Advance excellent teaching with Annenberg/CPB.

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*** In the Spotlight for July ***
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- Planning for Constitution and Citizenship Day
- This Month on the Channel
- Connect Learning with Special Days

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*** PLANNING FOR CONSTITUTION AND CITIZENSHIP DAY ***

September 17 has been officially declared Constitution and Citizenship Day. As you’re probably aware, new guidelines require educational institutions that receive federal funding to hold an educational program related to the U.S. Constitution every year on that day. See Federal Register <http://www.gpoaccess.gov/fr/> Volume 70, Number 99, page 29727 for the notice.

We have a number of video series and related materials that schools can incorporate into such programs, or that teachers and school administrators may find useful as reference materials when planning Constitution and Citizenship Day events. For each of these series, be sure to check the Channel broadcast schedule (click on “Broadcast Dates”) for programs that may be recorded ahead of time:

> “Democracy in America” <http://www.learner.org/redirect/july/democracy1.html>; Web site <http://www.learner.org/redirect/july/democracy2.html>
This series explores how the Constitution works to promote and sustain democracy, as well as the issues that challenge its ideals in lived reality. Check the broadcast schedule <http://www.learner.org/redirect/july/democracy3.html> for programs that may be taped for later viewing, such as Program 4, “Civil Liberties: Safeguarding the Individual,” which airs September 15 at 7:00 p.m. Eastern.

> “Making Civics Real: A Workshop for Teachers” <http://www.learner.org/redirect/july/civics4.html>; Web site <http://www.learner.org/redirect/july/civics5.html>
See models of teaching the rights and responsibilities of citizens and the role of government with this workshop for high school teachers. You may want to hold a democracy-based constitution-building exercise like the one shown in Program 4, “Constitutional Convention,” or draw upon the lesson plans or reading lists offered on the series Web site.

> “A Biography of America” <http://www.learner.org/redirect/july/bioamerica6.html>; Web site <http://www.learner.org/redirect/july/bioamerica7.html>
In particular, Program 5 of this series, “A New System of Government,” provides the historical context of the making and ratification of the Constitution. See the series Web site for a timeline, maps, and a “webography” (library of links) -- plus an interactive activity that examines the contrasting visions of Thomas Jefferson and Alexander Hamilton.

> “The Constitution: That Delicate Balance” <http://www.learner.org/redirect/july/constitut8.html>
This entire series of 13 hour-long programs delves into the U.S. Constitution, with all its complexities and controversies. Join well-known politicians, lawmakers, and journalists in this exploration of issues.

> “Primary Sources: Workshops in American History” <http://www.learner.org/redirect/july/primary9.html>; Web site <http://www.learner.org/redirect/july/primary10.html>
This workshop may inspire you to develop a program based on examining primary-source documents.

> “The Western Tradition” <http://www.learner.org/redirect/july/western11.html>
In this series tracing the history of Western civilization, focus on Program 38, “The American Republic,” which lays out the dominant political, intellectual, and social trends during the formation of the American system of government.

Remember: With a high-speed Internet connection, all of these series can be viewed anytime through Video on Demand. Go to our View Programs page <http://www.learner.org/redirect/july/view12.html> to get started.

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*** THIS MONTH ON THE CHANNEL ***

Follow these series beginning this month on the Channel; be sure to scroll down for broadcast dates and times. Consult the full broadcast schedule <http://www.learner.org/redirect/july/schedule13.html> for many more programs airing in July.

ARTS
> “The Arts in Every Classroom: A Video Library, K-5” <http://www.learner.org/redirect/july/artlibrary14.html>

LITERATURE & LANGUAGE ARTS
> “Conversations in Literature” (grades 6-12) <http://www.learner.org/redirect/july/conversat15.html>
> “Developing Writers: A Workshop for High School Teachers” <http://www.learner.org/redirect/july/writers16.html>

MATHEMATICS
> “Learning Math: Data Analysis, Statistics, and Probability” (K-8) <http://www.learner.org/redirect/july/data17.html>
> “Learning Math: Geometry” (K-8) <http://www.learner.org/redirect/july/geometry18.html>
> “Learning Math: Number and Operations” (K-8) <http://www.learner.org/redirect/july/number19.html>

SCIENCE
> “Essential Science for Teachers: Life Science” (elementary) <http://www.learner.org/redirect/july/lifesci20.html>
> “Planet Earth” (college/high school) <http://www.learner.org/redirect/july/planet21.html>
> “Science in Focus: Energy” (K-6) <http://www.learner.org/redirect/july/energy22.html>

SOCIAL STUDIES & HISTORY
> “Making Civics Real: A Workshop for Teachers” (high school) <http://www.learner.org/redirect/july/civics23.html>
> “Primary Sources: Workshops in American History” (high school) <http://www.learner.org/redirect/july/primary24.html>
> “Seasons of Life” (college/high school) <http://www.learner.org/redirect/july/seasons25.html>

From the Channel schedule pages above, you can find more information on a series by clicking on “Overview.”

Catch the live stream of the Channel at <http://www.learner.org/redirect/july/video26.html>, closed captioned at <http://www.learner.org/redirect/july/video-cc27.html>.

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*** CONNECT LEARNING WITH SPECIAL DAYS ***

Independence Day (July 4)

> For an overview of events surrounding the birth of the United States, watch “A Biography of America” <http://www.learner.org/redirect/july/bioamerica28.html> Programs 4 and 5, “The Coming of Independence” and “A New System of Government.” For more information, visit the Biography of America Web site <http://www.learner.org/redirect/july/bioamerica29.html>.

> “American Passages: A Literary Survey” <http://www.learner.org/redirect/july/passages30.html> looks back at the new nation through a literary lens. Browse the series Web site <http://www.learner.org/redirect/july/passages31.html>, particularly Unit 4, “Spirit of Nationalism,” and find Jefferson’s rough draft of the Declaration of Independence in the archive at <http://www.learner.org/redirect/july/passages32.html>.

Fireworks are more than a show -- they're science and math, too!

> “Reactions in Chemistry” <http://www.learner.org/redirect/july/chemistry33.html> Workshop 3, “Energetics and Dynamics,” demonstrates how different chemical substances give fireworks their different colors and brilliance. See the Reactions in Chemistry Web site <http://www.learner.org/redirect/july/chemistry34.html> for additional material.

> For ideas on how to make fireworks with your algebra lesson, watch “Algebra: In Simplest Terms” <http://www.learner.org/redirect/july/algebra35.html> Program 9, “Absolute Value.”

Bastille Day (July 14)

> Bastille Day in France commemorates the start of the French Revolution. Celebrate the day with a virtual trip to France -- and start learning the French language -- with “French in Action” <http://www.learner.org/redirect/july/french36.html>. See the broadcast schedule <http://www.learner.org/redirect/july/french37.html> for programs airing this month on the Channel.

Parents’ Day (July 24)

Learner.org is not just for teachers; it’s for anyone interested in education. Parents’ Day is a great time to explore our programming designed with parents in mind:

> “The Merrow Report” <http://www.learner.org/redirect/july/merrow38.html>

> “Minds of Our Own” <http://www.learner.org/redirect/july/minds39.html>

> “The Whole Child: A Caregiver’s Guide to the First Five Years” <http://www.learner.org/redirect/july/wholechild40.html>

> “El Niño Completo” (in Spanish/en español) <http://www.learner.org/redirect/july/elnino41.html>

> “Growing Old in a New Age” <http://www.learner.org/redirect/july/newage42.html>

> “Math for All” <http://www.learner.org/redirect/july/mathforall43.html>

> “Math for All—Plus” <http://www.learner.org/redirect/july/mathplus44.html>

Also try our Math and Science Activities for Middle Schoolers <http://www.learner.org/redirect/july/activities45.html> -- activities parents can do at home with their children.


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