What’s New? March

KnowledgeBox and Groups

Dear KnowledgeBox Users,

It’s that time of year again—progress tests are just around the corner. I remember March as the month when I most wanted more one-on-one time with students and small groups. Fortunately, I learned how the computer could help me find some of that time, and I used it to help my students learn the basics, reinforce skills, and extend learning. I did it this way:

First, students were grouped according to their needs. Generally, I formed three groups for each subject area and thought of them in terms of basic—for those who needed all of the time available to accomplish tasks necessary to meet the objectives; reinforce—for those who needed some additional time to accomplish the basics; and extend—for those who needed less time to meet the basic curriculum objectives.

Next, I considered content. Usually my subject-area classes began with whole group instruction, and group work followed. The group work varied, depending on its type and student needs. Computer tasks were created for each group. Then I considered available time. I learned to divide the three groups among four time sections. That way I could work with each group at least once and sometimes twice in a day, depending on student needs. Best of all, those students who needed extension activities had more time to explore.

KnowledgeBox is the perfect tool for this kind of planning and time management. I often think how much easier it would have been if I'd had KnowledgeBox in my classroom. KnowledgeBox transforms the computer, the perfect teacher's tool, into the perfect teacher's assistant, ready to teach, reinforce, and extend learning for your students. Whether you select from existing KB lessons or create your own custom lessons, you're in control of the media your students view and use. It's easy to create student groups with Tools, found in the teacher interface of KnowledgeBox. Check out the Technology section of this newsletter for more information about forming groups. Let KnowledgeBox become more than a curriculum planning tool; let it become a time management tool and teacher's assistant too.

This month's calendar is full of media and lessons for your students, all based on something in the news, either today or in the past. KnowledgeBox has many more event related lessons and media that you can assign to your students. Use the Keywords provided to get started. Remember, it's easy to create student groups with Tools, so give it a try! I think you'll like the results. Remember, too, that KB Net in the student interface has many websites that students can use to reinforce math skills, including facts, time, and money. KB Net is also a place for students to do research, explore museums, and view Web Links. The In the News section has many links related to this month’s calendar.

Your KB Contact,

Nancy

Curriculum Calendar

March Events and Related KB Lessons and Media
Date	Event	Related KB Lesson/Media	Keywords
All Month	Music in Our Schools Month is celebrated.	Science Seekers: Playing in the Band (K–1)	music
	National Nutrition Month is celebrated.	Farming Traditions (4–6)	nutrition
		Science Seekers: You Are What You Eat, movie (K–1)
	National Women's History Month is celebrated.	Women in History (4–6)	women
1	1790—The U.S. Congress authorized the first census.	Math in the Real World: Census, movie (4–6)	census
	1803—Ohio became the 17th state in the United States.	Great States: Ohio (4–6)	Ohio
	1867—Nebraska became the 37th state in the United States.	Explore the States, web link (2–6)	Nebraska
	1872—Yellowstone became the world's first national park.	Let's Visit Yellowstone (4–6)	Yellowstone
	1961—President John F. Kennedy signed an executive order establishing the Peace Corps.	Famous Faces: JFK, movie (4–6)	volunteer
		Be a Volunteer (2–3)
	Iditarod 2008 begins.	Dogsled Adventures (4–6)	Iditarod
2	1836—Texas declared independence from Mexico.	Texas Independence (4–6)	Texas
	1917—Puerto Rico became a U.S. territory, and Puerto Ricans became U.S. citizens.	Welcome to Puerto Rico, web link (K–6)	Puerto Rico
	Dr. Seuss's birthday is celebrated.	Honoring Dr. Seuss, web link (K–6)	Seuss
3	1931—The Star Spangled Banner was adopted as America's national anthem.	American Symbols (K–1)	flag
	1845—Florida became the 27th state in the United States.	Let's Visit Florida (4–6)	Florida
	2008—NEA’s Read Across America event is scheduled.	Storyline Online, web link (4–6)	book
4	1789—The Constitution of the United States went into effect.	The Constitution, movie (4–6)	Constitution
	1791—Vermont became the 14th state in the United States.	Explore the States, web link (2–6)	Vermont
5	1512—Gerardus Mercator was born.	Using Maps and Globes (2–3)	map
	1770—The Boston Massacre occurred.	Arising Conflict (4–6)	Boston Massacre
6	1836—The Alamo fell to Mexican forces.	Let's Visit Texas (4–6)	Alamo
	2008—World Book Day is celebrated.	Authors and Illustrators (K–1)	author, book
7	1876—Alexander Graham Bell received a patent for the telephone.	Technology (K–1)	Bell, Alexander
8	1930—The New York Yankees signed Babe Ruth to a two-year contract worth $160,000.	The Roaring Twenties (4–6)	Babe Ruth
	Harriet Tubman Day is celebrated.	Heroes and Heroines: Harriet Tubman (4–6)	Tubman
9	1497—Nicolaus Copernicus first recorded an astronomical observation.	Puzzle: Scientists, software (4–6)	Copernicus
	1841—The Supreme Court ruled that the Amistad slaves were free.	Resisting Slavery, movie (4–6)	Amistad
	1933—Franklin D. Roosevelt’s New Deal began when a special session of Congress opened.	The Great Depression (4–6)	New Deal
9	2008—Daylight Saving Time begins.	Space Math: Time (K–1)	time
10	1876—Alexander Graham Bell made the first telephone call. He said, "Mr. Watson, come here. I want you."	Technology (K–1)	Bell, Alexander
	1862—U.S. paper money was first issued.	Math Operations: Money (2–3)	money
11	105 C.E.—Ts'ai Lun invented paper.	From Trees to Paper (2–3)	paper
12	1933—President Franklin D. Roosevelt gave the first of his "fireside chats" on radio.	Famous Faces: Franklin Delano Roosevelt, movie (4–6)	fireside
13	1781—Astronomer Sir William Herschel discovered the planet Uranus, the first planet discovered with a telescope.	What Are the Planets (K–1)	Uranus
		The Planets in Our Solar System (2–3)
		Our Solar System (4–6)
	The celebration of Deaf History Month (March 13–April 15) begins.	Goya, movie (4–6)	deaf
14	1794—The cotton gin was patented by Eli Whitney.	Revolutionizing Farming, movie (4–6)	cotton gin
	1879—Albert Einstein was born.	Famous Faces: Albert Einstein (4–6)	Einstein
	National Pi Day is celebrated.
15	1820—Maine became the 23rd state in the United States.	Geography: Northeast Geography (4–6)	Maine
16	1521—Ferdinand Magellan reached the Philippines.	Ferdinand Magellan, web link (2–6)	Magellan
	1926—Robert Goddard launched the first U.S. liquid-fuel rocket.	Space Explorers, software (2–3)	rocket
	National Agriculture Week is observed (March 16–22).	Agriculture in the Midwest (4–6)	farm
17	1776—British forces evacuated Boston during the Revolutionary War.	Arising Conflict (4–6)	Revolution
	St. Patrick's Day is celebrated.	St. Patrick's Day, web link (2–6)	Patrick
18	1766—After months of American protests, Britain repealed the Stamp Act.	Arising Conflict (4–6)	Revolution
18	1925—The most violent single tornado in U.S. history hit Missouri, Indiana, and Illinois.	Storms, movie (K–1)	tornado
19	2003—Operation Iraqi Freedom was launched with air strikes on Baghdad, and war with Iraq began.	Continental Travel: Asia, movie (4–6)	Iraq
20	1864—Navajo Indians left Fort Canby and began the Long Walk of the Navajo.	Native Americans: Southwest Tribes (4–6)	Navajo
	2008—Spring begins.	The Seasons, movie (4–6)	season
	National Agriculture Day is celebrated.	Agriculture in the Midwest (4–6)	farm
21	1965—A civil rights march (March 21–25) began in Selma, Alabama, with 3,200 marchers and ended in Montgomery, Alabama, with 25,000.	Civil Rights Time Line, software (4–6)	Selma
22	1997—Comet Hale-Bopp made its closest approach to Earth.	Stardust (4–6)	comet
23	1513—Ponce de Leon discovered and named Florida.	Let's Visit Florida (4–6)	Leon
	1996—The U.S. space shuttle Atlantis docked with the Russian space station Mir, and for the first time, a U.S. astronaut remained for an extended stay.	United States History: Space Program (4–6)	astronaut
24	1989—The Exxon oil tanker Valdez ran aground in Alaska's Prince William Sound, resulting in the worst oil spill in U.S. history.	Moments in History: Exxon Valdez (4–6)	Valdez
25	1634—Maryland was founded by settlers sent by Lord Baltimore.	Great States: Maryland, movie (4–6)	Maryland
26	1982—Groundbreaking ceremonies for the Vietnam Veterans Memorial took place in Washington, D.C.	The Cold War, software (4–6)	Vietnam
	1930—Sandra Day O'Connor was born.	Women in History, movie (4–6)	O'Connor
27	1964—The Great Alaskan Earthquake occurred.	Volcanoes and Earthquakes (4–6)	earthquake
28	1979—A nuclear power plant accident occurred in Pennsylvania at Three Mile Island.	Alternative Forms of Energy, movie (4–6)	energy
29	1848—Niagara Falls stopped flowing because of an ice jam in the Niagara River.	Let's Visit Niagara Falls (4–6)	Niagara
30	1867—Secretary of State William H. Seward agreed to purchase Alaska from Russia for $7.2 million.	Great States: Alaska, movie (4–6)	Alaska
		All about Alaska (2–3)
31	1889—The Eiffel Tower opened in Paris, France.	Tour of Paris, movie (4–6)	Eiffel
	1918—Daylight Saving Time went into effect in the United States.	Space Math: Time (K–1)	clock

Ask Nancy: Technical

Custom Student Groups

If you're ready to create custom lessons for particular students or assign particular KB lessons to certain students, KnowledgeBox is ready for you. KnowledgeBox enables you to form student groups. This is a powerful way to differentiate instruction within your class. You can assign each group specific KnowledgeBox lessons or your own customized lessons that consider students' needs and interests. This is how to create them. Instructions are written for KB 4.0, however KB 3.8 differences are noted in parentheses.

Creating Groups

· In the teacher interface, click Planning (Tools) and then click the My Groups tab. To create a group, click Add New Group (Create New Group).

· After you name your group, click Save (OK). KB 4.0 users can also select the days and times the group meets. Create as many groups as you need.

Adding Students to Groups

· To add students to a new group, first select the group by clicking its name.

· Click Show Students in Group. The list of students appears in the Group Roster. You will receive a message if there are no students in the group. Click OK to continue.

· Next, locate in either the Grade Roster or the School Roster the name of a student that you want to place in that group.

· Click the student's name and then click Add Student to Group.

· Continue until you have located all of the group's students.

· To add students to another group, first select the group by clicking its name and then locate your students. Students can be added to as many groups as you choose.

Assigning Lessons

Once your groups are formed you will be able to assign lessons with every student's needs in mind. Whether it's a KB lesson or a lesson that you have created, with groups, KnowledgeBox becomes a real teacher's assistant and helps you present your students with content designed for their particular learning needs. For help on how to assign lessons, click Help on the teacher interface.