The Nile of New England
What were the distinguishing characteristics of the people of the Deerfield and their relationship with the land as illustrated through changes in lifestyles, economy, and governance? This curriculum is a semester-long course and is comprised of three units:
1. The Colonial Period 1680 – 1720
2. The Federal Period 1780-1820
3. The Progressive Era 1880-1920
Features of the Course:
• The course features an inquiry-based curriculum, based on constructivist learning theory.
• Students will le
Everyday Life in a New England Town
In the The Turns of the Centuries: Everyday Life in a New England Town, 1680-1920, students learn the basic skills needed to "read" primary and secondary sources, including a broad array of documents, maps, images, and buildings, to see what they can reveal about the characteristics of everyday life in Deerfield, MA over three century turns. At the same time, they learn the historical background of each era so that the source materials will be understood in the proper context. Then, they use wha
The Lessons of 1704
In The Lessons of 1704, students learn the basic skills needed to do research and to "read" primary and secondary sources, to see what they can reveal about the cultural characteristics and attitudes of the English, French, and Native Americans in the Deerfield area in the late 17th and early 18th centuries. At the same time, they learn about the attitudes and behaviors of these three groups toward one another. Then, they use what they have learned to analyze the 1704 attack on Deerfield and the
Word Seeker
Word Seeker is a classic concentration game that helps children learn word skills. The object of the game is to match the first word with the second word that is exactly the same, a synonym, an antonym, or a homonym. The game begins with eighteen blocks faced down. The user clicks on a block to reveal the hidden word. Subsequently the user selects another block to reveal its hidden word. If the words match, the two blocks disappear. Otherwise, the blocks reset to their hidden states. Match all n
Balance Keeper
Balance Keeper is an educational tool that helps children practice addition, subtraction, logical thinking, and basic algebra. The purpose of the game is to balance the scale by clicking and dragging weights. Complex problems consist of unknown mystery weights. Through deductive reasoning and trial and error techniques, a child can determine these unmarked weights. Balance Keeper implements fifteen skill levels that automatically adjust in difficulty. Mastering all the levels will definitely jum
Lidar Technology and Applications
This course offers an introduction to the capabilities of lidar sensors and platforms, data processing systems, and derived digital data products. Students in this course will master basic skills needed to leverage commercial lidar data sources and information products in a broad range of applications, including topographic mapping, flood inundation studies, vegetation analysis, and 3D modeling of urban infrastructure.
Cartography and Visualization
This course is organized around seven projects and a capstone assignment. Each project includes readings, quizzes, and discussions about concepts and tools in cartography and visualization. Throughout the course, students complete “mile marker” assignments that are designed to help them progress toward the capstone assignment. Through the course projects, students confront realistic problem scenarios that incorporate such skills and concepts as creating symbolization schemes, coordinate syst
Poker and Strategic Thinking
In this course we will work from the idea that there is merit in a poker way of thinking when analyzing real life situations. We think the skills important to playing winning poker, and ideas behind these skills, have merit in other fields.
The goals of the course are to introduce the use of ideas from the poker world in skills of life, business, politics and international relations. We will specifically delve into the use of poker in:
1.Strategic thinking
2.Game Theory, Risk and Business
3.So
Water In Africa
is designed to help students learn important knowledge and skills in geography, language arts, and other disciplines by studying the use of water in 24 African countries. This website features online lessons developed by teachers and built around 600 photos and 300 anecdotes from Peace Corps volunteers in Africa. Photos and anecdotes may also be browsed by country, with basic country information and maps provided.
Narrative vs. Expository Texts
Many students, especially students with limited English language skills, have difficulties determining the difference between narrative and expository texts. This unit will use vignettes written by Peace Corps Volunteers serving in Lesotho and Madagascar to compare these types of texts. As final products, students will write both a narrative essay and an expository essay. This unit was piloted with high school second language learners.
Heritage: Civilization and the Jews
This lesson plan deals with the Ancient Near East, early civilization, and early Israelite history. Use maps to explore principal geographic features of the region and to trace migration, and compare the biblical story of the flood with a similar account in the Epic of Gilgamesh. All activities focus on key concepts explored in Heritage. Lesson plans have been designed to allow teachers to select activities appropriate to the grade levels of their classes. Each plan includes teacher's resource p
Automobile Choices and Alternative Fuels
In this lesson students will compare and make distinctions among 5 alternative fuels. They will understand the impact of different types of fuel on: a. the environment b. lifestyle c. the economy/personal finances of car choices. They will also use critical thinking skills to support multi-step decision-making for buying a car.
Visual Arts
This section encourages subjective interpretation and is designed to stimulate students to think freely and generate creative ideas. Risk taking is strongly encouraged as students' respond to the works of art. The pre-visit activity, Introducing Symbols, is intended to help students use critical looking and thinking skills to build visual literacy. The on-site activity, Interpreting Symbols and Design, asks students to explore a work of art in a subjective manner, finding their own personal mean
Social Studies
This section encourages objectivity as students are offered information about the historical context for the works of art. The pre-visit activity, Analyzing Political Cartoons, asks students to find and interpret a political cartoon. This exercise continues to encourage students' exploration of symbols as tools for delivering messages, in this case politically and socially motivated ones. The on-site activity, Analyzing Art, asks students to look at a work of art subjectively through a facilitat
Introduction to New Testament History and Literature
This course provides a historical study of the origins of Christianity by analyzing the literature of the earliest Christian movements in historical context, concentrating on the New Testament. Although theological themes will occupy much of our attention, the course does not attempt a theological appropriation of the New Testament as scripture. Rather, the importance of the New Testament and other early Christian documents as ancient literature and as sources for historical study will be emphas
European Civilization, 1648-1945
This course offers a broad survey of modern European history, from the end of the Thirty Years' War to the aftermath of World War II. Along with the consideration of major events and figures such as the French Revolution and Napoleon, attention will be paid to the experience of ordinary people in times of upheaval and transition. The period will thus be viewed neither in terms of historical inevitability nor as a procession of great men, but rather through the lens of the complex interrelations
Freshman Organic Chemistry I
This is the first semester in a two-semester introductory course focused on current theories of structure and mechanism in organic chemistry, their historical development, and their basis in experimental observation. The course is open to freshmen with excellent preparation in chemistry and physics, and it aims to develop both taste for original science and intellectual skills necessary for creative research.
Digital Government II: Information Technology and Democratic Administration, Winter 2007
This seven-week course is the second in a two-part sequence exploring contemporary practices, challenges, and opportunities at the intersection of information technology and democratic governance. This second half of the course takes on emerging directions in democratic administration – and the shifting role of information technologies in supporting, transforming, and understanding these. The course locates recent and emerging digital or e-government initiatives in historical, institutional, a
Patient Communication Skills, 2009
The materials on this page represent a curriculum for teaching effective patient communication to dentistry students. These techniques could be useful for other healthcare providers, as well: medical students, nursing students, public health providers, and in-practice health care providers. There are two main types of resources: performance keys and videos.
Performance Keys are text documents that articulate key patient interaction skills, and give examples of more and less effective techniques
Foundations of Theology: Biblical and Historical
This is an introductory course to the Bible and historical Christianity that aims to familiarize the student with the contents of the Bible and the development of the early Church. Special emphasis is placed on theological themes of perennial interest and the significance of the Bible for Christian thought and practice as well as the relationship of Christianity to Judaism.
