Winter Break Boredom Buster: No-Stress Activities for Students of Any Age

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Winter break is coming soon. It is a wonderful time to enjoy the holidays with family, clear the mind, and take stock of the upcoming new year. Most adults appreciate the opportunity to take some time off, but often we hear from our children that they are bored.  Here are some family-friendly, low-stress suggestions to … read more »


Red Ribbon Week Resources for Any Classroom

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Following the murder of Drug Enforcement Officer Enrique Camarena in 1985, communities began wearing red ribbons as a symbol of their commitment to raising awareness of the devastation caused by drug use. The wearing of ribbons led to the implementation of Red Ribbon Week, which is now marking its 34th anniversary and takes place this … read more »


Promote the International Week of Deaf People in your School Library

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September 19th–25th is the International Week of Deaf People, an annual initiative to foster awareness and support of the deaf and hard-of-hearing community. The 2022 theme is Building Inclusive Communities for All. The National Association of the Deaf (NAD), an affiliate of the World Federation of the Deaf, promotes the International Week of Deaf People … read more »


5 Out-of-This-World Resources From NASA

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Space Exploration Day is celebrated annually on July 20. It commemorates the first landing of the Eagle lunar module on the moon’s Sea of Tranquility. NASA’s contributions to exploring our world continue toward discovering new and exciting places in our universe. We often talk about using primary sources in classrooms to promote student understanding of content—and what … read more »


Ideas for Finding and Documenting Service Learning Projects

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The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others. Mahatma Gandhi Each year, the United Nations designates June 23 as Public Service Day. This event began with the UN’s resolution of 2013 recognizing and celebrating public service’s value to the community. There are many benefits to performing community and … read more »


Sally Ride, Women in STEM, and Tips for Creating a Successful Biography Unit

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“I did not come to NASA to make history.” Sally Ride She may not have come to make history, but she certainly did. May 26 is Sally Ride Day, celebrated on the anniversary of her birth in 1951. Most of us recognize Sally Ride as the first American woman to go to space. Her first … read more »


Four Resources for Celebrating Music in Our Schools Month

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Each March, schools celebrate Music in Our Schools Month. What began as a statewide celebration in New York in 1973 is now a month-long focus for schools around the country. This event aims to raise awareness of and support for music education for all students.  It’s not difficult to find information supporting the vital role … read more »


Storytelling and The National Day of Listening

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November 27 is the National Day of Listening. Celebrated each year on the day after Thanksgiving, it’s a time to gather families and friends for the specific purpose of recording and sharing histories and stories for preservation. Launched in 2008 by StoryCorps (reviewed here), this observance falls at a time when many families are together, … read more »


A Guide to Understanding and Implementing Computational Thinking

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Computational thinking (CT) is an essential set of skills required for success in the 21st Century. Wikipedia defines computational thinking as “a set of problem-solving methods that involve expressing problems and their solutions in ways that a computer could also execute.” The four problem-solving methods are problem decomposition, pattern recognition, abstraction, and algorithms.  But what does … read more »