Representing History: Cambodia - Through the Shadows
This unit introduces students to the modern history of Cambodia in the context of the Cold War. It examines the relationship between Cambodia and Vietnam and the way both countries became drawn into the power struggle between the US and Western capitalism and the Sino Soviet communist axis in the east. Through viewing and discussion of the video and investigating the web resources, students can begin to understand the conventions of documentary in offering access to a version of the truth.
What's Growing in That Dish?
In this lesson, students will view the clips of the video discussing the discovery of penicillin and the scientific discovery process. They will then run their own open-ended experiments to see how body molds and bacteria respond to variable substances.
Hip Math and Shape Art
This lesson builds upon student knowledge of basic geometric shapes by studying the art in the illustrations shown in the video. Students draw and name organic, non-geometric shapes.
What in the World Is That?
This site examines 16 inventions: the submarine, battery radio, cotton gin, reaper, electron microscope, telephone, gramophone, telecommunication cable, snow gauge, ornithopter, airphibian, and others.
Pioneering the Upper Midwest: Books from Michigan, Minnesota, and Wisconsin, 1820-1910
This site portrays the states of Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin from the 17th to the early 20th century through first-person accounts, biographies, promotional literature, local histories, ethnographic and antiquarian texts, and colonial archival documents. This collection depicts the land and its resources, the experience of Natives, pioneers and missionaries, soldiers and reformers, as well as the growth of local communities and cultures.
Woody Guthrie and the Archive of American Folk Song: Correspondence, 1940-1950
This site highlights letters Guthrie wrote in the early 1940s after moving to New York City, where he pursued broadcasting and recording careers, met artists and social activists, and gained a reputation as a songwriter and performer. The site includes a biographical essay, a timeline of Guthrie's life, and an encoded finding aid of Guthrie materials at the Library of Congress.
Toxic and Harmful Algal Blooms
These activities, in conjunction with Bigelow Laboratory's “Toxic and Harmful Algal Bloom" web site, will help your students gain a better understanding of toxic and harmful algal blooms. Each module below consists of background content material and related standards-based activities. Each module is independent of the others; however, some background knowledge is required to complete the lessons.
NCBI More Information: Similarity
This page summarizes the basic concept and vocabulary of sequence similarity searching. It is included for those new to the field who may not appreciate the importance of this technique in biology, who lack the vocabulary to understand the BLAST guide and tutorial or who require a basic rather than a sophisticated understanding of the methods involved. Sections include introduction, premise, terms, general approach, the BLAST algorithm, quantification, gaps, significance, and databases. Users ca
Using a Colorimetric Test to Measure pH
This laboratory exercise, appropriate for grades 5-12, engages students to use a Colorimetric test to measure pH and gain an understanding of pH and its importance to life in an aquatic ecosystem. In addition to the lab lesson plan, the site includes New Jersey Science Standards, objectives, background, vocabulary, extension ideas, and references.
Two paths to knowledge
For students who always finish their class work early or want more information than you have time to give, try curriculum compacting.
Alternative discussion formats: museum exhibit design
Designing museum exhibits encourages students to think creatively and to use a wide range of thinking skills.
When teachers don't understand
Teaching should be informed not only by the content of the discipline but also by the lives of the students.
Tools of the trade for information seekers
A guide to understanding and using search engines, directories, and the invisible web.
Observing other teachers
Learning from other teachers is an important means of professional development. Here are some suggestions for observing successful teachers in your school, in other schools, and on the web.
Setting the tone
Building a student-centered classroom culture starts on the first day of the school year.
Mentoring matters
How mentors can serve as role models, helpers, and colleagues.
America on the Move
This activity guide accompanies the exhibition America on the Move. It delivers a variety of historical primary-source materials from the exhibition directly to your classroom. Through these documents and activities, students can build a deeper understanding of how transportation shaped American commerce, communities, landscapes, and population migrations.
Decoding the Past: The Work of Archaeologists
This site introduces students to archeology -- the study of material remains to learn about past human experiences. This lesson (Grades 3-8) discusses various challenges of an archaeologist: locating a site that will yield clues about the people who once lived there, conducting excavations, and more. Students identify artifacts from a contemporary setting, describe the function of each artifact, identify methods for dating soil layers, and interpret soil profiles.
Under the Spell of ... Spiders!
Spiders are endlessly fascinating and a great school subject because they offer plenty of teachable topics that span the curriculum. We've tried to provide some of those topics here in these lessons, as for all their amazing physical features and unusual habits, spiders, with just a few notable exceptions, pose little threat to humans and are creatures deserving of understanding and respect. It's our hope that, as you work through the activities, your students will gain a new appreciation for sp
Streams in the City
These exercises are designed to guide a student to an understanding of how rainfall and storm events result in runoff over the surface of the earth. Runoff is influenced by the nature of the surface of the earth. Streamflow is particularly influenced by urbanization-the paving over of permeable surfaces with impermeable ones. In light of this, students are encouraged to think about design elements that incorporate more permeable surfaces into their own environments, including their school parkin
