII9ViLc0ovBu7BXCxS6Enhc1OoncaAj8EEALw_wcB 

Audobon.Org, "Hummingbirds". 

https://www.audubon.org/landing/love-hummingbirds?ms=digital-eng-google-x-paid_cpc-camp23562956879_%5BAGP%5D%20Hummingbirds-grp192538189639_Ad%20group%201-ad797327643793_&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=eng_%5BAGP%5D%20Hummingbirds&utm_term=192538189639_Ad%20group%201&utm_content=797327643793_&utm_id=23562956879_&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=23562956879&gbraid=0AAAAAD-lB1sJJhVrlrNqqQzk9TS7XeVrc&gclid=Cj0KCQjwi8nRBhDhARIsAHZf_paJVtI5YpL0_305Doi0LJCHJ64Vs6MAOB4J9iQxbP-MOi5XJzrRzn8aAoMqEALw_wcB 

Wikipedia, "Hummingbird". Used as a starting point. All additional sources cited. 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hummingbird

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Did you know that not all color blindness is the same? In this episode we talk about the different types of color vision deficiency, how color blindness effects everyday life, and signs to look out for if you suspect a loved one is color blind. 

A HUGE thank-you to the organization Colour Blind Awareness. They were a wealth of knowledge in researching this episode! 

Sources:
Colour Blind Awareness, "All About Colour Blindness". https://www.colourblindawareness . org/colour-blindness/

All About Vision, "Tritanopia and Color Blindness"
https://www.allaboutvision. com/conditions/color-blindness/tritanopia/

Improving Color Vision, Lumen V4, 2014, Visegrád, Hungary. 
https://www.colorlitelens . com/publication

Wikipedia, "Color Blind". 
https://en.wikipedia . org/wiki/Color_blindness

Gordon N (March 1998). "Colour blindness". Public Health. 112 (2): 81–4. doi:10.1038/sj.ph.1900446. ISSN 0033-3506. PMID 9581449.

"Facts About Color Blindness". NEI. February 2015. Archived from the original on 28 July 2016. Retrieved 29 July 2016.

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In this episode we talk about the science of glass and the difference between glass that shatters into pieces and glass that crumbles. It's a SCIENCE EPISODE of Hello From the Van!

Sources: 
SG Glass Manufacturers, "The History of Tempered Glass." 
https://www.sggglassmanufacturer. com/news/The-history-of-tempered-glass.html

Invent . Org, "Harold McMaster". 
https://www.invent . org/inductees/harold-mcmaster 

Apple Glass Company, "The History and Evolution of Bulletproof Glass."
https://appleglasscompany . com/blog/the-history-and-evolution-of-bulletproof-glass/ 

Eco Strip, "The History of Glass Windows". 
https://eco-strip . com/the-history-of-glass-windows/?srsltid=AfmBOooguceAx-MHnQ1NrLzlsGxe-g_7ICLxW87ekt7h1crJ9oWvXw7a 

ZME Science, "The Strongest Glass in the World".
https://www.zmescience . com/science/chemistry/strongest-glass-world-052352/ 

Wikipedia, "Tempered Glass". 
https://en.wikipedia . org/wiki/Tempered_glass 

Wikipedia, "Prince Rupert of Rhine".
https://en.wikipedia . org/wiki/Prince_Rupert_of_the_Rhine 

Fabricators Glass and Mirror, "What Happens When Tempered Glass Breaks?".
https://www.fabglassandmirror . com/blog/what-happens-when-tempered-glass-breaks/?srsltid=AfmBOooWkocm87s0r2iaselsOPW5GAaM4Sb-IGPcq98PZvQuC2sXCQ_v 

East Glass Machine, "How Does Glass Get Tension?".
https://www.eastglassmachine . com/how-does-glass-get-tension-in-it-a-comprehensive-explanation%E2%80%8B_newsview133.html 

SCMPM, "Scientists Develop Glass as Hard as Diamond".
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3144260/chinese-scientists-develop-glass-hard-diamond

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I recently took my kids on a field trip to Dana Point, California to visit the tide pools at low tide. That field trip led to a lot of questions from the kids and from me! In this episode we talk about why tides happen, how long humans have known about it, and the effect of tides on humans for thousands of years. 

SOURCES: 

Encyclopedia Brittanica Kids, "Tides". https://kids.britannica.com/kids/article/tide/390262

NOAA Tides and Current Calculator, Dana Point. https://tidesandcurrents.noaa.gov/noaatidepredictions.html?id=9413617&legacy=1

 Cartwright D. E., 2000, Tides: a scientific history., Cited on Reddit by DukesDJ

Tidal Science Before and After Newton, Woodworth. https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/533245/1/3-s2.0-B9780323908511000029-main.pdf

A Brief History of Tidal Work in India, https://share.google/DRnEeZ6SXCuD1s906 

The Effects of the Full Moon on Parasites, Neomed. https://www.neomedinstitute.com/the-effects-of-the-full-moon-on-parasites/ 

Today in Science History, "Rachel Carson". https://todayinsci.com/C/Carson_Rachel/CarsonRachel-Tide-Quotations.htm 

Europe's Mighty Megaliths "Rock" the Winter Solstice, National Geographic. https://www.nationalgeographic.com/history/history-magazine/article/history-europe-megaliths-solstice

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What do the Civil War, parking lots, and Memorial Day have in common?! We talk about all of them today on Hello From the Van.

In this shorter holiday episode, we discuss the origins of the Memorial Day and it's close ties to the rich history of the United States. 

A huge thank-you to The Wounded Warrior Project, The United States Archives, and PBS who had a wealth of reference knowledge critical to today's episode. (Links below). 

US National Archives:  https://www.archives.gov/news/topics/memorial-day

PBS, The Civil War with Ken Burns: https://www.pbs.org/kenburns/the-civil-war/timeline

The Wounded Warrior Project: https://newsroom.woundedwarriorproject.org/What-is-Memorial-Day-Facts-Meaning-and-History

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**SUMMER STORYWRITING RULES BELOW EPISODE DESCRIPTION**

Aristotle wasn't just a philosopher, he was a playwright and scientist. This week we learn all about plot structure as explained in the Poetics. Using the story of The Three Little Pigs, we dive into what makes a compelling story.
#hellofromthevan #educationalpodcast #aristotle #thepoetics #threeactstructure #3act #storywriting #storytime #threelittlepigs  

SUMMER STORYWRITING GUIDELINES/RULES AND HOW TO SUBMIT:
**Submissions Due June 18th, 2026**

- Word count must be between 50-400 words.

- Please follow the Aristotle Plot Structure.

- Stories must be submitted by an adult, the child's parent/legal guardian.

- Absolutely NO A.I. writing, illustrations, or content.
 
- Story subject and dialogue should be appropriate for all ages (swears etc will automatically be filtered by our software).

- Open to ages 5-12 (Kindergarten through 4th Grade). Parents can type up story if child cannot write yet.

- By submitting your child's story, you agree to it possibly being read in a future episode of Hello From the Van. All rights are retained by the child. We will not sell, distribute, or use the story beyond the future episode.

LEGAL STUFF:
- By submitting an Entry Form, each participant’s parent/legal guardian, on behalf of participant, agrees to be bound by the above Contest Rules.

- Each participant’s parent/legal guardian, on behalf of the participant, agrees to release and hold Hello From the Van, and its representatives, subsidiaries, parent company, harmless from any and all damages, losses, claims and liabilities arising out of participation in the Contest.

- Hello From the Van reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to terminate, suspend or otherwise cancel the Contest at any time.

**TO SUBMIT YOUR STORY:**
Simply send a PDF (if typed) or picture of the handwritten story to [email protected]
Subject Line: Storywriting   

JUDGING: 
The judging criteria and percentages shall be scored and graded using a rubric based on the following criteria:
Creative Expression
Originality
Storytelling/Plot Development

PRIZE:
There are no prizes, but chosen stories will be read and illustrated on a future episode of Hello From the Van. It's less of a traditional contest and more of a storywriting exercise for families.

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