StationBreak February 2013
What's New
AETN is now accepting entries for the PBS KIDS GO! Writers Contest through Friday, April 5! Designed to promote the advancement of children's literacy skills through hands-on, active learning, the contest encourages children in grades K-3 to celebrate creativity by submitting their original stories and illustrations. To learn more, visit aetn.org/writerscontest and read entries from last year's Arkansas contest winners.
Raising Arkansas's Readers: The Campaign for Grade-Level Reading
AETN has partnered with the Winthrop Rockefeller Foundation and Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families to present the one-hour program "Raising Arkansas's Readers: The Campaign for Grade-Level Reading" Thursday, Feb. 7, at 7 p.m.
The endeavor launched to ensure that more children succeed in school and graduate prepared for college, a career and active citizenship. The campaign focuses on one of the most important predictors of school success and high school graduation - grade-level reading by the end of third grade. The campaign's goal is that by 2020 all Arkansas children will read at grade level by the end of third grade.
Family Fun Days at the Museum of Discovery
Celebrate spring break with AETN and the Museum of Discovery in Little Rock Thursday and Friday, March 21-22, and you might find yourself face to face with a PBS KIDS star!
While you're there, don't forget to check out the AETN Public Media Center.
Champion Trees
Arkansas's Champion Tree program, managed by the Arkansas Forestry Commission, recognizes those trees - planted by nature or individuals - that are the largest of each species in the state. Trees are compared using the American Forests "Bigness Index," which includes trunk circumference, height and average crown spread.
AETN is currently producing a film, "Champion Trees," that explores how these natural wonders influence and inspire the people around them. In conjunction with the documentary, AETN will host "Arkansas Champion Trees: An Artist's Journey," an exhibit featuring drawings by Linda Williams Palmer of Hot Springs, in the network atrium Feb. 18-March 15.
- The Arkansas Forestry Commission Champion Trees
- National Big Tree Program
- Arkansas Champion Trees: An Artist's Journey Educational Resources
Look for additional information that will be coming soon at aetn.org/championtrees.
Resources available via AETN PBS LearningMedia
Dinosaur Discoveries: Redwood Trees
Learn that redwoods are the tallest trees in the world, they are among the world's longest living trees, and their thick bark helps protect the trees against fires, insects, and disease.
Grades: PreK-K
The Forest & The Soil Cycle
Explore the geology of soil formation and the role that trees play in the soil cycle.
Grades: 5-8
Albino Redwoods: Ghosts of the Forest (AUDIO)
Listen to this audio report from QUEST produced by KQED, learn about so-called "ghost trees" that are deliberately off the beaten track and understand why the park rangers in the Santa Cruz Mountains are protecting the decades-old secret of albino redwood trees.
Grades 5-13+
February is Black History month.
AETN and PBS encourage you to spend time celebrating the contributions of African-Americans. Start with simple ideas from PBS.
https://www.pbs.org/parents/special/blackhistory.html
Professional development
Why use videos in the classroom? Use this technology course for online teacher professional development from ArkansasIDEAS.
Integrating Online Videos in the Classroom (1)
This course explores the use of online videos in the classroom. It provides real- world examples for teachers to use as they incorporate videos as part of their classroom instruction. It discusses how to include online videos in a PowerPoint presentation and explores how to assign a video scavenger hunt as part of a learning assignment. It also covers specific examples of how online videos can be used by teachers of elementary students, as well as those in secondary education subjects, such as English, math, science, social studies, and fine arts. CID 7629