From: "bigchalk.com" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: Sackmann, Gleason <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Tue, 2 Jul 2002 07:21:34 -0700 Subject: Top 8 Web Sites
bigchalk's Top 8 Newsletter Week of July 1 - July 7, 2002 http://www.bigchalk.com Welcome to this week's installment of Top 8, sponsored by the AICPA. http://i.bigchalk.com/U/cpas02 Each week we bring you links to Web sites that represent the very best online academic research destinations. *******************ADVERTISEMENT******************** Let the AICPA help you show your students how to make a difference -- one business at a time. Click here to receive great teaching tools... http://i.bigchalk.com/U/cpas02 **************************************************** TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. U.S. Drought Monitor Earth Science > Climate > Drought 2. National Priorities Project (NPP) U.S. Government > Budget & Appropriations 3. Graffiti Hurts Paintings & Visual Arts > General 4. Big Dig: Underground Tour Transportation > Boston's Big Dig > Updates 5. Pledge Restoration Project U.S. History > American Symbols > American Flag > Pledge of Allegiance 6. Evolution Life Sciences > Evolutionary Biology > Introduction & Teaching Resources ELEMENTARY SITES 7. The Magic Scroll English Language Arts > Online Stories > Interactive Adventures for Kids 8. CIA: Kids Page U.S. Government > Agencies & Commissions BIGCHALK CALENDAR First Airship Flight BIGCHALK WEB SITE OF THE MONTH The Charters of Freedom: The Declaration of Independence *****************ADVERTISEMENT******************* You've got one life. Make it count! Check out the Life Accelerator at navy.com. http://i.bigchalk.com/U/navylife02 ************************************************* THIS WEEK'S TOP 8 SITES 1. U.S. Drought Monitor Earth Science > Climate > Drought Just how bad is this summer's drought? In many parts of the country, average stream flows hit all-time record lows last week, with some locations reporting two- to seven-inch rainfall deficits for the past 90 days. View color maps of the nation showing the latest trends and shortfalls, read forecasts from the Climate Prediction Center, then study an updated drought outlook. The site is updated with the latest information every Tuesday and Thursday. http://i.bigchalk.com/U/8-022601 2. National Priorities Project (NPP) U.S. Government > Budget & Appropriations For nearly two decades, the NPP has worked hard to make our nation's budget priorities something that ordinary citizens can easily understand. Their Web site is home to detailed reports that analyze the impact of federal spending on state and local levels. In turn, this information is designed to provide ordinary citizens, elected officials and the media with the data they need to respond to the problems they face in their own communities. Connect today to be sure that your town and state are getting the resources they deserve! http://i.bigchalk.com/U/8-022602 3. Graffiti Hurts Paintings & Visual Arts > General To some youths, defacing a building or other structure with graffiti is motivated by fame, rebellion and a need for self-expression. Unfortunately, this urban art not only drains $8 billion in funds that could be used for schools and other community improvements, it also sends the signal that nobody cares, which attracts other forms of crime to an area. Find out how you can help wipe out graffiti in your neighborhood at this new site. A teacher's guide with supplementary curriculum is available. http://i.bigchalk.com/U/8-022603 4. Big Dig: Underground Tour Transportation > Boston's Big Dig > Updates Boston's Big Dig is the largest and most complex highway project in American history. Construction began in 1991 on a 10-lane underground expressway culminating in a 14-lane, two-bridge crossing of the Charles River, plus an extension of a major interstate beneath the city and harbor to Logan Airport. Last week, engineers announced that the tunnel making up the bulk of the project is nearly finished! Don't hop in your car just yet -- only virtual tours are allowed for now. http://i.bigchalk.com/U/8-022604 5. Pledge Restoration Project U.S. History > American Symbols > American Flag > Pledge of Allegiance Last Wednesday, a federal appeals court ruled that it's unconstitutional for students to recite the Pledge of Allegiance in nine western states. Although some legal scholars say the ruling will likely be overturned, the decision has shone a spotlight on the ongoing debate surrounding the separation of church and state. This site, for adult learners, outlines the arguments some Americans make in support of removing all references to a higher being from our schools and other public institutions. http://i.bigchalk.com/U/8-022605 6. Evolution Life Sciences > Evolutionary Biology > Introduction & Teaching Resources Evolutionary science has had a profound effect on society and culture. From the life and work of Charles Darwin to the massive changes that gave rise to the tree of life, the study of evolution touches on everything from the emergence of consciousness to a long-running conflict between science and religion in understanding human life. Connect to this remarkable PBS site to gain a better understanding of evolution and how it functions, dispel common misunderstandings and improve its teaching in your school. http://i.bigchalk.com/U/8-022606 ELEMENTARY SITES 7. The Magic Scroll English Language Arts > Online Stories > Interactive Adventures for Kids "There was a young boy named Jack who loved to read books. Every day after school he would stop by the library to check out a new book. One day while trying to find a new book, Jack wandered to the far back corner of the library. Lying on the floor was an old scroll. Jack saw it and reached down to put it back on the shelf. Feeling curious he unrolled it." Find out what happens next, and use your mouse to choose the next steps in this fun, online reading adventure. http://i.bigchalk.com/U/8-022607 8. CIA: Kids Page U.S. Government > Agencies & Commissions What does the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) do? For starters, most people agree that "intelligence" is information needed by our nation's leaders to keep our country safe. The staff at the CIA keeps tabs on other countries, make predictions about what may happen in those countries in the future and author special reports on topics related to issues surrounding our national security. Find out more at this kid-friendly destination! http://i.bigchalk.com/U/8-022608 *******************ADVERTISEMENT******************** Start Something is a program designed to help kids from 8-17 discover their dreams and interests, and take steps toward achieving them. http://i.bigchalk.com/U/targetstart02 **************************************************** BIGCHALK CALENDAR First Airship Flight This week in 1900 Count Ferdinand von Zeppelin flew his first airship, the LZ-1. It was 420 feet long and could reach a top speed of just under 20 miles per hour. Find out more about the LZ-1's modern cousin, Spirit of Freedom, as its pilot, Steve Fossett, celebrates his solo circumnavigation of the globe! http://i.bigchalk.com/U/8-022405 BIGCHALK WEB SITE OF THE MONTH The Charters of Freedom: The Declaration of Independence In the spring of 1776, Thomas Paine's pamphlet "Common Sense" had people talking. Suddenly the idea of colonial independence was gaining momentum from Boston to Philadelphia and beyond. Several months later, Ben Franklin and the members of a Committee of Five chose Thomas Jefferson to draft the document that would declare the United Colonies free and independent States. Pick up the story at the National Archives and Records Administration's special Web site as all eyes turn to America this month to celebrate Independence Day. Read the complete Declaration of Independence then browse first-hand accounts of what happened in Philadelphia during the creation of the United States of America. http://i.bigchalk.com/U/july02site COLLEGE ZONE Read advice about letters of recommendation from myFootpath's admissions counselor in bigchalk's College Zone. http://i.bigchalk.com/U/czone01 SEARCH BOX Want an easy way to give students and parents instant access to the Internet's largest, most up-to-date directory of learning sites? Add a free bigchalk search box to your Web pages. Users can search our collection by keyword and filter their query by grade level. http://i.bigchalk.com/U/bcsearchbx *******************ADVERTISEMENT******************** bigchalk Home Library: A library of the world's best publications on your desktop. http://i.bigchalk.com/U/bchomelib02 **************************************************** Thank you for reading this week's Top 8 newsletter. Be sure to preview each link and try any included projects or experiments before using them with your students. All Web sites included in this publication are subject to the bigchalk Linking Policy. http://www.bigchalk.com/corp/linkpolicy.html We offer several newsletters of interest to students, parents, teachers and Web surfers. To find out more, link to our newsletter signup page today. http://i.bigchalk.com/U/signup8 To find out more about bigchalk, connect to our Web site: http://i.bigchalk.com/U/bchome8 Looking for an archive of all past Top 8 sites arranged by theme? Connect to the Top 8 collection. http://i.bigchalk.com/U/8c If you have any questions or comments, please email our newsletter team via: [EMAIL PROTECTED] ******************************************* For digest instead of individual postings, send the message: set k12newsletters digest to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To Unsubscribe, click and send (no body or subject: required) mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] K12 Newsletters mailing list is a service of Classroom Connect - http://www.classroom.com Archives for K12 Newsletters can be found at: http://www.classroom.com/community/email/archives.jhtml?A0=K12NEWSLETTERS **********************************************************
