Blog Posting for 3/27/2015
This week news4kids.org aired the following stories:
New Baby Gorilla in Chicago K-3
Art Exhibit for Visually Impaired 4-8
Astronauts Return From Space Station K-3
Holi Celebrations in India 4-8
Newscast: New Baby Gorilla in Chicago K-3
Essential Question: What makes gorillas distinct?
Vocabulary: DNA, herbivore, silverbacks, tropical, sign language, endangered, habitat
Learning Objectives:
– List some key characteristics of gorillas, including diet, habitat, size, and communication.
– Identify gorillas as the second closest living relative to humans.
Summary: Recently, a brand new baby gorilla was born at the Lincoln Park Zoo. The baby, who has yet to be named, has already won over fans online with her adorable face and big eyes. The baby’s mom is 27-year-old Bahati, who has been keeping her new baby very close to her side.
Newscast: Art Exhibit for Visually Impaired 4-8
Essential Question: What is so special about the Prado’s soon-to-open exhibit?
Vocabulary: Prado, Leonardo da Vinci, Francisco Goya, El Greco, Louis Braille, ultraviolet, prominent
Learning Objectives:
– Identify the Prado as a major art museum in Madrid, Spain.
– Describe the process by which scientists can make a painting layered in 3D.
– Identify Louis Braille as a Frenchman who developed the Braille alphabet to enable blind people like himself to read and write.
Summary: Madrid’s Prado Museum of Art will open a new exhibition soon allowing blind visitors to experience famous works of art. The exhibit, titled, “Today, Touch the Prado”, will feature copies of 15th and 16th century paintings by famous artists such as Leonardo da Vinci and Francisco Goya that can be experienced through touch.
Newscast: Astronauts Return From Space Station K-3
Essential Question: What kind of work is done on the International Space Station?
Vocabulary: research, laboratory, gravity, biology, meteorology, orbit
Learning Objectives:
– Identify the International Space Station as a livable satellite that orbits earth and allows scientists to conduct important research for studying space.
Summary: Recently an American astronaut and two Russian cosmonauts left the International Space Station to head back to earth after nearly 6 months in orbit. The International Space Station is a livable satellite that orbits earth. It first launched in 1998 as a joint project between the nations.
Newscast: Holi Celebrations in India 4-8
Essential Question: What is the Hindu holiday of Holi?
Vocabulary: Holi, Holika bonfires, karma, mythology
Learning Objectives:
– Identify Hinduism as the third largest religion, focusing on philosophical ideas such as karma.
– Identify Holi as a Hindu holiday that is celebrated by people even outside the religion and describe its events.
Summary: Recently, all over India, people celebrated the Hindu holiday of Holi by chasing each other with colored powder, singing, dancing, eating and drinking. The colorful holiday is commonly known as either the festival of colors or the festival of love. Although the festival was originally a religious tradition, it has become popular with non-Hindus in many parts of South Asia as well. The holiday is a celebration of the beginning of spring and is intended to encourage harmony, friendship, and forgiveness.
