1 . My Favourite Books

Jo Usmar is a writer for Cosmopolitan and co-author of the This Book Will series(系列) of lifestyle books. Here she picks her top reads.

I once wrote a paper on the influence of fairy tales on Roald Dahl’s writing and it gave me a new appreciation for his strange and delightful words. Matilda’s battles with her cruel parents and the bossy headmistress, Miss Trunchbull, are equally funny and frightening, but they’re also aspirational.

It’s about two sisters—Eri, a model who either won’t or can’t stop sleeping, and Mari, a young student. In trying to connect to her sister, Mari starts changing her life and discovers a world of diverse “night people” who are hiding secrets.

There was a bit of me that didn’t want to love this when everyone else on the planet did, but the horror story is brilliant. There’s tension and anxiety from the beginning as Nick and Amy battle for your trust. It’s a real whodunit and the frustration when you realise what’s going on is horribly enjoyable.

This is an excellent fantasy novel from one of the best storytellers around. After a serious flu outbreak wipes out 99.4% of the world’s population, a battle unfolds between good and evil among those left. Randall Flagg is one of the scariest characters ever.

2 . Washington, D.C. Bicycle Tours

Cherry Blossom Bike Tour in Washington, D.C.

Duration: 3 hours

This small group bike tour is a fantastic way to see a world-famous cherry trees with beautiful flowers of Washington, D.C. Your guide will provide a history lesson about the trees and the famous monuments where they blossom. Reserve your spot before availability — the cherry blossoms—disappear!

Washington Capital Monuments Bicycle Tour

Duration: 3 hours (4 miles)

Join a guided bike tour and view some of the most popular monuments in Washington, D.C. Explore the monuments and memorials on the National Mall as your guide shares unique facts and history at each stop. Guided tour includes bike, helmet, cookies and bottled water.

Capital City Bike Tour In Washington, D.C.

Duration: 3 hours

Morning or Afternoon, this bike tour is the perfect tour for D. C. newcomers and locals looking to experience Washington, D.C. in a healthy way with minimum effort. Knowledgeable guides will entertain you with the most, interesting stories about Presidents, Congress, memorials, and parks. Comfortable bikes and a smooth tour route(路线) make cycling between the sites fun and relaxing.

Washington Capital Sites at Night Bicycle Tour

Duration: 3 hours (7miles)

Join a small group bike tour for an evening of exploration in the heart of Washington, D.C. Get up close to the monuments and memorials as you bike the sites of Capitol Hill and the National Mall. Frequent stops are made for photo taking as your guide offers unique facts and history. Tour includes bike, helmet, and bottled water. All riders are equipped with reflective vests and safety lights.

7 . While most TV stations try to attract viewers by producing reality shows, Henan TV has become famous by promoting (推广) traditional culture through Chinese dance. Henan TV produced seven dance pieces introducing traditional culture for traditional festivals, such as “Rhapsody on the Luo River Goddess (《洛神水赋》)”, a two-minute underwater dance for the Dragon Boat Festival. “Guardian Warriors of Longmen (《龙门金刚 》)”, a dance piece supported by AR technology against the backdrop of the Longmen Grottoes(石窟).

“These pieces have gotten nearly 30 billion hits,“ said Yao Wei, director of the TV station. “It’s a huge success for Henan TV.”

On Nov 1, 2021, Yao was invited to talk about how the TV station had produced the hit dance pieces at a three-day forum (论坛) centering on the research of Chinese dance.

The pieces were popular with audiences, most of whom are members of Gen Z, (people born between 1995 and 2009), Yao said.

“It’s been over forty years since the country’s reform(改革) and opening-up and the younger generations have grown up with open minds. They love Chinese culture and are proud of it,” said Yao. “What we need to do is present Chinese culture and tradition in interesting ways for those young people.”

Yao added that Henan TV has been producing shows promoting traditional culture, such as traditional operas and kung Fu, for nearly 30 years.

“To allure younger audiences, we are also changing our shows. One of the keys is to produce them with creativity,” Yao said. “For example, the latest technology and special stage settings, like underwater scenes, have become our new ways of telling stories about traditional Chinese culture.”

Another key to successfully reaching younger audiences is using social media to promote their shows.

“Social media is being shaped and driven by young people. It’s a powerful form of communication. When they watch short videos, they easily become interested in an eye-catching video,” Yao said.

8 . Monthly educational subscription boxes for students can be a great way to develop an interest in a particular subject. If you want to learn something at home while having fun, you can have educational subscription boxes delivered monthly straight to your house.

Spangler Boxes

Spangler Boxes feature a range of hands-on scientific experiments designed by Steve Spangler, who previously hosted a popular science education program on News for Kids Projects focus on STEM-science, technology, engineering and math Examples of projects include exploring lava (岩浆) science, the sound waves, and physical laws.

Finders Seekers Boxes

After receiving a Finders Seekers Box, you’ll explore characters of a new city and culture every month while solving puzzles. Think of a Finders Seekers Box as an escape room challenge that takes place in your living room. Clues and online research tools are available to help in case you get stuck solving the mystery. Each puzzle takes approximately two to four hours to complete.

Creation Boxes

Creation Boxes teach students electronics, digital tips and high-level problem-solving. Each box teaches a lesson and is progressively more challenging. A sampling of the projects includes a mood lamp, an electronic memory game, and a distance detector using an ultrasonic sensor (超声传感器).

Kiwi Doodle Boxes

Kiwi Doodle Boxes are among the most popular boxes on the market. They feature a variety of themes customized to students aged from 8 to 18 and focus on art and design with projects such as a felt botanic garden,an artificial leather sample set, and a handmade soap. These projects introduce students to new crafting materials and techniques and all craft supplies are included in the box.

9 . STEM Summer Programs for High School Students

STEM is a term that stands for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Here is a list of some of the best STEM summer camps for high school students.

It is an eight-week paid summer research experience for high school students. This is a hands-on program for worldwide students interested in going after a career in medical research. Students will attend seminars led by faculty and participate in discussions with peers.

It is a seven-week program located at Stony Brook University. Students will have the opportunity to participate in special workshops, tours and events. They will conclude the program by producing a written research abstract and research poster.

It is the first cost-free program of its kind. During this seven-week program, students will dive deeper into the world of science and engineering by experiencing the entire research cycle. In this program, students attend classes conducted by famous professors and prepare oral presentations to present their research.

This program is a six-week intensive mathematics program designed for students across the globe. Unlike common programs, it offers a great deal of independence for students to choose their own schedules and decide what they want to study. Besides learning, there is also “mandatory (强制)fun time” built into the weekly schedule so that students are able to have non-math related activities.