Sunflower Education Blog

"By using graphic organizers, teachers can have a clear understanding of what they want to address in their classes. Graphic organizers prov

Using WORLD RECORDS to Capture Children's Interest and Provide Intellectual and Emotional Context If you parent or teach kids ages 8 to 15, you should know about Kieran Egan’s simple yet stunning ideas about using world records to reach them. Kieran Egan is an educational philosopher and the author of The Educated Mind: How Cognitive Tools Shape Our Understanding. I. World Records Capture Student Interest One of Egan’s key ideas is that children between the ages of 8 and 15 a

The Global Positioning System (GPS) is a modern marvel. The science and engineering behind it are mindboggling. Its low cost to consumers is a tribute to manufacturing miracles. GPS has saved countless lives and countless lost motorists. The great navigational issues of the world have been solved, down to the millimeter. But it may not be the best thing for our kids. When our girls where little, we eschewed the Internet for the World Book Encyclopedia. Why? We wanted them to

“The Mississippi is the largest river in the United States and Canada in terms of both water volume and drainage area. It runs 2,348 miles (3,778 km) from its source near the border of the United States and Canada to its outlet in the Gulf of Mexico.” —Anonymous textbook writer, Glencoe World Geography: A Physical and Cultural Approach Does this want you to make a trip and see the mighty river? To experience, firsthand, the power and glory of Ol’ Man River, The Big Muddy, Old

There is a consensus among education and health experts that cooking and eating with children is one of the best things parents and teachers can do. Here are what the experts say: National History Education Clearinghouse We need food to live, but don't always think about where food comes from. We carry foods and foodways with us as we immigrate, emigrate, or migrate. We share food and celebrate with it. Every bite we eat has a long history involving geography, trade, science,

Do you have regular family dinners? Chance are, you don't. Today, most American families eat a meal together fewer than five days a week. In fact, most American families eat a meal together fewer than five days a week. This is a shame. (Of course, many people want to have family dinners, but simply lack the time. Also of course, this is understandable.) But I wonder if people knew just how important family dinners are, they would try to make them happen more often. /react-tex

When my younger daughter was a baby, I often danced with her the way you dance with a baby—I'd hold her and bounce her around and sing. She always loved it, and always laughed. Now, lemme tell you: if you're going to dance with your baby, I highly recommend Paul Simon tunes. Especially from his album Graceland. Especially the song "I Know What I Know." There's a great line in the song. "Aren't you the woman who was recently given a Fulbright?" When I sang it, though, I change