Curriculum Connections
Free resources: NBC Learn and Carnegie Learning, Inc. are teaming up to provide middle and high school students with “Decision 2012: Election Math,” free math education resources related to the 2012 election. Beginning this summer, NBC Learn videos from the current and past presidential election election campaigns will be combined with Carnegie Learning Interactive Cognitive Tutor Software math problems. The collection illustrates campaign math and statistics, such as predicting winners through sampling; analyzing voting-age populations; and comparing winners and losers over time by political party, the candidate’s age and home state, and popular and electoral votes. “Decision 2012: Election Math” will appear as a “Free Resources Special Collection” with streaming videos on NBC Learn’s website and will be linked to interactive math problems on Carnegie Learning’s website. “Our collaboration with NBC Learn brings together the vast resources of NBC News with Carnegie Learning adaptive math software to demonstrate how math makes sense in the context of current events,” commented Dennis Ciccone, chief executive officer of Carnegie Learning.
Nature and conservation: “Nature Works Everywhere” is a new online venture between The Nature Conservancy and Discovery Education designed to teach middle school students about the science behind they ways nature helps our everyday life and the importance of environmental conservation. Launched on April 22 to coincide with Earth Day, the free site includes videos, interactive lesson plans, and an interactive game. The videos offer teachers the opportunity to have students explore a wide range of topics, such as the importance of pollinators to agriculture filmed in Colorado’s Yampa Valley, oyster reefs in the Gulf on Mexico, and coral reefs in the Pacific Ocean. A “Meet the Scientists” section introduces experts from The Nature Conservancy and the work they are doing. The “Conservation Connection” is a game that helps kids learn how nature works to create ice cream, sandcastles, lemonade, and more. “This unique program allows teachers to expand learning beyond classroom walls and encourage students to explore the world around them through engaging and interactive resources,” noted Mary Rollins, Discovery Education Vice President of Educational Partnerships.
And the Winner Is…
Tony Hawk writing contest: Autumn Bray, a 7th grader at Meisler Middle School, Metairie, LA, has been selected as the first place winner of Capstone‘s “Join the Revolution” student writing contest. Students were invited to create a unique character that will become a new member in a soon-to-be released title in “Tony Hawk’s 900 Revolution” action-adventure, sci-fi book series. Five finalists were selected from entries nationwide and then more than 6,200 students voted on their favorite character. Autum Rose, the character Bray created, is a great student; loves sports like cheerleading, softball, soccer, and skateboarding-but surfing is her favorite; and likes to try new things. The character will appear in a new Tony Hawk book, available August 2013. Bray will get to go to Tony Hawk’s Stand Up for Skateparks 2012 event in Beverly Hills and receive a VIP pass to meet Tony Hawk. Check out the winning entry here.
Industry News
On the move: Random House Children’s Books has a new editorial director. Veteran children’s book editor Frances Gilbert will assume the new position as director of Doubleday Books for Young Readers on June 18. Gilbert has worked for the past 12 years at Sterling Children’s Books where she was most recently vice president/publisher. In her new position, Gilbert will acquire and publish new books for the imprint in numerous formats and categories including picture books, narrative nonfiction, novels, ebooks, and more. She will also oversee the backlist. “I envision future Doubleday lists to be rich with titles that have a classic and enduring feel-books that are tasteful, uncomplicated, and warm,” said Gilbert.
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About Phyllis Levy Mandell
