[eMINTS] Weekly Update 1/22/07

Mon Jan 22 17:27:23 CST 2007

Title II.D Competitive Grant Applications: Most states (including
Missouri) are beginning to announce the availability of Title II.D
(Enhancing Education Through Technology) grant funds for the 2007-08
school year. The Congressional Continuing Resolution that funds the
program appears to be in process. In Missouri, the grant application
information will be mailed to superintendents January 24th with
applications to be postmarked not later than March 31st, 2007. FY08
equipment specifications and other eMINTS program information will be
available on the eMINTS website January 24th. In other states, check
your State Department of Education website for fund availability,
application processes and deadlines. 

My e-Coach Project of the Week:  Digital Storytelling is a Custom
Activity created by Anne Jeschke of the Chillicothe School District.
This project allows multi-steps of activities for districts using Macs. 

URL:  http://my-ecoach.com/online/teacherguide.php?projectid=8772
Rationale: Students need a creative outlet through which they can
express their thoughts and emotions. Digital stories are motivating to
students and provide them experience with digital cameras, scanners,
video cameras and the iLive Suite for Macintosh computers.

Pilot Project National Endowment for the Humanities' We the People
program: "Picturing America" has been created to promote the teaching,
study, and understanding of American history and culture in K-12 schools
through examples of the nation's most significant works of art and
architecture and to facilitate interdisciplinary partnerships between
school library media specialists, art teachers, classroom instructors,
and other educators. "Picturing America" will provide 500 public and
private schools with a collection of 20 double-sided, laminated posters
depicting works of American art; related reading lists; and a 100-page
resource booklet with information about the paintings, sculpture,
architecture, and crafts reproduced. Applicants must describe how the
images and curriculum materials will be used by educators and school
library media specialists to deepen students' understanding of the
nation's history and culture through an introduction to some of
America's art treasures. The images must remain on display during the
September 2007 through May 2008 grant term. Applications must also
address the school's plans for future use of the images. Contact:
http://publicprograms.ala.org/picturingamerica/ 

Recommended Online Projects:

Elementary

Project Title: Square of Life:  Studies in Local and Global Environments

Project Begin & End Dates: March 9, 2007 - June 1, 2007

Project Summary: This Internet-based collaborative project will allow
your students to share information about the plants, animals and
non-living objects found in their schoolyard environment with other
students from around the country and the world. 

Project Level: Elementary, Ages 5 - 13

Registration Instructions: February 14, 2007 - March 12, 2007 by
emailing Project Coordinator at address below

Project URL: http://www.k12science.org/curriculum/squareproj
Project Contact Information: 
Carol Shields,  cshields at stevens-tech.edu, Stevens Institute of
Technology, Hoboken, New Jersey, USA

Middle School

Project Title: Math Photo of the Week - Guess the Concept

Project Begin & End Dates: 01/09/07 to 05/26/07

Project Summary: Each Monday one of the participating classes will
submit a math-related photo for the other classes to see. A few clues
will be given as to what the math concept the photo is showing. It will
be up to the other classes to figure out what concept is shown by Friday
of the same week. On Friday, classes will post the solutions for all to
see.

Project Level: Ages 11 - 13 

Registration Instructions: email the coordinator for more information at
the address below.  

Project URL: http://wyoming5.21publish.com/weblogCategory/1rnplw8f8ll9a
Project Contact Information: James Tubbs, jtubbs at misterteacher.com,
Wyoming Middle School, Wyoming, Ohio, USA

Secondary

Project Title: Children's Rights:  To be Seen and Not Heard? 

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

Project Summary: Students will explore the civil rights, past, present
and future in a user-friendly, clear and inviting environment!  These
learning activities should foster interaction and communication amongst
students (in class and with partner school).  Specific standards met by
this lesson are listed on web site, but project manager will work with
you in supporting other standards also. Students will consider essential
questions, involving them in their own learning.  They will also be
working collaboratively with others via closed discussion lists and/or
Skype. Objectives of this project ask students to list rights,
liberties, and obligations of citizenship of the United States.   

Project Level: Ages 16 - 21, High School

Registration Instructions: Contact:  sensmann at ircc.edu or 772.462.7408

Project URL:
http://faculty.ircc.edu/DEPT/AdultEducation/adult_ed/E-Learning/employee
s/teacher%20links/lessons/civil_rights_home.htm

Project Contact Information:  Suzanne Ensmann sensmann at ircc.edu, Indian
River Community College, Fort Pierce, Florida, USA

New and Updated eThemes for the Week of Jan. 22, 2007

Newest eThemes

Famous Americans: Australian Connections

http://www.emints.org/ethemes/resources/S00001945.shtml

These sites focus on famous Americans who have Australian connections.
Learn about their contributions, achievements, and biographies. Includes
photos, interview transcripts, and video clips. There are links to
eThemes Resources on Australian Aborigines and Continent: Australia.

Literature: "On the Banks of Plum Creek" by Laura Ingalls Wilder

http://www.emints.org/ethemes/resources/S00001953.shtml 

Students can learn about Laura Ingalls Wilder and her book "On the Banks
of Plum Creek" by using these sites. Included are eThemes resources on
pioneer life, schools during pioneer times, and other Little House
books.

Updated eThemes

Agriculture: Soil

http://www.emints.org/ethemes/resources/S00000112.shtml

These sites have information about various types of soil. Learn about
the components of soil such as sand, clay, silt, and humus, and read how
soil is formed and why it is useful to us. There are hands-on activities
and science experiments. Includes links to eThemes Resources on erosion,
recycling, earthworms, and rocks and minerals.

Literature: "Little House on the Prairie" by Laura Ingalls Wilder

http://www.emints.org/ethemes/resources/S00000922.shtml

These sites have activities that go along with the book "Little House on
the Prairie" by Laura Ingalls Wilder. Includes reading, writing,
vocabulary, and mapping activities that can be used in the classroom.
There are also hands-on cooking and craft activities. Includes a link to
an eThemes Resource on Laura Ingalls Wilder and her other books.

Pioneer Life: Settling on the Homestead

http://www.emints.org/ethemes/resources/S00001153.shtml

These sites are about daily life on the frontier. Learn about frontier
towns and the chores and games that the pioneers participated in. Read
the original Homestead Act that prompted many people to move West.
Includes videos and historical photographs. There are links to eThemes
Resources on pioneer food, sod houses, and hardships along the Oregon
Trail.

Poetry: Simile and Figurative Language

http://www.emints.org/ethemes/resources/S00001448.shtml

These sites contain poems about autumn, winter, and the seasonal
holidays. Learn how simile and figurative language can be used in
poetry. Includes worksheets and in class activities. Includes links to
eThemes Resources on similes, personification, metaphors, alliteration,
idioms, and hyperbole.

Writing: Similes and Metaphors

http://www.emints.org/ethemes/resources/S00000561.shtml

These sites explain how to use similes and metaphors to improve your
writing. There are many examples plus interactive quizzes and classroom
activity ideas. Includes links to eThemes Resources on personification
and other forms of figurative language.

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