A movement about movement. 

Our amazing TEA (that’s the Texas Education Agency) notified me today that Wednesday May 5, 2010 is Make the Movement Day.

This is the ACTIVE Life Movement’s annual, day-long initiative to encourage the public to create and share their “Moments” of physical activity (Move), healthy eating (Fuel), and personal and environmental health (Honor) to promote healthy, ACTIVE lifestyles.

Create your own.

Hundreds of teachers, families, and kids have already pledged to make their classroom a healthy one tomorrow.  For example, one teacher in Houston, TX is going to have her class do 10-minute aerobic activities in their classroom tomorrow.  Another in Galveston, TX has pledged to have her class eat fruits and vegetables as snacks during the school day.

To join in the efforts, participate in an existing moment or create your own in the Create a Moment section.  Consider adding Playnormous to your goal!

The folks in the UK just finished celebrating their European Safer Internet Day (SID) on February 9th.  This is an annual European event designed to promote safer and more responsible use of online technology and mobile phones.  But what are we doing here in the US?  PBS Kids is doing something pretty cool.

Take a test drive.

Jump into the driver’s seat and fasten your seat belts because it’s time to take an Internet driving test for FREE courtesy of PBS Kids!  Kids: take the official “Rules of the Road” test and get your own Kids Web License.  Parents and teachers: you should try the test too.  You may learn more than you think!  Here’s what the test covers:

• Meeting people online
• Downloading
• Cookies
• Sharing information
• Password protection
• Privacy policies
• Cyber bullying
• Plagiarism

The best part?  You get to PRINT OUT your very own Web Driver’s License!  I already took mine…pretty cool, right?  So head over to PBS Kids and see if you should be on the Internet super highway or not.  No tailgating and make sure to use your turn signal!

Fail the test?

So you took the test and didn’t do so hot.  No need to worry.  Maybe you were just nervous. But for those of you that want to do a little studying, try visiting the Playnormous parent pages, specifically our one on safety.  There you can learn all about how Playnormous keeps families safe.  Click on the links at the bottom of our safety page to get even more information.

Tweet, tweedle-lee-dee.

Now that we’ve finally made our big move I’ve made a couple of belated New Years resolutions for Playnormous.  At the top of that list is be more active on Twitter.  I’ve met so many amazing people on Twitter and read so many good articles that I’ve decided enough is enough.  It’s time to share all of this good social stuff with the world.  Of course, I wanted to start with you, my amazing Monster’s Blog audience.  This article comes from @LearningToday, where individualized learning programs for students are king.

Incorporating web into the classroom well.

If you’re a teacher and reading this blog, you probably have tried or are at least considering incorporating web-based activities in your classroom.  For many this is not an easy process.  Learning Today recommends that you start by asking yourself five simple questions.

1. What is the curriculum related purpose of the activity?  →  The outcome or assessment should be aligned to your lesson objectives and standards.
2. Does the Internet enhance the activity?  →  If the answer is no, find a more appropriate place to integrate the web.
3. How will students use the online resources?  →  Once students locate information, they should be asked to apply, analyze, synthesize, evaluate, or create. The activity should require them to move to higher levels of Bloom’s Taxonomy.
4. Do students have necessary information analysis/information synthesis skills or am I including these in instruction?  →  The project should not become simply an exercise in locating information. Students must have the necessary background knowledge and pre-requisite skills to complete higher level tasks or these must be included in instruction prior to the web-based learning activity.
5. Do I have the necessary time and support for the activity?  →  Double your original time estimate and always have access to technical support to resolve problems efficiently.

Try Playnormous.

Are you ready to take the internet plunge?  Why not take Playnormous for a spin?  In addition to online educational games, we have a full curriculum for each one!  We even follow Bloom’s Taxonomy to get your students thinking harder and you testing smarter.  That’s right…I have a Masters degree in health education.  We know what we’re doing around here.  So visit our teacher page, and let us know what you think!

No wheels on the bus?

If you ever rode a school bus during your school days like I did, I’m sure you have some fond memories…and some horror stories too.  No air conditioning, that musty smell, three kids to a seat.  Little Johnny sneezing on your homework.  Ah, those were the days.  Well the folks at the USDA/ARS Children’s Nutrition Research Center at Baylor College of Medicine are trying to change some of that tradition in a very innovative way.  Introducing…the walking school bus.

Walk this way.

Instead of waiting for the traditional yellow school bus to pick you up, put on your sneakers and walk the route. Four Houston schools are utilizing the “walking school bus” method with great success.  Adults lead students wearing brightly colored vests in typical two-by-two bus fashion.  The program has been so successful this year that the schools plan on continuing the program in 2010.  To read more about the walking school bus program, see the summer Nutrition & Your Child newsletter.

Guitar Hero meets Schoolhouse Rock.

Dr. James Tour, a chemistry, mechanical engineering and computer science professor at Rice University is taking science education to the next level.  Dr. Tour is using the power of video games, specifically Guitar Hero and Step Mania, to teach science lessons through music.  Funded by the National Science Foundation, “SciRave” and “SciJam” pair science-themed songs these popular music video games to heighten the learning experience.  See the media release from the Texas Medical Center for more information or visit the SciRave website to get it straight from the source.

Free (and fun) science curriculum for teachers!

Dr. Tour’s group is looking for teachers to test out the SciRave and SciJam games and  so visit the SciRave website to download the games for free.  Print out the lyrics, listen to the music, and send them feedback on how your students liked the games.