Math Caching Game

In the treasure-hunting game of Geocaching (pronounced "geo-cashing"), players use GPS systems to locate boxes hidden at different geographical locations across the country. Now, the creative people at Mathbits.com have created online activities for junior high and high school students, called MathCaching. Students solve mathematical problems to find hidden "boxes" on the Internet. Each box reveals clues to the location of the next one.

Here are the MathCaching levels now available:

MathCaching for Basic Math Skills
The "BasicCaching" game covers prealgebra skills such as fractions, ratios, percents, order of operations, signed numbers, exponents, sum of angles in a triangle, mean, median, and probability.

Algebra
The "AlgeCaching" game challenges students with order of operations, equation solving, integer and consecutive integer word problems, slope, distance, midpoint, area, radicals, exponents, factoring, quadratic equations, and rational equations.

Geometry
The "GeoCaching" game requires knowledge of angles, reasoning, parallel and perpendicular lines, triangles, congruent triangles and proof, quadrilaterals, area and volume, polygons, similarity, circles, and transformations.

Algebra2
The "Alge2Caching" game tests such topics as absolute value equations and inequalities; radical equations, functions, logarithms, exponentials, quadratics, complex fractions, asymptotes, rational equations, sequences and series, Binomial Theorem, and probability.

Trigonometry
The "TrigCaching" game covers right triangle trig, angle relationships, conversion between radians and degrees, reference angles, exact values, area of triangle, Law of Sines, Law of Cosines, amplitude, frequency, period, vertical shift, phase shift, inverse trig functions, and identities.

PreCalculus and Calculus levels are coming soon.

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Free Lectures in Honor of the 2008 Olympics in Beijing

An announcement from The Teaching Company, one of our favorite resources for high school history:

Ancient Origins of the Olympic Games

"In celebration of the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, The Teaching Company is proud to present a pair of free commissioned lectures.

"Although the modern version of the Olympic Games has been around for over 100 years since its revival at the 1896 games in Athens, the Olympics have a rich and exciting history that goes back to ancient Greece. A crucial aspect of Greek culture, the ancient Olympics emphasized the ideas of heroism and honor established by Homer's epic poetry. The games were meant to celebrate physical strength, speed, and manhood. Most importantly, they embodied the spirit of competition (agon) that defined ancient Greek life.

"The games as they were played back then bear a striking contrast to the Olympics as we know them today:

• Athletes originally represented their families and not their communities.

• Women were not allowed to compete and only unmarried women could watch the games.

• There were no team sports; rather, individual athletes competed against each other.

• The games never moved to different locations; instead, they were always held in the city of Olympia in southern Greece.

"Despite their differences, the ancient Olympics were as celebrated as today's games. The first Olympics captured what it meant to be a citizen of Greece. The Olympics of today capture what it means to be a citizen of the world."

You can download Ancient Origins of the Olympic Games any time until September 4, in mp3 or iPod format. Enjoy!

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The Periodic Table of Videos

[If video player doesn't work, click here: Periodic Table of Videos trailer.]

Learning chemistry? Or simply in the mood for a little excitement? Check out The Periodic Table of Videos:

They are the unlikely new stars of YouTube --- from Sodium and Helium to Lithium, Oxygen, Hydrogen and Argon. University of Nottingham scientists have brought the Periodic Table into the 21st century with a bang, by posting lively video clips about every single chemical element on a new website.

And ‘The Periodic Table of Videos’ has already proved a massive online success, appearing on the UK front page of the YouTube website and registering more than 106,000 hits in just a few days.

More Online Resources for Chemistry Students

• Tom Lehrer's "The Elements" flash animation
  Even my young children love this song!

• Periodic table at Wikipedia
  What is the periodic table, where did it come from, and what does it mean?

• Periodic Table Memory Pegs
  A fantastic way to memorize the elements and their symbols (abbreviations) in atomic numerical order. Be sure to read the instructions, Using Atomic Number Memory Pegs.

• Dynamic Periodic Table
  Tons of information at a click: orbitals, melting points, density, conductivity, discovery date, and much more.

• Visual Elements Periodic Table
  A beautiful version of the periodic table, with links to information on each element. Also available for purchase.

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• A Student's Guide to the Study of History
  
• My Favorite Algebra Resource
  
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A Student's Guide to the Study of History

[Photo by docentjoyce.]

"History is the witness that testifies to the passing of time; it illuminates reality, vitalizes memory, provides guidance in daily life, and brings us tidings of antiquity." --- Cicero

"'History,' Stephen said, 'is a nightmare from which I am trying to awake.'" --- James Joyce

"History is more or less bunk." --- Henry Ford

Whatever your students think about history, they will benefit from browsing A Student's Guide to the Study of History.

"History instructors tend to jump right into the subject matter without first setting the groundwork. Large questions such as: what is history? why study history? or how to write a research essay are often left up to the student to figure out... In general, the study of history requires certain skills--skills which are somewhat different from those used in other disciplines. Hopefully this Guide will force you to consider those skills as you go about your studies."

Articles include:

• The Proper Attitude
• Why Study History?
• How to Read History
• Taking Notes in Class
• Writing the Short Essay
• Writing the Research Essay
• ...and many more.

Another good resource: Reading, Writing, and Researching for History: A Guide for College Students.

"For all who have taken history courses in college, the experience of writing a research paper is etched indelibly in memory: late nights before the paper is due, sitting in pale light in front of a computer monitor or typewriter, a huge stack of books (most of them all-too-recently acquired) propped next to the desk, drinking endless cups of coffee or bottles of Jolt cola.

"Most of all, we remember the endless, panicked wondering: how on earth was something coherent going to wind up on the page - let alone fill eight, or ten, or twelve of them? After wrestling with material for days, the pressure of the deadline and level of caffeine in the body rise enough, and pen is finally put to paper. Many hours later, a paper is born - all too often something students are not proud to hand in, and something professors dread grading.

"How can we make this process less traumatic, more educational, and ultimately more rewarding for all concerned?"

Especially helpful articles:

• Some Keys to Good Reading
• Argument Concepts
• How to Ask Good Questions
• Research Papers
• Keeping a Research Journal
• The Three Parts of a History Paper
• History and Rhetoric

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• The American History Required Knowledge Test
  
• Foundations of Our Republic
  
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Talk like an Alien --- Latin, Anyone?

[Photo by lightmatter.]

Science fiction writer C.J. Cherryh recommends that every aspiring science fiction writer take the time to learn an alien language.

• Latin the Easy Way

Cherryh writes: "Heard it's hard? No. Just analyzed to death. If you're intellectually curious, take a time trip... Look at Latin the way Romans learned it. No grammar, no rules. No fear."

Or, how about Latin the macho way?

If you want a bit more grammar and rules, but not as much as a "real" textbook, you might try J. B. Calvert's:

• Latin For Mountain Men

"I can't help but mention that school and scholar are from Greek schole, spare time, and that student is from studium, zeal. These lessons are meant to be done in your spare time, and enjoyed. I don't expect you to memorize, but only to recognize, and look up if you don't... You need nothing else than these lessons, and a little enthusiasm, to learn serious Latin."

Or if you would rather do it the hard way

If you are stubborn enough to stick with it, you're sure to succeed with this memory-intensive approach:

• Latin by the Dowling Method
• which requires a reference book for Latin grammar

Or you can download the:

• Latin for Beginners textbook
• And answer key

Why do we need to study Latin, anyway?

Isn't it enough to know that Latin will make you a better science fiction writer? If you insist on more practical reasons, try these:

• To prepare for the SAT

• To build character and logical thinking

• Because it's the most practical subject in the whole curriculum

• To have fun

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Writing a Story, Part 2

[Photo by mezone.]

Yesterday, I talked about writing for elementary and middle school children. This time, I have collected a set of writing tips for older students.

First, some general pointers:

• A Guide to Writing Well
  by Joshua Sowin, compiled from the classic books On Writing Well and The Elements of Style

• Rules for Writers
  by William Safire

• Commonly Overused Words
  and Synonyms for Words Commonly Used in Students' Writings

I need to bookmark those sites for my own use. After myriad years of writing, I still lapse into bad habits too often.

Next, because my own children are all writing fantasy and science fiction stories, here are the best tips I can find for sf/fantasy fans:

• Heinlein's Rules
  by Robert J. Sawyer

• Creating Fantasy and Science Fiction Worlds
  by Michael James Liljenberg

• Fantasy Worldbuilding Questions
  by Patricia C. Wrede (one of our family's all-time favorite authors!)

• Many articles about writing
  from the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America (SFWA)

• A Complete Course in Writing Science Fiction and Fantasy
  by Jeffrey A. Carver

Finally, a bit of humor for sf/fantasy fans and budding writers:

• Grand list of overused science fiction clichés


• The Not-So-Grand List of Overused Fantasy Clichés


• The Fantasy Novelist’s Exam

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Foundations of Our Republic

[Photo by David Paul Ohmer.]

The Constitutional Rights Foundation (CRF) is a non-profit organization trying to help young people understand "the importance of civic participation in a democratic society." CRF offers a variety of programs and teaching materials to help students see the forces that shape our laws and government and that encourage active citizenship.

If you are teaching American history, you may find these lessons helpful:

CRF > Foundations of Our Constitution

The lessons explore several documents that serve as the foundation for American democracy. Each lesson includes a reading with discussion questions and a link to the complete text of the document.

• The Magna Carta (1215)

• The Mayflower Compact (1620)

• The Declaration of Independence (1776)

• The Federalist Papers (1787-88)

• The Constitution (1787)

• The Pledge of Allegiance (1892)

CRF offers several other free lessons online, and you may also find the Library of Congress site useful:

Library of Congress > Primary Documents in American History

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My Favorite Algebra Resource

[Photo by corazón girl.]

Do you need help with pre-algebra or regular algebra topics? Here is one of the best online sources for algebra explanations and tips:

Purplemath.com

Purplemath's algebra lessons emphasize a practical approach to understanding the topics. The author will demonstrate techniques you can depend on, and she will warn you about common mistakes and likely "trick" questions. The lessons are cross-referenced, making it easy to find related material.

You can study the Purplemath lessons in any order, following the chapters of your textbook or skipping around to wherever you need help. Topics range from pre-algebra to algebra 2, with a special section on solving word problems.

Explore the Purplemath site:

• Practical Algebra Lessons

• Homework Guidelines, or "How to suck up to your teacher"

• Math Study Skills Self-Survey

And if you'd like to have access to the site while offline:

• How to Buy Purplemath on CD

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The American History Required Knowledge Test

[Photo by MC Quinn.]

We take a laid-back, eclectic approach to education. Although I recommend certain library books or audiotape lessons, I give my older students a lot of freedom in planning and scheduling their studies. They enjoy being able to follow their interests as far as their ability allows, but they are also expected to cover at least the basics of the subjects they hate. But as my daughter approaches the end of high school, my problem is: What do I put on her transcript? How do I grade such a free-wheeling style of learning?

Here is one method: Create a "required knowledge" test. List the things that any educated person ought to know about that topic, and then turn each item into a short-response question. To pass the course, my student must give the correct answer to every item on such a test. To get a B, she must go beyond the basics and show an understanding of the whys and wherefores of the subject --- that is, she must write essays or do experiments. And to earn an A, she must dig deeply into one area and write a research paper.

Here is an example: The American History Required Knowledge Test.

Author Dennis Fermoyle explains:

"Every quarter I give a test at the end of each quarter called THE REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE TEST. It was inspired by those Jay Leno type man-in-the-street interviews, where they ask people questions that any citizen should know, and they give ridiculously stupid answers. Often they are about current events, but sometimes they are about American history. (Question: Who did we fight in the Revolutionary War? Answers: China, Russia, or Vietnam.)

"When I give this test, students have to show that they know the answer to every question in order to get a passing grade for the quarter. If they get one or two wrong, I'll just have them come up after class and tell me what the correct answers are, but if they get a significant number wrong, they'll have to take the entire test again. Students can still fail for the quarter even if they take care of this requirement --- and some always do --- but they can't earn a passing grade without it."

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An Economics Fairy Tale

[Photo by Eggybird.]

What a fun way to learn the basic principles of economics!

• Story the First: The Rich and the Poor

• Story the Second: Wages

• Third Story: Population

• Fourth Story: The Poor's Rate

• Fifth Story: Foreign Trade, or The Wedding Gown

And here are a few books we use for our high school economics course. Most of them should be available through your library.

• The Invisible Heart: An Economic Romance

• Economics in One Lesson

• Basic Economics: A Common Sense Guide to the Economy

• The Myth of the Robber Barons

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Free Lecture: Eisenhower and Operation Overlord

[Photo by luiginter.]

Both of my sons are history buffs. They hate history textbooks, but they love to listen to college lectures on audiotape, so we organize our high school history courses around The Teaching Company tape sets. From time to time, TTC will offer one of their lectures for free download.

The most recent announcement from TTC's website:

In honor of Memorial Day, The Teaching Company is proud to present a free lecture, Eisenhower and Operation Overlord.

The largest amphibious assault in military history, Operation Overlord is considered by most people to be the turning point of World War II. The invasion of Nazi-controlled Europe on June 6, 1944, involved an armada of 5,333 Allied vessels crossing the English Channel and hitting key beaches along the coastline of France.

But even before the first wave of troop carriers beached on the shores of Normandy and other strategic landing sites, the entire world was waiting in anticipation of an Allied invasion of northwestern Europe. Where, when, and how it would come were questions that only Dwight D. Eisenhower, supreme commander of the invasion, could answer.

Download Eisenhower and Operation Overlord between now and July 31, 2008, to get a detailed perspective on how Eisenhower dealt with the tense preparations for an assault on which the fate of the free world depended.

I think my sons are right --- textbooks are no way to learn history. We listen to TTC tapes on family trips or while running errands, and I have enjoyed learning about everything I missed by sleeping through history class in school. [Well, I didn't always fall asleep. One time the teacher caught me with a science fiction book hidden behind my open American History text.]

Tip for frugal homeschoolers

Every TTC lecture series goes on sale at least once a year, so never buy anything from them at full price. Also, check your local library loan system. By using the library, we have been able to listen to several lecture sets for free.

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Related Posts:

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Dragon Writing Prompts

[Photo by jez.atkinson.]

Dragon Writing Prompts offers great quotes, brainstorming lists, idea generators, and plot ninjas. What a great resource to kick-start your students’ (or your own) writing!

Recent writing prompts:

• Hidden in plain sight
• “Writing is a cop-out.”
• Ah, and our eight alligators ardently ate another
• Quiet as a rooster at sunrise
• “One of the most difficult qualities …”

And since all of my kids are writing fantasy novels:

• The Fantasy Novelist’s Exam
• The Not-So-Grand List of Overused Fantasy Clichés
• The Grand List of Console Role Playing Game Cliches
• Grand list of overused science fiction clichés

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• Writing a Story, Part 2
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