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August 2012

The Gift of Giving: Teaching Philanthropy

Submitted by Joann on Thu, 2012-08-30 13:52


Voluntary giving isn’t necessarily a natural action. From a young age, children need to be taught to share, and to learn that the act of giving has its own rewards. For many years, kids still find it much more pleasurable to receive money and gifts rather than to give them away, but eventually, most learn that doing a good turn for others can feel pretty amazing.

Peggy's companion column: 
Finding Time for Philanthropy
Resources mentioned in this post: 
Philanthropy at Home and Abroad
Tulipmania: Growing Flowers to Share
Philanthropy is "Phun"

Celling It: Mobile Phones in the Classroom

Submitted by Joann on Thu, 2012-08-23 18:34


From time to time, I like to check out various education-related Twitter feeds to see what’s trending. One topic that seems to generate a lot of chatter is the use of cell phones in the classroom. To date, teachers’ experiences of using mobile phones in the classroom are mixed: some report great success in using them to sustain student interest and to teach content in a new way, while other teachers experience problems with students focusing not on classroom content, but on texting their BFFs instead. What to do?

Peggy's companion column: 
Cell Phones in Education: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly
Resources mentioned in this post: 
Out of This World
Using Basic Digital Cameras to Engage Reluctant Writers
Entrepreneurship 30

Pop! Art!

Submitted by Joann on Thu, 2012-08-16 09:25

Everything has its beauty, but not everyone sees it.
-- Andy Warhol

In the 1950s, a group of British artists met regularly to discuss the influence of popular culture on their artworks. Led by artist Eduardo Paolozzi, the group discussed ways to incorporate components of comic strips, advertisements, current films, and packaging design into art. The movement spread to the United States and other countries a few years later, and the artistic genre known as pop art was born. The movement flourished well into the 1960s, launching the careers of artists such as Andy Warhol, Roy Lichtenstein, Robert Rauschenberg, and Jasper Johns.

Peggy's companion column: 
Make Your Lessons POP with Art!
Resources mentioned in this post: 
Collages and Combines
What is Popular? Self Portraits in the Style of Roy Lichtenstein
Exploring Consumerism Where Ads and Art Intersect

Hot Rocks! Rocks and Minerals Resources for the Classroom

Submitted by Joann on Fri, 2012-08-10 13:31


When my older sister was in elementary school, each student was given a starter rock collection. The rocks were stored in plastic boxes, where each little compartment housed a rock specimen nestled in some cotton batting. I most liked the samples that contained quartz, which caught the light and sparkled. Unfortunately, by the time I started elementary school, the starter rock collection program had been discontinued. Bummer!

Peggy's companion column: 
A Rockin' New School Year: Geology for Everyone!
Resources mentioned in this post: 
Baseball Rocks!
What Earth Materials Are in My Subaru?
Minerals

Pieces & Parts: Teaching Fractions

Submitted by Joann on Thu, 2012-08-02 17:58

Five out of four people have trouble with fractions
-- Comedian Steven Wright

Apparently, Steven Wright and I are kindred spirits. Math was my Achilles’ heel in middle and high school, and to this day I cringe when measuring objects that stubbornly refuse to measure to the exact quarter inch. Hence, I am an excellent cautionary tale for students who moan about what useful purpose fractions can possibly serve in real life. Tell them that their window shades and blinds will fit correctly. So there!

Peggy's companion column: 
Summer Slide Busters Week Eight - I Think it's More Complicated than That!
Resources mentioned in this post: 
Fractions
Bargain Town, USA
Colorful Solutions