Advance excellent teaching with Annenberg
Media.
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*** In the Spotlight for February ***
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- Happy 200th Birthday to Lincoln and Darwin
- A Note about Broadcast Rights
- Connect Learning with Special Days
o Valentine's Day
o Washington's Birthday
o The Academy Awards
o Children's Authors and Illustrators Week
o Black History Month
- More February Birthdays
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*** HAPPY 200TH BIRTHDAY TO LINCOLN AND DARWIN ***
February 12, 2009 marks the 200th anniversary of the births of two towering
figures: Abraham Lincoln, the 16th President of the United States, and
Charles Darwin, English naturalist and major proponent of evolutionary
theory.
Draw on our resources to discover the history and rich legacies of these two
monumental personalities of the 19th century.
For Lincoln:
> The Web site for American Passages: A Literary Survey offers this
biographical sketch of President Lincoln as an author
<http://www.learner.org/amerpass/unit07/authors-8.html>. Search the
archive to find photos and portraits of President Lincoln, as well as other
Lincoln-related artifacts.
> Who freed the slaves? This question is asked and answered in Primary
Sources: Workshops in American History Workshop 4, "Concerning Emancipation"
<http://www.learner.org/workshops/primarysources/emancipation/introduction.html>.
Much focus is on Lincoln, who played a major role. Click on "Before You
Watch" for links to several of Lincoln's speeches and letters.
> See the Evaluating Evidence interactive
<http://www.learner.org/courses/amerhistory/interactives/> on the Web
site for America's History in the Making. The interactive features Lincoln's
first and second inaugural addresses, the Gettysburg Address, the "House
Divided" speech, and Lincoln's open letter to Horace Greely, as well as
other artifacts from the era.
> A Biography of America Program 11, "The Civil War"
<http://www.learner.org/biographyofamerica/prog11/>, includes discussion
of Abraham Lincoln in the context of the Civil War and its aftermath.
For Darwin:
> Read a discussion of Darwinian theory and the history of life on Earth in
this interview with Harvard Professor Andy Knoll
<http://www.learner.org/courses/envsci/scientist/transcripts/knoll.html>
on the Web site for The Habitable Planet: A Systems Approach to
Environmental Science.
> Darwin's theory is indispensable to an understanding of biology. Explore
Rediscovering Biology: Molecular to Global Perspectives
<http://www.learner.org/courses/biology/>, which covers evolution and
phylogenetics in Unit 3 and human evolution in Unit 9. Click on "Experts"
for more information on evolution.
> Elementary teachers will gain insight from Essential Science for Teachers:
Life Science
<http://www.learner.org/courses/essential/life/> Session 5, "Variation,
Adaptation, and Natural Selection," and Session 6, "Evolution and the Tree
of Life," both of which address evolution; Session 5 includes a photo and
brief biography of Darwin.
> Unseen Life on Earth: An Introduction to Microbiology
<http://www.learner.org/resources/series121.html> Program 6, "Microbial
Evolution," looks at extremophile microbes and what they can tell us about
the earliest life forms.
> Programs 10 and 11 of Earth Revealed
<http://www.learner.org/resources/series78.html> walk viewers through
changes in the earth and its species over time, and show the interplay
between geology and biology. The second of these programs, "Evolution
Through Time," specifically discusses Darwin's theory and how scientists
account for the lack of intermediate forms between species in the fossil
record.
> A photograph of Darwin
<http://www.learner.org/amerpass/slideshow/archive_search.php?number=5653&fullsize=1>
and one of the famous Scopes Monkey Trial
<http://www.learner.org/amerpass/slideshow/archive_search.php?number=7304&fullsize=1>
are available in the American Passages archive. Also listen to Professor
Abby Werlock's remarks
<http://www.learner.org/amerpass/slideshow/archive_search.php?number=8784>
about the impact of Darwin's ideas on literary realism.
---
Use our Video on Demand feature
<http://www.learner.org/view_programs/view.programs.html> to view
programs free of charge.
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*** A NOTE ABOUT BROADCAST RIGHTS ***
Annenberg Media is a major component of the material for many school,
community access, and other broadcasters. If your station airs our video
series as part of your programming, we'd like to be sure you are aware of
our broadcast rights document, accessible online:
<http://www.learner.org/channel/licenses/attachmenta.html>
Our broadcast rights document -- "Attachment A" -- has recently been updated
and reflects the current expiration dates for broadcasting our video series.
You may continue to broadcast the programs of each series until its
expiration date -- or, in the case of series with rights extensions in
progress, until either a new date has been posted and that date has expired,
or the programs are removed from our collection.
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*** CONNECT LEARNING WITH SPECIAL DAYS ***
Valentine's Day (February 14)
> Our Teachers' Lab activity, How Many Valentines?
<http://www.learner.org/teacherslab/math/patterns/valentines/handshakes1_act.html>
offers a fun way to connect the Valentine's Day holiday with elementary
mathematics.
> The Web site for Teaching Math: Grades 3-5 presents an interactive version
of the How Many Valentines activity
<http://www.learner.org/courses/teachingmath/grades3_5/session_04/section_04_b.html>,
which illustrates principles of reasoning and proof.
> The program "Valentine Exchange" in Teaching Math: A Video Library, K-4
<http://www.learner.org/resources/series32.html> shows a classroom math
lesson just right for the holiday.
> See how kindergarten teacher Cindy Wilson uses the making of Valentines as
a means of promoting her students' oral language skills in Teaching Reading
K-2: A Library of Classroom Practices
<http://www.learner.org/libraries/readingk2/wilson/>.
Washington's Birthday (February 16)
Federal law designates the third Monday in February as the official
observance of the birthday of Washington, recognized as the first President
of the United States of America.
> Explore Units 4 and 6 of America's History in the Making
<http://www.learner.org/courses/amerhistory/> to gain a better
understanding of the role and times of George Washington. From this page
<http://www.learner.org/courses/amerhistory/units/4/addtlResources/#THist>
on the site, link to a 2005 radio program about Washington and his evolution
toward freeing his slaves. Also see this teaching unit on George Washington
in PDF format
<http://www.learner.org/courses/amerhistory/pdf/GWashington_LOne.pdf>
from the National Center for History in the Schools.
> Read George Washington's "Letter to Thomas Jefferson"
<http://www.learner.org/courses/democracyinamerica/dia_12/dia_12_readings.html>
in the readings for Democracy in America, Unit 12.
> The American Passages archive offers numerous images, such as this one
<http://www.learner.org/amerpass/slideshow/archive_search.php?number=1639&fullsize=1>
depicting George Washington crowned in a laurel wreath.
> "The Coming of Independence," Program 4 of A Biography of America
<http://www.learner.org/biographyofamerica/>, looks at Washington's role
in securing America's freedom from British rule. The next program in the
series, "A New System of Government," looks at the earliest years of the
American presidency.
> The Western Tradition
<http://www.learner.org/resources/series58.html> considers the meaning
of Washington's presidency as it contrasts with the heredity-based
monarchies of Europe in Program 38, "The American Republic."
The Academy Awards (February 22)
> Turn the Academy Awards into a teaching moment! Our Cinema interactive
<http://www.learner.org/interactives/cinema/> offers information on
acting, directing, screenwriting, film editing, and production.
> Cover the major topics related to American filmmaking, the film industry,
movie personalities, and various genres by watching American Cinema
<http://www.learner.org/resources/series67.html>. Clips from 300 great
films were used in creating the series.
> Several of the novels featured in the series In Search of the Novel
<http://www.learner.org/workshops/isonovel/> have been made into movies:
Bridge to Terabithia (1985, 2007), Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
(2001), Flowers for Algernon (Charly, 1968; Flowers for Algernon, 2000), and
To Kill a Mockingbird (1962). For his portrayal of Atticus Finch in the
movie To Kill a Mockingbird, actor Gregory Peck won the Oscar for Best Actor
in a Leading Role.
> The articles "Documentary Photography and Film"
<http://www.learner.org/amerpass/unit12/context_activ-2.html> and "Mass
Culture Invasion: The Rise of Motion Pictures"
<http://www.learner.org/amerpass/unit13/context_activ-3.html> on the
American Passages Web site examine the significance of film in American
culture.
Children's Authors & Illustrators Week (1-7)
> The first session of Teaching Reading 3-5 Workshop
<http://www.learner.org/workshops/teachreading35/> illustrates the
importance of making appropriate and enjoyable books available to young
readers (see Session Preparation). The classroom videos "Fostering Book
Discussions" and "Looking at Cause and Effect" feature the books My Name Is
Maria Isabel by Alma Flor Ada and Mississippi Bridge by Mildred Taylor,
among others. Mississippi Bridge is historical fiction presenting the story
of an African American family's experience of discrimination during the
Depression.
> Teaching Reading, K-2: A Library of Classroom Practices
<http://www.learner.org/libraries/readingk2/> features a number of
children's authors and illustrators. For example, see the program "Promoting
Readers as Leaders," in which first-grade teacher Valerie Kostandos
incorporates the "Monster" books by Virginia Mueller, illustrated by Lynn
Munsinger, and several other books into a reading lesson about mood and
making predictions.
> The book Winter Solstice by Ellen Jackson, illustrated by Jan Davey Ellis,
is featured in the program "Celebrations of Light"
<http://www.learner.org/libraries/socialstudies/k_2/mesmer/> in Social
Studies in Action: A Teaching Practices Library, K-12.
> Engaging With Literature: A Video Library, Grades 3-5
<http://www.learner.org/libraries/engagingliterature/> shows the
teaching of excellent children's literature throughout the series.
Black History Month
The theme for this year's Black History Month is "From Slavery to Freedom:
Africans in the Americas."
> Add to your knowledge of history with America's History in the Making
<http://www.learner.org/courses/amerhistory/>, which covers slavery, the
Civil War, Reconstruction, and 20th century developments. Program 20,
"Egalitarian America," discusses efforts to end race-based discrimination.
> Learn new details about American history from A Biography of America
<http://www.learner.org/biographyofamerica/>. The series covers the
periods before, during, and after slavery as well as the Civil Rights
Movement and other eras. Explore the Web site for interactive activities.
> Learn how to incorporate actual documents (i.e., slave bill of sale
documents) into the teaching of historical literature at the high school
level. Watch Artifacts & Fiction: Workshop in American Literature Workshop
3, "Social History"
<http://www.learner.org/workshops/artifacts/sessions.php?s=3>, and use
the Web-based materials to develop lessons on the writings of Harriet
Beecher Stowe and other authors.
> The Africans
<http://www.learner.org/resources/series8.html> Program 4, "Tools of
Exploitation," adds an African perspective on the trans-Atlantic slave
trade. Click on "Buy Videos and Materials" to purchase the series.
> Social Studies in Action: A Teaching Practices Library, K-12 Program 18
<http://www.learner.org/libraries/socialstudies/6_8/fisher/> shows a
classroom lesson based on a reenactment of the famous Amistad case. Click on
"Lesson Background" for information about the topic.
For literature and art:
> The Expanding Canon: Teaching Multicultural Literature in High School
<http://www.learner.org/workshops/hslit/> presents new ways to teach the
writings of African American authors including James Baldwin and Abiodun
Oyewole.
> In "Building Community," Program 6 of Engaging with Literature: A Video
Library, Grades 3-5
<http://www.learner.org/libraries/engagingliterature/building/>, observe
engaging lessons on the books I Have a Dream: The Story of Martin Luther
King, Jr. by Margaret Davidson, Walking the Road to Freedom: A Story About
Sojourner Truth by Jeri Ferris, and Which Way Freedom by Joyce Hansen.
> Learn directly from Barbara Chase-Riboud, Edwidge Danticat, and other
authors featured in Teaching Multicultural Literature: A Workshop for the
Middle Grades
<http://www.learner.org/workshops/tml/> as they discuss their work.
Seasoned teachers talk about their unique approaches to literature.
> On the Web site for American Passages: A Literary Survey
<http://www.learner.org/amerpass/>, click on "About" and "How to Use
This Site" to find author-based materials including biographies of Frederick
Douglass, Ralph Ellison, Zora Neale Hurston, Harriet Jacobs, and other
African American authors. The Web site also offers links to Video on Demand,
lesson activities, and "Context Activities" articles associated with each
unit, like "Harlem in the 1920s: The Cultural Heart of America"
<http://www.learner.org/amerpass/unit10/context_activ-1.html>. Then
click on "Archive" to search for photos of Black civil rights leaders,
slaves and ex-slaves, and key figures in literature and the arts. Examples
of artifacts include this photo of Colored infantry
<http://www.learner.org/amerpass/slideshow/archive_search.php?number=1771&fullsize=1>
and this one
<http://www.learner.org/amerpass/slideshow/archive_search.php?number=1691&fullsize=1>
of "contrabands" in Virginia in 1862.
Signature: Contemporary Writers
includes a documentary
about playwright and director George C. Wolfe and his body of work. (This
program is intended for mature viewers.)
> Budding artists will be inspired by the work of accomplished artists Lorna
Simpson and Beverly Buchanan, both featured in A World of Art: Works in
Progress
<http://www.learner.org/resources/series64.html>.
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*** MORE FEBRUARY BIRTHDAYS ***
Celebrate the birthdays of these important figures of past and present:
- Langston Hughes - poet, writer (February 1, 1902)
> Voices & Visions
<http://www.learner.org/resources/series57.html>
> Teaching Multicultural Literature: A Workshop for the Middle Grades
<http://www.learner.org/workshops/tml/workshop6/authors.html>
> Making Meaning in Literature: A Video Library, Grades 6-8
<http://www.learner.org/libraries/makingmeaning/makingmeaning/seminar/>
- Gertrude Stein - writer, eccentric, modern art collector (February 3,
1874)
> American Passages: A Literary Survey
<http://www.learner.org/amerpass/unit11/authors-9.html>
> Artifacts & Fiction: Workshop in American Literature
<http://www.learner.org/workshops/artifacts/discipline_tutorials.php?tutorial=1&page=24>
- Rosa Parks - civil rights activist (February 4, 1913)
> Teaching Multicultural Literature: A Workshop for the Middle Grades
<http://www.learner.org/workshops/tml/workshop5/authors1d.html>
- Charles Dickens - novelist, social critic (February 7, 1812)
> In Search of the Novel
<http://www.learner.org/workshops/isonovel/>
> Engaging With Literature: A Video Library, Grades 3-5
<http://www.learner.org/libraries/engagingliterature/finding/>
- Elizabeth Bishop - poet, writer (February 8, 1911)
> Voices & Visions
<http://www.learner.org/resources/series57.html>
- Amy Lowell - poet (February 9, 1874)
> American Passages: A Literary Survey
<http://www.learner.org/amerpass/slideshow/archive_search.php?number=8238>
<http://www.learner.org/amerpass/slideshow/archive_search.php?number=4440>
- Alice Walker - author, feminist (February 9, 1944)
> Conversations in Literature
<http://www.learner.org/workshops/conversations/conversation/objectifying/>
> Literary Visions
<http://www.learner.org/resources/series41.html>
- Susan B. Anthony - civil rights activist, suffragist (February 15, 1820)
> American Passages: A Literary Survey
<http://www.learner.org/amerpass/unit09/context_activ-2.html>
> Democracy in America
<http://www.learner.org/courses/democracyinamerica/dia_2/dia_2_video.html>
- Galileo Galilei - physicist, mathematician, astronomer, philosopher
(February 15, 1564)
> Mathematics Illuminated
<http://www.learner.org/courses/mathilluminated/units/3/textbook/05.php>
> The Mechanical Universe...and Beyond
<http://www.learner.org/resources/series42.html>
- Nasir al-Din al-Tusi - mathematician, philosopher, astronomer, biologist
(February 18, 1201)
> The Mechanical Universe...and Beyond
<http://www.learner.org/resources/series42.html>
> Rediscovering Biology: Molecular to Global Perspectives
<http://www.learner.org/courses/biology/units/compev/>
> Teaching Math: A Video Library, 9-12
<http://www.learner.org/resources/series34.html>
- Toni Morrison - author, professor (February 18, 1931)
> In Search of the Novel
<http://www.learner.org/workshops/isonovel/Pages/Morrisonpage.html>
- Nicolaus Copernicus - astronomer (February 19, 1473)
> The Mechanical Universe...and Beyond
<http://www.learner.org/resources/series42.html>
> Earth Revealed
<http://www.learner.org/resources/series78.html>
- Frédéric Chopin - composer, pianist (February 22, 1810)
> Teaching The Children of Willesden Lane
<http://www.learner.org/series/cowl/music.html>
- W.E.B. DuBois - civil rights activist, writer, editor, sociology professor
(February 23, 1868)
> A Biography of America
<http://www.learner.org/biographyofamerica/prog19/>
> Democracy in America
<http://www.learner.org/courses/democracyinamerica/dia_5/dia_5_readings.html>
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