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| Volume Three Issue Seven | May 2003 |
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Global Connections Inspiring Stories Featured Themes Teacher Discoveries Student Explorations The Lighter Side |
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Global Interactions Foster Talented Students
Welcome to May!
The rivers here in New Brunswick are freely flowing and fishermen can be seen dotting the shores of our famous Miramichi River and her tributaries. New life is peeking through our soil and plants show signs of budding for another growing season. The sun is shining brighter and longer confirming that summer is indeed just around the corner.
So welcome aboard! Join us as we explore the World Wide Web to discover resources relevant to the month of May and to our global community.
In addition to this newsletter, keep checking Vital Picks. We have been highlighting resources teachers will find useful for the classroom. We have also been highlighting accomplishments of teachers and urge you to nominate teachers for our Vital Award.
Don't forget to visit our resource links! Visitors may now search for resources based on the grade level and subject they teach. We've included the best we can find on the World Wide Web. We will continue to add more and welcome any sites you may wish to submit.
This month we also have a special gift awaiting you and your students in the Activity section of Teacher's Corner. Check it out, and if you have activities that you would like to share with other teachers, please send them along. We'll make sure to post them immediately and to give you credit.
Send your ideas to teachers_corner@vitalknowledge.com.
Global Connections
The eyes of the world were first focused on the Far East where the SARS outbreak reminded us that, despite the advances in technology and science, we are still vulnerable to unknown diseases and viruses. When the outbreak crippled the city of Toronto, however, the danger of this new disease hit significantly closer to the people of North America. As a classroom teacher, you are sure to be addressing this issue with your students. We searched the web for resources that will enable you to do so and found the following:
The World Health Organization has been leading the fight to eradicate all disease and has especially been active in the battle against SARS. Indeed Canada was very upset when they issued a travel advisory to Toronto, which has since been lifted. Visit the official site of WHO to find their latest information about the disease.
Although the Center for Disease Control did not issue a travel advisory Toronto, they are encouraging people to practice caution when visiting that city. Visit their Web site to find their latest information on the disease. You will find a wealth of information.
Other resources that contain good information about SARS include Young Again, Health Canada, Medscape Today, and the UK Department of Health.
Inspiring Stories
The Trouble Tree
-Author Unknown
I hired a carpenter to help me restore an old farmhouse. He had a rough first day on the job. A flat tire made him lose an hour of work, his electric saw quit, and now his ancient pickup truck refused to start. While I drove him home, he sat in stony silence.
On arriving, he invited me in to meet his family. As we walked toward the front door, he paused briefly at a small tree, touching the tips of some branches with both hands. As he opened the door, he underwent an amazing transformation. His tanned face was wreathed in smiles and he hugged his two small children and gave his wife a kiss.
Afterward he walked me to the car. We passed the tree and my curiosity got the better of me. I asked him about what I had seen him do earlier. "Oh, that's my trouble tree," he replied. "I know I can't help having troubles on the job, but one thing's for sure, troubles don't belong in the house with my wife and the children. So, I just hang them up on the tree every night when I come home. Then in the morning I pick them up again." Then he smiled and said, "Funny thing is, when I come out in the morning to pick 'em up, there aren't nearly as many as I remember hanging up the night before."
From: Inspiring Stories
Featured Themes
Gardening centers are popping up throughout our communities as residents prepare for another growing season. Flowering plants, potting soil and vegetable seeds are high in demand as the spring season stirs the green thumb within us. Celebrate the new life spring brings with your students by implementing activities into your curriculum that focus on plants and gardening. Pay a visit to some of the following sites where you will find resources to do so:
Teach-nology offers a wide variety of lesson plans about botany. Pro Teacher offers the same.
You may be interested in this craft activity for learning about flowers. A to Z Kid's Stuff also offers links to thematic units and lesson plans for teaching about plants.
Preschool Education offers a number of cute songs about plants that young children may enjoy.
Teacher Zone has a variety of resources for teaching about plants including printable worksheets.
The University of Illinois has an interesting site called The Great Plant Escape.
Ross Angelo offers activities to show how plants make and use food as well as how they produce seeds. Home Schooling also offers interesting activities.
Kid's Gardening has a number of resources for students and teachers for implementing gardening activities into your curriculum.
Finally, visit the Kid's Pages of the U.S. Department of Agriculture to find plenty of great resources about gardening!
Teacher Discoveries
A sure sign that spring is in full bloom is the return of wild birds to our backyard feeders. You may choose to teach your children about birds with the assistance of the resources found at the following sites:
The Elementary Science Program suggests bird activities you may wish to do with your students. Enchanted Learning also has similar resources in Birds in the Classroom.
Check out the online bird feedercams in Poughkeepsie, New York, Indianapolis, Indiana, or in North Carolina.
"Learning about Backyard Birds" has been developed by the National Bird-Feeding Society to celebrate the annual National Wild Bird Feeding Month, which occurs in February. The kit's total focus is on learning how to better watch, feed and house the fascinating treasure that exists in nearly everyone's backyard." It can be downloaded in pdf format and copied and distributed among students and colleagues.
About has links to a wide variety of resources about wild birds. Good activities can also be found at Kidz Korner, or try visiting Kid's Corner of Wild Birds.
Check out these activities completed by students and featured in Classroom Birdscope Webzine.
Finally, visit A Bird's World for puzzles, word searches, coloring, games and more!
Student Explorations
Here in New Brunswick, the rivers have finally broken free from the heavy layer of ice that covered them during the long winter months. The world famous Miramichi River will soon welcome back thousands of salmon from the Atlantic Ocean.
The love of fishing is instilled in most people who engage in the sport from a young age. Many of us remember rising early on summer days and heading to the local stream with our father. Why not give your students an opportunity to be introduced to a wonderful sport. You may not actually be able to take them fishing, but you will be able to implement fishing lessons and activities into your daily curriculum.
The following are only a few of the many sites found on the World Wide Web with resources to apply fishing activities to your classroom teaching:
Texas Gulf Coast Fishing is has great resources for kids such as information about rods and reels, tying knots, fishing ethics, conservation, and more.
Fisherman’s Directories has tips for buying tackle and getting started as well as coloring and information about fish species.
In-Fisher Kids has coloring, jokes, mazes, word searches, lessons, and more!
Kids and FishingJ has great resources for teaching children to fish.
Finally, you may wish to explore how your students can get involved in the Trout in the Classroom project.
The Lighter Side
Jim had an awful day fishing on the lake, sitting in the blazing sun all day without catching a single one. On his way home, he stopped at the supermarket and ordered four catfish. He told the fish salesman, "Pick four large ones out and throw them at me, will you?"
"Why do you want me to throw them at you?"
"Because I want to tell my wife that I caught them."
"Okay, but I suggest that you take the orange roughy."
"Why's that?"
"Because your wife came in earlier today and said that if you came by, I should tell you to take orange roughy. That's what she'd like for supper tonight."
From: Best Fishing Jokes