------------------------------------------------------------ An Online Educational Community A newsletter that educates parents, teachers, and students. June 2001 Issue #23 Zigmond Snook, Editor, mailto:editor@innovamultimedia.com ------------------------------------------------------------ Welcome to the twenty-third issue of "An Online Educational Community". To read past issues of our newsletter, visit http://www.innovamultimedia.com/archive.html or to learn more about us, check out our website at http://www.innovamultimedia.com If you think a friend might be interested in reading this newsletter, pass it along in whole or in part. You are receiving this newsletter because you requested a subscription. To subscribe or unsubscribe to this newsletter, fill out the form at http://www.innovamultimedia.com/newsletr.html Each month we will focus on a different educational theme and base our feature article and learning tips around that particular theme. ------------------------------------------------------------ IN THIS ISSUE ------------------------------------------------------------ => Feature => Contest - Win a Whale => This Month's Free Lesson Plans => More Great Education Web Sites => Whale Links for Whale Lovers => Webmaster's Wanderings => Feedback ------------------------------------------------------------ FEATURE ------------------------------------------------------------ Curriculum Compacting: Challenging the Above-Average Student Curriculum compacting is an instructional technique specifically designed to make modifications to the curriculum for above-average students who have mastered the learning objectives for a specific unit of study. These above-average students are excused from the unit of study to engage in self-directed, enrichment activities monitored by the teacher. The curriculum compacting process involves the following steps: 1. Identifying the learning objectives for a specific unit of study. These may be located in teachers' manuals, curriculum guides, scope-and-sequence charts as well as frameworks for the various curriculums. 2. Developing a pretest covering each of the learning objectives for the unit of study. 3. Pretesting the students. You may wish to pretest the whole class or only those students whom you have identified as having above-average ability. Here are several suggestions for screening high-achieving students: a. review their scores on standardized achievement tests, b. peruse their cumulative records, c. check their grades on previous tests, d. review the quality of assignments that have been completed to date. e. consult previous grade teacher(s) regarding the students' work ethic and habits as well as whether or not the student would be a good candidate for curriculum compacting, and 4. Identifying the students who have mastered the learning objectives for the specific unit of study. Students who score 80% or higher on the pretest will be exempted from the study unit and will participate in a self-directed enrichment activity. Arrangements must be made to cover those 20% or less learning objectives that the student had answered incorrectly on the pretest. This may be achieved by individual instruction or having the student join the rest of the class when the learning objective is covered. 5. Developing enrichment activities for those students who demonstrate mastery of the learning objectives for the specific unit of study. Be a facilitator in this process as the enrichment activity must be fully endorsed by the student. The activity should challenge the student to research, investigate, and produce a polished final product. Students who test out of a unit of study will: a. collaborate with the teacher to develop an enrichment activity, b. sign a learning contract identifying the enrichment activity and the date it is to be completed. It is important that the activity be completed approximately the same time as the completion of the unit of work. c. have the learning contract signed by a parent(s), d. keep a daily log or journal to record their progress on the enrichment activity, e. maintain weekly checks with the teacher to report on their progress, f. make a presentation to the class when the activity is completed. This may be in the form of: - read an essay or report - provide a demonstration - present a slide show - invite a guest speaker relative to the activity 6. keeping records of the curriculum compacting process for future reference and to include copies in the students' cumulative records. Be sure to inform the students' next grade teacher(s) regarding the enrichment activities completed during the year. Curriculum compacting is gaining tremendous momentum in many classrooms and is seen as a very important technique for stimulating above-average students, many of whom had previously endured boredom, inattentiveness, and were unmotivated having to focus on learning objectives that had already been mastered. Check out the following websites to learn more about curriculum compacting: 1. http://www.mcps.k12.md.us/departments/eii/gr/powerpoint/compacting/sld001.htm (You may have to paste this url into your browser to properly work) 2. http://www.sp.uconn.edu/~nrcgt/news/fall99/fall996.html 3. http://www.gifted.uconn.edu/reiswest.html ------------------------------------------------------------ Contest - Win a Whale ------------------------------------------------------------ INNOVA Multimedia Ltd. is giving away TEN of our "A Whale of a Tale" educational software lessons and the latest version of LessonBuilder, a custom course creation utility, as a FREE DOWNLOAD on our website! Visit http://www.innovamultimedia.com/lbuilder.htm to download your free copy. When you download LessonBuilder you are automatically entered in our contest to win a free CD-ROM from our "A Whale of a Tale" series. Good Luck! ------------------------------------------------------------ This Month's Free Lesson Plans ------------------------------------------------------------ Teachers, check out free "A Whale of a Tale" lesson plans on our website at http://www.innovamultimedia.com/lp_index.html Swim into Social Studies 3 - "Map Fun" at http://www.innovamultimedia.com/social3a.html encourages children to use map symbols and legends and recognize that they represent real phenomena. They relate maps to pictures, understand the advantages of maps, and realize that some symbols, e.g. , rivers are standardized. Surf into Science 1 - "Living and Non-living Things" at http://www.innovamultimedia.com/sci1b.html encourages children to use their senses to observe and identify living and non-living things. Also discover and describe the characteristics of living and non-living things. ------------------------------------------------------------ More Great Education Web Sites ------------------------------------------------------------ Check out some of these INNOVA recommended resource sites: Nerd Gerl Software http://neobasic.freeyellow.com/drillbits/index.html This is one of the best sites we've seen in a while. We encourage you to visit it, you will not be disappointed! Ask any professional educator today and she or he will tell you that the most effective way to learn any material is to memorize it. Nerd Gerl's Drill Bits can help you do just that. With over 75 subjects to choose from, you can easily remember any fact about any topic - from elementary math and basic grammar to in-depth atom structures and cultural anthropology! The Space Place http://spaceplace.jpl.nasa.gov/ Developed by NASA and the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, the Space Place encourages kids to explore space in a fun way. They can "do spacey things," dive below the surface of Mars, see how ions work, learn amazing facts, and more. The site includes an area with space-related classroom activity ideas for teachers. (EdGate) AFRO-Americ@ Kids Zone http://www.afroam.org/children/children.html Numerous games, myths, and fables based on African culture. Sharks and Their Relatives http://www.seaworld.org/Sharks/pageone.html A great site for those fascinated by sharks. This site is packed full of information. Parts of this site require Flash. Bagheera http://www.bagheera.com/lair.htm Combined with Endangered Earth, Bagheera.com provides all the necessary information and resources for individuals to become more knowledgeable about this important issue, and to make a difference. Cultural Connections http://library.thinkquest.org/50055/index.shtml Have you ever wondered what life is like in other countries? Cultural Connections will help you discover other cultures and answer your questions, so pack your bags and choose a country to begin! CEC Foundation for Exceptional Children http://www.cec.sped.org/fd-menu.html The Foundation for Exceptional Children encourages, enhances, and empowers children and youth with disabilities, gifts and talents, helping them to attain their greatest potential. What is Static Electricity? http://www.sciencemadesimple.com/static.html You walk across the rug, reach for the doorknob and..........ZAP!!! You get a shock. Or, you come inside from the cold, pull off your hat and......BOING!!! All your hair stands on end. What is going on here? And why does it only happen in the winter? The answer is: STATIC ELECTRICITY Leonardo Home Page http://www.mos.org/sln/Leonardo/ A site about the other Leonardo (not DiCaprio). This site was designed to be most appropriate for students in grades four through eight, many of the activities can be adapted for younger or older students as needed. Leonardo da Vinci may seem an unusual topic to study in science. But the more you learn about this remarkable Renaissance man, the more you will realize that he was a terrific role model for applying the scientific method creatively in every aspect of life including art and music. Although he is best known for his dramatic and expressive artwork, Leonardo also conducted dozens of carefully thought out experiments and created futuristic inventions in a time before modern science and invention had really begun. Heavens Above http://www.heavens-above.com/ If you're interested in satellites or astronomy, this is the place for you! Their aim is to provide you with all the information you need to observe; satellites, the International Space Station, the Space Shuttle, the dazzlingly bright flares from Iridium satellites, as well as a wealth of other spaceflight and astronomical information. Many people don't even realize that satellites can easily be seen with the naked eye. They not only provide the times of visibility, but also detailed star charts showing the satellite's track through the heavens. All their pages, including the graphics, are generated in real-time and customized for your location and time zone. ClassTrips.com http://www.classtrips.com/index.html CLASSTRIPS.COM is a directory of day, overnight, retreats and travel trips for school, camp, scouts, sports & youth ages 3-18 years. Trips include curriculum focus, educational, cultural, recreation, social skill/team building or just for FUN! Frogwart and the Tooth Fairies http://www.meddybemps.com/10.1.html The enjoyable story of Frogwart and the Tooth Fairies for children of all ages. History in the National Park Service http://www.cr.nps.gov/history/askhist.htm Do you have a question about the national parks, the National Park Service or American history? Ask one of their historians listed and you will receive a reply by e-mail within a few days. Our First Grade Backpack http://www.geocities.com/enchantedforest/tower/1217/grade1.html Fantastic site with numerous links to free stuff. Great for teachers, parents and kids. Cyber Guides K-3 http://www.sdcoe.k12.ca.us/score/cyk3.html Supplement your lessons with CyberGuides. These standards-based Web units correspond to popular works of literature such as "Charlotte's Web" or the "Velveteen Rabbit." Each guide contains a student and teacher edition complete with standards, activities, and suggested links. The guides are based on California Language Arts Content Standards. (EdGate) Scripps Howard National Spelling Bee http://www.spellingbee.com/ They are the nation's largest and longest-running educational promotion, administered on a not-for-profit basis by The E.W. Scripps Company and 240 sponsors in the United States, Europe, Guam, Mexico, Jamaica, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, the Bahamas, and American Samoa. Our headquarters office in Cincinnati, Ohio, coordinates the national finals, enrolls sponsors, and produces word lists and study materials. A to Z of Food Chains and Webs - http://edu.leeds.ac.uk/%7Eedu/technology/epb97/forest/azfoodcw.htm Find out what eats what! An interesting site explaining how the food chain works. Schoolyard Habitats http://www.nwf.org/habitats/schoolyard/index.html Imagine a day when your school grounds are bustling with activity: One group of students eagerly anticipates the first flight of young wrens from a nest box they constructed. Another group learns how to use field guides to identify butterflies in a restored prairie. Art students sketch wildflowers they planted two years ago. A fourth group uses math skills to estimate the number of tadpoles in the pond they helped install last spring. START your Schoolyard Habitats project today! Ilovehomeschool.html http://www.xmission.com/~clawson/clawacad.html A free, online, newsletter for people who love the wonderfully eclectic world of homeschooling. In each issue you'll find unit studies, product reviews, reader comments, biographies of other homeschooling families, fun and games, URL reviews, etc. PlanetWare Travel Encyclopedia and Travel Guide http://www.PlanetWare.com/ PlanetWare offers comprehensive, searchable vacation attraction data. Plan a trip using 9,500 pictures, 2,000 maps, 55,000 in-depth descriptions, addresses. A professional planning tool for travel agents & serious travelers to discover new places to visit. ------------------------------------------------------------ Whale Links for Whale Lovers ------------------------------------------------------------ Check out these INNOVA recommended whale sites! Global Whale Sanctuary Homepage: http://www.greenpeace.org.au/globalwhalesanctuary/index.html Take an animated journey through whaling history. Learn about the development of whaling this century from subsistence whaling through to industrial decimation of entire species. Hebridean Whale and Dolphin Trust(HWDT): http://www.gn.apc.org/whales/index.shtml This website aims both to inform you about HWDT and our activities as well as to provide all sorts of information on whales, dolphins and porpoises (a group of animals collectively known as 'cetaceans', pronounced 'set-tay-shuns'). ------------------------------------------------------------ Whale Trivia: ------------------------------------------------------------ - The Sperm Whale is the largest of the toothed whales. - The Sperm Whale's calves are usually dependent on their mother for at least 4 months, but they can continue nursing until ten years of age. - Sperm Whales live all over the world, but are found especially in the Mediterranean. - The Beluga Whale has only 1 blowhole and is a toothed whale. - The Beluga Whale consumes 50-60 pounds of food a day. - The Beluga Whales have a fatty bump on top of their head called a melon. - When baby Belugas are born they are 14 feet long, which is about the size of a canoe. - The Beluga Whale is the only white whale in the world. ------------------------------------------------------------ Webmaster's Wanderings ------------------------------------------------------------ EcoFixer http://www.innovamultimedia.com/games.html This is a great game for kids, and its free! EcoFixer is from our Surf into Science 2. Shockwave is required to play this game. You can download Shockwave free at http://sdc.shockwave.com/shockwave/download/ ------------------------------------------------------------ Feedback ------------------------------------------------------------ If you have comments or suggestions concerning our online newsletter or website, please direct them to mailto:editor@innovamultimedia.com Your comments and suggestions will be published in the feedback section of future issues. Past Online issues can be found at http://www.innovamultimedia.com/archive.html ------------------------------------------------------------ "An Online Educational Community" may only be redistributed in whole or in part in its unedited form. Written permission from the editor must be obtained to reprint or cite the information contained within this newsletter.

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