[eMINTS] Bi-Weekly Update 7/21/08

Mon Jul 21 16:11:15 CDT 2008

InfoSource Learning recently announced that all school districts, state
departments, and educational organizations can receive the
SimpleAssessment for Student Technology Proficiency free of charge for
all students. What started as a promotion at this year's National
Educational Computer Conference (NECC) has blossomed into a nation-wide
campaign to raise awareness of students' technology proficiency.  This
campaign also stems from the goal to assess 25 million students during
the 2008/2009 school year as a means of celebrating the Company's 25th
anniversary. In addition, as many districts struggle with budget cuts,
it is becoming increasingly harder for many states and schools to
properly assess their students. "It is extremely important for all
schools to measure and improve their students' use of technology,"
commented Michael Werner, a veteran technology consultant and CEO of
InfoSource Learning.  "In fact, we believe it is so important that we
want to make our assessment available to all states and school districts
free of charge - for all of their students." The SimpleAssessment, which
originally retailed for $10 a student, was created to meet the
requirements of the No Child Left Behind Act which stipulates that all
students must be technologically literate by the time the student
finishes the eighth grade. School districts across the country have been
struggling to find an efficient way to assess the technology literacy of
their students.  The SimpleAssessment takes the hassle out of assessment
and is mapped to the National Educational Technology Standards (NETS)
for Students. To receive the assessment free of charge, contact Fletcher
Rosenbaum at 1-800-393-4636 ext. 204 or sign up on the website at
www.simpleassessment.com. <http://www.simpleassessment.com.%20>  To
ensure that your school's testing site is set up in time to begin
assessment in the fall, please sign up as soon as possible. 

New and Updated eThemes for the Week of July 21, 2008

Newest eThemes

Community Projects

http://www.emints.org/ethemes/resources/S00002336.shtml 

These websites are about community projects. Here you will find
activities designed to enhance or improve a school, neighborhood or
community. Examples include recycling programs, environmental cleanup
projects, babysitting clubs, and more. There are links to several
organizations with resources to help you get started planning,
organizing, and sustaining your project.

Genetics: Heredity

http://www.emints.org/ethemes/resources/S00002354.shtml 

These sites are about the genetics of heredity. Learn what heredity and
inheritance are as well as why children are like their parents and
sometimes they are not. Includes games, online tests, and animations.
There are also links to eThemes Resources on Genetics: Basics, Punnett
Squares, Genes and DNA, and Inherited Blood Diseases.

Literature: "The Songcatcher" by Sharyn McCrumb

http://www.emints.org/ethemes/resources/S00002231.shtml 

These sites are about the novel "The Songcatcher" by Sharyn McCrumb, and
include supporting materials about Appalachia, folk music, and the
ballad tradition. You can find supplemental historical information,
lyrics, and sound recordings. Included is an eThemes resource on the
cyberethics of downloading music.

Texas: Geography and Landforms

http://www.emints.org/ethemes/resources/S00002352.shtml 

These websites are about the geography and landforms of Texas. There are
maps, facts, printouts, photographs, and quizzes. Includes eThemes
resources on Texas State Facts, Symbols, and History.

Texas: History

http://www.emints.org/ethemes/resources/S00002353.shtml 

Learn about the history of Texas and the people who live in the area.
There is information about local legacy, notable people, and historical
landmarks and architecture. Includes historical maps, primary documents,
timelines, and activity sheets. There are links to eThemes Resources on
Texas state facts, state symbols, geography and landforms, and Alamo.

Texas: State Symbols

http://www.emints.org/ethemes/resources/S00002351.shtml 

Learn about the official state symbols of Texas including the flag,
seal, flower, mascot, and other animals. There are printouts,
factsheets, pictures, games, and more. Included is an eThemes resource
on Texas state facts.

U.S. President: Theodore Roosevelt: Part III

http://www.emints.org/ethemes/resources/S00002341.shtml

These web sites are about President Theodor Roosevelt. Included are his
foreign policies, the Roosevelt's Corollary, a world tour of the Great
White Fleet, and the building of the Panama Canal. Includes links to
eBooks, photographs and a swf video file. There are links to eThemes
resources on the President's personal life, nature preservation,
domestic policies, links to other United States presidents, and Nobel
Prize laureates.

Updated eThemes

Alamo

http://www.emints.org/ethemes/resources/S00000555.shtml

These sites are about the Alamo and the Mexican-American War. Take a
360-degree virtual tour of the site and view many photos. There are
timelines and first-person accounts. Includes information on Sam
Houston, Spanish missions, and the Southwest region of the United
States.

Animals: Life Cycles

http://www.emints.org/ethemes/resources/S00000167.shtml

These sites focus on the stages animals go through as they mature. Learn
how insects, fish, amphibians, birds, mammals, and humans develop. See
videos of animals when they are developing embryos. Watch a chicken
hatch from its egg. There are many diagrams that visually represent the
life cycle.

Country: Italy

http://www.emints.org/ethemes/resources/S00000048.shtml

These sites introduce the country of Italy. There is information on
Italy's history, culture, art, traditions, cuisine, cars, and more. You
can listen to a recording of the National Anthem, take a virtual tour of
the Sistine Chapel, view an interactive map, or read about the history
of pizza. There are several videos that show how to speak basic Italian.
Also included is information about what it's like to be a kid in Italy.

Folktales: Tall Tales

http://www.emints.org/ethemes/resources/S00000151.shtml

This is a collection of literature sites with online tall tales from
America. Includes tall tales and information about Paul Bunyan, Davy
Crockett, John Henry, Slue-Foot Sue, and many others. Learn what tall
tales are and their common characteristics. There are also eThemes
Resources on fables and fairy tales.

Health: Diet and Nutrition

http://www.emints.org/ethemes/resources/S00000097.shtml

These sites are about good nutrition and healthy diets. Learn about the
food pyramid and how food is good for the body. Topics include how to
read food labels and look for additives. There are also online games and
quizzes about nutrition.

Holiday: Veterans' Day

http://www.emints.org/ethemes/resources/S00000507.shtml

These sites are about the history of Veterans' Day, which is formerly
known as Armistice Day. Includes activities, crafts, and lesson plans
for celebration ideas. Three are links to eThemes Resources on World War
II and Vietnam War.

Geography: Landforms

http://www.emints.org/ethemes/resources/S00000923.shtml

These sites are about different types of landforms found around the
world. Includes mountains, canyons, plains, beaches, and bays. There are
photographs, drawings, online games, and activities. Includes links to
eThemes Resources on rivers, oceans, lakes, erosion, and Missouri
landforms.

Literature: "Math Curse" by Jon Scieszka and Lane Smith

http://www.emints.org/ethemes/resources/S00001207.shtml

These sites have classroom activity ideas for the book "Math Curse."
Read what other children have written about their own math curses and
try to solve word problems. There are biographies for author Jon
Scieszka and illustrator Lane Smith. Includes a link to an eThemes
Resource on everyday uses of math.

Magic: History

http://www.emints.org/ethemes/resources/S00001262.shtml

Read about the history of magic and how it has evolved through the
years. Find out why people used to believe the word abracadabra was
important. View photographs of cups and balls that were used to perform
an old illusion. There are links to eThemes Resources on famous
magicians and magic tricks.

Science: Dinosaurs

http://www.emints.org/ethemes/resources/S00000177.shtml

Learn more about the types of dinosaurs that roamed the earth years ago.
Find out which dinosaurs were in your area, watch videos about these
creature, and create your own dinosaur artwork. Includes 3D images,
games, and quizzes. There is a link to an eThemes Resource on fossils.

Science: Ozone

http://www.emints.org/ethemes/resources/S00000426.shtml

These sites are all about the ozone, a form of oxygen. Sites include
information about what ozone is, the ozone layer, why it is important,
ozone depletion, and UV protection. Includes images, graphs, animations,
interactive applets, games, and video.

Science: Rocks and Minerals

http://www.emints.org/ethemes/resources/S00000504.shtml

These sites describe various rocks and minerals. Learn about igneous,
sedimentary, and metamorphic rocks and some of the more common minerals.
Includes hands-on activities, games, photographs, and two animated
movies. There are links to eThemes Resources on fossils and erosion

Simple Machines: Advanced

http://www.emints.org/ethemes/resources/S00000053.shtml

These sites include interactive models of machines such as levers and
pulley systems. Explains basic concepts of physics such as mechanics,
gravity, effort, resistance, work, torque, friction, and motion.
Includes lesson plans, laboratory exercises, and experiments. There is a
link to an eThemes resource on simple machines for beginners.

Simple Machines: Beginner

http://www.emints.org/ethemes/resources/S00000102.shtml

These resources explore the basics of simple machines: pulleys, wheel
and axle, inclined planes, wedges, screws, and levers. Includes
animations, online quizzes, hands on activities, experiments, lesson
plans, and a word puzzle. There is a link to an eThemes resource on
Advanced Simple Machines.

U.S. President: Theodore Roosevelt: Part I

http://www.emints.org/ethemes/resources/S00001740.shtml

Learn about the 26th American President - Theodore Roosevelt. Find out
about his personal life - childhood, hobbies, and family. Read about his
outdoor adventures, his nature conservations policies, and national
parks. Read the story of a teddy bear. Includes audio and video clips,
timelines, photographs, quizzes, and biographies.

U.S. President: Theodore Roosevelt: Part II

http://www.emints.org/ethemes/resources/S00001978.shtml

Theodore Roosevelt was the 26th president and served from 1901 until
1909. Find out about his political views and domestic policies. Learn
about the Bull Moose Party and the presidential election campaign of
1912. Includes the presidential inauguration transcript, photographs,
audio and video files.

Monica M. Beglau, Ed.D, Director

eMINTS National Center

University of Missouri

103 London Hall

Columbia, MO  65211

573-884-7202

FAX: 573-884-7614