Create Custom Lesson Plans With New TED-Ed Videos

This new site is amazing!  It allows teachers to customize lesson plans and use videos and slides from this site - TED-Ed http://ed.ted.com/lessons/ .

There is something for almost every subject.  I just looked at it to check it out and have not delved deeper.  However, I saw lessons on science, art, Business, health, math and more.

Check out this lesson plan and video on the size of an atom:

TED-Ed | Just How Small Is an Atom?

Great Math Site for Finding Mean, Median, Mode, and Range

Do you find yourself inside a personal complex math problem when trying to decipher the definitions of mathematical terms?  If so, I ran across an amazing site that clearly explains the differences between Mean, Median, Mode and Range.  It's called Purple Math:

Mean, Median, Mode, and Range

When you're done reading this you will no longer find the average to be a "Big Blue Meanie" and may even find yourself singing, "Home home on the RANGE".  OK, enough of corny humor and onto figure out numbers at Purple Math.com

What is Education Worth?

I do not want to stir up Wisconsin-style protests, but I see the news reports that banter about teacher salaries and what education is really worth.  And, it makes me sad that teachers, like home-makers, are de-valued in our society.

Investing knowledge into the next generation is worth far more than we spend.

A good teacher is worth his or her weight in gold.

It's time to take educating our youth and aging population seriously and to give it value.  True, we have public education and private education systems in place.  However, the value goes beyond money and is more than words can express.

If you are a teacher or educator in any form - Your value is priceless!

St. Patrick's Day Holiday Learning

It's almost time for the wearing of the green.  St. Patrick's Day is March 17, and it is a holiday that takes history and transforms it into fun.

This article explains some of the common symbols of St. Patrick's Day and provides helpful tips to enjoy with your children:

St. Patrick's Day Symbols and Activities for Kids

Take The Toyota - Heads Up! Challenge on Discovery Education

Attention parents of new teen drivers!

The Discovery Education website has a helpful online game that helps teens learn about driving and potential risks.  Read all about it and play online here:

Toyota - Heads Up!

They have a course for left and right-handed drivers.  When you complete the game, there are helpful real-life driving stats.

Read about all the details at the above link to find out how your teen could win $1,000 just by playing online till May 7, 2012.

Learning About Idaho For Kids

Teaching kids about states - This is a great place to start (for lack of any kind of alphabetic or first to last state order).  If you like potatoes, you might be fond of this one:

Idaho: One State Among 50 That Offers a Fun Lesson for Summertime Learning

If Idaho is too far for you to visit, take a virtual field trip.  Get out a map of the state and let your child run his or her finger along the roads and rivers.  Get a miniature doll or car and roll it over the map.  If you like, make a 3D version of the state.  Study the hills, mountains, valleys, etc. and recreate it with clay or other crafting materials.

Use your imagination and make learning come alive for your child.

Kids Learn, Move and Stay Fit: PE Is Not The Only Place To Move

I saw a news report tonight that showed a school who is taking a proactive approach to childhood obesity.  They are incorporating exercise in with their learning.  For instance, no more just sitting at your desk with hands crossed while quietly listening.  Instead, they may learn the names of the months of the year by putting them to rhythm and dance.  They line up in the hallway and do pushups to warm up.  Other methods they use include sitting on workout balls, or bounding off of a workout balance ball.  It got me thinking of other ways to teach facts while moving and staying fit.

• Count 1-10 with situps
• I love the exercise ball as kids seems to have trouble sitting still as it is.  Why not put their energy to good use.
• Use good old line dances to teach facts.  The Macarena is one that can be multi-purposely used.  Put the facts to rhythm as you dance.
• Raise your hands, or raise your foot to answer a question.
• ABC jump - Jump after singing each pair of 3 letters.  Like this:  ABC - Jump - DEF  - Jump - GHI - Jump and Spin - JKL - Jump - MNO - Jump PQR - Jump and Spin - STU - Jump - VW and - Jump XYZ - Jump and Spin!

Use your imagination.  The sky is the limit to how much learning can take place while getting little bodies into shape and preventing childhood obesity.