From: "bigchalk.com" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: Sackmann, Gleason <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Tue, 9 Jul 2002 07:59:38 -0700 Subject: Top 8 Web Sites
bigchalk's Top 8 Newsletter Week of July 8 - July 14, 2002 http://www.bigchalk.com Welcome to this week's installment of Top 8, sponsored by Start Something. http://i.bigchalk.com/U/targetstart02 Each week we bring you links to Web sites that represent the very best online academic research destinations. *******************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 **************************************************** TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. Backyard Jungle Life Sciences > Biology > Ecology > Biogeography > Biomes 2. What's That Stuff? Physical Sciences > Chemistry 3. Animal Care Tips Health > Veterinary Sciences 4. Teaching With Historic Places Teaching Resources > Social Studies 5. BAM: Body & Mind Physical Education & Sports > Fitness 6. Bigger Than Enron Business > Accounting ELEMENTARY SITES 7. Smithsonian Kids: Collecting Student Resources > Things to Do > Collecting 8. Congress for Kids U.S. Government > Basics & Overviews for Kids *****************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 ************************************************* THIS WEEK'S TOP 8 SITES 1. Backyard Jungle Life Sciences > Biology > Ecology > Biogeography > Biomes This site challenges your kids to answer one simple question: "What's in your backyard?" Here they can upload photos, drawings, maps and descriptions about the natural surroundings where they live, then share their special spot with others worldwide. Find something particularly interesting? Kids can update their data with information about a "discovery" -- from animals (alive or dead!) to unique weather conditions -- anytime. The better the backyard, the more votes they'll get! http://i.bigchalk.com/U/8-022701 2. What's That Stuff? Physical Sciences > Chemistry What makes fireworks light up the night sky? How do self-tanning creams give your skin a healthy glow? Just what is Cheese Whiz made of anyway? The staff at "Chemical & Engineering News" analyzed the chemical composition and manufacture of more than 20 everyday products and materials to create this amazing site. Each detailed essay spills the beans on how each item harnesses the power of one or more chemicals to clean our homes, whiten our teeth, clean our hair and pave our roads. http://i.bigchalk.com/U/8-022702 3. Animal Care Tips Health > Veterinary Sciences This summer, thousands of families will welcome a new dog or cat into their homes. If you're one of them, this excellent site -- maintained by the American Veterinary Medical Association -- will help you select the perfect pet, learn the importance of training and become the best pet parent around! Fun animated journeys for kids dispense this information in a way all youngsters can easily understand. Worksheets and special activities are available in the Kids Corner. http://i.bigchalk.com/U/8-022703 4. Teaching With Historic Places Teaching Resources > Social Studies Before you pack up the car this summer and head out to a national park or historic location, check out the learning materials offered here. The lessons will turn your kids into young historians as they study primary sources, historical and modern photographs, maps, and other documents. They'll love learning about the past by gathering information at your vacation destination, building their own bridge from the past to the present. http://i.bigchalk.com/U/8-022704 5. BAM: Body & Mind Physical Education & Sports > Fitness BAM is a new e-zine for kids that answers their questions about today's health issues, plus recommends ways to make their bodies and minds healthier and stronger. Teachers will love the site's interactive learning activities related to middle-school health and science. The current issue focuses on physical activity and how infectious disease, asthma, safety, disability are all related to exercise. Find out more. http://i.bigchalk.com/U/8-022705 6. Bigger Than Enron Business > Accounting In the months following Enron's implosion, a seemingly relentless string of disclosures of questionable bookkeeping at a number of big companies has badly shaken confidence in the stock market. In "Bigger Than Enron," PBS explains how corporate watchdogs -- bankers, lawyers, regulators, politicians, and accountants -- all failed to prevent Enron and other scandals from occurring. Find out why Congress may have set the stage for the scandals by weakening protections and tying the hands of regulators in the 1990's. http://i.bigchalk.com/U/8-022706 ELEMENTARY SITES 7. Smithsonian Kids: Collecting Student Resources > Things to Do > Collecting This fun destination invites kids to start a collection of rocks, shells, postcards, posters, or something else that interests them! Three Smithsonian collections are available, including Rocks & Minerals, highlighting the Hope Diamond; Stamps, featuring Western Cattle in Storm (1898); and Historic Coins, offering the Jefferson Indian Peace Medal. Short video clips feature collectors who seek out everything from jewelry to turtles, lunch boxes and more. http://i.bigchalk.com/U/8-022707 8. Congress for Kids U.S. Government > Basics & Overviews for Kids Does your son or daughter want to be a senator when they grow up? This site gives kids access to interactive, fun-filled experiences to help them learn about the foundation of our government and how its actions ultimately affect them. Start with a virtual tour of Congress and move on to more detailed information. http://i.bigchalk.com/U/8-022708 *******************ADVERTISEMENT******************** You've got one life. Make it count! Check out the Life Accelerator at navy.com. http://i.bigchalk.com/U/navylife02 **************************************************** BIGCHALK CALENDAR Web Site Design Week This week, roll up your sleeves and learn how to design a Web site. All it takes is a few hours, some basic knowledge, and these links from bigchalk. Be sure to read the HTML style guide and connect to the Web development tutorials. http://i.bigchalk.com/U/designweek 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 from myFootpath's admissions counselor in bigchalk's College Zone: "I was not accepted to the college of my choice because my GPA was not high enough. What should I do?" 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 **********************************************************
