Advance excellent teaching with Annenberg Media.

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*** In the Spotlight for October ***
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 -  Linking to Current Events
 -  Upcoming Conferences
 -  Connect Learning with Special Days
     o National Poetry Day
     o World Mental Health Day
     o Universal Music Day
     o Columbus Day
     o Mole Day
     o National Newspaper Week
     o National Metric Week

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*** LINKING TO CURRENT EVENTS ***

Upcoming Presidential Election

This year's presidential election, scheduled for Tuesday November 4, is considered crucial for many reasons, including the current economic crisis, the war in Iraq, and the fact that the United States is now bound to have either its first African American president or female vice president.

Over the coming month, make use of the following series with programs designed to enhance understanding of the U.S. political system:

> Democracy in America <http://www.learner.org/resources/series72.html> -- multiple relevant programs

> The Constitution: That Delicate Balance <http://www.learner.org/resources/series72.html> -- multiple relevant programs

> America's History in the Making <http://www.learner.org/channel/courses/amerhistory/> -- See units 5, 13, and 18; other programs may also be of interest

> A Biography of America <http://www.learner.org/biographyofamerica/> -- See Program 5

> The Western Tradition <http://www.learner.org/resources/series58.html> -- See Program 38

> Making Civics Real: A Workshop for Teachers <http://www.learner.org/channel/workshops/civics/> -- See Workshop 2

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Space Craftings

A couple of spacecraft events are scheduled for October. NASA's MESSENGER will be making another flyby of Mercury October 6, with the aim of becoming the first spacecraft to orbit Mercury. Meanwhile, India's first lunar orbiter, Chandrayaan-1, is getting ready for a launch tentatively scheduled for the second half of this month. A final spacewalking mission of the Space Shuttle Atlantis to service the Hubble Telescope, originally planned for October, has been postponed until 2009.

> For ideas on teaching younger students, see Essential Science for Teachers: Earth and Space Science <http://www.learner.org/channel/courses/essential/earthspace/> Sessions 7 and 8, "Our Nearest Neighbor: The Moon" and "Order Out of Chaos: Our Solar System."

> Earth Revealed <http://www.learner.org/resources/series78.html> Program 2, "The Restless Planet," looks at our solar system and the origins of Earth.

> The Mechanical Universe...and Beyond <http://www.learner.org/resources/series42.html> looks at the forces inherent in planetary motion.

> Planet Earth <http://www.learner.org/resources/series49.html> Program 4, "Tales From Other Worlds," offers gripping footage of outer space.

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The Bank Bailout

With the major bank failures and a bailout pending in Congress, you may find the following resources helpful if you plan to discuss the topic with your students.

> Economics U$A <http://www.learner.org/resources/series79.html> looks at critical issues in U.S. economics, with programs including The Banking System, The Federal Reserve, Stabilization Policy, Exchange Rates. The program "Reducing Poverty" looks at policies enacted under FDR during The Great Depression.

> Explore many topics in global economics with vivid examples -- from hyperinflation in Argentina to petrodollar recycling in the 1970s to "shock therapy" in Poland -- in Inside the Global Economy <http://www.learner.org/resources/series86.html>.

> High school teachers can benefit from the lessons featured in The Economics Classroom: A Workshop for Grade 9-12 Teachers <http://www.learner.org/channel/workshops/economics/>. Programs relevant to the current crisis include "The Government's Hand," "The Building Blocks of Macroeconomics," and "Monetary and Fiscal Policy." Click on each title under Workshop Descriptions for links to Video on Demand.

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Use our VIDEO ON DEMAND feature to view programs FREE OF CHARGE. To get started, go to <http://www.learner.org/resources/browse.html>.


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*** UPCOMING CONFERENCES ***

Please plan to visit with us at the following conferences we'll be attending:

> NAAEE North American Association of Environmental Educators
  October 15-18 Wichita, KS
  Session on Habitable Planet, Saturday October 18 at 10:30am
  Attending for Annenberg Media: Michele McLeod

> NCCCC North Carolina Community College Conference
  October 12-14, Raleigh, NC
  Attending for Annenberg Media: Joanne Grason

> CIT Conference on Information Technology, League for Innovation in the Community College
  October 19-22, Salt Palace Convention Center, Salt Lake City, UT
  Attending for Annenberg Media: Joanne Grason

We look forward to meeting you and hearing your views!


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*** CONNECT LEARNING WITH SPECIAL DAYS ***

National Poetry Day (October 9)

> Watch beautiful hour-long documentaries about the lives and works of 13 American poets in Voices & Visions <http://www.learner.org/resources/series57.html>. Featured poets include T. S. Eliot, Robert Frost, Emily Dickinson, Langston Hughes, Walt Whitman, Sylvia Plath, and William Carlos Williams.

> Literary Visions <http://www.learner.org/resources/series41.html> offers mini-lectures, dramatizations, and poet interviews to illustrate the most important elements and devices of poetry. See Programs 11 through 17 to explore the role of imagery, tropes, symbolism, theme, character, and much more.

> Observe high school English teacher Chris Mazzino teaching about stereotypes by having students interpret and edit a poem in Teaching "The Children of Willesden Lane" Program 12, "Gaining Insight Through Poetry" <http://www.learner.org/series/cowl/ch13-19/>.

> See how poetry teaches about American societal trends with "Rhythms in Poetry" <http://www.learner.org/amerpass/unit10/>. This program in American Passages: A Literary Survey features the poetry of Langston Hughes and William Carlos Williams.

> The American Passages archive <http://www.learner.org/amerpass/slideshow/archive_search.php> contains artifacts related to poetry and poets such as Phillis Wheatley, Anne Bradstreet, Emily Dickinson, and Marianne Moore, as well as poetry related to specific eras and social movements. Search by keyword and/or era and/or ethnic group to explore the archive.

> Consider different approaches to teaching poetry with Write in the Middle: A Workshop for Middle School Teachers, Workshop 3, "Teaching Poetry" <http://www.learner.org/channel/workshops/middlewriting/prog3.html>.

> Teaching Reading K-2: A Library of Classroom Practices <http://www.learner.org/channel/libraries/readingk2/> presents ways of working poetry into language arts lessons at the early elementary level.

> In Engaging With Literature: A Video Library, Grades 3-5, watch a fourth grade poetry lesson based on poems from "Baseball, Snakes, and Summer Squash" by Donald H. Graves and "Hey You! C'Mere: A Poetry Slam" by Elizabeth Swados. See Program 3, "Starting Out" <http://www.learner.org/channel/libraries/engagingliterature/starting/>.


World Mental Health Day (October 10)

The theme for this year's World Mental Health Day is "Making Mental Health a Global Priority:
Scaling Up Services Through Citizen Advocacy and Action."

> The World of Abnormal Psychology <http://www.learner.org/resources/series60.html> offers programs on the most common mood and cognitive disorders, organic disorders, and conditions affecting children -- as well as a program on prevention.

> Discovering Psychology: Updated Edition <http://www.learner.org/discoveringpsychology/> explores many facets of human psychology, as well as potential problems and treatment options.

> The Brain: Teaching Modules <http://www.learner.org/resources/series142.html> provides mini-lessons on brain anatomy and function.

> The clips of The Mind: Teaching Modules <http://www.learner.org/resources/series150.html> looks at brain mechanisms, mind/body interactions, developmental topics, effects of drugs and neurotransmitters, and more.

> The programs of The Whole Child: A Caregiver's Guide to the First Five Years <http://www.learner.org/resources/series59.html> show how parents, day care providers, and others working with the youngest children can best nurture their psychological development.


Universal Music Day (October 11)

> On this second annual Universal Music Day, explore musical genres from around the globe and the various musical elements with Exploring the World of Music <http://www.learner.org/resources/series105.html>.

> The Art of Teaching the Arts: A Workshop for High School Teachers <http://www.learner.org/channel/workshops/hsarts/> illustrates techniques in effective music teaching. For an example, see this activity <http://www.learner.org/channel/workshops/hsarts/program4/i4/prog4_activity.html> on feedback in coaching.

> Learn the healing power of music -- how music can transcend tragedy and overcome the force of racism -- with Teaching "The Children of Willesden Lane" <http://www.learner.org/series/cowl/>. Click on "Musical Selections" to listen to the performances of classical pianist Mona Golabek.

> Get the inside story on how innovative artists like Bill Viola and the group Goat Island include music in their unique works, in A World of Art: Works in Progress <http://www.learner.org/resources/series64.html>.

> See how two teachers approach music at the elementary level in The Arts in Every Classroom: A Video Library, K-5 <http://www.learner.org/channel/libraries/artsineveryclassroom/video4.html>. Explore the left-hand links for information, materials, and Video on Demand.

> Connecting With the Arts: A Teaching Practices Library, 6-8 <http://www.learner.org/channel/libraries/connectarts68/> shows the role of music in arts integration at the middle school level.


Columbus Day (October 13)

> The year 1492 is viewed as the start of globalization in "Mapping Initial Encounters" <http://www.learner.org/channel/courses/amerhistory/units/2/>, the second unit of "America's History in the Making." The program looks at how Africans, Native People, and Europeans began to interact in new ways.

> How Christopher Columbus operates as a construct of collective memory is considered in Bridging World History Program 2, "History and Memory" <http://www.learner.org/channel/courses/worldhistory/unit_main_2.html>.

> "New World Encounters" <http://www.learner.org/biographyofamerica/prog01/>, the first program of A Biography of America, offers an historian's account of the impact of Christopher Columbus.

> The American Passages archive <http://www.learner.org/amerpass/slideshow/archive_search.php> contains items connected with Columbus. The first unit of the series, "Native Voices," may also be of interest.


Mole Day (October 23)

On October 23rd from 6:02am to 6:02pm, celebrate Avogadro's number (also known as the Avogadro constant), the number of particles in a mole: approximately 6.022 × 10 to the 23rd power.

> Watch a whole program about the mole -- Program 11 of The World of Chemistry <http://www.learner.org/resources/series61.html>. Learn or teach about Avogadro's number and related concepts.

> The Mechanical Universe...and Beyond <http://www.learner.org/resources/series42.html> Program 49 discusses Avogadro's number and its role in the development of atomic theory.

> Essential Science for Teachers: Physical Science <http://www.learner.org/channel/courses/essential/physicalsci/> shows how children's preconceptions about particles and conservation of matter can affect their learning of chemistry concepts.


National Newspaper Week (October 5-11)

The theme for this year's National Newspaper Week is "Public Notice: Good Government on Display."

> Get first-hand accounts of what goes into the making of print news in the News Writing Interviews <http://www.learner.org/catalog/extras/interviews/>. Then watch the engaging programs of the News Writing series <http://learner.org/redirect/october/news49.html>.

> When it comes to war, what -- if anything -- should newspapers *not* print? See "War Stories: National Security & the News" <http://www.learner.org/series/ethics2/war_stories/>, the second program of Ethics in America II.

> Our original Ethics in America series <http://www.learner.org/resources/series81.html> also looks at the limits of news in the tenth program, "Politics, Privacy, and the Press.

> An issue that has featured prominently in the news in recent years is how much national security concerns should limit what is reported to the public. For a discussion by key figures in government, media, and other fields, watch "National Security and Freedom of the Press," Program 8 of The Constitution: That Delicate Balance <http://www.learner.org/resources/series72.html>.

> "Understanding Media: The Inside Story" <http://www.learner.org/channel/courses/democracyinamerica/dia_10/>, the tenth unit of Democracy in America, explains the important role of the media in the successful workings of democratic government.


National Metric Week (October 6-10)

> Our interactive "Metric Conversions" <http://www.learner.org/interactives/metric/> new in 2007 teaches about the metric system and how to convert between English and metric units.

> "The Metric System" <http://www.learner.org/channel/courses/learningmath/measurement/session3/>, Session 3 of the professional development course Learning Math: Measurement, reviews the basics of the metric system.

> If you use online recipes, you might benefit from the Cooking by Numbers section <http://www.learner.org/interactives/dailymath/cooking.html> of our interactive "Math in Daily Life."


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