12-31 TO 1-1-2012 HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

WELCOME 2012

How is the new year celebrated around the world?

• Index - http://www.fathertimes.net/traditions.htm
• Good list - http://www.novareinna.com/festive/atw.html
• Webquest - http://edtech.kennesaw.edu/Jerrie/WebQuest/Kathie/NewYear.html
• Traditions - http://www.infoplease.com/spot/newyearcelebrations.html
• Strange Traditions - http://ryanseacrest.com/2010/12/28/9-strange-new-years-traditions-from-around-the-world/
• 9 Superstitions - http://www.chiff.com/home_life/holiday/new-year-traditions.htm
• 15 Superstitions - http://socyberty.com/holidays/15-strange-new-year-superstitions/
• Lucky Recipes - http://huggingthecoast.com/2008/12/31/lucky-new-years-day-regional-and-ethnic-food-recipes-from-around-the-world/
• Photostory - http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/gallery/2010/dec/31/new-year-celebrations

12-30-2011 Rudyard Kipling's 146th Birthday

If If you can keep your head when all about you Are losing theirs and blaming it on you; If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you, But make allowance for their doubting too; If you can wait and not be tired by waiting, Or, being lied about, don't deal in lies, Or, being hated, don't give way to hating, And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise; If you can dream - and not make dreams your master; If you can think - and not make thoughts your aim; If you can meet with triumph and disaster And treat those two imposters just the same; If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools, Or watch the things you gave your life to broken, And stoop and build 'em up with wornout tools; If you can make one heap of all your winnings And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss, And lose, and start again at your beginnings And never breath a word about your loss; If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew To serve your turn long after they are gone, And so hold on when there is nothing in you Except the Will which says to them: "Hold on"; If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue, Or walk with kings - nor lose the common touch; If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you; If all men count with you, but none too much; If you can fill the unforgiving minute With sixty seconds' worth of distance run - Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it, And - which is more - you'll be a Man my son!  Rudyard Kipling

Complete works - http://www.poetryloverspage.com/poets/kipling/kipling_ind.html

Bio - http://www.online-literature.com/kipling/

Kipling Society - http://www.kipling.org.uk/

Jungle Book: video - http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0061852/, text - http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/236

12-29-2011 PEPPER POT DAY

Pepper Pot Day

Pepper Pot Day commemorates the creation of this thick spicy soup, which was served to the Continental Army during the cold, harsh winter of 1777-1778.  Pepper Pot soup was first made on December 29, 1777.

According to the legend...........

During the Revolutionary war, the Continental army was camped at Valley Forge.  The winter was cold and harsh. Conditions were deplorable. Food was often scarce. George Washington asked his army's chef to prepare a meal for the army, which would both warm them, and boost their moral. The chef found scraps of tripe, small bits of meat and some peppercorn. He mixed this in with some other ingredients, and created Pepper Pot soup, also known as "Philadelphia Pepper Pot soup”. The hot, and somewhat spicy soup, was well received by the troops. It was called "the soup that won the war”.

Celebrate Pepper Pot Day by making some Pepper Pot soup for the family. Note: while tripe was a main ingredient of this soup, you can substitute with chicken or beef.


Recipes: http://jet-chef.blogspot.com/2008/12/today-is-pepper-pot-day.html ,http://www.foodista.com/recipe/KXDK7FLN/pepper-pot-soup


History of Washington At Valley Forge:

• http://www.hsp.org/node/3000
• http://www.cr.nps.gov/logcabin/html/vf.html
• http://www.ushistory.org/valleyforge/
• http://www.ushistory.org/us/11f.asp
• http://www.ushistory.org/valleyforge/washington/index.html
• http://www.partyof1776.net/p1776/fathers/Washington%20George/articles/PrayerVF.htm
• myth - http://www.reversespins.com/mysticalwashington.html

12-28-2011 Happy Birthday Woodrow Wilson.

1856 - Woodrow Wilson (28th U.S. President [1913-1921]: asked Congress to declare war on Germany [Apr 2, 1917]; president of Princeton University [1902-1910]; Governor of New Jersey [1911-1913]; married to Ellen Axson [three daughters], Edith Galt; nickname: Schoolmaster in Politics; died Feb 3, 1924)

• http://www.nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/peace/laureates/1919/wilson-bio.html
• http://www.whitehouse.gov/about/presidents/woodrowwilson
• http://millercenter.org/president/wilson
• http://www.woodrowwilson.org/
• http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/wilson/index.html
• WWI - http://history-world.org/wilson.htm
• 14 Points - http://wwi.lib.byu.edu/index.php/President_Wilson%27s_Fourteen_Points
• Video - http://www.history.com/topics/woodrow-wilson/videos#wwi-firsts

New Jersey Firsts - http://www.funtravels.com/Features/new-jersey-firsts.html

And in less important news on that same day in 1987 was George Michael's Faith topped the charts.

12-27-2011 Louis Pasteur born in 1822

Happy Birthday, Louis Pasteur

• Background - http://www.accessexcellence.org/RC/AB/BC/Louis_Pasteur.php
• History - http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/historic_figures/pasteur_louis.shtml
• Life and Times - http://www.foundersofscience.net/interest1.htm
• Nice bio for kids - http://www.zephyrus.co.uk/louispasteur.html
• History Learning - http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/louis_pasteur.htm 
• Animated explanation of his work - http://www.sumanasinc.com/webcontent/animations/content/scientificmethod.html

In 1975 in perhaps less important news, The Four Seasons released December 1963.  The '88 remix was a Gilhooley's favorite!

12-26-2011 Happy Kwanzaa!

Official Site - http://www.officialkwanzaawebsite.org/index.shtml

Meaning and Symbols - http://www.infoplease.com/spot/kwanzaa1.html
Crafts and Printables - http://holidays.kaboose.com/kwanzaa/
Crafts - http://www.thebestkidsbooksite.com/kwanzaacrafts.cfm
Holidays.net - http://www.holidays.net/kwanzaa/
Primary Games - http://primarygames.com/holidays/kwanzaa/kwanzaa.htm
On Billy Bear 4 Kids - http://www.billybear4kids.com/holidays/kwanzaa/kwanzaa.htm
Scholastic interactive site - http://teacher.scholastic.com/activities/holidays/kwanzaa/
Apples4theTeacher - http://www.apples4theteacher.com/holidays/kwanzaa/
KwanzaaLand - http://www.kwanzaaland.com/children/
Lil Fingers - http://www.lil-fingers.com/holidays/kwanzaa/
Celebration at the Museum of Natural History - http://www.amnh.org/calendar/event/KWANZAA-2011!/
Music - http://www.theholidayspot.com/kwanzaa/kwanzaa_music.htm
Songs - http://www.songsforteaching.com/kwanzaasongs/
Short Video on the History - http://www.history.com/topics/kwanzaa-history/videos#history-of-kwanzaa
Video on How to Celebrate - http://www.5min.com/Video/How-to-Celebrate-Kwanzaa-25542796

12-23-2011 Christmas Break Begins

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Kids are home and moms and dads are looking for ways to keep them occupied.  Here is a list of sites and activities to keep you and the kiddies entertained.  On the resources pages check the crafts sections for fun, easy, afternoon activities you and the kids can enjoy together, and maybe even hang on the tree.

Games and Activites:
TES Christmas Resources - http://www.tes.co.uk/article.aspx?storycode=6005921
Ultimate Winter Resources - http://www.teachingheart.net/xmas.html
Winter Mad Libs - http://www.classroomjr.com/winter-mad-libs/
Snowline online Game - http://www.miniclip.com/games/snow-line/en/
Icebreaker online Game - http://www.miniclip.com/games/ice-breaker-red-clan/en/
Evil Elves - http://funschool.kaboose.com/fun-blaster/christmas/games/game_evil_elves.html
Santa Flibriks online Game - http://resources.kaboose.com/games/santa-flibriks.html
Squigly's Playhouse - http://www.squiglysplayhouse.com/Games/Holidays/Christmas.html
Games from A Kids Heart - http://akidsheart.com/holidays/christms/chgames.htm
Primary Games - http://primarygames.com/holidays/christmas/games.htm
Billy Bear 4 Kids - http://www.billybear4kids.com/holidays/christmas/games.htm
The Kidz Page - (close ads first) - http://www.thekidzpage.com/christmas/games.htm
Free Christmas Online Games - http://games.pppst.com/christmas.html
North Pole.com - http://www.northpole.com/ - loads of activities and links for parents
NORAD - http://www.noradsanta.org/en/index.html - the ultimate in Christmas sites, tune in tomorrow to follow Santa on his flight around the world in one night!

Christmas Stories to Enjoy Together:

• http://storynory.com/category/christmas-stories/
• http://holidays.kaboose.com/christmas/stories/xmas-stories.html
• http://www.familychristmasonline.com/stories_other/other_stories.htm
• http://www.best-christmas-stories.com/
• http://www.fanpop.com/spots/christmas/articles/64/title/watch-101-classic-christmas-videos-online
• http://larryferlazzo.edublogs.org/2011/12/18/the-snowman/

How the Grinch Stole Christmas

• Movie - http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0060345/
• Text - http://xmasfun.com/stories/Grinch/Text.asp
• Movie site - http://www.grinched.com/
• Seussville site - http://www.seussville.com/grinch/
• Musical site - http://www.grinchmusical.com/fun-stuff
• App - http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/how-the-grinch-stole-christmas!/id343766429?mt=8
• Xmas Fun - http://xmasfun.com/stories/Grinch/Default.asp

Twas the Night Before Christmas (A Visit from Saint Nicholas)

• text - http://www.carols.org.uk/twas_the_night_before_christmas.htm
• Spot the differences - http://www.nobleflash.com/game/twas-the-night-before-christmas.html
• Printable Games - http://www.partygameideas.com/christmas-games/story_memory_game_1.php
• Trivia quiz - http://www.funtrivia.com/playquiz/quiz22415719aa6a0.html
• Crazy Tale - http://www.rinkworks.com/crazytales/c/c11.shtml

Polar Express

• Movie - http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0338348/
• Reading celebration guide - http://www.hmhbooks.com/features/thepolarexpress/tg/polar.shtml
• Activities and Lessons - http://www.busyteacherscafe.com/literature_guides/polarexpress.html
• Teacher Guide - http://www.teachersmousepad.com/Christmas/Polar%20Express.htm
• WB Game - http://www2.warnerbros.com/polarexpress/games/ticketChase.html
• FOG - http://www.freeonlinegames.com/game/polar-express.html

12-22-2011 WINTER SOLSTICE

There’s a certain Slant of light,
Winter Afternoons —
That oppresses, like the Heft
Of Cathedral Tunes —

Heavenly Hurt, it gives us —
We can find no scar,
But internal difference,
Where the Meanings, are —

None may teach it — Any —
‘Tis the Seal Despair —
An imperial affliction
Sent us of the Air —

When it comes, the Landscape listens —
Shadows — hold their breath —
When it goes, ’tis like the Distance
On the look of Death —

Emily Dickenson

Science:

The basics - http://www.calendar-updates.com/info/holidays/us/winter.aspx
Science of the Shortest Day - http://www.livescience.com/5936-shortest-day-science-winter-solstice.html
National Geographic Article - http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2009/12/091218-winter-solstice-date-2010-solstices-first-day-winter/
Wolfram Research - http://scienceworld.wolfram.com/astronomy/WinterSolstice.html
Everything you need to know - http://earthsky.org/astronomy-essentials/everything-you-need-to-know-about-the-solstice-on-december-21
Measuring Shadows - http://billgx.edublogs.org/2008/12/20/winter-solstice-experiment/

History:

The Unconquered Sun - http://www.shambhala.org/arts/fest/unconquered.html
National Geographic article - http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2002/12/1220_021220_solstice.html
History and Recipes - http://www.patheos.com/Resources/Additional-Resources/Winter-Solstice.html
History of (for kids) - http://www.brownielocks.com/wintersolstice.html
Yule Log - http://www.thehistoryofchristmas.com/trivia/yulelog.htm
Saturnalia - http://ancienthistory.about.com/od/saturnalia/a/saturnalia.htm


Sites and Celebrations:
Celebrations - http://www.circlesanctuary.org/pholidays/SolsticeArticle.html
More Celebrations - http://www.religioustolerance.org/winter_solstice1.htm
Solstice Day - http://www.timeanddate.com/calendar/december-solstice.html
Stonehenge - http://www.crystalinks.com/stonehenge.html
Newgrange - http://www.knowth.com/winter-solstice-2003.htm
Newgrange.com - http://www.newgrange.com/webcast.htm
Stones of Wonder - http://www.stonesofwonder.com/
Carnac in France - http://www.rennet.org/tourism/carnac/index.html
Chichen Itza, Mexico - http://www.sacredsites.com/americas/mexico/chichen_itza.html

12-21-2011 Skating into History

December 21, 1849 - The first ice-skating club in America was formed -- in Philadelphia, PA.

TOP 10 SITES TO TEACH SCIENCE THROUGH SKATING

1. US Figure Skating Official Site - http://www.usfsa.org/
2. Ice Skates and their History - http://www.iceskatesmuseum.com/e-historie-1.htm 
3. Physics: Jumping and Rotating - http://btc.montana.edu/olympics/physbio/biomechanics/bio-intro.html
4. The Physics of Ice Skating - http://www.janerigby.net/JRR/skating/main.html
5. Ice Hockey Science - http://www.exploratorium.edu/hockey/ice1.html
6. Figuring Out Figure Skating - http://lessonopoly.org/node/9082
7. Ice Skating Spin Science Demo - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LgI5AMQ347g
8. Physics of Figure Skating - http://blogs.scientificamerican.com/observations/2010/02/23/the-physics-of-figure-skating/
9. Putting the Ice in Hockey - http://sciencenetlinks.com/lessons/putting-the-ice-in-hockey/
10. Skating Science - http://www.skatelog.com/ice/science.htm

12-20-2011 Hanukkah Begins

THE FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS

History, Math, Games, Recipes, and more:

Origins of Hanukkah - http://www.history.com/videos/history-of-hanukkah#history-of-hanukkah

The Holiday Spot - http://www.theholidayspot.com/hanukkah/index.htm

Chanuka - http://www.chanuka.com/history.shtml

Scholastic - http://teacher.scholastic.com/activities/holidays/hanukkah/

Holidays.net - http://www.holidays.net/chanukah/

Torah Tots - http://www.torahtots.com/holidays/chanuka/chanstr.htm

Chabad.org - http://www.chabad.org/holidays/chanukah/default_cdo/jewish/Hanukkah.htm

Traditions - http://festivals.iloveindia.com/hanukkah/traditions/index.html

Martha Stewart - http://www.marthastewart.com/359267/hanukkah-traditions

Jewish Outreach - http://joi.org/celebrate/hanuk/traditions.shtml

Primary Games - http://primarygames.com/holidays/hanukkah/games.htm

Dreidel - a fun way to apply math skills - http://www.jewfaq.org/dreidel/index.htm, http://www.billybear4kids.com/holidays/hanukkah/dreidel2.htm,  http://www.chabad.org/holidays/chanukah/Games/dreidel/default.htm

Music - http://www.chabad.org/multimedia/media_cdo/aid/218974/jewish/Chanukah-Songs.htm, http://www.gmajormusictheory.org/Freebies/Holidays/Hanukkah.html, http://www.theholidayspot.com/hanukkah/music.htm

12-19-2011 "A Christmas Carol" Published in 1843

CHARLES DICKENS' A CHRISTMAS CAROL WAS FIRST PUBLISHED 

ON DECEMBER 19, 1843

Charles Dickens Info:
http://www.online-literature.com/dickens/
http://charlesdickenspage.com/
http://www.victorianweb.org/authors/dickens/index.html
http://www.dickens-literature.com/
http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/PRdickens.htm

A Christmas Carol Text Online:
http://etext.virginia.edu/toc/modeng/public/DicChri.html
http://www.literature.org/authors/dickens-charles/christmas-carol/chapter-01.html
http://www.stormfax.com/dickens.htm
abridged - http://gaslight.mtroyal.ab.ca/carol.htm
MP3 - http://www.wiredforbooks.org/carol/content.htm

LAL Units:
Spark Notes Reader's Guide- http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/christmascarol/
Reading/English questions - http://www.leasttern.com/ChristmasCarol/CCarol.html
Classroom Activities - http://books.simonandschuster.net/tagged_assets/cg05_860_3906.pdf
A Dickens of a Party Webquest - http://www.readwritethink.org/files/resources/lesson_images/lesson238/dickens_WebQuest.html
Theme - http://www.perryweb.com/Dickens/work_carol.shtml

Activities:
Brainpop - http://www.brainpop.com/english/famousauthorsandbooks/charlesdickens/preview.weml
Trivia - http://www.perryweb.com/Dickens/work_carol_trivia.shtml
Ask Scrooge - http://www.perryweb.com/Dickens/puzzle_scrooge.php
A Christmas Carol Quiz - http://www.perryweb.com/Dickens/puzzle_carol.shtml
Scramble puzzle - http://www.perryweb.com/Dickens/puzzle_carol_scramble.shtml
Victorian Christmas - http://www.scrapalbum.com/vxp1.htm
Dickens & Christmas - http://charlesdickenspage.com/christmas.html
Scrooge's Ghostly Adventure - http://www.dan-dare.org/FreeFun/Games/CMTVMore/AChristmasCarol2/AChristmasCarol2.htm
Scrooge's Soaring Star Ride - http://disney.go.com/games/play3/?content=379318#/games/play3/&content=379318

Historical Look at Victorian Life:
10 Creepy Aspects - http://listverse.com/2009/08/29/top-10-creepy-aspects-of-victorian-life/
Huge Database of info - http://www.victorianweb.org/history/sochistov.html
From About Britain - http://www.aboutbritain.com/articles/life-in-victorian-england.asp
An Introduction - http://www.english.uwosh.edu/roth/VictorianEngland.htm
Family Life - http://www.nettlesworth.durham.sch.uk/time/victorian/vfam.html
Era of Elegance - http://www.erasofelegance.com/history/victorianlife.html
BBC - http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/primaryhistory/victorian_britain/
Poverty - http://www.hiddenlives.org.uk/articles/poverty.html

12-18-2011 PANDA-MONIUM

On this day in 1936, the first giant panda was imported into the United States.

Facts:

Panda Science - http://www.conservation.org/learn/biodiversity/species/profiles/pandas/pandas/Pages/panda_science.aspx?gclid=COeoz_6h_awCFUTc4AodHUBp_w

Giant Panda Facts - http://nationalzoo.si.edu/Animals/GiantPandas/PandaFacts/default.cfm
WWF: Giant Panda - http://www.worldwildlife.org/species/finder/giantpanda/panda.html
Animal Bytes - http://www.sandiegozoo.org/animalbytes/t-giant_panda.html
Globio: giant panda - http://www.globio.org/glossopedia/article.aspx?art_id
Defenders of Wildlife - http://www.defenders.org/wildlife_and_habitat/wildlife/panda.php
Endangered Species - http://www.theinsite.org/earth/earth_es_panda.html

Endangerment:
http://science.jrank.org/pages/2467/Endangered-Species.html
http://www.endangeredspecieshandbook.org/vanishing_what_human.php
http://flatplanet.wikispaces.com/Group+10+Endangered+Species
http://www.endangeredspecie.com/
http://www.enviroliteracy.org/article.php/33.html
http://www.nhptv.org/natureworks/nwep16b.htm

Debate:
Choose a local endangered species.  Research what is being done to protect it.  Debate the pros and cons of these protective actions.
Development vs. Protection?
The need to prevent extinction?

New Jersey:
http://www.nj.gov/dep/fgw/tandespp.htm
http://www.nj.gov/dep/fgw/ensp/somhome.htm
http://www.fws.gov/northeast/njfieldoffice/Endangered/esfaq.html
http://www.state.nj.us/dep/fgw/ensp/landscape/
http://www.njaudubon.org/SectionConservation/EndangeredandThreatenedWildlifeofNewJersey.aspx
http://www.conservewildlifenj.org/
http://www.pinelandsalliance.org/glossary/
http://www.defenders.org/wildlife_and_habitat/wildlife/bobcat.php

12-17-2011 FIRST IN FLIGHT

High Flight Oh! I have slipped the surly bonds of earth And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings; Sunward I've climbed, and joined the tumbling mirth Of sun-split clouds - and done a hundred things You have not dreamed of - wheeled and soared and swung High in the sunlit silence. Hov'ring there I've chased the shouting wind along, and flung My eager craft through footless halls of air. Up, up the long delirious, burning blue, I've topped the windswept heights with easy grace Where never lark, or even eagle flew - And, while with silent lifting mind I've trod The high untresspassed sanctity of space, Put out my hand and touched the face of God.

Pilot Officer Gillespie Magee No 412 squadron, RCAF Killed 11 December 1941

Principals of Aeronautics Online Intermediate Text - http://wings.avkids.com/Book/intermediate.html

History:

Library of Congress First Flight - http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/today/dec17.html
This Day in History - http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/first-airplane-flies
Flights of Inspiration: First Flight - http://fi.edu/flight/first/intro.html
First Flight Society - http://www.firstflight.org/
Milestones of Flight - http://www.nasm.si.edu/exhibitions/gal100/gal100.html
Wright Brothers History - http://www.wright-house.com/wright-brothers/wrights/1903.html
Eye Witness to History - http://www.eyewitnesstohistory.com/wright.htm
Re-Living the Wright Way - http://wright.grc.nasa.gov/index.htm

Science:
The Science of Flight - http://www.yesmag.ca/focus/flight/flight_science.html
How Airplanes Work - http://science.howstuffworks.com/transport/flight/modern/airplanes.htm
Air and Flight - http://www.mysciencesite.com/science6airflight1.html
Flight Lesson Plans - http://www.sciencekids.co.nz/lessonplans/flight.html
What Makes an Airplane Fly? - http://www.allstar.fiu.edu/aero/fltmidfly.htm
NASA quest - http://quest.arc.nasa.gov/aero/background/
Bill Nye - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cZzD_mOp5oE

Math:
Plane Math - http://www.planemath.com/planemathmain.html
Flight Distance Calculator - http://www.travelmath.com/flying-distance/
Education in Flight from the USAF - http://www.educationinflight101.com/
Game - http://www.someschoolgames.com/kids-logic-games/flight/

da Vinci:
http://www.angelfire.com/electronic/awakening101/leonardo.html
http://www.flyingmachines.org/davi.html
http://www.da-vinci-inventions.com/flying-machine.aspx
http://www.brainpop.com/search/search.weml?keyword=flight
http://www.loc.gov/loc/kidslc/LGpdfs/leo-teacher.pdf

12-16-2011 Boston Tea Party Occurred 1773

THE BOSTON TEA PARTY

History:

This Day in History - http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/the-boston-tea-party

The Boston Tea Party Historical Society - http://www.boston-tea-party.org/facts-numbers.html

Boston Tea Party Ships and Museum - http://www.bostonteapartyship.com/boston-tea-party-dec-1773 

Eye Witness to History - http://www.eyewitnesstohistory.com/teaparty.htm

The Tea Act and Parties - http://www.ushistory.org/us/9f.asp

Voices of the American Revolution Thinkquest - http://library.thinkquest.org/TQ0312848/timeline.htm

Brainpop - http://www.brainpop.com/socialstudies/ushistory/americanrevolution/preview.weml

Public Protests Around the World - Today would be a great day to talk about current events and the history of people protesting peacefully.

Games:

Trivia Quiz - http://www.funtrivia.com/playquiz/quiz119808db9508.html

Jigsaw Puzzle - http://www.surfnetkids.com/games/boston_tea_party-js.htm 

Have Fun With History - http://havefunwithhistory.com/activities/btp.html

Liberty: The American Revolution - http://www.pbs.org/ktca/liberty/ 

Boston Tea Party Escape - http://www.gazzyboy.com/gamedisp/542/bostonteapartyescape.htm

Lessons:

American Revolution Lessons and Activities - http://www.proteacher.com/redirect.php?goto=4631

My Brother Sam is Dead - http://mybrothersamisdead.historyofredding.com/

Political Cartoons:

http://www.history.org/History/teaching/images/tchcrpc1.jpg

http://www.loc.gov/exhibits/british/images/vc38.jpg

http://www.pbs.org/ktca/liberty/images/tarfeather.jpg

http://bensguide.gpo.gov/images/icons/joinordie.jpg

http://www.loc.gov/teachers/classroommaterials/themes/political-cartoons/

Comic Creators:

http://www.readwritethink.org/files/resources/interactives/comic/index.html

http://chogger.com/

http://www.makebeliefscomix.com/

http://stripgenerator.com/strip/create/

12-15-2011 Today is Bill of Rights Day

Civics for ESL Students offers some great resources to get started - http://www.elcivics.com/bill-of-rights-esl.html
The National Constitution Center invites students on a mission to rebuild the Bill of Rights - http://constitutioncenter.org/BillOfRightsGame/Final.swf
The Bill of Rights Institute shows students what life would be like without the Bill of Rights - http://www.billofrightsinstitute.org/page.aspx?pid=492 The same site also offers plenty of resources for teachers - http://www.billofrightsinstitute.org/page.aspx?pid=598
Students can play a Bill of Rights Match Game - http://www.texaslre.org/BOR/billofrights.html
From the Annenberg Classroom,  as students play this game, they will discover surprising facts about the stroy behind the Bill of Rights and gain a clearer understanding of these important amendments.http://www.annenbergclassroom.org/page/the-bill-of-rights-game
Your Bill of Rights from Time gives a great break down of each of the first 10 Amendments - http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/0,28757,2080345,00.html

12-14-2011 Antarctica, Ecology, Ice, Snow, and Poetry

On December 14, 1911, Roald Amundsen is the first man to reach the South Pole.

Articles and Pictures:

• The Expedition on Wikipedia - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amundsen's_South_Pole_expedition
• Cool Antarctica - http://www.coolantarctica.com/Antarctica%20fact%20file/History/roald%20amundsen.htm
• Race for the South Pole - http://www.antarcticconnection.com/antarctic/history/pole-race2.shtml
• Where None Have Gone Before - http://www.mnc.net/norway/Amundsen.htm
• The American Experience Article - http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/ice/peopleevents/pandeAMEX87.html
• South Pole.com - http://www.south-pole.com/p0000101.htm
• South Pole for Kids - http://southpoleforkids.ca/kids-teachers/south-pole-facts/
• Antarctica Virtual Tour - http://astro.uchicago.edu/cara/vtour/ 
• South Pole Station - http://www.southpolestation.com/index.html

Have a class debate about South Pole tourism, or on whether or not Antarctica is shrinking.

1. http://www.independent.co.uk/environment/nature/hillary-clinton-urges-tougher-controls-on-south-pole-tourists-1667533.html
2. http://environment.nationalgeographic.com/environment/global-warming/gw-effects/
3. http://www.csmonitor.com/Environment/2008/0110/p14s01-sten.html
4. http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/GlobalWarming/story?id=1678441&page=1#.TuJIOLJCo8k
5. http://www.livescience.com/16548-antarctic-ozone-hole-5th-largest-record.html
6. http://www.lifeslittlemysteries.com/is-global-warming-melting-antarcticas-ice-1193/
7. http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2008/06/whys_there_more_ice_at_the_sou.html
8. http://www.explainthatstuff.com/globalwarmingforkids.html

•  Find out the Pros and Cons of controversial issues -http://www.procon.org/
•  Debate online with UFeud – http://www.ufeud.com/
• Create Debate is an online discussion community - http://www.createdebate.com/ 
• Heads Up - HeadsUp is a moderated, online space for under 18s to debate the political issues important to them. - http://www.headsup.org.uk/content/
• Post and respond without signing up but content may not be filtered - http://www.wedebate.it/
• Debate online using aMap, a tool that helps you map your arguement - http://www.amap.org.uk/create/

Animals:

• http://www.ehow.com/facts_5636029_kind-animals-found-south-pole_.html
• Penguins - http://www.penguinscience.com/classroom_home.php?gclid=CIilp5fM9awCFaMSNAodEGNQRg, http://www.kidzone.ws/animals/penguins/, http://www.siec.k12.in.us/west/proj/penguins/main.html, http://kids.nationalgeographic.com/kids/animals/creaturefeature/emperor-penguin/, http://www.montereybayaquarium.org/efc/efc_splash/splash_cam.aspx, 
• Seals - http://lrs.ed.uiuc.edu/students/downey/project/seals.html, http://www.kidcyber.com.au/topics/Antarcseal.htm, http://www.travelthewholeworld.com/antarcticaseals.html, http://library.thinkquest.org/26442/html/life/seal.html, http://www.teachers.ash.org.au/jmresources/antarctica/seals.htm
• Whales - http://library.thinkquest.org/26442/html/life/whale.html, http://www.coolantarctica.com/Antarctica%20fact%20file/wildlife/whales/food%20web.htm, http://www.nationalgeographic.com/adventure/0605/features/whales.html, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yMxY4c5SeIs
• Birds - http://www.gdargaud.net/Antarctica/Birds.html, http://www.greglasley.net/antartix.html, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_birds_of_Antarctica, http://library.thinkquest.org/26442/html/life/bird.html

Ice, Snow, Winter Poetry:

http://www.ehow.com/how_4540885_create-winter-poetry-unit-classroom.html

• Frost: Fire and Ice - http://poemhunter.com/poem/fire-and-ice/
• Dust of Snow - http://poetry.about.com/library/weekly/blfrostwinter.htm
• Mazur: Ice - http://www.poetryfoundation.org/poetrymagazine/poem/26218
• Medcalf: Ice Magic - http://www.strangehorizons.com/2002/20020325/ice_magic.shtml
• Snow in the Trees - http://famouspoetsandpoems.com/poets/raymond_a__foss/poems/23440.html
• Snow in the Air - http://famouspoetsandpoems.com/poets/raymond_a__foss/poems/23544.html
• Snow in the Valleys - http://famouspoetsandpoems.com/poets/raymond_a__foss/poems/23689.html
• Snow Fort - http://famouspoetsandpoems.com/poets/raymond_a__foss/poems/23988.html
• The Snow Fairy - http://famouspoetsandpoems.com/poets/claude_mckay/poems/1775.html
• Snow Flakes - http://famouspoetsandpoems.com/poets/emily_dickinson/poems/6132.html
• A Little Snow Was Here and There - http://famouspoetsandpoems.com/poets/emily_dickinson/poems/6973.html
• Snow Day - http://famouspoetsandpoems.com/poets/billy_collins/poems/11285.html
• The Snow Man - http://famouspoetsandpoems.com/poets/wallace_stevens/poems/18032
• Now and Ice - http://famouspoetsandpoems.com/poets/quincy_troupe/poems/22440.html
• The Abominable Snowman - http://famouspoetsandpoems.com/poets/ogden_nash/poems/19623
• The Snowman in the Yard - http://famouspoetsandpoems.com/poets/joyce_kilmer/poems/17330
• Snow Flurries - http://famouspoetsandpoems.com/poets/raymond_a__foss/poems/23370.html
• Poem Hunter Snow Poems - http://poemhunter.com/poems/snow/

Make Your Own Snowflake Online

Other Lessons:

1. http://www.teach-nology.com/themes/holidays/winter/
2. http://cse.ssl.berkeley.edu/SegwayEd/lessons/search_ice_snow/ski.1.homepage.html
3. http://astro.uchicago.edu/cara/southpole.edu/flaky.html

12-13-2011 National Cocoa Day

Today is National Cocoa Day, a good day to consider where our chocolate comes from and how it is farmed, and of course enjoy some chocolate!

History and Culture: 

World Cocoa Foundation - http://www.worldcocoa.org/
Children in Cocoa Production - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Children_in_cocoa_production
Chocolate and Slavery - http://www1.american.edu/ted/chocolate-slave.htm
News article - Chocolate Worth its Weight in Gold? - http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/food-and-drink/features/chocolate-worth-its-weight-in-gold-2127874.html
Culture of the Cocoa Bean - http://inventors.about.com/od/foodrelatedinventions/a/chocolate.htm
History of Cocoa - http://www.worldagroforestry.org/treesandmarkets/inaforesta/history.htm

Food:

Hershey's - http://www.hersheys.com/
Hot Cocoa by Alton Brown - http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/alton-brown/hot-cocoa-recipe/index.html

Games: 

Rescue on Cocoa Farm - http://armorgames.com/play/7221/rescue-on-cocoa-farm
Chocolate games and activities - http://www.mce.k12tn.net/chocolate/games/games.htm
Chocolate Mania - http://www.funnygames.co.uk/chocolate-mania.htm

Lessons:
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory:
Questions and Activites by Chapter - http://www.mce.k12tn.net/chocolate/charlie/charlie_and_the_chocolate_factor.htm
On TeacherVision - http://www.teachervision.fen.com/literature/activity/7060.html
eTheme - http://ethemes.missouri.edu/themes/582
Roald Dahl Fans - http://www.roalddahlfans.com/teachers.php#5
Internet4Classrooms - http://www.internet4classrooms.com/links_grades_kindergarten_12/elementary_chocolate_factory_activities_project.htm
Chocolate Theme Page - http://webtech.kennesaw.edu/jcheek3/chocolate.htm

12-12-2011 National Poinsettia Day

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

History and Legends:

The Poinsettia Pages - http://urbanext.illinois.edu/poinsettia/history.cfm

Christmas Traditions - http://www.stcharleschristmas.com/poinsettia.htm

TLC History of the Poinsettia - http://tlc.howstuffworks.com/family/christmas-poinsettia1.htm

Garden Tales - http://bob-ewing.hubpages.com/hub/Garden-Tales-The-Poinsettia

The Tale of the Poinsettia - http://www.ancientsites.com/aw/Post/74947

Teachers First lessons - http://www.teachersfirst.com/holiday/christmas.cfm

Crafts:

Ornament - http://www.firstpalette.com/Craft_themes/Special_Occassions/Christmas/poinsettiaornament/poinsettiaornament.html

Paper Plate Flower - http://www.enchantedlearning.com/crafts/christmas/poinsettia/

Wreath - http://www.crayola.com/crafts/detail/christmas-poinsettia-wreath-craft/

Napkin Ring - http://crafts.kaboose.com/poinsettia-napkin-rings.html

Track Santa - http://www.noradsanta.org/en/

World Cultures: Christmas Around the World

Santa Net - http://www.santas.net/aroundtheworld.htm

North Pole - http://www.the-north-pole.com/around/

Port Harbor - http://www.portharbor.com/santa/xsatrad.php

The Holiday Spot - http://www.theholidayspot.com/christmas/worldxmas/

History.com - http://www.history.com/topics/christmas

Infostar - http://www.infostarbase.com/holidays/christmas.php

Literature:

Christmas Stories - http://www.worldofchristmas.net/christmas-stories/

Legends - http://www.angelfire.com/ny5/spiritsong/ChristmasLegends.html

Traditions and meanings - http://www.noelnoelnoel.com/html/trad.html

Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus - http://beebo.org/smackerels/yes-virginia.html

A Visit From Saint Nicholas - http://www.gutenberg.org/files/17382/17382-h/17382-h.htm

Letter Writing:
http://www.readingrockets.org/article/22319/
http://www.educationworld.com/a_lesson/lesson281.shtml
http://www.readwritethink.org/files/resources/interactives/letter_generator/