Infonews n°206 du 01/02/2004

~~~~~~~~
Sommaire
~~~~~~~~

Tomorrow, Monday February 2nd, is Groundhog Day : you can use the
sites and questions on the page I made for my students :
http://perso.wanadoo.fr/infonews/themes/groundhogday.htm

This week, discover 'Big Fish' by Tim Burton, addresses for
Valentine's Day next week, 2 resources for primary school, three free
online dictionaries, sites for advanced students to read online, discover
Shakespeare, learn about dogs, vinegar, History, air travel safety
regulation, and writers in prison, then three sites about the new cell
phones and several sites and articles about critical thinking.
Next week, February 9-15, 2004 is also : "Random Acts of Kindness Week".
You can prepare it with your students from the site:
http://www.actsofkindness.org/

Have a nice week!
~~~~~~~~
Sommaire
~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A la Une : Big Fish
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Official site
Reviews and Critics
- from Rotten tomatoes, US
- from IC Birmingham, UK
- from Keystone, US
The book
~~~~~~~~~~
Valentine Day
~~~~~~~~~~
History
Vital Guide to Valentines
Activities
Handicrafts
Write random poems
Links about Valentine's Day
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Resources for Primary School
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Learn the 50 states
Nicky's nursery rhymes
~~~~~~~~~
Dictionaries
~~~~~~~~~
The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy
Merriam Webster
Grand Dictionnaire
Automatic Translator
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Resources for Secondary School
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Interactive online reading + exercises
Teach Shakespeare without drowsiness
History World
Transportation Security Administration: Air Travel
Versatile Vinegar
Writers in Prison
Dogs
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
New Technologies
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Articles (from MIT)
Diagrams (from MIT)
Cell Phone Manuals
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Teaching Practice
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Creatology: Brain Science for the 21st Century
Critical thinking
- Theory
- Applications
- Reading detective to buy....
- free demos to download

***********************************
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A la Une : Big Fish
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
In line with "Sleepy Hollow" and some of his other tales of the fantastic,
Tim Burton offers us there a film about lies and fantasies, full of
references and poetry....or so do some of the reviews say, some other
disagree. Here are some sites to make up your own mind:

Official site
----------------
http://www.sonypictures.com/movies/bigfish/site/index.php
- in 'Preview', you can watch trailers and listen to the music of the film.
- In 'follow the story from script to screen' (bottom left) you can see
pages of the sripts and excerpts from the story board, and listen to
comments. there is no script for the comments, but they are clear and easy
to understand.
- In "Illustrated tall tales", discover interactive pictures, where things
become animated when you move the mouse over them...
other source for the trailer : http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0319061/trailers

Reviews and Critics
--------------------
- from Rotten tomatoes, US
http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/BigFish-1127787/
lots of short comments, excerpts from review in many papers, like this one:
""You'd think that Burton, whose movies can be so invigoratingly nasty or
so hypnotically moody, would be able to pull off a gentle, mainstream
crowd-pleaser without making it dull or preachy. But Big Fish is both."

- from IC Birmingham, UK
http://icbirmingham.icnetwork.co.uk/0800whatson/content_objectid=13897869_method=full_siteid=50002_headline=-Big-Fish--PG--name_page.html
"Far lighter in tone than previous Burton fantasies, Big Fish is warm,
amusing and sentimental, slowly pulling the viewer into it's surreal world
before laying the emotion on thick for a conclusion that will have you
reaching for the tissues."

- from Keystone, US
http://keystoneonline.com/story.asp?Art_id=853
"more of a homespun fantasy tale than the director’s typically gothic,
otherworldly fare."
"It's a beguiling, fantasy-filled and typically oddball Burton fairy tale,
which at its heart focuses on the complex relationships between fathers and
sons"

- from Manchester Online, UK
http://www.manchesteronline.co.uk/entertainment/filmandtv/filmreviews/stories/Detail_LinkStory=79617.html
"Burton, so in love with his werewolves and giants, misses the point
occasionally and lets the whimsy dominate the story."
"it's merely a fun, likeable but ultimately unsubstantial piece of candyfloss."

The book
--------------
Learn everything in this article from the NY Times about Daniel Wallace and
his autobiographical novel "Big Fish," ( with a picture of him and his father):
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/01/31/books/31FISH.html

~~~~~~~~~~
Valentine Day
~~~~~~~~~~
History
----------
http://members.aol.com/MrDonnLessons/Holidays.html#VALENTINE
http://www.homeandholidays.com/holiday-idea-pages/valentine-history.html
http://www.holidays.net/amore/story.html
http://edition.cnn.com/SPECIALS/2002/valentines/stories/history/
http://www.nbcsandiego.com/valentines/1929328/detail.html
http://wilstar.com/holidays/valentn.htm
http://wvwv.essortment.com/valentinedayhi_rbzk.htm

Vital Guide to Valentines
--------------
Find information and ideas in this guide from Ask Jeeves' Butler Bulletin
http://www.me2u.com/LoveLore/Newsletter/2001/feb04_2001.tmpl

Activities
--------------
http://www.activitiesforkids.com/holiday/holiday_hints.htm (lots of
activities and crafts)
http://www.123child.com/val/ ( with also several love poems and songs.)

Handicrafts
--------------
http://www.papervalentines.com/toc.htm
http://www.homeandholidays.com/holiday-idea-pages/Val-familycrafts2.html

Write random poems
--------------
wacky tales : http://www.eduplace.com/tales/v/valentinehm.html
be my Valentine :
http://www.timeforkids.com/TFK/specials/articles/0,6709,98851,00.html
anti-valentine :
http://www.timeforkids.com/TFK/games/white/0,9970,98844,00.html
http://www.timeforkids.com/TFK/specials/articles/0,6709,98833,00.html
to access the page, just click on 'get the password' and copy it in the box
funny tale : https://www.searsportrait.com/Storybook/val_scav_01_form.asp?
[ fun for students of all level ! ]

Links about Valentine's Day
--------------
http://members.aol.com/TeacherNet/Holiday.html#Valentine
http://www.homeandholidays.com/holiday-idea-pages/1ValentinesDay.html (songs)
http://familyinternet.about.com/library/blvalentinesdayfacts.htm (dates and
facts)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Resources for Primary School
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Learn the 50 states
--------------
Read the information, do the quizzes, play the games, and learn where the
states are...
http://perso.wanadoo.fr/infonews/themes/50states.htm
http://bensguide.gpo.gov/k-2/games/interactive.html (requires flash)

Nicky's nursery rhymes
--------------
An excellent site with lots of poems, lyrics and texts of nursery rhymes,
but unfortunately no sound....
http://www.nurseryrhymes4u.com/

~~~~~~~~~
Dictionaries
~~~~~~~~~
The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy
--------------
http://www.bartleby.com/59/
See the 23 items at the bottom of the page, and discover the difference
between e.g and i.e, or the impressive list of references in 'mythology and
folklore', from 'Washington and the cherry tree', to 'Hiawatha'

Merriam Webster
--------------
http://www.m-w.com
has changed its from page, and offers free access to its all English
dictionary and also to Word Central, its simplified version for children.
You can also download a tool bar for your browser.

Grand Dictionnaire
--------------
http://www.granddictionnaire.com/
Very useful for detailed translations from English to French and French to
English, including technical terms classified by fields.

Automatic Translator
--------------
The 'less bad' at the moment seems to be from Google....it can give a rough
idea of a text, and the best way to prevent students from using it is to
show them what French it gives, and how much faster it is to try and
understand the text directly from English!
http://www.google.com/language_tools?hl=en

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Resources for Secondary School
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Interactive online reading + exercises
--------------
http://www.gradedreading.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/index.html
Free online graded (simplified) stories and poems, and questions and
exercises to check the comprehension. Record those pages quickly, they may
not remain free for long!

Teach Shakespeare without drowsiness
--------------
PBS offers a site about Shakespeare
http://www.pbs.org/shakespeare
where you can find the playwright game and teaching material where
"Educators can access professional development tools and lesson plans for
language arts and social studies."
http://www.pbs.org/shakespeare/educators/

History World
--------------
http://www.historyworld.net/
"World History consists of some 400 separate Histories AND 4000 tagged
events. Choose HISTORIES to read a chosen subject, and to move seamlessly
from one History to another. Try TOURS to travel through time on your own
selection of interconnecting trails. Use WHATWHENWHERE to discover what was
going on at any moment.
TIMELINES are where you should go to find images, and to set them in their
historical context."
(comment from the site)
[ A British site with 'Thirty timelines relating to History Key Stages 2
and 3, with four on popular GCSE subjects.' , very useful to all students
interested in history, or for teachers who need a reference to illustrate
their lessons.]

Transportation Security Administration: Air Travel ( from [LIIWEEK] January 29)
--------------
Security tips for air travel in the United States, including information
about how to pack, whether to lock suitcases, and what to leave at home.
"The tips and informative materials ... [on this site] will ensure a brief,
yet thorough security experience at any of the 429 airports serviced by TSA
[the Transportation Security Administration]."
http://www.tsa.gov/public/display?theme=175
[ Those information could come in handy for all those who plan a trip to
the USA....]

Versatile Vinegar ( from [LIIWEEK] January 29)
--------------
Extensive information about vinegar, including "history, statistics,
household and laundry tips, recipes, up to date news as well as vinegar's
health and medicinal benefits."
The section on specialty vinegars includes an explanation of the
distinction between traditional and commercial balsamic vinegar. The brief
but excellent list of recipes also features useful cooking tips. From the
Vinegar Institute, an international trade organization.
http://www.versatilevinegar.org/
[ to complement the 'cooking' report from last week...]

Writers in Prison ( from [LIIWEEK] January 29)
--------------
This Web site features writers who have been imprisoned for what they write
or for their peaceful political activities. In addition to extensive
information about jailed writers worldwide, find information about a rapid
action network, and background about writers in exile. Includes a "Prisoner
of the Month." From the Writers in Prison Committee of International PEN, a
writers' organization.
http://www.englishpen.org/writersinprison/
[ Prisoner of the Month for January 2004 : Aung San Suu Kyi. See also their
page of links to other sites about freedom of expression:
http://www.englishpen.org/writersinprison/links/ ]

Dogs
--------
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/dogs/
"At the companion Web site, match 14 dogs to the environment they were bred
for, from the rugged mountains of Argentina to the Australian outback.
Watch an interactive slide show and see ten different dogs at work, some in
age-old jobs, some in jobs less than a century old. Plus, educators can
access a teacher's guide with suggested viewing ideas and a recommended
classroom activity." (from the site)
[ don't miss this very comprehensive report about working dogs ( termites,
land mines, rescue...]

~~~~~~~~~~~~~
New technologies
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Articles (from MIT)
--------------
- Context aware cell phone project
http://www.media.mit.edu/wearables/mithril/phone.html
- What is a wearable application
"Mobile and Persistent, proactive, context aware"
http://www.media.mit.edu/wearables/mithril/context_talk/topic1.html
- Why wearable applications need context and vice versa
http://www.media.mit.edu/wearables/mithril/context_talk/topic2.html

Diagrams (from MIT)
--------------
http://www.media.mit.edu/wearables/mithril/diagram.html
don't miss those hand made diagrams, but full of interesting information.

Cell Phone Manuals
------------
***Download .pdf complete cell phone manuals
http://www.media.mit.edu/wearables/mithril/phone.html
with full instructions, figures, diagrams, etc.
[ for all students interested in technology. Could be a good starting point
for a TPE.]

~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Teaching Practice
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Creatology: Brain Science for the 21st Century
--------------
http://www.nexus.edu.au/teachstud/gat/davies.htm
"Creatology includes the direct teaching of learning styles, thinking
techniques, memory techniques, mindmapping, multiple intelligences and
creativity by whole brain learning."
[ Discover these new trends in teaching, and see how you can adapt them to
your own teaching.]

Critical thinking
--------------
With these addresses, discover the theory of critical thinking and some
possible applications.
- Theory
http://www2.sjsu.edu/depts/itl/graphics/main.html
- Applications
http://www2.sjsu.edu/depts/itl/graphics/apps/apps.html
I especially liked those 6 stories, where the students have to apply their
logical thinking and deducing skills to find the answers:
http://www2.sjsu.edu/depts/itl/graphics/apps/apps.html
Note : the answers are not provided!
- Reading detective to buy....
http://www.brightminds.us/series/015/index_h.html
" Reading Detective's standards-based critical thinking activities develop
the analysis, synthesis, and vocabulary skills students need for
exceptional reading comprehension. The activities are especially effective
at helping students understand more challenging reading concepts such as
drawing inferences, determining cause and effect, and using context clues
to define vocabulary."
(from the site)
- free demos to download
http://www.brightminds.us/home/products/software_demos.html
discover several other critical thinking activities.

****************************************

Ceci est un message de la LISTE INFONEWS

Les commentaires et réflexions entre [ ] ne reflètent que mon opinion personnelle.

pour voir les archives et vous inscrire:
http://perso.wanadoo.fr/infonews/une1.htm

Pour consulter les sources:
http://perso.wanadoo.fr/infonews/archives/sourcinfonw.htm

Pour vous désinscrire envoyez un message par email à :
listeduc@educ.syrhano.net
sans objet ni signature, avec la commande suivante dans le corps de votre message :
unsubscribe infonews

Une compilation réalisée par :
Christine Reymond
lycée Blaise Pascal, Rouen, France
E-Mail: Christine.Reymond@ac-rouen.fr
******************************************