Earth Hour 2010

On Sunday, March 27th the world will be celebrating Earth Hour 2010. Earth Hour is sponsored by the World Wildlife Federation. This hour encourages countries, cities and individuals to turn off their lights for 60 minutes to bring awareness and support for the fight against Global Warming. Share this video with your students. You can also visit the official website for Earth Hour at http://wwf.ca/earthhour/.

World Water Day

Today, March 23rd is World Water Day! Check out this video and share it with your class. Great for topics such as Supply and Demand, Manufacturing, Advertising, Point of View, and so much more.

Chinese New Year!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/digitalart/ / CC BY 2.0

Let's celebrate the New Year! Chinese New Year begins on February 14th and it is the year of the TIGER this year. Share these resources with your students. We also have a display of books in the library as well.

The following video is a short animation featuring the animals of the zodiac. Have students watch it and pick out the different animals. Also features tradition Chinese ink drawing and music.



Teach students how to write the twelve zodiac signs in Chinese characters. Video shows the step by step formation of the signs.



Check out the following website for information about Chinese New Year and also reproducibles you can use in your classroom.

http://www.apples4theteacher.com/holidays/chinese-new-year/when-is-chinese-new-year.html

Have students read about China at http://www.cp-pc.ca/english/china/index.html.

Also check out this video which tells the story behind the 12 zodiac symbols!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ty0fgAFe-h0

Gung hay fat choy!

The Olympics are Just Around the Corner

As you may have heard, the Olympics are just around the corner. You may be interested in doing a unit around the Olympics. Here are some resources that can help.

The Official Website of the 2010 Olympics.

http://www.vancouver2010.com/

CTV is the official television station for the Olympics and has great stuff on their website. Check it out at:

http://www.ctvolympics.ca/

Here is a "Useful Resources" page posted on the official Vancouver site. Lots of links to great sites related to the games and issues around the games.

http://www.vancouver2010.com/more-2010-information/education-programs/useful-resources/

Another fantastic site for resouces sponsored by the Online Learning Centre, Saskatoon Public Schools. Everything from history of the games to lesson plans.

http://olc.spsd.sk.ca/de/resources/olympics/

This is just a start. As I come across things, I will be sure to post them! GO CANADA!

February is African Heritage Month

February is African Heritage Month. Throughout this month, I will be featuring a book every week around this theme on the student Library Blog at:

vpmslibrary.blogspot.com

I will also post other information related to this book that you can use in your classroom. Check out display of books in the library and some of these other great resources.

A video playing music and highlighting prominent individuals throughout Black history.



Resources done by the Ottawa-Carleton Board of Education.

http://www.ocdsb.edu.on.ca/Secondary_Websites/teacher_res/AREE/blkhist.htm

Website by Historica. Lots of great links to other websites and focuses on past and present.

http://blackhistorycanada.ca/

Here is a list of lots of sites on African Canadian History.

http://www.learnquebec.ca/en/content/curriculum/social_sciences/features/bhr/hbhmcan.html

Link to the TDSB African Heritage Resource Guide 2010.

http://www.tdsb.on.ca/wwwdocuments/programs/Equity_in_Education/docs/African%20Heritage%20Resource%20Guide%202010.pdf

Using Technology in Your Curriculum

Our students are surrounded by and use technology everyday to communicate, listen to, and learn. Experts have been telling educators to start thinking about how we are going to use technology to not only teach but to engage our students in the learning environment. Here is something to get us thinking about how we can do this.



Are you interested in learning more about Web 2.0 tools, check out the following blog by Wayne Resa. Resea offers teachers the opportunity to walk through 23 things to become familiar with on the Web 2.0. Using video, blogs, wikis, podcasts, Resa walks you through how to use various tools on the Web 2.0. Check out the blog and work your way through the modules on the blog.

http://resa-23things.blogspot.com/

Also, the TDSB offers many workshops throughout the year. Many of these workshops are led by teachers who have used technology in their classrooms or by ICT leaders. Check out a list of workshops available on Key to Learn or on the TDSB website. Follow this pathway

Program, Teaching and Learning > Library Information Communication Technology Resources > ICT > Workshops for Teachers

We will be hosting a Smartboard Resoruces workshop at Valley Park Middle School on Wednesday, January 27th. Sign up on Key to Learn if you are interested.

WORDLE!!

Want your students to create something different to show their learning? Why not get them to use Wordle. Wordle is a free word art generating site on the Internet. It allows students to create word art for any subject area. Have a look at the website below for 43 ways to use Wordle in your classroom.


http://docs.google.com/present/view?id=dhn2vcv5_157dpbsg9c5



You and your students can access wordle at http://www.wordle.net/. Check out an example of a wordle using words from this blog.

Have fun!