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Thursday, December 25, 2008

Exploring the environment - A resource for teachers and students

"Exploring the environment" offers teachers interactive ways to teach students about weather systems. It is one of the sites which helps teachers explore environment issues with their students for grades 5-12 and each activity indicates the applicable grade level, though most lean toward the upper grades. Geography teachers can use this link for activity based teaching and suggest their students to prepare their

The homepage for modules and activites has a jigsaw puzzle graphic with pieces interlocking that compromise the topics, their grade ranges, whether they are an activity or lesson, and whether they are "Basic", "Comprehensive" or "Advanced".

The two "Activities" available "Strangers in Paradise" and "Mars Landing" are located on the homepage at the top of the jigsaw puzzle graphic. Both are for grades 7-12, and each emphasizes working with digital images, such as enhancing, saving, manipulating, etc.

Detailed instructions are provided, along with a bit of humor in each scenario. Each of the lessons involves a situation that students must solve.
Some of the lessons include:
- "Florida Everglades",
- "Water Quality", and
- "Tropical Poison"
There is also a "Glossary" provided in a link at the bottom of the page, specific to each lesson.

Students can start browsing from the page: Modules and activities

The "Classroom of the Future" and "Exploring the Environment" is collaboration between NASA and Jesuit Wheeling University, and they are responsible for this fine website that offers teachers unique ways to teach students about weather systems.

* Get access to teachers pages

Related post:
"Tox Town"- educating us about environment health concerns

Tuesday, December 23, 2008

Famous Search Engines for Kids

When we search for educational or edutainment sites from ordinary search engines like Yahoo, Google, MSN, there is chance to not get the specific information. Because there are millions of professional sites selling products and naturally it takes time and effort to search for the valuable stuff. This post would help parents, teachers and kids to search at specific search engines which provide safe and useful infromation for them. These search engines are user friendly enabling filters to bring out only reliable and safe sites to the family members.

Famous Search Engines for Kids

* Kindernet - Kindernet insures that the safest and most useful results are found for you and your children using the smart searching filters. Kindernet also allows for faster searching by making the keyword entry process easy. If you want to search for two words, just type in “and” between your two key terms. If you wish to exclude a word, just add a minus sign in front of it.

* Quintura - Quintura Kids is one of the most useful search engines for kids. Quintura Kids caters its famous “cloud search” specifically to the children, allowing them to search through various subjects with ease. It provides the users with categories or “tags” for their keywords. This allows kids to get very specific with their search and get accurate results just like the big-boys who use quotation marks, addition signs, and secret symbols in Google.

* GoGooligans - This is basically Google for kids. It has safety filters which prevent vulgar material from leaking out from the unsanitary cables and pipes known as the internet. GoGooligans also offers many search options, allowing kids to search through specific websites such as PBS, Britannica, Merriam Webster, About, etc. Also, once the search term is entered, users can then choose more specific results for their keywords, such as, Geography, History, Facts, Definition, and much more.

* Ask Kids - This search engine is a easy to navigate and offers features which make searching less of an ordeal. Enter your keyword and you are presented with numerous different facts along with your search result. This allows the children to not get lost in the all the links, and it helps them to get their information quickly.

* Famhoo - it provides a clean and simple layout that is usable by even the youngest internet users. Famhoo is a family search engine with top notch filters.

Parents and teachers are suggested to bookmark these links and let their children start browsing from these search engines.

Related posts:

* Where To Search For Educational Stuff?

* Search at "Ask for KIDS" for educational stuff!

* Search for kids sites at Kinder Art

Wednesday, December 17, 2008

Food Safety lessons for kids


Teachers and parents can suggest these tutorial based food safety lessons to young children. Parents can get help from these easy lessons to help learn their kids about food safety.

"Iowa State University Extension" has arranges these lessons.

This food safety module is presented in four lessons:

Lesson 1: What's bugging you?
Students will get an overview of the importance of food safety and become familiar with common foodborne pathogens. Topics in this lesson include:

What is foodborne illness?
Who is at risk?
How does food become hazardous?
Why are microorganisms important?
What is the greatest threat to food safety?
What conditions encourage bacteria to grow?
What are the most common foodborne pathogens?
How can I handle food safely?

Lesson 2: What are Consumer Control Points?

This lesson focuses on the application of Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) principles to prevent foodborne illness in the home. Students learn the "Consumer Control Points" from purchase through preparation by working their way through the Consumer Control Point Kitchen.
Purchasing
Storage
Preparation
Cooking
Serving
Handling leftovers

Lesson 3: Where is the Danger Zone?
A hypothetical situation using cartoon characters explains the importance of time and temperature in keeping food safe.

Lesson 4: Who is FAT TOM?
An animated turkey, FAT TOM, explains the importance of factors affecting the growth of foodborne pathogens. Students learn the importance of these terms as they relate to food safety:

Food
Acidity
Time
Temperature
Oxygen
Moisture

Site link:

Monday, December 15, 2008

Food colours are linked with hyperactivity of your child

This post is a part of series about children having hyperactive or ADHD symptoms effecting their overall progress at school. I hope that this piece of information would be helpful for all parents and teachers who want to learn more about it.
Parents who are concerned about their child's hyperactivity or ADHD need to learn about the factors which are responsible for it. Definately, learning the causes for hyperactiviy or ADHD can help us save our child from the bad effects of it.

Hyperactivity is when a child is over-active, can't concentrate and acts on sudden wishes without thinking about alternatives. There is no single test for diagnosing hyperactivity. Experts think it affects 2 to 5% of children in the UK. The figures are higher in the United States. Hyperactivity is a general term used to describe behavioural difficulties affecting learning, memory, movement, language, emotional responses and sleep patterns. Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is more than just hyperactive behaviour. Research funded by the FSA has suggested that consumption of mixes of certain artificial food colours and the preservative sodium benzoate could be linked to increased hyperactivity in some children.

ADHD is linked to a specific pattern of behaviour, including reduced attention span and difficulties concentrating such that they affect the child’s ability to learn and function at home and at school. Children with ADHD often have learning difficulties and behavioural problems.

Important new research has shown that commonly used food dyes, such as Yellow 5, Red 40, and six others, are linked to hyperactivity, impulsivity, learning difficulties, and Attention Deficity Hyperactivity Disorder in many children. The Center for Science in the Public Interest has petitioned the Food and Drug Administration to ban the use of these dyes, many of which are already being phased out in Europe.

These dyes—petrochemicals, mostly—are often used to simulate the presence of healthy, colorful fruits and vegetables. But considering the adverse impact of these chemicals on children, and considering how easily they can be replaced with colorings derived from real food ingredients, it’s time to get rid of them altogether.

Download FREE 20 page pamphlet "A Parent's Guide to Diet,ADHD & Behaviour"
- Download link

* If your child shows signs of hyperactivity, or if on the basis of this information you have concerns, you might choose to avoid giving your child food and drinks containing the following artificial colours:

sunset yellow FCF (E110)
quinoline yellow (E104)
carmoisine (E122)
allura red (E129)
tartrazine (E102)
ponceau 4R (E124)
These colours are used in a wide range of foods that tend to be brightly coloured, including some soft drinks, sweets, cakes and ice cream. Parents may wish to check the labels of brightly coloured foods if they want to avoid certain colours.
For details: FSA advice to parents on food colours and hyperactivity

More useful links:

* Understanding e numbers

* The Hyperactive Children's Support Group helping ADHD/Hyperactive children and their families for over 30 years. The HACSG is Britain's leading proponent of a dietary approach to the problem of hyperactivity.

Related posts:

* Teacher's Ideas: Dealing With Students Having ADD/ADHD

* Hobbies, Interests and Activities helping children with ADD

* Tips to deal with your hyperactive child

Effective time out tips


Teaching discipline to children in an effective manner is very important, as it can really enforce good behavior and eliminate the bad ones. The time-out method is the most common, effective and successful discipline method used by parents, teacher and caretakers. The time out method has been used for generations; it is the modern version of the corner, dunce cap or “go to your room”. Parenting experts strongly stress the importance of using a consistent time out location.

By using this method of discipline you are giving your child time out from positive reinforcement (which includes any parental reaction such as yelling or hitting) after he misbehaves. Prepare a time out chair, which can be a chair in any room of the house, a space on the floor, the child's bed, etc… or any place where he is isolated from interaction with others.

'Time out' is the way to teach children coping skills and discourage inappropriate behavior, but if not used wisely it can't be effective. The early years are a time for children to develop confidence and self-control. Positive discipline techniques that combine caring and direction are a part of this healthy environment. Adults should look for meaningful ways to show children why harmful and aggressive acts are unacceptable.

Used infrequently and for very brief periods (no longer than two or three minutes), time-out may give a child the opportunity to calm down and cool off after a frustrating situation. Used often or inappropriately, time-out may not only be ineffectual—it may be damaging to the child.

TIPS

* Adults avoid using time-out for infants and toddlers. Very young children should not be isolated, nor should they be ignored or left without proper stimulation. Infants or young toddlers who do not understand why their behavior is unacceptable should gently be directed to more acceptable behaviors or activities.

* Your expectations of a child's behavior are realistic. A general knowledge of child development will help you identify when children are merely experimenting with their boundaries and when they are behaving inappropriately. When adults give children realistic goals, children feel good about themselves and are more likely to cope successfully with stressful situations.

* Consequences immediately follow the child's behavior. When children experience immediate repercussions for harming others, they understand more clearly why we are disciplining them. Whenever possible, adults should offer children positive alternatives to their actions (asking a child to help rebuild a block structure she has knocked down is more productive than removing her from the area entirely).

* Time-out should not be humiliating, nor should it make children feel threatened or afraid. There should not be a special chair or area assigned for time-out—this reinforces the idea that time-out is a punishment and may cause undue anxiety. Adults should never make a child feel ridiculed or isolated during time-out periods.

* The child should not be left alone, unless he wants to be. Young children need adults' support to work out their feelings. If adults show children that their feelings count, they will be more likely to respect the feelings of others. A caregiver should always visually observe a child during a time-out period.

* Time out does not last longer than it takes for the child to calm down. After the child calms down, explain clearly what is appropriate and inappropriate behavior. There should be no ambiguity about why we have disciplined the child, otherwise the child is more likely to repeat the undesirable behavior.

* The child feels safe with the knowledge that people care for her. Remember that children imitate adults' behavior. Screaming, hitting, or ridiculing a child for bad behavior is not an effective way to teach self-control.

* Tailor the method of discipline to the individual child. Children develop their abilities to control themselves at different rates. Take into consideration the needs of the particular child involved. No single technique will work with every child every time.

* Time-out is not used as a punishment. Time-out is an opportunity for a child to clear her mind and rejoin the group or activity in a more productive state. Teach a child how to solve her own problems with love and support, and time-out may no longer be necessary.
Source: Time out

Related studies:
* All children have behavior problems, some being harder to accept than others. Some of these behaviors can cause children to be aggressive, hostile and difficult to handle, which may emphasize their respective limitations. As parents we are our children's first and foremost teacher. We need to establish our plan for accomplishing rules and expectations.
More at this link: Problem Behaviors With Children

* Discipline Techniques That Work The Best

Sunday, December 7, 2008

"The Why Files" - An interactive and informative site for science teachers and students

Teachers and students can both search 'The Why Files' site for science topics help. This a FREE resource without any advertisement so you can browse the site or bookmark it for you.

The Why Files is a non-profit, web-based source of entertaining and informative science information. Founded in 1995 by the National Institute for Science Education and funded by the Graduate School of the University of Wisconsin-Madison since 1998, The Why Files has helped pioneer the art of reaching web audiences with salient, accurate, and accessible science stories.

Each week the site features clearly written, often humorous, and always fact-checked stories explaining the science behind the news. News hooks are the headlines; stories range from 800 to 3,500 words and are richly illustrated with photographs, drawings, and tables. Each story includes links to relevant web sites and a bibliography with further information.

While traditional journalistic standards, snappy writing, and timely reporting have helped The Why Files achieve international recognition, it is the non-parochial approach to science writing that sets its apart from most university science web sites and has helped to attract a diverse reader base. Instead of focusing on Wisconsin stories, we consciously avoid them. Science goes far beyond a single institution to form a foundation of modern society. Our mission is to help people realize the critical nature of science; such an understanding ultimately benefits our university as well.

The Why Files is well-researched, educational descriptions of the actual science behind current news stories from the University of Wisconsin

Mission(In their own words)
'The mission of The Why Files is to explore the science, math and technology behind the news of the day, and to present those topics in a clear, accessible and accurate manner. We are based at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, but The Why Files covers science at all institutions that engage in scientific exploration and discovery. We hope this information will help explain the relationship between science and daily life.'

What you can get from the site?

- The Why Files produces a new story each week, alternating longer features with shorter shorties.
- A biweekly column by science reporter Tom Siegfried, a series of interactive science animations, the ever-popular "Cool Science Images," and
- A series of Teacher Activity Pages linked to the national science standards.


PC Magazine's editors says: "With tons of articles and activities, the Why Files will take you from ignorance to expertise in dozens of subjects."

Why Files articles includes classroom activities! Each article is equipped with a "teacher activities page" featuring relevant discussion questions, activities, quiz and links to national teaching standards. This free resource is designed to help teachers lead students to a deeper understanding of the scientific material covered in each article.
Few titles are:
Miracle of winged migration
Ultimate Storm: What are hurricanes?
Science Meets Sports
Radiation and Health: What Do We know?
Forensic Science: Bugs, Maggots and DNA
Heating the Home Planet
Volcanic Violence
Stem Cell Progress
Tornadoes: Power & Fury
Mosquito Madness
Tsunami Times 3
Polar Science
Heart Bypass Surgery: Up Close and Personal

- Teacher's activities page

Join the mailing list to get their weekly notice, by submitting your e-mail address at this page link

If you have a general science question, you can search at "archieves" link,

look at this page to search for your answer. Or you can submit your question at this page

Saturday, December 6, 2008

Drawing contest for kids around the world


This drawing contest is announced from "Neuroscience for kids" a site from 'University of Washington' and kids from all over the world are invited to participate in this contest. As the site topic is neuroscience, drawing topic is also related to brain, so kids get ready to submit your drawings for this contest:

How to participate?

Download the entry form from the link of the site.

Entries will be divided into four groups based on age:
If you are in Kindergrarten to Grade 2: Your picture should be about "My brain helps me ________."

If you are in Grade 3 to Grade 5: Your picture should be about "Brain Fitness: I keep my brain healthy by ______."

If you are in Grade 6 to Grade 8: Your picture should be about "My brain is like a _______ because _________."
(Special hint: drawings that compare the brain to a computer, book or robot usually do NOT win.)

If you are in Grade 9 to Grade 12: Your picture should be about "Brain research is important because________."

To enter the drawing contest, mail your completed entry form with your drawing to:

Dr. Eric H. Chudler
Department of Bioengineering; UWEB E/O
Box 355061
1705 NE Pacific St.
University of Washington
Seattle, WA 98195-5061
USA

Do NOT send your entry by email.

- Entries must be received by February 1, 2009, and cannot be returned.
- People from all countries may participate in the contest.
- People and their families associated with the Neuroscience for Kids web site are not eligible to enter the contest.
- Drawings will be judged by the staff of Neuroscience for Kids or by other individuals designated by Dr. Eric H. Chudler. Drawings will be judged on the basis of originality, scientific accuracy and overall design.
- At least one winner from each group will be selected. In past years, each drawing contest has had approximately 50 winners. Winners will be announced by e-mail or regular mail no later than March 1, 2009. The winner agrees to allow Neuroscience for Kids to publish his/her name (first name, last initial only) and artwork on the Neuroscience for Kids web site. Winner addresses and e-mail addresses will be kept confidential and will NOT be published.
- All materials received will become the property of Neuroscience for Kids and will not be returned. Neuroscience for Kids will not be held responsible for entries that are damaged or lost in the mail.
- Winners will be awarded a book, CD-ROM or other prize related to the brain. The specific prizes will be announced later. Prizes will be mailed to the address listed on the winner's entry form.

Questions about this contest should be directed to Dr. Chudler at chudler@u.washington.edu

Link of the site: 2009 Drawing Contest

Thursday, December 4, 2008

"Neuroscience for kids" - A learning resource for kids and teachers

This interactive and informative site is designed for kids but teachers can also use the site for teaching purposes. As I have searched the site and noticed that this ad free site is very informative for science students and teachers. Site navigation is also easy for kids. It is basically about brain and brain related information.


More about the site:
'"Neuroscience for Kids" is the perfect combination of neuroscience, education, science outreach, and writing and editing-all rolled into a collaborative and creative atmosphere.'

Few topics discussed are:
• The World of Neuroscience
• Brain Basics
• Higher Functions
• Spinal Cord
• Peripheral Nervous System
• The Neuron
• Sensory Systems
• Methods and Techniques
• Drug Effects
• Neurological and Mental Disorders

Every topic covers many articles which are interesting and informative.

If you are interested to get monthly newsletter from the site click on this page link

- FREE Worksheets, posters or colouring book

Other useful resources:
- 'Brain info' for the brain surface of atlas
- Brain maps from 'BrainMaps.org'
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