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Canku
Ota
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(Many
Paths)
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An
Online Newsletter Celebrating Native America
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November
1, 2008 - Volume 6 Number 2
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Favorite
Sites
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collected
by Paul and Vicki
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*National
Museum of the American Indian: Beauty Surrounds Us [Macromedia
Flash Player]*
The
Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of the American
Indian has an engaging online version of their "Beauty Surrounds
Us" exhibit. In addition to its beauty, the web exhibit also
provides an activity for each section the exhibit is divided
into, such as "Tools of Existence", "Recreation and Pastimes",
"Design as Identity", and "Expressions of Identity." The activity
tests a visitor's comprehension and memory of the objects'
written descriptions given when you click on the object's
picture. Once you've clicked on the object, you can then click
on “Map” to see the area the object is from, and you can click
on "Related" to see historic photos of the objects in use
by Native peoples. The exhibit includes the Native peoples
of both North and South America, and objects of indigenous
materials, modern materials and a mix of indigenous and modern
materials. The activity in "Design as Identity" tests your
knowledge about several object's material composition. Sports
fans will find some familiar items in the "Recreation and
Pastimes" section, and they can even try their hand at shooting
arrows at hoops to hone their buffalo shooting skills. [KMG]
http://www.nmai.si.edu/exhibitions/beauty_surrounds_us/flash8.html
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American
Indian Graduate Center (AIGC)
The vision of the American Indian Graduate
Center (AIGC) is nothing short of transformation as we focus
our intent, our spirit, and our traditions to build a better
tomorrow for Indian people. We are creating successive generations
of American Indian citizens prepared to participate in the
constructive revitalization of their respective communitiesthose
who share a common location, common interests, and common
needs.
http://www.aigcs.org/index.htm
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Of
Warrior Chiefs and Indian Princesses: The Psychological Consequences
of American Indian Mascots
Four studies examined the consequences of American Indian
mascots and other prevalent representations of American Indians
on aspects of the self-concept for American Indian students.
When exposed to Chief Wahoo, Chief Illinwek, Pocahontas, or
other common American Indian images, American Indian students
generated positive associations (Study 1, high school) but
reported depressed state self-esteem (Study 2, high school),
and community worth (Study 3, high school), and fewer achievement-related
possible selves (Study 4, college). We suggest that American
Indian mascots are harmful because they remind American Indians
of the limited ways others see them and, in this way, constrain
how they can see themselves.
AIMascots08.pdf
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Fun
Halloween food is just one of many ways to enjoy the spooky
holiday with friends and family. Whether you are looking for
ideas for a healthy family dinner before trick-or-treating,
or an entire buffet to entertain costumed friends, the following
illustrated recipe sites will surely satisfy your Halloween
recipe cravings.
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365
Halloween: Halloween Recipes with Pictures
"Halloween food is largely about
the visual appeal, that's why all of our recipes come with pictures.
Every spooky, gross, creepy, and healthy recipe has been tested
and given thumbs up by our panel of ravenous ghouls (a.k.a.
hungry friends and family)
so you know it will be good."
Web developers Lauren and Sean share their passion for Halloween
with this fun site. Visit to snag recipes for stuffed intestines,
bleedy cake, spooky slaw, and spicy bruised bugs.
http://www.365halloween.com/halloween-recipes/ |
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Britta:
Halloween Recipes
Britta ("Webmistress of the Dark")
reveals recipes for dozens of her Halloween specialities, along
with a photo archive of her annual Halloween shindigs. "You
can see in the photos that over the years of being a Halloween
Hostess, I have not only created more recipes, but also added
spooky signs describing what my eerie edibles are, which I think
add to the fun. How else would anyone know they were eating
scabs, not just dried cranberries? ;)"
http://www.britta.com/HW/HWr.html |
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Family
Fun: Halloween Recipes
Family Fun divides their Halloween recipes
into snacks, cakes, party food, meals and treats. But I'm not
sure why some recipes are in one category, and not the other,
so if you are looking for something specific, you'd best scan
the entire list. If you sign up for a free Family Fun membership,
you'll get access to a personal recipe box, where you can save
your favorite recipes, and a printable shopping list (I love
this feature!)
http://familyfun.go.com/recipes/special/specialfeature/halloween_ms_food/ |
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With
the presidential election just a month away, the campaigns
are heating up. In addition to the official candidate sites
for Barack Obama and John McCain, here are some online resources
for students to learn about the election process and keep
up with the candidates.
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270
to Win: 2008 Presidential Election Interactive Map
"It takes 270 electoral votes to
win the Presidential election." This interactive map shows
each state and the number of electoral votes they control. As
you click on each state, you can change it from red (Republican),
to blue (Democrat), and then to tan (undecided.) As you modify
each state, the total counter will also update. To begin, you
can choose from a number of starting views, such as, for example,
the actual results from the 2004 election, when the Republicans
won with 286 electoral votes. If you have cookies enabled, your
custom map will be saved for your return visits.
http://www.270towin.com/ |
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National
Mock Election
"The National Student/Parent Mock
Election seeks to turn the sense of powerlessness that keeps
young Americans and their parents, too, from going to the polls
into a sense of the power of participation in our democracy."
Run by the League of Women Votes and dozens of corporate sponsors,
the nonprofit, nonpartisan program provides educational materials
to anyone who wants to participate. In 2004, over 4 million
students, parents and teachers participated. Since the project
began, it has touched over 40 million participants. This year,
the Mock Election will be held October 30, 2008.
http://nationalmockelection.org/ |
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PBS:
Kids Democracy Project
This PBS site for grades three to six
is evergreen because it does not specifically cover the 2008
elections, but rather the process itself. "How Does Government
Affect Me?" is the largest of the three sections, with
pages of learning on topics as diverse as funding local schools
to checks and balances in the three branches of the federal
government. "President for a Day" is an interactive
exercise where you learn all about the president's duties by
creating your own presidential agenda.
http://pbskids.org/democracy/ |
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Although
it has been studied since the eighteenth century, the mystery
of what causes lightning has not been completely unlocked.
Beautiful to behold, but occasionally deadly, lightning is
a force of nature that must always be taken seriously. Learn
more about the science of lightning and lightning safety at
the following sites.
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Education
for Geo-Hazards: Lighting Strike!
"When you first see lightning or
hear thunder, activate your emergency plan. Now is the time
to go to a building or a vehicle. IF OUTDOORS ... Avoid water,
high ground & open spaces & all metal objects including
electric wires." Lightning is just one of the geo-hazards
addressed in this safety site for kids. Be sure to practice
the lightning crouch, it is the safest way to "hide"
if you are stuck outside and can not find shelter. In addition
to the multimedia site, you can download the hazard preparedness
book in PDF.
http://www.edu4hazards.org/lightning.html |
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National
Geographic Kids: Lightning: the Shocking Story
National Geographic shares "electrifying
stories" and "shocking facts" about lightning
in this site for elementary and middle-school students. The
site is divided into science (Flash Landing), survivor stories
(I was Struck By Lightning), and a small photo gallery. Additionally,
there is an interactive quiz (linked from the table of contents
page), a printable word game, and a static electricity experiment.
The latter two can be found on the More to Explore link.
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/lightning/ |
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NOAA:
NWS Lightning Safety for Kids
This kids page from the National Weather
Service is a collection of lightning games, most of them printable.
Highlights are a printable crossword puzzle, two printable word
search puzzles, and two printable coloring books. But my favorite
click is Owlie Skywant's Lightning Ahead, a seven-page activity
book which includes quizzes, fill-in-the-blank worksheets, coloring
pages, and advice on what to do during a lightning storm.
http://www.lightningsafety.noaa.gov/kids.htm |
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STAR
Students And Teachers Against Racism
announces their new website that offers insight into the Native
American perspective to teachers and educators.
http://www.racismagainstindians.org/
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