bright ide@s

Each month we highlight some of the most popular resources on the ide@s site.

50 State Quarters Program
Lesson plans for grades K-6 are developed annually to highlight the coins created as a part of the exciting 50 State Quarters Program. Additionally, you will find plans for grades 7-12 that highlight the connections between coins and history. All of these lessons are ready for use in the classroom, and are complete with fantastic reproducible graphics and numerous classroom handouts.

100 Best Books for Children
Here is a list of one hundred books selected by the National Education Association as great reading for children and young people.

"We'll Sing To Abe Our Song." Sheet Music about Lincoln, Emancipation, and the Civil War
"We'll Sing to Abe Our Song!": Sheet Music about Lincoln, Emancipation, and the Civil War from the Alfred Whital Stern Collection of Lincolniana includes more than two hundred sheet-music compositions that represent Lincoln and the war as reflected in popular music. The collection spans the years from Lincoln's presidential campaign in 1859 through the centenary of Lincoln's birth in 1909. This music was compiled by Alfred Whital Stern (1881-1960), who is considered the greatest private collector of materials relating to the life and times of Abraham Lincoln. Stern presented his collection to the Library in 1953 and it continues to grow through an endowment established by his family. Today, the Alfred Whital Stern Collection comprises more than eleven thousand books, pamphlets, manuscripts, prints, and posters, as well as a variety of ephemera.

Online Stopwatch
An online stopwatch that allows you to time events without having to buy or locate a stopwatch. You can have it count up or down, record your times, and then reset for the next use.

"A is for Aviator"
The underlying goal was to communicate the idea that anything is possible if students show the desire, strength, and willingness to succeed. The power of education for their future occupational choices was instilled throughout the unit. The instructional purpose of this program was to expose the students to scientific vocabulary development and to acquaint them with orienteering skills. They read and wrote about becoming an aviator, whether astronaut or airplane pilot. First-grade literacy and science standards were used.

Rubric generator tool
RubiStar is a tool to help the teacher who wants to use rubrics but does not have the time to develop them from scratch. The site not only provides generic rubrics that can simply be printed and used for many typical projects and research assignments, but also provides these generic rubrics in a format that can be customized. The teacher can change almost all suggested text in the rubric to make it fit their own project. There is also a tutorial for help in using the site and options for the Spanish speaker.

Aldo Leopold Foundation
Building upon the vision Aldo Leopold enunciated in A Sand County Almanac and other works, the Aldo Leopold Foundation strives to promote the care of natural resources and foster an ethical relationship between people and land. Demonstrating this ethic on the original Leopold Family Farm outside Baraboo, Wisconsin, the Foundation seeks to restore the ecological health and integrity of the prairie, oak savanna, woodland, and riparian communities once abundant in this area. Working closely with neighbors and other private landowners, Foundation staff, interns, and volunteers share their stewardship expertise throughout the region to save and restore "every cog and wheel," so that the land retains its capacity for self-renewal. Programs include the restoration and protection of over 15,000 acres through partnerships with more than 30 organizations. Field trips for students and adults to the forests, wetlands, and prairies surrounding the Leopold 'Shack' provide an outdoor classroom for exploring ecological relationships. The Foundation also sponsors seminars, workshops, and special education programs to provide private landowners and public land managers with the tools they need to achieve their own 'Land Ethic.' Founded in 1982 by the children of Aldo Leopold, the Foundation depends on a strong and growing membership to support its ongoing work toward developing a conservation ethic in the minds and actions of our society.

Eric Weisstein's MathWorld
MathWorld is a comprehensive and interactive mathematics encyclopedia intended for students, educators, math enthusiasts, and researchers. Like the vibrant and constantly evolving discipline of mathematics, this site is continuously updated to include new material and incorporate new discoveries. Although it is often difficult to find explanations for technical subjects that are both clear and accessible, this website bridges the gap by placing an interlinked framework of mathematical exposition and illustrative examples at the fingertips of every internet user.

Acids and Bases
Acids and bases are important chemicals that affect everyone's life. The activities in this 3-4 day unit are designed to help students understand: 1. The properties of these chemicals; 2. How indicators can be used to identify them; and 3. How experimentation can lead to conclusions

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