StationBreak
April 2012
April 2012
AETN Kids
PBS KIDS GO! Writers Contest for K-3: Deadline April 27
The PBS KIDS GO! Writers Contest was launched last year in an effort to continue to encourage young children in Grades K-3 across the country to illustrate and write their own stories. Submit your stories to AETN now until Friday, April 27. Arkansas winners will be finalized by May and sent to PBS KIDS GO! to be entered in the national contest. National winners will be announced this summer.
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AETN GO Camp Registration is Now Open!
AETN GO Camp provides a safe, fun, and engaging week-long day camp for participants ages 6-10, June 25-29, 2012.
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Register for AETN Camp Manners
AETN Camp Manners provides a safe, fun, and engaging week-long day camp for participants ages 11-15 July 23-27, 2012
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Arkansas Studies
AETN contest offers families a chance to explore Arkansas with Chuck Dovish
www.aetn.org/engage
Deadline: April 30, 2012
Fans of the Arkansas Educational Television Network's (AETN) "Exploring Arkansas," with host Chuck Dovish, now have the opportunity to win a family outing with Dovish that will be filmed for possible future use in the series.
A winning family (up to six family members) will be chosen at random to spend a day with Dovish as he tapes a family-friendly episode of "Exploring Arkansas." Dovish will introduce the family to some of his favorite places and activities suitable for all ages, in turn allowing them to explore Arkansas with him.
Winners will be chosen randomly and notified via email on May 1. Winners are responsible for their own transportation to and from the location Dovish chooses on the day of the outing. The shoot location will be announced in April. Some of Dovish's favorite trips could include the Buffalo River area, the ghost town of Rush, War Eagle Mill, Rock Creek Natural Area, Hideout Hollow or many others.
Arkansas Civil War Sesquicentennial Commission Adds New Podcasts To Website
The Arkansas Civil War Sesquicentennial Commission has added new podcasts about the state's Civil War history to its website. They include: guerilla warfare in western Arkansas and the plight of civilians in Fort Smith; the June 17, 1862 Battle of St. Charles; issues facing soldiers in the United States Colored Troops; beginnings of the Civil War in Washington, Arkansas; media coverage of the 1864 Battle of Poison Spring; slavery and slave resistance in Arkansas; experiences of the Second Arkansas Cavalry (U.S.); and the October 25, 1863, battle of Pine Bluff.
http://www.arkansascivilwar150.com/press-releases/detail.aspx?id=63
The podcasts can be accessed at http://www.arkansascivilwar150.com/research-education/podcasts/.
Arkansas History Resource Hub Available Online
The Arkansas History Hub is described as an interactive tool that assembles resources from history institutions across the state into a centralized, easy-to-use website.
It allows teachers to exchange ideas, enhance their lesson plans and download classroom materials about Arkansas history.
A short video at http://player.vimeo.com/video/27878665?title=0&byline=0&portrait=0&autoplay=1 will introduce you to the Hub.
Art And Music
Watch "King Lear" Online
This site includes summary of the play, background information, full text, background about Shakespeare, and education components with lesson plans.
http://www.pbs.org/wnet/gperf/episodes/king-lear/watch-the-play/487/
Culture And History Of The Banjo With Great Performances
Pbs Arts From The Blue Ridge Mountains "Give Me the Banjo" traces the history, culture, diversity and politics of the banjo and its music. The performances provide human context and life stories for this instrument.
http://video.pbs.org/video/2164506461
Counseling
It's My Life For Ages 9-12 Years
At this site, students can read informative articles, share their stories, play games and activities, take quizzes and polls, watch video clips of other kids talking about their feelings and experiences, get advice from older kids and experts, and contribute their own comments.
http://pbskids.org/itsmylife/about_us.html
The Realities Of College Debt
This program explores the realities and options of obtaining a college education. This is an excellent springboard for discussion with students and their parents. There are options students need to understand.
http://video.pbs.org/video/2195311651
Early Childhood
Ready For Life
Created by PBS station KERA of North Texas, Ready for Life provides resources to help parents and caregivers raise children who are socially and emotionally healthy and ready to succeed in school and life. Visitors to the Web site can view videos and read articles exploring the topics of temperament, attachment, socialization, early literacy, nutrition and fitness.
http://www.readyforlife.org/
Help For Parents To Help Their Children
Parents can select programs from the list below to help their children learn basic concepts. If a seven year-old child is having trouble with reading and writing, the list will show "Arthur", "Between the Lions", "Electric Company", "Martha Speaks", "Super WHY", "Word Girl" and "Word World" as appropriate resources. By going to the program Web sites, parent and child can play the games, do the activities, color the activity pages and explore the world of reading together.
Programs By Focus Areas
| PROGRAM | AGE | FOCUS |
|---|---|---|
| Arthur | 6-9 years | Reading, writing, social skills |
| Between The Lions | 4-7 years | Reading |
| Caillou | 3-6 years | Social skills |
| The Cat in the Hat | 4-6 years | Social skills |
| Clifford the Big Red Dog | 4-7 years | Social skills |
| Curious George | 3-5 years | Science, engineering, math |
| Cyberchase | 8-12 years | Math |
| Dragon Tales | 2-7 years | Social skills |
| Electric Company | 6-9 years | Reading |
| Fetch with Ruff Ruffman | 6-10 years | Social skills, problem solving |
| Martha Speaks | 4-7 years | Reading |
| Maya & Miguel | 6-11 years | Spanish language, social skills |
| Mr. Rogers | 3-5 years | Social skills, self-esteem |
| Sesame Street | 2-4 years | Reading, math, social skills |
| Sid the Science Kid | 3-6 years | Science |
| Super WHY! | 6-8 years | Reading |
| Word Girl | 6-8 years | Reading |
| Word World | 6-8 years | Reading |
Child Development Tracker
A child's development is unique and complex. Although children develop through a generally predictable sequence of steps and milestones, they may not proceed through these steps in the same way or at the same time. A child's development is greatly influenced by factors in his or her environment and the experiences he or she has.
The information provided by this tool is considered by experts as a representation of "widely-held expectations" for what an average child might achieve within a given year. Please consider this in the context of your child's unique development.
http://www.pbs.org/parents/childdevelopmenttracker/
Source: PBS Parents
Grants, Awards And Scholarships
K-12 Filmmakers Contest Ends April 6, 2012
Award: $2,500 to a winning high school senior
Students in grades K-12 are eligible to submit student-filmed documentaries, narratives, music videos, and any other imaginative and creative work. High School Seniors get the chance to compete for a $2,500 Young Filmgoer Scholarship provided by the THEA Foundation in the areas of Screenwriting, Directing, Cinematography, and Editing. Selected films and scholarship winners will screen at the Little Rock Film Festival and students can participate in the LRFF Youth! Program to be involved in hands-on-learning workshops and presentations from industry professionals on June 2-3, 2012
http://www.aetn.org/studentselects
Toolkit to publicize at your school
Grant Resources
- Arkansas Department of Education grant listings http://arkansased.org/programs/grants.html
- Technology grant information at http://www.vernier.com/grants/fulllist.html
- Forecast of Finding for the U.S. Department of Education http://www.ed.gov/fund/grant/find/edlite-forecast.html
- Pen Weekly Newsblast http://www.publiceducation.org/newsblast_grants.asp This site includes grant opportunity, Web links, deadlines, eligibility and maximum grant amounts
- EducationMoney.com
- Federal Grants http://grants.gov allows you to search by category, you do not need to register to search for grant opportunities
- http://grantsalert.com/
- These sources will help locate foundation, government and other grant opportunities. It's best to start when you have some time to invest, because one thing frequently leads to another link.
- FREE makes it easier to find teaching and learning resources from the federal government at http://www.free.ed.gov/.
Grant Writing Tips and Tools
- If you want factual information about grant writing and samples, be sure to visit the Guide for Writing a Funding Proposal by S. Joseph Levine, Ph.D., Michigan State University, at http://www.learnerassociates.net/proposal.
- "Show Me The Money: Tips & Resources For Successful Grant Writing" http://www.educationworld.com/a_curr/profdev/profdev039.shtml
Health, Safety And Fitness
Safety Matters
How could an outstanding and model site for safety have fatal accidents? How do dangerous sites avoid inspections?
http://video.pbs.org/video/2047494990/
Happy Birthday Baby Book One And Two
For 20 years the Happy Birthday Baby Book has been Arkansas's and western Tennessee's go-to resource for everything prenatal care. Focus groups confirmed moms who have used the book want MORE information. So the Happy Birthday Baby Book is getting a sibling.
- The Happy Birthday Baby Book: Book One: prenatal care - age 5
- The Happy Birthday Baby Book: Book One: newborn - age 5
SOURCE: Healthy Families Now Newsletter
Arkansas Department of Human Services
History And Social Studies
Financial Meltdowns
Contrast and compare the causes and effects of the "Crash of 1929" (http://video.pbs.org/video/1308436568) and the recent financial meltdown (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/meltdown/view/). What are the common causes, and how did the government respond? Have all of the causes of the 1929 crash been corrected?
"Surviving The Dust Bowl" Teacher Resources
This site includes a variety of classroom resources to help students understand the challenges of living in the Dust Bowl. Resources include interviews/biographies and articles.
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/films/dustbowl/
Colonial Williamsburg Electronic Field Trips Schedule
Teach American history with the new Electronic Field Trip season. This year's live, interactive lessons explore the ratification of the US Constitution, Westward expansion, The War of 1812, slavery, as well as the rights of women and youth.
http://www.history.org/history/teaching/eft/eft_upcoming.cfm
"Rights of Youth"
April 19, 2012
Imprisonment, whipping, forced transportation, and even death were some of the punishments that courts sentenced children to in the eighteenth century. Witness how justice was administered at a time when criminal laws and sentencing guidelines made few or no exceptions for children.
Colonial Williamsburg online Teacher Community: http://www.history.org/history/teaching/index.cfm
Library, Literature And Reading
Masterpiece Theatre Upcoming Programs:
Great Expectations
April 1 & 8, 2012
Widely considered one of the greatest novels by Charles Dickens, Great Expectations tells the story of Pip the battered orphan boy, who rises from blacksmith's apprentice to gentleman under the patronage of a mysterious benefactor, who assures him of "great expectations."
The Mystery of Edwin Drood
April 15, 2012
An adaptation and completion of Charles Dickens' last novel left unfinished at the halfway mark at his death, The Mystery Of Edwin Drood is a psychological thriller about a provincial choirmaster's obsession with 17-year-old Rosa Bud and the lengths he will go to attain her.
April 22 & 29, 2012 at 9pm
An adaptation of Sebastian Faulk's novel about lovers torn apart by World War I. Eddie Redmayne (The Pillars of the Earth) plays Stephen Wrayford, whose pre-war affair with Isabelle Azaire (Clemence Poesy, Harry Potter films) has an enduring effect on him as he fights in the trenches.
40 Years Of Masterpiece Locations
From the majestic Highclere Castle used as the setting for Downton Abbey to the untouched village of Lacock, featured in Cranford and Return to Cranford, Masterpiece has showcased some of the most splendid locations in Great Britain and around the world. Now, for the first time, explore some of the most beloved and intriguing Masterpiece locations and add your own comments and travel tips.
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/locations/index.html
Math And Science
Alien From Earth
Does this 3-foot tall skeleton discovered on the Indonesian island of Flores represent a new species? Opinions vary from a hominid species to a diseased human anomaly. What do you think?
http://video.pbs.org/video/1051895972
Solving The Problem Of Traffic Gridlock
How would your students solve this gridlock problem? What is the outcome of this counterintuitive approach to traffic management?
http://video.pbs.org/video/2192347741
Professional Development
Global Exploration For Educators
Global Exploration for Educators Organization (GEEO) is a 501c3 non-profit organization that runs summer professional development travel programs designed for teachers.
GEEO is offering 13 different travel programs for the summer of 2012: India/Nepal, Vietnam, Thailand/Laos/Cambodia, China, Russia/Mongolia/China, Turkey 8 day, Turkey 15 day, South Africa/Mozambique/Zimbabwe/Botswana, Morocco, Peru, Ecuador, The Galapagos Islands and Costa Rica. Space is limited!
Educators have the option to earn graduate school credit and professional development credit while seeing the world. The trips are 8 to 24 days in length and are designed and discounted to being interesting and affordable for teachers. GEEO provides teachers educational materials and the structure to help them bring their experiences into the classroom. The trips are open to all nationalities of K-12 and university educators and administrators, as well as retired educators. Educators are also permitted to bring along a non-educator guest.
