middle school advisory 101

Current Events News Videos

2010-05-09T11:25:00.002-04:00

News quiz for CNN Student News Video.

Social Media Survey

2010-05-09T11:19:00.003-04:00

Have students complete this survey . Discuss the answers and encourage them to talk to their parents about the social media that they use.

What is a person of character?

2010-05-02T10:00:00.004-04:00

We talk about character a lot in school, but what does that really mean? What is a person of character? What traits do they show on a daily basis? The following is designed as a discussion activity with personal reflection at the end.

What is a person of character? Create a definition as a group.
Can you name any famous people that you would consider to be a person of character? What makes them a person of character?
Can you name any real life people that you would consider to be a person of character? What makes them a person of character?
For the following activities, you can use this sheet to guide the conversation.
Create a T chart and write Trustworthiness at the top with a DO and DON'T column. Have students generate ideas about what you should do to promote trustworthiness and what you shouldn't do.
Make a T chart for the other pillars and follow the same instructions as above: respect, responsibility, fairness, caring, citizenship
Print out enough copies for your advisory of this character rubric sheet. Have them fill it out individually and then have a discussion about what they need to work on.

Current Events: Oil spill

2010-05-02T09:20:00.004-04:00

Oil Spills In The Gulf Of Mexico is a slideshow from TIME Magazine.

The Oil Spill: Wildlife at Risk is a graphic from The New York Times.

Rig Blast Aftermath is an interactive from The Associated Press.

Interactive: Gulf of Mexico oil spill is from MSNBC.

What Happens When An Oil Spill Occurs is an interactive about oil spills in general.

Deepwater Horizon Oil Rig Disaster is a slideshow from MSNBC.

ABC News has several online video reports on the disaster.

CNN also has several video reports.

CBS News also has a page of multimedia on the topic.

Here’s a video from The Wall Street Journal.

The Wall Street Journal also has a good interactive.

Gulf Oil Spill Spreads is a Wall Street Journal slideshow.

Oil set on fire in leak disaster is a simple story from the CBBC Newsround.

A Disastrous Oil Spill is from TIME for Kids.

Officials Dispatched To Gulf As Oil Spill Worries Grow is a slideshow from NPR.

Oil spill spreads in the Gulf of Mexico is a slideshow from the Orlando Sentinel.

USA Today has an interactive on the spill.

Interactive: Burning spilled oil is from The Los Angeles Times.

Tracking the oil spill is a CNN interactive.

Oil spill approaches Louisiana coast is from the Boston Globe’s Big Picture.

Oil Slick, From the Air is an interactive from The Wall Street Journal.

Oil leak in the Gulf of Mexico is a slideshow from USA Today.

Southern US Gulf states prepare for oil disaster is a slideshow from The Telegraph.

CNN has just created a new page just on the Oil Spill.

Oil On The Coast is an MSNBC video.

Gulf Coast Oil Disaster is a special feature from CBS News.

Seafood Harvest Threatened by Oil Spill is an ABC video.

The Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill is the title of an excellent infographic.

Pictures Of The Oil Spill is a slideshow from TIME Magazine.

Tracking The Oil Spill is an interactive from The New York Times.

Oil Spills is a very good CBS News interactive.

Here’s a picture of the oil slick from a NASA satellite.

CNN has a video of one of the first birds affected by the oil.

The BBC has several maps and graphics about the spill.

What’s going on beneath the sea? is a good graphic from NOLA.

Bad Weather Stalls Clean-up is a video from MSNBC.

What’s at stake for the environment? is another MSNBC video.

Gulf Oil Spill Spreads is a Wall Street Journal slideshow.

Oil set on fire in leak disaster is a simple story from the CBBC Newsround.

A Disastrous Oil Spill is from TIME for Kids.

Officials Dispatched To Gulf As Oil Spill Worries Grow is a slideshow from NPR.

Oil spill spreads in the Gulf of Mexico is a slideshow from the Orlando Sentinel.

USA Today has an interactive on the spill.

Interactive: Burning spilled oil is from The Los Angeles Times.

Tracking the oil spill is a CNN interactive.

Oil spill approaches Louisiana coast is from the Boston Globe’s Big Picture.

Oil Slick, From the Air is an interactive from The Wall Street Journal.

Oil leak in the Gulf of Mexico is a slideshow from USA Today.

Southern US Gulf states prepare for oil disaster is a slideshow from The Telegraph.

CNN has just created a new page just on the Oil Spill.

Oil On The Coast is an MSNBC video.

Gulf Coast Oil Disaster is a special feature from CBS News.

Seafood Harvest Threatened by Oil Spill is an ABC video.

The Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill is the title of an excellent infographic.

Pictures Of The Oil Spill is a slideshow from TIME Magazine.

Tracking The Oil Spill is an interactive from The New York Times.

Oil Spills is a very good CBS News interactive.

Here’s a picture of the oil slick from a NASA satellite.

CNN has a video of one of the first birds affected by the oil.

The BBC has several maps and graphics about the spill.

What’s going on beneath the sea? is a good graphic from NOLA.

Bad Weather Stalls Clean-up is a video from MSNBC.

What’s at stake for the environment? is another MSNBC video.

Thanks to Larry Ferlazzo for this extensive resource list!

Earth Day Pledge

2010-04-11T16:18:00.004-04:00

Have your students take an Earth Day Pledge here:

You can also print out the hard copy of the image above here to hang in your rooms.

Earth Day TV

2010-04-11T15:48:00.002-04:00

Use Earth Day Television as a resource to learn about global warming, greener living, and much more!

Celebrate Earth Week by watching Life

2010-04-11T15:43:00.005-04:00

Share this amazing series on the Discovery Channel with your students and discuss the wonders of life. You can also take some fun quizzes here.

Earth Hour

2010-03-29T06:43:00.003-04:00

This past weekend was Earth Hour. Have a discussion with your advisees to find out if anyone participated, and if they did, how did they participate?

Earth Hour 2010 inspired an estimated one billion people, organizations, corporations and governments to come together and take a strong stance against climate change. Starting in New Zealand and following the sun around the globe, Earth Hour asked everyone to do something quite simple—turn off the lights at 8:30 p.m. local time. Just one hour for an individual, and 24 hours for the whole world.

In the U.S., where the effects of climate change are increasingly apparent, it felt good to vote for action with a light switch, dimming lights at home and watching iconic landmarks from the Las Vegas Strip to the Empire State Building go dark. Here, Earth Hour’s message hit home: We care about this country and want to turn off the lights on dirty air, dangerous dependence on foreign oil and costly climate change impacts; and make a switch to a cleaner, safer and more secure world.

You can visit the official website here.

Continue the discussion...if you didn't participate in Earth Hour this year, what can you start doing every day to help conserve energy? Why is this important to do as a global community?

Current Events: Flash Mobs in Philadelphia

2010-03-29T06:33:00.004-04:00

We've all seen them...we've seen the most famous ones on youtube and even on the Oprah Winfrey Show! Flash mobs began as a large creative outlet organized by social media. In Philadelphia, police have begun arresting a group of teenagers for violent flash mob behaviors. Click here to read the article.

Here are some guiding discussion questions about flash mobs.

These are some videos showing creative uses of flash mobs:

Digital Citizenship: Proxy Servers

2010-03-21T16:37:00.003-04:00

Did you know that most schools put on content filters and blocks not to annoy you, but to keep you safe at school? There are many students using proxy servers to get around school filters and blocks in order to access games, social networking sites, and possibly some inappropriate content.

Here is an interesting article about what kind of information the proxy servers you may be accessing can do with information about you.

Here are some discussion questions for you to think about:

Do you think it is ok for kids to use proxy servers at school?

Why do you think kids use proxy servers at school?

Is using a proxy server like breaking and entering?

Should a student be punished for using a proxy server?

Do you think using a proxy server violates school rules compared to any other school rules?

Do you think schools should unblock all content or just some content?

Current Events: CNN Student News & Flocabulary

2010-03-21T16:32:00.002-04:00

Here is the student news quiz for the week from CNN Student News.

This week's Flocabulary Week in Rap! See if you can use the CNN Student News above to create your own current events rap!

Did you know?

2010-03-07T21:31:00.002-05:00

This video is a great springboard to discuss media and globalization with your students.

Current Events: Oscars & The Week in Rap

2010-03-07T21:16:00.005-05:00

Did you watch the Oscars? What movies did you see from the best picture list. Check out this official Oscar site to talk about all things Oscar 2010!

...and the winners are ______________!

Current Events: Chile Earthquake 2010

2010-02-28T11:38:00.006-05:00

Here is an extensive resource list from blogger Larry Ferlazzo to teach students about the earthquake in Chile.

Also, here is the latest week in rap:

End the R-word day 03.03.10

2010-02-28T10:58:00.003-05:00

March 3rd is end the R-word day. Use the following resources below to discuss why using "retard" is harmful, cruel, and disrespectful.

As a class or individually, you can pledge to stop using the R-word here.

Type in a url to any website here to see how many times they are using the R-word...it will surprise you!

Teacher resources

Will you be talking to your students about the R-word this week?

Current Events: The week in rap

2010-02-21T12:53:00.003-05:00

Check out the flocabulary website for other editions here.

Teens for Jeans: 212 pairs donated!!

2010-02-16T09:44:00.006-05:00

Congratulations! We collected 212 pairs of jeans! I had the kids help me get the jeans into the car and into the mall on a very snowy day! The people at Aeropostale were thrilled and noted that we brought the most jeans in at one time to their store! Congratulations to Mrs. Pal's advisory for collecting 72 pairs! Our jeans will soon be off to Haiti. Thanks again for your support.

Current Events: Census 2010

2010-02-07T10:14:00.005-05:00

The 2010 Census — a count of everyone living in the United States — is fast approaching! Census questionnaires will be mailed or delivered to every household in the United States in March 2010. Why is a Census important? Check out these sites to find out information about it and check out some cool facts you might not know about!

US Census Bureau

Scholastic

A Portrait of America - Click see their stories at the top right

Technology in the Classroom...What do you Want?

2010-02-07T09:46:00.006-05:00

For this week's open topic in advisory, let's talk about what YOU (the students) wish you could do in the classroom. If YOU were the teacher, what technology would you incorporate? Would you ban cell phones? Would you ban ipods? How can cell phones and ipods be used in your classrooms? Be creative...would you attend school through a virtual world like second life? How could you use skype to learn? If it were up to you, what technology tools would you have available to every student in the middle school?

Post your ideas here! Double click on the wall to add your sticky. You can even add pictures, audio, and video!

Homeless Teens in America: Did you know? (Teens for Jeans)

2010-01-24T08:28:00.004-05:00

Did you know that 1 out of 3 homeless people are under the age of 18? Click here to find out more.
Did you know that the primary cause of homelessness is family conflict? Click here to find out more.
Did you know that 28% of homeless youth have ADD? Click here to find out more.

Teens for Jeans: Now helping Haiti!

2010-01-24T08:24:00.003-05:00

Teens for Jeans is now helping Haiti. Click here to read about what they are doing. Not only will we be helping our local homeless teens, but homeless people in Haiti. Bring in your jeans to help support Haiti!

Current Events: Haiti 360 degree video

2010-01-24T08:13:00.002-05:00

Check out this 360 degree video from CNN. More 360 degree videos by immersive media can be found here.

Current Events: Haiti...a short history

2010-01-24T08:09:00.004-05:00

What do you really know about Haiti? Click here to see a slideshow about it. Or here for a timeline vie.

Current Events: Haiti Earthquake Multimedia

2010-01-24T08:03:00.003-05:00

This is an amazing multimedia resource from the New York Times to use to teach the Haiti earthquake.

Current Events: 5 ways to teach about Haiti right now

2010-01-24T07:59:00.002-05:00

The New York Times has put together an outstanding resource for teachers here.

Teens for Jeans Resources

2010-01-17T08:33:00.002-05:00

Printable Poster

Printable Fact Sheet Poster

A Decade in Magazine Covers: Current Events

2010-01-16T17:21:00.000-05:00

It's Teens for Jeans Time!

2010-01-12T14:27:00.002-05:00

We will be supporting the Aeropostale Teens for Jeans program again this year! We will be collecting jeans (teen size to adult) from January 19th until February 11th. The advisor with the most jeans donated will win a dress down day!

Marshmallow Test: A Lesson in Self Control

2010-01-10T08:39:00.003-05:00

The marshmallow experiment is a famous test of this concept conducted by Walter Mischel at Stanford University and discussed by Daniel Goleman in his popular work. In the 1960s, a group of four-year olds were given a marshmallow and promised another, only if they could wait 20 minutes before eating the first one. Some children could wait and others could not. The researchers then followed the progress of each child into adolescence, and demonstrated that those with the ability to wait were better adjusted and more dependable (determined via surveys of their parents and teachers), and scored an average of 210 points higher on the Scholastic Aptitude Test.

What do you think of the results of the study?
How do you think self control can help you in school? How does it make you a better student?
Why would someone with self control be a more dependable person?
What are some things that you have difficulty controlling in your life?
Design your own marshmallow test...what items could you use to "tempt" other students in your advisor group?

Time Magazine: Multimedia Current Events

2010-01-10T08:37:00.002-05:00

Click here to explore Time Magazine's photoessay section.

New York Times: Current Events Multimedia

2010-01-10T08:32:00.002-05:00

Click here to go to the NYT's multimedia page.

NPR: Current Events Multimedia

2010-01-10T08:26:00.004-05:00

NPR has great current even resources here. They also have an incredible multimedia page that has video and podcast articles about what is going on in the world today as well as in the arts. You can even listen to podcasts of the news on an hourly basis.

We are what we do

2010-01-01T11:50:00.002-05:00

We are what we do is a small way to get your students thinking about doing things to help make the world a better place.

Here are 5 ways to use it in your advisory.

You will need to register yourself. I plan on using it to track my advisor's actions as a group. You can even have your advisor come up with a simple action and launch a campaign! Here are some sample actions that students are doing right now!

Reflection 2009: Self Portrait

2010-01-01T08:56:00.002-05:00

The questions below can be done individually or as a group, but if they are done in a group, make students feel comfortable knowing that they don't have to answer every question. You can have fun with this and have students take their own self portraits with a camera and post them in your room.

What did I learn last year?
What was my greatest accomplishment over the past year?
Which moment from last year was the most memorable and why?
What’s the #1 thing I need to accomplish this year?
What can I do right now to make this year less stressful?
What have I struggled with in the past that might also affect the upcoming year?
What was last year’s biggest time sink? – Steer clear of this in the future. Setup physical barriers against distractions if you have to.
Am I carrying any excess baggage into the year that can be dropped? – Physical clutter, mental clutter… eliminate the unnecessary so the necessary may shine bright.
What have I been avoiding that needs to get done?
What opportunities are still on the table?
Is there anyone I’ve been meaning to talk to?
Is there anyone that deserves a big ‘Thank You’?
How can I help someone else this coming year?
What are my top 3 goals for the next 3 years?
Have any of my recent actions moved me closer to my goals?
What’s the next step for each goal?
What am I looking forward to during the upcoming year?
What are my fears?
What am I most grateful for?
If I knew I only had one year to live, who would I spend my time with?

2009 Pictures of the Year

2010-01-01T08:38:00.002-05:00

Link tv Know the News: Current Events

2010-01-01T08:20:00.002-05:00

Know the news is part of Link tv, where it give viewers a perspective on world news that might not be typically seen in the United States.

One is a Remixer activity where students can edit news clips of the same event from different countries or networks, add their own commentary, and post it online. Teachers need to register in order for their classes to participate.

It also has a News Challenge game that can be played without registering. Two different short news clips are shown, and then questions are asked about them.

Finally, in its Watch and Rate exercise, viewers rate different clips on journalistic qualities.

Newsy: The News with More Views

2010-01-01T08:12:00.003-05:00

Newsy is a site that — in short videos — compares how major news events are covered by media throughout the world.

New Year's Resolutions

2009-12-13T08:44:00.005-05:00

Start a Chain Reaction of Kindness in Memory of Rachel Scott and Others Who Died at Columbine High School Ten Years Ago

by Ali Adair, Associated Content Society

The students at Midvale Middle School near Salt Lake City, Utah are starting a chain reaction of kindness and taking Rachel's Challenge for their 2009 New Year's Resolutions. I recently saw a middle school presentation of Rachel's Challenge, the very popular school non-violence curriculum based on the life and death of Rachel Joy Scott. Click here to learn more about Rachel.

A month after the Rachel's Challenge presentation, the school dance classes at another middle school presented a moving Rachel's Challenge Holiday Dance show to the entire school body. Rachel was the first person to be shot and killed at Columbine High School on April 20, 1999. The dance show included a choreographed depiction of the fear, panic, and grief the students must have gone through at Columbine High School that day. Then, the dancers presented all five challenges that Rachel gave the world in her essays and journals to start a chain reaction of kindness and compassion. Rachel's five challenges are:

Eliminate prejudice by looking for the best in others

Dare to dream - set goals - keep a journal

Choose your influences - input determines output

Kind words and small acts of kindness = HUGE impact

Start a chain reaction with family and friends

As a certified high school business teacher, Rachel's Challenge made a big impact on me to start a chain reaction of kindness and compassion. I decided to poll 150 middle school students to see if they had any clear written goals and what impact Rachel's Challenge made on them. I asked if they had any 2009 New Year's Resolutions. Here is their remarkable, compassionate response.

page 1

page 2

What are your New Year's resolutions? Think of Rachel's five challenges as you write them.

A new type of news reporting: Illustrated Columns (Current Events)

2009-12-13T07:45:00.002-05:00

Maria Kalman is an artist and a journalist. She has started a new form of news media called, "Illustrated Columns". Click here to read "Back to the Land". This illustrated column should spark conversation about the way the information is spread as well as the message about using organic food. It is a great tie in to our organic garden at school!

Use these questions for discussion:

Is there anything surprising or humorous about this post?
What does Kalman think has changed as America evolved from its original, agrarian society?
What are the goals of the Edible Schoolyard project?
Which is your favorite image in the post? Why? Why do you think she chose not to include any paintings or drawings in this post?
How would you characterize Kalman’s style?

Want to have students create their own illustrated columns? Use this template to help them. You can easily post their illustrated columns on a wiki or a blog.

Or have them illustrate a news article that is already written by using this story board template.

Current Events: News Game

2009-12-06T10:56:00.002-05:00

Click here to play the game.

Current Events: Check out today's headlines!

2009-12-06T10:48:00.003-05:00

Check out today's headlines! This is a great activity to compare and contrast news sources.

Snowflakes: You are Unique!

2009-12-06T08:57:00.003-05:00

Create snowflakes with your advisees. Have them write unique attributes about themselves or others (like the bucket activity) and hang them on your wall. This is a festive way to celebrate each other's unique qualities! If your students don't want to make their own snowflakes, here is a cut out pattern.

Holidays: History of the Holidays

2009-12-06T08:53:00.002-05:00

Curious about your favorite holidays and the history behind them. Click here to view the History Channel's History of the Holidays. This is a great time of year to talk about holidays that we are familiar with and some that we aren't. Discussion can revolve around traditions, memories, foods, people, etc.

Current Events: A Year in Review

2009-12-06T08:00:00.003-05:00

Challenge your students to create a year in review for 2009. If you could only pick 10 important things that happened in 2009, what would they be? You can take this a step ahead and have students find pictures and create powerpoint presentations or photostories that represent what they think was important in the world this year.

For inspiration, Reuters has begun their 100 pictures of the year series.

Also, Wikipedia has a list of things that happened in 2009.

Current Events: 25 Great Ideas for Teaching Current Events

2009-12-06T07:57:00.002-05:00

Click here to see 25 ways to teach current events!

Holidays: Some laughs

2009-11-29T08:25:00.002-05:00

What's your favorite holiday movie? Have a discussion about what makes a great holiday movie. Do you have a tradition of watching a certain movie every year?

Holidays: 5 ways to stay healthy for the holidays

2009-11-29T08:21:00.003-05:00

Read this article. Then, have a discussion about holiday stressors that your students experience. Have students create a plan to help reduce stress during the holiday season.

Holidays: Are they too materialistic?

2009-11-29T08:16:00.003-05:00

Read this article. Then, have a discussion about steps each student can take to make the holidays more meaningful. This is also a great opportunity to discuss family traditions.

Current Events: CSPAN student cam 2010

2009-11-29T08:13:00.002-05:00

C-SPAN's StudentCam is an annual national video documentary competition that encourages students to think seriously about issues that affect our communities and our nation. Students are asked to create a short (5-8 minute) video documentary that responds to one of the topics listed below.

This Year's StudentCam Topic:

Students are asked to create a 5-8 minute documentary on:

A) One of our country's greatest strengths;

-OR-

B) A challenge the country is facing.

Choose one, grab a camera, and get started on your documentary today!

This could be a great advisor activity that could last the entire month of December!

Current Events: UN Cyberschoolbus

2009-11-29T07:46:00.003-05:00

Check out what is going on around the world through the UN's cyberschoolbus.

Current Events: World News for Children Podcasts

2009-11-29T07:40:00.003-05:00

Explore 4 minute weekday news bulletins for 7-14 year olds by the BBC in a podcast format. Also, go to their home page to check out their entire website for kids.

Charlie Brown Thanksgiving

2009-11-24T08:32:00.001-05:00

Thanksgiving Surprise

2009-11-22T15:44:00.003-05:00

What really happened at the first New England
feast? Was it duck or turkey on the plate? (Were

there any plates?) A historian shares some secrets.
Click the picture above to find out.

Gratitude: 20 Little Things to Treasure

2009-11-15T09:52:00.005-05:00

Have students create a list of 20 little things to treasure about: _________. You can choose the topic. Here is an example using the fall season:

20 Little Things To Treasure in Autumn

Quiet dinners by the fire
Reading mystery novels in darkened rooms
Flannel sheets at the end of a long day
Candles Flickering
Smelling cinnamon, oranges & cloves
Pumpkins
Roasts, Potatoes & Carrots
Fluffy feather beds on a cold night
Watching movies snuggled in soft blankets
Cozy socks
Pie in the oven
Warm crackling wood stoves
Squash with buttered brown sugar
Chili and corn bread smothered in honey
Wind blowing through leaves
Glow of lamps through windows
Laughter filling a room
Scrabble and popcorn
Caramel apples
Family

Gratitude: Make a Thankful Tree or Pile of Leaves

2009-11-15T09:35:00.004-05:00

Use this printable sheet and copy it onto fall colored paper. Have students create thankful leaves by writing directly on the leaves. You can choose to do this activity in a general way or have students focus on what they are thankful for from each other as we did with the bucket drops.
Additional leaf shapes can be found here:
Ash
Maple

Gratitude: Create a Journal

2009-11-15T09:07:00.005-05:00

Students are often asked at this time of year to recall all for which they are thankful. It may involve one lesson or a week's worth of lessons and/or a culminating activity on the last day before the Thanksgiving holiday. Instead of making Thanksgiving break the stopping point for thankfulness, why not make it the starting point? Students can start a gratitude journal over Thanksgiving break and maintain it until winter break. This way, middle school students can truly see the many people, places, and things for which they should give thanks.

The premise is simple. Write the date and list 5 things that you are grateful for every day. This can be accomplished the "old fashioned way", or online or on your itouch or iphone!

Online, students can use this template to print or save in a word document.

You could also create a wiki for your advisor where they collectively add to an online gratitude journal.

itunes also has an app called Gratitude! Click the gratitude tab to see what it looks like.

Current Events: Student News Daily

2009-11-15T08:46:00.003-05:00

Studentnewsdaily.com is an incredible current events website designed for middle school to high school students. They feature the following:

Current World Events: Explore.org

2009-11-15T08:23:00.003-05:00

If you want your students to get lost in the world, explore.org is the place to do it! Each section of the world has its own films in a documentary form with shorter films called "moments" that are great to use if you don't have the luxury of time to view the entire film in class.

There are also photos that are tagged into categories such as "culture". The photos are stunning and offer a great springboard for discussions as well as an incredible source for writing prompts.

Included are interviews with people that are making a difference in that part of the world. These interviews will encourage discussion about what the challenges are in trying to make a difference.

Another great feature is the question of the month. This month's question is: What is the key to a happy life?

This site has it all...high interest video, beautiful photography, and connections to people. Students will love to explore explore.org! Teachers will love to use this educational site as a guide to exploring the world with their students!

Current Events: Sesame Street Turns 40

2009-11-07T21:58:00.003-05:00

This week, the beloved children's show Sesame Street turned 40 years old! The New York Times wrote an article called Same Street, Different World. Have a discussion about how the world has changed in 40 years. Here are some guiding questions:

What do you remember most about Sesame Street?
Who was your favorite character?
What is timeless about Sesame Street?
What changes have happened in the world over the past 40 years?
If you were to make an updated version of Sesame Street, what would it be like? What characters would you include? Where would it take place?

ps.... cookie monster is NOT veggie monster now...it is an urban legend.

CNN Heroes

2009-11-07T21:26:00.006-05:00

Click the picture to go to the CNN heroes page to watch videos of everyday heroes. You can even vote for your favorite hero! All of these videos will spark conversations in your advisor group about what it means to be a hero.

Heroes: What is a hero?

2009-11-07T21:25:00.002-05:00

How do you define the term "hero?"
What adjectives would you use to describe heroes?
Who are some individuals whom you would classify as heroes? Explain why you would assign that label to each person you listed.
How would you define the term "celebrity?" What are the differences and/or similarities between heroes and celebrities? Can celebrities be heroes? Explain.
Do you think that it is important that we have heroes? Why or why not?
How do you think that we should choose our heroes? What criteria should we use?
Do you think that heroes are born or made? Explain.
Do you believe that one person can make a difference in the world? State your rationale.
Who is your hero? How has this person made a difference for the better? Is there a specific event or turning point that motivated your hero to take action?

Current Events: Using Cartoons

2009-11-04T06:41:00.002-05:00

Question

1. What is the point of Nate Beeler's cartoon?

2. Do you agree with this assertion? Explain your answer.

Current Events: Using Cartoons

2009-11-04T06:39:00.001-05:00

Question

Tone is the attitude a cartoonist takes towards a subject. Which pair of words best describes the tone of this cartoon?

a) paranoid/fearful
b) solemn/serious
c) light-hearted/humorous
d) condescending/mocking

World Series 2009

2009-11-01T16:06:00.003-05:00

Check out the World Series website to talk about the games and watch some great replays!

Current Events: Daily Local News

2009-11-01T16:00:00.002-05:00

The Daily Local News can be an excellent source for local current events!

Current Events: CNN student news

2009-11-01T15:49:00.004-05:00

CNN Student News has a video news clip from each day that is about 10 minutes long. There are discussion questions and quizzes for each video. I would preview the clip before showing it since it is based on real-world news. This is an outstanding current events resource!

Do you have a phobia?

2009-11-01T15:41:00.002-05:00

Almost everyone is afraid of something and most of the time these fears keep us safe. However, some fears are stronger than usual and become phobias. The word phobia comes from a Greek word meaning "to be frightened." Arachnophobia, or fear of spiders, is one of the more common phobias. Here are some others:

Agoraphobia—the fear being in open spaces
Coulrophobia—the fear of clowns
Glossophobia—the fear of speaking in public
Nosophobia—the fear of catching a disease
Acrophobia—the fear of heights
Phasmophobia—the fear of ghosts

Some people are afraid of things that seem very unusual.

Triskaidekaphobia—the fear of the number 13
Zoophobia—the fear of animals
Amathophobia—the fear of dust
Macrophobia—the fear of long waits
Chromophobia—the fear of colors

Do you have any phobias?

What is daylight savings time anyway?

2009-11-01T15:32:00.003-05:00

Click the picture to find out all about daylight savings time. Also, read more here.

Design your own Jack-o-Lantern

2009-10-25T09:52:00.003-04:00

Want to do a fun Halloween craft and spruce up your room? Print out some of these pumpkin templates to decorate.

tall pumpkin template

short pumpkin template

Haunted Philadelphia

2009-10-25T09:12:00.002-04:00

Halloween Discussion Questions

2009-10-25T09:00:00.005-04:00

Describe your scariest childhood Halloween memory.
Describe the best Halloween costume made yourself or that you helped to make.
Describe the best way for children to celebrate Halloween.
How would you like to celebrate Halloween differently?
What is your favorite Halloween tradition?
What is your favorite Halloween candy?

History of Halloween

2009-10-25T08:37:00.001-04:00

Current Events: swine flu

2009-10-18T08:36:00.003-04:00

Click the picture above to watch a short video, “Watch Out, Swine Flu!”, in which Ariel Kaminer, the Times’s City Critic, gauges New Yorkers’ reactions to her H1N1 flu prevention garb.

Discuss this "social experiment".

Current Events: opinion

2009-10-18T08:34:00.003-04:00

Did you follow the story yesterday about the boy who was thought to be aloft in a balloon for two hours, only to be found hiding at home? What questions does it raise for you?

Click the picture to read the full story.

Digital Citizenship: Brainpop topics

2009-10-18T08:24:00.003-04:00

Click to explore more videos and quizzes in brainpop's digital citizenship highlights. Learn about blogs, computer viruses, copyright, cyberbullying, email & im, information privacy, online safety, online sources, plagiaism, and social networking.

Advisors...use these topics to spark conversations about "netiquette" or being appropriate using technology, which includes cell phones, video, and anything on the computer. This is a real character education that you can relate to their own lives and the real world.

Digital Citizenship: Etiquette Quizzes

2009-10-18T08:22:00.003-04:00

After you watch the movie, click to take these quizzes to test how much you know about digital etiquette.

Digital Citizenship: Etiquette

2009-10-18T08:20:00.001-04:00

Click to watch the movie about digital etiquette.

Digital Citizenship: Downloading Music

2009-10-12T08:40:00.003-04:00

Click here for a FAQ about everything you ever wanted to know about downloading music!

Some answers you will find:
“I’m only downloading a few songs. How does that hurt anyone?”

“What’s the worse that can happen if I’m caught?”

“Why do my parents have to pay for what I did?”

Digital Citizenship: Creative What??

2009-10-12T08:24:00.003-04:00

Check how much your advisees really know about what is legal on the internet regarding everything from videos to music. Click here for a printable quiz. The answers can be found here. This should prompt a great conversation with your students. If you need some conversation starters, try these:

What is intellectual property and creative content?
Why are creative rights important?
Are all citizens protected equally by
copyright law?

Conversation: One word answers do not create conversation!

2009-10-04T09:37:00.006-04:00

How was your day?

Fine.

How was school?

Good.

How was your test?

OK.

Anything you want to tell me?

Nope.

Let's try to have some real conversations in advisory this week...the only rule?? There are no one word answers. Use these questions as a guide, but feel free to make up your own!

1. If you had to give every human being one quality, what would it be and why?

2. Do you have any recurring dreams? Describe them?

3. What is the meanest thing someone could say to you?

4. If you could be a famous athlete, actor, writer or musician which would you choose and why? (It is fun to guess what the other people in the group will say before divulging answers)!

5. If you were invisible where would you go and what would you do?

6. If your life was made into a movie, who would play you? why?

7. If you could invent one thing what would it be?

8. What is the greatest song ever written?

9. Do you believe in heaven? What does yours look like? Is it different for everyone?

10. What is the most important quality for a boss to have?

11. If you could know one thing about the future, what would it be?

12. How do you choose your friends?

13. What is the first thing you notice about a person?

14. What do you think is the biggest problem in the United States and Why?

15. Describe the most beautiful thing you have ever seen.

16. What would the cover of your autobiography look like if it could not be a picture of you or your family?

17. If you could trade places with anyone in the world who would it be and why? How about someone in your family?

18. Do you ever talk to yourself? When and what do you say?

Current Events: worldpress

2009-10-04T09:35:00.002-04:00

Click here to read news and views from around the world. Our version of the news is not necessarily THE version of the news. Always double check to see what people around the world are saying about a specific "hot topic".

Current Events: worldbook online

2009-10-04T09:30:00.003-04:00

Did you know that you have access through our school to worldbookonline.com? The student section has current events, quizzes, research sources, and most popular articles. If you want to learn more about what is going on in the world, I've sent the username and password to your email!

Current Events: online news hour extra

2009-10-04T09:21:00.003-04:00

Check out the online newshour extra for news specifically written for kids!

Conversation: bing.com

2009-10-04T09:03:00.006-04:00

Want to learn something new? Check out the image on bing.com every day and you'll find out things you never knew about!

Sleep: Quiz

2009-09-27T10:38:00.002-04:00

Take this quiz to show how much you know about sleep!

Sleep: CBS News Video

2009-09-27T10:30:00.001-04:00

Watch CBS Videos Online

Sleep: How much sleep do I need?

2009-09-27T10:22:00.004-04:00

Check out this article about sleep and teens. Discuss how much sleep they get in a night. Offer these suggestions for how to get more sleep.

What is Yom Kippur?

2009-09-27T10:03:00.003-04:00

Check out this great site for kids about Yom Kippur...find out why it is important to have the day off from school! You can even hear what a shofar sounds like here!

Homework: Scholastic Homework Hub

2009-09-20T15:06:00.003-04:00

Check out Scholastic's Homework Hub Organizer! Some features are:

Homework: Discussion Questions

2009-09-20T14:53:00.003-04:00

Use these questions to prompt discussion about homework:

When do you usually do your homework?
Where do you usually do your homework?
Do you use your assignment planner?
Do you listen to music while you do your homework? If so, why?
Do you use any electronic devices to help you organize your homework?
Do you do you start your homework independently or does someone need to remind you to do it?
What homework do you usually do homework first and why?
How do you manage long-term homework assignments?
What is your favorite type of homework? (reading, worksheet, creative assignment) Give an example of it.
If you were a teacher, what kind of homework would you love to assign? Create an assignment in each subject area (language arts, social studies, science, math) ps...you can't have "no homework" as an assignment! ;o)

Homework: Organize through Color

2009-09-20T14:50:00.001-04:00

Here are some great tips about color coding to organize your work!

Homework: How to make homework less work

2009-09-20T14:33:00.002-04:00

The following article will help you to make homework less work! Click each number to help organize your work!

Track the Trash: Current Events

2009-09-20T14:28:00.003-04:00

Read this article and print out copies of this student page. Answers can be found here.

Science News For Kids: Current Events

2009-09-20T14:21:00.001-04:00

Click here to check out all the latest science current events for kids!

KidsPost: Current Events

2009-09-20T14:14:00.003-04:00

Did you know that there is a Washington Post for kids online? Click here to explore KidsPost.

News Snapshot 9/11

2009-09-13T09:35:00.002-04:00

Read this article and then have a discussion with these questions. The answers can be found here.

Stress Relief Games

2009-09-12T20:47:00.002-04:00

There are tons of games that are fun, but are also designed to relieve stress! Choose a stress relieving game to play today!

Play cards (you can play solitaire online or with a deck by yourself)
Although a Rubik's Cube might be frustrating, it helps to focus your mind on something other than what is bugging you.
Play with a slinky.
Do a crossword puzzle....or check out this great online puzzle site.
Sudoku puzzles and chess.
Darts
Computer games.
Have fun playing a group game that will make you laugh like Twister.

Ways to Manage Stress

2009-09-12T20:35:00.003-04:00

Stress is a physical response to something going on in your life - school pressures, social pressures, or the physical, emotional, and mental changes and challenges of being a teen. Try these tips to relieve, reduce, or even prevent stress.

1. Be active
2. Eat right
3. Avoid caffeine
4. Get enough sleep
5. Express your feelings
6. Laugh it up
7. Know how to relax
8. Get organized
9. Simplify
10. Build strong relationships
11. Be a planner

11 Warning Signs that You're Under Too Much Stress

2009-09-12T20:30:00.002-04:00

Everyone has some stress, and not all stress is bad. But if some or all of these signs describe you, you may be on stress overload.

1. Having more trouble with teachers.
2. Needing a lot of sleep - or not sleeping well.
3. Wanting to eat all the time - or never eating.
4. Headaches, stomachaches, colds, infections, sore muscles.
5. Escapist behavior - overdoing one thing (TV, music, studying, sleeping, Web surfing) and ignoring other things.
6. Withdrawing from friends and family.
7. Crying for no apparent reason.
8. Feeling like an idiot.
9. Feeling restless and anxious; worrying all the time.
10. Feeling like everything is out of control - like you're out of control.
11. Depression, sadness, crabbiness, the blahs.

On this day in History: (not so) current events

2009-09-12T18:45:00.003-04:00

Want to discuss events that were current hundreds of years ago, fifty years ago, or even ten years ago? Check out This Day in History.