[eMINTS] Weekly Update 2/12/07

Mon Feb 12 15:30:03 CST 2007

eMINTS Website Offers Grant Writing Resources: The eMINTS website now
includes many resources for grant writers in different states. Check out
http://www.emints.org/application/grants.shtml
<http://www.emints.org/application/grants.shtml>  and see the various
tools and resources available to help you write your grant applications.
Title II.D funding and Title I funding information is now available.
Other grants and foundation sources will soon be available. For schools
and districts with funding sources in place (local or other), the
application for eMINTS services is now available at
http://www.emints.org/application/grants.shtml
<http://www.emints.org/application/grants.shtml>  (see Step #2).
Applications for Professional Development programs such as Comprehensive
PD, eMINTS4All, Replacement Teacher PD, and PD4ETS are being accepted
through June 15, 2007. Please contact the eMINTS office 573-884-7202
with any questions. Out-of-state districts may also contact the eMINTS
National Center office for assistance. 

Adding New eMINTS/eMINTS4All Classrooms or Re-arranging Current
Classrooms: Use the "Classroom Architect" website at
http://classroom.4teachers.org/ <http://classroom.4teachers.org/>  to
plan new eMINTS/eMINTS4All classrooms or to re-arrange your current
eMINTS classroom before your move the furniture. This website provides a
virtual space where you can set your classroom dimensions and then try
out various floor plans to see what they look like. You can even save
various floor plans and come back to look at them later. 

e-Learning for Educators: Missouri Winter Course Registration Ends Soon:
Registration for Winter courses in the e-Learning for Educators:
Missouri project closes today - 2/12/07. Hurry to register for content
courses that can help you in your teaching. Short (6-7 week) online
courses are available for graduate credit. For more information go to:
http://www.elearningmo.org <http://www.elearningmo.org/>  

My-eCoach Project of the Week:  Bath Time!  Getting Into Technology -
Michelle Vinson, Chillicothe School District, has created an impressive
Web Resource List (WRL) for teacher training. In her own words:  This
resource list was set up to aid in a technology training session done
for 1 hour after school at Central Elementary in Missouri. We were a
group of 4th and 5th grade teachers who, within the last year, had
Smartboards placed in our classrooms. Our district is working very hard
to keep us up-to-date with technological advances that are occurring. We
have recently adopted the Professional Learning Community (PLC) practice
and are deeply involved in working together to put every student's needs
first in our building. We have become a group of teachers who are
willing to share and help one another become better at our profession.  
Project Link:
http://my-ecoach.com/online/webresourcelist.php?rlid=9763
<http://my-ecoach.com/online/webresourcelist.php?rlid=9763> 

Recommended Online Projects:

Elementary

Project Title: YouSay

Project Begin & End Dates: February 5, 2007 - June 1, 2007

Project Summary: This project is designed to involve students as
meaningful partners in school improvement. Through questions, the YouSay
wiki guides students to reflect on what they put a lot of effort into
learning both in and out of school and think about what motivates them
to learn even when they have to persevere. Students are asked to connect
what motivates them to learn and make suggestions about how schools
could improve learning. Students post their responses onto a threaded
discussion on the YouSay wiki. The responses will be organized by common
themes that emerge and made published for schools and teachers to use to
inform their improvement efforts.

Project Level: Elementary (ages 9-18)

Registration Instructions: Simply send an email to sblc at eastconn.org
<mailto:sblc at eastconn.org>   with the message "Join YouSay". You will
receive an invitation to join YouSay with a link and directions about
how to get started. 

Project URL: http://www.sblceastconn.org/yousay.htm
<http://www.sblceastconn.org/yousay.htm> 

Project Contact Information: Rebecca Pilver (rpilver at eastconn.org
<mailto:rpilver at eastconn.org>  ) Willimantic, Connecticut, United States

Middle School

Project Title: My Future Job: Life is about making choices

Project Begin & End Dates: Ongoing

Project Summary:  My Future Job guides students from curiosity about a
possible future job, through study of other students' future dreams,
towards sharing, and collaboration with peers. At each step, students
are challenged to act. Students use a Nickname to register for the
project and begin studying career dreams. Participants visit websites
that provide useful information about future jobs.They can contact
others with the same career dream by "KidMail"  at
http://www.kidlink.org/english/general/k/kidmail.html
<http://www.kidlink.org/english/general/k/kidmail.html>  and organize
discussions and agendas.  

Project Level: Middle School

Registration Instructions: Students apply for an email address with Kid
mail. They then submit information to register for the project.  Teacher
Lesson plans and Program overview give details on how to get started at
the URL below.  

Project URL: http://www.kidlink.org/english/career/index.html
<http://www.kidlink.org/english/career/index.html> 
Project Contact Information: Kidlink Society 

High School

Project Title: It Costs How Much?

Project Begin & End Dates: February 6, 2007 - April 1, 2007

Project Summary: The purpose of this project is to connect some basic
mathematics skills to the coveted "real-life" situation. Students will
learn to apply several levels of analyses and comparisons. They will
also formulate speculations as to why prices vary in different
locations. Finally, students will learn how to present their findings in
a formal manner. 

Project Level: Basic Project (Ages 5-18)

Registration Instructions: Be sure to include your name, school (if
possible), address (city, state), and a list of items with appropriate
unit costs, tax rates, family income, budgets, findings, etc.

Project URL:
http://www.monroe.k12.tn.us/teacherweb/tphs/stevenpatton/index_files/Pag
e449.htm
<http://www.monroe.k12.tn.us/teacherweb/tphs/stevenpatton/index_files/Pa
ge449.htm> 

Project Contact Information: Project Coordinator - Steven Patton
Contact information: shoppingmathproject at gmail.com
<mailto:shoppingmathproject at gmail.com> 

Virtual Field Trip:  Supporting Geological Exploration Throughout the
World:The Virtual Field Trip is an immersive multimedia application
developed to support student and user exploration of areas on Earth that
have been identified as analog sites to regions on Mars. Analog sites
are those areas that share some common traits with sites on Mars and
have been identified based on their significance and importance to NASA.
Within the application, users are taken from a global view directly down
to a surface view of a site. They are then seamlessly placed into a 360
degree spherical virtual reality surface panorama of that location. Next
users navigate around the site selecting various objects and scientists
to learn more about how and why this site was chosen, how it relates to
Mars, and why it is of interest. The environment consists of various
linked 360 degree spherical stitched virtual reality environments, 3D
based layered environments, global fly downs, as well as compressed
streaming video files within each area of research. VFT is a free,
educational software download of immersive, complete Spherical
interactive panoramas to transport users into remote and exciting
locations to view and listen to scientist as they work.  
Download the Program:  

PC Users: 

VFTPC.zip (694MB) <http://quest.nasa.gov/vft/uploads/VFTPC.zip> 
http://quest.nasa.gov/vft/uploads/VFTPC.zip
<http://quest.nasa.gov/vft/uploads/VFTPC.zip> 

(Broadband connection highly recommended for CD-sized download).
(Unzip the compressed file and double-click on VTFpc.exe to launch the
program). 

Mac Users:

VFTMac.sit (676MB) <http://quest.nasa.gov/vft/uploads/VFTMac.sit> 
http://quest.nasa.gov/vft/uploads/VFTMac.zip
<http://quest.nasa.gov/vft/uploads/VFTMac.zip> 

(Broadband connection highly recommended for CD-sized download)
(Unstuff the compressed file and double-click on VTFmac to launch the
program). 

For more information contact Geoffrey Bruce (email:
gbruce at mail.arc.nasa.gov <mailto:gbruce at mail.arc.nasa.gov> )

New and Updated eThemes for the Week of Feb. 12, 2007

Newest eThemes

History of Spices

http://www.emints.org/ethemes/resources/S00001970.shtml

These sites focus on the history of spices. There is information on the
spice trade route, the discovery of spices, origins of spices, and
benefits of spices. Includes a spice encyclopedia, timelines, and lesson
plans.

Literature: "Junie B. Jones Series" by Barbara Park

http://www.emints.org/ethemes/resources/S00001968.shtml

These sites list resources for the book Junie B. Jones series by Barbara
Park. There are suggested discussion questions, classroom activities,
games, book reviews, and lesson plans. There are links to eThemes
Resources on Author Study: Barbara Park and Literature: "The Kid in the
Red Jacket" by Barbara Park.

Math: Geometry: Composing and Decomposing Shapes

http://www.emints.org/ethemes/resources/S00001965.shtml

These sites are about composing and decomposing shapes. Learn how to
subdivide, combine, and transform shapes to form new polygons. There are
interactive games, activities, and lesson plans. Included are three
eThemes resources on shapes, transforming shapes, and pattern blocks and
tangrams with related activities.

Teaching Tips: One Computer Classrooms

http://www.emints.org/ethemes/resources/S00001980.shtml

These sites have suggested classroom management strategies, rotation
ideas, project ideas, and classroom activities specifically for the one
computer classroom. Includes room layout, Q&A, a PowerPoint
presentation, and a video clip of an educator discussion panel.

Updated eThemes

Art Museums

http://www.emints.org/ethemes/resources/S00000999.shtml

Explore the sites of popular art galleries to view collections of famous
artwork. There are many interactive activities for kids to help them
gain an appreciation and understanding for art. Included are lesson plan
ideas for learning about art and three related eThemes resources about
art and artists.

Author Study: Beatrix Potter

http://www.emints.org/ethemes/resources/S00000359.shtml

These sites are about the author Beatrix Potter and her picture books
for children.

Country: Afghanistan

http://www.emints.org/ethemes/resources/S00000778.shtml

Learn more about the people, history, and culture of Afghanistan.
Includes photographs, timelines, and articles about this war-ravaged
country. There is also information on the Taliban and Islam. Includes a
link to an eThemes Resource on September 11.

Holiday: Presidents Day

http://www.emints.org/ethemes/resources/S00000981.shtml 

These sites offer ideas and activities for celebrating Presidents Day
and the birthdays of George Washington and Abraham Lincoln. Includes
biographies, timelines, memorials, and documents written by both men.
There are several hands-on crafts, online quizzes, and games. Includes
links to eThemes Resources on U.S. presidents and the executive branch.

Holiday: Valentine's Day

http://www.emints.org/ethemes/resources/S00000310.shtml

Learn about the history of Valentine's Day. There are stories, poems,
games, crafts, puzzles, and math problems that include a holiday theme.
Includes sites where you can print a card or send a Valentine by e-mail.

Literature: "The Kid in the Red Jacket" by Barbara Park

http://www.emints.org/ethemes/resources/S00000552.shtml

These sites provide suggested questions and activities for the book "The
Kid in the Red Jacket." Also includes sites on the related themes of
friendship and adjusting to a new community. There are links to eThemes
Resources on Author Study: Barbara Park, Literature: Book Activities,
and Literature Themes: Friendship. 

Math: Visual Arts

http://www.emints.org/ethemes/resources/S00001920.shtml

These websites are about the importance of math to the visual arts.
There are many lesson plans and activities where students can create
artwork based on mathematical concepts such as pattern, symmetry,
geometry, and perspective. Included are eThemes resources on pattern and
tessellations.

Quilts: Past and Present

http://www.emints.org/ethemes/resources/S00000494.shtml

Look at quilts throughout history including patterns and design
construction. Covers quilts from the United States, Great Britain, Asia,
Australia, Latin America, and elsewhere. Includes classroom activity
ideas, audio recordings of quilt makers, an online game, and many photos
of quilt patterns. Underground Railroad quilts are found on some sites.
Includes an eThemes resource on Quilts: Literature Activities.

World War I

http://www.emints.org/ethemes/resources/S00001051.shtml

These sites cover the events of World War I (1914-1918). Read eye
witness accounts and view photographs and maps. Other topics include the
assassination of Austrian Archduke Ferdinand, trench warfare, Choctaw
Code Talkers, President Woodrow Wilson, war propaganda, Treaty of
Versailles, the Lusitania, and the Zimmerman telegram. Includes
biographies, letters, images, posters, video, and audio clips. There are
eThemes resources on Woodrow Wilson and the decade from 1910-1919.

Monica M. Beglau, Ed.D, Director

eMINTS National Center

103 London Hall

Columbia, MO  65211

573-884-7202

FAX: 573-884-7614

Email: beglaum at emints.org