Tag: NEWS

With this infographic, give your students a blast from the past with the history and lifespan of storage media. Now, people are able to store everything online via “the cloud,” but this was not always the case. Throughout history, there have been different innovations in storage media that had different levels of reliability, and were different sizes.

Try to get examples of each of the different types and ask students if they know what each were called and if they have ever seen them. Compare the sizes of each, and the reliability of them. Study the development of them, and share with students your own experiences with them. Hopefully your students will feel lucky to have the almighty cloud.

Blog: http://www.crashplan.com/medialifespan/

This is a rather intense infographic, but it would be a good way to start a discussion on the topic of life on other planets. With the landing of Curiosity on Mars and it’s success thus far, I think it’s an interesting topic to discuss.

This infographic uses an advanced math problem to decide the chances of, and how many alien civilizations exist. But of course, this can only be proved by further exploration. It will be interesting what will be discovered on Mars, to see if life has existed on Mars, and the conditions that may allow for human colonizations.

Use this infographic to introduce Curiosity and the Mars exploration. What has been discovered? What does Mars look like? Based on discoveries, do your students believe we are alone?

Blog: http://goo.gl/KQOZE

Here is another infographic to make students think, and hopefully be grateful for what they have. This infographic compares students (specifically college, but many things are applicable to grade school students) between different time eras, and even makes some projections. It talks mostly about access to and use of technology, but it also makes some references to other areas.

This would be a great first day discussion about the use of laptops and tablets in the classroom versus the traditional pen and paper and textbook. Ask students what they prefer and why, mentioning that there are applications available that will allow the teacher to peak in on what they are doing, so no doing anything off topic. Share with students the benefits of each. Discuss the reasons why these have been brought into the classroom.

At this point, hopefully introduce a classroom set of some sort of technology. Unfortunately this is not always possible, but at least tie in the available technology in the classroom and the school. Most classroom have at least a few desk top computers for student use. Go over the rules for their use and other important information, including safety.

Blog: http://visual.ly/back-school-then-and-now

I still remember the first time I heard the Mayan theory of the end of time. I was in middle school. I don’t remember what we were studying, I actually think it was one of those things that a teacher taught in one class and it spread throughout the school, kind of like what a wenis is. But I remember thinking, that’s within my lifetime, but still a long time off. That’s ok. Well it’s just a few months away now, and as the time grows closer, so does the hype. Today’s infographic shares just who believes the end of the world is near.

With all of these tv shows and movies about the end of the world over the past few years, it is surprising to me that more people don’t believe in the Mayan calendar “prediction.” One in seven believe it will in within their lifetime, but only one in ten believe it will end this year. And it is generally in other countries that this is believed. It is also generally believe by those under the age of 35 (low life experience), with a low income, and a low education.

Now how can you use this infographic in your classroom. Study the ways Americans believe the end of the world will come. Many say it will be a natural disaster, a human disaster, or some sort of combination (such as a pandemic). In science, discuss what sort of natural disaster would be necessary to bring down the entire United States. In history, look into historic events, such as the Spanish Flu after WWI, and see how something like this could affect the world as it is today. And finally, share with your students how to reasonably prepare for these events. Have an evacuation plan with your family, and tell them to wash their hands and take care of themselves!

Blog: http://goo.gl/xCAkl

This is the 25th year Animal Planet has hosted Shark Week, a week devoted to sharks. And to commemorate this, Lemon.ly has created an infographic all about surviving  the dreaded shark attack. Being a North Carolina native, shark attacks are more common that I am comfortable with. Many Americans come to the coast of the Carolina for our wonderful beaches, and unfortunately, many sharks have also discovered what our beaches have to offer.

I have often heard that when attacked by an animal, you increase your risk of survival by both playing dead, and fighting back. This seems to be true for sharks. If you find yourself near a shark, it is best to stay still in their blind spots. They have wide set eyes that allow them to see nearly 360 degrees, but this infographic shares an image of where their blind spots lie. It also shares that sharks are affected by magnets. Unfortunately, one must get close to the shark in order for them to be thrown off.

Share this with your students just before Labor Day weekend, especially if many of your students plan on going to the beach. Also, challenge your students to research other fearsome animals and create infographics on how to survive those attacks. Any wild animal can be dangerous, and the further one steps into their territory, the higher the chances of an attack. It is never a bad idea to share survival guides.

Blog: http://visual.ly/shark-survival-guide

This infographic compares two vehicles, one made over 100 years ago, and one being made this year. It shares basic information about each, to show how far we have come. It shares that we now have safety features, entertainment features, and features beyond having to walk everywhere.

This infographic, found on visual.ly, does a great job of explaining simple information in a visually stimulating, and organized way. It uses a road to separate subjects, and gives headers for every section. It would be a great example to show your students how to make a simple infographic.

It would also be a great introduction into technology involving engines. How was the first engine created? What advances had to occur in order for it to be successful? Who else was working on an engine for a car, and what were their ideas? Dozens of people were working on this technology, trying to be the first and the best. It wasn’t just a single person who had an accident in a lab and invented the vehicle. Continue to track other innovations that led to today’s engine, and engines of the future. This will allow students to create a more simple knowledge base to build on.

Blog: http://visual.ly/100-years-automotive-evolution

About 50 years ago, a dog was named spot or fido, slept outside in a dog house, ate scraps, and ran around a fenced in backyard. Now they have names like Zoe (my dogs name), live inside, go on errands with us, eat special diets, and go to daycare. How did this change?

Dogs do a lot more than just keep us company. According to this infographic, found on GOOD.is, owning a dog lowers blood pressure and increases happiness. They also increase the likelihood that a child will participate in sports. They even have jobs. They assist people with disabilities, they become a good set of ears to a child struggling to read, and they even save lives. Dogs have become a very important part of our daily lives.

How have your students lives been affected by a pet? How many of your students live in a home with a pet? What are their favorite activities with their pets? Have the pets helped them to become more active? How are the pets like a sibling? Do their parents dress their pet up, give them gifts, or have them on special medicines? Have a fun conversation about dogs and share some stories about the important part dogs have played in rescuing people, finding bombs, and giving someone a normal life.

Blog: http://goo.gl/NkRhw