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Big Learning News 10-26-04 |
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Big
Learning News
Welcome to Big Learning News, and a special welcome to our new subscribers. Visit BigLearning.org for past BLN issues, education headlines, and more!
New on BigLearning.org ***Advertisement*** Joyful Productions - http://www.joyfulproductions.com featuring MILTON'S DILEMMA, the tale of a lonely boy's magical journey to friendship and self-acceptance. This site contains links and resources for parents and educators on literacy and anti-bullying policies. Check out our two updated and expanded Treasure Troves pages: Engineering for Kids (http://www.biglearning.org/treasureengineering.htm): Great new resources for helping kids learn about making stuff that works. Nature Activities for Kids (http://www.biglearning.org/treasureoutdoors.htm): Fun explorations to help kids learn about the natural world.
Play the Stock Market Whether or not your kids have any real money to invest, the stock market presents a great opportunity to learn about the world of high finance, . Mock investment can be almost as much fun, and a lot less stressful, than the real thing. To get started, here is an article on investing activities you can do with your kids: http://www.fool.com/FamilyFool/1997/970903InvestmentActivitiesforKids.htm This article explains basic investing concepts: http://www.parentmagazineonline.com/stories/402stockmarket.asp If your kids think everything is more fun if they can do it online, here's a simulation investing game. Kids use news articles and "expert" information to make buy/sell decisions about pretend stocks. Whoever has the most money after 12 turns wins. There site has other financial resources for kids, including advice about saving. http://www.fleetkids.com/buylo/buylo.b.html
The Spirit of Tio Fernando: A Day of the Dead Story/ El Espiritu De Tio Fernando : Una Historia Del Dia De Los Muertos by Janice Levy, illustrated by Morella Fuenmayor ( Albert Whitman & Company, 1995). Buying Information Ages 5-10 Day of the Dead, or Dia de Los Muertos, is a holiday celebrated in Mexico and other places on November 1 and 2. If you celebrate this holiday yourself, or if your family would like to learn more about this beautiful celebration, you can't go wrong with The Spirit of Tio Fernando.. The story is told from the perspective of Nando. His uncle has died six months ago, and Nando remembers him fondly as his family prepares rememberances. Levy does a nice job of integrating the cultural traditions into the story, as Nando shops for the holiday and seeks answers about life and death. At the story's conclusion, set at Nando's uncle's graveside, Nando experiences a joyful certainty that his family has successfully recalled his uncle's spirit, and that his uncle knows that he is loved and remembered. If you would like to learn more about Day of the Dead, Mexico Connect has a site with articles and photos: http://www.mexconnect.com/mex_/feature/daydeadindex.html.
SodaPlay Physics Construction and Simulation Ages 8 and up SodayPlay is an environment for building moving robot-like "creatures" and then watching them move. Even young kids will enjoy watching the pre-made creatures and turning the gravity on and off - or reversing gravity and watching the creature spring to the "ceiling." Older kids will enjoy making their own creatures. As they become more accomplished they can join a league and race their creatures against others. Apparently the math and physics can become quiet involved - there's a whole section of the site for Artificial Intelligence researchers. Just make sure you read the introduction and instructions - these pages are clearly written and quite helpful. Without them, it's hard to get started. Watch for our announcement of the winners of the Birthday Giveaway, in the next issue. More information at http://www.biglearning.org .
***Advertisement*** Joyful Productions - http://www.joyfulproductions.com featuring MILTON'S DILEMMA, the tale of a lonely boy's magical journey to friendship and self-acceptance. This site contains links and resources for parents and educators on literacy and anti-bullying policies. *******************************************
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