The Earth and the Universe Unit Review

Moon Phases
http://stardate.org/nightsky/moon/
http://www.nasm.si.edu/events/apollo30th/moontheater/phases.html
http://www.harcourtschool.com/activity/moon_phases/
http://www.sciencenetlinks.com/interactives/moon/moon_challenge/moon_challenge.html


Tides
http://oceanservice.noaa.gov/education/kits/tides/media/supp_tide05.html
http://home.hiwaay.net/~krcool/Astro/moon/moontides/
http://www.onr.navy.mil/Focus/ocean/motion/tides1.htm
http://www.bayoffundytourism.com/tide/


Plate Boundaries
http://www.classzone.com/books/earth_science/terc/content/visualizations/es0804/es0804page01.cfm?chapter_no=visualization


Rock Cycle
http://library.thinkquest.org/J002289/index.html
http://www.fi.edu/fellows/fellow1/oct98/create/index.html
http://www.rogersgroupinc.com/ourcommunities/rockology/types.htm
http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/chemistry/changestoearthandatmosphere/0rocksrev1.shtml
http://www.childrensmuseum.org/geomysteries/faq1.html

When Kids...

I agree with the guys' points on this book. I thought that this book was easy to read and find the information that you need. I especially liked the part about during-reading strategies. As a 1st year teacher, I thought this seemed pretty common sense, but putting it into practice takes work and good ideas. Class discussion (Q and A) can get old, and a variety of interactive ways to "talk" about the text is suggested in this professional book. Very helpful!

When Kids Can't Read

Ricco hit a great point; he mentioned that it is essential to have his students build reading strategies outside of Language Art class to help prepare them for high school. I believe this book had some good ideas about helping students read that can be implemented in any classroom, first through twelfth grade. With that being said I believe the grade school teachers need to focus more on pushing reading at an earlier age. I just think it will be much easier to build strong reading habits at that age then it would to try to establish them in high school. I think at this age content would be lost working the majority of the time on reading skills. This is why grade school teachers are so important and so under appreciated.

Classroom Library

I have a collection of science and geography books as well as a collection of about 100 National Geographic magazines on a bookcase in the back of my classroom. I started collecting these books about 5 years ago and have established a sizable collection that I enjoy sharing with my students. I encourage them to check books out to help with other class projects that they may be working on. When a students wants to check out a book they bring it to me and I put their name and the title of the book on an index card in my desk. I have found that most of my students enjoy using geography or science based themes for projects in both their English and theology classes. Ever once in a while students will bring books from home and donate them to th library. Last year one of my students from India brought back some books on the physical geography and culture of India.

Maus

I started and finished Maus yesterday... a quick read. After I read the last page, I looked up surprised, and found my husband. "Do all comic books end this abruptly?" I didn't like being left hanging, but so I went to the library's website to request Maus II. I definitely enjoyed the read, and especially liked the way the author was so transparent about the process of extracting the story from this father. The information about their interactions was a valuable layer to the story. If used in the classroom, it could be the part that high schoolers could relate to... frustrations, misunderstandings about parents and their past. Although few experiences are as traumatic as the Holocaust, I think it helps to know where people are coming from (their past) to have positive relationships in the present. The actual history in sequential order would be great for a history class. I don't see a connection for Science, but reading this book gave me a better understanding of the comic books I see some of my students reading. :)

Flush Ends

I really like Flush. I am planning on reading Hoot over the weekend and picking one of the 2 to use in class when we learn about environmental issues and write persuasive essays. I think it will be a good fit. The book brings up a ton of good questions for discussion. I struggled last year when teaching my students how to write persuasive essays about what they could do to make a difference in protecting resources and the environment. Although Flush gives a perhaps larger-than-life example, I want my students to feel empowered to do something. I could pair the novel with real life examples of kids in action as part of our brainstorming/ pre-writing activities.
The environmental issues presented in the book would be the focus for its use in my classroom, but I would also enjoy discussion of the characters in the book. I thought the Hiaasen did a great job in character development. I always enjoy a book much more when I can relate, feel compassion, or be amusemed by the characters. I thought all the protagonists were endearing... my students will surely get a kick out of Lice. Although... hopefully not the idea that they can call their peers derogatory names. So many areas for discussion!

Teacher's Guide, Reviews, and More

I found this teacher's guide for Flush at Random House: http://www.randomhouse.com/teachers/catalog/display.pperl?isbn=9780375821820&view=tg
At Penn State's Public Broadcasting website, you can listen to a student review of the book:
http://www.wpsu.org/radio/bookmark.php?bookmark_id=255&view=2

Also, Teen Reads has reviews to read:
http://www.teenreads.com/reviews/0375821821.asp

And the Nature Conservancy has a book review and links to learn more about pollution, protecting wildlife, and the geography of the Florida Keys:
http://www.nature.org/magazine/books/misc/art15885.html
I think the NC held an essay contest for kids focusing on the book.

Well, while I'm at it, here's the author's website:
http://www.carlhiaasen.com/