Did you know that Ben Franklin’s currency printing firm thwarted counterfeiters by spelling “Pennsylvania” incorrectly and on purpose? How about that the famous signatures at the bottom of the Declaration of Independence were actually kept secret for many months after the public reveal for fear of the signers’ safety? Or that many of the Founders
World Refugee Day
World Refugee Day was established in 2000 by the UN General Assembly and is coming up on June 20. It’s a good time to talk to your students about the definition of a refugee and the challenges people throughout time and all around the world have faced when they are forced to leave their homeland.
Sparking and Maintaining Interest: Girls & STEM
By Cindy Moss, Senior Director of Global STEM Initiatives for Discovery Education What did you want to be when you grew up? At the end of the last century, you wouldn’t have been able to even name some of the top jobs of today: user experience developer, driverless car engineer, mobile app designer. Maybe that isn’t
Discovery Education Monthly STEM Content Highlights – June
Water, Water, (Challenges) Everywhere… This month we look towards a Glocal (Global & local impact) challenge in society: water. Whether we look at issues with water pollution, access to drinkable water, using water as an energy source, or changing weather patterns; water is impacting us all. The National Academy of Engineering (NAE) has declared the
#CelebrateWithDE – Flag Day
Warming us up for Independence Day every year is the usually quieter celebration of Flag Day, marked in the U.S. on June 14. Symbols are an important part of every culture, and the American flag is one of the most ubiquitous and recognizable symbols in our country. The history and symbolism of the flag are
Using Discourse to Promote a Positive Classroom Culture
Can we expect students to know how to discuss topics with their teachers and each other on a daily basis? Of course we can! When teachers instill a positive classroom culture: Students are respectful of each other, their teacher and of their learning. Students understand and appreciate the viewpoints of others. Students are able to appreciate what
June 2017: Promoting inventiveness in the classroom
We are all familiar with invention—the process of creating something new and useful. But what about the creativity factors that play a large role in this process? The form of creativity leading to invention is called inventiveness. How can you lead your teachers or colleagues to promote inventiveness in the classroom? The Belin-Blank Center for
#CelebrateWithDE – Butterfly Education & Awareness Day
Alighting on the calendar in a few days, it’s Butterfly Education & Awareness Day. To match the spirit of the day, we’d like to help you focus your students’ awareness on these beautiful creatures by providing a gallery of the amazing color patterns to be found on butterflies and a little foundational information about why
4 Steps to Measure Growth in an Inquiry-Based Science Classroom
By Jeanette Edelstein I loved science as a young kid. A paper model of the solar system hung across my bedroom ceiling. I marveled at the sight of tiny onions pulled from grass clumps in my backyard. And I dutifully gave my cats checkups with the real stethoscope I got from my dad. So what
EA Sports: Madden NFL & NFLPA STEM Career Challenge
You Can’t Be What You Can’t See Students require opportunities to see what careers exist beyond their classrooms and community. Students must also understand how STEM factors in each career pathway. The ability to see how student passions and interests can extend to careers in STEM is critical to success in the future. Discovery Education