Thursday, June 03, 2010
Thurs., June 3, 2010 - Sixty Symbols
Sixty Symbols
From the site:
Ever been confused by all the letters and squiggles used by scientists?
Hopefully this site will unravel some of those mysteries.
Sixty Symbols is a collection of videos about physics and astronomy
Thurs., June 3, 2010 - A-Z Animals
A-Z Animals
From the site:
Welcome to A-Z Animals, an online animal encyclopedia where you can learn about all your favourite animals, and even some you may have never heard of!
[NOTE: British site. Nice photos. – Phyllis)
Thurs., June 3, 2010 - JEA Digital Media (H.S. Journalism Resources)
Site found in:
ConnectEng, March 1, 2009
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JEA Digital Media
Information for high school journalism advisers: Web sites, podcasts, blogs,
broadcasts, and social networks.
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Carla Beard
Web English Teacher
This newsletter is copyright 2009, Web English Teacher.
Thurs., June 3, 2010- The Writer's Resource Directory
The Writer's Resource Directory - Carol Kluz - Grades 8 to 12
Site found on TeachersFirst:
Carol Kluz’s site has hundreds of resources for writers that link pages to book reviews, writing workshops, tips, and more. Winner of the 2009 Writer's Digest 101 Best Websites for Writers, The Writer's Resource Directory provides an organized place holder for many tried and true essentials, as well as other perks and frills like interviews with authors, their words of wisdom, writers' tools, and a clever thesaurus of phrases and sayings which includes definitions and origins. Please do not let a few broken links discourage you; most links do work, and they are real gems. Whether you’re a novice or an expert, there is something valuable for every teacher, student, and writer on this site.
Entire review and suggestions for using this site “In the Classroom”:
Thurs., June 3, 2010 - The Brilliant Line
The Brilliant Line - RISD Museum
Site found on TeachersFirst:
The beautiful, award-winning site explores the art of the engraving from the Renaissance and Baroque eras (1480-1650). Navigate through artworks, zooming in interactively as you read about the works, the artists, and the iconography of each work. An interactive map shows the location of the work, and a special "analyze lines" tool allows you to turn off and on each level of engraved line to see the work in layers of its complexity. There is also a video showing how the engraving process works. Many of the drawings of this time involve classical figure drawings (and some nudity).
Entire review and suggestions for using this site “In the Classroom”:
Thurs., June 3, 2010 - MOMA Pop Art
MOMA Pop Art - Museum of Modern
Site found on TeachersFirst:
This Webby Award winning site from the Museum of Modern Art (NY) provides a flash-powered viewer for nearly 200 works from MOMA. You can click on them in Bubble view to "pop" them or set it to Index view to click on little dots one at a time and read about each artist and piece. In bubble view, the tags for each piece show when you click to "pop" it, and you can then visit your "viewed works" to find it and read more about it. The works are "tagged" by descriptive terms, subject, and technique so searching by tag generates some interesting relationships and comparisons. Text explanations accompany each work. The actual viewer opens in a separate window, so you may have to turn off a pop-up blocker. It takes a significant time to load, even on a fast connection, so be patient.
Entire review and suggestions for using this site “In the Classroom”:
Wednesday, June 02, 2010
Wed., June 2, 2010 - History of the Dominican Republic
History of the Dominican Republic
From the site:
“For at least 5,000 years before Christopher Columbus discovered America for the Europeans, the island, which he named Hispaniola , was inhabited by Amer-Indians. Anthropologists have traced multiple waves of indigenous immigration from two principle places. Some of the early Amer-Indians came from Central America (probably Yucatan and/or Belize ) and some came from South America, descendants of the Arawakan Indians in Amazonia, many of whom passed through the Orinocco Valley in Venezuela Columbus >>
Wed., June 2, 2010 - Navigating Food Labels
--------Forwarded Message--------
Site of the Day
Navigating Food Labels
Today's site, from National Public Radio's Lisa Raffensperger, offers inside
information on the meanings of the phrases used in the ubiquitous food label.
Gentle Subscribers may find this report a useful primer in decoding the real facts
on these labels.
"Did you know the label '100 Percent Natural' has different meanings for chicken
fingers, cookies and various other foods? Or that those 'cage-free' chickens might
not ever have seen the outdoors? Here's a guide to help sort out what's meaningful,
what's dubious -- and what's total fluff." - from the website
This report details a number of terms present on the standard food label which may
mislead the consumer. A number of major categories are considered, such as organic,
natural and sustainable and what these mean with respect to certain types of foods,
which may less reassuring than consumers have been led to believe. Additional
information focuses on meat and poultry -- the diet of these animals and the
conditions under which they are raised as noted on their labels and how that may
differ from consumers' expectations.
Hop over to the site for a little insight into the less than straightforward
information on some food labels at:
A.M. Holm
view the List archives on the web at:
Wed., June 2, 2010 - Migration Information Source: Country Resources
Migration Information Source: Country Resources
From the site:
“As the main arbiters of where, when, and how people may cross borders, individual countries still hold many of the keys to the immigration and integration trajectories of increasingly diverse flows of migrants. This growing list of country resource pages catalogues and contextualizes the migration experiences of many countries around the world.”
Migration Information Source
[NOTE: Previously posted. Site updated. - Phyllis ]
Wed., June 2, 2010 - Panoramic Photos from WW I
Additions to Flickr from the Library of Congress
The Library has made available panoramic photographs from World War I
From the site:
“These long panoramic photographs show U. S.
Individual photos have info under each one. To change the view, click on “All Sizes”
To view as a slideshow:
For information about each photo, select “Show Info” tab or click on photo
Wed., June 2, 2010 - Lincoln Resources (iCue)
From: Gilder Lehrman Institute
The Institute has partnered with NBC News on a new initiative to teach American history through archival news footage and primary documents. To explore this resource, go to: http://www.iCue.com/ and search for Lincoln
[NOTE: iCue previously posted. - Phyllis ]
Source: Gilder Lehrman Institute
Wed., June 2, 2010 - C-SPAN Video Library / STATS / Stump the Bookseller
Sites found in:
NEAT NEW STUFF, March 19, 2010
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C-SPAN Video Library
The entire 23 years of C-SPAN - 148,000+ videos - are archived here. Search or browse by program titles, date, or broad topics (Business & Commerce, Courts & Judicial Process, Health & Welfare, Campaigns & Elections, etc.). With the wealth of primary sources now available on the internet, has there ever been a greater time for historians?
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STATS - We check out the numbers behind the news
This searchable site looks at "major issues and news stories from a quantitative and scientific perspective." Check out the STATS blog, the articles and in-depth analyses, or go to the STATS Simplified section for a layman's guide to poorly understood statistical concepts (margin of error, causation vs. correlation, odds rations, etc.).
[NOTE: Previously posted. - Phyllis ]
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Stump the Bookseller
If you're searching for a much-loved book whose author or title you can't remember, here's a service that might be able to help you out.($) You can also browse through the file of previous books that have been identified. (Another solution: ask your librarian, who has access to sources that catalog fiction by their plots.)
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Neat New Stuff I Found This Week
by Marylaine Block
Copyright 1999.
Tuesday, June 01, 2010
Tues., June 1, 2010 - 40+ Tips to Improve Your Grammar and Punctuation
40+ Tips to Improve your Grammar and Punctuation - by Dumb Little Man - Jay White & the Dumb Little Man team of writers - Grades 7 to 12
Shortened URL: http://tinyurl.com/26hybv4
Site found on TeachersFirst:
Today there are tips online on how to manage just about everything, including your time, your classroom, and even your life, but what about managing your grammar and punctuation? This site does exactly that; it provides a quick, short list of the common annoying errors that you would like to think your students already learned but keep reappearing in their everyday writing. The strengths: there is a bit of humor to what could be considered a dry topic; it gets right to the point without having to surf and navigate elsewhere; and it is a short straight-forward list of frequently misused structures(the ones that spell check and grammar check often miss) with an explanation of correct usage along with links to practice. The weakness is that you are going to crave more added to this list by Dumb Little Man.
Entire review and suggestions for using this site “In the Classroom”:
Tues., June 1, 2010 - 100+ Places to Learn a Language Online
100+ Places to Learn a Language Online
From the site:
“This is an alphabetical list of websites where you can learn a language online. Some sites provide content; others community; and a number have both. Some sites focus on learning one specific language, others cover a number of languages. Thanks to all those who have contributed to this list.”
Updated: 03 May 2010
[NOTE: British site.]
Tues., June 1, 2010 - Compendium for Energy Resources
Site found in:
February 28, 2009 "Earth Science Sites of the Week"
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COMPENDIUM FOR ENERGY RESOURCES, (Debbie Leedy), “This compendium not only meet these standards, but are organized to help you locate up-to-date and accurate curricula which portray energy challenges and dilemmas facing California and the world in the years ahead. This compendium is one in a series providing information on quality environmental education instruction materials. We hope the Compendium for Energy Resources helps you instruct and empower your students, as they participate in activities designed to explain and conserve energy resources. Students need to understand the implications of their personal resource use and energy practices so that they can make informed decisions.”
Shortened URL: http://tinyurl.com/2fnw565
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Mark Francek
Resource Page: http://webs.cmich.edu/resgi
Tues., June 1, 2010 - Virtual Skies
Virtual Skies - NASA - Grades 4 to 12
[NOTE: Previously posted. Site updated April 2010 - Phyllis ]
Site found on TeachersFirst:
Explore aviation technology and air traffic management. Find information and interactives on "Weather," "Aeronautics," "Navigation," and other air traffic topics. Visit the "Teachers Desk" for information on using and viewing the resources. Find more at "Online Resources." Click on "Careers" to learn more about the employment opportunities.
Entire review and suggestions for using this site “In the Classroom”:
Tues., June 1, 2010 - Pobediteli: Soldiers of the Great War
Pobediteli
From the site:
“By using a multimedia map of the war, we attempted to combine historic facts with archival materials and personal accounts shared with us in recent times, without any bias or judgment. We strived not only to present a coherent picture of the events, but also to initiate a dialogue between generations – remember, the personal accounts included in this project are but a tiny part of what the veterans can tell us.”
Site contains a multimedia flash presentation covering the entire period of the Eastern Front (or Great Patriotic War), beginning when Germany declared war on the USSR and ending when Soviet and Allied troops liberated Berlin , marking the end of the war in Europe and is intended to educate people about the major events of the war.
Tues., June 1, 2010 - Enhancing Education / Mountain West Digital Library / Making the History of 1989 / Mapping the African American Past / Vistas: Visual Culture in Spanish America, 1520-1820
Sites found in:
=======
The Scout Report
February 27, 2009
Volume 15, Number 8
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The Scout Report on the Web:
Current issue: http://scout.wisc.edu/Reports/ScoutReport/Current/
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Enhancing Education
Educators who are interested in incorporating new technologies into their
classroom experience often wonder where to start. They may want to start by
visiting the Enhancing Education site, which is maintained by staff members
at the Columbia Center for New Media Teaching and Learning at Columbia
University. The site is organized a bit like a weblog, as there are
different posts organized into subjects that include "Noted", "Solutions",
and "Primers". The "Noted" postings highlight interesting technologies that
may be of interest to educators, and the "Solutions" entries are composed of
a quick "how-to" that addresses a broad range of technologies and approaches
to classroom learning. Finally, the "Primers" posts cover the basic elements
of a compelling new technology or idea, including incorporating a weblog
into the class or peer editing. Visitors can also view the top ten tags on
the site, or take a look at the most recent posts. [KMG]
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Mountain West Digital Library
Formed as part of a consortium between universities, colleges, museums, and
historical societies in Utah , Nevada , and Idaho
Library contains dozens of digital collections whose content ranges far
beyond that of the geographical area covered by the Mountain West region.
On their homepage, visitors can learn about the "Featured Collection" and
then browse all of the available collections via a list of partner
institutions. All told, there are over 100 collections here, and visitors
can search the entire archive for text, images, video, or audio clips. A
couple of the collections should not be missed, including "Before Gaming:
Las Vegas Centennial", which provides visual documentation of a (relatively)
quiet Las Vegas
publication "The Young Woman's Journal" provides insight into the lives of
Mormon women in the early 20th century. [KMG]
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Making the History of 1989 [Real Player, pdf]
The Center for History and New Media at George Mason University
developed yet another fine educational resource with this site, and it's one
that teachers and others will want to tell their friends and colleagues
about. The site offers a multimedia approach to telling the stories of the
revolutions that swept across Eastern Europe in 1989, along with offering
substantive lesson plans and document based questions to be used in the
classroom. The materials on the site are contained within five sections,
including "Primary Sources", "Scholar Interviews", "Teaching Modules", and
"Case Studies". First-time visitors may wish to read the introductory essay
here, along with separate sections which briefly discuss the cultural and
social milieu in Bulgaria , Hungary
"Primary Sources" section includes a search engine, along with a listing of
individual countries and a "Featured Item". Moving on, the "Scholar
Interviews" allow users to listen to four different scholars discuss how
they teach this subject to their own students, along with what research
challenges and changing interpretations of history have informed their own
work. [KMG]
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Mapping the African American Past
The Mapping the African American Past (MAAP) project, produced by a team of
researchers and specialists at Columbia University
African American history and geography in New York City
funded by JPMorganChase, and it allows users to navigate through sites of
importance to the African American community throughout the city's past. New
visitors may wish to start by watching the short film, "Introduction to
MAAP", and then move on over to the "Place in Focus" feature. Here they can
learn about places like Five Points, the Abyssinian Baptist Church
home of David Ruggles. They can also use an interactive map to toggle
through places associated with certain time periods, such as the 17th, 18th,
and 19th centuries. Additionally, the site also contains lesson plans that
address topics that include African American community and culture and
"Building New York
cover all 52 locations featured on the MAAP website. [KMG]
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Vistas: Visual Culture in Spanish America , 1520 - 1820
Created by art historians at Smith College
project is to promote wider understanding of the visual culture of the
Spanish Americas
geographically from California to Chile
century to the early 19th century. The centerpiece of the site is the
gallery, with over 100 images arranged by time period. The 1500s, 1600s, and
1700s are the most populated sections. Images range from a modern photo of
Saqsawamán, which is a series of masonry zigzagging walls used as a
fortress, palace, and temple from the mid-15th to early 16th century in
1973. In between there are examples such as a portrait of Simón Bolívar in
the mid- to late-18th century, in the style of the English furniture maker
Thomas Chippendale, using mahogany from the forests of Central or South
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>From The Scout Report, Copyright Internet Scout 1994-2009.
Monday, May 31, 2010
Mon., May 31, 2010 - Historical People / Nazi Germany - Role of Women
Historical People
[NOTE: This is a British site. – Phyllis ]
From the site:
New section added to website
“This section of the site is a collection of all people featured on History on the Net. It will be updated and added to as new material is added to the site.”
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Nazi Germany
From the site:
New page added to Nazi Germany section
“Adolf Hitler had very clear ideas about the role of women in the Third Reich…” <<>>
Mon., May 31, 2010 - Cartography 2.0 / FaanKids / OMB Watch / Politics of Sport
Sites found in:
NEAT NEW STUFF, February 12, 2010
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Cartography 2.0 - Your guide to animated and interactive maps
" a free online knowledge base and e-textbook for students and professionals interested in interactive and animated maps."
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FaanKids - A food allergy site just for kids
Being different is hard on kids - not getting to eat what all the other kids are eating, having to know the ingredients of everything you're eating, and having to worry about life-threatening allergic reactions. This site is designed to make life for these kids a little easier and a lot more fun.
[NOTE: May 9-15 is Food Allergy Awareness Week! – Phyllis ]
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OMBWatch
"Promoting open government, accountability and citizen participation since 1983." This is one of my favorite sites for keeping government accountable by opening up its secrets. Among the issues it keeps a close watch on are fiscal responsibility (and irresponsibility), government performance, transparency, protecting the public, and lobbying.
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Politics of Sport
You might be interested in the readings offered here
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Neat New Stuff I Found This Week
by Marylaine Block
Copyright 1999.
Mon., May 31, 2010 - Science and Technology in World War II
Science and Technology in World War II - National World War II Museum - Grades 6 to 12
Site found on TeachersFirst:
This interactive online exhibit investigates the role of science and technology in Word War II, including everything from meteorology and materials to mathematical applications. Learn how radar, optics, nutrition, communications, and more affected the course of the war. Of course, the science of the atom bomb is featured, as well. Enter the "darkroom" to view artifacts and explanations. Click "Activities" to try a quiz, see the top ten technology achievements of the war, and send a coded message. All the activities within this site feature authentic sound effects, visuals, and newsreel-style video backgrounds. Learn about the importance of the moon in fighting the war, ask an expert a la 1940's radio, and more. Two introductory essays lend a very serious background to the topic and provide a scholarly context for the site. Lesson plans draw specific connections between science and history.
Entire review and suggestions for using this site “In the Classroom”:
Mon., May 31, 2010 - Cyberbullying in the Digital Age
Cyberbullying in the Digital Age - CyberBullyHelp.com - Grades 3 to 12
Site found on TeachersFirst:
This site contains all of the information that educators and parents need to know about cyber bullying. It contains resources, publications, lessons and links to help teach students about cyber-bullying.
Entire review and suggestions for using this site “In the Classroom”:
Mon., May 31, 2010 - Kahn Academy (Gr. 4-12)
Site found on TeachersFirst:
There are plenty of helpful sites to learn content. What makes this so special? Created by an uncle wanting to help his nieces learn material, Khan Academy
Entire review and suggestions for using this site “In the Classroom”:
Mon., May 31, 2010 - Sites found on Librarians' Internet Index,NEW THIS WEEK, February 26, 2009
Sites found in:
Librarians' Internet Index
Websites you can trust!
NEW THIS WEEK, February 26, 2009
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Intimate Circles: American Women in the Arts
This exhibit "explores the lives of women -- writers, artists, publishers, performers, collaborators, and community builders -- whose energies set in motion lasting aesthetic and cultural practices. The women portrayed here lived primarily in the late-nineteenth through the mid- twentieth centuries." Features essays on the Chicago Renaissance, expatriates, Harlem Renaissance, New York Yale University
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Never Mind the Pussycat: The Ornithological Art of Edward Lear
Exhibit about Edward Lear, who "is best remembered for his Nonsense, the preposterous rhymes and sketches loved by generations of children. ... This exhibit focuses on a brief period of Lear's youth [when] ... he created some of the most extraordinary images of birds ever made." Features examples of his illustrations of birds such as the parrot, crow, toucan, and owl. Also includes limericks and a brief bibliography. From Albert R. Mann Library, Cornell University
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Picturing Words: The Power of Book Illustration
This exhibit explores book illustration as inspiration (sacred texts and letterforms), information (geography and travel, natural history, and anatomy), and influence (such as product literature and architecture). It also includes details about the process of illustration, and selected readings and online resources. From the Smithsonian Institution Libraries.
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War, Women & Survival
This exhibit features images representing "[t]he roles played by women in military conflicts across time and place." Includes photos and images of propaganda posters, sheet music, recipe books, leaflets, press clippings, ration books, and more. Curated by Manuscripts and Special Collections, University of Nottingham , England
Shortened URL: http://tinyurl.com/2voovw8
[NOTE: Pages listed in menu on left. – Phyllis ]
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A Woman's Work Is Never Done
"This exhibition brings together a selection of images from the [American Antiquarian] Society's collections that illustrate many facets of American women's work, from the beginning of the American Revolution through the Industrial Revolution." View annotated images relating to domestic work, women as merchants, women and war, teaching and education, factory workers, performers and artists, and other occupations. Also includes a bibliography. From the American Antiquarian Society.
[NOTE: Previously posted. - Phyllis ]
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Rosie: A Legend on the Home Front
Transcript of a round table talk with the author of the book "Our Mothers' War" and two women "home front" veterans of World War II: one a tack welder on PT boats at the Philadelphia Navy Yard and the other an African American clerk for the segregated boilermakers' union serving the San Francisco Bay Area's Kaiser shipyards. Accompanied by a slide show. From the fall 2007 issue of Common Ground, a National Park Service publication.
Shortened URL: http://tinyurl.com/36eupqg
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George Palmer Putnam Collection of Amelia Earhart Papers
This collection "offers a rare glimpse into the life of [Amelia Earhart,] America Atlantic ." It "includes more than 3,500 scans of photographs, maps, and documents relating to Earhart." Also provides a finding aid, biography of Earhart, a timeline, images of Earhart's medals in the collection, and links to related sites. From Purdue University
[NOTE: Previously posted. - Phyllis ]
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Yale Environment 360
This online publication provides reports, opinion, analysis, interviews, and other material about the environment. Browse by world regions or by topics such as biodiversity, climate, energy, forests, and water. Also includes an environmental news digest. A publication of the Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies.
[NOTE: Current issue includes article on the BP Oil Spill. – Phyllis ]
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Reading Tea Leaves
Introduction to the art of reading tea leaves to tell fortunes. Includes description of the ritual ("Put a pinch of tealeaves in the cup and pour boiling water over them. ... Drink the contents of the cup leaving tealeaves and a very small amount of liquid." Then swirl the contents of the cup.), and how fortunes are told based on the shape and location of leaves. From the Tea Association of the USA
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Copyright 2009 by Librarians' Internet Index.
Sunday, May 30, 2010
Sun., May 30, 2010 - So Glad Blogger Restored This Blog!
As I’m sure you noticed, Blogger had removed this blog for 10 days.
The message from them:
“Blogger’s spam-prevention robots have detected that your blog has characteristics of a spam blog…
Automated spam detection is inherently fuzzy, and we sincerely apologize for this false positive…
Please be patient while we take a look at your blog and verify that it is not spam.”
This is the third time and probably won’t be the last. Hope you, too, are patient. Thanks for reading.
- Phyllis
