Sites to See, June 2012 edition

Open Culture has a listing of 500 FREE online courses from top universities. A lot of these could be great for sharpening a teacher's own knowledge/skills, helping students prep for AP courses, or adding some information to your lessons. Or maybe you're a nerd like me and just want to learn stuff all the time. :)

Google Art Project
http://www.googleartproject.com/   This one is so interesting. It's a digitized gallery of over 150 collections from 40 countries. Search by museum/collection, artist, or the image itself. THEN, create your own "gallery" for a specific purpose, like this one that represents math in art. Use this to add some dimension to a lesson OR have students create their own galleries depicting historical time periods or themes.



www.youtube.com/user/crashcourse 
Okay, I've know about Crash Course for a long time. See, I love John Green. I met him at TLA one year, and recommend his books to everyone I've ever known. John has put together a series of history videos in Crash Course. these are 10-15 minute videos that give a wonderful overview of basic history and has been steadily adding science videos as well. A few have some innuendos in them, so check them out BEFORE showing them in class.



http://thewallmachine.com/
Use this online app (free account) to put together a fake Facebook wall/conversation. Like this one, on Romeo Montague's wall. Hmmm....a check for understanding about literature or history? There's also a tiny little search button on the bottom right of the first page, where you can search for something that could be used as a focus or lesson introduction. Again, just check them out first.


Vocal Nation Anthems
http:/youtube.com/use/VocalNationalAnthems
With the Olympics coming up, we'll hear the national anthems for participating countries. This YouTube channel has more than 300 recordings of anthems, both with and without vocals.



In particular, the National Geographic channel. http://www.snagfilms.com/films/browse/category/national_geographic
75 full-length documentaries produced for and by National Geographic. These are AWESOME. Nearly no buffering time on our school network and THEY ARE THE FULL VERSION. Oh..and FREE. FREE. Let me say that again, FREE.
There's also an iPad app for SnagFilms, which makes me happy!

Cinder, by Marissa Meyer

Humans and androids crowd the raucous streets of New Beijing. A deadly plague ravages the population. From space, a ruthless Lunar people watch, waiting to make their move. No one knows that Earth’s fate hinges on one girl. . . .


Cinder, a gifted mechanic, is a cyborg. She’s a second-class citizen with a mysterious past, reviled by her stepmother and blamed for her stepsister’s illness. But when her life becomes intertwined with the handsome Prince Kai’s, she suddenly finds herself at the center of an intergalactic struggle, and a forbidden attraction. Caught between duty and freedom, loyalty and betrayal, she must uncover secrets about her past in order to protect her world’s future.

Let's start with the positives. It's an interesting story line, seriously. Futuristic, semi-dystopian, cyborgs as 2nd or 3rd class citizens, a moon monarchy (not just a colony, a monarchy). I like the bit of almost romance, the intrigue, the ups, the downs, the twists. I like Cinder, Kai, and the doctor. And it was more than easy to dislike the evil queen. 

I like that Cinder is a cyborg, and that this can cause real problems down the road, because she's considered basically trash. Because she is less than fully human. All Cinderella stories tend to run that theme. 

But I had several issues with the story.

First, there is a race of people living on the moon, the Lunars. What's their backstory? How'd they wind up on the moon? How did they become a monarchy? Why are the constantly at odds with the kingdoms and nations on Earth now?

Then there's Cinder. How did she become who and what she is? There's a hint of a wreck, a weird take over of her guardianship, but she really has no memory before age 11. Where'd those years go?

After researching both Meyer's website and other reviews, I got some answers to these issues.

• First, if you travel over to Marissa Meyer's website, you'll find in the "Extras" an article about the Lunar History
• Also, I discovered there's a short prequel, that tells a little more about Cinder. You meet her as she is first coming to New Beijing with Garan, her "stepfather."

Then I had a problem with the Cinderella aspect. I just didn't feel like it mattered. Sure, there were some similarities to the traditional story, specifically the Chinese version--namely, a stepmother, an unwanted/unloved stepdaughter, a prince, and a ball.....but it didn't add anything to the story for me. Frankly, I didn't feel like all the hype I'd read in other reviews about this future-ized version of Cinderella was particularly warranted. Cinder's story just happened to have a detail or 2 in common with it, nothing more.

All that being said, I did enjoy the book. I'd love to get my hands on a copy of the ARC for the second book in the Lunar Chronicles series, Scarlet (which will be published early February, 2013), but I'm fine with waiting.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I purchased the ebook of this title for my personal collection. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

FLOWCHART: Navigating NPR’s Top 100 Science Fiction and Fantasy Books

I love love love infographics. Especially ones that provide a visual for something I'm interested in. Like Books.

Definitely adding some titles to my list....and may well find a way to post this in my library.


FLOWCHART: Navigating NPR’s Top 100 Science Fiction and Fantasy Books

FREEBIE ebook of SCARS

Have you been wanting to read SCARS? Or have a copy for your e-reader? You can download SCARS for *free* today and tomorrow (June 5-6) on Amazon. In SCARS, Kendra must stop hurting herself—before it’s too late. I hope you’ll grab your free copy, and let as many people know as you can that they can
get a copy, too: http://www.amazon.com/Scars-ebook/dp/B0081IOLE4 

Even if you don’t have a Kindle, you can still download a free copy and read it through a Kindle app on your computer, iPad or iphone, or Android device.

Read my review of Scars here

Plain Wisdom, Cindy Woodsmall and Miriam Flaud

Two friends from different worlds—one Old Order Amish, one Englischer—share the truths that bring them together.

With poignant recollections, unexpected insights, and humorous tales, the two women welcome you into their unique friendship.  You’ll also gain a rare glimpse into the traditions and ways of the Amish as Miriam recalls special occasions and shares family recipes throughout the book.

You know, it really doesn't matter what your culture is, your family, your friends, your beliefs, people are people. Women are women. And some truths ring true for everyone.

*Plain Wisdom* is the story of two lives, intertwined when a connection would seem to be unlikely in the first place. An Amish woman and an "English" woman just don't seem a likely pair for a friendship OR a book project.

This is a refreshing look at how simple faith and family can be--for anyone, not just the "plain folk." In a literary world that seems to have more stories of how someone broke away from the Amish church rather than an honest heartfelt account of how wonderful it can be, and how it really isn't *that* different at the core from the rest of America is uplifting.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this galley from Waterbrook Multnomah through the Blogging for Books program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”