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*** In the Spotlight for July ***
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 -  Linking to Current Events
 -  This Month on the Channel
 -  Connect Learning with Special Days
     o Independence Day
     o Earth at Aphelion
     o World Population Day
     o National Culinary Arts Month

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*** LINKING TO CURRENT EVENTS ***

Gas Prices

Yes, the price of gas has hit an all-time high. And with increased demand for this limited resource, experts believe prices are likely to remain high for some time.

> Learn about the origins and extraction of fossil fuels, as well as the development of nuclear, biomass (e.g., ethanol), solar, and other energy sources in "Energy Challenges" <http://www.learner.org/channel/courses/envsci/unit/text.php?unit=10&secNum=0>, Unit 10 of The Habitable Planet.

> Is ethanol really the answer? For a specific discussion of biomass fuels, read the expert interview with Andy Aden <http://www.learner.org/channel/courses/envsci/scientist/transcripts/aden.html>.

> Watch "Living With Earth, Part II," the final program of Earth Revealed <http://www.learner.org/resources/series78.html>, for a discussion of oil extraction and the development of alternative energy sources.

> See how crude oil is refined in "The Age of Polymers," Program 22 of The World of Chemistry <http://www.learner.org/resources/series61.html>. Also see Program 15, which illustrates the workings of a solar powered car.

> Consider general economic principles that may play a role in ballooning gas prices. Watch Economics U$A <http://www.learner.org/resources/series79.html>.


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*** THIS MONTH ON THE CHANNEL ***

Take this opportunity to record programs before the satellite broadcast ends. (Note that Video on Demand will still be available after September 2008.)

The following series begin this month on the Annenberg Channel. Be sure to scroll down on the pages linked below for the broadcast dates and times of specific programs. Consult the full broadcast schedule for many more programs and partial series airing in July.

ARTS
> Art of the Western World (college/high school) <http://www.learner.org/channel/series1.html>

FOREIGN LANGUAGE & ESL
> Connect With English (college/high school) <http://www.learner.org/channel/series71.html>
> Destinos: An Introduction to Spanish (college/high school) <http://www.learner.org/channel/series75.html>
> Fokus Deutsch (college/high school) <http://www.learner.org/channel/series104.html>
> French in Action (college/high school) <http://www.learner.org/channel/series83.html>

LITERATURE & LANGUAGE ARTS
> Engaging With Literature: A Video Library, Grades 3-5 <http://www.learner.org/channel/series182.html>
> Engaging With Literature: A Workshop for Teachers, Grades 3-5 <http://www.learner.org/channel/series183.html>
> English Composition: Writing for an Audience (college/high school) <http://www.learner.org/channel/series128.html>
> Inside Writing Communities, Grades 3-5 <http://www.learner.org/channel/series205.html>
> Literary Visions (college/high school) <http://www.learner.org/channel/series41.html>
> Making Meaning in Literature: A Video Library, Grades 6-8 <http://www.learner.org/channel/series169.html>
> Making Meaning in Literature: A Workshop for Teachers, Grades 6-8 <http://www.learner.org/channel/series170.html>
> Teaching Reading K-2 Workshop <http://www.learner.org/channel/series175.html>
> Teaching Reading, K-2: A Library of Classroom Practices <http://www.learner.org/channel/series162.html>
> Write in the Middle: A Workshop for Middle School Teachers <http://www.learner.org/channel/series192.html>

MATHEMATICS
> Insights Into Algebra 1: Teaching for Learning <http://www.learner.org/channel/series196.html>
> Learning Math: Data Analysis, Statistics, and Probability (K-8) <http://www.learner.org/channel/series158.html>
> Learning Math: Geometry (K-8) <http://www.learner.org/channel/series167.html>
> Learning Math: Measurement (K-8) <http://www.learner.org/channel/series184.html>
> Learning Math: Number and Operations (K-8) <http://www.learner.org/channel/series171.html>
> Learning Math: Patterns, Functions, and Algebra (K-8) <http://www.learner.org/channel/series140.html>
> The Missing Link: Essential Concepts for Middle School Math Teachers <http://www.learner.org/channel/series119.html>
> Private Universe Project in Mathematics (K-12) <http://www.learner.org/channel/series120.html>
> Teaching Math: A Video Library, K-4 <http://www.learner.org/channel/series32.html>

SCIENCE
> Essential Science for Teachers: Earth and Space Science (K-6) <http://www.learner.org/channel/series195.html>
> Essential Science for Teachers: Life Science (K-6) <http://www.learner.org/channel/series179.html>
> Essential Science for Teachers: Physical Science (K-6) <http://www.learner.org/channel/series200.html>
> The Mechanical Universe...and Beyond (college/high school) <http://www.learner.org/channel/series42.html>
> Science in Focus: Energy (K-6) <http://www.learner.org/channel/series160.html>
> The World of Chemistry (college/high school) <http://www.learner.org/channel/series61.html>

SOCIAL STUDIES & HISTORY
> A Biography of America (college/high school) <http://www.learner.org/channel/series123.html>
> The Constitution: That Delicate Balance (college/high school) <http://www.learner.org/channel/series72.html>
> Democracy in America (college/high school) <http://www.learner.org/channel/series173.html>
> Discovering Psychology: Updated Edition (college/high school) <http://www.learner.org/channel/series138.html>
> Economics U$A (college/high school) <http://www.learner.org/channel/series138.html>
> Ethics in America (college/high school) <http://www.learner.org/channel/series81.html>
> Ethics in America II (middle school-college) <http://www.learner.org/channel/series207.html>
> Primary Sources: Workshops in American History (high school) <http://www.learner.org/channel/series135.html>
> Social Studies in Action: A Methodology Workshop, K-5 <http://www.learner.org/channel/series176.html>
> The Western Tradition (college/high school) <http://www.learner.org/channel/series58.html>


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*** CONNECT LEARNING WITH SPECIAL DAYS ***

Independence Day (July 4)

> Examine the political context of the Declaration of Independence with "Revolutionary Perspectives" <http://www.learner.org/channel/courses/amerhistory/units/4/>, the fourth unit of America's History in the Making. The unit explores Enlightenment thought, legal and rhetorical aspects of "equality," and state constitutions, and includes an audio file of the Talking History program, "Washington's Slaves."

> For an overview of the American Revolution and Independence, watch A Biography of America <http://www.learner.org/biographyofamerica/> Program 4, "The Coming of Independence," and Program 5, A "New System of Government." Also find coordinated resources including maps, timelines, and more.

> Learn about the underlying chemistry of fireworks displays with Reactions in Chemistry Workshop 3, "Energetics and Dynamics" <http://www.learner.org/channel/workshops/chemistry/workshop3/>.

> Find a link to a trumpet rendition of "The Star-Spangled Banner" <http://www.learner.org/amerpass/slideshow/archive_search.php?number=8151> in the American Passages archive, along with complete lyrics of all four verses of the U.S. national anthem.

> Consider the significance of American independence within the development of Western civilization with The Western Tradition <http://www.learner.org/resources/series58.html> Program 37, "The American Revolution," and Program 38, "The American Republic."


Earth at Aphelion (July 4)

This year, the earth is -- interestingly -- farthest from the sun on July 4 at 08:00 Universal Time.

> Find a chart <http://www.learner.org/channel/courses/learningmath/measurement/session2/part_b/index.html> comparing the actual sizes of the sun and planets, and showing the distance of each planet from the sun, in the materials for Session 2 of Learning Math: Measurement.

> Why would even graduates of Harvard and MIT believe, incorrectly, that the changing distance between Earth and Sun creates the seasons? Find out by watching A Private Universe <http://www.learner.org/resources/series28.html>.

> The Mechanical Universe...and Beyond <http://www.learner.org/resources/series42.html> explains the physics of round and elliptical orbits, motions of the heavenly bodies, and other laws and concepts related to planetary movements and their consequences in Programs 4, 9, 19, 21, 23, and 25. See the Lesson Descriptions <http://www.learner.org/catalog/extras/muprevbk/> for an outline of topics.


World Population Day (July 11)

With food shortages -- and riots -- occurring around the globe, and with fossil fuel use increasing to power our most populous nations' infrastructure development, Earth's human population is being blamed as one factor in the current food and environmental crises. Today, the world's population is estimated at nearly 6.7 billion.

> How can we feed 10 billion people -- the number at which Earth's population is expected to peak sometime this century? Watch the program "Agriculture" <http://www.learner.org/channel/courses/envsci/unit/text.php?unit=7&secNum=0> -- the seventh program of The Habitable Planet -- and explore the unit's online text and Ecology Lab.

> Study many aspects of human population with The Habitable Planet Unit 5, Human Population Dynamics <http://www.learner.org/channel/courses/envsci/unit/text.php?unit=5&secNum=0>. The unit includes Video on Demand, interactive Demographics and Disease Labs, and a collection of population-related images and animations.

> Seventh-grade geography teacher Becky Forristal addresses population issues with her students through role-playing and simulations in Social Studies in Action: A Teaching Practices Library, K-12 Program 19, Population and Resource Distribution <http://www.learner.org/channel/libraries/socialstudies/6_8/forristal/index.html>.

> For an example of how population growth can impact social and political landscapes, see "Population Geography" <http://www.learner.org/powerofplace/page21.html>, Program 21 of The Power of Place: Geography for the 21st Century.

> Tie in population issues with your teaching of exponential functions with this lesson <http://www.learner.org/channel/workshops/algebra/workshop8/lessonplan2.html> from Insights Into Algebra 1: Teaching for Learning.

> In the video program "Random Sampling and Estimation" <http://www.learner.org/channel/courses/learningmath/data/session9/video.html>, the ninth program of Learning Math: Data Analysis, Statistics, Professor Gary D. Kader of Appalachian State University introduces statistical estimation through a penguin-counting exercise, demonstrating how probability and random sampling can be used to estimate population.


National Culinary Arts Month

> This interview with food scholar Jessica B. Harris <http://www.learner.org/channel/courses/amerhistory/units/2/video/transcript.html> explains the relevance of culinary developments to understanding history and America's past.

> "Food, Demographics, and Culture" <http://www.learner.org/channel/courses/worldhistory/unit_main_16.html>, Unit 16 of Bridging World History, examines the role of food in globalization. The unit includes Video on Demand, the video transcript, related images, and other materials in PDF format.

> Read and listen to the cooking-related poem by Judith Ortiz Cofer, "Beans: An Apologia for Not Loving to Cook" <http://www.learner.org/channel/workshops/hswriting/interactives/notebook/workshop2/read.html> on the Developing Writers Web site.

> One way to students' minds is through their stomachs! Observe food-related language lessons in the Spanish units "Food Facts and Stories" and "Fruits of the Americas" in Teaching Foreign Languages K-12: A Library of Classroom Practices <http://www.learner.org/channel/libraries/tfl/>.

> What does math have to do with cooking? Visit our Math in Daily Life interactive <http://www.learner.org/interactives/dailymath/cooking.html> for details.


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