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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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April 2015 - Volume
13 Number 4
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Favorite
Sites
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collected
by Paul and Vicki
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Seeds
of Native Health: A Campaign for Indigenous Nutrition
Extreme poverty and the loss of traditional foods have caused
many Native Americans to suffer from poor or inadequate diets.
This has led to increased obesity, diabetes, and other profound
health problems on a large scale.
http://seedsofnativehealth.org |
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Hoyo
Negro - A Submerged Late Pleistocene Cave Site in Quintana Roo
Hoyo Negro is the most important Paleoindian site discovered
in the last decade. The complete, well-preserved skeleton of
a young girl from the Late Pleistocene period rests at the floor
of a large chamber inside an underwater cave in Mexico's Yucatan
Peninsula. Remains of extinct megafauna are scattered about
the floor and walls of the chamber, some of them commingled
with the skeleton of the girl.
http://hoyonegro.org |
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Kids' Jokes
In honor of April's appointment as National Humor Month,
today's topic is clean, funny jokes. National Humor Month
was founded in 1976 by author Larry Wilde, who chose April because
of its frequently bleak weather, the fact that it begins with
April Fool's Day, and to counteract the stress of taxes
being due on the April 15. Have a joke of your own to share?
Jokes By Kids would love to read it.
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101
Kidz: Jokes
"What do you get if you cross a spider and an elephant?
I'm not sure, but if you see one walking across the ceiling
then run before it collapses!" With an emphasis on animal
jokes, there are pages and pages of kid-friendly jokes and riddles
at 101 Kidz. Visit for jokes about chickens, dinosaurs, elephants,
cats, insects, spiders and flies. A few of these animals have
their categories listed on the main joke page. For the rest
of the animals, you will need to page through the Animal Jokes
section, looking for the sub-categories.
http://www.101kidz.com/jokes/ |
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Aha
Jokes: Kids Jokes
"What do you call an ant who skips school? A truant!"
" Why were the early days of history called the dark
ages? Because there were so many knights!" The Aha kids
jokes are divided into Animal Jokes, Doctor Jokes, Knock Knock,
Scary Jokes, School Jokes and Silly Jokes. The navigation
isn't fancy, but if you follow the green arrows, you'll scroll
through the joke collections page by page.
http://www.ahajokes.com/kids_jokes.html
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AzKidsNet:
Knock Knock Jokes!
As good comedians know, how a joke is presented is just as important
as the joke itself. I like the presentation at AzKidsNet because
the punchline is hidden until you make it appear. On the Knock
Knock Jokes pages, simply hover over "Who's There?"
to see the question, and then move over to "Answer"
to see the punchline. The other joke pages, such as Elephant
Jokes, Riddles and Brainteasers, use a variety of different
(but easy to use) click and hover techniques to keep the answers
hidden until you are ready for them.
http://www.azkidsnet.com/JSknockjoke.htm |
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Ducksters:
Jokes: You Quack Me Up!
Navigation at Ducksters is simple, but it works. The jokes and
riddles are divided into twenty-nine categories and subcategories.
Some of the more unusual ones are Tree Jokes, Occupation Jokes
and Geography Jokes. "What has five eyes and is lying on
the water? The Mississippi River!" "Where do pianists
go for vacation? Florida Keys!" "What rock group has
four men that don't sing? Mount Rushmore!"
http://www.ducksters.com/jokesforkids/ |
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Reader's
Digest: Kids Jokes
"What's the difference between a cat and a comma? A cat
has claws at the end of paws. A comma is a pause at the end
of a clause." Kids jokes are just one of the Reader Digest
joke categories. Others include Knock-Knock Jokes, Corny Jokes,
Riddles, and Cartoons. You can also submit your own joke.
Look for the link in the drop-down Jokes menu near the top
of any page. If your joke is selected for the print magazine,
you'll be paid $100!
http://www.rd.com/jokes/funny/kids-stuff/
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What
is a Digital Footprint?
Your digital footprint is all the bits of information about
you scattered across cyberspace. Your digital footprint includes
information you deliberately shared (social media, forums,
blogging, commenting) as well as data acquired or tracked
behind the scenes (for example, with browser cookies). Do
you understand the ramifications of your digital footprint?
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Common
Sense Media: Trillion-Dollar Footprint
These teaching materials for grades six to eight include plenty
of resources for kids including the main video lesson, downloadable
student packets, and Family Tip Sheets. Common Sense Media also
has materials for other age groups. Just search "digital
footprint" in the search box in the upper right-hand corner.
https://www.commonsensemedia.org/educators/lesson/trillion-dollar-footprint-6-8
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Digital
Citizenship Adventures
"Bottom line: if the world is listening to us when we are
[on] the web, then let's make sure what we say is interesting,
engaging, positive and representative of our better selves."
This site includes great resources for searching for your digital
footprint, and role playing about the possible ramifications
of your footprint. How will it affect your college admissions
or job opportunities?
https://sites.google.com/site/digcitizenshipadventures/managing-your-digital-footprint
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InCtrl:
Teaching Digital Citizenship
"In a digital world and information-sharing age, it can
sometimes be hard to understand where privacy ends and what
the real risks are. Everyone cares about their reputation, but
many students don't know that what they do online can impact
their digital footprint, permanently." This online lesson
includes two videos, a printable handout, and notes for teachers.
http://www.teachinctrl.org/lessons/yourdigitalfootprint.php
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Internet
Society: Your Digital Footprints Matters
"No matter what you do online, it's important you know
what kind of trail you're leaving, and what the possible effects
can be. While it's not possible to have zero footprints, the
first steps toward reducing your digital footprint and managing
your digital identity are not that hard." This excellent
site features nine video tutorials starting with "What
is a Digital Footprint?" You'll find them listed in the
middle of the page, under the subhead "Watch These Online
Tutorials."
http://www.internetsociety.org/your-digital-footprint-matters
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Your
Digital Footprint
Developed by graduate students at George Washington University,
this site for educators includes sections on assessing your
digital footprint, and a Digital Footprint Adventure game.
"Your students may be digital natives, but they may also
be digitally naive. The purpose of this site is not to scare
your students, but to urge them to think critically about
their behavior online, and how that may affect them in the
present and in the future."
http://digitalfootprintimu.weebly.com/introduction.html
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Annie
Oakley
Annie Oakley (August 13, 1860 – November 3, 1926) was
an American sharpshooter with a starring role in Buffalo Bill's
Wild West show. Her fame cemented her position as America's
first female star. Oakley is also known for promoting the
role of women in combat, and for her charity to orphans.
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Annie
Oakley Center Foundation: Frequently Asked Questions
The Annie Oakley Center Foundation is a non-profit promoting
Oakley's memory. This FAQ page is actually an Annie Oakley biography
in a Q&A format. "How did Annie start shooting? From
the age of five, Annie had trapped birds and small animals to
help supply food for her family. At about age seven, she tried
using the old muzzle-loading gun that had belonged to her father
in hopes of bagging even more game."
http://www.annieoakleycenterfoundation.com/faq.html
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Biography:
Shoot 'em, Cowgirl! 5 Facts on Annie Oakley
"Oakley used her talents of unmatched shooting skills to
create a new career for women who revolted against traditional
pioneer trades, raising her family out of poverty and starring
in Buffalo Bill's Wild West show around the world. Today she
is remembered as a heroine whose legacy lives on through film,
literature and a Broadway musical." After perusing these
five fun facts, follow the link to Oakley's biography (it's
at the end of the opening paragraph).
http://www.biography.com/news/annie-oakley-facts
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Buffalo
Bill Center of the West: Annie Oakley
From the research desk of the Buffalo Bill Museum of Wyoming,
comes this Annie Oakley biography. "The United States was
pulled into World War I in 1917, and Oakley offered to raise
a regiment of woman volunteers to fight in the war. She had
made the same offer during the Spanish-American War; neither
time was it accepted."
http://centerofthewest.org/explore/buffalo-bill/research/annie-oakley/
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Garden
of Praise: Annie Oakley
Garden of Praise is the only one of today's sites specifically
written for kids. It includes an Annie Oakley biography, photo
gallery, online games, and printable activities such as a study
sheet, quiz, crossword puzzle, word search puzzle and coloring
pages. For direct links to the various sections, click on "Explore
this Page."
http://gardenofpraise.com/ibdannie.htm |
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PBS:
American Experience's Wild West: Annie Oakley
"Both lucky and extremely talented, Annie Oakley used
her astonishing marksmanship to escape a poor childhood in
Ohio and rise to become the first female superstar in what
had been a male-dominated profession." Visit this PBS
site to read an Annie Oakley biography, watch an 8-minute
video, read a transcript of the Annie Oakley episode of American
Experience, or download the Teacher Guide.
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/biography/oakley-annie/
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Nutrition
As my kids were growing up, I went through various cycles
of nutrition nagging ("Drink your milk!") and nutrition
bribing ("I'll trade you one cookie for four green
beans.") To those of you on the front line today, fighting
the good fight in the nutrition wars and the battle of the
bulge, I offer these fun, educational websites.
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Choose
My Plate
The USDA now uses a plate metaphor instead of the Food Pyramid
of yesteryear. What should be on our plate? Vegetables, grains,
fruits, and protein (in order from most to least) with a side
serving of dairy, such as milk. Choose My Plate uses games,
activity sheets, videos, songs, recipes, and ideas for physical
activities to teach us about nutrition.
http://www.choosemyplate.gov/kids/ |
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Food
Champs
With bright colors and cartoon mascots, Food Champs has fun
and games for kids as young as two. Choices include coloring
pages, printable stickers, printable recipe cards, interactive
games, printable activity sheets, and a gallery of artwork.
Games are divided into two age groups: two to five, and six
to eight. They include Farm to Fork (learn how food gets from
the field to your table), Fruit & Vegetable Math, and Healthy
Choices Maze.
http://www.foodchamps.org |
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Nourish
Interactive
"Celebrate National Nutrition Month by setting one goal.
This month make the pledge to help kids eat healthier. Pledge
to help children choose more fruits and vegetables." Nourish
Interactive (created by nutrition professionals) has something
for everyone in your family: dozens of printables with healthy
tips, puzzles, coloring pages, games, and recipes.
http://www.nourishinteractive.com |
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Playnourmous
"What should I eat? What is exercise? What should I know
to stay healthy and strong? Enter the enchanted world of Playnormous
to find out. There's an interactive story unfolding, and YOU
play a starring role." With games for kids, learning guides
for parents, and classroom activities for teachers, Playnormous
is my nutrition pick of the week for K-5 kids and the grownups
that love them.
http://www.playnormous.com |
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SuperKids
Nutrition for Kids
"Saving the World, One Healthy Food at a Time!"
This page for elementary ages introduces nutrition concepts
through the Super Crew. Click on a character (from Abigail
to Carlos) and explore their super powers, as you eat your
way though the rainbow. As Abigail says, "I get my powers
from all colors of healthy foods."
http://www.superkidsnutrition.com/sckids/
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Color
Vision
Color vision is our brain's response to light reacting with
our eye's cone cells. Humans have three types of cone cells,
each reactive to a different color: red, green, or blue. But
color perception is subjective, and different people see colors
differently. Recently a striped party dress caused an online
frenzy because there's no consensus on its color. Is the dress
white and gold, or blue and black? Mostly, people just felt
confused. To help, here's a round up of sites on how we process
colors.
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Colorblind
Home Page
"This web-site defines being colorblind and will educate
you about the different types of colorblindness. It explains
why you may be colorblind and what teachers, school nurses,
and parents should know about being colorblind." Visit
to take an online color vision test, and to learn more about
what it's like being colorblind.
http://colorvisiontesting.com |
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Color
Matters
"Color plays a vitally important role in the world in which
we live. Color can sway thinking, change actions, and cause
reactions. It can irritate or soothe your eyes, raise your blood
pressure or suppress your appetite." This extensive site
is my pick of the day for both students and adults. It includes
sections on the science, sociology, and art of color, as well
as a section just for kids: Color Matters for Kids.
http://www.colormatters.com/color-and-vision |
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Neuroscience
for Kids: Color Vision
Although the site is rather tired looking, it is a must visit
if you're interested in doing a color vision experiment. "In
the Class Experiment, students discover that afterimages occur
because of properties of cells in the retina and because of
the way nerve pathways carry color information to the brain.
They learn basic facts about photoreceptors, nerve connections,
and opponent colors." The site includes a student guide,
a teacher guide (both in PDF), background material to introduce
the science concepts, and ideas for additional experiments.
http://faculty.washington.edu/chudler/eyecol.html |
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Physics
of Light and Color
For the high-school and college crowd, this physics primer from
Florida State University is part of a larger site on microscopy,
which is research using microscopes. My favorite clicks are
the interactive lessons. They are integrated throughout the
site, but you'll find a listing of them if you scroll to the
very bottom of this page, and follow the link to Light and Color
Java Tutorials.
http://micro.magnet.fsu.edu/primer/lightandcolor/ |
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Physics
Classroom: Light Waves and Color
"Color can be thought of as a psychological and physiological
response to light waves of a specific frequency or set of
frequencies impinging upon the eye." This illustrated
high-school and college physics tutorial is divided into two
lessons. The first addresses the "wave-like nature of
light." The second looks at color: the "narrow band
of visible light is affectionately known as ROYGBIV."
Continue to the last page to learn why the sky is blue, the
sun yellow, and sunsets red.
http://www.physicsclassroom.com/Class/light/lighttoc.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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