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 The Busy Educator's Monthly Five: February 2009 Use an artists’ online toolkit to create a work of art; Interactive animal detectives build thinking skills; Myths teach word origins; Teachers without borders close the education divide; Aquatic science resources! | |
| by Marjan Glavac Regular contributor to the Gazette February 1, 2009 |
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THE ARTIST'S TOOLKIT: VISUAL ELEMENTS AND PRINCIPLES Artists use visual elements and principles like line, color and shape as tools to build works of art. Learn about these concepts in a variety of ways: Explore the Toolkit (Watch animated movies demonstrating the elements and principles, create your own composition using the elements and principles), Artists in Action, (watch professional artists Ta-Coumba Aiken and Judy Onofrio create original compositions to see how artists use the visual elements and principles), and Encyclopedia (learn more about the building blocks of composition with this in-depth guide). 
THE FIN, FUR AND FEATHER BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION The Fin, Fur and Feather Bureau of Investigation (FFBI) is an international website for kids grade 4-5 chronicling the exploits of an unusual, animal-run detective agency. The site invites Field Agents to solve interactive mysteries on six FFFBI missions ranging from Rainforest Undercover-an adventure to the Galapagos and the Amazon to Operation GAS-Chicken--a fowl genetic experiment that threatens Mars. The site uses innovative interactive stories and cleverly disguised original thinking games to get kids to solve mysteries and learn crucial skills along the way, such as using the Internet for research and investigation, critical thinking, reading, and writing. The project is also a seductively devious springboard to explore a wide range of subjects - from math and science to geography, genetics and history.
CALLIOPE, MUSE OF ELOQUENCE At "Calliope, Muse of Eloquence," students explore English words derived from Latin and Greek mythology. In this series of standards-based lessons, students read summaries of ancient myths to understand the origin and meaning of new words. The self-correcting lessons are designed for grades 3-12. Question sheets available via Adobe Acrobat Reader help students stay focused and provide a means of assessment.
TEACHERS WITHOUT BORDERS Teachers Without Borders works to close the education divide, particularly in developing countries, by providing resources to teachers and connecting them with each other. TWB builds Community Teaching & Learning Centers (high-teach; high-touch; high-tech education sites). There is also a five-course Certificate of Teaching Mastery (CTM) program (professional development for educators), along with other programs geared to youth, job skills, and health. Membership is free.
SHEDD EDUCATIONAL ADVENTURES (SEA) JOHN G. SHEDD AQUARIUM Shedd Educational Adventures (SEA) contains a treasure trove of aquatic science resources for K-12 teachers and students. SEA brings the Philippines to life for your students with fact sheets and multimedia interactives based on the Wild Reef exhibit at Shedd Aquarium.
Plus K-12 lesson plans, fact sheets about plants, animals and culture, and more! Dive into the SEA today!
P.S. To learn more about Marjan Glavac's 
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Marjan Glavac (BA, BEd, MA) is a professional speaker, teacher and author. He is a full time classroom teacher with 25 years teaching experience. He has taught and continues to teach students from the inner city, students with emotional/behavioral disorders, ESL, and IEP students. He is an international speaker and workshop presenter.