Are you ready for Day of the Dead?

Why not get in the spirit of Halloween and learn a little something about Latino culture?  Thanks to several opportunities on the Web, you have choices for just how immersed you get in Dia de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead.

I know, I know, you're probably expecting Smithsonian museum resources.  And I've got 'em, a whole variety of opportunities to either scratch the surface or dive right into the holiday.  First, I started by visiting the Smithsonian Latino Center's Dia de lost Muertos/Day of the Dead Festival home page (http://latino.si.edu/education/LVMDayoftheDeadFestival.htm).  There are so very many ways to learn about the celebration.  A lesson plan by Nancy Green, called "Calaveras on Wheels, " explores the Day of the Dead through the art of Jose Guadalupe Posada.  Take a look here: http://latino.si.edu/PDF/LVM_D%C3%ADa_de_los_Muertos_Lesson_1.pdf.

But I was most interested in the opportunity to actually visit a Dia de los Muertos/Day of the Dead Festival thanks to Smithsonian's efforts in Second Life.  This virtual world application allows visitors to explore 3-D worlds.  I took some time exploring the Virtual Museum.  Wow!  I can just imagine pulling this up on a SmartBoard and exploring the art, music, culture and festivities in this Virtual Museum.  A link to the Second Life festival is available from the Smithsonian Latino Center page noted above.  You have to have a Second Life account and avatar to participate, but it's a free account.  The festival activities take place October 31-November 2, 2011.  You can download a PDF map of the festival to plan your participation.

Not able to use Second Life at school or don't have enough time to fully participate?  Then you can use an interactive application on the website to learn more about Dia de los Muertos and even build a virtual ofrenda (altar) here: http://latino.si.edu/DayoftheDead/.

September is Disaster Preparedness Month by Presidential Proclamation

On August 31, the White House issued a Presidential Proclamation that September 2011 will be Disaster Preparedness Month.  The first paragraph reads:

Whenever our Nation has been challenged, the American people have responded with faith, courage, and strength.  This year, natural disasters have tested our response ability across all levels of government.  Our thoughts and prayers are with those whose lives have been impacted by recent storms, and we will continue to stand with them in their time of need.  This September also marks the 10th anniversary of the tragic events of September 11, 2001, which united our country both in our shared grief and in our determination to prevent future generations from experiencing similar devastation.  Our Nation has weathered many hardships, but we have always pulled together as one Nation to help our neighbors prepare for, respond to, and recover from these extraordinary challenges.

It's funny because as I contemplated what to focus on in this blog for September, I reflected on the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, and the spate of natural disasters the United States faced throughout the summer.  When I read about the Presidential Proclamation, I figured my decision had been made for me!

Disaster Preparedness Resources for Children

In my children's book and resources blog, KidsRead, I reviewed the FEMA for Kids website (http://www.fema.gov/kids/).  The Federal Emergency Management Agency sponsors a page full of materials to help children prepare for and learn about disasters of all kinds through activities, games, and downloads (including checklists to print).  If knowledge is power, children are sure to feel empowered by the resources on this website.  And with an attractive layout, engaging cartoon characters, and materials appropriate for a range of age groups, getting kids to use the site regularly should be no problem.  Use it in a classroom, as a family, or just assign a project to an upper elementary student and emergency preparedness won't seem so scary.

FEMA also sponsors a website called Citizen Corps.  On their Youth Preparedness page (http://www.citizencorps.gov/ready/kids.shtm), there are lists of links for parents and educators as well as a list of links to websites with activities.  Some links include PDF files to download.  Links in the box on the right side of the page include links to independent study courses, safety for kids, and other resources by topic (such as a flu epidemic).

For information about specific emergencies, or what to do in certain disaster scenarios, the American Red Cross has a page with information to download in a variety of languages at Preparedness Fast Facts (http://rdcrss.org/RGrQo). There is a General Preparedness guide and specific guides for disasters including earthquake, flood, hurricane, tornado, and fire.  Guides are even available for what to do after the disaster, when returning home.  Links in the menu in the left margin provide information online about various disaster scenarios.  Other resources are also listed in this menu.

Finally, for a quick download, visit http://1.usa.gov/ozL2bx for a coloring book.  Sponsored by California's Emergency Management Agency, the coloring book covers topics from when to call 9-1-1 to what to do in specific disasters and emergencies.  Download the whole thing or just pages that your class is working on.

Remembering 9/11
Perhaps the greatest reason to declare September Disaster Preparedness is the anniversary of the September 11 attacks on U.S. soil 10 years ago.  High school students in particular will remember the event with the eyes of preschoolers, the age they were when the attacks occurred.  For all of us, finding a way to remember, discuss and look to the future will help us feel more secure.

One way to remember is to visit an archive of news.  The Internet Archive (http://www.archive.org/details/911) has a page full of links to actual television footage on 9/11 and the days that followed.  Also included are links to perspectives on the news coverage of the event.  This website is rich with resources that would facilitate a discussion of the history of the event along with how the media covered the tragedies.

For another portal to historical references, the Newseum has an online exhibit called 9/11: How It Changed US (http://www.newseum.org/exhibits-and-theaters/online-exhibits/9-11/).  Their exhibit includes links to the Newseum's YouTube channel and USA Today coverage of the terrorist attacks.

The previous two sites offer historical background which not only helps students remember 9/11, but also to discuss the event.  What happened?  Why did it happen?  How has our country changed to prevent another terrorist attack?  The Department of Homeland Security has links for information about what they do and how things have changed in the department in the past 10 years.  An interesting page that lends itself to this discussion is the National Terrorism Advisory System (http://www.dhs.gov/files/programs/ntas.shtm).  Links and downloads include information about the current advisory level, a public guide, and a FAQ page.

When we look to the future, it's hard to imagine what the 9/11 Memorial will look like at Ground Zero.  The National September 11 Memorial & Museum (which currently only exists online) has a page that provides virtual tours through a live webcam and an animations.  You can view it all from here: http://www.911memorial.org/take-virtual-visit1 (be sure to scroll to the bottom for the link to the animations).

And last, but not least, President Obama and the First Lady are urging Americans to visit Serve.gov (http://www.serve.gov/), a portal to volunteer opportunities across the country.  On September 11, the First Family hopes that all Americans will remember the day by offering their time in a volunteer effort.  Through Serve.gov, volunteer opportunities can be matched by location and interest.  There's even a toolkit for creating your own service project or event.

Can't ignore it much longer...school starts soon!

Around these parts, school starts in a very short three weeks.  I know some young adults in my neighborhood who have yet to start their summer reading.  Others have it done but can't remember a thing about the book or books they had to read.  A select few are bored to death and ready to get back in the school swing.

Whatever group you may belong to, Channel One News has some advice to get ready to go back to school.  Remember Channel One News?  You've probably watched their webcasts every morning during the school year.  But did you also know that they have a dedicated website with news, information and games?  You can spend the next few weeks getting ready to go back to school by browsing through Channel One News' website (http://www.channelone.com/).

From how to take great notes to what your choice of seats says about you, Channel One News' Life channel has fun, games and great advice.  Take a look at their Life splash page here: http://www.channelone.com/life/.  If you're getting ready for driver's ed, there are resources from this site too.  College, high school, health and fitness: all kinds of advice is available from the Life page.

And when you've filled your brain with enough back-to-school advice, check out the sports, music and fun sections for a break.  Or if you've got a story to tell, or an opinion about the news, you can create your own video and post it to Channel One News.  Anyone can view it online and maybe yours will be chosen to add to the news shown on TV!

Returning heat brings on the Dog Days of Summer

After a lovely respite of a few days, the insufferable heat and humidity have returned.  With that comes thoughts of the "dog days of summer."  I always return to my childhood when I hear the phrase.  For me, it means the heat will force a respite from summer activities.  Lazy, crazy, hazy days of summer, right?

Maybe not!  According to Space.com (nice segue from last post, hmm?!):

The "dog days" of summer officially came to an end this week, but few people know what the expression really means. The phrase actually has a celestial origin.

Some will say that summer's "dog days" signify hot sultry days "not fit for a dog," while others suggest it?s the weather in which dogs go mad.

But the "dog days" are actually defined as the period from July 3 through Aug. 11 when the Dog Star, Sirius, rises in conjunction (or nearly so) with the sun. (http://www.space.com/8946-dog-days-summer-celestial-origin.html)

So, now we all have another excuse to get outside and explore the night sky (and avoid the heat of the "dog days").  Be sure to check out their website for more information about the dog star and its relevance for other civilizations.

But, if thoughts of furry friends still occupy your definition of the dog days of summer, I've found a great website to learn a little about a very tough breed and the extremes under which they live and do their jobs.  The Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race begins on the first Saturday in March.  Sled dog teams race over 1,000 miles across Alaska in unbelievable conditions.  Those blizzard conditions seem almost welcome in this heat, right?  Well, for an insider view, and for a wealth of information about the dogs and the race, check out the Official Site of the Iditarod (http://www.iditarod.com/).  From the "Learn About" tab on the top of the page, you enter an area with vivid descriptions of the race, a glossary of musher terms, a map of the trail, trivia, and so much more (check out the list of links in the right-hand column). For an abundance of curriculum connections, resources and website links, be sure to navigate to the "For Teachers" tab on the top menu.  There you'll find information about the dogs, how to build the sleds, and so much more.  How about planning to IditaRead over the winter?  Now's the time to look over the resources and decide if this is a fit for your classroom.

Not quite ready for snow yet?  Well, don't give up on dogs!  WonderWorks Exhibit Company sponsored a national tour called "Wolf to Woof: The Story of Dogs" (http://www.wolf2woof.com/index.htm).  Their online exhibit resources are fun as well as informative.  And, best of all in the summer, they are quick bites of information.

Don't play dead or roll over!  

Enjoy the dog days of summer before school starts!

Staycationing?

It's July.  Did you vacation in June or plan to go in August?  Or maybe you plan to stick close to home.  Chicago's Field Museum has a couple of tools that might make your staycation edutaining (educational and entertaining).

Rapid Color Guide: Plants
(http://fm2.fieldmuseum.org/plantguides/rcg_intro.asp?zone=tropical&guidetype=plant)

First, if you can only go as far as your computer screen, you'll want to take a look at the Rapid Color Guides.  From this page, you can link to downloadable, full-color guides to Tropical Plants in Central and South America.  Nature lovers will spend hours looking at the diversity of plants from this region.  Parents and educators will want to use the guides to help older students with science projects.  Even the youngest will enjoy looking at the shapes and colors that abound in these guides.  For them, maybe cutting up a couple of the guides and asking them to match shapes and/or colors would be a good way to spend a hot afternoon indoors this summer.  Describing the plants and discussing where they're from would be an edutaining bonus.

(http://fm2.fieldmuseum.org/plantguides/rcg_intro.asp?zone=tropical&guidetype=animal)

Next, I'd direct you to the Rapid Color Guides for Animals.  These guides break down the animal species found in tropical and subtropical locales.  An example of one of their butterfly guides appears on the left.  Anyone will enjoy exploring the rainforest or ocean via these colorful guides.  As with the plant guides, all guides are downloadable as well as searchable by country, subject, and taxonomic group.

And lastly, if you're in the Chicago area and would like to explore outdoors, you can check out the Field Museum's Keys to Nature Project (http://fm1.fieldmuseum.org/keystonature/). This online resource guides explorers through a series of questions to identify plants and animals in the Chicago area.  Looking it over, I think the resource would also work for a larger region around Chicagoland.  If you're in the Midwest, check it out and see if it works for you too.

If you have a Facebook account, the Rapid Color Guides--Field Museum has a page with links to all these resources and more.  You can find them here: http://www.facebook.com/RapidColorGuidesFieldMuseum?sk=info.