Big Learning News Comments

Where to find me

2007-06-07T07:27:00.000-07:00

I now blog on my own site. Please visit me at the Big Learning website and check out my blog there, BiggerLearning. I'm eager to hear your comments.

See you there,
-Karen Cole

Big Learning News 1-10-07

2007-01-11T11:03:00.000-08:00

Table of Contents

Math Moment: Googol Math Contest

Activity: "Paint your own pottery" party

Toy review:Electronics playground

Explaining the News: Climate Change

Web site: KidsHealth

Big Learning News 12-13-06

2006-12-14T11:29:00.000-08:00

Table of Contents

Karen Cole's holiday wish list

Math Moment: Give a goat

Activity: Cookie Art

Book review: Bird Watcher

Education News : Newsflash! Winter break is good!

Favorite Websites of 2006

Big Learning News 12-7-06

2006-12-07T11:17:00.000-08:00

Table of Contents

Math Moment: Critical Consumption of Statistics

Announcing our newest Treasure Trove: Cooking!

Activity: Make Presents

Book review: Elijah's Angels

Education News : Holding back five-year-olds

Web Site: Good Stuff?

Big Learning News 11-30-06

2006-11-30T13:25:00.000-08:00

Table of Contents

Math Moment: Take a ride into space

Announcing our newest Treasure Trove: Cooking!

Activity: Make pretzels

Book review: The Big Book of Magic

Education News : What it takes to make a student

Web Site: Runningmap

Check out our new pages on BigLearning.com!
The Craft Stick Idea Palace - Craft Stick Projects for Kids - Popsicle Stick Projects for Kids

Cooking! - Family cooking projects - cooking for kids - cooking science - cooking math

Big Learning News 11-15-06

2006-11-17T09:07:00.000-08:00

Table of Contents

Math Moment: Nintendo sales

Activity: Ping pong fun

Book review: Exploratopia

Education News :The U.S. Elections

Web Site: Sugar Crash

Big Learning News 11-8-06

2006-11-09T18:01:00.000-08:00

Table of Contents

Math Moment: Lacing up shoes

Activity: Get egg-cited about science

Book review: The American Civil War: 365 Days

Current Events for Kids :The U.S. Elections

Web Site: Journey North science site

Big Learning News 11-1-06

2006-11-01T16:35:00.000-08:00

Table of Contents
Math Moment: What does your UNICEF donation buy?
Activity: NEW! The Big Learning Craft Stick Idea Palace
Book revew: Super Snacks
Education news: What it takes to be great
Web Site : Archaeology for kids

Big Learning News 10-18-06

2006-10-17T11:20:00.000-07:00

Math Moment: U.S. Population tops 300 million

Activity: Pumpkin muffins

News to share: Giant yellow jacket nests

Education news: Streak of wild

Web Site : Toon Beat

Big Learning News 10-11-06

2006-10-12T08:39:00.000-07:00

Table of Contents

Math Moment: Caffeine content of soft drinks

Activity: Pinwheels Plus

Book Review: Hoot

Education news: Must we teach to the test?

Web Site : Let them sing it for you

Big Learning News 10-4-06

2006-10-05T08:16:00.000-07:00

Table of Contents

Math Moment: Mathematics of paper dolls

Activity: Plan a costume

Book Review: Switched On, Flushed Down, Tossed Out

Education news: Another great homework rant

Web Site : CBBC Presspack

Big Learning News 9-27-06

2006-09-27T12:20:00.000-07:00

Table of Contents

Math Moment: Math Moment: Walking to School

Activity: Acorns and Pinecones

Book Review: Stealing Home

Education news: Tracking...it's baaaack

Web Site : Inner Body

Big Learning News 9-20-06

2006-09-21T11:06:00.000-07:00

Math Moment: Analog clocks

Activity: Make string figures

Book Review: Stealing Home

Education news: Homework revisited

Web Site : Pirates

Contests: Writing and inventing

Math Moment: 100-year-old Mechanic

2006-09-07T05:45:00.000-07:00

http://www.biglearning.com/news060906.htm#mathmoment

Book Review: Children's Miscellany

2006-09-07T05:44:00.000-07:00

http://www.biglearning.com/news060906.htm#bookreview

Activity: Fun with Flatware

2006-09-07T05:43:00.001-07:00

http://www.biglearning.com/news060906.htm#activity

Web Site: All about Pests

2006-09-07T05:43:00.000-07:00

http://www.biglearning.com/news060906.htm#website

Education News: Letting Kids Roam

2006-09-06T13:30:00.000-07:00

http://www.biglearning.com/news060906.htm#ednews

Contest: Design an educational game!

2006-09-06T13:29:00.000-07:00

http://www.biglearning.com/news060906.htm#website2

Current events for kids: Bank Robber Stuck

2006-08-31T02:38:00.000-07:00

http://www.biglearning.com/news060830.htm#kidnews

Math Moment: Homework

2006-08-31T02:22:00.000-07:00

http://www.biglearning.com/news060830.htm#mathmoment

Activity: Make Pancakes

2006-08-31T02:21:00.000-07:00

http://www.biglearning.com/news060830.htm#activity

Education News: Everything Earlier

2006-08-31T02:20:00.000-07:00

http://www.biglearning.com/news060830.htm#ednews

Web Site: World Atlas

2006-08-31T02:19:00.000-07:00

http://www.biglearning.com/news060830.htm#website

Math Moment: What people earn

2006-08-24T06:34:00.000-07:00

http://www.biglearning.com/news060823.htm#mathmoment

Activity: Pets for classroom or home

2006-08-24T06:33:00.001-07:00

http://www.biglearning.com/news060823.htm#activity

Book Reviews: Animal References

2006-08-24T06:33:00.000-07:00

http://www.biglearning.com/news060823.htm#bookreview

Current events for kids

2006-08-24T06:31:00.001-07:00

http://www.biglearning.com/news060823.htm#kidnews

Education News: Should you pay kids for good grades?

2006-08-24T06:31:00.000-07:00

http://www.biglearning.com/news060823.htm#ednews

Web Site: Hobby Shop Science

2006-08-24T06:14:00.000-07:00

http://www.biglearning.com/news060823.htm#website

Math Moment: Find the Counterfeit Coin

2006-08-17T10:52:00.001-07:00

http://www.biglearning.com/news060816.htm#mathmoment

Activity: Spot the Fake Photo

2006-08-17T10:52:00.000-07:00

http://www.biglearning.com/news060816.htm#activity

Activity: Make a historic tale

2006-08-17T10:51:00.000-07:00

http://www.biglearning.com/news060816.htm#activity2

Game Review: Apples to Apples

2006-08-17T10:50:00.000-07:00

http://www.biglearning.com/news060816.htm#bookreview

Web sites: Math Fact Review

2006-08-17T10:49:00.000-07:00

http://www.biglearning.com/news060816.htm#website

Math Moment: Distances with Google Earth

2006-08-10T07:48:00.000-07:00

http://www.biglearning.com/news060809.htm#mathmoment

Activity: Camping fun

2006-08-10T07:47:00.000-07:00

http://www.biglearning.com/news060809.htm#activity

Product Review: I Made That wood kits

2006-08-10T07:46:00.001-07:00

http://www.biglearning.com/news060809.htm#bookreview

Education News: Back to School Prep

2006-08-10T07:46:00.000-07:00

http://www.biglearning.com/news060809.htm#ednews

Web site: Underground Adventure

2006-08-10T07:45:00.000-07:00

http://www.biglearning.com/news060809.htm#website

Giant-sized croquet

2006-08-10T07:44:00.000-07:00

http://www.biglearning.com/news060809.htm#video

Math Moment: Measure your Veggies

2006-07-26T18:03:00.001-07:00

http://www.biglearning.com/news060726.htm#mathmoment

Activity: Make Ice Cream

2006-07-26T18:03:00.000-07:00

http://www.biglearning.com/news060726.htm#activity

Activity: Make Spinning Toys

2006-07-26T17:58:00.000-07:00

http://www.biglearning.com/news060726.htm#activity2

Books for Summer Fun

2006-07-26T17:57:00.001-07:00

http://www.biglearning.com/news060726.htm#bookreview

Education News: IQ Nature or Nurture?

2006-07-26T17:57:00.000-07:00

http://www.biglearning.com/news060726.htm#ednews

Web Site: Make Movies with the Zimmer Twins

2006-07-26T17:56:00.000-07:00

http://www.biglearning.com/news060726.htm#website

Math Moment: Make Silly Putty

2006-07-19T12:03:00.000-07:00

http://www.biglearning.com/news060719.htm#mathmoment

Activity: What's that shell?

2006-07-19T12:02:00.000-07:00

http://www.biglearning.com/news060719.htm#activity

Book Review: Sewing with Felt

2006-07-19T12:01:00.000-07:00

http://www.biglearning.com/news060719.htm#bookreview

Education News: Learning 24/7?

2006-07-19T12:00:00.000-07:00

http://www.biglearning.com/news060719.htm#ednews

Web Site: Free typing lessons for kids

2006-07-19T11:58:00.000-07:00

http://www.biglearning.com/news060719.htm#website

Math Moment: Oldest World Cup Players

2006-07-12T11:00:00.000-07:00

http://www.biglearning.com/newsletter.htm#mathmoment

Activity: Blow bubbles

2006-07-12T10:59:00.000-07:00

http://www.biglearning.com/newsletter.htm#activity

Book Review: My Side of the Mountain

2006-07-12T10:58:00.000-07:00

http://www.biglearning.com/newsletter.htm#bookreview

Current Events to Share: New Spelling?

2006-07-12T10:57:00.000-07:00

http://www.biglearning.com/newsletter.htm#kidnews

Web sites: Hug a tree

2006-07-12T10:52:00.000-07:00

http://www.biglearning.com/news060712.htm#website

Math Moment: Hit a 90 mph fastball

2006-06-28T13:33:00.000-07:00

http://www.biglearning.com/new060628.htm#mathmoment

Activity: Design Fireworks

2006-06-28T13:32:00.000-07:00

http://www.biglearning.com/new060628.htm#activity

book reviews: First Aid for Kids

2006-06-28T13:31:00.000-07:00

http://www.biglearning.com/news060628.htm#bookreview

Education News: Summer Vacation?

2006-06-28T13:30:00.000-07:00

http://www.biglearning.com/new060628.htm#ednews

Web Site: Summer Reading

2006-06-28T13:26:00.000-07:00

http://www.biglearning.com/news060628.htm#website

Math Moment: Measuring horses

2006-06-21T15:00:00.000-07:00

http://www.biglearning.com/news060621.htm#mathmoment

Activity: Recognize Poison Ivy, Oak, Sumac

2006-06-21T14:59:00.000-07:00

http://www.biglearning.com/news060621.htm#activity

Book Review: How Do You Raise a Raisin

2006-06-21T14:58:00.001-07:00

http://www.biglearning.com/news060621.htm#bookreview

Happy Summer Solstice

2006-06-21T14:58:00.000-07:00

http://www.biglearning.com/news060621.htm#website1

Education News: NCLB a Flop

2006-06-21T14:55:00.000-07:00

http://www.biglearning.com/news060621.htm#ednews

website: Bigfoot Monster Truck

2006-06-21T14:46:00.000-07:00

http://www.biglearning.com/news060621.htm#website

Math Moment: Radius and Scary Volcanoes

2006-06-15T06:43:00.000-07:00

http://www.biglearning.com/news060614.htm#mathmoment

Activity: Mentos and Soda Geysers

2006-06-15T06:42:00.000-07:00

http://www.biglearning.com/news060614.htm#activity

Book Review: Cartoonist's Workbook

2006-06-15T06:41:00.000-07:00

http://www.biglearning.com/news060614.htm#bookreview

Education news: Online Civics Lesson?

2006-06-15T06:40:00.000-07:00

http://www.biglearning.com/news060614.htm#ednews

Web Site: Bookzone

2006-06-15T06:39:00.000-07:00

http://www.biglearning.com/news060614.htm#website

Math Moment: Motorcycle Lean Angles

2006-06-07T18:35:00.000-07:00

http://www.biglearning.com/news060607.htm#mathmoment

Activity: Thank the Teachers

2006-06-07T18:34:00.000-07:00

http://www.biglearning.com/news060607.htm#activity

Book Review: All New Square Foot Gardening

2006-06-07T18:33:00.000-07:00

http://www.biglearning.com/news060607.htm#bookreview

Education News: Shallow Textbooks

2006-06-07T18:32:00.001-07:00

http://www.biglearning.com/news060607.htm#ednews

News: World Cup Soccer Geography

2006-06-07T18:32:00.000-07:00

http://www.biglearning.com/news060607.htm#kidnews

Web Site: Mysteries for Kids to Solve

2006-06-07T15:23:00.000-07:00

http://www.biglearning.com/news060607.htm#website

New Features on BigLearning.com

2006-06-01T11:30:00.000-07:00

http://www.biglearning.com/news060531.htm

Math Moment: Percents

2006-06-01T11:29:00.000-07:00

http://www.biglearning.com/news060531.htm#mathmoment

Activity: Share your Lego Creations

2006-06-01T11:28:00.000-07:00

http://www.biglearning.com/news060531.htm#activity

Activity: Enter a Cartoon Contest

2006-06-01T11:27:00.001-07:00

http://www.biglearning.com/news060531.htm#activity1

News to Share: Music and Science

2006-06-01T11:27:00.000-07:00

http://www.biglearning.com/news060531.htm#kidnews

Education News: Parents and Schools

2006-06-01T11:25:00.000-07:00

http://www.biglearning.com/news060531.htm#ednews

Web Site: Book of Cool

2006-06-01T11:24:00.000-07:00

http://www.biglearning.com/news060531.htm#website

Math Moment: Decimals and Rounding

2006-05-18T17:26:00.000-07:00

http://www.biglearning.com/news060517.htm#mathmoment

Activity: Make Cheese

2006-05-18T17:25:00.000-07:00

http://www.biglearning.com/news060517.htm#activity

Education News: Projects or Facts?

2006-05-18T17:24:00.000-07:00

http://www.biglearning.com/news060517.htm#ednews

Game: Run a lemonade stand

2006-05-18T17:23:00.000-07:00

http://www.biglearning.com/news060517.htm#game

Web site: Polar Days and Nights

2006-05-18T17:22:00.000-07:00

http://www.biglearning.com/news060517.htm#website

Math Moment: One in a Million

2006-05-11T08:01:00.000-07:00

http://www.biglearning.com/news060510.htm#mathmoment

Activity: Go Stargazing

2006-05-11T08:00:00.000-07:00

http://www.biglearning.com/news060510.htm#activity

Book Review: Attack of the Killer Video Book

2006-05-11T07:59:00.000-07:00

http://www.biglearning.com/news060510.htm#bookreview

Ed News: New PE classes

2006-05-11T07:58:00.000-07:00

http://www.biglearning.com/news060510.htm#ednews

Kinetic Sculpture Race

2006-05-11T07:56:00.000-07:00

http://www.biglearning.com/news060510.htm#website

What kind of billion do you mean

2006-04-27T10:35:00.000-07:00

http://www.mentalfloss.com/archives/archive2002-10-02.htm

Got large-number-loving kids? Help them name numbers transcontinentally. As shown in the chart, Europe and the U.S. have different meanings for the words "billion," "trillion," and other large-number names. For example:

In the U.S., a billion is this number:

1,000,000,000.

In Europe, a billion is this number:

1,000,000,000,000, which in the U.S. is called a trillion.

More Fun Math for Kids

Count your birds

2006-04-27T10:33:00.000-07:00

http://www.birds.cornell.edu/MyYardCounts

Looking for a real science project to do with your kids this summer? Sign up for "My Yard Counts." MYC is a new citizen science project from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology.

To participate, you fill out a short questionnaire about your yard, and then do a 20-minute bird count once a week and submit your count to the lab. The lab is trying to figure how yards help support the larger ecosystem and improve bird health.

More Bird Watching for Kids

Kidszworld's Get Physical

2006-04-27T10:31:00.000-07:00

Kidzworld's "Get Physical"

Ages 9-13

http://www.kidzworld.com/site/get_physical.htm

Here's a kids' sport site with its head on straight. The writing is friendly and smart throughout. Kids can learn about their favorite sports and heroes, but the site pays equal or greater attention to helping kids get active and stay healthy - be it through organized sports or by jumping rope. There's an advice column called "Quiz the Coach" with all sorts of interesting kid-questions, like "Will weight training stunt my growth?" For skateboarders, there's a column called "Ask Simon" where kids can get advice on how to learn particular tricks or even find out how to get sponsored.

I like the "Gear" part of the site too, I expected to find a catalog of stuff to buy, but instead I found product reviews and tips on choosing and caring for sports equipment. A featured article tells how to break in a new baseball glove.

Teach to the Test?

2006-04-27T10:26:00.000-07:00

Education News for Adults

Teach to the Test?

Washington Post education columnist Jay Mathews sure created a stir when he wrote this column, suggesting that "teaching to the test" is a good thing.

Critics of high-stakes standardized testing say that the practice encourages teachers to teach only what they think will be tested. As a result the curriculum can be both narrowed (no more writing a class play - that won't be on the test) and dumbed down (no time for in-depth discussion or further exploration of topics).

Mathews argues that teachers do neither in practice - instead they carefully and conscientiously push their students to meet those tough state standards.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/

It's hard for me to believe that Mathews hasn't seen the life sucked out of education by the tests - I see it everywhere. Teachers who still teach in-depth consider themselves rebels.

So this week, Mathews published responses from two of his teacher friends, Kenneth Bernstein and

Mark Ingerson.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/

Bernstein, a high-school social studies teacher, teaches both required test-driven classes, and non-test driven electives. He thoughtfully analyzes the way the test influences his teaching and his students' learning. Here's a partial quote: "The existence of external tests inevitably influences what occurs in my classroom. I cannot avoid my responsibility for preparing my students to do well on those tests. That takes time away from other things I might want to explore. It limits my ability to respond to events in the world and in the lives of my students that might be far more meaningful in connecting them with the domain."

Bernstein's response is excerpted from a longer post here:

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2006/3/18/84750/3438

Ingram argues that high-level thinking and learning of facts must go hand-in-hand: great thinking requires mastery of facts. I absolutely agree with that, but the problem is that a lot of test-driven instruction leaves facts disconnected or meaningless.