From: bigchalk [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]] Sent: Tuesday, October 08, 2002 8:43 AM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Top 8 Web Sites
bigchalk's Top 8 Newsletter Week of October 7 - October 13, 2002 http://www.bigchalk.com Welcome to this week's installment of Top 8, sponsored by A&E's "Biography" Contest. http://i.bigchalk.com/U/biographyc02 Each week we bring you links to Web sites that represent the very best online academic research destinations. *******************ADVERTISEMENT******************** Know a college fund that could use a $5,000 boost? bigchalk has teamed up with A&E's "Biography" to challenge students to explore the life and times of a famous figure, then write a short biography. Sponsoring teachers could win special classroom prizes. Find out more! http://i.bigchalk.com/U/biographyc02 **************************************************** TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. 100 Milestone Documents United States History > Documents > Collections 2. BBC Interviews Classroom Resources > Multimedia > Audio Sites 3. NASA: The Space Place Physical Sciences > Astronomy > Solar System/Planets 4. TappedIn: Online Networking Teacher Resources > Professional Development Opportunities 5. Global Learn Day Technology Projects > Global Teleconferencing 6. Learning Centers: Best Practices Teacher Resources > Education Reform > Learning Centers ELEMENTARY SITES 7. Why Do Leaves Change Color? Life Sciences > Plants 8. Meet Mexico Regional Studies > Mexico > Basics *****************ADVERTISEMENT******************* New at VeryBestKids.com is Teacher's Corner, a unique educator's resource created by teachers, for teachers, to provide quality lessons and fun activities for Grades Pre-K, K-2 and 3-5. Click here: http://i.bigchalk.com/U/verybestkids02 ************************************************* THIS WEEK'S TOP 8 SITES 1. 100 Milestone Documents United States History > Documents > Collections If you and your students had to choose the top 100 historical documents that define our past and focus on our commitment as Americans to "form a more perfect union," which would you pick? This new site asks students, teachers and parents to read and discuss these milestone documents, then decide which are the most significant and why. Special workshops, classroom activities, town meetings and competitions are available. http://i.bigchalk.com/U/8-024001 ++ Teaching & Learning Link http://i.bigchalk.com/U/8-024001LL -- 2. BBC Interviews Classroom Resources > Multimedia > Audio Sites Since the early 1900s, hundreds of famous artists, poets, writers, politicians, scientists, sculptors and others have been interviewed by the British Broadcasting Company (BBC). BBCi's Voices from the Archives Web site is home to short audio clips of many of these discussions, from a 1931 talk given by Mohandas Gandhi, leader of the Indian nationalist movement, to recent comments from Tony Cragg, an English sculptor. These audio clips will bring history alive in your classroom! http://i.bigchalk.com/U/8-024002 ++ Teaching & Learning Link http://i.bigchalk.com/U/8-024002LL -- 3. NASA: The Space Place Physical Sciences > Astronomy > Solar System/Planets Here's a colorful site that links science themes with hands-on art activities. Young students can learn more about space exploration, geography, meteorology, physics and astronomy by making a pop rocket, a topographical map, "blame El Nino" pudding, a momentum machine or a star finder. There are a dozen activities in all. Be sure to click the links on the footer of the page to explore this kid-friendly site from NASA. http://i.bigchalk.com/U/8-024003 ++ Teaching & Learning Link http://i.bigchalk.com/U/8-024003LL -- 4. TappedIn: Online Networking Teacher Resources > Professional Development Opportunities Feeling a little isolated in your classroom or media center? TappedIn can help! For years, the staff of this amazing site has organized and led hundreds of online discussions and other virtual professional development offerings. Connect with your global peers to share your thoughts, get new ideas for classroom activities, learn about the latest education trends and more. Upcoming discussions include Creating Virtual Field Trips, Global Project-Based Learning, Writing for WebHeads and Planning Professional Development. http://i.bigchalk.com/U/8-024004 ++ Teaching & Learning Link http://i.bigchalk.com/U/8-024004LL -- 5. Global Learn Day Technology Projects > Global Teleconferencing Mark your calendars! This Sunday (10/13) is Global Learn Day, a 24-hour online event that showcases exceptional individuals in education and technology from all 24 time zones, beginning at 00:01 GMT October 13, and ending 23 hours and 59 minutes later. Set sail from Fuji and dock in Hawaii. Sandwiched in between are 40 stops in Asia, Africa, Europe and the Americas. Find out how to get involved today! http://i.bigchalk.com/U/8-024005 ++ Teaching & Learning Link http://i.bigchalk.com/U/8-024005LL -- 6. Learning Centers: Best Practices Teacher Resources > Education Reform > Learning Centers Dozens of education reform projects and studies are under way across America. Here's your chance to tap into the latest information on practices that have proven successful in one urban elementary charter school where the Community Learning Center model of comprehensive school reform has been embraced. Learn more about the model, plus differentiated staffing, family involvement, personal learning plans, service-learning, effective use of technology, thematic instruction, year-round schooling and new evaluation strategies. http://i.bigchalk.com/U/8-024006 ++ Teaching & Learning Link http://i.bigchalk.com/U/8-024006LL -- ELEMENTARY SITES 7. Why Do Leaves Change Color? Life Sciences > Plants Ever feel tired after a long day of classes? Did you know that trees get tired too? It's true! After a long summer of gathering sunlight to convert water and carbon dioxide into sugar -- a process known as photosynthesis -- our leafy friends need a break. As their leaves change from green to yellow, red and orange, you'll know that they're preparing for their much-deserved winter's rest. Find out more about these fall fireworks at bigchalk. http://i.bigchalk.com/U/8-024007 ++ Teaching & Learning Link http://i.bigchalk.com/U/8-024007LL -- 8. Meet Mexico Regional Studies > Mexico > Basics What country has a population of nearly 100 million, boasts 31 states and covers nearly 762,000 square miles? If you guessed Mexico, you're right! People from around the world have migrated and lived there for centuries, bringing their own special traditions and cultures with them. Find out more about this "south of the border" country -- online! http://i.bigchalk.com/U/8-024008 ++ Teaching & Learning Link http://i.bigchalk.com/U/8-024008LL *******************ADVERTISEMENT******************** Professional Educators! Pursue your personal and professional goals, without interrupting your career! Argosy University offers a flexible schedule, with online courses to help you further your education and career opportunities. http://i.bigchalk.com/U/argosyu02 **************************************************** BIGCHALK CALENDAR National Computer Learning Month Take time this month to focus parents' attention on the importance of technology in their child's learning. This major grassroots educational effort involves thousands of parents, educators, children and community members learning new uses of technology, and facilitates sharing of knowledge with others. Learn more about computers and their special role in K-12 education. http://i.bigchalk.com/U/compulearn01 COLLEGE ZONE Read advice about getting into the college of your choice from myFootpath's admissions counselor in bigchalk's College Zone. http://i.bigchalk.com/U/czone01 And don't forget to get help paying for college with bigchalk and wiredscholar. http://bigchalk.wiredscholar.com BIGCHALK WEB SITE OF THE MONTH Christopher Columbus & The European Voyages of Exploration In mid-October each year, American's pause to reflect on the life and work of Spanish explorer Christopher Columbus. To many students, Columbus' journey to the Americas is the most well-known and studied aspect of the European voyages of exploration. However, there is a far richer tale to be told about the countries, events and people who populate the history of these fifteenth and sixteenth century journeys. Many historians point to these trips as the triggers to the process of globalization, linking once distant countries and peoples for the first time. In addition, while many believe that the seeking of profit was the primary motivator for sea exploration, these early explorers were equally interested in expanding Europe's knowledge about the world. Find out more about this special era of exploration. http://i.bigchalk.com/U/oct02site 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******************** BE A MUSIC MOGUL! The educational online game that lets your students learn strategic thinking, budgeting, planning, money management and other important business skills as they create a virtual music empire. Brought to you by America's CPAs and MP3.com! http://i.bigchalk.com/U/wunderman02 **************************************************** 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? 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] ************************************************************************* NOTE: Gleason Sackmann is the owner and host of this list. All inquiries regarding this list and its contents should be directed to Gleason Sackmann <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>. If you want to unsubscribe, click and send (no body or subject: required) mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Archives for K12 Newsletters can be found at: http://www.classroom.com/community/email/archives.jhtml?A0=K12NEWSLETTERS
