Post on 09-Jun-2020
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Tech Tip #15 4 17 14 Rename Multiple Files
To rename multiple files at once, select them all with the mouse. Right click the first one and choose the
option to Rename. Enter a name such as “File” and press Enter. The first file will be named “File (1),” the
second file will be named “File(2),” and so on.
Tech Tip at a Glance Happy Easter! Enjoy the long weekend with family and friends!
Edmodo users: Check that your time zone is set to the correct one in your teacher profile. If yours
is incorrect, your students’ settings will be also!
Kerpoof.com will be inactive after April 15. Disney has discontinued the site.
New term—app smashing—using more than one app in conjunction with one another to complete a
final project (Thanks to http://kulowiectech.blogspot.com/2013/02/app-smashing-part-i.html)
Contact me anytime for assistance with technology integration in your classroom. I am happy to be an
extra set of hands for you!
The Tech Tips are also available on the district web site.
http://www.jamestown.k12.nd.us/tech/technology-tips/
Table of Contents
Click to view each link.
Discovery Education and Learn 360
Prairie Public and Teacher Center Newsletter
Web Sites
iPad Apps
Collaborative or Communicative Projects
Interactive Electronic Field Trips
Upcoming Classes
Grants Available
Professional Development Opportunities
Leave ‘em Laughing
Click to return to the Table of Contents.
Discovery Education (United Streaming)
Grades 6-8 and 9-12
Birth of the American Women's Movement
Penetrates U.S. History by focusing on the most important people, places and
events of the time. Examines a number of Women's Movements in the U.S.
beginning in the early 1600's all the way through the 20th century. Focusing mainly
on equality, women such as Sojourner Truth, Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady
Stanton fought for issues including voting rights, child labor, public health and
factory safety. (Discovery Education Streaming)
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Grades 6-8
Global Wrap from MacNeil Lehrer
Offers insight into top news headlines from around
the world during the week of February 26, 2014. The
presentation looks into the fall of Ukraine's
government, political demonstrations in Venezuela,
new plans for Sochi, and more (Discovery Education
Streaming).
Grades 3-5, 6-8, 9-12
Lodge McCammon Songs: The Fifty States
Project: Boom (New Mexico)
Shares the unique history of the state of New
Mexico in an entertaining and memorable way. Use
this song to help auditory learners thrive.
Learn 360
Get ready for Earth Day by prepping your lesson plan with quality videos and resources from Learn360.
Teach students about the earth's atmosphere and the evolution of our solar system, or give students an
understanding of the earth's natural resources or how we predict climate patterns.
This Earth Day, Modern Marvels from A&E Television Networks-The History Channel can show students
how we utilize and appreciate our earth's natural resources, such as water, oil, and coal. Learn360 and
The History Channel can help explain how these resources go from raw materials to the final product we
see and use each day!
This month is a time to honor and celebrate the many heroes, leaders, and innovators who have paved the
way for today’s women. Learn360 has the stories of trailblazing women such as Susan B. Anthony, Amelia
Earhart, Margaret Thatcher, and many more—great content for your classroom to celebrate the
achievements of women worldwide!
Click to return to the Table of Contents.
Prairie Public and Teacher Center Newsletters
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Homemade Fossils
Download this clip from
Dinosaur Train where
Buddy, Tiny and Don play
"detective" and search
around the Big Pond for
fossils. The kids end up
finding an entire skeleton
of a Jurassic dinosaur.
You can pair this video with
the following lesson plan
Homemade Fossils.
Grades PreK-1
DNA Analysis
Find out how DNA analysis
is changing the way we
fight crime and disease.
Students begin by
exploring the use of DNA
fingerprinting in criminal
investigations. They
conduct a Web activity
that teaches them how
DNA fingerprinting is done.
Then, working in teams,
they examine and interpret
the DNA fingerprints of a
group of individuals.
Grades 6-8
Freak-Genomics
Where did we come from?
In this interactive article
about the Human Genome,
students learn will learn
about the origin of our
species. You can pair the
article with this lesson plan
Freak Genomics. In this
lesson students will enter
the world of the genome,
learning about human
history and evolution.
Grades 9-12
Evolution of Camoflage
Now you see it; now you don't.
This video segment from
Evolution: "Darwin's Dangerous
Idea," the camouflage that works
so well atop a green leaf would
render the mantis easy prey in a
different setting. You can pair
this video with the following
lesson plan.
Effects of Environmental Change.
Grades 3-5
3R's and the Environment
In this blended lesson supporting
literacy skills, students watch
videos that focus on our
environment and the ways
individuals and businesses can
reduce the amount of trash they
create and the natural resources
they use. You can pair this video
with the following lesson plan.
Using the 3R's to help the
Environment
Grades 5-8
Ethanol Biofuel
This video segment adapted from
NOVA examines ethanol, a
cleaner-burning fuel alternative to
gasoline, and the efforts to
produce it more efficiently. Today,
most ethanol in the United States
is made from corn kernels. But
converting corn into ethanol
requires lots of energy as well as
corn, which might otherwise be
used to feed people and livestock.
For more resources about this
program go to Nova's Car of the
Future page.
Grades 9-12
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• Prairie Region Theme Lessons—4th and 8th grade will find great ND content here!
• Women's History Month
• Free Access to 4 Infobase Learning Databases
• Professional Development for STEM Leaders
• Program Schedule Highlights
Teacher Center Check out our “News” page and all the happenings.
http://www.vcateachercenter.info/News.html
PBS LearningMedia
Invite students to delve into the complex and fascinating mysteries of human and animal
biology with this week's special collection of resources:
NEW: Think Wednesday Collection
Grades 2-12 | Collection | Nature, Biology, Technology
After you tune-in to PBS for THINK WEDNESDAY (starting April 9) use this companion collection
to bring the dynamic content into your classroom.
Explore Your Inner Animals
Grades 6-12 | Interactive | Inherited vs. Acquired Traits
Dive inside the human body with this interactive experience from the new PBS series, "Your Inner
Fish," and discover what clues our bodies hold about the history of human evolution.
Cracking Your Genetic Code
Grades 9-12 | Collection | DNA & Genetics
What if the information contained in your DNA were available for others to see? Challenge
students to debate the positive and negative implications of genetic testing.
Click to return to the Table of Contents.
Web Sites
April calendar and teaching ideas http://tinyurl.com/lkkhqd7
Poetry month ideas from Scholastic http://tinyurl.com/nul7cp6 and Edutopia http://tinyurl.com/lxz6bfl
Poetry interactives from ReadWriteThink
http://www.readwritethink.org/search/?resource_type=16&q=poetry&sort_order=alpha
Magnetic poetry ideas http://tinyurl.com/pa6vb8y
Poetry with Jack Prelutsky http://teacher.scholastic.com/writewit/poetry/jack_home.htm
TeachersFirst has loads of poetic resources, but we will mention just a few here. Our Editor's choices
for National Poetry Month are just the beginning. Our feature article for elementary teachers, Common
Core Connections: The Power of Poetry offers ways to implement Common Core WITH poetry. Our
CurriConnects leveled reading list, Poets and Poetry, offers independent reading selections perfect for
April. Even our editor's blog has an idea for teachers in ANY subject to Pack a Poem in your Pocket.
Egg-related activities and lessons http://www.educationworld.com/a_lesson/lesson058.shtml
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Siemens science: Celebrate National Garden Month by helping make our planet a greener and healthier
place to live! Learn more about our planet and what lies beneath!
See April's Featured Activities
Access the Monthly Theme Page each month to find free and interactive activities for your classroom.
Earth Day, April 22, is fast approaching! Although we should all keep the earth in mind every day, this
year, Earth Day will be officially celebrated on April 22. Some books to
use to inspire the students to take an active role in protecting the earth
and conserving our resources are:
The Lorax by Dr. Seuss
The Curious Garden by Peter Brown
Miss Rumphius by Barbara Cooney
Recycle by Gail Gibbons
To get students active, a great game to play outside (or inside in the gym) is "Oh, Deer." This is a
fairly simple game that can be played without gathering many materials. The object of the game is for
students to become familiar with habitats and how the animals can be affected by changes in the
environment. There are several good links on the Web for this game (Riverventure, Project Wild, Illinois
Natural History).
More Earth Day ideas:
Education World http://www.educationworld.com/a_lesson/earth-day-lessons-activities.shtml
Scholastic http://tinyurl.com/pw4g6oh
Energy and Environment Facts
Energy Kids for Teachers
Get Your Energy-Saving Questions Answered
Homework Resources - Environmental Protection Agency
Protect the Environment at School
Science Fair Projects - Environmental Protection Agency
Activity: Energy Calculators
Activities: Games, Quizzes and Other Cool Stuff
Lesson Plans: Teacher Resources and Environmental Lesson Plans
Most people, when asked, can recall planting a tree for Arbor Day when they were a kid. If you
wish to give your kids or students that opportunity, it is time to get ready because Arbor Day is
April 25. The resources below will explain the origin of Arbor Day, how to plant a tree, and where
to get free Arbor Day trees for planting by your kids or students.
First Arbor Day - Today in History
Plant a Tree
State Trees and Flowers
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Discovery Education and 3M have taken four of the
most popular lessons for 6th-12th grade classrooms on
ScienceofEverydayLife.com and transformed them
into interactive lesson plans that engage students and
make learning come to life. The complete suite
includes one standards-aligned, interactive
presentation, one teachers guide, and one self-pace
student module to give students a deeper dive into
the lesson.
Download today for use on your classrooms'
interactive white board, laptops, tablet computers and
more!
Interactive Lessons for 6-8 Classrooms:
Healthy by Design
Expose students to health-related innovations that surround them daily and have them explore
how they can save a life, improve our quality of life, or help us get and stay healthy. Download
Lesson
Innovation of Our Generation
Illustrate the impact of innovations on our lives; guide students through a brainstorming process
to identify everyday innovations that have improved the lives of people in their generation.
Download Lesson
Interactive Lessons for 9-12 Classrooms:
Keeping our Food Safe
Educate your students about the technology necessary to detect contamination from bacterial
organisms and pathogens, as well monitor food safety. Download Lesson
Taking the Energy Challenge
Conduct a class discussion that focuses on the physical science of energy, types of energy and
technologies used for our power supplies. Download Lesson
Free 'Teaching With Tech' Course for Teachers
To help educators incorporate technology into the classroom, HP has created an online
course called “HP Teaching with Technology.” This free course is for K-12 teachers looking
to more effectively integrate technology into their teaching practice. HP’s Teaching with
Technology offers strategies, tips and good ideas that teachers can use immediately. This
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is a five-module course, developed using McREL International’s foundational education research entitled
"Classroom Instruction that Works." The first two modules are available in March/April, the second two
modules in May and the last one in June. http://h10038.www1.hp.com/content_detail.aspx?contentid=1586
National Geographic Announces Geo-Educator Community. National Geographic has announced the
official launch of its new community for educators, the Geo-Educator Community. The Geo-Educator
Community provides a space for geo-educators to share resources, collaborate on projects, learn from
each other and give support. National Geographic defines a geo-educator as an educator working to
improve young people’s understanding of the world. Geo-educators can join the community through a
variety of online platforms including Twitter, Facebook, and the secure educator site, Edmodo (www.geo-
educatorcommunity.org). The community already hosts vibrant discussion ranging from getting students
outside, involved in community service projects, and connected to classrooms around the world. Geo-
educators are also engaged in serious discussion on how to implement geo-education across the country
and around the world. Learn more at www.geo-education.org.
Searching for images just got better, thanks to these tips.
http://practicaledtech.com/2014/04/07/practical-ed-tech-tip-of-the-week-image-search-text/
Practice math skills using fractions and other conversion skills to rescue people from the creepy castle.
http://mrnussbaum.com/castle1/index2.html
Ted-Ed lessons are a great way to incorporate video with lessons. This one is about how studying pea
plants moved forward our understanding of genetics. http://ed.ted.com/lessons/how-mendel-s-pea-
plants-helped-us-understand-genetics-hortensia-jimenez-diaz#watch
Welcome to the Old Picture internet site, featuring an extensive collection of historical photographs.
This collection includes images from the years 1850 to 1940. These photographs span the globe, and
present a unique view of our past. Join us in developing a love and appreciation for vintage photographs.
http://www.old-picture.com/
Edmodo Users: There is now a free Listen Edition Edmodo app. The app can be found in the Edmodo App
store and assigned to any or all of your classes. Listen Edition uses public radio stories to create lesson
plans for current events. Choose the story, use the list of vocabulary works, and have students listen to
the story. There is also a Socrative quiz to use after the news story.
Knowledge Adventure's online educational games for elementary students are categorized into different
groups based on the age group and grade they're meant for and the subjects they deal with. If you
cannot find the learning game you want, look for it in the 'All Games' list on the homepage, where the
games are listed in alphabetical order. http://www.knowledgeadventure.com/
The Shedd Aquarium has a fun interactive activity teaching students K-3 about sea life and camouflage
on the ocean floor with Squish the Fish. http://sea.sheddaquarium.org/sea/squish/flash.html
Sounds of nature to use for white noise in your classroom are available at http://www.noisli.com/
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EverySlide makes your slideshows interactive. Upload your presentation, get a URL for your audience,
takes polls or ask questions for feedback during the presentation, then receive all the responses in a
spreadsheet. http://everyslide.com
Crayola’s Create and Color has backgrounds with characters. Students add pictures, speech bubbles,
and text. Pictures can be printed. https://www2.crayola.com/coloring-page-maker/index.cfm
The Interactive Universe shows the planets in all of their glory! Travel from one to the other as you learn
about each planet and beyond. http://www.history.com/minisites/universe/xml/universe_v12.swf
Click to return to the Table of Contents.
iPad Apps
Microsoft Office has three new free apps for the iPad allowing you to open your office documents.
However, to edit these documents you need to pay for a subscription to Office.
Word https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/microsoft-word-for-ipad/id586447913?mt=8
Excel https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/microsoft-excel-for-ipad/id586683407?mt=8
PowerPoint https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/microsoft-powerpoint-for-ipad/id586449534?mt=8
LEGO® Movie Maker By The LEGO Group (free) helps your child bring their LEGO characters to life with
the LEGO Movie Maker App. This fun, kid-friendly app brings the whole family together to create a
custom LEGO stop-motion movie. Simple tools and guides make it easy to shoot, edit, and even score your
movie with music. https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/lego-movie-maker/id516001587?mt=8
7 Minute Workout By Bytesize (free)--Join over 1.5 million others with the best 7 Minute Workout app.
#1 fitness app in 127 countries. https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/7-minute-workout/id650762525?mt=8
Avokiddo ABC Ride By AVOKIDDO ($2.99) is an inventive and original app that is sure to engage little
kids in creative play, while helping them learn their ABC’s through playful exploration. In this enjoyable
bike ride, kids use their imagination and logic to find the hidden letters and set them free to spell a
word. 26 interactive scenes loaded with fun activities make for hours of repeat play. Learning the
alphabet has never been more edutaining! https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/avokiddo-abc-
ride/id827657068?mt=8
Dexteria Dots - Get in Touch with Math By BinaryLabs, Inc.($2.99) teaches students addition and
subtraction by combining and separating numbers on the screen. The numbers are inside of dots that
vary in size according to the numbers. To create the assigned number, students either have to combine
dots or slice dots into pieces. https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/dexteria-dots-get-in-
touch/id815345306?mt=8
Word Mover By National Council of Teachers of English (free) allows children and teens to create "found
poetry" by choosing from word banks and existing famous works; additionally, users can add new words to
create a piece of poetry by moving/manipulating the text. https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/word-
mover/id572997152?mt=8
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Spelling Star By Top Class Apps, LLC (currently free) is the perfect app for practicing your spelling lists.
Create lists by entering words and recording the audio. Practice spelling each word correctly three times
to become a Spelling Star! The new share list feature is perfect for teachers that want to create lists
and share with their students. https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/spelling-star/id557070660?mt=8
Too Noisy Lite By Walsall Academy (free) is for anyone who has attempted to keep the noise levels of a
group of youngsters under control. If the noise level is acceptable a happy smiling contented graphic is
displayed. If the levels of noise increase beyond what the responsible adult has determined as acceptable
the graphic changes to reflect the unacceptable noise level. Once the level of noise returns to an
acceptable level the graphic automatically returns to the happy contented one.
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/too-noisy/id499844023?ls=1&mt=8
Videoshop - Video Editor By Joseph Riquelme ($1.99) is an easy video editor with fast editing tools,
filters and many other effects for personalizing your videos. You can add slow motion effects and voice
overs too. https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/videoshop-video-editor/id615563599?mt=8
ModMath By Division of Labor SF (free) is an adaptive program that improves math skills. The app lets
you type math problems right onto the touch screen of an iPad rather than write them out long-hand.
You can then solve the problems using the touch pad and print or e-mail the assignments all without ever
picking up a pencil.
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/modmath/id821892964?mt=8&utm_source=TechNotes+04-15-
14&utm_campaign=TCEA+TechNotes+04.15.14&utm_medium=email
Windows 8 Apps
Click to return to the Table of Contents.
Collaborative or Communicative Projects
Zooniverse project: Condor Watch
There are only around 200 California Condors living in the wild and they are in serious danger from lead
poisoning, which they get by eating carcasses shot with lead bullets. Getting a better idea of how they
interact and socialize is crucial to ongoing conservation efforts. Using camera traps, ecologists in the US
have been observing them in the wild. However the sheer volume of images is now overwhelming. Starting
today with people's help they want people to look through the first set of data: 264,000 images of
condors eating, socializing, and nesting. Ecologists need everyone's help to identify the individual birds
from their numbered tags. Your efforts on this project will help preserve an endangered species - and we
think that's really special. http://www.condorwatch.org/
Click to return to the Table of Contents.
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Interactive Electronic Field Trips
Exploring the Unexplored in a Deep-Sea Submersible: Live Webcast
Get ready to join marine biologist, Dr. Carole Baldwin, on April 24 at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. EDT in a live
webcast, Exploring the Unexplored: Deep-Reef Biodiversity. Students will have a chance to look at her
state of the art submersible to get a view of ocean life 200-1000 feet below the surface and learn what
we know about global climate change. You may want to incorporate the In Search of Giant Squid lesson
plan, the online activity Reefs Unleashed, or the other useful resources listed into your learning unit.
JASON Live is proud to announce our STEM
Career Role Model series schedule for January
through June, 2014! Save these dates and be sure
to connect with these fascinating role models
LIVE!
More information on our role models and their
events will be available on the JASON website as
their dates approach. All events begin at 1:30pm Eastern unless otherwise noted. As always, feel
free to contact us at live@jason.org
April 24
Aaron Alford
Psychiatric Epidemiologist
May 1
Matt Hungerman
Mechanical Engineer
May 8
Beth BcCabe
Marketing Technologist, Google
May 15
Denise Akob
Microbial Ecologist
May 22
Jendai Robinson
Chemist
May 29
Larry Feinberg
Biotech Engineer
June 5
Jennifer Davidson
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Computer Scientist
Can't watch the events live? All of JASON's live events are recorded, archived, and posted
to the event page soon after the event ends, so you can watch at your convenience. If you know
you'll be watching later, be sure to pre-submit questions -- you'll still have a great chance of
having your question answered in the program! (Especially if you send in a video question!)
Mystery Skype Challenge your students to work together and think like detectives in the new school year
by planning a Mystery Skype lesson. Mystery Skype is an educational game created by teachers. It's
suitable for students of all ages and can be used to teach many subjects, from geography and history, to
mathematics and science. Find out how it works. More than 1,000 teachers have already joined our new
Mystery Skype community and are waiting to hear from you.
Skype with a Yellowstone Park Ranger https://education.skype.com/projects/2237-yellowstone-
national-park-rangers-can-skype-with-classrooms
Click to return to the Table of Contents.
Grants Available
2014 Elmer's Teacher Tool Kit Application for $100 to $500--A grants program of the Kids In Need
Foundation to promote creativity in the classroom. Applications may be submitted from February 14,
2014, through April, 30, 2014. K-12 certified teachers teaching in the subject of the project at public,
private, charter, or parochial schools within the U.S. Special consideration will be given to projects
submitted by first year teachers and to projects that include a service learning or community service
component. application.
Purpose of Grants: to provide teachers with the means to replicate projects found in the Elmer's
Teacher Tool Kit catalog in their own classrooms. These projects, previously funded by the Kids In Need
Foundation, make creative use of common teaching aids, approach curriculum from an imaginative angle, or
tie nontraditional concepts together for the purpose of illustrating commonalities.
The ING Run For Something Better School Awards Program will provide a minimum of sixty $3,500
grants to schools that desire to establish a school-based running program or expand an existing one.
http://www.aahperd.org/naspe/grants/grants/ING/index.cfm?cid=00001 Due May 15
Sol Hirsch Education Fund Grants
Deadline: June 1, 2014
The National Weather Association funds grants for K-12 teachers improving education in the science of
meteorology. They are looking for proposals designed to have impact at schools with the greatest needs.
Prize: The NWA is offering $750 grants.
7-12 Science and Math Grant (deadline rolling; Toshiba provides over $5,000 to improve science and
math classroom teaching in grades 7-12)
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Music Grant Program: The Fender Music Foundation provides resources for music education programs
including instruments and equipment to eligible music instruction programs.
http://www.fendermusicfoundation.org/grants/grants-info/
Toyota USA Foundation: The Foundation supports family literacy, K-12 education, technical and higher
education, as well as environmental education. Some emphasis is placed on improving the teaching and
learning of mathematics and science.
Wal-Mart sponsors giving programs for public education
http://walmartstores.com/communitygiving/8916.aspx
Pets in the Classroom—grants of $50-$150 for pets and supplies.
http://www.petsintheclassroom.org/programs/pets-in-the-classroom/
Music Grant Program (deadline rolling; $500-5,000 for nonprofits that provide music instruction for
people of any age)
Target Field Trip Grants
Deadline: September 30, 2013
Teachers, if you’ve got an idea for an engaging, out-of-class trip for students but don’t have funding,
consider applying for Target’s Field Trip Grants. Note: These grants get a lot of exposure, so make sure
your application is well-written and presents a clear need, as well as a creative field trip idea. Prize:
Grants up to $700 are available.
Kids In Need Foundation Teacher Grants
Deadline: September 30, 2013
Got a great idea for an innovative classroom project? The Kids In Need Foundation is providing grants to
K-12 educators for projects that make creative use of common teaching aids, approach the curriculum
from an imaginative angle, and/or combine nontraditional subjects. Replicability is also considered.
Prize: Grants range from $100-500.
Green Thumb Challenge Grants
Deadline: September 30, 2013
If your school has an established youth gardening project, you might consider competing for a Green
Thumb Challenge Grant. The program is designed to provide support for the long-term sustainability of
student gardens at schools and youth groups. You must submit a video, photo portfolio, and/or scanned
artwork showcasing the impact of your student garden.
Prize: Several $1,000 grants are available.
Arts Education Grants from P. Buckley Moss Foundation
Deadline: September 30, 2013
Are you working on a new or evolving program that integrates the arts into education? If so, the P.
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Buckley Moss Foundation for Children's Education is offering support grants of up to $1,000 for K-12
programs with the goal of developing an arts teaching tool.
Prize: Several grants of up to $1,000.
Toshiba America Foundation Grades K-5 Grants: Do you have an idea for improving math or science
instruction in your classroom? K-5 grade teachers are invited to use Toshiba America Foundation's short
application form to describe a set of lessons or a hands-on project they would like to introduce in their
own classrooms. Grant amount: $1,000. Deadline: October 1. http://www.toshiba.com/taf/k5.jsp
Kids Gardening Grants—20 awards of $500 gift certificates plus other prizes.
https://survey.garden.org/index.php?sid=67623&lang=en
Captain Planet Foundation Grants
Deadline: January 31, 2014
The Captain Planet Foundation provides grants for hands-on, community-based projects that focus on
improving the environment. Several types of grants are available; preference goes to groups that have
secured matching funds or in-kind (non-monetary) contributions. Also September 30.
Prize: Preferential consideration to requests seeking $500 or less, with occasional consideration of
grants of up to $2,500
Find Your Balance Challenge: Due January 31
Elementary schools: Share your vision for making your school a healthier place. Begin your application
today for your chance to be awarded a $30,000 grant for your school and a resort stay for yourself.
NEA Student Achievement Grants: The NEA Foundation provides grants to improve the academic
achievement of students. The proposed work should engage students in critical thinking and problem
solving that deepen their knowledge of standards-based subject matter. Deadlines: February 1, June 1,
October 15, annually. http://www.neafoundation.org/pages/grants-to-educators/
Learning and Leadership Grant: The NEA Foundation provides opportunities for teachers, education
support professionals, and higher education faculty and staff to engage in high-quality professional
development and lead their colleagues in professional growth. The Foundation will give $2,000 to
individuals and $5,000 to groups engaged in collegial study. Deadlines: Feb. 1, June 1, Oct. 15.
https://researchfunding.duke.edu/detail.asp?OppID=817
American Honda STEM Grants: Honda America supports youth education with a specific focus on the
STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) subjects in addition to the environment.
Average grant size: $20,000 to $70,000. Deadlines: February 1, August 1, November 1, and May 1
annually.
Lowe’s Toolbox for Education grants of $2,000-5,000 are for funding requests that have a permanent
impact such as facility enhancement (both indoor and outdoor) as well as landscaping/clean up type
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projects. Projects that encourage parent involvement and build stronger community spirit will be favored.
Due Feb. 15 and Oct. 15 http://www.toolboxforeducation.com/
The Extreme Classroom Technology Makeover Submission Deadline: February 21, 2014 Renovate Your
Classroom – From Textbooks to Tablets! Acer is offering K-12 schools across the country an
opportunity to transform their classrooms with immersive tablet technology that Promotes 21st century
learning.
http://professional.us.acer.com/campaigndev/edu/campaign/Classroom_Makeover_2013/index.htm
Nominees/Applicants are required to provide a brief summary statement describing why their
classroom deserves to win a makeover and how it would make a difference
Applicants have the option to provide us with pictures (album URL) and/or a video (You Tube URL)
of their classroom
Only one nomination per school is accepted
Acer selects 10 finalists from applicants
Contest public voting selects winner from 10 finalists
ND Teacher Incentive Grants for Art
The Teacher Incentive Grant Program is a means of providing financial assistance to teachers who wish to
explore new and creative ways of integrating the arts in their classroom. Projects are teacher driven and
may involve the visual arts, literary arts, performing arts (drama, music, dance,) architecture, design, folk
arts, or any combination of artistic disciplines. Guidelines are available via this link.
Maximum grant: $300
Deadline dates: April 1 and November 1
Applicants should contact the Council staff with any questions at (701) 328-7590 or email
comserv@nd.gov. http://www.nd.gov/arts/grants/grant.html
The McCarthey Dressman Education Foundation Due April 15
The Teacher Development Grants support small teams of teachers in the formation and implementation of
groundbreaking k-12 classroom instruction. The grants provide opportunities for teachers to integrate
fresh strategies that encourage critical inquiry and to observe their effects on students. Teachers have
the opportunity to reflect and write about their projects, as well as to share their results with other
teachers. The Foundation awards grants to individuals in amounts up to $10,000 per year for a
maximum of three years, provided the eligibility requirements continue to be met.
http://mccartheydressman.org/teacher-development-grants/
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Upcoming Classes
Poverty Series
The Valley City Area Teacher Center will offer a 3 part Poverty Series with Pat Anderson. All courses
will be at the VCHS Library. You must have Poverty 1 to sign up for Poverty 2 since it is a continuum of
the materials.
Deadline to Register is MAY 10th. Contact (sandy.zahn@sendit.nodak.edu) to register.
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2014 Reading Summer Institute--Strategies Aligned with the Common Core Standards You can
Implement in Your Classroom
Presenter: Joanne Billingsley
Date: June 2-3, 2014
Cost: $55.00
Description:
During this training, teachers will learn and experience powerful NEW strategies that are proven to
accelerate the acquisition of academic vocabulary, increase reading comprehension, and improve listening,
speaking and writing skills. These student-centered, engaging strategies allow students to visualize text as
they read. When reading evokes powerful images and brings to mind meaningful conversations, content
comprehension increases dramatically and students learn to LOVE reading!
Location:
Ramada Bismarck Hotel
1400 E Interchange Ave – Bismarck
(701) 258-7000
Sleeping Rooms: Reserved under ND DPI Reading Institute at the rate of $85 per night.
Online registration:
www.surveymonkey.com/s/ZCVCPVX
Go to http://www.ndgeographic.org for information on ND Geographic Alliance summer programs
ND Geographic Alliance Summer Institute—Minot State University—June 9-13—“Oil, Water and People”—
Oil: Follow the Barrel Tour, Water: Management and Flooding, People: Impact. Expect this to be the
highlight of your summer!!
ND/MN Joint Workshop—Concordia, Moorhead—June 17-19— “Cultivating Geographic Connections in the
Red River Valley: A Crossroads of Agriculture, Reinvention and Innovation”—June 17 (8:30 a.m.) to June 19
(3:00 p.m.)
Concordia College, Moorhead, MN
2014 Math Summer Institute--Effective Common Core Based Mathematic Strategies to Improve the
Arithmetic and Algebra Gap
Presenter: Brad Witzel
Date: June 23-24, 2014
Cost: $55.00
Description:
This training will provide teachers specific strategies on how to facilitate learning, remembering, and
applying critical Common Core mathematical concepts and skills in new situations. Strategies during the
training include fluency and automaticity, instructional scaffolding strategies, concrete to representational
to abstract instructional sequence, essential math vocabulary, organization of instruction, and study time.
Location:
Ramkota Hotel Bismarck
16
800 South 3rd Street - Bismarck
(701) 355-4417
Sleeping Rooms: Reserved under ND DPI Math Institute at the rate of $90 per night.
Online registration:
www.surveymonkey.com/s/KLBMWB2
Prairie Region Teacher Training Institute Registration
Prairie Public is offering a 2-day institute for PreK-12
teachers on June 24 & 25 at Concordia College in Moorhead,
MN. Master teachers will teach model lessons integrating
regional arts, history, science and/or culture into classroom
curricula using research-based instructional strategies for
video and web-based media. Receive credit from UND or NDSU.
NEW this year: A Pre-Institue for middle school and high school teachers. On June 24 from 8 am to
11:30 am, a trainer from the Anti-Defamation League will present a 3-hour
training on Echoes and Reflections, a multi-media Holocaust education program.
Teachers attending this free Pre-Institute will receive a copy of the Teacher's
Resource Guide.
MISSION US
The Mission US games are designed to
improve the learning of American history
by students in grades 5 through 8. At this
year's PRTTI you will be guided through a variety of activities and
materials to support use of the missions by educators, including
overview and background information, standards alignments, activities, and primary sources.
Teacher Resource Coalition Workshop—Knife River Indian Village—June 25-27—“Looking at Lifestyles”
GIS Summer Workshop - Scholarships Available
EduTech invites educators to attend a four-day engaging professional training on Geographic Information
systems (GIS) July 7-10, 2014 in Fargo, ND. The training consists of four days face to face training with
the remaining time spent on an extension of the class. Workshop total cost is $450. EduTech and CDE are
offering scholarships to the first 15 educators. EduTech $100 and CDE $200 resulting in $150 for the first
15 educators.
Geospatial technologies have been identified by the current administration as one of the three highest
growth industries in the US today. Learn how to incorporate the tools of this trade to support science,
mathematics and geography!
Three graduate credits are available upon completion. For cost and to register visit,
www.edutech.nodak.edu/training/topic/460
Discover Today’s Red River Watershed Institute July 20-25, 2014
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Join us in Grand Forks for an opportunity to experience current
watershed management and water resource issues on the notorious
Red River. While exploring the issues and identifying solutions,
participants will experience hands-on, minds-on learning through
a balance of presentations, discussions, activities, field tours, and
environmental investigations with practical classroom application and
integration of technology.
Institute Objectives
• Enhance knowledge, skills, motivation and commitment to teach
about contemporary Red River watershed issues and concerns.
• Understand the foundation of water, science, social, and economic
impacts of today’s Red River watershed.
• Provide informative and educational resource materials on today’s
Red River watershed.
• Enhance critical thinking and information processing skills, while
developing a personal perspective on the Red River watershed.
Credit, Costs, Scholarships
Participants can receive four graduate credits (upon approval) through
MISU, UND, or NDSU. Registration for the
Watershed Institute is $250. The registration fee
covers room, board, materials, instructors and resources. Tina Harding@nd.gov 701-328-4833
GeoFIT—Medora—August 4-7—“Enchanting Expedition of the SW”—Classroom on wheels.
Introducing the new 8th Grade
ND Studies curriculum North Dakota People Living on the Land—Oct. 16-17
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Professional Development Opportunities
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18
Leave ‘em Laughing
All I need to know I learned from the Easter Bunny!
Don't put all your eggs in one basket.
Everyone needs a friend who is all ears.
There's no such thing as too much candy.
All work and no play can make you a basket case.
A cute tail attracts a lot of attention.
Everyone is entitled to a bad hare day.
Let happy thoughts multiply like rabbits.
Some body parts should be floppy.
Keep your paws off of other people's jelly beans.
Good things come in small, sugar coated packages.
The grass is always greener in someone else's
basket.
To show your true colors, you have to come out of the shell.
The best things in life are still sweet and gooey.
Happy Easter!
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Rae Ann Vandrovec
Tech Curriculum/Staff Dev. Coordinator
Jamestown Public Schools
207 2d Ave. SE
Jamestown, ND 58401
701-252-1950 ext. 2309
mailto:raeann.vandrovec@sendit.nodak.edu
"Technology is just a tool. In terms of getting the kids working
together and motivating them, the teacher is the most important."
Bill Gates