School's Out Thursday: Activity ideas

First ... it's Veteran's Day, a great opportunity to teach kids all about why we celebrate this day and why they're getting the day off from school. The Department of Veterans Affairs offers some ideas for activities for kids in grades kindergarten to 12th grade. And military.com offers some other activities. I particularly like the idea of kids making cards for veterans.

Or maybe you could take some time on Thursday to give back. The Back Home Box Foundation is a local group that ships boxes of cookies, toiletries and other treats to soldiers. Check the website for more information about how you and your family can get involved. And if you're involved in a group or charity that helps veterans or soldiers that families can help out with, please include it in the comments.

All the major family destinations will be open including Raleigh's Marbles Kids Museum, the N.C. Museum of History, the N.C. Museum of Natural Sciences and the N.C. Museum of Art; Chapel Hill's Kidzu Children's Museum and Morehead Planetarium and Science Center; and Durham's Museum of Life and Science. Check the museums, historic sites and zoos resource page for more information and links.

Of note: The state art museums each have relatively new exhibits that are worth checking out. There's the George Washington exhibit at the history museum, Animal Grossology at the natural sciences museum and five new exhibitions, including the Norman Rockwell and children's book illustrations exhibits, at the art museum. Marbles Kids Museum will be having patriotic activities throughout the museum on Thursday and veterans, along with active military and their families, get $1 off admission.

Kazoom Puppet Theatre in Raleigh will have its usual Thursday morning shows at 10 a.m. and 11 a.m. Great for preschoolers to early grade-schoolers, the show features puppets, songs, stories and the quirky humor of Ms. Poly and Ms. Ester. This month's theme is about being thankful.

WRAL-TV is forecasting a cooler, but still gorgeous day. It's a great day for a visit to the park. Check out our reviews of about 20 parks in the region