March

=March Monthly Highlights=

**//Those you love near you, And all your heart might desire!//** **//(Irish Blessing )//**
[|March Teacher Resource Guide] **- Teachnology, some items are free, some require membership. St. Patrick's Day and Read Across America lessons, worksheets and other resources.** [|March Glyph] - **Color by following the directions** [|Larry Leprechaun] - **Complete the story using vocabulary words** [|My St. Patrick's Day Wish] - **Writing Prompt** [|Lucky Acrostic] - **Write an acrostic poem about being lucky!**
 * March Monthly Activity Calendar - from Enchanted Learning. Crafts, printouts, quizzes and more. Lots of space/planet resources.**
 * Free March Downloads!- from ABC Teach**


 * Writing Bugs - Writing Prompts/Printables from Education World for March or use the Anytime Writing Link for More Resources**


 * [|March Holiday and Special Days Resources] from Education World**

= = ==
 * St. Patrick's Day Project **

Join the yearly tradition of reinforcing math skills with a box of **Lucky Charms**. Students will count the **//Lucky Charms// marshmallow shapes** and **record a final tally count** for each shape! A perfect way to encourage math skills and enjoy special activities on St. Patrick's Day. Teacher worksheets and classroom integration ideas are included. This **online project** is only open to **PreK - 3rd Grade** students! There will be lots of fun math activities as well as St. Patrick ideas!!

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=**Celebrate Dr.Seuss and "Read Across America"!**=


 * March 2nd is "[|Read Across America]" Day!**
 * Encourage a love of reading in your students and enjoy Dr. Seuss books all month and longer!**


 * What is //your// favorite Dr. Seuss book? Have a class survey of Favorite Dr. Seuss Books! Create a graph using MS Excel!**


 * Answer some [|Seuss Math Problems]** **, enjoy [|Welcome to Seusville!] and celebrate Dr. Seuss with a variety of classroom activities and Internet resources**.

[|**Seussville University**] **- Reading, Math, Science and Reasoning Activities. Includes** [|**patterns**] **and more!** [|**Dr. Seuss Storybook maker**] **- features characters from** **//Horton Hears a Who!//**
 * [|Dr. Seuss Activities and Printables] - Lakeview School celebrates Read Across America - songs, info for teachers, and more.**
 * [|Dr. Seuss] - worksheets and activities from abcteach**


 * [|Dr. Seuss Lesson Plan ideas] - upper elementary, ideas for using __The Butter Battle__ to discuss the Cold War and much more!**
 * [|A to Z Teacher Stuff- Dr. Seuss] - worksheets, units, [|printables] and more. [|Cross curricular ideas]- for several books**


 * [|Teaching Short Vowel Sounds with Dr. Seuss] - lesson plan from readwritethink**
 * [|Dr. Seuss Theme Unit]- from edhelper.com (a few things are available for free, many require an edhelper subscription)**


 * 57 Ways to Celebrate Literacy - great ideas for any time of the year.**
 * The Cat in the Hat Knows A Lot About That - from PBSKids**

=Iditarod=

[|**Iditarod.com Official Website**] **- includes clock, daily results, current temperature, musher information, and much** **more.**

[|**Iditarod Activities Across the Grades**] **- Information, lesson plans and links from Education World**

[|**Iditarod Race Across Alaska**] **- Interactive website from Scholastic - great resource and interactive site!**

[|**Iditarod Picture Dictionary**] **- Scholastic unit plan - includes website links and pdf worksheets.**

[|**Ultimate Iditarod for Kids and Teachers**] **- food, equipment, other interesting information. Site results are for 2008 but lesson ideas may be helpful.** [|**Ten Math Worksheets for the Iditarod**] **- Worksheets from Education World - covers the serum run, money, calories, and more!** [|**Iditarod From Enchanted Learning**] **- research pages, printable books, information and more! Some resources require a paid subscription.**

[|**Pack a Dog Sled**] **- Interactive website from the National Park Service. Decide what items you will need on your journey.** [|**Cool Jobs: Iditarod Musher**] **- short 2 minute video from How Stuff Works**

[|**Alaska Kids**] **- Native Cultures, Cool Critters, Know Alaska and more!**

//On the second Sunday in March, clocks are set ahead one hour at 2:00 a.m. local standard time, which becomes 3:00 a.m. local daylight time.//....[|Astronomical Applications Department] Learn more about the history, rationale, laws & dates at [|About Daylight Saving Time] Check [|DISCUS] Britannica Online for another article on [|Daylight Saving Time]!
 * [[image:flower.png width="57" height="88" align="left" link="@http://www.timeanddate.com/time/dst/2011.html"]]Daylight Saving Time** - **Spring Forward!**

[[image:SHAMROCK.gif-c200 width="87" height="87" align="left"]]**Celebrate "Pi" Day - March 14 (3/14)**

 * Spice up your Math class in March by celebrating Pi - 3.1415926535897932......**
 * A most remarkable number -- It's irrational! This day is also the birthday of a famous mathematician. Do you know who? Explore circles, diameter, circumference, Pi, and maybe even enjoy a slice of pie!**
 * [|All About Pi] - from Math Forum: Ask Dr. Math**
 * [|Values of Pi through Time] - It all started long, long ago!**

[|**Joy of Pi**] **- Links for information about Pi**
 * [|Education World] - Classroom Activities and Lessons for Pi Day**

[|**Am I in Pi?**]**- find where your birthday first occurs in Pi**


 * [|Pi Resources] from Ask Dr. Math**



**How Much Do You Know About __SOUND?__**

 * [|An Earful!]** **- A game about sounds from Scholastic**

[|**What is Sound?**] **How do different instruments make sound?**

[|**The Violin: A Webquest**]**- science, history, and more.**
 * NASA Sound-Sound Activities and more**

[|Classics For Kids] **- featured composers, instruments, make your own radio show, lessons plans, compose your owbn music and more.**
 * [|The Music Lab] - use the Composer to make your own tune (need newest version of flash player).**
 * [|Science of Music]- exhibits, online activities, videos and more. Find out why songs get stuck in your head. Why does your singing sound good in the shower?**

**March is //National Youth Art// Month !**

 * [|National Gallery of Art: Kids] - Create Art! Discover many online interactive art activities! Nice!**
 * [|Artopia] - (from Knowitall.org) One Minute Movies - Be An Art Critic - Meet an Artist/Sculpturer - Visit the Painting Studio Student Gallery - Create Your Own Portfolio**
 * [|The Artist's Toolkit]** - **Explore the Toolkit, See Artists in Action, and browse the Encyclopedia**
 * [|A Lifetime of Color] - Lesson plans, activities, interactive games, featured artists and more.**
 * [|Art Access] - Art Institute of Chicago. Great for art and social studies teachers. American art, Renaissance, Ancient peoples and more.**
 * [|SmART kids] - University of Chicago site. Make sure you have unblocked popups to use this site! Contains: Artist Studio, Look and Share, Art Detective, and Art Speak.**
 * [|Art Pad]- Digital Canvas -Paint online from art.com.**
 * Go on an [|Art Safari] - Exploring animals and art.**



March is American Red Cross Month !

 * Learn about how March was originally chosen to be American Red Cross Month. (**//**In 1943, after discussions with President Franklin Roosevelt, the honorary chairman of the Red Cross, the whole month of March 1943 was declared** "//[|**Red Cross Month**]**//," and it has lasted ever since.//)**
 * More information about the American Red Cross:**
 * **South Carolina State Museum [|"Our National Treasure: The American Red Cross]****"**
 * **The American Red Cross celebrated it's 125th Anniversary on May 21, 2006. Use this resource (with online activities and resources for Teachers of Grades 5 to 12) with your students. Excellent [|history of the American Red Cross] -- for students. "[|American Red Cross 125th Anniversary Guide for Teachers of Grades 5 to 12]."**

M[[image:months/Women.jpg width="64" height="64" align="left"]]arch is Women's History Month !

 * Do you know who the first female presidential candidate was? How about who the 1st woman marine was? How about the 1st woman to receive a medical degree?**
 * **[|Take an interactive journey]** **through the events and people that have shaped women's history in America.**
 * **Watch over [|150 video clips]****. Amelia Earhart, Barbara Jordan, Eleanor Roosevelt and more! Don't forget to preview them!**
 * **Explore timeline, firsts, notable women and more with Biography's [|women from history] into your classroom.**
 * **Try the** Women's History Trivia Quiz **and test your knowledge of historic events and famous quotes.**

=**F****irst Day of Spring!!**=

Spring begins with the vernal equinox!

 * The Sun will cross directly over the Earth's equator.**
 * Learn about the equinox and the reason for this season! ([|Electronic Sky] [|Windows to the Sky])**


 * This moment owes its significance to the 23.4 degree tilt of the Earth's axis. People have recognized the vernal equinox for thousands of years. Did you know that early Egyptians built the Great Sphinx so that it points directly toward the rising Sun on the day of the vernal equinox?**
 * What physical signs of spring can you see in your neighborhood? Daffodils? Longer days? Budding trees? Brainstorm with your class. Let students choose a favorite sign of spring and write why it is meaningful to them, then illustrate with a picture - Make a Photo Story or Slide Show or maybe even a VoiceThread in the computer lab!**


 * Listen to [|Stravinsky's Rite of Spring] or Vivaldi's //Spring// from the //Four Seasons// as you work!**


 * [|Springtime Lessons] - Welcome a new season -** **Excellent suggestions and ideas to incorporate spring into your classroom curriculum.**
 * [|Spring Theme Unit (from abcteach)] - Printable worksheets, shape books, writing ideas, and other theme units related to spring - plants, ladybugs, bees, butterflies.**
 * [|The Rite of Spring] - What physical signs of spring can you see in your neighborhood? Daffodils? Longer days? Budding trees? Brainstorm with your class. Encourage students to list favorite signs of spring, then write why they are meaningful to them. Use a graphic organizer to brainstorm ideas.**
 * Spring Crafts** **- from Enchanted Learning (some items may require a subscription)**

**Let's Go Fly A Kite with those March Winds!**

 * One Man's Adventure with Kites will always be Special!**


 * [|Benjamin Franklin] - Inventor, Printer, Librarian, Statesman, and a Timeline**
 * [|Energy Quest] Discover the energy story, step aboard the energy time machine, learn about super scientists, and more facts about energy!**
 * Electricity (BBC Schools Bitesize) Sections include Electrical Charge, Electric Current & Circuits, Circuit Symbols, Series Circuits & Parallel Circuits, Measuring Current & Voltage, and more!**
 * [|Electric Universe] - Sections for all grade levels to teach more about electricity**
 * [|The Internet Plasma Physics Education Experience] - A cool interactive site!! You've got to try this one!**
 * [|Soar Into Spring With Kites] - (from Education World) The history of kites and lots of integration ideas for all areas - geography, math, science, writing, art, listening - plus links to everything you need about kites!**

=** //March// Along with the ** American Revolution=


 * [|****PBS: Liberty****]! **Experience events that led up to the Revolutionary War with the interactive "The Road to Revolution" and browse the "Chronicle of the Revolution" for additional facts and resources.**
 * **[|Colonial Williamsburg]interactive activities, games, historical documents, images and more.**
 * [|******Midnight Rider******] **- A Paul Revere Virtual Museum with 5 Exhibit Halls to visit! Each exhibit has one or more activities to complete. ("Paul Revere's Ride", The Real Story, Colonial Boston, Ride with Paul Revere, Music of the Revolution)**
 * **Go to the "[|Elementary Test Prep]Center " to find 3 excellent reviews of key facts and history on the Revolutionary War. Once at that site, choose Social Studies . Under Search for Topics, type in Revolutionary War , select Grade 4 , then Submit. **
 * __Once you are on that page__, click on the following titles:**
 * Causes for Revolution - Reviews main reasons for the American Revolution; includes questions & game**
 * Leaders of the Revolution (Patriots and Loyalists) Summaries of several important Patriots & Loyalists**
 * Effects of the Revolutionary War - A brief summary with interactive practice questions and constructed response questions.**

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[|**The Republic of Ireland**] **(from Enchanted Learning) Discover simple, concise information about Ireland, the significance of the orange, green, and white colors of [|Ireland's flag], the "Tricolor," and more. Compile your information in a narrated PowerPoint show and share!**

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 * Use Padlet to "brainstorm" with your students about things that are green, then visit the page of [|Green Things]!**

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 * [|St. Patrick's Day] - Short explanations of St. Patrick, Leprechauns, the Pot of Gold, the Blarney Stone, the Shamrock, Fairies, and the Harp. Use these to launch __creative writing topics__ - "If I found a Pot of Gold, I would . . .", "How to catch a Leprechaun in ? easy steps", "The luckiest thing that ever happened to me was . . ." Encourage students to draw pictures that relate to their writing, then publish - maybe consider a digital storybook!**

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[|A Virtual Tour of Ireland] **- Click "The Lowdown on Ireland" to discover more detailed information about the country, the state name, the flag, the coat of arms, the national anthem, folklore, saints, and more. Informative virtual tours and photos of the many Irish counties can be found here as well!**
 * [|The Universe of Bagpipes] - Learn about and listen to bagpipes from all over the world! Good photos!**

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 * [|St. Patty's Pot O'Gold Money Math Game] - Four areas to practice math here - Addition, Subtraction, Greater or Less Than, and Variety of Money**


 * [|St. Patrick's Day Activities] (EnchantedLearning) Printable Books and other crafts and activities to use with your students!**

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 * St. Patrick's Day Trivia Hunt- history, legends and more links**


 * [|Ireland]** **- CIA World Factbook site - information, maps and flag.**

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 * [|The History of St. Patrick's Day] - History.com site - history of the holiday, traditions and more.**

Money, Money, and more Money!

 * While visions of a "Pot O'Gold" are dancing in your mind, enjoy learning more about our currency!**

[|**US Coins**] **(Enchanted Learning)- worksheets, background info and more.**
 * [|Count the Money] - interactive game from Math Playground**
 * [|How Much Money is this?] Online counting games with dimes.**
 * [|Coins for Candy] - online tutorial about money.**

=**Irish Blessings .....**=


 * Dance as if no one were watching,**
 * Sing as if no one were listening,**
 * And live every day as if it were your last.**


 * I'm looking over a four leaf clover**
 * That I overlooked before**
 * One leaf is sunshine, the second is rain,**
 * Third is the roses that grow in the lane.**
 * No need explaining the one remaining**
 * Is somebody I adore.**
 * I'm looking over a four leaf clover**
 * That I overlooked before.**


 * May your blessings outnumber**
 * The shamrocks that grow,**
 * And may trouble avoid you**
 * Wherever you go.**
 * As you slide down the banister of life,**
 * May the splinters never point in the wrong direction!**


 * For each petal on the shamrock**
 * This brings a wish your way-**
 * Good health, good luck, and happiness**
 * For today and every day.**


 * Go mbeannai Dia duit**
 * (May God Bless You)**


 * Leprechauns**
 * "One of the first things people think of in association with St.Patrick's Day is the leprechaun. Leprechauns are little make-believe fairies from Ireland. They look like a small, old man standing about two feet tall (The name leprechaun derives from the old Irish word "luchorpan", meaning "little body") and usually dressed like a shoemaker, with a cocked hat and a leather apron. According to legend, leprechauns are cute, mischievous, and playful creatures who love to drink, dance, and play music, and who pass the time making shoes. They are also believed to possess a hidden pot of gold. Treasure hunters can often track down a leprechaun by the sound of his shoemaker's hammer. If caught the leprechaun must grant his captor three wishes. However, the captor must keep their eyes on him every second. If the captor's eyes leave the leprechaun for even one second (and he often tricks them into looking away), he vanishes and all hopes of finding the treasure are lost." (from History, Myths, Legends) **


 * All you need to know about life ---**
 * you can learn from a __leprechaun!__**
 * (an American Greetings Card)**
 * No one //__ever__// outgrows the need for warm hugs, special dreams, or a wee bit of mischief.**
 * The Word "IMPOSSIBLE" is NOT an Irish word.**
 * When you're happy, SING! When you're sad, SING LOUDER!**
 * Life is too short for long faces.**
 * If you can't find a rainbow, paint your own!**
 * Never walk so TALL that you can't see the "WEE FOLK."**
 * If you're feeling blue, wear lots of __green__ and think hopeful thoughts.**
 * Expect Magic to happen....and it WILL!**
 * Quit trying to catch a LEPRECHAUN, and just __BE__ one!**
 * Have A Happy-Go-Lucky St. Patrick's Day!**
 * Never walk so TALL that you can't see the "WEE FOLK."**
 * If you're feeling blue, wear lots of __green__ and think hopeful thoughts.**
 * Expect Magic to happen....and it WILL!**
 * Quit trying to catch a LEPRECHAUN, and just __BE__ one!**
 * Have A Happy-Go-Lucky St. Patrick's Day!**
 * Expect Magic to happen....and it WILL!**
 * Quit trying to catch a LEPRECHAUN, and just __BE__ one!**
 * Have A Happy-Go-Lucky St. Patrick's Day!**
 * Have A Happy-Go-Lucky St. Patrick's Day!**
 * Have A Happy-Go-Lucky St. Patrick's Day!**