{"id":3005,"date":"2010-10-04T22:53:17","date_gmt":"2010-10-05T03:53:17","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.richmond.edu\/openwidelookinside\/archives\/3005"},"modified":"2010-10-04T22:53:17","modified_gmt":"2010-10-05T03:53:17","slug":"resources-of-virginia","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.richmond.edu\/openwidelookinside\/2010\/10\/04\/resources-of-virginia\/","title":{"rendered":"Resources of Virginia"},"content":{"rendered":"

Resources of Virginia<\/strong><\/p>\n

This blog contains information about useful books, online activities, and relevant materials for teaching about Virginia’s natural resources.\u00a0 Although Virginia Science SOL 4.8 explicitly references this content, the material overlaps with many elementary grades and SOLS.\u00a0 The texts and websites, however, were chosen for students between grades 3-5.\u00a0 If anyone has knowledge of texts, activities, or teacher materials that they believe would be helpful to my readers please<\/em> comment at the bottom of the post.<\/p>\n

Text Annotations\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Virginia Facts and Symbols<\/em>
\nby Bill McAuliffe<\/p>\n

\u00a0\"va-facts.jpg\"<\/a><\/p>\n

“Easy-to-read text covers major state symbols such as the state flag, seal, bird, tree, flower, animal, and more. \u00a0A “Fast Facts” section highlights the state’s capital city, largest city, physical size, population, natural resources, farm products, and primary\u00a0manufactured\u00a0goods. \u00a0Generally, a map or photo faces a right hand page of information written in short paragraphs. \u00a0Photos are current and simple, featuring the animal, flower, or famous building, with a modest caption. \u00a0The series has been updated to reflect new census data but otherwise duplicates the earlier editions. \u00a0A concluding page features three “Places to Visit,” to give readers a sense of what features or sites the state is proud of or known for (Williamsburg, Luray Caverns, and the Mariners’ Museum). \u00a0In the end matter, other factual nonfiction books are recommended, a glossary rounds up five or six specialized words, an omnibus website managed by the publisher gives access to further facts, and a very short index is included. \u00a0The series encourages report writers to locate information quickly and the layout makes comparisons among states easy. \u00a0This book is a good beginning resource for highlighting a state and its features.”\t— Review from Children’s Literature\u00a0Comprehensive Database<\/p>\n

Buy it here<\/a><\/u><\/p>\n

Dogwoods: The Genus Cornus<\/em>
\nby Paul Cappiello<\/p>\n

\"dogwoods_2.jpg\"<\/a><\/p>\n

This title is a great source of information for Virginia’s state flower — the dogwood. The book features the best photographs of dogwoods that one can find.\u00a0 Too dense and technical for the elementary reader; nonetheless, many sections can be used for reading aloud.\u00a0 The included glossary is a great guide for horticulture-related vocabulary.<\/p>\n

\u00a0Buy it here<\/a><\/p>\n

\u00a0Cardinals
\n<\/em>By Patrick Merrick<\/p>\n

\"cards.jpg\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Patrick Merrick’s book provides students with superb photos and pertinent information for the Virginia state bird.<\/p>\n

“K-Gr 3-Children will flock to these attractive titles.\u00a0 Brilliant, full-color close-ups, many from the National Audubon Collection, appear on every spread and are accompanied by interesting and useful facts.\u00a0 The information goes beyond common knowledge, covering the birds’ life cycles from birth to maturity.\u00a0 The photos provide a larger-than-life scale so that it is possible to see minute details of birds in the nest, feeding their young, and in their natural habitats.\u00a0 The large font and wide margins make these books easy to read. – Kim Donius, Alfred-Almond Central School, Almond, NY.” — taken from Amazon.com<\/p>\n

Buy it here <\/a><\/p>\n

Good Night Virginia
\n<\/em>by Adam Gamble<\/p>\n

\"gnight_va.jpg\"<\/a><\/p>\n

This book covers a vast array of topics, particularly in regard to Virginia’s resources and geography.\u00a0 Additionally, information is blended seemlessly into the illustrations. Adam Gamble writes with simple sentences which are easy to comprehend, yet full of useful facts.\u00a0 A great resource for your classroom– highly recommended!<\/p>\n

Buy it here <\/a><\/p>\n

Virginia Geography<\/em>
\nby Bentley Boyd<\/p>\n

\"va-geo.jpg\"<\/a><\/p>\n

\u00a0Written in the style of a comic book, Bentley Boyd’s work is accessible to the young reader.\u00a0 Do not let the brevity of the work fool you; this work is full of information regarding the resources of Virginia.\u00a0 Students will learn while reading; however, they will be enjoying themselves too much to realize.<\/p>\n

Buy it here <\/a><\/p>\n

Web Annotations (for Students!)<\/strong><\/p>\n

What Is a Watershed?
\n<\/em>Watch how watersheds are formed!\u00a0 <\/a><\/p>\n

This website gives a easily comprehended explanation and illustration of how a watershed is formed.\u00a0 For students who struggle to learn without visualization, this website will prove invaluable for VA Science SOL 4.8.\u00a0 The students will enjoy watching the virtual formation of a watershed.<\/p>\n

Digging For Words
\n<\/em>Play here<\/a><\/p>\n

A fun crossword activity for students.\u00a0 The words are all related to minerals, rocks, and ores and the activity acts as a prefect supplement (i.e., a fun homework assignment) for a lesson on soil and\/or rocks.<\/p>\n

Discover How Rocks are Formed<\/em>
\nWatch here!<\/a><\/p>\n

The website has illustrations showing how rocks are formed over long periods of time.\u00a0 Easier to understand than a textbook, and certainly more fun!<\/p>\n

Virginia Trivia-Online Quiz
\n<\/em>Sporcle.com, <\/em>Attempt the quiz<\/a><\/p>\n

Sporcle is an online website which allows users to generate their own quizzes.\u00a0 The particular quiz linked above is focused on Virginia trivia.\u00a0 Although the quiz is not devoted solely to Virginia’s resources, it nonetheless includes questions about the state’s geography, animals, plants, water resources, forestry, and more.\u00a0 The site is kid-friendly, interactive, easy-to-use, and free.<\/p>\n

Dumptown Game
\n<\/em>Play the game<\/a><\/p>\n

The game, created by the EPA, allows players to see how small changes in lifestyle can make huge differences in our society.\u00a0 As Dumptown’s new City Manager it is your job to allocate available resources (such as recycle bins) to cut down on the trash accumulating in the city.\u00a0 For students who enjoy playing video games, this online game will provide a lot of fun and learning.<\/p>\n

\u00a0Additional Resources (for Teachers!)<\/strong><\/p>\n

Greener Loudoun <\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

\"reduce.JPG\"<\/a><\/p>\n

This website, written by a native of Loudoun County, VA, includes numerous articles on how we can live in a more environmentally conscious manner (and why we should).\u00a0 Whenever he is unable to write on a topic he finds pertinent, he links to some other credible site which does.\u00a0 What makes this website so valuable is the fact that it is written by a citizen of Virginia — all of the articles focus on the impact of climate change on a local level.\u00a0 Climate science is difficult even for experts to understand; therefore, it is all the more impressive that this site enables its readers to understand the effects of a changing climate with a Virginia-centric bias.\u00a0 I would highly recommend teachers to skim this website for local examples to use within their lessons — it will make the material more applicable to students.<\/p>\n

Rockingham County Public Schools<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n

This school’s website provides a wealth of resources for teaching VA Science SOL 4.8.\u00a0 Of particular interest are the interactive smartboard activities which can be downloaded and used in your classroom.<\/p>\n

\u00a0Virginia Department of Environmental Quality\u00a0 <\/em><\/a><\/p>\n

A dense, informative website with lots of data about Virginia’s forest.\u00a0 For up-to-date statistics and easy-to-comprehend charts it is impossible to beat this source.\u00a0 Of course, the information will need to be adapted to an elementary level.<\/p>\n

Also, check out the VA DEQ’s guide to minerals and energy resources. <\/a><\/p>\n

Virginia Native Plant Society\u00a0<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n

\"logo.gif\"<\/a><\/p>\n

The Virginia Native Plant Society provides conservation policies and easy to use brochures.\u00a0 I recommend contacting the society to set up a visit to the University of Virginia’s Blandy Experimental Farm located in north-western Virginia — a fun, free, and informative trip for students.\u00a0 (Everyone within reasonable proximity should visit the balloon festival at Blandy in October of every year.\u00a0 There are massive amounts of activities for young students and excellent regional food tasting for adults.)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Resources of Virginia This blog contains information about useful books, online activities, and relevant materials for teaching about Virginia’s natural resources.\u00a0 Although Virginia Science SOL 4.8 explicitly references this content, the material overlaps with many elementary grades and SOLS.\u00a0 The … Continue reading →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4424,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[127,33,60],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3005","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-environment","category-teaching","category-thematic-book-list"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.richmond.edu\/openwidelookinside\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3005","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.richmond.edu\/openwidelookinside\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.richmond.edu\/openwidelookinside\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.richmond.edu\/openwidelookinside\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4424"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.richmond.edu\/openwidelookinside\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3005"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/blog.richmond.edu\/openwidelookinside\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3005\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.richmond.edu\/openwidelookinside\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3005"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.richmond.edu\/openwidelookinside\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3005"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.richmond.edu\/openwidelookinside\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3005"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}