 |
|||
|
|
||
|
|
||
|
|
||
|
"They faced great odds and a late start, but they did not protest. They succeeded on every front. They won the war; they saved the world...They have so many stories to tell, stories that in many cases they have never told before, because in a deep sense they didn't think that what they were doing was that special, because everyone else was doing it too." Tom Brokaw has done a wonderful job sharing some of the many stories our veterans have to tell in his best seller, "The Greatest Generation". In this newsletter we share other stories done by students. In fact, November's newsletter honors Veteran's Day in the U.S. and Remembrance Day in Canada by highlighting web sites and stories exclusively devoted to the "Greatest Generation". This would be a great month to have each of your students contact a member of that generation and add their own stories to those that have already been written! In addition to this newsletter, keep checking Rick’s Picks to learn more about these themes and many more. We are looking for you input! We are especially interested in learning about your own “Inspiring Story” related to the use of technology in your classroom. Send your ideas to rick@vitalknowledge.com |
||
|
|
||
|
There are key organizations in the United States, Canada and England which are dedicated to not only preserving the legacy of veterans, but to passing them on to our young people. They are: U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs: http://www.va.gov/ This would be a most appropriate month, during Election 2000, to visit the section of this site "Celebrating America's Freedoms". The American Legion: http://www.legion.org/ Have your students select one of the Veterans Day Cards to send to a member of "The Greatest Generation". The Royal Canadian Legion: http://www.legion.ca/ At the Remembrance and Poppy page teachers will find activity guides for teachers, information about the poppy, as well as award winning student essays and artwork. Veterans Affairs Canada: http://www.vac-acc.gc.ca/general/ Make sure you spend some time investigating the History site. Royal British Legion: http://www.britishlegion.org.uk/ Is your computer wearing a "popp-e"? If not, download one here! |
||
|
|
||
|
Teaching is about the creation of ripples. So is technology. The problem with ripples is that we often don't see them wash up on shore. By the time they hit land we have moved on. We create them and then leave them, not knowing which sands they will sift. Such was the case with Adam. His idea was a ripple that transcended generations and crossed oceans. To this day he has no idea the impact that it had. Adam's idea came to fruition when he was in Grade 6. He had always wanted to interview a war hero. However, time was running short. His speech had to be presented by the end of the week, and he didn't know anyone who had fought in a war. In desperation he went to his teacher for help. Little did he know that in his quest to interview one hero, he was about to create a ripple that would touch the hearts of many heroes. Three blocks from Adam lived Len Robertson, a recipient of the Military Cross for bravery exhibited in World War 2. Len was 78. Adam was 11. They did not know each other. Neither did they have anything in common. However, Adam's teacher was Len's friend. It was this teacher that initiated a meeting between the two of them. It was technology that created links far beyond them. In preparation for Adam's visit, Len got out some of his World War 2 memorabilia. Upon Adam's
arrival, he showed him artifacts, medals and pictures. Adam even put on Len's uniform for a picture
that the two of them had taken together. Two weeks later Len showed up at the school auditorium to
hear Adam's speech, Fighting for our Freedom. Normally, that might have been the end of the story. However, because of information technology, it was only the beginning. Two weeks after Adam's speech Len purchased a computer. Adam had told him that the speech would be published on the World Wide Web. Len had no idea what that was, but he wanted to find out. Not only did he find the speech, he also began to explore the potential contacts that could be made via his newly established e-mail account. Eventually he was able to contact many of his comrades who had served with him as part of the CANLOAN initiative in England during World War 2. Then, with their input, he began to use his new word processing tool to write his memoirs. He scanned in some pictures, and, in due course, his memoirs were published. For years Len Robertson's family had encouraged him to publish his memoirs of World War 2. It took the idea of a Grade 6 student to create the ripple that would eventually cause that to happen - a ripple that has thus far washed up on shores as far away as England and Africa. |
||
|
|
||
|
Our featured theme for this month, in keeping with our focus on "The Greatest Generation" and the preservation of their legacy, is History. There are a number of key sites on the Internet which promote the study of history. Included are: The History Channel: Classroom Helping Your Child Learn History U.S. Flag History: Short Stories National History Day: Promoting the Study of History in the Schools PBS: History If you're a teacher of Canadian History don't forget to view Canada: A People's History being shown on CBC television. Click here to pick up the schedule for the complete series. |
||
|
|
||
|
As a teacher, you might be interested in sharing with your students some first-hand accounts of the veterans who sacrificed their youth, and, in some cases, their lives for our freedom. The following web sites contain letters written by veterans and stories told by them. PBS: Letters from the Front PBS: Guts and Glory PBS: Dispatches from the Bulge Voices of D-Day Angels of Mercy: Nurses' Tales BBC: World War 1 - Your Stories The Great Canadian War Home Page - John McCrae A Carrier At War - 1972 (This site focuses on the veterans of Vietnam) |
||
|
|
||
|
Students have a chance, by means of information technology, to help preserve the legacy of our veterans by first documenting their stories and then sharing them with the world. The following two web sites serve as excellent models of the excellent work that can be done by students. Cedar Girls' Secondary School: Transcending Time GenerationsCanConnect: |
||
|
|
||
|
1923 Elementary School Teacher Requirements The following agreements were part of the school teacher's contract for female teachers teaching in Payson City, Utah.
|
