Educational Resources

Great resources for parents!

This section of the website is still under construction. We are dedicated to providing you with the best educational resources available and are currently researching many subjects related to topics of interest in the area of children’s literacy. We’d love your input and ideas for categories, websites, articles, etc. that you have found of value. The following information is just the beginning in what we hope to be an outstanding resource section for parents, caregivers, and educators.

Each child is a unique individual. While we know children all develop at a different pace, it is important to be knowledgeable of developmental milestones. We hope that these resources provide you with the valuable information you need to help you guide your child on the path to literacy.

CATEGORIES:
literacy bug Child Development
literacy bug How Can I help my Child Learn to Read?
literacy bug Medical Issues Affecting Children and their Ability to Learn to Read
literacy bug General Literacy Sites for Families
literacy bug Reading and Writing activities and Information
literacy bug Great Writing Sites
literacy bug Resources for Environmental Issues
literacy bug Awareness literacy bug Kids Stuff literacy bug How Can I Help literacy bug Back To Nature literacy bug Parent Resources literacy bug Super Sites for Kids
literacy bug Wilderness Survival literacy bug Causes We Support

Child Development

http://www.childdevelopmentinfo.com/ – This site is directed toward parents. It provides information on a range of issues related to child development.
http://www.pbs.org/parents/childdevelopment/ – This site has many different categories for many different levels of development. Very informative!
http://www.aap.org/ – American Academy of Pediatrics

How Can I help my Child Learn to Read?
From the time your little one learns how to speak and how to listen and interact with stories, he or she is acquiring beginning literacy skills that will enable him or her to read and write?

http://www.ed.gov/parents/read/resources/edpicks.jhtml – Government site.
http://www.readingrockets.org/families – PBS site talks about struggling readers.
http://www.starfall.com/ – This is a popular site for learning to read and is often used in classrooms. The program has some really great information. Check out the info on the parent page: http://www.starfall.com/n/N-info/parents.htm

Medical Issues Affecting Children and their Ability to Learn to Read
We’ve found some of the most relevant sites are under “learning disabilities”.

http://www.ncld.org/
http://www.ldonline.org/index.php – tons of information
http://kidshealth.org/kid/health_problems/learning_problem/learning_disabilities.html

General Literacy Sites for Families
Reading and Writing Activities and Information

http://school.familyeducation.com/reading/activity/34563.html
http://www.education.com/
http://www.schoolfamily.com/

Great Writing Sites

http://www.tooter4kids.com/journal_writing.htm – Great ideas for journaling. http://www.ed.gov/pubs/parents/Writing/index.html
http://www.ed.gov/parents/earlychild/ready/preschool/part.html
http://www.ed.gov/parents/academic/help/homework/index.html
http://www.ed.gov/parents/academic/help/reader/index.html
http://www.nwp.org/cs/public/print/doc/resources/help_write.csp
*The Department of Education has several brochures and their material in not copyrighted.

Resources for Environmental Issues
We want to provide families with fun, important information on taking care of our precious Earth. By visiting Magic Lantern, we are hoping that families will be inspired to be proactive in taking care of our environment. We want to offer a variety of sites that address global concerns as well as backyard issues. Not only will families create meaningful literacy experiences, but they will also gain knowledge on how to take care of and protect the world’s amazing resources and animals.

Awareness
Awareness is a critical piece of this puzzle. If one is not aware of the problem, then he or she cannot be part of the solution. We want to provide families access to information that not only describes certain environmental issues, but also presents many learning opportunities as well as chances to become involved in supporting various causes.

http://www.epa.gov/students/ – The Environmental Protection Agency site for kids. This comprehensive site is developed for kids and provides a multitude of information on environmental basics, conservations, projects, and activities for kids. It also provides many links to other governmental agencies that work to protect our environment.
http://www.nwf.org/about/ – Lots of resources on a national level. Info on wildlife, global warming, section “outside in nature” which challenges family to sign a contract to commit to a “green hour.” Link to subscriptions for “Ranger Rick and My Big Backyard.”
http://www.worldwildlife.org/ – The World Wildlife Fund is dedicated to protecting the future of nature. This site provides research on endangered species and works globally to save the environment.

Kids Stuff
Learning should be fun. We want to have links to informative, fun sites that will enable kids to participate in age appropriate games and activities while learning about the environment.
http://pbskids.org/eekoworld/ – EekoWorld (Environmental Education for Kids Online) is part of the PBS kid’s organization. An engaging and interactive site allows kids to explore and learn about conservation and the environment.
http://www.fieldtripearth.org/index.xml – This site allows the reader to pick a spot on the map and zoom in to see what researchers are currently working on in the area of field-based conservation projects. The site provides a media gallery with maps, audio clips, photos, text, and video related to current and past projects. This site is geared toward upper elementary school students and beyond. Younger kids might enjoy the site with parental support.
http://www.dnr.state.wi.us/org/caer/ce/eek/index.htm – EEK is an online magazine that is for kids. It is geared to kids in grade 4-8. They have articles about the environment and other issues and have great activities and games.
http://kids.niehs.nih.gov/games.htm – The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences provides a variety of links to information, games, and other resources.
How Can I Help
Activism is essential. By sharing knowledge, supporting causes, and changing habits, one can make a difference. We want families to realize that they can be active participants in protecting our environment. These sites provide resources that explain how to become involved.

http://www.davidsuzuki.org/kids/ – This site describes David Suzuki’s “Nature Challenge for Kids.” He lists the top ways to protect nature by changing your daily habits.
http://www.globalresponse.org/kidsactions.php – As stated on their website, “The Global Response helps protect the Earth by telling you about environmental problems and what you can do to help.” This site encourages kids to write letters, join campaigns, and share knowledge.
http://www.childrenoftheearth.org/kids_activities.htm – Great ideas submitted by kids and families. For instance, an eight-year-old shares ways to have an “Eco-friendly” birthday party.
http://www.epa.gov/recyclecity/mainmap.htm – Kids learn about the process of recycling.
http://www.kidsface.org/ – This site is for upper elementary students. It encourages kids to form chapters of the club and complete environmental projects together.
http://www.wcs.org/ – The Wildlife Conservation Society saves wildlife and wild places worldwide.

Back To Nature
Kids must experience nature to appreciate it and protect it.
As kids become over-scheduled and spend the majority of their free time tuned in to a form of media, they are spending less time outside. They are missing opportunities to explore and develop a sense of wonder for the natural world. These sites present information on the importance of getting children outside.

http://www.nwf.org/playandobserve/ – Great link to research concerning the need for children to be outside learning about nature.
http://www.childrenandnature.org/ – Many great articles for parents to read about getting kids outside. Some examples include articles from American Academy of Pediatrics recommending more free unstructured play, The Powerful Link Between Conserving Land and Preserving Health: the Land Trust Alliance – July 01, 2007 By Howard Frumkin and Richard Louv for the Land Trust Alliance Special Anniversary Report, 2007. The site has archived newsletters and articles on the latest research in the field.
http://richardlouv.com/ – Great site –Has book review Louv’s bio, tons of parent resources, lists of activities for kids.
http://takeachildoutside.org/ – National organization to help encourage families to be part of this national movement of spending more time outside.

Parent Resources
Parental involvement is an integral part of the learning process. Many parents seek information that provides activities and strategies to help their children learn. When parents share their knowledge with their children, then they are modeling the learning process. These sites give parents ideas on how they can immediately incorporate environmental education into their daily lives.

http://www.naturenet.com/family_resources.html – This family resources guide provides lists of activities to do with children outdoors, recommends books for both parents and children that encourages exploration of the outdoors, and gives links to research about children and nature.
http://www.audubonathome.org/yard – This site describes how to invite wildlife into your backyard. There are some great activities on the educational page for kids, families, and educators, activity suggestions, interactive games, and additional resources.
http://www.nwf.org/ – This comprehensive site offers a variety of resources for parents ranging from articles to products.

Super Sites for Kids
Many wonderful organizations are whole-heartedly dedicated to providing children with environmental educational opportunities. We feel that these sites provide a wide range of information that addresses all of the categories previously listed. All of these sites are very kid-friendly and meet many different developmental levels.

http://www.childrenoftheearth.org/ – This great site is colorful, kid-friendly, interactive, and has lots of information on many levels.
http://www.kidsforsavingearth.org/ – This site has writing and artwork submitted by kids, animal facts, info on land, water, and air, “the garbage challenge.”
http://www.kidsplanet.org/ – This site is very kid friendly. It has information, games, “Defenders Kids,” and things to think about and do. Kids can make pledges to change habits and protect the environment.
http://kids.nationalgeographic.com/ – This comprehensive site offer videos, games, activities, and stories. The entire site is visually appealing and full of wonderful information.

Wilderness Survival
Wilderness survival is creating an understanding of the need for simpler living in order to reduce humanity’s impact on the Earth. We can learn to utilize the resources in our immediate environment.

http://www.backyardtourist.com/ – This is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing educational and instructional programs to teach nature awareness and create an understanding of the need to reduce humanity’s impact on the Earth.
http://www.dancingcoyotecamp.com/resources.htm – This camp encourages children to take responsibility for themselves and their environment while they learn about nature.
http://www.wildernessawareness.org/youth/wilderness_awareness_youth_school.html – Wilderness Awareness School is a national not-for-profit environmental education organization established in 1983 and based in Duvall, Washington. We are dedicated to caring for the earth and our children by fostering understanding and appreciation of nature, community and self.
http://www.cotef.org/ – This non-profit organization was founded by Tom Brown Jr. The organization runs wilderness survival schools in Washington and New Jersey.

Causes We Support
As we develop this site, we want to form meaningful relationships with organizations that are dedicated to making a difference. We are currently working with the environmental artist, Shim Schimmel to create ways to help support his philanthropic endeavors. We are also researching non-profits and other organizations that are directly associated with supporting the development of literacy in children. We would like to learn more about the causes that our visitors support and why.

**A special Thanks to Cara Davies for researching these Educational Resources for Magic Lantern!

Back to Top