The Top Five Sites for 2011
1. www.exploratorium.edu
2. www.pbs.org
3. www.brainpop.com
4. www.sheppardsoftware.com
5. www.donnayoung.org
For the full list click here.
Showing posts with label geography. Show all posts
Showing posts with label geography. Show all posts
Top Educational Websites for 2011
Friday, January 21, 2011
The Top Five Sites for 2011
1. www.exploratorium.edu
2. www.pbs.org
3. www.brainpop.com
4. www.sheppardsoftware.com
5. www.donnayoung.org
For the full list click here.
'Little Passports Announces Free Monthly Newsletter'
Monday, August 9, 2010
Announcing the launch of the Little Passports Newsletter
Little Passports is excited to announce the launch of our monthly newsletter. Each month, the Little Passports newsletter will arrive in your mailbox full of fun ways to bring the world home (think inventive craft ideas, recipes, games and activities)! In this, our inaugural newsletter, we will bring a little bit of the Czech Republic and Iceland to your homes.
The Culture in a Name: The Czech Republic and Iceland
In many countries, the process of naming a child has deep-roots in ancestry, family history, cultural traditions and law.
In Iceland, first names are far more important than last names! The Old Norse Patronymic naming system, dating back to the 9th century, reflects a father's first name, not his ancestry, or last name. For example, Baldur and Margret, children of a man named Pétur Stefánsson, would be named Baldur Pétursson, "son of Petur", and Margret Pétursdóttir, "daughter of Pétur". Phone books in Iceland are sorted alphabetically by first name, not last name, and are detailed based on profession. The importance of a first name is so significant in Iceland's culture that even the Prime Minister Jóhanna Sigurðardóttir would not be formally addressed as 'Mrs.' Sigurðardóttir but rather as Jóhanna.
The Czech Republic has a unique naming tradition called Names Day. The Roman Catholic Calendar of Saints has established days corresponding to each name. The original calendar associates each day with one or more saints. However, it has been updated to accommodate modern day additions. For example, a person named Devon celebrates Names Day on January 14th, while a person named Stacy celebrates Names Day on October 28th. This day is celebrated in addition to a birthday, not as a substitution. That's right, this means two days a year to receive gifts and celebrate with family and friends who share a common name!
American culture often values individuality and it has become fashionable to create a new or uncommon name for your child. By contrast, in both Iceland and the Czech Republic, naming commissions exist who decide if a child's name is legally acceptable. Though naming authorities have become more lenient since the fall of communism in 1989, today they would still most likely not approve of naming your child "Bubblegum".
Name Activities
Here are a few fun activities to share with your child.
1) Find Your Names Day
Use these websites to discover your Names Day. If you don't have a name found in the traditional calendar, search for your name in a modern name database. Can you find the Names Day of your friends and family? Find an upcoming Names Day and make your friend or family member a Names Day card. Tell them about Names Day and what you learned about naming traditions in other countries.
2) What Would Your Name Be in Iceland?
Trace back your family tree and recreate your name's lineage based on the Old Norse naming system. What would your mother's name be? If you have siblings, what would their names be? Remember to add "son" or "dóttir" (daughter) at the end of the father's name.
3) Create an Acrostic Name Poem
Get creative with your name and build an acrostic name poem using colorful pens and imaginative words.
S: sweet tooth
A: able to find the Czech Republic on the map!
M: magic red scooter
Map Activity:
Can you find these countries on the map?
1) Iceland
2) The Czech Republic
We've used Little Passports in our homeschooling and have enjoyed the program. This new newsletter is a great way to add some educational fun to your monthly adventures. Learn More about Little Passports here.
Little Passports
'Little Passports Announces Free Monthly Newsletter'
Little Passports is excited to announce the launch of our monthly newsletter. Each month, the Little Passports newsletter will arrive in your mailbox full of fun ways to bring the world home (think inventive craft ideas, recipes, games and activities)! In this, our inaugural newsletter, we will bring a little bit of the Czech Republic and Iceland to your homes.
The Culture in a Name: The Czech Republic and Iceland
In many countries, the process of naming a child has deep-roots in ancestry, family history, cultural traditions and law.
In Iceland, first names are far more important than last names! The Old Norse Patronymic naming system, dating back to the 9th century, reflects a father's first name, not his ancestry, or last name. For example, Baldur and Margret, children of a man named Pétur Stefánsson, would be named Baldur Pétursson, "son of Petur", and Margret Pétursdóttir, "daughter of Pétur". Phone books in Iceland are sorted alphabetically by first name, not last name, and are detailed based on profession. The importance of a first name is so significant in Iceland's culture that even the Prime Minister Jóhanna Sigurðardóttir would not be formally addressed as 'Mrs.' Sigurðardóttir but rather as Jóhanna.
The Czech Republic has a unique naming tradition called Names Day. The Roman Catholic Calendar of Saints has established days corresponding to each name. The original calendar associates each day with one or more saints. However, it has been updated to accommodate modern day additions. For example, a person named Devon celebrates Names Day on January 14th, while a person named Stacy celebrates Names Day on October 28th. This day is celebrated in addition to a birthday, not as a substitution. That's right, this means two days a year to receive gifts and celebrate with family and friends who share a common name!
American culture often values individuality and it has become fashionable to create a new or uncommon name for your child. By contrast, in both Iceland and the Czech Republic, naming commissions exist who decide if a child's name is legally acceptable. Though naming authorities have become more lenient since the fall of communism in 1989, today they would still most likely not approve of naming your child "Bubblegum".
Name Activities
Here are a few fun activities to share with your child.
1) Find Your Names Day
Use these websites to discover your Names Day. If you don't have a name found in the traditional calendar, search for your name in a modern name database. Can you find the Names Day of your friends and family? Find an upcoming Names Day and make your friend or family member a Names Day card. Tell them about Names Day and what you learned about naming traditions in other countries.
2) What Would Your Name Be in Iceland?
Trace back your family tree and recreate your name's lineage based on the Old Norse naming system. What would your mother's name be? If you have siblings, what would their names be? Remember to add "son" or "dóttir" (daughter) at the end of the father's name.
3) Create an Acrostic Name Poem
Get creative with your name and build an acrostic name poem using colorful pens and imaginative words.
S: sweet tooth
A: able to find the Czech Republic on the map!
M: magic red scooter
Map Activity:
Can you find these countries on the map?
1) Iceland
2) The Czech Republic
We've used Little Passports in our homeschooling and have enjoyed the program. This new newsletter is a great way to add some educational fun to your monthly adventures. Learn More about Little Passports here.
Little Passports
'Little Passports Announces Free Monthly Newsletter'
New Geography Learning Set from Highlight's Magazine
Thursday, October 1, 2009
I just found out about this fun educational series that's brand new from Hightlight's. I loved Highlight's magazines as a kid and my own children have enjoyed them for years. This new kit that is delivered every 5 weeks sounds like lots of fun! Read more from the Highlight's website:
Top Secret Adventures
Start your child's puzzle adventures today with our special FREE Top Secret Adventures kit offer!
In this secret agent-themed puzzle book club, children become detectives searching for who, what, and where clues to solve mysteries one country at a time.
Each kit is a complete unit. As kids work through each step in the mystery they'll learn about the people, culture, terrain, history, and geography of a specific country while learning to follow directions, think logically, and use reference materials.
Begin a learning adventure today—your first Top Secret Adventures kit is FREE! All you pay is $3.45 for shipping and handling.
Tuesday Teaching Round Up - Educational Links
Monday, September 7, 2009
"Clip art licensed from the Clip Art Gallery on DiscoverySchool.com" Get a one month FREE trial to LessonPathways.com
Hot Chalk Math - New!
Hot Chalk Science - New!
Hot Chalk Art - New!
Art Encyclopedia
Ask A Scientist
Everyday SpellingFact Hound: Math Graphs
Teacher Files (lesson plans, clip art, printables and more)
Healthy Bones
Virtual Jamestown
ASL University
Geography Dictionary / Glossary for Students
Map Games
Post Card Kids - Geography Fun!
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Over the past year we have swapped post cards with people all over the U.S., Canada and even Europe. We joined an online Yahoo group called Post Cards for Kids and have collected some really cool cards. We have put up a map and we highlight the cities and states from which we receive cards as we trade. My kids LOVE to get mail; they run down to the curb to collect it when they see the mail man coming! Really, you'd think he was Santa or something.
I love that it's such an interesting way to introduce them to new information. We've gone way beyond geography and discussed history, weather and climates, seasons, famous Americans, transportation, mapping and distances, architecture, and the list goes on. We've discovered places we'd never heard of and lots of places we hope to see some day.
This has been a great project for us. I think we'll keep collecting as long as we are enjoying it and learning new things. This year I hope to take our project around the globe and add a flat Stanley collection to our project.
Here are some more links to fun geography-related project for kids:
Pen Pal Resources @ A to Z Home's Cool
Pen Pal Notes
Little Passports
I love that it's such an interesting way to introduce them to new information. We've gone way beyond geography and discussed history, weather and climates, seasons, famous Americans, transportation, mapping and distances, architecture, and the list goes on. We've discovered places we'd never heard of and lots of places we hope to see some day.
Our collection is ever growing and I've posted an album of some of our cards. We have tons more that I will add...one day, when I find the time to scan them all and upload them.
This has been a great project for us. I think we'll keep collecting as long as we are enjoying it and learning new things. This year I hope to take our project around the globe and add a flat Stanley collection to our project.
Here are some more links to fun geography-related project for kids:
Pen Pal Resources @ A to Z Home's Cool
Pen Pal Notes
Little Passports
Geography Lessons
Monday, July 13, 2009
Can't afford to travel this summer? How about taking a virtual vacation? There are so many wonderful resources online to help with teaching your kids about geography, and it can be great fun to create a passport and fill it with stickers or stamps as you travel the virtual world and learn about new lands and cultures.
Here are some fabulous geography sites to launch your journey:
National Geographic Kids Geography Games
Wonders of the World Printables
Test Your Knowledge Quizzes
Kbears Geography World Games
Easy Fun School Lesson on Endangered Species
Mapsorama
Geomatters Learning States and Capitals
Family Fun Lesson On Making Maps
Geomatters Make a Travel Brochure
worldatlas.com Clip Art
Happy Trails :D
![Reblog this post [with Zemanta]](http://img.zemanta.com/reblog_b.png?x-id=2720480b-6b81-40e1-9fa7-0a04a19e6593)
Here are some fabulous geography sites to launch your journey:
National Geographic Kids Geography Games
Wonders of the World Printables
Test Your Knowledge Quizzes
Kbears Geography World Games
Easy Fun School Lesson on Endangered Species
Mapsorama
Geomatters Learning States and Capitals
Family Fun Lesson On Making Maps
Geomatters Make a Travel Brochure
worldatlas.com Clip Art
Happy Trails :D
Around the Web Roundup
Saturday, June 27, 2009
Here's a roundup of some recent educational resources I've found. I hope you enjoy them!
7000 pdf books to read online or download
United Nations Cyber Schoolbus - health game, flag game, urban facts and more
Easy Fun School - learn about Native American Tribes of the US
The Crafty Classroom - Japanese crafts - these are adorable
Blick - art lessons plans - search by grade level
Animals and Plants Alphabet Coloring Pages - these are beautiful
Activity Idea Place - Loads of stuff for young ones here - listed by category
LinkWithin
