Minutes a Day—Mastery for a Lifetime!
I write a blog every month about a scientist worth knowing. For June’s scientist, I have chosen a rather obscure botanist (obscure by American standards), Joseph Dalton Hooker. He meets my criterion of being born in June—June 30, 1817—to be precise. And, a happy coincidence, the first full week in June is National Garden Week. […]
April’s highlighted scientist is naturalist, John Muir. Muir was born on April 21, 1838, in the small coastal town of Dunbar, Scotland. His family emigrated to Wisconsin when he was 11, eventually settling on Hickory Hill farm. Muir’s father, a strict taskmaster, allowed little free time for his two sons, but enough for John to […]
Too often, women scientists labored under the shadow of men, but that was only partially true in the case of Caroline Lucretia Hershel, our Women’s History Month spotlighted scientist. Caroline was born on March 16, 1750 in Hanover, Germany. Her father, a talented musician, encouraged all his children to study music, as well as math […]
Galileo Happy 454th Birthday! I had such fun writing the Ben Franklin birthday blog, I thought I’d write about another scientist. I stumbled upon Galileo’s name in a novel I was reading, Rules of Civility by Amor Towles, in which two characters briefly discuss one of Galileo’s discoveries. “What I recall about this Galileo […]
Not every part of the country gets to celebrate snow with sledding, snowman building, and other outdoor activities, but everyone can catch the winter spirit with stories, lessons, and crafts. The possibilities are endless. Here, if you will, is the tip of the, uh-hem, iceberg. SNOW GLOBE CRAFT You may not know just how affordable […]
Arbor Day Arbor Day is a day to celebrate trees. The day you celebrate Arbor Day depends on where you live. Check out this interactive map to find out when Arbor Day will be celebrated in your state. Arbor Day is a wonderful reason to teach children about the importance of trees, and the […]
Earth Day Earth Day is April 22. These days, many communities support programs that raise awareness about the need to protect our natural environment, and children are more aware than ever of the importance of keeping Earth healthy. This Earth Day activity defines “environment” and gives students an opportunity to investigate the causes and effects […]
Watching how your students take notes can sometimes be troublesome, especially if they have no organizational method whatsoever. This doesn’t have to be the case. Teach your students to use the Cornell Note-Taking System. Developed by Dr. Walter Pauk in the 1950s at Cornell University, these notes provide a structure for students to review and […]
Yes, it is that time of year again—the snow and cold temperatures are coming! While you might already have the required assignments your school district recommends for students’ blizzard bags, why not mix it up with some other fun things they can do as well? Here are 5 recommendations: Turn on the Tube: Public television […]
The holidays are approaching! For many of us, the holidays are about spending time with family and friends, and making tasty treats with these loved ones is often a tradition. This year, why not accomplish your bonding, baking, and even a little education all at the same time by inviting your child to help you […]