Sunday, May 31, 2009

World No Tobacco Day 2009

World No Tobacco Day is observed around the world every year on May 31. The member states of the World Health Organization created World No Tobacco Day in 1987. It draws global attention to the widespread prevalence of tobacco use and to its negative health effects. The day aims to reduce the 5.4 million yearly deaths from tobacco related health problems. From 1988 the WHO has presented one or more World No Tobacco Day (WNTD) Awards to organizations or individuals who have made exceptional contributions to reducing tobacco consumption. On May 31st, 2008 the WHO called for a complete ban on tobacco advertising; the organization said studies establish a relationship between exposure to cigarette advertisement and starting smoking.

- Wikipedia

Lesson Plan Information
Title: Smoking: Pressures and Responsibilities
Objectives: By the end of this lesson, students will understand:
  • dangers of smoking
  • factors that influence decision making
  • advertising strategies that tobacco companies use
  • personal responsibilities regarding smoking
    Grade Level: 9-12
    Subject: Human Body
    Materials: Newspapers or magazines containing tobacco advertisements, access to the Internet.
    Time Needed: Two 50-minute class periods
    Provided by: Discovery Education (Author: Betsy Gallun)
    Link: http://school.discoveryeducation.com/lessonplans/programs/smoking/
  • Monday, May 25, 2009

    Memorial Day 2009

    Memorial Day is a United States federal holiday observed on the last Monday of May (May 25 in 2009). Formerly known as Decoration Day, it commemorates U.S. men and women who died while in the military service. First enacted to honor Union soldiers of the American Civil War, it was expanded after World War I to include American casualties of any war or military action.

    - Wikipedia

    Lesson Plan Information
    Title: Mapping Your State's Role In the Vietnam War
    Objectives: Students will:
  • create a map that illustrates your state impact of the Vietnam War.
  • recognize the reasons we celebrate Memorial Day.
    Concepts: Vietnam War, Memorial Day, soldiers, war, state, geography, Veteran's Day
    Grade Level: K-12
    Subject: Civics, history, geography
    Materials: Internet access, a large map of your state.
    Time Needed: Two 50-minute class periods
    Provided by: Education World, Submitted By Gary Hopkins
    Link: http://www.education-world.com/a_lesson/03/lp313-02.shtml
  • Sunday, May 17, 2009

    Edward Jenner (1749 – 1823) Was Born

    Edward Jenner was an English scientist who is widely credited as the pioneer of smallpox vaccine, and is sometimes referred to as the 'Father of Immunology'.

    In 1980, the World Health Organization declared smallpox an eradicated disease. This was the result of coordinated public health efforts by many people, but vaccination was an essential component.

    - Wikipedia

    Lesson Plan Information
    Title: Common Vaccinations
    Objectives: Understand how different types of vaccines work
    Concepts: Antibody, antigen, bacteria, immunization, vaccine, virus
    Grade Level: 6-8
    Subject: Human Body
    Materials: Access to the Internet, poster boards, markers, colored pencils
    Lesson Plan Support: Bacteria, Viruses & Allergies Video
    Time Needed: Two class periods
    Provided by: Discovery Education (Author: Joy Brewster)
    Link: http://school.discoveryeducation.com/lessonplans/programs/vaccinations/

    Sunday, May 10, 2009

    Mother's Day 2009

    The modern Mother's Day holiday was created by Anna Jarvis and it's now celebrated on various days in many places around the world. It complements Father's Day, the celebration honoring fathers.

    This holiday is relatively modern, being created at the start of the 20th century, and should not be confused with the early pagan and Christian traditions honoring mothers, or with the 16th century celebration of Mothering Sunday, which is also known as Mother's Day in the UK.

    In most countries the Mother's Day celebration is a recent holiday derived from the Mothering Sunday holiday in the UK.

    It is celebrated in Australia, Malaysia, India, Canada, and United States each year on the second Sunday of May.

    - Wikipedia

    Lesson Plan Information
    Title: The Best Gift, for Shoe-er!
    Objectives: Students turn an old shoe into a memorable planter gift for Mother's Day.
    Concepts: Mother's Day, mother, family, present, holiday
    Grade Level: PreK-5
    Subject: Visual Arts
    Materials: An old shoe for each student, gold paint, paintbrushes, potting soil, flower seeds.
    Time Needed: Two 50-minute class periods
    Provided by: Education World, submitted by Gary Hopkins
    Link: http://www.education-world.com/a_lesson/02/lp263-03.shtml

    Wednesday, May 6, 2009

    Sigmund Freud (1856 - 1939) Was Born

    Sigismund Schlomo Freud was an Austrian psychiatrist who founded the psychoanalytic school of psychology. Freud is best known for his theories of the unconscious mind and the defense mechanism of repression and for creating the clinical practice of psychoanalysis for curing psychopathology through dialogue between a patient and a psychoanalyst. Freud is also renowned for his redefinition of sexual desire as the primary motivational energy of human life, as well as his therapeutic techniques, including the use of free association, his theory of transference in the therapeutic relationship, and the interpretation of dreams as sources of insight into unconscious desires. Many of Freud's ideas have fallen out of favor or have been modified by Neo-Freudians, although at the close of the 20th century, advances in the field of neurology began to show evidence for many of his theories.

    - Wikipedia

    Lesson Plan Information
    Title: The Interpretation of Dreams
    Objectives: Students will understand Freud's arguments that:
    1. our dreams contain clues to our hopes, fears, and fantasies.
    2. developments in our childhood affect the way we act and the kinds of dreams we have.
    Grade Level: 9-12
    Subject: Human Body
    Materials: Excerpts from The Interpretation of Dreams by Sigmund Freud.
    Time Needed: One class period
    Provided by: Discovery Education (Credit: Lara Maupin, Thomas Jefferson High School, Alexandria, Virginia.)
    Link: http://school.discoveryeducation.com/lessonplans/programs/dreams/

    Tuesday, May 5, 2009

    Karl Marx (1818 - 1883) Was Born

    Karl Heinrich Marx was a German philosopher, political economist, historian, political theorist, sociologist, humanist and revolutionary credited as the founder of communism. Best known as the author of Das Kapital and The Communist Manifesto.

    - Wikipedia

    Lesson Plan Information
    Title: Karl Marx Isn't the Only One Who Can Write a Manifesto!
    Objectives: The purpose of this lesson is to give students an opportunity to think about current problems in school, community or worldwide by writing a manifesto addressing the problem.
    Concepts: Manifesto
    Grade Level: Middle School
    Subject: Civic Ideals and Practices
    Materials: Access to the Internet, current newspapers.
    Time Needed: One week
    Provided by: The National First Ladies' Library (Author: Averil McClelland, Kent State University)
    Link: http://www.firstladies.org/curriculum/curriculum.aspx?Curriculum=1402