March 2008

 

JUST A REMINDER…

March is Women’s History Month.

Change your clocks – Most of the United States begins Daylight Saving Time at 2:00 a.m. on the second Sunday in March and reverts to standard time on the first Sunday in November.  Be sure to turn your clocks forward one hour on March 9.

March is Arkansas Archeology Month.

ARKANSAS STUDIES

MARCH IS ARKANSAS ARCHEOLOGY MONTH
 http://www.uark.edu/campus-resources/archinfo/archmonthevents2008.html

The theme for the 2008 celebration of Arkansas Archeology Month is “Patterns of the Past.”  Activities may focus on this theme or explore other facets of Native American and pioneer life in the early 1800s.  Activities include artifact identification days at Parkin Archeological State Park and the Shiloh Museum of Ozark History; an archeology open house at the Winthrop Rockefeller Institute; an archeological dig at Historic Washington State Park; and a guided cave tour at Petit Jean State Park, among other exhibits, illustrated talks, and workshops.

EXHIBITS FEATURE HISTORY OF ARKANSAS AGRICULTURE

Plantation Agriculture Museum presents public and school programs about Arkansas agriculture when strong hands and backs, mules and wagons got most Arkansans through good and bad times.  Arkansas Delta is rich with fertile soil and rich in the nation’s history.  This year the museum’s theme is “Keeping Memories”  and the goal is to gather oral histories, documents and photographs of the 1900’s – 1960’s pertaining to farming and rural life.  Teachers wishing to learn more about how to use this in the classroom can contact Linda Goza, 501-961-1409.  Each month a new exhibit or program will be introduced. 

March: “Patterns of the Past in Cloth” quilt exhibit celebrates Arkansas Archeology Month with antique quilts from the museum collection and on loan from various supporters.  See the variety of patterns, the skilled handiwork in piecing a quilt together and discover the social event called a Quilting Bee.   

April and May: School Days – call and make your reservation for your class or grade level to discover the Delta agricultural heritage with a guide-led tour of the museum’s permanent exhibits of “Field to the Gin” featuring mule barn, kitchen, farm tools and cotton gins.  If your group is larger than 40 we will divide them in two groups and add the cotton gin building guide-led tour. Also additional fee programs - making butter, playing old time games, ginning cotton may be added to your schedule.

For more information on events or to schedule a purpose based educational experience for your class or grade level contact Linda Goza : 501-961-1409 or Linda.Goza@Arkansas.gov.

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ART AND MUSIC

MUSIC IN OUR SCHOOLS MONTH 2008
 http://www.menc.org

The World’s Largest Concert celebration is planned for March 13, 2008,  Visit this Web site for more information.

CONCEPTS ACROSS THE CURRICULUM: MUSIC IN EVERY CLASSROOM
 http://www.pbs.org/teachers/thismonth/musicclassroom/index1.html
 Grades: 3-8

Explore the world of music through activities that focus on musical beat, rhythm, mood and emotions.  Investigate the science of guitars, learn musical notation and enjoy multicultural music and popular songs from three generations.

SOURCE: PBS Teachers Newsletter
 http://www.pbs.org/teachers/preferences/

PICTURING AMERICA PUTS ART TREASURES IN THE CLASSROOM
 http://free.ed.gov/resource.cfm?resource_id=2027
 National Endowment for the Humanities

Teachers, home school consortia and public libraries are invited to apply for a set of 20 laminated posters and a resource book.  Posters include the paintings of many famous American artists.

SOURCE: ed.gov

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COUNSELING AND GUIDANCE

THE MOTIVATION BREAKTHROUGH: SECRETS TO TURNING ON THE TUNED-OUT CHILD
 http://www.shopPBS.com/education/
 Grades: 6-12

Nationally known educator Richard Lacoie, whose past books and videos have focused on students with learning disabilities, now turns his hand to helping teachers and parents motivate the struggling student.  Available in DVD and book formats.

SOURCE: PBS Teachers Newsletter
 http://www.pbs.org/teachers/preferences/

VIDEOS EXPLORE CHANGE AND RELATED EMOTIONS
 http://www.pbs.org/teachers/healthfitness/inventory/mentalemotionalhealth-k2.html
 Grade level: PreK-2

“LeVar’s Adventures: Owen” explores feelings as LeVar Burton, host of Reading Rainbow, shares two childhood experiences.

“Yesterday I Had the Blues” video allows children to learn the importance of family as they read along with this poem.

BETWEEN THE LION : “CORNERSTONES: CLICK, CLACK, MOO”
 http://pbskids.org/lions/cornerstones/click/
 Graddes: PreK-2

Develop reading, writing, vocabulary and decoding skills in this literacy unit geared toward young students who are deaf or hard of hearing. Explore concepts of negotiation, neutrality and impossibility while investigating methods of communication.

SOURCE: PBS Teachers Newsletter
 http:// teachers@pbs.org

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EARLY CHILDHOOD

FREE PBS KIDS INTERACTIVE SITES BY AGE LEVEL
  http://pbskids.org/

This site connects children to interactive online  activities.

PROGRAMS	AGES
Barney	6 months-3 years
Teletubbies	1-4 years
Sesame Street	2-4 years
Berenstain Bears	2-7 years
Dragon Tales	2-7 years
Curious George	3-5 years
Mister Rogers	3-5 years
Boobah	3-6 years
Caillou	3-6 years
It’s a Big Big World	3-6 years
JAKERS!	4-6 years
Between the Lions	4-7 years
Clifford	4-7 years
Reading Rainbow	4-8 years
ZOOM	5-11 years
Arthur	6-9 years
Postcards from Buster	6-9 years
FETCH!	6-10 years
Maya & Miguel	6-11 years
Cyberchase	8-12 years

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GRANTS, AWARDS AND SCHOLARSHIPS

HELP STUDENTS SHOW OFF THEIR SCIENCE SAVVY
 http://www.pbs.org/kcet/wiredscience/education/student-video-contest/.
 First prize: $2,000
 Registration deadline: March 15, 2008
 Entry deadline: April 1, 2008
 Grades: 6-12

Help your students make a short video exploring a cool scientific concept to enter in this online student video contest.

SOURCE: PBS Teachers Newsletter
 http://www.pbs.org/teachers/preferences/

SAFE SCHOOLS, HEALTHY STUDENTS PROGRAM
 http://www.ed.gov/programs/dvpsafeschools/applicant.htmlAward Limit:
 Grant Limit: $250,000
 Deadline: March 14, 2008

The priority supports projects of local educational agencies (LEAs) proposing to implement an integrated, comprehensive community-wide plan designed to create safe, respectful, and drug-free school environments and promote prosocial skills and healthy childhood development. Plans must focus activities, curricula, programs, and services in a manner that responds to the community's existing needs, gaps, or weaknesses in areas related to the five comprehensive plan elements:

CAROL M. WHITE PHYSICAL EDUCATION PROGRAM
 http://www.ed.gov/legislation/FedRegister/announcements/2008-1/021508b.html
 Estimated range of awards: $100,000-$500,000
 Estimated average award: $300,000
 Deadline: March 24, 2008

This grant provides funds to local educational agencies (LEAs) and community-based organizations s) to initiate, expand or enhance physical education programs, including after-school programs for students in grades K-12.

Grant Sources Forecast of Finding for the U.S. Department of Education  http://www.ed.gov/fund/grant/find/edlite-forecast.html PEN WEEKLY NEWSBLAST  http://www.publiceducation.org/newsblast_grants.asp  This site includes grant opportunity, Web links, deadlines, eligibility and maximum grant amounts EducationMoney.com   Federal Grants http://grants.gov allows you to search by category, you do not need to register to search for grant opportunities http://grantsalert.com/ These sources will help locate foundation, government and other grant opportunities.  It’s best to start when you have some time to invest, because one thing frequently leads to another link. Grant Writing Tips and Tools If you want factual information about grant writing and samples, be sure to visit the Guide for Writing a Funding Proposal by S. Joseph Levine, Ph.D., Michigan State University, at http://www.learnerassociates.net/proposal.   “SHOW ME THE MONEY: TIPS & RESOURCES FOR SUCCESSFUL GRANT WRITING” http://www.educationworld.com/a_curr/profdev/profdev039.shtml

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HEALTH, SAFETY AND FITNESS

IT'S MY LIFE “HOME ALONE”
 http://pbskids.org/itsmylife/parents/resources/homealone_discussion_qs.html
 Grades: 3-8

Identify important behavior and safety issues for being at home alone without adult supervision. Develop plans for dealing with emergencies while home alone and for having fun, productive and safe things to do.

SOURCE: PBS Teachers Newsletter
 http://www.pbs.org/teachers/preferences/

MAKE HEALTHY SNACKS WITH CHILDREN
 http://www.pbs.org/parents/pfk/?campaign=parentsnews_1_healthyeating

Eating and “cooking” healthy can be a fun shared activity.  Check out these recipes and talk about healthy foods.

CONCEPTS ACROSS THE CURRICULUM: MEDICINE AND HEALTH CARE
 http://www.pbs.org/teachers/thismonth/medicine/index1.html
 Grades: 6-12

Simulate the spread of germs and explore current issues in the field of medicine such as the placebo effect, contraception and myths and facts about AIDS. Describe how pandemics have changed history, and discover how x-rays and ultrasounds work.

SOURCE: PBS Teachers Newsletter
 http:// teachers@pbs.org

CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL: BUILDING A GREAT PAIR OF LUNGS
 http://www.pbs.org/opb/childrenshospital/classroom/index.html
 Grades: 9-12

Learn about the respiratory system and the diseases that affect it. Constuct a model of a pair of lungs, and explore factors that decrease lung inflation.

SOURCE: PBS Teachers Newsletter
 http://www.pbs.org/teachers/preferences/

KIDSWORLD SPORTS “SNOWBOARD SAVAGE”
 SOURCE: PBS Teachers Newsletter
 http://www.pbs.org/teachers/preferences/

Experience the extreme sport of snowboarding from your computer with this interactive game.  Ride your snowboard downhill and use the home keys on your computer keyboard to perform tricks.

SOURCE: PBS Teachers Newsletter
 http://www.pbs.org/teachers/preferences/

MAKE HEALTHY SNACKS WITH CHILDREN
 http://www.pbs.org/parents/pfk/?campaign=parentsnews_1_healthyeating

Easting and “cooking” healthy can be a fun shared activity.  Check out these recipes and talk about healthy foods.

SOURCE: PBS Parents
 http://pbsparents.org

 
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HISTORY AND SOCIAL STUDIES

COLONIAL WILLIAMSBURG ELECTRONIC FIELD TRIPS SCHEDULE
 http://www.history.org/trips/

Take students on a field trip through time and place.  Visit Colonial Williamsburg in this resource-rich program and Web site.

Thursday, March 6,  Noon only	Treasure Keepers (premiere)   You’ve seen their work in every museum—but what do conservators really do? Learn how conservators prevent or slow the damage caused by “agents of destruction.” Explore how and why preserving history is important for future generations.
Thursday, April 10,  9 a.m. and noon	The Industrious Tradesmen   Follow the lives of several journeymen fresh from their apprenticeships in trades and business as they learn how skill and opportunity will impact their careers. Discover which ones will achieve their dreams and become masters of their own shops.

THE LIVING EDENS: “YELLOWSTONE: NATIVE AMERICAN MYTHS”
 http://www.pbs.org/edens/yellowstone/teach2.html
 Grades: 3-8

Examine Native American myths, summarize the myths in classroom discussion and write a myth.

SOURCE: PBS Teachers Newsletter
 http:// teachers@pbs.org

AMERICAN EXPERIENCE “MINIK, THE LOST ESKIMO” AIRS MARCH 13, 8-9 P.M.
 http://pressroom.pbs.org/programs/american_experience/minik_the_lost_eskimo

In October 1897, renowned Arctic explorer Robert Peary returned to New York from his latest Greenland expedition. At the request of anthropologist Franz Boas, he brought with him five polar Eskimos for study at the American Museum of Natural history. The embryonic science of anthropology regarded the Eskimos as a rare species, and their arrival in New York caused a sensation. Within months, however, four of the Eskimos had fallen sick and died, leaving a seven-year-old boy named Minik to fend for himself in a foreign land. Eventually adopted by a member of the museum’s staff, it was 16 years before he was able to return to his native Greenland. This program retraces Minik’s life journey to provide a thought-provoking look at the intersection of race, culture and the science of anthropology at the turn of the 20th century in America.

HISTORY EXPLORER TIMELINE
 http://free.ed.gov/resource.cfm?resource_id=2022
 National Museum of American History, Smithsonian Institution

This timeline presents stories from exhibits, collections and programs from the National Museum of American History, Smithsonian Institution.

SOURCE: ed.gov

JAMESTOWN, QUEBEC, SANTA FE: THREE NORTH AMERICAN BEGINNINGS
 http://free.ed.gov/resource.cfm?resource_id=2023
 National Museum of American History, Smithsonian Institute

Learn about these settlements founded in North America between 1607 to 1609,   and their 400-year histories.  See rare European and Native American artifacts.  Learn about the economics, labor systems, populations, spiritual life, trade, displomacy and warfare.

SOURCE: ed.gov

 
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LIBRARY, LITERATURE AND READING

A NEW CINEMATIC BRIDGE TO WELL-LOVED LITERATURE
 http://learner.org/redirect/march/novel1.html

The Annenburg workshop “In Search of the Novel” is connected to the award-winning novel Bridge to Terabithia  and other novels. 

NEWS FLASH FIVE GET THE SCOOP!
 http://pbskids.org/newsflashfive/scoop/index.html
 Grades: 3-8

Discover how to use effective questioning techniques to gather information for a news story. Learn about the structure of a news story, and then research and write a news story about an event at school.

SOURCE: PBS Teachers Newsletter
 http://www.pbs.org/teachers/preferences/

SHAKESPEARE IN THE CLASSROOM RESOURCE
 http://www.pbs.org/shakespeare/educators/

This site even includes resources to use with elementary students.  For more insight, take an irreverent look at the Bard and his times at http://www.pbs.org/shakespeare/events/.

READING RAINBOW “SILLY SENTENCE MACHINE”
 http://pbskids.org/readingrainbow/games/silly_sentence.html
 Grades: Pre-K -2

Explore parts of speech in this online interactive game. Create a "silly sentence" by clicking on one picture from each of five lists, choosing subjects, verbs, modifiers and phrases.

SOURCE: PBS Teachers Newsletter
 http://www.pbs.org/teachers/preferences/

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MATH AND SCIENCE

NOVA “TO THE MOON: LUNAR PUZZLERS”
 http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/tothemoon/puzzlers.html
 Grades: 9-12

Examine the orbits of the Earth, moon and sun to determine the length of each and describe how a “blue moon” and other lunar phenomena happen.

SOURCE: PBS Teachers Newsletter
 http://www.pbs.org/teachers/preferences/

ARTHUR “A MINUTE IN TIME”
 http://pbskids.org/arthur/parentsteachers/activities/acts/minute_time.html
 Grades: K-2

Explore the concept of elapsed time by performing an action as often as possible in one minute. Describe how that length of time feels compared to a minute when no activities are performed.

SOURCE: PBS Teachers Newsletter
 http://www.pbs.org/teachers/preferences/

NOVA: “DEADLY SHADOW OF VESUVIUS: WORLD'S DEADLIEST VOLCANOES”
 http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/vesuvius/deadliest.html
 Grades: 6-12

Examine how volcanic eruptions are measured using an eruption magnitude scale called the Volcanis Explosivity Index and practice rating a volcanic eruption in this online interactive activity.

SOURCE: PBS Teachers Newsletter
 http://teachers@pbs.org

CYBERCHASE “BOXED IN”
 http://pbskids.org/cyberchase/parentsteachers/lessons/lessonplans/lesson7.html
 Grades: 3-5

Investigate two- and three-dimensional shapes by folding 2-D shapes into 3-D cubes.

SOURCE: PBS Teachers Newsletter
 http://www.pbs.org/teachers/preferences/

MUSEUM OF UNDERWATER ARCHAEOLOGY PRESENTS HISTORY/SCIENCE OPPORTUNITY
 http://free.ed.gov/resource.cfm?resource_id=2028
 National Oceanic and Aerospace Administration

Students are immersed in the work of underwater archaeologists and maritime historians.  Explore ship wrecks, lost colonies and underwater archaeological surveys around the world.  Learn about the six steps in conducting an underwater archaeology project.

SOURCE: ed.gov

PERIODIC TABLE OF THE ELEMENTS
 http://free.ed.gov/resource.cfm?resource_id=2025
 Los Alamos National Laboratory, Department of Energy

This periodic table displays the elements by atomic number and describes the history of each element, as well as its properties and uses.

SOURCE: ed.gov

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PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

FREE AETN IDEAS PORTAL AND AETN VIDEOSTREAMING WORKSHOPS

Times:
 8:30-11:30 a.m. workshops for Arkansas IDEAS education portal
 1-4 p.m. workshops for AETN Videostreaming

Dates:
 March 13, 27, 2008
 April 10, 24, 2008
 May 8, 22, 2008

To register for one or more of the workshops, or for more information, call 1-800-488-6689 or send e-mail to education@aetn.org.

As with all professional development courses, allowing in-service credit is at the discretion of the superintendent, principal or other official designated by your district/school.  Although courses have been approved by ADE as appropriate for professional development, you will still need to confirm the credit status of the course at a local level.

To make arrangements for either or both workshops at your school or district for a minimum of 10 participants, contact Daoming Chen, 1-800-488-6689, or dchen@aetn.org.

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