December 2025

UB Chronicle

The Upward Bound Programs at Morehead State University

December 2025 Volume 5 Issue 4

From S’mores to Science: Making the Most of Winter Break

Taken from Google Gemini

As the final school bell rings in December, students aren't just leaving behind their desks—they’re entering a prime window for connection, creativity, and "stealth learning." While the break is a well-earned rest from the classroom, it’s also the perfect opportunity for families to bridge the gap between school and home through shared experiences.

Here is a guide to turning the winter weeks into a memorable season of growth and joy.

1. The "Kitchen Laboratory": Science You Can Eat

One of the best ways to keep a child’s mind sharp is to frame everyday tasks as experiments. Cooking and baking are essentially chemistry and math in disguise.

Measurement Mastery: For younger students, help them practice volume and weight. Ask them to predict if a cup of flour weighs the same as a cup of sugar.
The Chemistry of Heat: When baking cookies or bread, discuss how leavening agents like baking powder react with heat to create carbon dioxide, making the dough rise.
Physical States of Matter: If you live in a cold climate, experiment with water. Fill containers of different shapes with water and observe how they expand as they turn from liquid to solid.

2. Creative Engineering: The "Box City" Challenge

With the influx of delivery boxes that often arrives in December, don't rush to the recycling bin. Instead, treat them as raw materials for a family engineering project.

The Task: Design a "City of the Future."
The Skills: Spatial reasoning, geometry, and collaboration.
The Twist: Challenge your children to build a bridge between two boxes that can support the weight of a toy car, or create a working "elevator" using string and a pulley system.

3. Reflective Traditions: The 2026 Vision Board

As one year ends and another begins, teaching students the art of goal-setting is a gift that lasts a lifetime. Unlike a strict "New Year’s Resolution," a Vision Board is a visual representation of dreams and interests.

Gather Materials: Old magazines, scissors, glue, and a poster board.
Prompt Questions: Ask your child, "What is one thing you want to learn to do this year?" or "Where is one place you want to explore?"
The Outcome: This isn't just an art project; it’s a conversation starter that helps parents understand their child’s evolving passions.

4. Nature Detective: Winter Ecology

Just because the ground is frozen doesn't mean nature is asleep. Winter offers a unique "blank canvas" for observing local wildlife.

Track Identification: After a snowfall or rain, head to a local park. Use a guide to identify tracks from deer, rabbits, or birds.
Frozen Art: Create "Nature Suncatchers." Fill a shallow plate with water, add pine needles, berries, and a loop of string. Let it freeze outside (or in the freezer), then hang it from a tree. As it melts, talk about the water cycle.

5. The Gift of Presence: Acts of Kindness

The end of the year is an ideal time to look outward. Engaging in "Service Learning" helps students develop empathy and community awareness.

Gratitude Notes: Set a "Stationery Station" where children can write thank-you notes to people who make their lives better—teachers, librarians, or the local fire station.
The "One-In, One-Out" Rule: Before receiving new gifts, encourage children to go through their toys and books to find items in good condition to donate. This teaches the value of stewardship and generosity.

Closing the Gap

Winter break doesn't need to be expensive or overly scheduled to be meaningful. By blending a bit of curiosity with cozy traditions, families can ensure that students return to the classroom in January feeling refreshed, inspired, and ready to learn.

Riddle Me This! November Answer

It is important to check your UB email at least 2-3 per week to ensure you don't miss out on any important information, sign-ups, etc. If you need your password reset, please contact your UB Counselor for assistance.

Welcome to our newest Staff Member

Hi, my name is Nathan Woodward Taylor and I am excited to be the new Academic Bridge Coordinator. I come from a retail management and adult education background.

In my last position, I taught Math, ESL, and Career Readiness (how to write a resume, cover letter, interview skills, etc.) and will be working with Seniors to prepare them for college. I look forward to working with you all.

I will be serving East Carter, West Carter, Menifee, and Lewis Counties.

Fun fact: I'm a nerd! I love video games!

The Upward Bound Programs at Morehead State University are currently accepting new student applications.

9th, 10th, or 11th grade students at the following high schools: Bath, Bracken, Boyd, East Carter, Elliott, Fleming, Harrison, Johnson Central, Lawrence, Lewis, Magoffin, Mason, Menifee, Montgomery, Morgan, Nicholas, Paul Blazer, Robertson, Rowan, and West Carter High Schools, are eligible to apply.

Students can submit the Online Application through our recruitment site at join.moreheadub.org or students can obtain a paper application by visiting our website or their high school guidance counselor for assistance.

UB/UBMS Eligibility Requirements

Submit the online and/or paper application with required documentation

a. Guidance Recommendation Form b.Two Teacher Recommendation Forms c.2024 Taxable Income Information (IRS 1040)

Have at least a 2.5 GPA
Be first-generation (Neither Parent has a Bachelor's Degree), and/or meet federal income requirements
Be College Bound
Students accepted into Upward Bound Math Science (UBMS) must show a strong interest in obtaining a STEM related college degree.

Western Kentucky University (WKU) is home of the Hilltoppers. Their hilltop campus is a place of beauty and friendliness. WKU is located in Bowling Green, Kentucky, a city with a population of more than 60,000 approximately 110 miles south of Louisville and 65 miles north of Nashville.

WKU's has 3 Regional Campuses located in Glasgow, Owensboro, and Elizabethtown-Fort Knox.

Schedule a tour or visit our virtual tour to view our distinctive landmark on a hill overlooking the city.

Choosing your Mood

Taken from kidshealth.org

Have you ever been in a bad mood that you just can't shake? Or had a pile of homework but realized you're not in the mood to get it done? Sometimes we feel at the mercy of our moods - but moods aren't things that just happen to us. We can influence and change them.

Mood + Mindset = Success

Moods can influence how well we do in certain situations, but so can something else: our mindset. What's the difference between a mood and a mindset? Moods are the emotions we feel. A mindset is the thoughts and ideas that go along with that mood.

Mood and mindset go hand in hand because our thoughts can influence our mood. Here's an example:

Imagine you're competing in a swim meet this afternoon. Which mood and mindset helps you do your best?

Mood A: Insecure. You keep thinking about how the competition might blow you out of the water and maybe you're not good enough to be on the team.
Mood B: Annoyed. You're thinking about how swimming interferes with your social life.
Mood C: Pumped up and confident. You're thinking that if you do your best, there's a good chance your team can place well.

Of course, you're likely to do your best with the mood and mindset in option C. But what if you're feeling A or B and worry that those moods might affect your performance? Luckily, you can change your mood.

How to Choose a Mood

Step 1: Identify your mood. To switch moods, you need to check in with what you're currently thinking and feeling. That way you can decide if you need to change your mood to one that's more suited to your situation — or if you're in the best mood to begin with.

To identify a mood, stop and think about what you're feeling and why. Put those feelings into words, like, "Wow, I'm really sad right now" or "I'm feeling really alone." You can say this silently to yourself, out loud, or to someone else.

Step 2: Accept what you feel. After you name your emotion, show yourself some understanding for feeling the way you do. It's perfectly OK (and natural!) to feel bored on a rainy Saturday or annoyed about having to study when everyone else is going out. All emotions are acceptable and understandable. But you don't have to hold on to feeling that way. Notice your mood, then choose to move past it.

Step 3: Identify the mood that's best for the situation you're in. If you're competing in a swim meet, it's best to be pumped up and confident. If you need to get down to some serious studying, it's better to feel interested, alert, and confident (and not so helpful to feel grumpy, annoyed, and self-defeated). Take a minute to think about which emotions will help you accomplish your goal.

How to Get Out of an Unhelpful Mood

To get out of a mood that's unpleasant or unhelpful, think "U for U-turn." Try these mood changers:

Undo. Do something to break the train of thought that keeps your old mood going. Distract yourself with a game of Sudoku or simply focus on what's going on outside your window for a few minutes. Distractions are like rebooting your mind — they create a space between moods.
Unstick. Change your body posture. If you're sitting, stand up. Do some jumping jacks. Stretch. Walk around the room. Moving your body changes your mindset and mood.
Unwind. Sit quietly, breathe gently, and focus on each breath. To keep your mind from wandering back to a mood you're trying to change, every time you take a breath, say to yourself: "I'm breathing in" and "I'm breathing out." Focus on feeling calm.

You've probably chosen your mood before without even realizing it - many times people choose a mood naturally without thinking about it. But practicing ways to choose your mood intentionally can help you get good at it.

So next time you feel a strong mood, stop and name it. Ask yourself if it's the ideal mood for what you're trying to accomplish. Sometimes, even the happiest of moods might not be right for a particular situation (as anyone who's excited about weekend plans during Friday afternoon classes knows).

What is Winter Melt?

Winter melt refers to the academic slump seen after students return from the long winter break. Without regular learning, students may forget important school lessons, struggle with skills they had been confident in, fall behind on their assignments, or lose the momentum they gained in the first part of the school year. This can be especially noticeable in subjects like math and reading, where core skills require continuous practice.

While it’s important for students to unwind during their break, it’s also important to maintain a level of engagement to prevent winter melt and ensure they return to school ready to tackle new challenges.

Needing to contact your UB Counselor?

Ashley Cooper (Associate Director UB Central)

Schools Served: Elliott, Morgan, and Magoffin

Brandon Isaac (Associate Director UBMS North)

Schools Served: Mason, Fleming, and Rowan

Gabby Johnson (Associate Director UBMS South)

Schools Served: Boyd, Paul Blazer, and Robertson

Gabe Markwell (Associate Director UB East)

Schools Served: Bracken, Lawrence, and Johnson

Cheyenne Wilson (Academic Coordinator)

Schools Served: Bath, Harrison, Montgomery and Nicholas

Nathan Woodward Taylor (Academic Bridge Coordinator)

Schools Served: Menifee, Lewis, West Carter and East Carter

Upward Bound and Upward Bound Math & Science are 100% federally funded by the U.S. Department of Education and sponsored by Morehead State University.

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