StationBreak
April 2008
2008 ARKANSAS GOVERNOR’S QUIZ BOWL COMPETITION LIVE ON AETN
Saturday, April 19, 5-8 p.m.
Sunday, April 20, 1-4 p.m.
The 2008 Arkansas Governor’s Quiz Bowl broadcast is shaping up to be an exciting event. This year brings changes with a new logo and new set. Watch as 14 teams from around the state compete in seven classifications during this two-day live broadcast.
CELEBRATE EARTH DAY (APRIL 22) AND ARBOR DAY (APRIL 25) WITH A CLASS PROJECT
The Arkansas-based Heifer International provides several opportunities for classes to participate in eco-friendly and economic independence projects in recognition of Earth Day and Arbor Day.
Earth Day, Tuesday, April 22: If your school is looking for a project, Heifer International provides an opportunity to give an “Earth Basket” full of good things like honey bees and seedlings that offer families a source of income and a means to enhance the environment. For information, visit http://www.heifer.org/site/apps/ka/ec/product.asp
Arbor Day, Friday, April 25: “A Gift of Trees” and “A Share of Seedlings” provides training and trees to families to keep their small plots of land healthy and renew the soil for future generations. For information, visit http://www.heifer.org/site/c.edJRKQNiFiG/b.2698711/.
ARKANSAS STUDIES
TUNE IN TO ARKANSAS STUDIES PROGRAMS ON AETN EARLY MORNING BLOCKFEED
It Started Here: Early Arkansas And the Louisiana Purchase
http://www.aetn.org/production/programs/itstartedhere
This 30-minute program explores Arkansas’s past from the signing of the Louisiana Purchase in 1803 to Arkansas statehood in 1836. Follow the 1815 land survey that began in a swamp in eastern Arkansas and established a starting point for land surveys of Arkansas, Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri and the Dakotas. The program airs in the Early Morning BlockFeed:
April 1, 12 a.m.
April 12, 3:30 a.m.
April 23, 12:30 a.m.
May 9, 12 a.m.
Forgotten Expedition
http://www.aetn.org/production/programs/forgottenexpedition
Most Americans have heard the story of Lewis and Clark’s 1804-1806 exploration of the Louisiana Purchase. What most people don’t realize is that President Jefferson also commissioned William Dunbar and George Hunter to conduct a second expedition to explore the southern parts of that new frontier. The program airs in the Early Morning BlockFeed:
April 25, 12 a.m.
City of Visitors: The Story of Hot Springs
http://ideas.aetn.org/wgol/the_city_of_visitors
Hot Springs, Ark. developed as a town with a “split personality.” This story introduces the people who made the city one of the most glamorous health treatment centers in the country, as well as the largest illegal gambling operation in the United States. This is the story of the people who forced the city to change. The program airs in the Early Morning BlockFeed:
April 26, 12am
Back to TopART AND MUSIC
GREAT PERFORMANCES “PETER AND THE WOLF”
http://www.pbs.org/wnet/gperf/
Grades: K-12
Sergei Prokofiev's fanciful musical tale "Peter and the Wolf" is given new life in this innovative animated interpretation, which won an Academy Award for best animated short film.
SOURCE: PBS Teachers Newsletter
http://www.pbs.org/teachers/preferences/
POSTCARDS FROM BUSTER “BOW TO YOUR PARTNER”
http://pbskids.org/buster/parentsteachers/act-bow-partner.html
Grades: PreK-2
Discover how to square dance. Describe something that has been passed down from older relatives and friends.
SOURCE: PBS Teachers Newsletter
http://www.pbs.org/teachers/preferences/
AMERICAN MASTERS “PETE SEEGER”
http://www.pbs.org/wnet/americanmasters/database/seeger_p.html
Grades: 9-12
Examine the unique experience and contributions of this man who introduced America to its own folk heritage. He deeply believes in the power of song and is convinced that individuals can make a difference.
SOURCE: PBS Teachers Newsletter
http://www.pbs.org/teachers/preferences/
COUNSELING AND GUIDANCE
IT'S MY LIFE “CRUSHES”
http://pbskids.org/itsmylife/parents/resources/crushes.html
Grades: 3-8
Define what it means to have a "crush" on someone, and discuss how to deal with the emotions and feelings that one experiences if one has a crush on someone. Explore appropriate and inappropriate behaviors in dealing with crushes.
SOURCE: PBS Teachers Newsletter
http://www.pbs.org/teachers/preferences/
PBS PARENTS “HOMEWORK WITHOUT TEARS*
http://www.pbs.org/parents/goingtoschool/support_learner.html
Grades: PreK-5
Caught in a battle over homework? Or working around the clock with your child to complete an elaborate science fair project? Discover how you can support your child's independent learning and motivation at home--without resorting to bribes or battles.
SOURCE: PBS Teachers Newsletter
http://www.pbs.org/teachers/preferences
MY AMERICAN GIRLS “A DOMINICAN STORY: LIVING BETWEEN TWO WORLDS* LESSON PLAN
http://uw.kqed.org/edresources/plan.php?id=61
Grades: 6-12
Examine school, work and family conflicts in the lives of American and immigrant students. Role-play solutions to school conflicts based on a series of vignettes.
SOURCE: PBS Teachers Newsletter
http://www.pbs.org/teachers/preferences
Back to TopEARLY CHILDHOOD
DRAGON TALES “SEARCH FOR MAMI: AN ENGLISH/SPANISH STORYBOOK”
http://pbskids.org/dragontales/storybook/storybook.html
Grades: PreK-2
Experience the Spanish language with this online storybook Explore the story of a little bird looking for his mommy, and listen as the Spanish words for many objects found in each scene are pronounced aloud.
SOURCE: PBS Teachers Newsletter
http://www.pbs.org/teachers/preferences/
GO GREEN: CONNECT KIDS WITH NATURE
http://www.pbs.org/parents/special/article-benefitsoutdoors.html?campaign=parentsnews_1_nature
Research and common sense tell us: Nature is good for children. Get ready for spring by finding out five benefits of helping your family explore the great outdoors.
SOURCE: PBS Parents
http://pbs.org/parents/preferences/index.html
GET COOKING
http://www.pbs.org/parents/parenthelpers/cooking.html?campaign=parentsnews_2_cook
Cooking together can be a delicious learning experience for children and their parents. Kids can explore new foods, learn about nutrition, and develop math and reading skills as they measure and read directions. Use these simple guidelines designed to help you make cooking safe and fun.
SOURCE: PBS Parents
http://pbs.org/parents/preferences/index.html
PLAY ALPHA PIG'S PAINT BY LETTER!
http://pbskids.org/superwhy/#game/paintbyletter?campaign=parentsnews_3_alphapig
Alpha Pig's new game has something for everybody. You know you're encouraging artistic creativity and literacy--but your kids just think they're having fun.
SOURCE: PBS Parents
http://pbs.org/parents/preferences/index.html
| PROGRAM | TIME | AGE | FOCUS |
| Arthur | 6:30 a.m. & 3:30 p.m. | 6-9 years | Reading, writing, social skills |
| Barney & Friends | 11 a.m. | 6 months-3 years | Cognitive, social, emotional and physical development |
| Between The Lions | 1:30 p.m. | 4-7 years | Reading |
| Big Comfy Couch | 12:30 p.m. | PreK | Cognitive, social, emotional and physical development |
| Clifford Puppy Days | 2 p.m. | 4-7 years | Social skills |
| Clifford Big Red Dog | 8:30 a.m. | 4-7 years | Social skills |
| Curious George | 8 a.m. & 2:30 p.m. | 3-5 years | Science, engineering, math |
| Cyberchase | 3 p.m. | 8-12 years | Math |
| Dragon Tales | 9:30 a.m. | 2-7 years | Social skills |
| FETCH! | 4:30 p.m. | 6-10 years | Social skills, problem solving |
| It’s A Big, Big World | 10 a.m. | 3-6 years | Life science, geography |
| Maya & Miguel | 4 p.m. (Mon-Thu) | 6-11 years | Spanish language, social skills |
| Mr. Rogers | noon | 3-5 years | Social skills, self-esteem |
| Reading Rainbow | 1 p.m. | 4-8 years | Reading |
| Sesame Street | 7 a.m. | 2-4 years | Reading, math, social skills |
| Super WHY! | 9 a.m. | 6-8 years | Reading |
| Word Girl | 4 p.m. (Fri.) | 6-8 years | Reading |
| Word World | 6 & 10:30 a.m. | 6-8 years | Reading |
FREE PBS KIDS INTERACTIVE SITES BY AGE LEVEL
http://pbskids.org/
This site connects children to interactive online activities.
| PROGRAMS | AGES |
| Barney | 6 months-3 years |
| Teletubbies | 1-4 years |
| Sesame Street | 2-4 years |
| Berenstain Bears | 2-7 years |
| Dragon Tales | 2-7 years |
| Curious George | 3-5 years |
| Mister Rogers | 3-5 years |
| Boobah | 3-6 years |
| Caillou | 3-6 years |
| It’s a Big Big World | 3-6 years |
| JAKERS! | 4-6 years |
| Between the Lions | 4-7 years |
| Clifford | 4-7 years |
| Reading Rainbow | 4-8 years |
| ZOOM | 5-11 years |
| Arthur | 6-9 years |
| Postcards from Buster | 6-9 years |
| FETCH! | 6-10 years |
| Maya & Miguel | 6-11 years |
| Cyberchase | 8-12 years |
GRANTS, AWARDS AND SCHOLARSHIPS
GRANTS FOR PROGRAMS THAT BENEFIT YOUTH AND SCIENTIFIC EDUCATION
http://www.pbs.org/teachers/newsletter/redir/http://corporate.honda.com/america/philanthropy.aspx?id=ahfMaximum Award: $100,000.
Eligibility: Schools and youth-focused nonprofit organizations.
Deadline: May 1, 2008
The American Honda Foundation makes grants to K-12 schools, colleges, universities, trade schools and other youth-focused nonprofit organizations for programs that benefit youth and scientific education.
SOURCE: PBS Teachers Newsletter
http://www.pbs.org/teachers/preferences
GO OVERBOARD CHALLENGE GRANT
http://www.burton.com/Region.aspx?return=/gobsite/ChallengeGrant.aspx
Maximum Award: $1,000
Number of Grants: 12
Eligibility: Students ages 12-20
Deadline: May 1, 2008
Youth Venture, Burton Snowboards and Justina Chen Headley are sponsoring this grant to fund youth-led ideas to change the world by improving their school, neighborhood, city, county or the world. Students need an adult sponsor, such as a teacher, to endorse their grant application.
GRANTS FOR PROGRAMS THAT BENEFIT YOUTH AND SCIENTIFIC EDUCATION
http://corporate.honda.com/america/philanthropy.aspx?id=ahf
Maximum Award: $100,000
Eligibility: Schools and youth-focused non-profit organizations
Deadline: May 1, 2008
The American Honda Foundation makes grants to K-12 schools, colleges, universities, trade schools and other youth-focused organizations for programs that benefit youth and scientific education.
PRESIDENTIAL AWARDS FOR EXCELLENCE IN MATH AND SCIENCE TEACHING
http://www.paemst.org/controllers/home.cfc?method=view
Maximum Award: $10,000
Eligibility: Teachers with five years experience teaching math or science
Deadline: May 1, 2008
These awards are among the nation’s highest honors for teachers of mathematics and science.
MOTOROLA INNOVATION GENERATION GRANTS
http://www.motorola.com/content.jsp?globalObjectId=8153
Maximum Award: $250,000
Eligibility: Non-profit organizations
Deadline: June 15, 2008
This grant provides funds for initiatives that creatively foster a love of science early in life and show a new generation of inventors in science and math are important and challenging.
Grant Sources
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. Grant Writing Tips and Tools
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HEALTH, SAFETY AND FITNESS
THE FORGETTING: A PORTRAIT OF ALZHEIMER'S “HOW ALZHEIMER'S AFFECTS THE BRAIN” LESSON PLAN
http://www.pbs.org/theforgetting/resources/sciencehealth.html
Grades: 6-12
Examine how Alzheimer's affects different parts of the brain, and sketch a healthy neuron labeling its parts. Diagram brain changes during the early and late stages of Alzheimer's.
SOURCE: PBS Teachers Newsletter
http://www.pbs.org/teachers/preferences/
FETCH! “DOG EARS”
http://pbskids.org/fetch/games/dogears/index.html
Grades: K-5
Test your auditory memory by matching sounds in this online interactive game. Decode audio clues to decipher the five passwords for Ruff's safe.
SOURCE: PBS Teachers Newsletter
http://www.pbs.org/teachers/preferences/
BERENSTAIN BEARS “DENTAL DILEMMAS” LESSON PLAN
http://pbskids.org/berenstainbears/caregiver/outreach.html
Grades: PreK -2
Discuss reasons for brushing teeth and different foods and drinks that are helpful or hurtful to teeth. Explore what it's like to visit the dentist through role-play.
SOURCE: PBS Teachers Newsletter
http://www.pbs.org/teachers/preferences/
DRAGONFLY TV “PET THERAPY”
http://pbskids.org/dragonflytv/parentsteachers/tguide_pettherapy.html
Grades: 3-8
Examine the effects of pet therapy on children with chronic pain, study how different styles of music affect a person's heart rate differently and discuss how facial expression reflects a person's feelings.
SOURCE: PBS Teachers Newsletter
http://www.pbs.org/teachers/preferences/
9 WAYS TO CELEBRATE SPRING WITH KIDS
http://www.pbs.org/parents/parenthelpers/earth.html?campaign=parentsnews_1_spring
Even city-dwellers can celebrate the arrival of spring by getting back to nature. Explore nine earth-friendly ideas, from star-gazing to planting a garden to recycling, that will help children learn to appreciate the world around them.
SOURCE: PBS Parents Newsletter
http://pbs.org/parents/preferences/index.html
HISTORY AND SOCIAL STUDIES
COLONIAL WILLIAMSBURG ELECTRONIC FIELD TRIPS SCHEDULE
http://www.history.org/trips/
Take students on a field trip through time and place. Visit Colonial Williamsburg in this resource-rich program and Web site.
| Thursday, April 10, | The Industrious Tradesmen Follow the lives of several journeymen fresh from their apprenticeships in trades and business as they learn how skill and opportunity will impact their careers. Discover which ones will achieve their dreams and become masters of their own shops. |
FRONTLINE “THE SECRET HISTORY OF THE CREDIT CARD”
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/credit/
Grades: 9-12
The average American family today carries ten credit cards. Credit card debt and personal bankruptcies are now at an all time high. With no legal limit on the amount of interest or fees that can be charged, credit cards have become the most profitable sector of the American banking industry: more than $30 billion in profits last year alone. FRONTLINE and The NewYork Times examine how the credit card industry became so pervasive, so lucrative and so politically powerful.
SOURCE: PBS Teachers Newsletter
http://www.pbs.org/teachers/preferences/
NOVA “BONE DIGGERS”
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/bonediggers/
Grades: 6-12
NOVA joins the first descent into the dark depths of a cave in Australia and follows the detailed detective work on the recovered skeletons that will help piece together the past of these prehistoric creatures.
SOURCE: PBS Teachers Newsletter
http://www.pbs.org/teachers/preferences/
INDEPENDENT LENS “IRON LADIES OF LIBERIA”
http://www.pbs.org/independentlens/ironladies/
Grades: 9-12
This intimate documentary goes behind-the-scenes with Africa's first freely elected female head of state, Ellen Johnson
SOURCE: PBS Teachers Newsletter
http://www.pbs.org/teachers/preferences/
LIBRARY, LITERATURE AND READING
PBS PARENTS GUIDE TO READING AND LANGUAGE “WRITING DEVELOPMENT”
http://www.pbs.org/parents/readinglanguage/writing/main.html
Grades: PreK-2
Tour a portfolio of writing samples by one child from babyhood to third grade that help illustrate how writing develops naturally as well as the relationship between reading and writing. Consider literacy signposts at each level.
SOURCE: PBS Teachers Newsletter
http://www.pbs.org/teachers/preferences/
CELEBRATE SHAKESPEARE’S 444TH BIRTHDAY
Join the festivities – cake and ice cream, dueling, Shakespeare’s greatest skits and party games make this birthday party something to remember.
Join in:
April 5, 11 a.m.-1 p.m. – Little Rock Public Library Downtown
April 12, 1-4 p.m. – Fayetteville Public Library
April 19, 1-4 p.m. – Faulkner County Public Library, Conway
April 20, 1-4 p.m. – Lake Willastein Library, Maumelle
IN SEARCH OF SHAKESPEARE "CONVERSATIONS" LESSON PLAN
http://www.pbs.org/shakespeare/educators/performance/lessonplan.html
Grades: 6-8
Become more comfortable with the words of William Shakespeare, and discover the beauty of the language by creating personal, original conversations with peers. Work with Elizabethan sentence structure, verb form and other mechanics of basic grammar.
SOURCE: PBS Teachers Newsletter
http://www.pbs.org/teachers/preferences/
CONCEPTS ACROSS THE CURRICULUM “SHAKESPEARE AND THE RENAISSANCE”
http://www.pbs.org/teachers/thismonth/shakespeare/index1.html
Grades: 6-12
Explore the life and times of William Shakespeare, perform lines from his plays, study his characters and examine the rhythm of his sonnets. Explore the culture of the Elizabethan period and compare Renaissance society to today's.
SOURCE: PBS Teachers Newsletter
http://www.pbs.org/teachers/preferences/
MASTERPIECE THEATRE “GOODBYE MR. CHIPS” LESSON PLAN
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/mrchips/tguide.html
Grades: 6-12
Explore the genre of school stories the novel represents, and examine the concept of hierarchies in authority and power. Predict what will happen in the story in relation to characters, plot, conflicts and themes.
SOURCE: PBS Teachers Newsletter
http://www.pbs.org/teachers/preferences/
ANIMALIA: JIMBO, JAMBO, JIGGLE ACTIVITY
http://pbskids.org/animalia/parents_and_teachers/activities/vocabulary/vocabulary_activity_2.htm
Grade Range: K-5
Understand the literary technique of alliteration and listen to writing that demonstrates the use of alliteration. Complete sentences using alliteration.
SOURCE: PBS Teachers Newsletter
http://www.pbs.org/teachers/preferences
Back to TopMATH AND SCIENCE
OCEAN ADVENTURES RETURN TO THE AMAZON
http://www.pbs.org/previews/jmco-returntotheamazon/
Join Jean-Michel Cousteau on this two-part adventure to travel the world’s longest, wildest and most powerful river. This series combines science and discovery with expert story-telling and astonishing HD footage.
NOVA “SAVED BY THE SUN”
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/solar/
Grades: 6-12
In the face of steeply rising oil prices and political turmoil in the Middle East, there's new urgency about finding a solution to our uncertain energy future. Could it be time to take solar energy seriously again? Breakthroughs in new materials and ingenious designs for solar collectors are transforming the technology into a vastly cheaper, more efficient alternative.
SOURCE: PBS Teachers Newsletter
http://www.pbs.org/teachers/preferences/
NATURE “RAPTOR FORCE”
http://www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/raptorforce/index.html
Grades: 6-12
Armed with powerful beaks and razor-sharp talons, raptors are nature's elite killing force. Dramatic original footage from cameras mounted on their backs shows why falcons, owls, eagles and hawks are masters of the sky and why aeronautics engineers use their unique abilities and body designs as the basis of new aircraft technology.
SOURCE: PBS Teachers Newsletter
http://www.pbs.org/teachers/preferences/
PBS PARENTS GUIDE TO EARLY MATH “TIME TO MOVE”
http://www.pbs.org/parents/earlymath/grades_games_timetomove_fla.html
Grades: PreK-2
Practice measuring and reading information in a chart. Measure the lengths of fish and compare the lengths with the lengths of fish listed in a chart.
SOURCE: PBS Teachers Newsletter
http://www.pbs.org/teachers/preferences/
ARTHUR “HOW MUCH WILL IT COST?”
http://pbskids.org/arthur/parentsteachers/activities/acts/how_much_cost.html
Grades: K-2
List the supplies that would be needed to host a party, search for the items in store circulars and write the costs. Decide how many of each item will be needed, and calculate the total cost of the party.
SOURCE: PBS Teachers Newsletter
http://www.pbs.org/teachers/preferences/
FETCH! “CSI: SQUEAK SNEAK” ONLINE ACTIVITY
http://www.pbs.org/teachers/newsletter/redir/http://pbskids.org/fetch/games/csi_1/index.html
Grades: K-5
Use problem-solving and logical reasoning strategies to deduce who stole Ruff's squeaky toy. Search for clues in the crime scene, analyze and identify the clues in the crime lab and identify the thief by matching clues to suspects.
SOURCE: PBS Teachers Newsletter
http://www.pbs.org/teachers/preferences
NOVA “THE FOUR WINGED DINOSAUR”
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/microraptor/
Grades: 6-12
NOVA investigates the mysterious feathered dinosaurs that are challenging old ideas about the origin of bird flight. The central character in this drama is a strange little dinosaur with wings on its legs as well as its arms. The pigeon-sized microraptor is the smallest adult dinosaur ever found, perhaps the first known tree dweller. But could it really fly? Is it the key to understanding the origin of flight or merely an evolutionary dead end unrelated to the ancestry of birds?
SOURCE: PBS Teachers Newsletter
http://www.pbs.org/teachers/preferences/
KEN BURNS AMERICAN STORIES BASEBALL “SHADOW BALL” LESSON PLAN
http://www.pbs.org/teachers/newsletter/redir/http://www.pbs.org/kenburns/baseball/teachers/lesson1.html
Grade Range: 6-8
Play Shadow Ball, a simulation that pantomimes the game of baseball based on the mathematics needed for basic calculations of throwing times between fielders and other known factors. Predict results of plays based on data analysis.
SOURCE: PBS Teachers Newsletter
http://www.pbs.org/teachers/preferences
AMERICAN EXPERIENCE “THE CRASH OF 1929” ECONOMICS PROJECT
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/crash/tguide/index.html
Grades: 9-12
Prepare a "Beginner's Guide to the U.S. Stock Market" for people who know little about the topic, including jargon vocabulary and directions on how to read newspaper listings. Follow a stock on the NYSE for one week and graph its progress.
SOURCE: PBS Teachers Newsletter
http://www.pbs.org/teachers/preferences/
NATURE “DEEP JUNGLE: THE BEAST WITHIN"
http://www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/deepjungle/index.html
Grades: 6-12
What role did the jungle play in humanity's distant past and what can it tell us about our future? Look for clues among the primates of the rainforests, as well as traces of ancient civilizations that once thrived there, only to vanish mysteriously. Included are expeditions to the Central African Republic, Guatemala and Cambodia.
SOURCE: PBS Teachers Newsletter
http://www.pbs.org/teachers/preferences/
CYBERCHASE “VIRTUAL COIN TOSS”
http://pbskids.org/cyberchase/games/probability/index.html
Grades: 3-5
Understand basic principles of randomness and probability to predict the results of a number of coin tosses.
SOURCE: PBS Teachers Newsletter
http://www.pbs.org/teachers/preferences/
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
FREE AETN IDEAS PORTAL AND AETN VIDEOSTREAMING WORKSHOPS
Times:
8:30-11:30 a.m. workshops for Arkansas IDEAS education portal
1-4 p.m. workshops for AETN Videostreaming
Dates:
April 10, 24, 2008
May 8, 22, 2008
To register for one or more of the workshops, or for more information, call 1-800-488-6689 or send e-mail to education@aetn.org.
As with all professional development courses, allowing in-service credit is at the discretion of the superintendent, principal or other official designated by your district/school. Although courses have been approved by ADE as appropriate for professional development, you will still need to confirm the credit status of the course at a local level.
To make arrangements for either or both workshops at your school or district for a minimum of 10 participants, contact Daoming Chen, 1-800-488-6689, or dchen@aetn.org.
PBS TEACHERLINE AND WGBH/TEACHERS' DOMAIN PARTNER FOR EXELLENCE IN SCIENCE TEACHING AND LEARNING
http://pbs.convio.net/site/R?i=ahFIZssyzMmEizKjD1CpZg
Grades: K-12
PBS TeacherLine now features a special collection of courses from Teachers' Domain, produced by WGBH Boston, to help educators teach life, physical, and earth and space science. These courses provide research- and standards-based
professional development in an accessible online format that makes learning fun and effective.
SOURCE: PBS Teachers Newsletter
http://www.pbs.org/teachers/preferences/
