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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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June
1, 2009 - Volume 7 Number 6
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Favorite
Sites
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collected
by Paul and Vicki
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Welcome
to the home page of Alaskan Native artist Teri Rofkar
My Tlingit lineage links me with my Alaskan Native ancestors
who have been weaving baskets and ceremonial regalia on this
coast for thousands of years. Some of the trees I visit are
several hundreds of years old; they have known my family for
many generations. The "Tree People" have helped
me in my journey as a weaver. In the Tlingit culture we recognize
that not only people, but animals, plants, objects and places
all have spirits
http://www.terirofkar.com/
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Summer
Reading
Beaches and books just seem to go together, but even if your
summer plans do not include any beaches, hopefully it will
still include some warm, lazy days curled up with a good book.
To get you in the mood, I've corralled a bunch of recommendations
for what to put in your book bag this summer.
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HAISLN
Recommended Reading Lists
This reading list hails from the librarians of the Houston
Area Independent Schools Library Network. Their 2009 recommendations
have just been posted, and are organized into eight reading
levels, from preschool to high school. The lists are in PDF,
making them easy to print and share. Each book is annotated
with a short summary (yeah!) but a book cover image would
have been a great addition.
http://www.haisln.org/recommendedreadinglists.html
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The
Horn Book: Summer Reading
"Need suggestions for beach reading or books to bring
to camp? We've hand-picked some favorite new titles, all published
within the last year, that are ideal for the season."
From Picture Books to Young Adult Fiction, Horn recommends
newly published books that may not be on your radar yet, with
an emphasis on fun, summer reading. In addition to this list,
they also produce a book review podcast, and have dozens of
other reading lists for children and young adults. You'll
find these links at the bottom of the page.
http://www.hbook.com/resources/books/summer.asp
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International
Reading Association: Children's Choices Project
"A booklist with a twist! Children themselves evaluate
the books and write reviews of their favorites. Since 1974,
Children's Choices have been a trusted source of book recommendations
used by teachers, librarians, parents, and children themselves."
Visit to download the winners for 2008, or any of the previous
booklists, going back to 1998. The K-6 lists are available
online, as well as in two PDF formats: annotated or compact
(just titles and authors).
http://www.reading.org/Resources/Booklists/ChildrensChoices.aspx
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The
New York Public Library: Summer Reading
Colorful and easy to use, this NYPL site invites readers to
write book reviews, as well as read those posted by others.
Booklists on this page are for grades one through six. For
preschoolers, teens, and even adults, look in the header for
a link to your section. If you happen to live in New York
City, you'll appreciate knowing which branches carry each
book, but even for the rest of us, there are plenty of good
reasons to visit the site, including choose-your-ending online
stories, author chats, and printable activities.
http://www.summerreading.org/kids/booklists.asp
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Scholastic
Summer Challenge
"Summer can be a season full of fun memories, good times
. . . and declining reading scores. Research shows that students
who don't read over the summer typically score lower on reading
tests when they return to school. What's the solution? It's
simple: READ 4 or MORE!" Sign up for a free account,
and log your summer reading minutes. The top twenty schools
with the most minutes read will be featured in the 2010 Scholastic
Book of World Records, along with the one student who sets
a world record for summer reading minutes.
http://www.scholastic.com/SummerReading/
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Turtles
Turtles are reptiles with hard, bony shells and have been
around a really long time. With a history that dates back
215 million years, they are older than both lizards and snakes.
Whether your interest lies in wild endangered sea turtles,
or a mud turtle to keep your backyard, these sites will certainly
serve up what you're looking for.
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CCTC:
Turtle Gallery
The best reason to visit the California Turtle and Tortoise
Club site is this gallery of annotated turtle photos, alphabetized
by either scientific or common name. From the African Spurred
Tortoise to the Western Pond Turtle, most of the thirty-two
species have multiple photos showing the differences between
the male and female turtles. Before clicking away to visit another
site, look for the audio gallery of courting male tortoise vocalizations.
Who knew?
http://www.tortoise.org/gallery.html |
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Gulf
of Maine Aquarium: All About Turtles
All About Turtles has a fun, playful attitude that shines through
in all its features. The Tale of Two Turtles, is a "first-person"
narrative told by both a snapping turtle and a loggerhead turtle.
Other great sections include a guide to turtle parts (Carapace-top
shell, an outgrowth of bone), turtle crafts ( Turtle Eggs uses
walnuts shells as newly hatched turtles), a guide to the turtle
species of Maine, and an article about what you can do to help
turtle conservation. "1. Keep wild turtles in the wild.
Don't collect pond turtles for pets. Observe and enjoy them
in their natural habitat."
http://www.gma.org/turtles/ |
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National
Geographic: Great Turtle Race
The Great Turtle Race is a two-week 3,700 mile migration from
the "foraging grounds in the frigid waters of Canada to
nesting beaches on the sun-soaked shores of the Caribbean"
that began on April 9, 2009. National Geographic follows eleven
tagged leatherback sea turtles with satellite tracking devices,
and shares the data in an easy-to-enjoy format. Meet the racers,
learn more about leatherback turtles, peruse the photo gallery,
and watch the turtles' progress from Canada to South America.
http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/article/greatturtlerace.html |
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Pet
Turtle
"Turtles can make great pets if they are cared for properly,
and we hope this website can help you decide whether or not
a turtle is the right pet for you." The care, feeding,
and breeding of turtles and tortoises are covered with articles
and a lively discussion board. Visit to share your turtle experience
and photos with other turtle enthusiasts, to post your own questions,
or to learn from other turtle hobbyists. For links to lots of
turtle care sheets (species-specific pet care summaries) look
for the sticky posts (entries that don't scroll off the discussion
board) at the top of the Caresheets forum.
http://www.petturtle.com/ |
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Turtle
Puddle: Kids Questions About Turtles
"Q. How many kinds of turtles are there? A. About 270
(and still counting.)" The folks at Turtle Puddle have
created a Q and A page just for kids that includes links to
external turtle sites. A few of those links are broken (sigh!)
but I liked the concept enough to include them here anyway.
The rest of site is also kid-friendly, and includes lots of
information about turtle car, turtle anatomy, and turtle health
issues. "Q. Can turtles hear? Do they have ears? A. Yes,
and yes."
http://www.turtlepuddle.org/kidspage/questions.html
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Summer Camp
Summer camp can be a wonderful growth experience for kids
and teens. But finding the right camp can be a stressful task
for parents. The following camp directories will help because
they allow you to search for the perfect camping venue by
many different criteria. My recommendation? Don't stop at
just one directory, because none of them cover all the camp
possibilities.
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Allen's
Guide
Allen's Guide is divided into ten primary categories, including
the usual Day Camps, Residential Camps, and Teen Camps. But
they also include Special Needs Programs, Religious Camps, European
Camps, and Self Improvement Camps that you might not find listed
elsewhere. Special teen-only sections include Hostels, Study
Abroad, Student Travel and Summer Jobs.
http://www.allensguide.com/ |
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CampResource.com
A few of the unique categories at CampResource.com are Fantasy
Summer Camps (such as baseball and rock ‘n roll), Veterinary
Science Camps, and Modeling Camps. Their listings can be browsed
via category, by use of the drop-down state menu, or from their
search form. From their Camp Talk collection of articles, come
these words of advice. "Camp should be a refreshing change
of pace, surroundings, and atmosphere, providing a wholesome
escape from the pressures of school and the distractions of
the urban environment. It should not be hectic!"
http://www.campresource.com/ |
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KidsCamps.com
"Because every child deserves a summer at camp!" In
addition to camps in all fifty states, KidsCamps.com lists international
camps in dozens of countries (arranged in alphabetic order from
Argentina to United Kingdom). Of course the biggest camp categories
are Day Camps, Traditional Overnight Camps, and Sports Camps,
where you begin by specifying a specific interest, and select
a state.
http://www.kidscamps.com/ |
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My
SummerCamps.com
"Summer camps help your child develop character, learn
valuable life skills, make new friends and discover new interests."
MySummerCamps.com is my pick of the week because of the excellent
interface and their extensive listings. Begin your camp search
by perusing any of the thirteen categories, which (in addition
to the usual kinds of summer camps) include After-School Programs,
Winter and Spring Break Programs, and Study Abroad. Geographic
searches can done with a zip code or by clicking on a map region.
http://www.mysummercamps.com/ |
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SummerCamps.com
Camp listings are divided into eleven categories and are also
browseable by state. If you have a list of specific needs
(such as a particular sport, activity, or price range) use
the search form to drill down into the results. There is also
a Camp Tips section that offers suggestions on how to choose
a camp and the benefits of summer camping. "As self-esteem
develops from learning to be on their own, children continue
to try new activities and also engage in one's that they are
familiar."
http://www.summercamps.com/
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Flag
Day
With roots in the nineteenth century, June 14th wasn't officially
established as Flag Day until May 30, 1916, when President
Woodrow Wilson issued a proclamation. It's celebration continued
in various communities for many years, but it didn't really
take off until August 3, 1949 when President Harry Truman
signed an Act of Congress designating it National Flag Day.
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Apples
4 the Teacher: Flag Day Activities for Kids
Along with a short history of the holiday, Apples 4 Teachers
Flag Day Activities include interactive flag coloring, printable
patriotic poems, printable short stories, and articles about
flag etiquette and how to recite the Pledge of Allegiance.
For additional activity ideas, visit related patriotic holidays
Memorial Day, Fourth of July and Veterans' Day.
http://www.apples4theteacher.com/holidays/flag-day/
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The
Holiday Spot: Flag Day
"Though the Flag Day was first celebrated in 1877, with
the centennial of the U.S. flag's existence, the idea of making
it a public celebration is believed to have originated in
1885." Celebrate Flag Day at The Holiday Spot with their
collection of computer wallpapers, crafts, historical flags,
history articles, and a Flag Day Quiz. "How many changes
had the Flag undergone since the first National Flag was born?"
http://www.theholidayspot.com/flagday/
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EnchantedLearning:
US Flag Day Crafts
For Flag Day, Enchanted Learning offers dozens of patriotic
crafts for preschool, kindergarten, and early elementary ages.
All can be made with common craft supplies, such as paper, scissors,
glue, string, pencils and popsicle sticks. Projects that caught
my eye include a flag-themed wind sock a patriotic pinwheel,
and a flag pebble. Some of the printable activities are only
available for paid members.
http://www.enchantedlearning.com/crafts/flagday/
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Tutorials.com:
Learn2 Fold an American Flag
"Flag-folding does take some practice, but the task isn't
exactly rocket science. As long as you've got an awareness of
flag etiquette (a few simple rules) and a friend to help you
out, mastering the art of getting the flag in that neat little
triangle will have you looking like the best girl scout or marine
in town." This five-step illustrated flag folding lesson
is just one of hundreds of short tutorials you'll find at Tutorials.com.
The instructions can be followed online, or printed out for
ease of reference. You'll find the link to a printable version
at the end of the last step.
http://www.tutorials.com/09/0903/0903.asp |
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USFlag.org:
History of Flag Day
"On June 14, 1889, George Balch, a kindergarten teacher
in New York City, planned appropriate ceremonies for the children
of his school, and his idea of observing Flag Day was later
adopted by the State Board of Education of New York."
USFlag.org is dedicated to the history of the American flag,
and has an excellent article about the history of Flag Day,
along with a gallery of of historic U.S. flags, answers to
questions about flag etiquette, and a discussion of flag desecration.
Do you think the Constitution should be amended to make it
illegal to burn an American Flag?
http://www.usflag.org/history/flagday.html
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Father's
Day Cards
Father's Day is a fairly new holiday, and wasn't given national
recognition until President Richard Nixon established a permanent
national observance on the third Sunday in June. Father's
Day was originally conceived in 1909 by Sonara Smart Dodd,
who was raised by her dad after her mother died. Her pop's
birthday was in June, so she held the first Father's Day on
June 19, 1910 in her hometown of Spokane, Washington.
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123
Certificates: Father's Day Certificates and Cards
Award your Dad a Father of the Year credential with these
customizable, printable certificates. Choose from a variety
of borders, add your name, a special message, and just hit
the "Make It" button. Additional printable certificates
include rewards for students, spelling bee winners, teachers,
moms, or "you can even reward yourself!" For printable
Father's Day cards (instead of the certificates) visit their
sister site, 123 Print Cards. You'll find a link in the middle
of the page.
http://www.123certificates.com/fathersday.php
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Care2:
Father's Day eCards
Care2 is an activist network that promotes causes such as
animal welfare, climate change, and human rights, while giving
consumers a selection of free ecards to send to their dads
and other important folks. There are nearly eighty Flash Father's
Day cards to choose from, as well as cards for Mother's Day,
Groundhog Day, St. Patrick's Day and so on. For every ecard
sent, Care2 makes a donation to an environmental nonprofit
to save a square foot of rainforest. They also connect site
visitors with over 350 non-profits, promoting many ways to
make a difference in the world.
http://www.care2.com/send/Fathers-Day-Cards.html
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Danielle's
Place: Father's Day Crafts
Although the first craft on this Father's Day page is for paying
members only, the rest of the Father's Day projects here at
Danielle's Place are free for everyone to enjoy. Most of the
two dozen illustrated Father's Day crafts are fancy homemade
cards, but a few fall into the gift category. For example, you
could learn how to make a "Dad Rocks" paper weight,
a collage pencil holder, or a "Daddy's Girl" picture
frame. Other craft categories include garden, fall, safari,
animal, fun foam, and colonial.
http://www.daniellesplace.com/HTML/mengifts.html |
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DLTK's
Father's Day Cards
"To My Daddy / I hugged this little card real tight / And
kissed it, Daddy too! / Then I packed it full of love / And
sent it off to you!" DLTK offers Father's Day cards with
matching gift bags, cards for grandpa, cards with poems, cards
to color, and cards with super heros (your choice of Batman
or Superman.) A few of the cards are simple enough for two-year
olds (with mommy's help, of course) and each project is available
in a printable version without ads.
http://www.dltk-holidays.com/dad/cards.html |
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Kaboose:
Father's Day Cards
These homemade cards are really unique. For example, the Answer
Feather Card is based on a "traditional a traditional
healing tool for those seeking answers. Pick the feather you
are attracted to, ask it a question and keep it with you.
You will receive your answer within the next day. Thank the
feather and release it back to mother earth or cleanse it
in the moonlight and use it for another question." Okay,
this card may not be for everyone. But they also have a cool
Fish Card for fisherman, and a lovely, more traditional card
made with cutout "D", "A", "D"
letters.
http://crafts.kaboose.com/fathers-day-card-index.html
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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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Changing
Winds Advocacy Center
Through presentations, classroom sessions, curriculum, fund
raising, charitable works, and multi-media efforts, we seek
to raise public awareness of the stereotyping, discrimination,
racism and other unique situations facing Native Americans.
http://changingwinds.org/
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