Phyllis' Favorites

Welcome to the Robert Munsch Virtual Story Room
http://www.robertmunsch.com/storytime.cfm
Some of Robert Munsch's books are available for listening to here online!
Great site for listening while reading along with the book.

Sites found in:
Connect-Eng
The newsletter of Web English Teacher
September 3, 2007

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Julia Alvarez
http://www.webenglishteacher.com/alvarez.html
Lesson plans for How the Garcia Girls Lost their Accents, In the Time of the
Butterflies

John Gunther
http://www.webenglishteacher.com/gunther.html
Lesson plans for Death Be Not Proud

Robert Lipsyte
http://www.webenglishteacher.com/lipsyte.html
Lesson plans for The Contender, other books.

Christopher Marlowe
http://webenglishteacher.com/marlowe.html
Lesson plans for Dr. Faustus, links to other plays

Esmerelda Santiago
http://www.webenglishteacher.com/santiago.html
Ideas and resources for When I was Puerto Rican and Almost a Woman.

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Sleuthing with Sherlock

http://www.hallmarkchannel.com/publish/etc/medialib/shared/educator_guides/sherlock_holmes.Par.0001.File.tmp/SherlockHolmes_1.pdf

or try this link: http://tinyurl.com/2k3elz

This 27-page guide contains activities appropriate for almost any of the
Sherlock Holmes stories, especially "The Red-Headed League." It includes
practice with syllogisms. Adobe Acrobat Reader or compatible application
required for access.

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Carla Beard
Web English Teacher
http://www.webenglishteacher.com/
This newsletter is copyright 2007, Web English Teacher.

WRITING, POETRY & BOOKS:
All about authors, learning to write and literary fun and games
Poetry: Poems to Make, Watch & Hear
A compilation of materials by and for poets. Features poets
such as Seamus Heaney, W.H. Auden, and Sylvia Plath reading
their own works; a showcase of visual poetry; opportunities
for users to compose poems; and "some valuable tips about
writing your poetry and publishing it commercially." From
the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC).
http://www.bbc.co.uk/arts/poetry/
Subjects: Poetry...
Created by mcb
From: Librarians' Index to the Internet
Copyright 2003 by Librarians' Index to the Internet
http://lii.org/
[NOTE: Previously posted. - Phyllis ]

Site includes:
Poetry On Display: A Showcase of Visual Poetry
Poetry Out Loud
Word Play: Your turn to be the poet
LEAF Poems
Animated Poetry

Virtual Seminars for Teaching Literature
http://www.oucs.ox.ac.uk/ltg/projects/jtap/tutorials/
Site includes: [1. An Introduction to WWI poetry 2. 'Isaac Rosenberg's Break of Day in the Trenches' 3. An Introduction to Manuscript Study 4. An Introduction to Text Analysis 5. Comparing Literature PLUS WW I Poetry Discussion Board and The War Poems and Manuscripts of Wilfred Owen ]

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The Wilfred Owen Multimedia Digital Archive
http://www.hcu.ox.ac.uk/jtap/
From the site:
“The Wilfred Owen Multimedia Digital Archive contains a host of material relating to the First World War poet Wilfred Owen, in particular, and a large amount of related background material on the War in general.”

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Publications of the War
http://www.hcu.ox.ac.uk/jtap/pubs/
From the site:
“All the images have been taken from the John Johnson Collection in the Bodleian Library…The items cover a range of publications from trench newspapers, propaganda material, and comical gifts.”

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First World War and Poetry Links
http://www.oucs.ox.ac.uk/ltg/projects/jtap/links/index.html
Here are some links to other sites featuring World War I and/or poetry materials.

Planet Impact: Discover the fierce force of gravity
http://amazing-space.stsci.edu/resources/explorations/impact/home.html
From the site:
“The Online Exploration Planet Impact includes several modules
(“What's Your Angle,” “Step on it,” “Pick a Comet — Any Comet,” “It's a Matter of Mass,” and “Target Practice”)
as well the “Comet News” (articles 1-8).”
http://amazing-space.stsci.edu/resources/explorations/impact/teacher/index.html

[NOTE: Other Online Explorations from Amazing Space
http://amazing-space.stsci.edu/resources/explorations/
previously posted. - Phyllis ]

Sites found in:
Virtual Teacher Newsletter Saturday 1st September 2007 No. 150

The International Space Station (ISS) is a low-flying research
facility jointly operated by the space agencies of the U.S., Russia,
Canada, Japan, and eleven European countries. It was assembled
piece by piece in space, starting with a Russian module put
into orbit in November, 1998. The first crew arrived two years
later. Over fifty missions will be required to assemble the
entire thing. Completion is scheduled for 2010.

Classroom of the Future: ISS Challenge
http://iss.cet.edu/
The NASA-supported Classroom of the Future is a multimedia
resource for both students and teachers. Start with the
mouseover tour of ISS components such as the habitation
module, solar arrays and the service module. Then discover
the outstanding science activities filed under Life Science,
Physical Science, and Technology. "Welcome to Farming
in Space. This activity enables you to design and run a
student version of plant growth experiments flown aboard
the International Space Station." Each activity contains
Teacher Notes in addition to student material.

Discovery.com: ISS
http://www.discovery.com/stories/science/iss/iss.html
The first features that caught my eye were the Interactives
such as the Spacewalk ("Put on your spacesuit and tackle
your very own mission.") and Who Does What (see how
each participating country pitches in.) Other worthwhile
clicks include The Construction Timeline (from 1999 to 2006)
and the IPIX-powered Enter the Station.

How Stuff Works: Space Station
http://science.howstuffworks.com/space-station.htm
"Imagine waking up in the morning, looking out your window
and seeing this view. Breathtaking, isn't it? What would it be
like to live in space?" In six illustrated, hyperlinked pages,
How Stuff Works introduces the space station concept in
general, and the International Space Station in specific.
Best clicks are the pages about "Sustaining a Permanent
Environment in Space" and "Propulsion, Communications
and Power." Related space articles (How Space Suits
Work, How Space Shuttles Work) are listed at the end.

Astrobiology: The Living Universe
http://library.thinkquest.org/C003763/index.php
From the site:
“Astrobiology: The Living Universe is the web's premiere educational resource for astrobiology, featuring in-depth information and interviews on exobiology, planetary biology, the origins of life and human spaceflight.”
[NOTE: Previously posted. - Phyllis ]

Sites found in:
EDInfo@listserv.ed.gov
Date: Mon, 27 Aug 2007

New resources at FREE, the website that makes
teaching resources from federal agencies easier to find:
Federal Resources for Educational Excellence
http://www.free.ed.gov/

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1897 Petition Against the Annexation of Hawaii
recounts the struggle for control of Hawaii between native
Hawaiians and American business interests in the late 1800s.
This 1897 petition and a lobbying effort by native Hawaiians
convinced the U.S. Congress not to annex the islands. But
months later the U.S.S. Maine exploded in Havana and the
Spanish-American War began. The U.S. needed a mid-Pacific
fueling station and naval base. (National Archives and
Records Administration)
http://free.ed.gov/resource.cfm?resource_id=1950
Direct Link: http://www.archives.gov/education/lessons/hawaii-petition/
[NOTE: Other pages from http://www.archives.gov/education/lessons/index.html
previously posted. - Phyllis ]
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Astronomy and Space
examines research on fundamental questions: Where did
everything come from? What is the universe made of, and how
does it work? Are we alone? Learn about the Big Bang, dark
matter, superstrings, and Einstein's general theory of
relativity. See images of galaxies, sunspots, and an area
near what is thought to be a black hole. (National Science
Foundation)
http://free.ed.gov/resource.cfm?resource_id=1944%20%20%20
Direct Link: http://www.nsf.gov/news/overviews/astronomy/index.jsp
[NOTE: Other pages from http://www.nsf.gov/news/overviews/ - previously
posted. - Phyllis ]

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Nanoscience
explains what nanoscience is, how it is used, and what it
means for society. Learn how individual atoms and molecules
are being manipulated to create tiny machines the size of
human cells. Find out how nanoscience could change the design
of many products, from car tires to vaccines to objects yet to
be imagined. (National Science Foundation)
http://free.ed.gov/resource.cfm?resource_id=1945
Direct Link: http://www.nsf.gov/news/overviews/nano/index.jsp
[NOTE: Other pages from http://www.nsf.gov/news/overviews/ - previously
posted. - Phyllis ]

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view an archive of past messages
* http://www.ed.gov/MailingLists/EDInfo/

Ocean Surface Topography from Space - Overview
http://sealevel.jpl.nasa.gov./overview/overview.html
From the site:
“Earth's oceans are the greatest influence on global climate. Only from space can we observe our vast oceans on a global scale and monitor critical changes in ocean currents and heat storage.”
Ocean Surface Topography Interactive Flash module
http://sealevel.jpl.nasa.gov./overview/ost/index.html

Ocean Surface Topography - Overview
http://sealevel.jpl.nasa.gov./overview/topography.html
From the site:
“Topography is the shape of a surface, including its relief. The topography of the sea surface is influenced by both gravity and ocean circulation.”

Why Study the Ocean?
http://sealevel.jpl.nasa.gov./overview/why-study.html
From the site:
“Oceans control the Earth's weather as they heat and cool, humidify and dry the air and control wind speed and direction. And the weather determines not just what you'll wear to work in the week ahead--but also whether the wheat crop in Nebraska will get enough rain to mature, whether the snow pack in the Sierras will be thick enough to water southern California, whether the hurricane season in the Atlantic will be mellow or brutal, whether El Niño will kill the eastern Pacific anchovy fishery, and so forth. Long-term weather patterns influence water supply, food supply, trade shipments, and property values. They can even foster the growth of civilizations, or kill them off. You can't escape the weather, or even change it--but being able to predict its caprice makes its impact manageable. And only by understanding the dynamics of the oceans can we begin to do this.”

Climate
http://sealevel.jpl.nasa.gov./overview/climate.html
From the site:
“Climate is the long-term state of the atmosphere at a particular site--in a sense, the "average weather" over a long period of time.”

Benefits
http://sealevel.jpl.nasa.gov./overview/benefits.html
From the site:
“Satellite observations of the oceans over the past three decades have truly revolutionized our understanding of global climate change through global measurements and modeling of the ocean-atmosphere climate system.”

--------Forwarded Message--------
Site of the Day for Wednesday, August 15, 2007

Real Climate
http://www.realclimate.org/

Today's site offers information on climate science in an ongoing,
up-to-date blog. For Gentle Subscribers looking for scientific material,
this presentation provides an excellent resource on relevant climate
topics.

"RealClimate is a commentary site on climate science by working climate
scientists for the interested public and journalists. We aim to provide a
quick response to developing stories and provide the context sometimes
missing in mainstream commentary. The discussion here is restricted to
scientific topics and will not get involved in any political or economic
implications of the science." - from the website

The site features a number of sections aimed at visitors with differing
requirements in terms of scientific information on climate. In categories
ranging from "complete beginners" to the "informed", the "Start Here" link
at the top, leads to material appropriate to each. The resources cited
include exhibits from a number of noted scientific organizations, while
reports from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change are recommended
for those in need of more advanced material. Among the topics covered
recently in the climate science blog are arctic sea ice, the carbon dioxide
problem and ozone impact, with frequent wrap-ups of salient news.

March over to the site for a useful and timely reference on climate at:

http://www.realclimate.org/

A.M. Holm
view the List archives on the web at:
http://www.freelists.org/archives/sotd

Seasons of the Year
http://www.surfnetkids.com/seasons_of_the_year.htm
From the site:
“Ever wonder why the northern and summer hemispheres have opposite seasons? Or why the longest day of the year is considered the start of summer? Whether you are just learning when to wear a winter coat, or are studying high school physics, there is probably something new for you to discover about the Earth's four seasons at today's website picks.”
Page includes 9 links to sites (5 annotated, 4 Honorable Mentions)

--------Forwarded Message--------
Site of the Day for Monday, November 19, 2007

U.S. Census Bureau Facts for Features: Thanksgiving Day
http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/facts_for_features_special_editions/010763.html

If the above URL wraps in your e-mail client, enter it all on one line in
your browser or use this TinyURL:

http://tinyurl.com/2p3awh

Everyone wants to contribute to the festivities of the upcoming
Thanksgiving holiday, even the U.S. Census Bureau. Today's site offers the
kind of information which is the hallmark of the census folks --
statistics. Gentle Subscribers will find the very best numbers on all
things related to Thanksgiving.

"[Thanksgiving] eventually became a national holiday in 1863 when President
Abraham Lincoln proclaimed the last Thursday of November as a national day
of thanksgiving. Later, President Franklin Roosevelt clarified that
Thanksgiving should always be celebrated on the fourth Thursday of the
month to encourage earlier holiday shopping, never on the occasional fifth
Thursday." - from the website

Beginning with the above clarification of why Thanksgiving is not on the
29th this year, the web page provides numerous facts and figures, including
the number of places in the U.S. named Turkey, Cranberry, Pilgrim and
Plymouth. Since the most prominent aspect of the celebration is the
consumption of the lavish turkey feast, the Census Bureau has provided an
insider's view of the total production poundage of pumpkin, sweet
potatoes, green beans and cranberries, along with the number of turkeys. It
pointedly notes the average number of pounds of turkey and sweet potato
guttled as well.

Toddle over to the site to review a miscellany of eye opening Thanksgiving
figures at:

http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/facts_for_features_special_editions/010763.html

If the above URL wraps in your e-mail client, enter it all on one line in
your browser or use this TinyURL:

http://tinyurl.com/2p3awh

A.M. Holm
view the List archives on the web at:
http://www.freelists.org/archives/sotd

--------Forwarded Message--------
Hi! It's Wednesday, August 15, 2007 and time for Language Arts at
Clickschooling!

Recommended Website:
Puzzle Choice
http://www.puzzlechoice.com/pc/Puzzle_Choicex.html
[NOTE: Previously posted. - Phyllis ]

This award-winning family website was reviewed by ClickSchooling in
2003. It is updated regularly, making it worth another visit, and
offers a variety of Language Arts puzzles including crosswords, word
searches, and word play in either online game format or in
downloadable, printable versions.

When you get to the site read the introduction on the landing page as
it provides a brief overview of what the site offers. Use the menu on
the left of your screen to access the games and puzzles at the site.

In the section called "Kid's Choice" you'll find Word Play games and
a few puzzles that test math and logic skills. Here, you'll
find "Teacher Wordsearch" that offers wordsearch puzzles with themes
that include: mathematics, US Presidents, life science, physiology,
Shakespeare, and more.

This site provides lots of fun ways to supplement your studies
through games and puzzles to make learning fun!

Don't forget to print some out and put them in a binder to bring
along on summer road trips! :)

Diane Keith
for ClickSchooling
Copyright 2007, All Rights Reserved
http://www.Homefires.com/
http://www.carschooling.com/
http://www.UniversalPreschool.com/



Note: We make every effort to recommend websites that have content that is appropriate for general audiences. Parents should ALWAYS preview the sites for suitable content.

Click Schooling (Clickschooling) is a Federally Registered Trademark.

--------Forwarded Message--------
Hi! It's Wednesday, August 22, 2007 and time for Language Arts at
ClickSchooling!

Recommended Website:
Wacky Tales
http://www.eduplace.com/tales/
[NOTE: Previously posted. - Phyllis ]

Age Range: 7-12 (and fun for all!)

Houghton Mifflin (the education textbook publisher) sponsors this
website that helps kids learn parts of speech - nouns, adverbs,
adjectives, verbs, etc. Using interactive stories called "Wacky Web
Tales" they offer an online version of the classic car game, Mad
Libs.

When you get to the site you'll see a menu of Wacky Web Tales titles.
Click on any one and a new page opens that reveals the story title
and a form. The form requires you to type in parts of speech (such as
a singular noun, adjective, or present tense verb). The words you
enter will be used to create a Wacky Web Tale -- simply click on
the "See Your Wacky Web Tale" button at the bottom of the form.

If you are unsure what an adverb (or any other part of speech called
for on the form) is - just click on the "Parts of Speech Help" button
for some quick definitions.

Because you don't know how the parts of speech you filled in on the
form will be used in the story - the resulting Wacky Web Tale can be
pretty funny. :)

This is a painless way to learn, reinforce, or remediate parts of
speech.

Diane Flynn Keith
for ClickSchooling
Copyright 2007, All Rights Reserved
http://www.Homefires.com/
http://www.Carschooling.com/
http://www.UniversalPreschool.com/

Note: We make every effort to recommend websites that have content that is appropriate for general audiences. Parents should ALWAYS preview the sites for suitable content.

Click Schooling (Clickschooling) is a Federally Registered Trademark.

PBS: Blythe Bennett's Recommended Site of the Week

Paradigm Online Writing Assistant
http://powa.org/
[NOTE: Previously posted. Site updated. - Phyllis ]

“This is a great resource for people who need help with punctuation, writing effective sentences, and essay writing. Essay types include thesis, informal, argumentative, and exploratory essays. Examples of sentence structure are given and then sample exercises give you a chance to practice what you've learned. Ten helpful organizing processes include pyramids, webs, analysis and synthesis.”

Big Dog’s Grammar
http://aliscot.com/bigdog/index.htm
From the site:
“Here you have a list of the bare essentials of grammar. These are the things that English teachers love to comment on in your papers. They really are important…”

MLA Quick Guide
http://aliscot.com/bigdog/mla.htm
Includes:
Frequently Asked Questions
Why worry about quotation mechanics anyway?
What is the difference between primary and secondary sources?
What in the heck is MLA?
What is the difference between "quoting," "paraphrasing," "citing," and "documenting"?
Exactly what is plagiarism?
How do I indicate where I found a quote?
What's a "Works Cited" page? How do I write one?