Parts of a Soybean Seedling
This illustrated guide to a soybean seedling (Glycine max, Dicotyledon) is designed to help students recognize and learn the plant's individual parts. Along with an explanation of dicotyledon embryos, it includes a short description for the following labeled parts: root system, cotyledon, axillary buds, petiole, compound leaf, and leaflet.
Create Your Own Mesozoic Museum
This OLogy activity offers kids a fun way to show off their dinosaur knowledge. The activity begins by telling kids to pick a topic and title for their Mesozoic Museum, and provides a book list to help them research their selection. It then provides a list of materials and directions for setting up an exhibit that includes explanatory caption cards. Kids are urged to invite friends and family to the Mesozoic Museum, soliciting feedback and testing how well their exhibit communicated knowledge. A
Make a Moon Flipbook
This OLogy activity provides insight into the phases of the Moon and why it looks a little different each night. The activity begins with an explanation about how the Moon itself doesn't really change, just our view of it. Then kids go to "See the Moon in Action," an interactive illustration of the Moon's orbit around the Earth, in which they can see what the Moon looks like from Earth at eight different positions in its orbit. The activity ends with a Moon Watch Log, a printable PDF file, that
DNA in a Blender
This simple OLogy experiment provides insight into genetics by allowing kids to see and hold real DNA. The activity begins with an explanation about how the Moon, itself, doesn't really change, just our view of it. Then kids go to "See the Moon in Action," an interactive illustration of the Moon's orbit around the Earth, where they can see what the Moon looks like from Earth at eight different positions in its orbit. The activity ends with a Moon Watch Log, a printable PDF file, that kids use to
Topics in Pre-Modern Japanese History
This book emphasizes a succession of topics rather than strict adherence to the flow of time. The chapters move from earlier periods of time to later periods of time, but their content and organization gives top priority to coverage of topics. While the "mainstream" narrative of politics and institutions is present in these pages, the emphasis is on social and cultural history wherever possible.
Movie in the Making
In this project students will report on a book by describing how they would turn that book into a motion picture. After reading and studying the main components of their novel (character, plot, conflict, climax and denouement), students will use their imaginations to explain how they would cast and direct the movie versions. This project also provides enrichment activities where in the students will access archived materials such as the Academy Awards Data Base, movie posters, and movie reviews.
Clara Barton's House: Home of the American Red Cross
is a curriculum-oriented guide to the life of the famous nurse. The site uses photographs, floor plans, and the like about her home in Glen Echo, Maryland as a focal point but gives readings and suggested school assignments about her career.
Modeling Research Skills
The fifth lesson in the Family, History and Memory module centers on developing students' research skills. Using the book The Diary of Anne Frank as a starting point, it guides students through the necessary steps for conducting good-quality research and developing a subsequent presentation. Students work as a group to develop their presentation. The lessons can be delivered as a module or as individual units.
Master Teachers: Ali Akbar Khan
SPARK visits Ali Akbar Khan, one of the finest musicians of North India in the world as he passes his gift to several generations of musicians at the Ali Akbar Khan College of Music in San Rafael, California. This Educator Guide offers explorations of North Indian Classical Music and culture.
Let's Talk Politics: Berkeley Repertory Theatre
Acclaimed British playwright David Edgar takes aim at American politics with his two-play cycle, Continental Divide, at Berkeley Repertory Theatre. This Educator Guide explores the history of political activism and political theatre in the UK and the US.
Legacies: Shri Krupa Dance Foundation
Dancer, teacher and choreographer Vishal Ramani discusses her 30 years in the Bay Area developing the Shri Krupa Dance Foundation, a non-profit center that offers daily classes on the complex tradition of Bharata Natyam. This Educator Guide is about the Indian dance form of Bharata Natyam and its traditions and practices.
Legacies: Julia Parker
Julia Parker is one of the few remaining traditional Native American basket weavers in California. This Educator Guide traces the history of basket weaving in the West Coast Indian populations.
Leaders: Brenda Way
Modern dance choreographer Brenda Way inspires her Oberlin Dance Company dancers to work harder and accomplish more than they ever dreamed possible. This Educator Guide addresses the history and uniqueness of ODC/San Francisco and dance in San Francisco.
Kids on Stage: Marsh Youth Theater
SPARK goes backstage as 40 5th-9th grade students in the Marsh Youth Theatre (MYT) Mainstage Performance Ensemble prepare for the premiere of Jip, His Story. This Educator Guide is about the history of children's theatre in the US.
In Respect of Nature: Roman Loranc
Spark visits photographer Roman Loranc as he captures arresting images of the Central Valley landscape. This Educator Guide is about photography, landscape photography and Romanticism as a creative approach in art making.
Home, Sweet Home: headRush
SPARK explores the work of theatrical performance group headRush. This Educator Guide is about the exploration and history of experimental, political theater and performance art.
Holding onto the GREEN Zone
This curriculum helps young people learn about riparian areas--those "GREEN Zones" found along the edges of rivers, streams, and lakes. Teachers and youth group leaders will find a variety of resources in the Leader Guide, including background information, a unit-by-unit guide, and safety tips, as well as a curriculum concept map and correlations to national education standards.
Fusion: Sha Sha Higby
Sha Sha Higby's artworks are moving sculptures worn in performances the artist choreographs. This Educator Guide explores traditions of pageantry and theatre, including the masquerade of the Venetian Carnevale, African tribal dancing, Japanese Noh theater and Kabuki, and Commedia dell'Arte.
Fusion: Calligraphy of Thought
Go inside the Bay Area's burgeoning Muslim spoken word, poetry, and Hip-Hop scene with Calligraphy of Thought women poets as they create and rehearse new works for a performance. This Educator Guide addresses the history of Muslim women in entertainment and the history of Hip-Hop.
Forbidden Territory: Traveling Jewish Theatre
SPARK visits the ensemble of the Traveling Jewish Theatre in a bold and moving play about the Middle East conflict called Blood Relative. This Educator Guide addresses collaborative theatre, political theatre, and the history of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.
