Saturday, March 07, 2009

 

Sat., March 7, 2009 - Estuaries

Exploring Estuaries
http://www.epa.gov/owow/estuaries/kids/

From the site:
“Estuaries are places where freshwater rivers and streams flow into the ocean, mixing with the seawater. A wide variety of birds, fish, and other wildlife make estuaries their home…Use this Web site to explore these unique environments, including some of the plants and animals that live there.” <<>>

Links
http://www.epa.gov/owow/estuaries/links.htm

EstuaryLive's Theme for 2009 is to examine "Climate Change Impact on Estuaries".

EstuaryLive (grade levels 9-12)
http://www.estuaries.gov/estuaries101/EstuaryLive/Default.aspx?ID=258
From the site:
“EstuaryLive is a series of programs that investigate estuaries around the country, exploring the uniqueness of each individual ecosystem. EstuaryLive includes live and archived broadcasts, videos and virtual field-trips lead by educators and scientists covering a wide range of topics related to estuarine and coastal ecosystems. These programs address a variety of relevant estuarine issues such as climate change, food webs, monitoring and data collection and estuarine ecology.”
The next live broadcasts will take place in May 1st & May15th of 2009.

View Archived EstuaryLive Broadcasts from Past Years
http://www.estuaries.gov/estuaries101/EstuaryLive/Default.aspx?ID=334
Windows Media Player or RealPlayer

Estuaries 101 Curriculum (grade levels 9-12)
http://www.estuaries.gov/estuaries101/Teachers/Default.aspx?ID=79
http://www.estuaries.gov/estuaries101/EstuaryLive/Default.aspx?ID=146

National Estuaries Day will be celebrated September 26, 2009.
http://www.estuaries.gov/estuaries101/GetInvolved/Default.aspx?ID=153

[NOTE: Other pages from http://www.epa.gov/owow/ previously posted. - Phyllis ]

 

Sat., March 7, 2009 - AccessScience Spotlight: Under the Sea

McGraw-Hill’s AccessScience
Under the Sea
http://mhest.com/underthesea_history.php

From the site:
“Due to the impact of global warming and the rising temperature of ocean water, it is of paramount importance to maintain the quality and purity of these waters, both with regard to ocean life and to their relation to humankind. Explore some aspects of "under the sea" in this latest feature spotlight.”

Contents:
History
Exploration (audio interviews, links to related sites)
Related Encyclopedia Articles
Image Gallery (click to enlarge and see caption)
Under the Sea Q&A (Quiz)

 

Sat., March 7, 2009 - Virtual Fish Tank

Virtual Fish Tank - Nearlife, Inc. - Grades 4 to 8
http://www.VirtualFishtank.com/main.html

Site found on TeachersFirst

“The business of furnishing your own fish tank lets students pick fish based on a series of environmental conditions, then see how the various fish interact with one another. Registered users you can create a fish, save the fish for later, and some other "extra" features. With creating the fish, students will learn more about the food chain, the hunger (mouth) of various fish, the eyes (fear) of various fish, interests of the fish, and the depth the fish typically will swim in the aquarium.

The site allows you to take a tour, or register for free. Registration requires about 30-seconds and you do not need to provide an email account or address of any form.

Entire review and suggestions for using this site “In the Classroom”:
http://www.teachersfirst.com/single.cfm?id=2082

 

Sat., March 7, 2009 - Mnterey Bay Aquarium / Gapminder / Ben Shahn at Harvard / Crustacea.net / Two on Anne Sexton

Sites found in:

=======
The Scout Report
September 19, 2008
Volume 14, Number 37
-----
The Scout Report on the Web:
Current issue: http://scout.wisc.edu/Reports/ScoutReport/Current/
This issue: http://scout.wisc.edu/Reports/ScoutReport/2008/scout-080919.php

-----

Monterey Bay Aquarium: Research [Windows Media Player]
http://www.montereybayaquarium.org/cr/research.asp

The Monterey Bay Aquarium in California has created an eminently readable
website about the Aquarium's conservation efforts and research, specifically
for sea otters, tuna, white sharks, and open-ocean animals, such as sea
turtles, whales and sharks. The various facets of their conservation
research on sea otters and white sharks can be accessed on the menu on the
left side of the screen. Visitors should check out "Revealing Tuna
Secrets", to learn that the Northern bluefin tuna is not only an extremely
lucrative catch, selling for more than $100,000 in Japan for a single giant
fish, but is also a fish of incredible speeds swimming up to 25 miles per
hour and living for as long as 30 years. In the section "Revealing Tuna
Secrets" there are several short videos to watch, so that visitors may “Tune
in to Tuna,” including one on tracking and one on tagging. Lastly, but most
importantly, the website provides "Seafood WATCH", a downloadable and
printable pocket-sized guide to help seafood eaters choose seafood that is
sustainable. Sustainability is defined as seafood that is "abundant, well
managed and fished or farmed in environmentally friendly ways." "Seafood
WATCH" is also available on mobile devices as well. In closing, whether you
dine at Red Lobster or Legal Sea Foods, you can now conveniently choose with
a conscience. [KMG] [NOTE: Previously posted. - Phyllis ]

------

Gapminder [Macromedia Flash Player, pdf]
http://www.gapminder.org/

In London, riders on the Tube are reminded to "Mind the Gap". On the
Gapminder website, visitors are reminded to mind a variety of gaps, whether
they be in income inequality or quality of health care. This rather
absorbing website was created as a non-profit venture to promote
"sustainable global development and achievement of the United Nations
Millennium Development Goals by increased use and understanding of
statistics and other information." The site makes use of Trendanalyzer
software to offer visualizations related to questions that include "Which
country has the best teeth in the world?" and "Who gets what: Farm
subsidies". Visitors can find such information under the "Latest News" area,
and they can also take advantage of the videos, "Gapcasts", and world charts
offered here. The "Gapcasts" are quite good, and they cover carbon
emissions, public services, and globalization. Also, if visitors have their
own set of statistical indicators they can create their own unique
Gapminder-like bubble graph on their website. It's a powerful tool, and one
that might be important for other non-profits, think tanks, educators, and
students. [KMG] [NOTE: Previously posted. - Phyllis ]

------

Ben Shahn at Harvard
http://www.artmuseums.harvard.edu/shahn/

Social critic and artist Ben Shahn had a relationship with Harvard
University that started in 1932 when the Harvard Society for Contemporary
Art exhibited twenty-three gouaches from his series "The Passion of Sacco-
Vanzetti". Over the next thirty years, Shahn would continue to drop in to
give guest lectures, and in 1956 he gave the Charles Eliot Norton Lectures,
which were later published in the influential book "The Shape of Content".
This site pays tribute to Shahn's work by offering a searchable database of
more than 6,000 of his drawings, paintings, photographs, and prints.
Visitors are welcome to dive right in by using the search feature here, and
they may also wish to click on the "Resources" area. Here they will find
information about his productive time in New York, his work on a host of New
Deal projects, and his excursions to Asia. Finally, visitors can also learn
how to order prints of materials featured on the site. [KMG]

------

Crustacea.net
http://www.crustacea.net/

Crustaceans and those who love to learn about crustaceans now have an
excellent online home in the form of this website provided by the Australian
Museum. The site was started in 1999, and its basic purpose and reason for
existence is to "provide an interactive information retrieval system for the
world crustaceans." Visitors to the site can read a brief introduction and
then click on the "World Crustacea" link to get started. Here visitors can
click on different species and also take a look at the identification
guides, take a look at relevant monographs, and also read an extensive list
of references. Additionally, visitors can read through their recent
announcements and learn about upcoming workshops and conferences. [KMG]

-------

Two on Anne Sexton
Poetry Foundation: Anne Sexton
http://www.poetryfoundation.org/archive/poet.html?id=6163
Modern American Poetry: Anne Sexton
http://www.english.uiuc.edu/maps/poets/s_z/sexton/sexton.htm

During her life, Anne Sexton became well-known for her poetry, which was
written in what may have called the "confessional" style. Her contemporaries
included poet Robert Lowell, and before she took her own life in 1974 she
managed to compose hundreds of exemplary poems. This first site about her
life and times from the Poetry Foundation contains poems such as "All My
Pretty Ones", "Crossing the Atlantic", and numerous others. Visitors to the
site can also read an extended biographical essay about her life, check out
a bibliography of related works, and also check out some suggestions for
future reading. The second link is provided by the Modern American Poetry
website and here visitors can read an essay about Sexton's career by Diana
Hume George and also read a few critical interpretations on her work. [KMG]
[NOTE: Other pages from these sites previously posted. - Phyllis ]

--------
From The Scout Report, Copyright Internet Scout 1994-2008.
http://scout.wisc.edu/

Friday, March 06, 2009

 

Fri., March 6, 2009 - Meridian: A Computer Technology Journal for Middle School Classrooms

Meridian: A Computer Technology Journal for Middle School Classrooms
http://www.ncsu.edu/meridian/

From the site:

“Meridian is an electronic journal dedicated to research and practice of computer technology in middle school classrooms. It is published twice yearly by an interdisciplinary team of NC State graduate students representing a broad range of fields, from education to forestry.”

“Meridian features research findings, practitioner articles, commentary, and book excerpts by educational researchers, technology designers, middle school teachers, and authors who wish to share and expand teaching and learning experiences with computer technologies in middle school classrooms and beyond.”

Archives: http://www.ncsu.edu/meridian/archive.html

 

Fri., March 6, 2009 - Light Walk (Light, Shadow, and Images)

Bob Miller's Light Walk
http://www.exploratorium.edu/light_walk/
From the site:
“His unique discoveries will change the way you look at light, shadow, and images.”

Internet Resources
http://www.exploratorium.edu/light_walk/lw_internet.html

 

Fri., March 6, 2009 - AccessScience Spotlight: Forensics

McGraw-Hill’s AccessScience
Forensics
http://mhest.com/forensics_history.php

From the site:
“Forensic science, also known as forensics, is the recognition, collection, identification, individualization, and interpretation of physical evidence, and the application of science and medicine for criminal and civil law, or regulatory purposes. Popularized by a slew of crime detection series on television, forensic science has entered into the realm of commonplace thought and conversation.”

Contents:
History
Exploration (audio interviews, links to related sites)
Related Encyclopedia Articles
Image Gallery (click to enlarge and see caption)
Forensics Q&A (Quiz)

 

Fri., March 6, 2009 - PBS: Breakthroughs in Medical Research / Shakespeare and the Renaissance

Sites found in:
******************************************
PBS Teachers Newsletter: March 8-14, 2009
Current PBS Teacher Previews Newsletter
http://www.pbs.org/teachers/newsletter/
******************************************

Concepts Across the Curriculum
Breakthroughs In Medical Research
Gr. 6-8 / 9-12
Examine the contributions of Alexander Fleming, James Watson,
Frances Crick, Louis Pasteur, Edward Jenner, Jonas Salk and
Albert Sabin. Discuss how medical advances have improved the
quality of life and issues related to ethics and medicine.
http://www.pbs.org/teachers/thismonth/breakthroughs/index1.html
Related Resources
http://www.pbs.org/teachers/thismonth/breakthroughs/index3.html

-----

Concepts Across the Curriculum
Shakespeare and the Renaissance
Gr. 3-5 / 6-8 / 9-12

Explore the life and times of William Shakespeare, perform
lines from his plays, study his characters and examine the
rhythm of his sonnets. Explore the culture of the Elizabethan
period and compare Renaissance society to today's.
http://www.pbs.org/teachers/thismonth/shakespeare/index1.html

Related Resources
http://www.pbs.org/teachers/thismonth/shakespeare/index3.html

-------

Copyright 2008 PBS Online

Thursday, March 05, 2009

 

Thurs., March 5, 2009 - Gatorade Sports Science Institute Tour

--------Forwarded Message--------
Hi! It's Friday, September 12, 2008 and time for a Virtual Field Trip at
ClickSchooling!

Recommended Website:
GSSI: Tour The Labs
http://www.gssiweb.com/Tour_Labs.aspx?ExpandMenu=7

Age Range: 10 and up (Some aspects may appeal to the younger crowd,
non-readers will need assistance.)

Do your kids enjoy Gatorade? If so, then take a virtual tour of the
Gatorade Sports Science Institute laboratories located in Barrington,
Illinois. Founded in 1985, GSSI is a "state-of-the-art research
facility dedicated to addressing the performance and safety needs of
athletes through scientific exploration in the fields of hydration and
nutrition science." Who knew?

When you get to the site, you'll see an introduction followed by a menu that
gives you access to each of the different labs. Click on any lab and a new
page opens. Read the intro and click on the words "explore the lab." Another
page opens with a photograph of the lab. Place your cursor over the ORANGE DOTS and a pop-up window appears with text that explains what you are viewing. Click on the ORANGE AND GREEN ARROWS to see more views of the labs. The Labs include:

*Exercise Physiology Lab - Here GSSI researchers examine and record the
metabolic responses of an athlete's body to hydration and nutrition.

*Biochemistry Lab - Find out how scientists collect and analyze specimens to
determine electrolyte balance, energy metabolism, and hormonal response.

*Performance Lab - Find out how scientists test Gatorade products on
athletes to determine if it improves or impairs performance.

*Exercise Sensory Lab - Here, researchers measure athletes' sensory
responses to food and beverages. Taste, color, aroma, and "mouthfeel" change
depending on the level of activity - a determinant in how much an athlete
will ingest.

While you're at the site don't miss the "Deep Body Tour." This cool
interactive shows how Gatorade rehydrates the mouth, throat, stomach,
intestines, kidneys, heart, lungs, muscles, brain, and skin. Here's the
direct link:
http://www.gssiweb.com/DeepBodyTour.aspx

WARNING: This tour may result in thirst for Gatorade - better stock up
beforehand. :)

Diane Flynn Keith
for ClickSchooling
Copyright 2008, All Rights Reserved
http://www.Homefires.com
http://www.Carschooling.com
http://www.UniversalPreschool.com

DID YOU MISPLACE A ClickSchooling Review? Do you need to find an educational website - fast! Visit the ClickSchooling archives at:
http://www.homefires.com/clickschool/archive.asp

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.

 

Thurs., March 5, 2009 - Science and Sports - The Exploratorium

Science and Sports - The Exploratorium - Grades 4 to 12
http://www.exploratorium.edu/sports/index.html?CFID=2348708&CFTOKEN=78185419
Shortened URL: http://tinyurl.com/dha6yj
[NOTE: Previously posted. - Phyllis ]

Site found on TeachersFirst.com

“Here's another site from the Exploratorium. A high-tech look at the physics involved in hockey, baseball, skateboarding, surfing, and other sports. Younger kids can grasp the concepts; older students can learn the details. There are webcasts, interactives, and more. This site requires Media Player.” <<>>

Entire review and suggestions for using this site “In the Classroom”:
http://www.teachersfirst.com/single.cfm?id=1406

 

Thurs., March 5, 2009 - The Physics of Baseball

The Physics of Baseball - Alan Nathan, University of Illinois - Grades 4 to 12
http://webusers.npl.illinois.edu/~a-nathan/pob/

Site found on TeachersFirst.com

“The closest thing we've found to one-stop shopping for baseball physics, this site catalogs more than a dozen resources from simple explanations to Java applets that plot fly ball trajectories. There are also videos, experiments, and countless other activities. You'll find lots of resources for building lessons or demonstrating principles. Although not aesthetically pleasing, this content-rich website provides unlimited information about baseball and the history and science of the sport.” <<>>

Entire review and suggestions for using this site “In the Classroom”:
http://www.teachersfirst.com/single.cfm?id=9195

 

Thurs., March 5, 2009 - Baseball Physics Fun Stuff / Baseball Extras

Baseball Physics Fun Stuff - bostonbaseball.com - Grades 6 to 12
http://www.bostonbaseball.com/whitesox/baseball_extras/physics.html

Site found on TeachersFirst.com

“This site shares a sample of physics as it relates to baseball, from a Boston Red Sox fan information collection. Other highlights include the effects of temperature, altitude, and wind. There is also an interesting discussion of the physics behind corked bats.”

Entire review and suggestions for using this site “In the Classroom”:
http://www.teachersfirst.com/single.cfm?id=3721

[NOTE: See Also: Baseball Extras
http://www.bostonbaseball.com/whitesox/funstuff.html – Phyllis ]

Wednesday, March 04, 2009

 

Wed., March 4, 2009 - City Dionysia

City Dionysia - Kennedy Center - Grades 9 to 12
http://www.artsedge.kennedy-center.org/greece/theater/index.html

Site found on TeachersFirst.com

“This is a great interactive site that takes students on a trip back in time to ancient Greece. They will study the theatres, the players, the playwrights, and the plays. As a culminating activity students have the opportunity to “stage” their own tragedy using an interactive tool.” <<>>

Entire review and suggestions for using this site “In the Classroom”:
http://www.teachersfirst.com/single.cfm?id=9849

 

Wed., March 4, 2009 - In Your Ear, Shakespeare

In Your Ear Shakespeare - In Your Ear Shakespeare - Grades 9 to 12
http://www.inyourearshakespeare.com/

Site found on TeachersFirst.com

“With today's students plugged into their MP3 players, this site offers a great way to attract students. It has posted podcasts (visit the “Chop Bard” link) that explain Shakespeare in a way that students will find appealing and more realistic than reading it alone or aloud in class. Several of the podcasts are geared specifically to Romeo and Juliet, a play often read in 9th grade which makes it familiar and an easy listen for students. The site includes a list of the chronology of plays as well as a timeline of Shakespeare's life.”

Entire review and suggestions for using this site “In the Classroom”:
http://www.teachersfirst.com/single.cfm?id=9927

 

Wed., March 4, 2009 - Folger Shakespeare Library Webinar March 18: Remixing Shakespeare for the 21st Century Students

Free Folger Shakespeare Library Webinar on March 18
What: Remixing Shakespeare for 21st Century Students
When: March 18, 8-9:30 p.m. ET
Where: Online
How: Teachers can participate in the webinars after signing up for free membership in PBS Teachers (http://www.pbs.org/teachers/ ). Membership provides educators with access to all of PBS's educational services, including PBS Teachers ConnectSM, an online learning community where preK-12 educators can collaborate, share and grow. For more information on the PBS Teachers Live! monthly webinar series.

PBS Teachers LIVE!
Free Media and Technology Webinars
Presented by PBS Teachers and Classroom 2.0
Are you looking for ways to incorporate digital media into your teaching?

PBS Teachers is introducing a series of FREE monthly webinars featuring leading education technology experts, authors, or producers of PBS programs who will share ideas on using digital media to engage students in rich learning experiences.

March 2009
PBS Teachers and Classroom 2.0 are delighted to have representatives from the Folger Shakespeare Library as our guests for Remixing Shakespeare for 21st Century Students, the next webinar in the PBS Teachers LIVE! series. Mark your calendars for March 18 from 8-9:30 p.m. ET for this upcoming free webinar and join the discussion.

William Shakespeare's plays offer invaluable lessons for students, but engaging the Net Generation in the Renaissance arts requires a new approach. In this webinar, the speakers will present and demonstrate methods for teaching Shakespeare using digital media. The educational activities to be presented were developed by trained workshop leaders and teachers during the Folger's Teaching Shakespeare Institutes and sessions. Participants will learn practical and exciting ways they can incorporate Shakespeare's King Lear and other literary works into history, social studies, English, and language arts instruction.

Great Performances: "King Lear" will air in late March 2009 on PBS (check your local listings).

Remixing Shakespeare for 21st Century Students
Wednesday, March 18, 8–9:30 p.m. ET

To Join the Webinar
Sign up at PBS Teachers ( http://www.pbs.org/teachers/ ) and you'll be emailed login information the week of the webinar.

Note: You will need to install the latest version of the Adobe Flash player to view video for this presentation.

 

Wed., March 4, 2009 - PBS: Teaching King Lear / Women's Rights: Then and Now

Sites found in:
******************************************
PBS Teachers Newsletter: March 1-7, 2009
******************************************

Teaching King Lear: Resources for Meeting the Challenges of Shakespeare's Masterpiece

In the March Media Infusion, Michael LoMonico, Senior Consultant on National Education for the Folger Shakespeare Library and a lecturer at Stony Brook University, draws on his own teaching and performing experience to offer useful resources for teachers undertaking Shakespeare's "King Lear."

On March 25, PBS airs Trevor Nunn's production of the Royal Shakespeare Company's "King Lear," originally staged in Stratford-upon-Avon in the spring of 2007. "Today, advances in technology have given Shakespeare teachers excellent tools to help students explore the texts more closely," LoMonico writes. "These Web 2.0 tools empower students and give them real-world tasks which they can post for the whole world to see...As long as students are working with Shakespeare's language, either through performance or with technology, their experience with the PBS presentation of Trevor Nunn's King Lear will be rewarding and enlightening."

He draws attention to invaluable online resources for examining the history of the play and the variety of stagings. From videos on You Tube and images from the Folger Library to close examinations of the text using Wordle, he offers possibilities for building in students a broad-based understanding of this Shakespeare masterwork.

http://www.pbs.org/teachers/mediainfusion/

-------

NEW! 'Women's Rights: Then and Now' Activity Pack
PBS Teachers Activity Pack
http://www.pbs.org/teachers/activitypacks/socialstudies/womensrights.html
Shortened URL: http://tinyurl.com/dfuj5g
[Scroll to the right to view]

Finding digital resources for the appropriate grade level, subject and lesson among the vast array of material on the Web can be a time-consuming and challenging task for educators, but PBS Teachers is making the search easier and quicker with the new Activity Packs that include links to PBS resources and a set of activities by grade level for a wide range of subject areas. In celebration of Women's History Month, PBS Teachers highlights a related activity pack for educators: Women's Rights: Then and Now. This pack offers a range of educational resources related to women gaining the right to vote in the United States after almost a century of activism.


Copyright 2008 PBS Online

Tuesday, March 03, 2009

 

Tues., March 3, 2009 - GetNetWise

--------Forwarded Message--------
Site of the Day for Monday, September 15, 2008

GetNetWise
http://www.getnetwise.org/
[NOTE: Previously posted. - Phyllis ]

Today's site, from a consortium of Internet corporations, including Google,
Microsoft, Verizon and Yahoo, offers information to promote a safe online
experience for families and children. Gentle Subscribers will find helpful
resources to assist in protecting those who may be vulnerable to the less
trustworthy aspects of the Internet.

"GetNetWise is a public service brought to you by Internet industry corporations
and public interest organizations to help insure that Internet users have
educational, entertaining, and safe online experiences. The GetNetWise coalition
wants everyone to be just "one click away" from the resources they need to make
informed decisions about their and their family's use of the Internet." - from the
website

Operating since 1999, the GetNetWise site provides material on various issues which
are of concern to parents as well as to individuals who want to keep their personal
information out of unauthorized hands. The Online Safety Guide delineates the kinds
of risks which may beset children and notes these by age and type. Practical
advice, including tools which can be used to help keep children safe online, as
well as a list from the American Library Association of over 700 educational and
entertaining sites for children are available. Also covered are tips and tools for
reducing unwanted e-mail and outright spam through the use of increasingly
sophisticated filtering algorithms.

Stride over to the site for a noteworthy resource on Internet safety issues at:

http://www.getnetwise.org/

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

 

Tues., March 3, 2009 - Tips for Life

Tips for Life - American Century Investments - Grades 6 to 12
https://www.tipsforlife.net/home.php

This site offers "Tips for Life" for students about economics and money. The modules (topics)include "Creating Confidence," "Mastering Information," "Investing In Your Future", and "Managing Your Business." Most of the material is aligned to national standards. This comprehensive program places students in "real-life" situations in the world of business, money, and finance. There is a section for teachers and students. The teacher section allows teachers to enroll students, view progress, determine score, and much more. Don't miss the Teacher's Guide: introduction, classroom ideas, details about the modules, and more.

Be warned: to register you must give full demographic information to gain free access. If your school prohibits this, you may want to create some generic student accounts, or register at home. Even if you only register as a teacher and do not keep track of student progress, you can still gain many valuable teaching ideas from the modules

Entire review and suggestions for using this site “In the Classroom”:
http://www.teachersfirst.com/single.cfm?id=9826

 

Tues., March 3, 2009 - Tips for Kids

Tips For Kids - American Century Investments - Grades 4 to 12
https://www.tipsforkids.com/home.php

Site found on TeachersFirst.com

This site features many modules (similar to lesson plans) in PDF format all related to money and economics. You can download the ENTIRE curriculum FREE! Each module includes four units of study. Module topics include Business Building, Mastering Finance, Economic Encounters, and Money & Me. There are also links to articles about finance (What is a Bond, Risk and Return, and others). At the "Resources" link there are four interesting calculators: Dollar Cost Averaging, Expected After-Tax Return, Staying Ahead of Inflation, and Time Value. Even though the stated grade levels go up through middle school, many of these could also be used with high school business, econ, or “life after high school” classes.

Entire review and suggestions for using this site “In the Classroom”:
http://www.teachersfirst.com/single.cfm?id=9825

 

Tues., March 3, 2009 - Troubled Times: How to Help Children and Teens During Tough Economic Times

Troubled Times: How to Help Children and Teens During Tough Economic Times - TeachersAndFamilies/ NASP - Grades 0 to 12
http://teachersandfamilies.com/open/parent/ttimes1.cfm

Site found on TeachersFirst.com

“TeachersAndFamilies, offers this article and accompanying ideas for school and family to help children and teens understand and cope during tough economic times. The article includes information reprinted by permission from the National Association of School Psychologists and extensive, practical ideas and activities to help families cope together.”

Entire review and suggestions for using this site “In the Classroom”:
http://www.teachersfirst.com/single.cfm?id=9930

Monday, March 02, 2009

 

Mon., March 2, 2009 - Pi Day (March 14)

Pi Day (March 14)
http://www.piday.org/

From the site:
“Pi, the Greek letter, is the symbol for the ratio of the circumference of a circle to its diameter. Pi = 3.1415926535... Pi Day is celebrated by math enthusiasts around the world on March 14th.”

Teachers: What are the most successful Pi Day activities?
http://www.piday.org/discussions/teachers-what-are-the-most-successful-pi-day-activities
Shortened URL: http://tinyurl.com/c2qcth

 

Mon., March 2, 2009 - National First Ladies Library (biographies, timelines, curriculum)

National First Ladies’ Library
http://www.firstladies.org/

First Ladies Research
http://www.firstladies.org/biographies/

National First Ladies’ Library online curriculum.
http://www.firstladies.org/curriculum/welcome.aspx
From the site:
“The curriculum includes lessons plans for all grade levels focusing on history and including First Ladies. State and National standards are listed with each lesson plan.”

“Our lesson plans link to a timeline which should prove invaluable for educators. This timeline and the lesson plans include these categories:
science/medicine/inventions/technology;
education/arts/letters/ideas; Law/politics/government/war;
sports/popular culture; economics/discover/ daily life;
notable births/deaths and lives of the First Ladies.”

----

Historical information for the public and media
http://www.firstladies.org/articles.aspx

Site includes:
First Ladies’ Role
First Ladies and Family
Advocates of Social Causes
First Ladies as Ambassadors
First Ladies and Fashion
The White House
Personal Interest
Miscellaneous Articles

 

Mon., March 2, 2009 - Women's History Month

BIO Classroom Celebrates Women's History Month in March
http://www.biography.com/womens-history/index.jsp?HPF_rid=38129852&HPF_mid=2030_T1_Url35
Shortened URL: http://tinyurl.com/busv5j

BIO Classroom also offers a special interactive
website for Women's History Month. This site has
an excellent illustrated timeline with background
information about dozens of significant women,
quizzes, and primary sources to give students
perspective on the times in which they lived.
This site also has over 150 video clips about
important women throughout time. Educators and
their students will find a wealth of helpful
resources to celebrate Women’s History Month and
to pursue research projects highlighting the
contributions of women in many fields.

Site includes:
Interactive Timeline
Origin of Women’s History
Notable Women
Women’s History Trivia Quiz
Inspiring Quotes
Female Firsts
Adventurers
History of Mother’s Day
Links & Resources

Throughout the month of March, the BIO
Classroom hour (Monday through Friday at 7am/6c)
will feature programming about significant women
from throughout U.S. and world history.
Biographies of notable women including political
pioneers like Susan B. Anthony and Eleanor
Roosevelt, entrepreneurs such as Vera Wang, and
fascinating figures such as Annie Oakley and
Pocahontas will be aired during this one-hour
programming block.

 

Mon., March 2, 2009 - Ardent Spirits: The Origins of the American Temperance Movement

Ardent Spirits: The Origins of the American Temperance Movement
http://www.librarycompany.org/ArdentSpirits/index.htm

From the site:
“The temperance movement was the longest-lasting and most broad-based social reform movement in the United States. It was also, in many ways, successful: by the late 19th century, in the decades before Prohibition, the drinking habits of Americans were radically changed. Activism in the movement crossed gender, race, class, religion, and age barriers, and was connected to both the antislavery and woman suffrage reforms. This exhibition traces the temperance movement’s development from moral persuasion to legal coercion…” <<>>

Sunday, March 01, 2009

 

Sun., March 1, 2009 - Genetics Web Lab Directory

Genetics Web Lab Directory - Education Development Center, Inc. - Grades 7 to 12 http://www2.edc.org/weblabs/WebLabDirectory1.html
[NOTE: Previously posted. - Phyllis ]

Site found on TeachersFirst.com

“Use this interactive website's fourteen modules to learn the basic concepts of genetics. Basic modules such as Mendel’s Peas, Dragon Meiosis, and Punnett Squares provide great examples of genetic fundamentals. Provide challenges and use some of the advanced modules for topics such as Genetic Counseling or the Hardy-Weinberg Equation. Hovering the mouse over each module provides a brief overview of the activity, along with the difficulty level.” <<>>

Entire review and suggestions for using this site “In the Classroom”:
http://www.teachersfirst.com/single.cfm?id=9928

 

Sun., March 1, 2009 - Constellations

Constellations
http://www.surfnetkids.com/constellations.htm

From the site:
“A group of stars that forms a picture is commonly called a constellation. Astronomers, however, call these star pictures asterisms, and have a slightly different definition of a constellation. Scientists divide the sky into eighty-eight official constellations, so that every point in the sky is contained within only one. As you peruse today's crop of sites, keep both these definitions in mind, because some sites use the astronomer's definition, and others do not.”

Page includes 9 links to related sites (5 annotated, 4 Honorable Mentions)

 

Sun., March 1, 2009 - Flights of Inspiration / How We Made the First Flight / Beginner's Guide to Aeronautics

Flights of Inspiration
http://www.fi.edu/flights/

The curators at Philadelphia's famed Franklin Institute have created a
four-part look at the Wrights and at aviation. The home page offers links to
"First Flight" (the story of the Wrights' accomplishment), "Long Flight"
(Alcock and Brown's historic 1919 first non-stop trans-Atlantic flight), "Your
Flight" (for students to explore the physics of flight), and "Teachers' Zone"
(specifically for science teachers with hints for using the other three
sections, lists of resources, etc.)

NOTE: Previously posted. Some resource links no longer active or have changed.
I did not check all of them, but these two are still working.

How We Made the First Flight
by Orville Wright
http://www.aero-web.org/history/wright/wriframe.htm

----

Beginner's Guide to Aeronautics
http://www.grc.nasa.gov/WWW/K-12/airplane/index.html

The Learning Technologies Project (LTP) of the National Aeronautics and
Space Administration (NASA) Glenn Research Center provides the Beginner's
Guide to Aeronautics Website. This site offers an introduction to the
fundamentals of aerodynamics and propulsion. Sections included at the site
are Airplanes, Lift, Air, Gliders, Wind Tunnel, Curve Ball, and Forces.
Most of the sections include a summary of the topic supplemented with
slides, links, references, and interactive computer animations. This is an
excellent resource and is well worth a visit. [SN]

Source: The Scout Report for Science & Engineering, April 28, 1999
[NOTE: Previously posted. URL and site updated. Last update 9/19/08 - Phyllis ]

 

Sun., March 1, 2009 - Sites from The Scout Report, September 12, 2008

Sites found in:

The Scout Report
September 12, 2008
Volume 14, Number 36
-----

The Scout Report on the Web:
Current issue: http://scout.wisc.edu/Reports/ScoutReport/Current/
This issue: http://scout.wisc.edu/Reports/ScoutReport/2008/scout-080912.php

-----

The Harvard Project on the Soviet Social System Online
http://hcl.harvard.edu/collections/hpsss/index.html

This utterly fascinating digital project from Harvard University consists
primarily of summary transcripts of 705 interviews conducted with refugees
from the USSR during the early years of the Cold War. First-time visitors to
the site should read over the introduction to the Harvard Project on the
Soviet Social System (HPSSS) and then dive right into the documents. Those
who wish to locate certain topical information quickly will want to click on
the "Finding Aids" area right away, and it will also be helpful to click on
the "Working with the HPSSS Online" area. In terms of orientation, most of
the A-Schedule interviews consist of personal life histories and the B-
Schedule interviews consist of special topic interviews on subjects such as
family, government, stratification, nationalities, and partisan movements.
[KMG]

-----

U.S. Department of Energy: Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy [pdf]
http://www1.eere.energy.gov/geothermal/

For some, the thought of geothermal energy might bring up the nation of
Iceland, which has successfully harnessed this form of energy for many
years. The United States Department of Energy's Geothermal Technologies
Program is interested in such technologies as well, and their splendid site
will be of great use to scientists, policy types, and others. The first
thing new visitors will want to do is click on the Flash-enabled "Enhanced
Geothermal Systems" animation, which describes their use and potential.
After that, visitors can move on to the "Selected Topics" area, which
includes a bit of information about U.S. geothermal history, photos of
geothermal energy technology, and information on geothermal power plants and
their operation. Visitors will also want to take a look at a few of the
"Features" here, which include a report on the future of geothermal energy
from MIT. [KMG]
[NOTE: Other pages from http://www.eere.energy.gov/ previously posted. -
Phyllis ]

------

The Biology Project: The Chemistry of Amino Acids
http://www.biology.arizona.edu/biochemistry/problem_sets/aa/aa.html

The Biology Project at the University of Arizona doesn't shy away from the
big (or little) questions of life and science, and this helpful educational
resource will be another educational arrow in the quiver of science
educators from Seattle to Tashkent. The site provides a basic introduction
to amino acids, offering a brief description of their role as the "building
blocks" of protein. After reading the introduction, students can learn about
the structure of amino acids, and then take on a few exercises in the "Test
yourself" section of the site. Of course, that's not all, as visitors can
also learn about each amino acid separately, and there's even a handy legend
that makes learning that much easier. [KMG]
[NOTE: Other pages from The Biology Project previously posted. - Phyllis]

------

Atta texana: An Underground View of an Ant Colony [Quick Time, pdf]
http://www-viz.tamu.edu/faculty/lurleen/main/attatunnel/

You may have had one of those old-time ant colonies growing up as a child,
but did you ever think about becoming immersed in an actual ant-colony? That
could be the stuff of a bad 1950s horror film, but it's actually part of the
engrossing research going on at the Vizlab, which is based at Texas A &M
University. Essentially Carol LaFayette and an interdisciplinary team of
collaborators have created a 3D model that effectively acts as an immersive
system, allowing interested parties a very unique view into the lives of
atta texana, which happen to be a species of leafcutting ants. First-time
visitors should go ahead and take a look at the "Slide show" section and
then take a look at both the tunnel animation and the immersive system
video. Additionally, the site includes an article on the project and a link
to LaFayette's homepage. [KMG]

-------

Fashion Plate Collection
http://content.lib.washington.edu/costumehistweb/index.html

There are fashion plates, and then there are the exquisite fashion plates
that constitute the University of Washington Libraries digitized collection.
The plates were first collected by long-time home economics professor
Blanche Payne, who taught at the University from 1927 to 1966. The plates
come from leading French, American, and British fashion journals of the 19th
and early 20th century and they document many stylistic periods, such as the
Empire, Romantic, Victorian, and Edwardian. Visitors will want to start by
reading an essay on the collection, and then they should feel welcome to
browse the collection of over 400 plates at their leisure, or to browse the
collection by subject. One fascinating aspect of the site is an extended
excerpt from the 1913 book "Dame fashion" which comments on the history and
transformation of various fashions during the 19th century. [KMG]

------

====== In The News ====

In an effort to return Edgar Allan Poe to the City of Brotherly Love,
scholar and pundit issues a challenge

Baltimore Has Poe: Philadelphia Wants Him [Free registration may be required]
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/06/us/06poe.html?em

The Bibliothecary: Ed & Edgar
http://bibliothecary.squarespace.com/ed-and-edgar/

The Edgar Allan Poe Society of Baltimore
http://www.eapoe.org/
[NOTE: Previously posted. - Phyllis ]

Edgar Allan Poe National Historic Site [pdf]
http://www.nps.gov/edal/
[NOTE: Previously posted. - Phyllis ]

Edgar Allan Poe
http://etext.virginia.edu/poe/poebiog.html

Scholar, Athlete, and Artist: Edgar Allan Poe at University of Virginia
http://www.literarytraveler.com/literary_articles/edgar_allan_poe_author.aspx
[NOTE: Other pages from http://www.literarytraveler.com/ previously posted. -
Phyllis]

During his 40 years on earth, Edgar Allan Poe lived what might be termed a
productive and peripatetic existence. He was born in Boston, raised in
Richmond, spent time studying at Mr. Jefferson's University of Virginia,
returned to Richmond, left again for Boston, moved in with his aunt in
Baltimore, returned again to Richmond, spent time in Philadelphia and New
York City, and then made a fateful trip back to Baltimore where he died. Poe
was arguably the first American writer to become an international celebrity,
and his legacy remains undiminished in the over 150 years that have passed
since he breathed his last. Given all that, it's not surprising that there
is a minor tempest in a teapot currently brewing over his last resting
place. Poe is buried in Baltimore, but Edward Pettit, a Philadelphian and
Poe scholar, would like to see him repatriated to the City of Brotherly
Love. Pettit has been calling for Philadelphians to join him in his cause,
and his hope is that Poe's body can be moved before the bicentennial of his
birth in January 2009. Pettit is quick to point out that Poe wrote many of
his most loved works in Philadelphia, including "The Fall of the House of
Usher" and "The Tell-Tale Heart". In response, Jeff Jerome, the curator of
the Poe House in Baltimore remarked, "Philadelphia can keep its broken bell
and its cheese steak, but Poe's body isn't going anywhere." The matter may
be resolved in a gentlemanly manner come early January, when Mr. Pettit is
scheduled to debate a debater-to-be-named later regarding this dispute at
the Philadelphia Free Library. [KMG]

The first link will lead visitors to a piece from the New York Times which
offers up some rather compelling details about this ongoing debate between
the City of Brotherly Love and Charm City. The second link will lead
visitors to the "Ed & Edgar" section of Edward Pettit's website. Here
visitors can learn about Pettit's interactions with all things Poe, and his
ongoing struggle to restore Poe's Philadelphia legacy. Moving on, the third
link leads to the homepage of the Edgar Allan Poe Society of Baltimore.
Their site is quite nice, and visitors can learn about Poe's time in
Baltimore, his gravesite at the Westminster Burying Ground, and also look
over information on joining their ranks. The fourth site will whisk users
away to the website of the Edgar Allan Poe National Historic Site in
Philadelphia. It's a great place to learn about Poe's time in Philadelphia,
and visitors can use the site to plan a visit. The fifth link will take
users to an excellent site created by the University of Virginia, which
contains a number of letters written to and from Poe while he was a student
in Charlottesville, along with many of his tales of horror, intrigue, and
general suspense. The final link leads to a nice essay by Scott D. Peterson
about Poe's time at the University of Virginia, where he managed to rack up
a sizeable amount of debt, write some poems, and also gamble a bit of money
away. [KMG]

>From The Scout Report, Copyright Internet Scout 1994-2008.
http://scout.wisc.edu/

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