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This collection of books about polar regions around the world is a diverse variety of titles compiled by the United Nations Environment Programme. You might want to look them over for additions to your library, though they're not all recent publications.
This page is part of an incredible website called PolarTrec. Here is how it is described-
"PolarTREC (Teachers and Researchers Exploring and Collaborating) is a program in which K-12 teachers spend 2-6 weeks participating in hands-on field research experiences in the polar regions. The goal of PolarTREC is to invigorate polar science education and understanding by bringing K-12 educators and polar researchers together."  There are lessons and links to resources. There is a webinar with one of the participating teachers next week, August 9th, register here. Teachers have til September 3 to apply to participate the next school year. The program is based here in Fairbanks. What a fantastic way for students to get involved in hands on science. Check it out!   kt

 
 
Katie Kennedy, from UAF's Geography Dept, was a guest speaker at the Curriculum's Department's "How To Fit It In" class, which was held at LMS last night. Before the class started Katie shared a tip about an intriguing game, called Skype Mystery Call that combines Skype, Google maps and conventional atlases and has students in two different places trying to guess where in the U.S. (or World!) the other is located through a series of questions that can only be answered by 'yes' or 'no'. The students are grouped and assigned different roles and responsibilities. They work together to try to figure out the location of the other group. Read more about it at Katie's blog at the Alaska Geographic Alliance and while you're there see what other great tips and information she has to share about things like the Flat Classroom Projects and iEarn!
 
 
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_Joel Henriques has generously shared his Printable Toys with the public on his blog. He may think they're for preschoolers but I think lots of older children will enjoy adding some color and using them for a variety of creative activities. Maybe they'll even be inspired to design some of their own! I personally love the Travel Size Paris set and think you could pair this with books like How to Make an Apple Pie and See the World as well as Eloise and the Madeline series, Babar, The Invention of Hugo Cabret and The Inkdrinker series to name a few. You could extend the concept to a world wide display by adding his Sydney Opera House and then maybe having the students create some other notable landmarks.

 
 
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This weekend at Wood Center from 1 to 4pm. Bring the entire family for lots of fun activities celebrating Geography Awareness Week!! Sponsored by the UA Geography Department.....you know the group...Katie Kennedy with the great HUGE National Geographic Floor maps and the fun GoogleEarth activities.  Check it out!!                      More information from Wanda Tangermann at  wrtangermann@ alaska.edu  or call 474-7494.             Katie