This issue of the free online magazine, Beyond Penguins and Polar Bears, explores the Sun's role in warming Earth, the albedo (reflectivity) of Earth's diverse surfaces, and how the decline of Arctic sea ice is affecting Earth's energy balance. Science lessons introduce the concepts of solar energy, reflection, and absorption to elementary students. The issue also includes an overview of the natural resources and energy sources found in the polar regions as well as lessons that allow students to develop the concepts of natural resources, energy sources, and energy efficiency.

This article assembles free resources from the Energy and the Polar Environment issue of the Beyond Penguins and Polar Bears cyberzine into a unit outline based on the 5E learning cycle framework. Outlines are provided for Grades K-2 and 3-5.

In this unit, students will use the engineering design process and their understanding of how simple machines work to help fairytale characters solve problems. Each lesson focuses on one fairytale and one simple machine.

This lesson outlines the importance of Susan B. Anthony and Martin Luther King, Jr. in U.S. history. It also presents information about the civil rights movement and reviews the First Amendment rights. Prior to teaching Fighting for Our Rights, we recommend covering two other USCIS civics lessons first: Benjamin Franklin and the U.S. Constitution, and Bill of Rights and Other Amendments. Depending on your schedule, you may also want to cover the lessons on Abraham Lincoln and the Civil War as there is related historical information that would help your students better understand the current lesson. Covers civics test items 6, 77, 84, 85, and 100.

The FLLITE website contains a collection of lessons in second language literacy for various languages.

The website is the focal point of the FLLITE Project, which takes the creative moments found in everyday language use as the basis for lessons in second language literacy. By emphasizing language play as central to communication, FLLITE lessons aim to develop language awareness as well as communicative abilities through the integration of speaking, reading, listening, and writing tasks.

The goal of the FLLITE Project is the publication of classroom-tested lessons based on authentic texts in different languages, for example, blogs, Internet memes, YouTube videos, slam poetry, and so forth.

All FLLITE lessons carry an open license that allows you the teacher to…

…access, adapt, and re-use any lesson; and
…contribute a lesson for editorial feedback and publication.

A short introduction to literacy and acculturation into United States schools for non-U.S. students.

An interactive and educational lesson focused on building a foundation for literacy amongst women, specifically ages 15-20.  

There has been much discussion in recent years, on this campus and elsewhere, about the death of the book. Digitization and various forms of electronic media, some critics say, are rendering the printed text as obsolete as the writing quill. In this subject, we will examine the claims for and against the demise of the book, but we will also supplement these arguments with an historical perspective they lack: we will examine texts, printing technologies, and reading communities from roughly 1450 to the present. We will begin with the theoretical and historical overviews of Walter Ong and Elizabeth Eisenstein, after which we will study specific cases such as English chapbooks, Inkan knotted and dyed strings, late nineteenth-century recording devices, and newspapers online today. We will also visit a rare book library and make a poster on a hand-set printing press.

The intended audience includes adult learners (Grade Level D) seeking basic reading skill development. Learners will imagine that they are entering a new field of employment. They are given written information that contain new terminology specific to their occupation. Using a range of strategies, learners will determine or clarify the meaning of specific words as they are used in a specific technical context. This lesson will help learners to gain vocabulary related to an occupation of interest in order to build knowledge to prepare for a career.

The intended audience includes adult learners (Grade Level D) seeking basic reading skill development. Learners will imagine that they are entering a new field of employment. They are given written information that contain new terminology specific to their occupation. Using a range of strategies, learners will determine or clarify the meaning of specific words as they are used in a specific technical context. This lesson will help learners to gain vocabulary related to an occupation of interest in order to build knowledge to prepare for a career.

In planning this history lesson, consider whether you wish to cover this material in two, three, or four class sessions. This lesson is designed to learn about George Washington as a man and as a leader. It highlights the impact that Washington made on our country as well as his enduring legacy over time. To teach about George Washington and not weave in more detail about him would be a missed opportunity. Besides, it makes for a richer lesson to teach and to learn. Covers civics test items 28, 69, 70, 93, 94, 100.

This article describes how to help students engage with nonfiction text by asking questions, identifying facts, making connections, and reflecting on the text. A template for use with students is included.

Today, over 115 million children have never set foot inside a school. The fact is that for children living in developing countries, the dream of a first day of school is yet to be realized. The daily realities of poverty, political instability, regional conflict, geography, and cultural or traditional values all play a role to varying degrees -- and the issue of gender disparity makes this fact even more staggering. Full and equal access to education (Article 26) as outlined in the 'Universal Declaration of Human Rights' and 'The Convention on the Rights of the Child' (Articles 2,3,28, and 29), has clearly been out of the reach of poor children -- and even more so in the case of girls. Nearly two-thirds of children who are denied a primary education are girls. In the least developed countries, nearly twice as many adult women than men are illiterate. (Source: UNFPA http://www.unfpa.org/icpd/10/icpd_ed.htm) If you happen to be a female, you are less likely to have access to a quality primary education and beyond -- contributing to the feminization of global poverty. Yet, there is hope despite this current state of affairs. 189 nations have pledged to meet 8 major Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) by 2015. In doing so, nations hope to improve the social and economic development of all peoples. Included in these goals are those that address education and gender disparity: MDG 2: Achieve universal and primary education. MDG 3: Promote gender equality and empower women. Through the activities outlined in this lesson, students will become familiar with the current barriers standing in the way of educational opportunity -- especially for girls. They will watch clips from the WIDE ANGLE film 'Time for School' (2003) to understand the sense of urgency surrounding this issue, the potential benefits that can result from educating girls, and the ways that local communities are trying to address these problems. Note: This lesson focuses on MDG 2 and MDG 3. An introduction to the overall goals of the Millennium Project should be presented prior to this particular lesson.

The Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) and National Geographic commissioned a survey to gauge what young people educated in American colleges and universities know about geography, the environment, demographics, U.S. foreign policy, recent international events, and economics. The survey, conducted in May 2016 among 1,203 respondents aged eighteen to twenty-six, revealed significant gaps between what young people understand about today’s world and what they need to know to successfully navigate and compete in it. Included on site is the full survey report (PDF) and a sample quiz of some of the survey questions.

This 5-day curriculum teaches digital storytelling and media literacy skills through engaging youth to think critically on issues relevant to their life and future. This unit is guided by the question, "How does media contribute to positive social change?”

This lesson provides an interactive, fun way to learn proper grammar and punctuation. Utilizing multimedia and technology-based platform, the game will use engaging and relatable everyday scenarios to learn about proper grammar and punctuation for application in speech and writing. The DLO focuses on the target audience of female learners 15-24 years of age who will be exposed to real-world applications for the information which they are learning, explicitly tailored to increase literacy skills on multiple levels. The problems and scenarios that are given are realistic, allowing learners to refer to personal, relevant experiences to use as a reference when experiencing similar scenarios. For rationale and defense, this relevance is also reinforced in the instruction by Dr. Rodgers. This DLO is designed to take learners through a media-based “Leo City,” where they will experience different levels of grammar activities with each character they meet in the world. As the learner improves their skills, their character will also power up and gain powers to be able to gain access to new sections of the city, until they reached the end.

This article provides links to inquiry-based, hands-on science lessons that teach elementary students about rocks and minerals. Literacy lessons and integrations are included for each science lesson.

This article features science lesson plans to teach elementary students about the sun's energy, the relationship between light and heat, albedo, and the absorption of different surfaces. National standards and literacy integrations are provided for each lesson.

This article provides links to standards-based science and literacy lessons about weather, climate, polar climates, and climate change.

This article highlights science lessons and activities that can help elementary students gain an understanding of the tools and technology involved in polar research. Suggestions for literacy integration are provided, and activities are aligned to national standards.