Education Newswatch April 2007

Teacher Appreciation Week
Learning Resources is celebrating Teacher Appreciation Week, May 7-11, by giving readers of Teaching K-8 a free hand pointer. Readers can visit www.learningresources.com/thanks to register for their free hand pointer by May 31 (or while supplies last). In addition, the company is giving a free "teachable moments" tote bag filled with goodies to teachers who place an online or catalog order with Learning Resources between April 9 and May 12, 2007 (using promo code: THANKYOU).

Ramp Up to Earth Day
Join millions of teachers and students as they get ready for Earth Day. National Environmental Education Week is April 15-22 and aims to increase the educational impact of Earth Day by creating a full week of educational preparation, learning and activities in K-12 classrooms, nature centers, zoos, museums and aquariums. Visit www.eeweek.org to register your classroom or school to participate and for environmental activities, online and community resources and partners in your local area.

Sun-safe Students
The SunWise School Program is an environmental and health education program from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). It aims to teach children and their caregivers how to protect themselves from overexposure to the sun. Through the use of classroom, school and community-based components, SunWise seeks to develop sustained sun-safe behaviors in children. SunWise Partner Schools receive free materials that facilitate cross-curricular classroom learning, including classroom-ready activities and suggestions for how schools can provide a sun-safe infrastructure, including shade structures (e.g., canopies, trees) and policies (e.g., using hats, sunscreen, sunglasses) that promote sun protection in a school setting. To learn more about the SunWise School Program, go to www.epa.gov/sunwise

Book Day Down Under
International Children's Book Day (ICBD) has been celebrated annually since 1967 in observance of Hans Christian Andersen's birthday, April 2. ICBD is an opportunity to focus public attention on children's books, the creators of children's books and children's reading all over the world. This year, ICBD is sponsored by the New Zealand Section of the International Board on Books for Young People (IBBY). The theme for ICBD 2007 is "Stories Ring the World." The "Message to the Children of the World" was written by award-winning New Zealand author, Margaret Mahy, and a celebratory poster was created by New Zealand illustrator Zak Waipara. To obtain the message brochure and poster (for a small charge), and to learn more about ICBD 2007, please visit www.storylines.org.nz

UNICEF Greeting Card Contest
Children ages 13 and under in the U.S. are being asked to submit creative drawings for the 2007 Pier 1/UNICEF/Weekly Reader Greeting Card Contest. Two winners will be chosen from thousands of entries and their winning artwork will be reproduced as official UNICEF greeting cards sold exclusively at Pier 1 Imports, Pier 1 Kids and www.pier1.com to benefit children around the world. The children's artwork will be judged on artistic quality and creative interpretation of the theme "Holiday Happiness." One hundred percent of the proceeds from the sale of all UNICEF cards sold at Pier 1 go to UNICEF.

Entry forms are available online at www.pier1.com, www.unicefusa.org and www.weeklyreader.com; or by calling Pier 1's Customer Relations Department at 1-800-245-4595. Entry forms are also available at Pier 1 Kids locations and at www.Pier1Kids.com. All entries must be hand-drawn and received by April 11, 2007.

WRITERS WANTED Student Essay Writing Contest Invitation
Please consider encouraging your students to enter our essay contest as part of your Earth Day observance, and please consider calling on author John Gile (www.johngile.com) to strengthen your students' writing skills as part of your effort to meet state and national standards. - Donna Paladino

Essay Contest with more than $5000 in prizes for students and schools.
The essay contest started Valentine's Day, February 14, 2007, and will end on Earth Day, April 22, 2007. Valentine's Day kicked off the essay contest because Valentine's Day is a time when people talk about love, both ersatz and real, and because respect is an integral part of love. Earth Day will conclude the essay contest because Earth Day is a time when people talk about caring for the earth, a way we can show respect for each other and for future generations.

The essay contest asks students to answer the following question in 100 to 300 words: "How and why do I show respect for the people and places in my life?" The question may be answered by individual students or as a collaborative class effort submitted by teachers.

The contest is open to all students in grades K-8 in the United States. Submissions must be postmarked no later than midnight Earth Day, April 22, 2007, and sent to Essay Contest c/o JGC/United Publishing, Box 2321, Loves Park, IL 61131. Winners will be notified on or before May 11, 2007. The student whose essay wins first prize will receive $1000. Second prize is $500. Essay entries are eligible for five additional $100 prizes.

Winners will be chosen by author John Gile, and every student at the first prize winner's school will receive a complimentary copy of his award-winning book The First Forest (www.thefirstforest.com), a fable reminding readers "that peace and harmony flow from an attitude of grateful appreciation for the gifts we receive and a respect for the need and right of others to share in those gifts, also."

(Author's note)
Every school with students submitting entries will be eligible for a drawing to receive more than $1,500 in writing enrichment programs - presented to more than 500,000 in 39 states, Europe, and New Zealand - by the author. Call 815.968.6601 for answers to any questions you may have about the essay contest.

April, 2007, Vol.37, No.7