The Scout Report -- Volume 22, Number 20

The Khan Academy's variegated lessons can serve as a supplement to more traditional, face-to-face math instruction, providing students with helpful resources to tackle everything from basic to complex math. This comprehensive treatment of right triangles and trigonometry offers a balanced overview of a range of topics, starting with the Pythagorean Theorem and progressing through special right triangles, trigonometric ratios, modeling with right triangles, sine, cosine, and more. Each lesson is posted on a virtual video blackboard and questions and answers at the bottom of the screen encapsulate some of the most pressing and common difficulties that students may run into while learning these particular subjects. [CNH]

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The First Amendment Center at Vanderbilt University and the Newseum seeks to build understanding of the freedoms of speech, press, and religion that the First Amendment of the United States Constitution seeks to protect. On the site, readers might like to begin by scouting the Archives, where they will find essential information in categories such as Research Articles, Publications, Supreme Court Cases, Media, and FAQs. In addition, classroom teachers will find excellent resources within the Lesson Plans, which include such topics as: Social Media, the Classroom and the First Amendment; Blogging the Bill of Rights; Exercising MY First Amendment Freedoms; and Living with Our Deepest Differences, a ten-lesson curriculum designed to teach students about religious liberty in a pluralistic society. Founded in 1991 by John Seigenthaler, a seasoned journalist and newspaper editor, the First Amendment Center may be helpful for Social Studies teachers, or for anyone who would like to better understand the history and applications of one of America's most important documents. [CNH]

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The Concord Consortium is a research and development non-profit that aims to improve the teaching and learning of technology in pre-college classrooms. This interactive and engaging activity for elementary school students brings the nuts and bolts of engineering to life by inviting students to design, build, and test a bridge made with file folders in order to see which design is the strongest. The activity, which runs entirely in a web browser (preferred browsers include Chrome, Safari, Firefox, and Internet Explorer), meets a range of AAAS Benchmark Alignments. To participate, readers simply select Launch Activity. Along the way, they'll peruse information, answer questions, and move through the steps of building their own bridges. This interactive engineering activity is bound to spark an interest in STEM subjects with elementary school students. [CNH]

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The National Education Association (NEA) has assembled a first-rate list of STEM Resources on this website. Here interested readers will find links to such venerable STEM education vendors as the Exploratorium, which features interactives, web features, activities, and online programs; NASA for Educators, which is loaded with lesson plans, teacher guides, classroom activities, video clips, games, and posters; eGFI: Dream Up the Future, a site that promotes engineering for students between kindergarten and late high school; and Kinetic City, a site for elementary school students that is veritably bursting with science games for students. There are also several STEM-related professional development sites, such as the STEM Education Resource Center. In all, STEM educators, parents, and mentors of students between the ages of five and 18 will find a wealth of possibilities in this collection of sites. [CNH]

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The Evolution of Terrestrial Ecosystems (ETE) Program, which is housed at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History, works to understand the development of ecosystems over very long periods of time - hundreds of millions of years, in fact. Using fossil records, ETE scientists use paleoecological analyses to uncover a host of different patterns, evolutions, structures, and compositions of ecological communities and their ever changing dynamics. Readers may peruse the history of the ETE program, which dates back to 1990, as well as the fascinating people behind it, such as researcher A. Kay Behrensmeyer. Under the Research tab, readers will find a helpful Glossary, as well as additional information about ETE projects and research in Kenya, Central Asia, South Africa, Wyoming, and other locales. An extensive list of ETE Publications is also available, and while complete articles are not accessible from the site, the reference list offers a look at the range of research that has been conducted over the years. [CNH]

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The American Psychological Association (APA) has been disseminating empirically based psychological information since its founding in 1892. On this portion of the APA site dedicated to Education and Psychology, readers will find articles in four categories: Pre-K to 12 Education, Undergraduate Education, Graduate and Postgraduate Education, and Continuing Education. Each category is packed with information. For example, in the Undergraduate Education section, readers will find resources dedicated to Psychology as a Career and links to Tools for Teachers, which include Curriculum and Teaching, Faculty Development, and Diversity Issues. The Pre-K to 12 Education section features resources about Curricular Materials, Classroom Behavior, and Creativity in the Classroom, among others. In all, the collection is suitable for both teachers looking for all kinds of psychology based resources and students searching for a better understanding of the psychological sciences and associated fields. [CNH]

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This lesson plan from Teachinghistory.org provides educators with content and instruction tips to introduce high school students to the the woman suffrage movement that resulted in the 19th Amendment to the United States Constitution. The lesson draws from nine disparate but related primary source documents that date between 1868 and 1920, as well as six teaching activities that run the gamut from document analysis to role play to student research. There is even a well-structured activity in which students are invited to write and stage a one-act play in order to dramatize, and help understand, original source material. Related websites are also available here, including excellent resources from the Library of Congress, the National Archive, the National Park Service, the National Register of Historic Places, and the National Women's History Project. Readers will also find related Teachinghistory.org lesson plans, such as "On Gendering the Constitution" and "Woman's Legal History Biography Project," on the left hand side of the page. [CNH]

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From politics to sports to market research to just about every conceivable business venture, the ability to accurately - or even semi-accurately - predict the future comes with profound benefits. It is no surprise, then, that economist David M. Rothschild's PredictWise has become so popular among pundits of all kinds. Using peer-reviewed prediction and sentiment models, Rothschild accurately predicted 50 of 51 Electoral College outcomes in February of 2012, an average of 20 of 24 Oscars from 2013 to 2015, and 15 of 15 knockout games in the 2014 World Cup. Readers may like to begin by scouting the latest political figures, which currently predict Democratic victories in both the presidential election and the upcoming Senate race. From there, scan the Sports section (as of May 12, 2016 the Chicago Cubs have a 20 percent chance of winning the world series), as well as predictions Entertainment and Economic/Financial. Readers will also find a link to Rothschild's blog, where he unpacks some of his predictions in greater detail.[CNH]

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The American Birding Association (ABA) is a non-profit with a two pronged goal: to support and educate birders and to protect birds. On the site, interested readers may like to begin with the ABA Blog, which is updated daily and offers posts about rare bird sightings, information on migrations, habitat alerts, and beautiful photographs of some of North America's most delightful feathered friends. Birding enthusiasts might also find much to appreciate on the Birding News page, where they will find up-to-the-minute updates on bird activity in all 50 sates and around the world. The site also features numerous links to a variety of publications, events, conservation efforts, and other listings designed to help birders do what they love best. Finally, the Young Birders page offers a blog of its own, as well as a Facebook group and links to summer camps. In all, the ABA provides a stellar host of resources for birding enthusiasts from around the country. [CNH]

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This online exhibit from the American Antiquarian Society (AAS) traces the history and culture of social dance in the United States. For early Americans, as the introduction explains, social dance was a form of communication, an acknowledgement of rank and class, and a means of cultural expression. Dances came to 18th and 19th century America from France, England, Scotland, and Ireland, then mixed with one another to create new forms. In addition to the thorough introduction, readers may like to explore sections dedicated to Origins, Language, Types, Fashion, Opposition, and Etiquette, as well as a Bibliography for those interested in browsing the primary and secondary sources behind the exhibit. The Opposition section may be of special interest, as it features diatribes by founding Puritans such as Increase and Cotton Mather, George Whitefield, and others who objected to the spectacle of men and women engaging in the sins of carnality that were implied by "mixed" dances. [CNH]

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The Google Cultural Institute, with its digital images of millions of artworks, offers many diverse wonders, including this phenomenal catalog from the Albertina. Founded in Vienna in 1805, the Albertina houses one of world's largest and most significant print rooms, featuring approximately 65,000 drawings and nearly a million old master prints. With this exhibit, readers may peruse 152 of these artworks, starting with Albrecht Durer's 16th century masterpiece, Hare, and progressing through Degas' 1905 painting, Two Dancers, and Rudolf von Alt's, View of the Alservorstadt, in which the artist captures a single moment in time from 1872. Clicking on Details calls up more information about each work of art. In addition, the images boast an astonishingly high resolution, so that readers may zoom in to the degree that they can actually see the brush strokes that a painter used 400 years ago to depict a bowl of fruit or a religious vision. [CNH]

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For more than fifty years, the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra (LACO) has recorded 31 albums, toured Europe, South America, and Japan, and performed across North America. Now readers can gain an insider's perspective on LACO by listening to its frequent podcasts, which are available for free on this website. In one recent recording, for instance, cellist Joshua Roman discussed his long time affiliation for the works of Bach, while in another violinist and YouTube sensation Stefan Jackiw speaks about his teen years and his path to international renown. The page also links out to photos of the orchestra, an excellent LACO blog, recordings that can be listened to online, and a special section for educators. [CNH]

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The World Bank has been publishing an annual report, in which it provides an in-depth analysis of a particular aspect of economic development, since 1978. Past reports have tackled such topics as agriculture, youth, equity, public services delivery, labor, and infrastructure. The Annual Report 2015 focused its energies on the intention to end extreme poverty around the world by the year 2030. Here readers may peruse the Report's sections, including Leadership Perspectives, Operational Highlights, Regions, Roles and Resources, Fiscal Year Data, Financial Statements, and WBG Summary Results. The WBG Summary Results section is especially interesting, as it features a map that outlines where the World Bank invested $60 billion in loans, grants, equity investments, and guarantees to partner countries and private businesses. For readers who are interested in the global effort to reduce poverty, or in the World Bank's policies more generally, this page will serve as an informative resource. [CNH]

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In June 2014, world renowned emotions expert Paul Ekman sent a survey out to 248 active emotion researchers around the world. In their responses, 88 percent of the respondents agreed that there are Universal Emotions, that is, emotions that all humans feel, no matter where they live or how they are raised. There was also a broad consensus on which emotions are universal, including anger, fear, disgust, sadness, and enjoyment. To navigate this engaging Atlas of Emotions, readers may select any of the five emotions to begin. From there, readers will find more information, including categories such as Triggers, Actions, and Moods. For instance, selecting Triggers under the Anger emotion leads to a graphic depicting the typical triggers that lead to an angry response, such as encountering offensive beliefs, being wrongfully accused, and rejection by a loved one. The site is exceptional for its interactive graphics and a layout that breaks down complex topics into easily understandable information. Anyone who wants to better understand human emotions will find much to appreciate here. [CNH]

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Created by Mary Kelly and Holly Hibner, two public librarians in Michigan, the Awful Library Books website exists in part to showcase books that have been weeded, or removed, from library collections. That is, titles that at one time seemed like a good acquisition, but have become outdated or are no longer relevant. Some examples of this type of title currently on view include "Antiques for Men," 1974; "Mentally Defective Children," 1914; "Law Enforcement Employment Guide," 1989; and "Those Amazing Leeches," 1988. The site also provides resources on the art and science of weeding and collection development for librarians and others, under the Practical Librarian tab. For anyone looking to suggest awful books to be added to this site, complete instructions can be found under the Submissions tab. [DS]

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Making a collage used to be labor intensive. First the artist needed to print pictures or cut them out from magazines. Then there was the process of scissors and glue. Mistakes were often made that could not be fixed. Those days are long gone, and in their place we have Fotor's Collage Maker, which makes collaging fun, easy, and glue-free. Click "get started" on the site to begin. From there, the program shows you how to drag and drop your photos onto the working space. Borders can be shifted, different templates can be used, and color and texture can be adjusted at will. Best of all, the entire process is simple to learn and completely free. [CNH]

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For readers who are looking for a basic to-do app, Remember the Milk can help by breaking tasks down into smaller parts. For those who don't need the bells and whistles of more complex professional apps, it hits the sweet spot between functionality and simplicity of use. Sign up is free, and requires nothing more than an email address. From there, use the template to add tasks, enter their due date, assess their level of priority, put them on repeat when necessary, and tag them, among other tricks and tips. Then the app will remind you of what you need to be doing, wherever you are, whenever the time is right. The app also includes a subtasks category, which breaks larger tasks down into smaller, more manageable pieces, so that you can make headway on even the largest projects. [CNH]

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