Learn Something New: TED-Ed

High school level videos

Learning from home?

To support the millions of students, parents and teachers affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, TED-Ed is working with expert educators and TED speakers throughout the world to create and share high-quality, interactive, video-based lessons on a daily basis, for free.

You can have engaging lessons organized by age group that span all subjects delivered to your inbox every day. Each newsletter will also include insights and tips collected from TED-Ed's global community of students, parents and teachers.

Subjects Covered include:

• The Arts
• Business & Economics
• Design, Engineering
• Health
• Literature & Language
• Mathematics
• Philosophy & Religion
• Psychology
• Science & Technology
• Social Studies
• Thinking and Learning
• And more…

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Inside Guide: Experiments with Google

Inside Guide brings together four weeks of fun stuff to do at home this (especially weird) summer. Take a hike on Mars; see a dragonfly the size of a dragon; make a song just by moving your body; or get an AI to guess what you’re doodling. It’s a bunch of ways to keep learning, thinking and exploring, all without leaving the house.

The Global Mindfulness Summit

 

The Global Mindfulness Conference August 20-26, 2020

In these uncertain times, we are thrilled to bring together people from numerous fields to offer insights and perspectives on the power and benefits of mindfulness. Aware of the challenges many of us are facing due to the global pandemic, we are making the event free.

This one-of-kind gathering includes mindfulness teacher Jon Kabat-Zinn, health innovator and CA Surgeon General Dr. Nadine Burke Harris, legendary coach Phil Jackson ... and more!

Areas of focus:

• What is the role of mindfulness in this time?
• How do we balance inner work and outer action?
• How do address issues of justice and racism from a mindfulness perspective?
• How do we bring mindfulness to work, family, relationships, and more?

Question of the day (Monday, May 11, 2020)

Question of the day...

How many subject collections does the Gale eBooks database offer?
Go here to find the answer.

Post a screenshot of your search results here. 

Learn Something New: Breakthrough Junior Challenge

The Breakthrough Junior Challenge is an annual global competition for students to inspire creative thinking about science. Students ages 13 to 18 from countries across the globe are invited to create and submit original videos (3:00 minutes in length maximum) that bring to life a concept or theory in the life sciences, physics or mathematics. This year, there is an additional COVID-19 category. The submissions are judged on the student’s ability to communicate complex scientific ideas in engaging, illuminating, and imaginative ways. The Challenge is organized by the Breakthrough Prize Foundation. See all the information here.

This year's challenge is:
You get it. You’ve grasped an important scientific theory, concept or principle.
Now can you share your insight?
An inventive video can get across complex material that would take pages of text to communicate.
To take part in the Breakthrough Junior Challenge (the “Challenge”), create a short video (3:00 minutes max) to explain a big idea in one of these fields:

• Physics
• Mathematics
• Life Sciences
• COVID-19

Your film can take any form you like: animation, talking head, documentary, dramatic reconstruction, whatever. It’s worth keeping in mind that video is a dynamic visual medium – using diagrams, simulations, physical demonstrations etc. is a lot more effective than standing in front of a blackboard talking.

Question of the Day: "May the Fourth Be With You" Edition

In the 2017 Vulture article, "Star Wars Planets, Ranked" we learn that this planet in the Star Wars universe is ranked #1. Use the Gale Popular Culture Collection to find this article and take a screenshot of the part of the article that describes the #1 Star Wars planet!

Post a screenshot of your answer here.

Learn Something New: Earth School

Welcome to Earth School! We’re embarking on a month of daily adventures – or Quests – that will help you understand and celebrate our natural world, while learning about how dependent we are on our planet. Now more than ever, we need to protect, nurture and care for Earth – so join us to learn something amazing every weekday between Earth Day (April 22nd) and World Environment Day (June 5th). Within each lesson, you’ll find fascinating resources compiled by Earth experts and ideas for getting involved in ways that count. Join us to learn more, create, act and share your journey (#EarthSchool) towards a cleaner and greener life.

Question of the day (Monday, April 27, 2020)

Question of the day...

It's National Poetry month!
Please find a quote/verse from a Richard Blanco poem using Digital Maine Library

Post your selection here.

Question of the day (Monday, April 20, 2020)

Question of the day...

How much has the Maine Bicentennial Commission awarded in grants to boost bicentennial themed projects?

Use the Maine News link in Online Resources off the YHS Library website.

Post a screenshot of your answer here.

Breakout EDU Digital!

How do you play? 
In order to play, visit BreakoutEDU.com/live at 2PM and wait for the game to start. There is no login required. When you complete a game, you can enter to win a prize.

Can students win prizes? 
When a game is complete the player enters their parent’s or teacher’s email address. Winners must reside in the U.S. to win a prize (unfortunately laws and regulations keep us from offering prizes outside the U.S.). 

How much does it cost to play? 
100% FREE FOR ANYONE!

Can I play past episodes? 
Yep! All past episodes can be found at BreakoutEDU.com/live. Please note: you can only enter to win prizes when you play a game the same day it is aired.

How difficult are the puzzles? 
The puzzles start easy and get progressively more difficult. 

How do I know what the topics will be? 
Each Sunday we’ll send out an email with the next week’s topics and prizes. Prizes typically include Breakout EDU kits and Breakout HOME games. 

Learn Something New: Explorer Classroom

Live broadcasts of National Geographic Explorer Classroom are provided Explorer Classroom every weekday at 2:00 p.m. EDT. Explorer Classroom’s live video events connect students with National Geographic Explorers across all seven continents to bring exploration to life.

Events are on You Tube and are free and open to the public. Sign up here. You can also register for a chance at one of six on-camera spots to ask Explorers your questions face to face!

Also check out the resource library

Question of the day (April 13, 2020)

Question of the day...

How do you sign into Sora/Overdrive for audio and ebooks and what ways can you access it?
Use this resource.

Post a screenshot of your answer here.

Learn Something New: Draw Every Day with JJK

Want to learn to draw characters and cartons? NY Times-bestselling author/illustrator Jarrett J. Krosoczka is offering Free art, cartooning, and writing lessons every weekday at 2pm—and archived for later viewing.

Author website
You Tube Channel

Brain Candy Back in Action!

Hello, YHS! Brain Candy is back in action to support you while we are staying safe at home. The Innovation Lab and Library will be providing some fun opportunities to flex your brain and stay connected. Our first two offerings:

YHS Virtual Book Club

Students and staff interested in joining the YHS Virtual Book Club should sign up at https://forms.gle/7gRrtnaxbqZvADJV6 or email Ms. Roberson. We can't wait to read and talk about books and more! We will get underway this week.

"Magnetic Poetry" Challenge

April is School Library Month and National Poetry Month. Complete this "magnetic poetry" challenge and submit to this form. We'll feature the best on social media!

Upcoming Ongoing Opportunities! Win Prizes!

Question of the Day, Challenges, or Brain Teasers

Miss stopping by the library to answer the "Question of the Day" or solve a puzzle? We'll be offering one or two questions, challenges, or brain teasers each week. Enter to win prizes!

Learning Opportunities 

Want to try something new? This blog will feature ways to be creative, obtain new skills, and learn something new!  

"Longterm" Projects

These weekly (ish?) opportunities may be challenges or learning opportunities. For example, we're putting together a Scavenger Hunt/GooseChase challenge. It's going to be a blast. Stay tuned for more information. 

Question of the day (Monday, April 6, 2020)

Here is our first Virtual Question of the Day! Answer for a chance to win prizes!

Why do we call the illness spreading across the globe Covid-19?

1. Use this source to answer the question.
2. Post a screenshot of your answer here.

Don't forget about our YHS Virtual Book Club (we are reading Scythe by Neal Schusterman)_and the Magnetic Poetry Challenge.