The Scout Report -- Volume 26, Number 5

The history and human impact of Japanese Internment Camps during World War II is encapsulated within Japanese-American Internment Camp Newspapers, 1942 to 1946. This collection from the Library of Congress includes both English and Japanese texts from 29 newspapers produced within camps in 7 states, offering insight on the conditions and detailing the communities and people affected. Readers may want to begin by reading the About This Collection section, which provides historical context on World War II and the creation of internment camps. Explore the Articles and Essays section to find a timeline highlighting key events from Pearl Harbor and FDR's Executive Order to The Civil Liberties Act of 1988 that issued an apology and reparations to survivors. In the Collection Items section readers can browse the newspaper clippings included within the collection. After clicking on an image, visitors are able to flip through pages of the paper and zoom in to read the text, as well as find information such as the publication, date, and location of each article. Finally, users may want to view the All Newspaper Title section to sort articles based on publication. [EMB]

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Medicine and art combine through Medicine: The Wellcome Galleries. This resource allows readers to virtually explore an exhibit from the Science Museum in London, which features more than 3,000 items (as of this write-up) from around the world that highlight some of the most substantial medical advancements and instruments. The exhibit seeks to help viewers "better understand the human body," through pieces and narratives demonstrative of the history of medical innovations. Readers may want to begin by watching the "Highlights" video, a brief clip that orients individuals to the purpose and scope of the exhibit. To discover all the artifacts featured in the collection readers can browse the gallery, filtering by category (e.g. public health and hygiene), object type (e.g. bottles), date, and more. Here they will be transported to 1830s France to explore dental impression trays, to 1970s India to view artificial limbs, to modern-day England to examine post-mortem sponges, among other periods and locations. Selecting an object record brings up a description of the object, images (if available), its materials, and more. Some object records also link to related objects (at the bottom of the page), or related people and locations (on the right-hand side). Those interested in learning beyond the bounds of the collection should check out Related Resources, accessible via the Medicine: The Wellcome Galleries page under the See and Do tab on the Science Museum's main site. The Related Resources section directs to series on similar topics, such as Mental Health and War and Medicine. [EMB]

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Founded on the belief that "the physics of everyday things is all around us," Real World Physics Problems offers a fun way for educators to introduce students and kids to the world of physics. Through a variety of games and activities, the site brings physics concepts to life in engaging ways. The website is categorized by level, making it easy for visitors to navigate to appropriate activities based on age and skill. The Real World Applications - For High School Level and Above section (on the left-side menu) uses interest areas as a platform to introduce key physics concepts. For example, the Sports tab offers a collection of physics activities focused on athletics ranging from basketball to bungee jumping, including practice formulas for calculating free fall, hang time, and potential energy. Similarly, activities under the Amusement Park tab explore the physics incorporated in popular park rides. The Education & Theory section is also meant for those in high school and beyond. It features a collection of diagrams, videos, and other learning tools. The Kids Section houses activities for younger physics enthusiasts, including games, quizzes, science fair suggestions, and resources for educators. The site was created by Franco Normani, a mechanical engineer with a passion for making physics fun and accessible. [EMB]

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What do you get when you combine science and poetry? "Sciku!" These pieces draw on "short form Japanese poetry," but use creative liberty to make them a vessel for breaking complex scientific topics into fun, digestible tidbits. Scikus (found under Music and Poetry in the Art menu), among other creative forms, have been adapted to make science accessible by Science in the News (SITN) as an engaging source of STEM information. Housed within Harvard University's Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, SITN is a platform on a mission "to bridge the communication gap between scientists and non-scientists." On the main page, visitors are greeted by a series of blog posts covering timely science news and studies. Those interested in a particular subject may want to start by selecting from areas such as Astronomy and Public Health & Policy under the Topics drop-down menu. In the Art section, users will find Image galleries, Videos, and Featured Artists. Users can also navigate the Seminars, Science by the Pint, and DayCon pages to learn about events hosted by the SITN team. Those looking to enjoy resources remotely should visit the Podcast page, where they can listen to Sit'N Listen, a series bringing "scientists' perspectives on intriguing and newsworthy science," and covering topics from mosquitos (episode seven) to Monsanto (episode five). [EMB]

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Love can involve challenges, choices, and chance, as exemplified in the podcast Modern Love, which invites you to "fall in love at first listen." The podcast is produced by WBUR ("Boston's NPR News Station") and based on the New York Times column of the same name, which readers can find linked to on the About page. Modern Love is hosted by Meghna Chakrabarti, who introduces essays read by actors, singers, comedians, and other recognizable names, including Jake Gyllenhaal, Regina King, and Alicia Keys. In each episode, the guest recites an essay from the column, tackling themes such as visibility and vulnerability, intimacy in a technological world, and the power of timing. Episodes conclude with commentary from the column's readers who touch on why that essay spoke to them, as well as updates from the writers themselves who offer first-hand insight into how their stories have evolved since the essay was published. Most episodes are around 20 minutes in length. To find the full collection of more than 150 episodes (as of this write-up), visit the Archive section. Those who would like to contribute to Modern Love can learn how under Share Your Story. Readers can stream episodes at the link above, or subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify, and Radio Public. [EMB]

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This resource from the Khan Academy explores 19th century Romanticism - a movement known for encapsulating "the spectrum and intensity of human emotion." Its comprehensive lessons may be of interest to educators looking to teach a unit on Romanticism, or curious readers looking to learn independently. Users will likely want to begin with the Romanticism - an Introduction section, which includes the essay "A beginner's guide to Romanticism," by Dr. Beth Harris and Dr. Steven Zucker that provides context on the who, what, where, and when of the cultural movement. From there, the unit is broken down geographically into lessons on France, Spain, England (further divided into two periods: first Blake and Fuseli, and then Constable, Turner, Martin), and Germany. Each lesson includes text, images, and videos that highlight important concepts and key contributors who brought "emotionally expressive art," to the forefront of changing societies. Units also include mid-lesson practice questions that provide a good check-in for learners. The Romanticism lesson plan concludes with a 13-question test on all of the sections. Khan Academy is a nonprofit that seeks "to provide a free, world-class education to anyone, anywhere." [EMB]

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High school literature and language arts teachers may enjoy this lesson plan from The Society of Classical Poets (a New York-based nonprofit "dedicated to the revival and proliferation of good, new poetry,"). The lesson plan focuses on the British Romantic Period, with the objective of instilling in students an appreciation of "some of the greatest works in English literature." The curriculum features poems by William Wordsworth (a Beethoven-era "moralist" poet), Percy Bysshe Shelley (known for his takes on love and justice), and John Keates (a self-made poet whose work contained striking imagery), and explores the meaning, technique, and interpretation of their poetry. The curriculum includes: discussion questions, lecture scripts, copies of the poems (downloadable as Word documents), and suggested assignments. Throughout the lesson plan, there are links to background resources and essays by experts on topics such as (for example) Shelly's religious views, as well as helpful definitions of poetic terms. This lesson plan is designed for students grades 11-12 and is intended for use over 2-3 weeks. The website as a whole also features other useful resources, such as poetry and essay collections, additional lesson plans and timelines, and a workshop space to get feedback on "poetry-related questions." [EMB]

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Readers looking to indulge in authentic and amusing love stories should check out Crushes: Stories About Scientists in Love from The Story Collider. As the introduction to the show notes, we're chemically programmed for crushes. The piece introduces two stories where science and crushes collide. First, you'll learn about Devon Kodzis, a zoologist and Master of Biological Sciences student whose love of animals was only outmatched by her love for her now husband. Then, you'll learn about Meisa Salaita, a chemist whose chemistry with her classmate was evident. Readers can enjoy these tales of love in the world of STEM by listening to the audio version (which is just under 40-minutes long) or reading the transcripts of the two stories. The stories were published in November of 2019 on The Story Collider, a nonprofit dedicated to bringing readers and listeners "true, personal stories about science," since its launch in 2010. The Story Collider seeks to demonstrate that "everyone has a story about how science has impacted them... and that those stories, whether heartbreaking or hilarious, have the power to transform the way we think about science and whom it belongs to." [EMB]

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"An opportunity not to be lost. I ask you with all love sincere, if this Leap-year you'll have me Dear?" Those looking for romantic inspiration -- both whimsical and weird -- may enjoy lines like this found within Cruel cards & loving lobsters: quirky Victorian Valentines. This digital exhibition from the Museum of London explores Victorian courtship and the traditions of giving Valentines, featuring a curated collection of these cards. Users may want to begin at the link above, where they can read a 2017 blog post summarizing the historical context of valentines in London and see some highlights from the collection. These highlights provide insights on the range of valentines that were created -- from sweet to strange to "spiteful." From there, users can view the full collection by clicking on the "Collections Online" link at the bottom of the page, then selecting "See all related objects" on the left side of the linked page. This brings users to a compilation of thumbnail images of cards, which can be filtered by artist and place (e.g. Hackney). Clicking on thumbnail images that catch their eye allows users to retrieve records with information such as the card maker, date, location, and a description of the materials used to create the card. The cards offer a mixture of love and laughter, and with nearly 2,000 valentines archived, there's plenty to explore. If you enjoy this collection, you may want to view other collections offered on the Museum's website (which cover a range of topics, such as fashion and archeology). [EMB]

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As featured in the 06-21-19 Scout Report, Where Love is Illegal continues to be a powerful platform that lifts up love and love stories that are criminalized or marginalized.

Launched in 2015, Where Love Is Illegal is a global campaign that "documents and captures personal testimonies of survival from the LGBTQI+ community around the world." Here, visitors can find dozens of personal stories and statements conveying both struggle and resilience from people in countries such as Nepal, Ghana, Armenia, Peru, and the United States. Some of these testimonies are accompanied by evocative portrait photography, while others have candid snapshots. As this project points out, "72 countries around the world have criminal laws against sexual activity by lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or intersex people." On the World Map page, visitors can click on many (though not all) countries to see a summary of their laws and statistics regarding LGBTQI+ rights, as well as a link to stories from that particular country. For example, although the West African country of Gabon has never outlawed homosexual activity, same-sex couples "are not eligible for the same legal protections available to opposite-sex couples." Where Love Is Illegal is a project by Witness Change, a nonprofit founded by photojournalist Robin Hammond that aims "to end human rights violations for marginalized communities through visual storytelling."

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