Cyber-safety

Such a complex and far-reaching subject.  For now, I'll just touch on a few options.

Safe Search Engine

For the youngest surfers, a safe option is KidRex (http://www.kidrex.org/).  This is technically a Google custom search engine but it is touted as "safe search for kids, by kids."  When searches are conducted, advertisements appear at the top of the page as well as in the right margin, however, unlike a traditional Google search, the ads are clearly marked in bold "Ads by Google" and appear in boxes.  The hits appear in "safesearch on"  mode.  On the splash page, the search box is large and easy to identify; the type is large and easy to read.  These are terrific accessibility points for younger readers.

Social Networking Sites

The quest for "friends" online will lead most kids to social networking sites like Facebook.  The pitfalls for children include bullying and personal safety concerns.  Parents are the first line of defense in the social networking world.  If you have decided to let your tween or teen have an account, the Federal Trade Commission offers advice and resources for ensuring child security (http://www.onguardonline.gov/topics/social-networking-sites.aspx) at their OnGuard Online site.  The FTC site also includes games like "Friend Finder" and "The Case of the Cyber Criminal" to graphically drive their safety lessons home.

The American Library Association (ALA) put together a 23 minute video for Choose Privacy Week that includes visual examples of why it is important to watch what you put on social networking sites (and other Internet sites); the video is available on Vimeo (http://vimeo.com/11399383).

Media Message Overload

In "Media Meltdown: A Graphic Guide Adventure," Orca Publishing offers a graphic novel about weeding out the advertisements online.  If you don't have the book, you can still play games, find out what you can do, download free stuff, and get teacher resources.  Certainly, being able to conduct a search and recognize what sites are paid advertisements or are sponsored by interested parties is part of media and information literacy.  This site (http://mediameltdown.net/index.html) provides a starting point or additional resources for media literacy training.

Cyber Safety
The National Security Agency created CryptoKids: America's Future Codemakers and Codebreakers (http://www.nsa.gov/kids/home.shtml).  The site includes games, with badges awarded, that support the National Cryptologic Museum.  But they've included cyber-safety games as well.

And last, but not least, PBS Kids created Webonauts Internet Academy (http://pbskids.org/webonauts/).  Cyber safety is the theme of the challenge to graduate from the Academy.  Although the site is intended for students aged 8-10 years, it could appeal to younger students with assistance and even older students for whom cyber safety is a new lesson.  I think this is a remarkable resource for teaching Internet safety in an engaging way that will reinforce the lessons in a memorable way.  Don't miss this one!

LOL--using cartoons and comics

Oh, there are so many ways to use cartoons or comics with kids!  You can informally teach, or tie in lessons, with "A History of Sequential Art From Cave Painting to Spider-Man" at Comic Art & Graffix Gallery's online museum (http://www.comic-art.com/mus-gal.htm). 

After that, be sure to visit the Digital Comic Museum (http://digitalcomicmuseum.com/) to download free, public domain comics from the golden age of comics.  Not only is this a rich resource for free comic books (perfect for reluctant readers), but the downloaded comics can be studied for their art and story lines.

And finally, let your inner (or your child's inner) artist and story teller come alive at Marvel Comic's free "Create Your Own Comic" (http://superherosquad.marvel.com/create_your_own_comic) page.  Here you can create a strip or a whole book that can be created online then printed.  The possibilities here are endless! Aside from entertaining bored kids between classes or home for the holidays, imagine an assignment where they have to tell about the founding of Jamestown in comic book form?  Wow...the mind reels with the possibilities!

Bully for you!

Bullying has hit home.  It probably has for many of you as well, either at home or in the classroom.  The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has created a website full of resources for kids and adults.  "Stop Bullying Now!" is a one-stop shop for help.  Kids will discover webisodes, games, and a list of things that they can do to stop bullying.  The resources aren't designed just for kids being bullied, but also address what kids can do who witness others getting bullied.  Adult resources include printable tip sheets and other sources of answers to questions.  Lists include bullying laws by state and a bibliography of print resources (some are designed with discussion questions specific to teachers).  Be sure to bookmark http://www.stopbullyingnow.hrsa.gov/adults/default.aspx (Adult Resources) and http://www.stopbullyingnow.hrsa.gov/kids/default.aspx (Kids Resources)!

1 for All, 1 source for Constitution Day lesson plans

Constitution Day is September 17.  I know, I know.  This is a hairy-busy time of year.  So why not let someone else work on your lesson plan for Constitution Day?  Instead of dragging out the same old DVD of The Birth of the Constitution: This Is America Charlie Brown, try visiting the 1 for All website (http://1forall.us/teach-the-first-amendment/) for a one-stop-shop of lesson plans about the Constitution.

According to their website, 1 for All:

1 for All is a national nonpartisan program designed to build understanding and support for First Amendment freedoms. 1 for All provides teaching materials to the nation’s schools, supports educational events on America’s campuses and reminds the public that the First Amendment serves everyone, regardless of faith, race, gender or political leanings. It is truly one amendment for all.  (http://1forall.us/)

In an effort to promote the First Amendment, 1 for All has created a series of initiatives to engage and educate children and adults.  To mark Constitution Day, 1 for All has created a pathfinder of resources.  Lesson plans, all free and available online, are organized by grade level (Elementary & Middle School and High School). Other resources are listed as well.  Most of the lesson plans are from either the Newseum (more about them in another post) or the Education for Freedom (by Freedom Forum’s First Amendment Center, a nonpartisan center dedicated to the understanding and appreciation of the values of the First Amendment).

Now, I have nothing against Charlie Brown.  But maybe you'll find some new resources from 1 for All.

Our Courts now iCivics...

Sandra Day O'Connor's website for kids, "Our Courts," is now "iCivics." Although the look is new, the features of Our Courts have transferred to the new site. Additional content now puts the focus on the U.S. government as a whole, including descriptions and activities for each branch, thus the subtitle, "The Democracy Lab." Teacher links, activities, games and other meaty materials are available. This one is definitely worth a visit and many happy returns.

Are you ready for Roald Dahl Day?

So, September 13 marks the official celebration of Roald Dahl day.  And how will you celebrate?  With chocolates?  A giraffe? A BFG?  A screening of Fantastic Mr. Fox?  Well, whatever your plans, you will most definitely want to check out these websites.

The official Roald Dahl site is chock full of treats including Dahlicious Downloads, Splendiferous Sweepstakes, and a Buckswashling Book Chooser.  So much more to explore from this link: http://www.roalddahl.com/.  For example, under "treats" there are greeting cards, games and a quiz ("Find out whether you are a Roald expert or a Dahl dunce.").  More treats are available from the download page, including teacher resources, posters and activity sheets.

Did you know that there is a Roald Dahl Museum?  Well, of course there is!  And of course, resources are available online.  The Roald Dahl Museum and Story Center may be located in England, but fans worldwide have access to much of the materials from the website (http://www.roalddahlmuseum.org/default.aspx).  From the "Discover Dahl" button in the left-hand menu, some online exhibits and downloads can be found.  If you're working on writing with students in upper elementary or higher grades, you may want to download copies of early drafts of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory for a real-life example of how editing works.  At the very least, be sure to explore the museum via YouTube video.

What are you waiting for, a wonkalator?  Visit the site and plan your Roald Dahl day celebration!

American history refresher course

So much chatter on Facebook, blogs, and in my personal conversations have centered around the Founding Fathers.  Debate, for almost a week, was heated as to when the Declaration of Independence was signed, adopted, and other mythology about Congress in 1776.  For me, the debates were settled easily by referring to The National Archives' online exhibit, "Charters of Freedom" (http://archives.gov/exhibits/charters/).  Myths are debunked, truths told, and even the allegations from the movie National Treasure are explored (http://archives.gov/exhibits/charters/treasure/index.html).

The online exhibit is visually stunning, easily navigated, and rich with resources.  Primary documents, art, architecture, and so much more, are included to make the Charters of Freedom a fully interactive and thought provoking exploration.  To top off my arguments with those debating the Founding Fathers, I ask: Is there a more vetted source than the National Archives?

Be the first to know!!! Smithsonian Commons

I rely so much on the Smithsonian's online content, particularly from their educator page.  Imagine my delight when I received word that I could beta-test their new online presence, Smithsonian Commons.  From the Commons, teacher, parents and other educators can link to multimedia and other content from Smithsonian museums that have been gathered, topically, into user-friendly pages.  In addition, the content has (and can be) rated by any users with comments about the value or usability of the materials.  Materials include hi-rez photos, PowerPoint presentations, movies and so much more.  Want to check it out for yourself?  You can watch a promotional video here:  http://www.si.edu/commons/prototype/story2/story2.html.

Summer break is down-time, certainly.  But do yourself a favor: Check out what Smithsonian has to offer as you prepare new content for the upcoming year.

End of the School Year Rant

So, only a few more days are left of the 2009-2010 school year.  If you're a teacher with thin skin, stop reading now.  If you're open to constructive criticism, please read on.

What is up with all the movies?!  Ever since the achievement tests were history for another year, most every teacher in my area has been showing a movie (fiction, popular culture, not educational or even edutainment) at least twice a week.  Seriously?!?  Why have my kids and I been waking up at the crack of dawn?  Why not make the school year end when the No Child Left Behind testing is complete?  OK, I get that it's stressful to teach to the test all year, but now would seem to be the time to add all the cool hands-on crafty learning exercises.  Out of ideas?  Use the Internet!!!

Remember this blog?  It's all about resources from vetted sources for supplementing your classroom activities.  Out of ideas for creative use of time?  Put down the DVD remote!  There are phenomenal resources available online that you should be able to share with your whole class.  I'm not aware of any fees or other restrictions on the sites highlighted here.

Put this on your to-do list for next year: Plan to have your class participate in the Junior Ranger Program (or Web Ranger Program) through the National Parks online (www.nps.gov/webrangers/ or http://www.nps.gov/learn/juniorranger.cfm). Pick a park or topic that relates to your students' abilities, interests, or your subject.  Print off the workbooks and try to do the Junior Ranger activities from the classroom using Internet resources.  Or log on as a class to earn badges together through the Web Ranger program.  After you've done a patch or two, or more, as a class, send information home about the program for summer activities for families.  Use individual computer time to work toward individual badges.


Please consider using the down time to teach kids that learning can be fun.  Allow them to pursue their own interests now that the test is behind them.  By doing so, you'll be encouraging the lifelong learner.

International Museum Day

Since 1977, International Museum Day has been celebrated around May 18.  The purpose of the event is to provide a forum for museum professionals to meet with the public and discuss the challenges faced by museums (most notably, funding).  Many local museums celebrate by offering free admission (or parking) or special programs on that day.  


This year's theme is "Museums for Social Harmony."  According to a press release from the International Council of Museums:

"Museums in the 21st Century are at the cross roads of major transformations in the global economy and environment. They are in a position to address the urgent need for safeguarding cultural diversity and bio-diversity as the common heritage of humanity. The preferred futures across the world are for Environmental, Cultural, Economic and Social Sustainability. Museums have a role to play as mediators in these transformations in promoting social harmony."

Why not make time during your day to include museum resources from diverse resources?  I think a great place to start is Eternal Egypt, the online exhibit sponsored by the Egyptian Museum in Cairo.  Eternal Egypt is an interactive exploration (using the latest in technology) of more than 5,000 years of Egyptian culture.  Be warned: This site is addicting!  I have a hard time making each visit brief.  Frankly, I suggest you bookmark the site for the students to explore in their free time.  A quick click on the compass icon on the right hand side of the page takes you on a guided tour of the exhibit.  The menu on the left offers interesting portals to the information as well.  If you're a middle school teacher (or upper elementary, for that matter), you'll surely want to include this resource in your lessons!  In fact, I recommended this page to an art teacher friend who has used it when teaching her unit on Egyptian art.  

If you're looking for a one-stop-shop of cultural diversity resources, there is only one place to start: The Smithsonian Institute's National Museum of Natural History.  On their Department of Anthropology's page (http://anthropology.si.edu/exhibits.htm), there is a list of online exhibits on a wide range of cultural diversity topics.  I think this is another page to bookmark for future reference.


If you are working on a unit about a specific culture, I recommend using a search engine (yes, I prefer Google) to look for a museum in that country with online exhibits.


And please be sure to explore the museums in your neighborhood.  If you can't take a field trip, you can always take your class for a virtual visit.  I always recommend including a list of local resources, libraries and museums in particular, to post on your teacher Web page, the school library's resources page, and as a flyer that goes home to parents either at orientation (in the welcome to our class packets) or in the final report card envelope (summer's a great time to visit the museums).

Museums Celebrating the founder of Mother's Day

Yes, there are two museums that celebrate the founder of Mother's Day.  Anna Jarvis, of Taylor County, West Virginia, is credited with establishing this holiday (the first internationally celebrated holiday, according to the museum's website) in honor of her own mother.  More information can be found at http://www.annajarvishouse.com/index.html, which includes written history and images of the inside of the museum.  A link from this site will take you to the International Mother's Day Shrine (http://www.mothersdayshrine.com/).  This website includes a more detailed description of the history of the holiday.

It just goes to show you, there's probably a museum (and it's probably got a Web presence) for every subject under the sun.  You just have to go looking.  Whether or not they provide valuable resources is a judgement call you'll have to make.

Cinco de Mayo: Happy Independence Day!

Aside from being a great day to go out for a little Mexican food, May 5 offers teachers the opportunity to celebrate the ethnic traditions of our neighbor to the south.  May 5 is the anniversary of Mexico's declaration of independence from Spain.  Your local library is probably rich with print resources about the country, crafts and foods.  But the Web can offer interesting resources as well.

The CIA provides their World Fact Book online.  Every country you can think of is represented with background information, travel advisories, and other interesting facts.  Cross-curricular activities can be created around the maps, photos, and an abundance of ready reference materials.  The CIA could be your starting point for any number of fun programs about Mexico or any country.  Perhaps your class are spies in training?  Travel journalists?  Rich and famous travelers exploring the world?  Have them make passports as they travel around the world and stamp the passport with Mexican cities or world countries.  But if you're working on a Cinco de Mayo lesson, be sure to start with the CIA's background information at https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/mx.html.


Looking for something visual?  Maybe a look into Mexico's past?  Several museums offer virtual exhibits of Mexican art.  For example, Harvard University's Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology has a remarkable collection related to Central America (http://peabody.harvard.edu/node/197).  The most remarkable resource on the page is at the bottom, under "Related Links," "Altar Q and Copan."  If you click the link, you are taken to a page of further resources; selecting "Altar Q QTVR" links you to a virtual view of the Altar which can be viewed from all angles simply by dragging the image with a mouse.  Yale University also includes a collection of Art of the Ancient Americas.  Their images, found here: http://artgallery.yale.edu/pages/collection/permanent/pc_artamericas.php#, can be viewed up close or as a thumbnail with details about each piece.

The Cleveland Museum of Art also has a remarkable online exhibit of their Art of the Americas collection, which includes images and descriptions.  There are 877 works of art available to view online at http://clevelandart.org/explore/department.asp?deptgroup=13&.


Last but not least, Time for Kids (http://www.timeforkids.com/TFK/hh/goplaces/main/0,20344,591663,00.html) and National Geographic Kids (http://kids.nationalgeographic.com/Places/Find/Mexico) have online magazine articles with games, images and other information resources.  


Buenos dias!

Still running late this month...

One of my friends asked why I didn't cover National Poetry Month in this blog.  Well, frankly, April Showers seem to have wiped all my best laid plans right out of my head.  Thanks for the reminder!

My elementary school friends know all about Shel Silverstein's website.  I've waxed poetic about it for years (sorry, pun only slightly intentional).  I had my son read along to Shel himself reading to help with his fluency.  I can't say enough about this site for kids!

For older tweens and teens, the Library of Congress has a Poetry Page that includes information about and by the Poet Laureate of the United States.  Additionally, there is a link for "A Poem a Day" for high school students and a featured webcast of poetry readings (often by the poets).  I was drawn to the Walt Whitman link to the American Memory collection.

So, I hope this report, though short-but-sweet,

Is better late than never.

And when on this blog next month we meet,

I'll be timely in the endeavor!

Did you think of The Lorax for activities?

I promise, this will be my last Earth Day post...at least for today. ;)

If you haven't included Dr. Seuss' classic earth-friendly book, The Lorax, you're missing a grand reading opportunity.  And a spiffy online presence.  The Lorax has his own page (http://www.seussville.com/lorax/) with catchy tunes, an Earth Day countdown clock, activities, puzzlers, tips and news.  Kids of all ages will find something inspiring from the spokesperson for the trees (for the trees have no tongues).

One more Earth Day suggestion...

I saw Denise Fleming at the Cleveland Museum of Art on March 1, 2010.  She was the keynote speaker for "Picture This: Storytelling and the Arts."  Without gushing too much, I have to tell you all that she is a remarkable motivational speaker.  Who else could've had 100 adults out of their seats and acting out her book, In the Tall, Tall Grass, at 9:00 on a Monday morning?  One of my favorite suggestions that she made was to have kids put googly eyes on inanimate objects (pencils, rocks, you name it!) and put those creatures in unusual places; snap a few pictures; put the pictures together and narrate; and voila! the kids have created a picture book.

If you're unfamiliar with Denise Fleming's picture books, you need to go to the library as soon as possible and check a few out.  She's the author and the illustrator.  Not remarkable?  Well, maybe not, until you consider that all of her art is pulp painting--she embeds the art in each piece of handmade paper that she makes herself at her home in Toledo, Ohio.  To paraphrase her, the art is the paper and the paper is the art.  While many of her books are set in the great outdoors, In the Tall, Tall Grass and In a Small, Small Pond are particularly appropriate for Earth Day.

Want your class to get hands-on about Earth Day?  Make paper!

Celebrating Mother's Day...Mother Earth, that is!

By this time, I'm sure you all have plans for celebrating Earth Day in your classrooms and school community.  But I hope I can add a few recommendations that will help you round out your lesson plans for Earth Day (or week)!

My favorite idea is to make use of the United States' coast-to-coast playground: the National Parks.  Their Web Rangers program allows children of all ages to explore all the national parks from Internet-connected computers.  The program includes games and puzzles along with many other activities that can be completed to earn rewards; the program even tracks individual progress!  I doubt that my family will ever visit Denali National Park in person, but we can experience this unbelievably beautiful park virtually.  Participants in the Web Rangers program can earn Junior Ranger patches too!  If you can't incorporate a whole lesson plan on this short notice (again, sorry; April got away from me), maybe you can make the Web Ranger program available as a reward during down time or as a lesson in using technology.  Maybe you'll send home a flyer with information for families to explore together either at home or at the local public library.  At any rate, please be sure to check out the Web Ranger program here: http://www.webrangers.us/index.cfm.

eMINTS (enhancing Missouri's Instructional Networked Teaching Strategies) has a page full of links to resources about Earth Day. Be sure to check it out at http://www.emints.org/ethemes/resources/S00000072.shtml.

An award winning Earth Day resource is the Canadian "EcoKids" site http://www.ecokids.ca/pub/index.cfm).  Resources for students and teachers are easily accessible and include games, activities and challenges.  This is a visually appealing site and is rich in resources.

For future reference, the National Building Museum in Washington, D.C., is in the process of creating a "Green Community Teaching Kit."  When it's unveiled, the kit will allow teachers and their students to create a Green Community from the ground up.  It's intended to be reused each year.  Basic information about the program is available here: http://www.nbm.org/schools-educators/educators/green-community-teaching-kit/green-community-teaching-kit.html; to request an email (or snail mail) with more information about the kit and the program visit this link: http://bit.ly/aGdnko.

April 15, already?!

Where has April gone?! I thought about adding to the blog, thinking April was yet to begin, and boom! it's almost Tax Day.  So sorry.

My plan was to remind everyone that the Baseball Hall of Fame has remarkable cross-curricular activities.  Be sure to revisit them; now's the time, since the first pitch of the 2010 season has already been thrown!  Use their online thematic units (http://education.baseballhalloffame.org/experience/thematic_units/index.html) or explore their online exhibits (http://baseballhall.org/museum/exhibits/online-exhibits).  You won't be disappointed!

Of course, April 15 is Tax Day.  And I realize I'm really late providing this information...but if you're still looking for money lessons, USA.gov has a plethora of resources listed at http://www.kids.gov/k_5/k_5_money.shtml (for grades K-5), http://www.kids.gov/6_8/6_8_money_spend.shtml (for grades 6-8), and http://www.usa.gov/Topics/Teens.shtml#Money (for teens).  From the Kids.gov main page (http://www.kids.gov/), there is a tab with resources for educators.

March on! Women's History Month

Well, when there's a topic of national interest, the first place I look for resources is inevitably Library of Congress.  Women's History Month resources are amazing at LOC: They have a dedicated website just for this subject at http://womenshistorymonth.gov/index.html.  The body of the home page includes links and summaries of popular women like Amelia Earhart and "Women Breaking Musical Barriers."  The links in the left-hand margin are more general, and include exhibits & collections, images, audio/visual, and resources for teachers.  I also appreciated the calendar of events in the menu along the right-hand column.  But, by far, my favorite aspect of their home page is the links to other resources (scroll to the bottom of the right-hand menu).  There are resources from the National Parks, The National Endowment for the Humanities, and the United States Holocaust Museum.  Oh, and the Smithsonian educator's page is also included.  Library of Congress has created a rich resource for primary information, research resources, and a guide to other Internet resources.  Way to go!

FLASH: Federal Resources for Lesson Plans by Subject

This may not be news to everyone, but I was pleasantly surprised to run across this resource while searching for other materials.  Free--Teaching Resources and Lesson Plans from the Federal Government (http://free.ed.gov/) is a well-organized pathfinder of information provided by all federal agencies and organizations.  The spotlight for February is on Black History Month resources.  A drop-down menu offers search options by subject.  I haven't spent a great deal of time exploring the resources available, but I have definitely bookmarked this source for future reference.  Maybe you will, too!

Lights!...Camera!...Academy Awards!

The 82nd Annual Academy Awards are airing on March 7, 2010.  Remarkably, movies can provide a jumping off point for lessons in social studies, language arts, the arts, and even science and math.  If you're planning on incorporating the big entertainment awards show into your lessons, here are a few resources you won't want to miss!

First, the Museum of the Moving Image, in Queens, New York, offers resources online.  Their web resources include a digital collection of criticism and original articles about film; there are short films about the science of movies and a collection catalog as well here: http://movingimage.us/site/online/index.html.  My favorite resource are the program guides.  Illustrated study guides, available for 2 reading levels, can be downloaded and reproduced; they are companions to specific movies that tie in with topics like immigration, the judicial system, and civil rights.  You can find a list of these resources, and links to download them, here: http://www.movingimage.us/site/education/index.html.  Their home page is located here: http://www.movingimage.us/site/site.php.

Second, my favorite resource for movies and the people associated with them is IMDb: Internet Movie Database (http://www.imdb.com/).  This database is easily navigated and includes collocation tools, so you can discover who played the lead in a favorite movie then also see what other movies he or she may have starred in.  What was Tom Hanks' first movie?  How many movies have Johnny Depp and Tim Burton made together?  All the answers can be easily found at IMDb; and this is a reliable source!

Lastly, Oscar has his own Web presence.  A visit to http://www.oscars.org/ allows you to go back in time to see previous telecasts, review lists of winners through the history of the Academy Awards, and so much more.

Fanfare for the Common Man: Let the Games Begin!

Wow, February is a busy month in 2010!  In addition to being Black History Month, and the date of the official holiday celebrating United States presidents, the Olympic Games are set to open on February 12.

If you're preparing lesson plans or programming around the Winter Olympic Games in Vancouver, be sure to take a look at the official Olympic Museum online at http://www.olympic.org/en/content/Olympic-Museum/.  Virtual exhibits include "The Spirit of Vancouver 2010" and "Champion in the Mind."  The website also includes an interactive map, an RSS feed of Olympic news, and a virtual tour fo the physical museum.

The museum's website is part of the official Olympic movement Web presence.  Tabs on the top of the page link to the games, athletes, and even youth olympic games.  The organization's website offers a single, reliable source of information about the international games.  There is also a link to the official Winter Games 2010 in Vancouver (http://www.olympic.org/en/content/Olympic-Games/All-Future-Olympic-Games/Winter/Vancouver-2010/).

NAACP Resources

The Library of Congress just posted information about their NAACP: A Century in the Fight for Freedom online exhibit (http://myloc.gov/Exhibitions/naacp/Pages/default.aspx).  According to their Facebook post, this collection is the largest and most used; now it is available online.  Primary-source materials are among the resources available for classroom use from this link: http://loc.gov/teachers/classroommaterials/primarysourcesets/naacp/.

Be sure to bookmark these links for planning programming during February!

Hail to the Chief!

With Presidents' Day fast approaching, you may be looking for a fresh way to present pertinent but fun lessons about the Chief Executive.  If you're short on time, or are only looking for quick inspiration, I have the perfect one-stop-shop to recommend.  The National Archives includes a page dedicated to Presidential Libraries online at http://www.archives.gov/presidential-libraries/.  From this portal, you can access something as basic as an interactive presidential timeline (http://www.presidentialtimeline.org/; please note: this timeline is not created by the National Archives but was funded by the National Endowment for the Arts) to a virtual tour of the White House (http://www.jfklibrary.org/).  Students can hear the voices of some presidents.  Teachers are rewarded with lesson plans that incorporate primary documents, artifacts and other resources.  Virtual tours of each library are available as well.

Additional online resources include state historical societies (for information about presidential landmarks by state) and the National Park Service.  One of February's featured lesson plans is "Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial: Forging Greatness during Lincoln's Youth."  This teacher resource provides an opportunity to teach with historic places (http://www.nps.gov/history/nr/twhp/wwwlps/lessons/126libo/).

For something a little different, or for another perspective on life in the White House, visit to the National First Ladies' Library (http://www.firstladies.org/).  Lesson plans are available based on a variety of standards and for a wide range of grade levels.  The "resources" page is loaded with links on a variety of topics.  A button for "facts & trivia" would make a great resource for a scavenger hunt or for creative questions for a quiz.

Celebrating Black History Month

In reviewing children's materials for a course last summer, I ran across an overwhelming number of materials related to the great Americans that created and elaborated on Jazz.  Since music is a universal language, wouldn't jazz make a great theme for lessons in February?  For a list of resources I've reviewed, be sure to read through my children's materials blog, here, and click the categories "Multicultural Picture Books" or "Coretta Scott King Award" for lists of suggested resources.  Please remember that most local public libraries offer teacher services.  Often, you can request materials from my list of suggested resources and the library staff can pull what they have in their collection for you to check out.  Most libraries offer teachers extended loan periods, typically 4-6 weeks.

The Smithsonian Institute's Museum of American History has a remarkable online jazz exhibit. Smithsonian Jazz (http://www.smithsonianjazz.org/) offers online jazz classes (like a Duke Ellington class), images of artifacts from the museum, and other rich resources.  In fact, you can search the Media Mix and listen to jazz from this portal.  The online exhibit is a collaboration with America's Jazz Heritage (a partnership of the Lila Wallace-Reader's Digest Fund and the Smithsonian Institution) and the U.S. Department of Education.

Another often overlooked resource is the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center.  Their Teacher Lesson Plans page (http://www.freedomcenter.org/expand-your-knowledge/educator-resources/lesson-plans/) is overflowing with detailed lesson plans which can be used independent of a visit to the museum.  From the eLearning link, you can be connected to their On Demand Digital Video Collection and a link to podcasts to download from iTunes.

And last, but never least, the National Park Service has an online teacher resource they call Teaching with Historic Places.  During the month of February, their featured lesson plan is for using places to teach African American History.  Historic sites, from infamous to obscure, are included from this portal page: http://www.nps.gov/history/nr/twhp/feb00.htm.

FLASH: Earthquake resources

Recent events in Haiti have focused attention on earthquakes and seismic activity.  With so much media attention on the tragedy, children are interested in learning how and why the earthquake happened.  They're also concerned about their safety.  Virtual exhibits abound online and I've selected a few that are kid-friendly and from reliable sources.

OLogy: The American Museum of Natural History
http://www.amnh.org/ology/index.php
This is one of my favorite science sites for kids because of the high-energy graphics and presentation of information.  Enter "earthquake" in the search box and a results page will list four online exhibits on the topic.

TheTech (science museum) in San Jose, CA
http://www.thetech.org/exhibits_events/online/quakes/
Great graphics and simple text explain the basics of plate techtonics and the science of seismology.

The Virtual Museum of the City of San Francisco
http://www.thetech.org/exhibits_events/online/quakes/
How will the refugees cook following the quake?  Maybe learning about what survivors of the 1906 San Francisco earthquake did to survive will provide insight.

Earthquake Topics by the U.S. Geological Society
http://earthquake.usgs.gov/learn/topics/?topicID=72
This pathfinder includes links to resources like coloring pages, information for kids by kids, and the science of seismic activity.

Civics Made Fun

Retired Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor had a vision: That middle school students would have access to information and learning activities about civics that are fun and educational.  Almost a year ago (the site was launched at the end of February 2009), her vision became reality at http://www.ourcourts.org/, Our Courts: 21st Century Civics.  The free interactive civics resources are intended to help children understand the branches of our government and encourage a love of civics for their lifetimes.  O'Connor even answers questions via a blog on the website.