Phyllis' Favorites

Comic Book Confidential
http://community.ovationtv.com/_comic-book-confidential/video/567074/16878.html
Shortened URL: http://tinyurl.com/ocz5qy
Video explores WWII’s effect on comic books and how the industry evolved during the 20th century.

From the site: (Time: 3:27 min.) Description:
“A complete retrospective of the comic book medium. This program shows comic books as an art form and includes interviews with notable comic creators including Charles Burns, Art Spiegelman, Stan Lee, and William M. Gaines.”

True Caribbean Pirates
http://www.history.com/content/pirates

Site includes:
History of the Caribbean Pirates
Video Gallery
Pirate Trivia
Cutthroat Challenge (game)
Boardroom Buccaneers (quiz)

Black in America2: African-American Journeys
http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/2009/black.in.america/journeys/

From the site:
“Explore the African-American experience through historic migrations and the family stories shared by iReporters.
The African-American journey includes public struggles and private decisions, epic events and personal stories. In that intersection of ordinary life and the stuff of history books lies the journey of a people.”

Sites found in:
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PBS Teachers Newsletter: June 28- July 11, 2009
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Engineer Your Life: Inspire Girls to Explore Engineering

Engineer Your Life (EYL) is a web site for high school girls-and the adults in their lives (parents, counselors, teachers, and librarians)-who want to learn more about what life and work are like for engineers. EYL features ten great reasons to become an engineer, streaming video of inspiring women engineers, descriptions of dream engineering jobs, and resources that educators can use to advise girls (and boys) about engineering.

http://www.EngineerYourLife.org

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NOVA
Musical Minds
On-Air & Online
Gr. 6-8 / 9-12
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
8 - 9:00 pm
Through the remarkable case studies from neurologist Dr. Oliver
Sacks' latest book, Musicophilia, NOVA investigates the
extraordinary impact music can have on the human brain,
traveling around the globe to meet people like Tony Cicoria,
who was struck by lightning and was suddenly inspired to become
a pianist, and Matt Giordano, who uses drumming to alleviate
his severe Tourette syndrome. (CC, Stereo, HD, 1 year)
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/musicminds/

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NOVA scienceNOW
On-Air & Online
Gr. 6-8 / 9-12
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
9 - 10:00 pm
Explore breakthroughs in the engineering of artificial
diamonds; the science that went into solving the deadly
post-9/11 anthrax attacks and the ingenious technique
researchers developed to pinpoint the source; "AutoTune," the
controversial computer pitch-correction software that turns
sour notes into sweet ones; and a profile of computer scientist
Luis von Ahn. (CC, Stereo, HD, 1 year)
http://www.pbs.org/nova/sciencenow/
[NOTE: See guide pasted below. – Phyllis ]

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NOVA scienceNOW
On-Air & Online
6-8 / 9-12
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
9 - 10:00 pm
Astronomers on the brink of finding "another Earth" in our
galaxy, using a new planet-hunting machine: the Kepler
telescope; Rudy Tanzi, a pioneer in discovering genes for
Alzheimer's disease, and others who are on the hunt for the
genetic key to autism; the use of computers to authenticate
paintings; and a profile of spider scientist Maydianne Andrade.
Neil deGrasse Tyson hosts. (CC, Stereo, HD, 1 year)
http://www.pbs.org/nova/sciencenow/

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PBS Previews: National Parks
On-Air & Online
Gr. 6-8 / 9-12
Sunday, July 5, 2009
10:30 - 11:00 pm
PBS presents a preview of the new Ken Burns film "The National
Parks: America's Best Idea." The 12-hour, six-part documentary
series, directed by Burns and co-produced with his longtime
colleague, Dayton Duncan, who also wrote the script, is the
story of an idea as uniquely American as the Declaration of
Independence and just as radical: that the most special places
in the nation should be preserved, not for royalty or the rich,
but for everyone.
http://www.pbs.org/nationalparks/

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Time Team America
Fort Raleigh, North Carolina
On-Air & Online
Gr. 6-8 / 9-12
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
8 - 9:00 pm
Part extreme adventure, part hard science and part reality
show, "Time Team America" takes viewers deep into the trenches
of America's most intriguing archaeological sites. The series
premiere goes in search of the nation's mysterious roots at
Roanoke Island. In 1586, the English sent the first group of
hardy, hopeful colonists to the New World. When English ships
returned with supplies just three years later, they found the
settlement empty and the colonists gone. The colonists had left
behind only one clue: the word Croatan carved in the gatepost
of their fort. (CC, Stereo, HD 1 year)
http://www.pbs.org/timeteam/

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Ascent of Money
On-Air & Online
Gr. 6-8 / 9-12
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
9 - 10:00 pm
In this four-part series, Harvard historian Niall Ferguson
delves deep into how the complex system of global finance
evolved over the centuries, how money has shaped the course of
human affairs and how the mechanics of this economic system
work to create seemingly unlimited wealth or catastrophic
loss. (CC, stereo, HD, 1 year)
http://www.pbs.org/wnet/ascentofmoney/

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Copyright 2008 PBS Online

*********

---------Forwarded Message--------
From: NOVA Teachers
Subject: NOVA and NOVA scienceNOW air June 30, 2009

Hello Educators,

Tune into NOVA next week to get a glimpse into "Musical Minds," a
program that joins noted neurologist Oliver Sacks to look at four of
his patients who have had extraordinary experiences with music.
Based on the cases in Sacks' latest book Musicophilia: Tales of
Music and the Brain, the program probes music's strange, surprising,
and still unexplained power over the human mind. (Subjects covered:
health science, anatomy and physiology)

Have questions about how music affects the brain, why music can help
some patients with Parkinson's and other neurological conditions,
and more? Send them in to Oliver Sacks. (Questions due by Wednesday,
July 1; selected responses will be posted on Monday, July 6.)
http://www.pbs.org/nova/musicminds/ask.html

Watch a preview, see a video extra, and view the program online
after the broadcast at:
http://www.pbs.org/nova/musicminds

Following "Musical Minds," stay tuned for the premier of this year's
NOVA scienceNOW series. Visit a laboratory where entrepreneurs are
growing diamonds, learn about the source of the anthrax used in the
attacks of 2001, see how experiments with pitch-correction software
can help you sing like a star, and meet a computer scientist who
finds novel ways to stop spammers and harness the brainpower of
millions of people. (Subjects covered: life science, physics,
forensics, social studies, technology/engineering)

If you missed our recent webcast with NOVA scienceNOW's Neil
deGrasse Tyson you can still watch it online. Learn more about ways
to inspire your students, find out more facts about the universe,
and watch educational demonstrations you can do with your students.
Find it here: http://www.pbs.org/nova/webcast

Regards,
Karen Hartley
Teachers Editor
NOVA Web Site
http://www.pbs.org/nova/teachers/
E-mail: NOVA_Teachers@wgbh.org

* * * * * * * *

NOVA Presents "NOVA scienceNOW"
Broadcast: Tuesday, June 30
http://www.pbs.org/nova/sciencenow
(Check your local listings as broadcast dates and times may vary.
This program has one-year off-air taping rights.)

Diamond Factory
http://www.pbs.org/nova/sciencenow/0401/01.html

Watch Online
Watch this video segment online after the broadcast date.
(QuickTime or Windows Media plug-in required.) (Grades 6-8,
9-12)

Digital Diamonds
In this audio podcast, hear how man-made diamonds might pave the
way for the electronics of the future. (Flash plug-in required;
downloadable.) (Grades 6-8, 9-12)

Ask the Expert
Send in questions about natural and man-made diamonds for
materials scientist and researcher James Butler. (Questions due
by Wednesday, July 1; selected responses will be posted on
Monday, July 6.) (Grades 6-8, 9-12)

Teacher's Guide
Find a program overview and viewing ideas to accompany this
video segment.

Anthrax Investigation
http://www.pbs.org/nova/sciencenow/0401/02.html

Watch Online
Watch this video segment online after the broadcast date.
(QuickTime or Windows Media plug-in required.) (Grades 6-8,
9-12)

History of Biowarfare
In this time line, explore confirmed cases of biowarfare and
bioterrorism, from medieval times to today, and learn more about
state-sponsored programs that could prevent future attacks.
(Flash plug-in required; printable version available.) (Grades
9-12)

Was It Weaponized?
View this bonus video to see how scientists could tell whether
or not the anthrax in the 2001 attacks was specially engineered
to disperse through the air as a bioterror weapon. (Playing
time: 2m 07s) (QuickTime or Windows Media plug-in required.)
(Grades 6-8, 9-12)

Ask the Expert
Send in questions about microbial forensics, the threat of
global plagues, and more to biologist Paul Keim of Northern
Arizona University. (Questions due by Wednesday, July 1;
selected responses will be posted on Monday, July 6.) (Grades
6-8, 9-12)

Teacher's Guide
Find a program overview and a classroom activity to accompany
this video segment.

Auto-Tune
http://www.pbs.org/nova/sciencenow/0401/03.html

Watch Online
Watch this video segment online after the broadcast date.
(QuickTime or Windows Media plug-in required.) (Grades 6-8,
9-12)

Pitch Perfect
In this audio podcast, learn what pitch is, then listen in as
Auto-Tune corrects the bad pitch of several NOVA staffers.
(Flash plug-in required.) (Grades 6-8, 9-12)

Ask the Expert
Send in questions about Auto-Tune, the implications of its use
among professional musicians, and more to Auto-Tune creator Andy
Hildebrand. (Questions due by Wednesday, July 1; selected
responses will be posted on Monday, July 6.) (Grades 6-8, 9-12)

Profile: Luis von Ahn
http://www.pbs.org/nova/sciencenow/0401/04.html

Watch Online
Watch this video segment online after the broadcast date.
(QuickTime or Windows Media plug-in required.) (Grades 6-8,
9-12)

Games With a Purpose
Read a full interview or hear audio highlights as Luis von Ahn
explains how his computer games are improving the Web, the
downside of being a MacArthur "genius," and more. (Grades 6-8,
9-12)

Ask the Expert
Send in questions to computer scientist Luis von Ahn about his
life and work. (Questions due by Wednesday, July 1; selected
responses will be posted on Monday, July 6.) (Grades 3-5, 6-8,
9-12)

Podcasting and RSS
http://www.pbs.org/nova/sciencenow/rss/
Find out how you can sign up for the NOVA scienceNOW podcast and RSS
feed that will allow you to learn about features and dispatches as
they are posted to the NOVA scienceNOW Web site. (Grades 6-8, 9-12)

Dispatches
http://www.pbs.org/nova/sciencenow/dispatches/
Read what the NOVA scienceNOW producers, editors, and correspondents
are thinking about. (Grades 6-8, 9-12)

Get Involved
http://www.pbs.org/nova/sciencenow/involved/
Read science news headlines, join a research project, find teaching
aids for NOVA scienceNOW, learn how to host a science cafe, pitch a
show idea, and more. (Grades 6-8, 9-12)

Science News
http://www.pbs.org/nova/sciencenow/involved/news.html
Keep current with the most important stories by reading the top
science news articles from the mainstream media. Check back daily
for the top stories. (Grades 6-8, 9-12)

---------Forwarded Message--------
Hi! It's Saturday, November 1, 2008 and time for Music at ClickSchooling!

Recommended Website:
The Fabulous Songbook
http://kristinhall.org/songbook/Songbook.html

Age Range: All Ages (Non-readers require adult assistance; as always,
adults should preview content before sharing with children.)

[Note: ClickSchooling Editor-At-Large, MaryAnna Cashmore, wrote this
review.]

This website offers a terrific, free songbook. Don't let the lackluster look
of the website deceive you - because as free online songbooks go, this one
is delightfully useful for parents, teachers, and youth group leaders.

When you get to the site you'll see a lot of introductory text. Scroll below
it to the songbook menu where you'll find an amazing variety of choices that
include:

*Ballads
*Blues & Standards
*Call & Response
*Campfire Songs
*Circle Games
*Classic Kids Songs
*Foreign Songs
*Gospel Tunes
*Guitar Instrumentals
*Hand Games
*Holiday Songs
*Lullabies & Graces
*Motion Songs
*On And On Songs
*Part Songs & Rounds
*Patriotic Songs
*Protest, Political, & Social Commentary Songs
*Sea Shanties & Pub Songs
*Silly Songs
*Singalongs
*U.S. Folk Songs

There are even songs By Indie Artists and Metal, Hard, Grunge & Progressive
Rock groups. (Again, parental discretion advised.)

The songs, many of which were collected by the author for use with her Girl
Scout group, are categorized by type as well as by first line. For example,
some are "Make 'em Up" - which would be the ones that you make up as you go
along, such as "Down By the Bay." Others are activity games, such as "London
Bridge is Falling Down," which are fun to play with a group of children.
Then you have "Call and Response," wherein a person or group repeats after a
caller, such as "Are You Sleeping" or "Bear in the Woods."

Not all songs include activities, mp3's, sheet music, or even chords, but
there's something for everyone here. Many of the songs are well-known enough
that just the lyrics may suffice. The songbook is "completed," but it has
also been updated recently, and suggestions for additions/improvement are
still welcomed.

Enjoy! :)

MaryAnna Cashmore
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.

American Road Trips
http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/2008/american.road.trips/

From the site:

“Has the slow economy grounded your vacation plans for an air-travel adventure? Maybe it's time for a road trip that's less expensive and near your home.”

Crafty Birds
http://www.craftybirds.com/

From the site:

“Free bird house plans and bird feeder plans. We have free woodworking plans for building birdhouses and bird feeders, birdhouse applique, bird house quilt patterns, free gourd bird house painting patterns, tole painting patterns, free craft patterns and lots more!”

When Thunder Roars, Go Indoors!
Lightning Safety Week is June 21-27...
http://www.lightningsafety.noaa.gov/index.htm

From the site:
“Lightning kills or injures hundreds each year. There have been 15 deaths so far this June. See our new 30-second video on a teen struck by lightning, download our new safety brochure and explore the wealth of resources on the NWS lightning safety website.”
[NOTE: Site previously posted – updated. - Phyllis ]

Podcast: The Salem Witchcraft Trials

“In the Devil’s Snare: The Salem Witchcraft Crisis of 1692″
The New-York Historical Society
Running Time: 58:50

In this lecture, historian Mary Beth Norton examines the original court documents from the Salem witchcraft trials; she places these well-known events in the context of the Indian wars and other witch trials in New England. The trials, she concludes, were driven more by politics than by superstition. To hear this podcast, click here:
http://gilderlehrman.org/wp/?p=44

Source: Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History

From: Library of Congress
Subject: Solving a Civil War Mystery

Solving a Civil War Mystery
http://memory.loc.gov/pp/cwphtml/cwpmystery.html

Want to help students learn more about how photographs can be manipulated to tell a story or change someone’s opinion or point of view? The Prints and Photographs Division has presented a case study based on a reference question about a photograph of Ulysses S. Grant. Students can use the clues provided to determine if the photograph is real or not. Want students to learn more? Have them look at the special presentation “Does the Camera Ever Lie” found in the Selected Civil War Photographs collection in American Memory. http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/cwphtml/cwpcam/cwcam1.html

NoSweatShakespeare
http://www.nosweatshakespeare.com/

From the site:
“Our aim is to help students of all ages understand Shakespeare's language. From translating full Shakespeare plays and short quotes and phrases in to modern English, to providing in depth articles on Shakespeare's life and times, we're here to help make Shakespeare easy and accessible.”

Contents:
Shakespeare Ebooks
Shakespeare for Kids
Play Summaries
Shakespeare Quotes
Shakespeare’s Sonnets
The Globe Theatre
Shakespeare’s Pictures
Shakespearean Insults
Shakespeare’s Characters

William Shakespeare Timeline
http://www.nosweatshakespeare.com/resources/timeline.htm

William Shakespeare Resources
http://www.nosweatshakespeare.com/resources.htm

Lessons From Literature - NCTE, Family Violence Protection Fund - Grades 9 to 12
http://lessonsfromliterature.org/

Site found on TeachersFirst.com

From the site:
“This site offers lesson plans for teachers using Their Eyes Were Watching God and Lord of the Flies and other poems and plays from the point of view of preventing and dealing with violence and abuse in teens' lives. Besides the specific lesson plans, it offers a complete manual explaining to teachers how to help their students with these too-common problems, particularly focusing on relationship abuse. Other supports on the website include a printable poster, a resource library, extensive materials on how to help teens with date abuse, and links to NCTE standards as well as to other support organizations. This site requires Adobe Acrobat.”

Entire review and suggestions for using this site “In the Classroom”:
http://www.teachersfirst.com/single.cfm?id=10058

Landforms - Southern Kings Consolidated School - Grades 3 to 7
http://www.edu.pe.ca/southernkings/landforms.htm

Site found on TeachersFirst.com

From the site:
“Looking for a site that teaches landforms? This site offers simple explanations and photos of several types of landforms: valleys, plateaus, mountains, plains, hills, loess, and glaciers. There is also a link to the rock cycle and a glossary. The photos at this site really enhance the simple explanations.”

Entire review and suggestions for using this site “In the Classroom”:
http://www.teachersfirst.com/single.cfm?id=10082

Animal Characteristics Game - Sheppard Software - Grades 1 to 3
http://www.sheppardsoftware.com/content/animals/kidscorner/gamesforkids.htm
Shortened URL: http://tinyurl.com/nhe6k2
[Select: Animal Characteristics]

Site found on TeachersFirst.com

From the site:
“Animal Characteristics Game provides five animal category bins: mammals, reptiles, birds, amphibians and fish. Above the bins are various characteristics arranged in random order. Students drag and drop the appropriate characteristics into the corresponding bin. Once all of the characteristics are dropped in the correct bin, watch for a fun surprise! If students struggle with the characteristics or want to learn more, they can click on the Animal Classification icon to learn information for each species. This site requires Flash.”

Entire review and suggestions for using this site “In the Classroom”:
http://www.teachersfirst.com/single.cfm?id=10075

See Also: Sheppard Software Home Page
http://www.sheppardsoftware.com/
“Hundreds of educational games, activities, quizzes, articles and more, for kids and everyone to use online – and free!”

ENSI: Evolution and the Nature of Science Institutes
http://www.indiana.edu/~ensiweb/home.html
[NOTE: Previously posted. - Phyllis ]

From the site:

“What Is Ensiweb?
This is a collection of classroom lessons to help high school biology teachers more effectively teach basic concepts in the areas of evolution and the nature of science. They were developed and tested during nine years of summer institutes by biology teachers from across the nation.”

Index To Useful Web Links
http://www.indiana.edu/~ensiweb/resou.fs.html

Sites found in:
******************************************
PBS Teachers Newsletter: June 21-27, 2009
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The Music Instinct: Science & Song
On-Air
Gr. 6-8 / 9-12
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
9 - 11:00pm
New work in neuroscience is giving us clues to the mysteries of
how and why music penetrates the brain and the emotions. This
documentary includes performances by world-famous performers,
in genres from rock to classical, such as Bobby McFerrin, Yo-Yo
Ma, Jarvis Cocker and Richard Hawley and Evelyn Glennie. (CC,
Stereo, HD, 1 year)
http://www.pbs.org/wnet/musicinstinct/

Copyright 2008 PBS Online

---------Forwarded Message--------
From: Library of Congress
Date: Thu, Jun 11, 2009 at 10:20 AM
Subject: New Everyday Mystery: How do spiders avoid getting tangled in their own webs?

New Everyday Mystery: How do spiders avoid getting tangled in their own webs?
http://www.loc.gov/rr/scitech/mysteries/spiderweb.html

The sticky, complex nets of silk are effective hunting tools for catching prey, but how do the spiders themselves avoid entangling themselves in their own webs?

# posted by Phyllis @ 11:23 PM 0 comments

The Science Toy Maker
http://www.sciencetoymaker.org/

From the site:
“The non-commercial site for people who like to roll up their sleeves and make fun, mysterious toys and projects that entice scientific investigation. It is a resource for inspired parents, kids, teachers, teenagers, home schoolers, science fair participants and citizen scientists everywhere.”

[NOTE: Previously posted. - Phyllis ]

Desert USA: Desert Animals and Wildlife
http://www.desertusa.com/animal.html

This great educational website about Desert Animals and Wildlife was created
by DesertUSA, a publication designed to explore and educate about "the
beauty, life, and culture of North American deserts." The Desert Animals and
Wildlife homepage contains extensive lists of links to sites for different
Mammals, Birds and Fish, Reptiles and Amphibians, and Insects and Spiders.
The animal link selections include the Mexican Gray Wolf, Desert Pupfish,
Desert Iguana, and Finback Whale just to name a few. The specific animal
pages include photos and information categorized in areas such as
Distribution, Habitat, Description, and Life Cycle. There is a feature link
to a webpage on Desert Animal Survival, a list of links to relevant
DesertUSA Articles and Information, and links to websites dedicated to other
DesertUSA subjects such as Plants / Wildflowers, Minerals & Geology,
and People & Cultures.
[NOTE: Previously posted. - Phyllis ]

From The NSDL Scout Report for the Life Sciences, Copyright Internet Scout
Project 1994-2003. http://scout.wisc.edu/

Johannes Kepler: His Life, His Laws and Times
http://kepler.nasa.gov/johannes/

International Year of Astronomy and Johannes Kepler
http://kepler.nasa.gov/johannes/iya.html

From the site:
“2009, The International Year of Astronomy (IYA) celebrates and commemorates not only Galileo Galilei's ground breaking work in telescopic observational astronomy, but also the year that Johannes Kepler's paradigm-setting work, Astronomia Nova, was published.”

Site includes Kepler Education Projects for the Classroom