The 10 Websites I LOVE for teaching Science

.post-body img { max-width:600px; max-height:auto; }

The 10 Websites I LOVE for Teaching Science:

My favorite thing in the world to teach is science to middle and high school students.  This is the age where they can really fall in love with the subject.  Science is also one of the most interactive subjects and an important route to many top ranking, top paying, prestigious careers.  Every science teacher needs valuable resources, whether their classroom is within a school district, a virtual realm, at private sector, or even at home.  

Here are the top 10 online resources I LOVE to use in my middle and high school science curriculum and lesson plans:

1. National Ocean Service: This is the best online resource for students studying the ocean.  They can learn about ocean tides, sea levels, algae blooms, nautical charts, and career profiles.  There is an animated series for younger students called Explore Planet Earth with Teek and Tom that is engaging and fun.  I highly recommend this resource for all science teachers and learners.  https://oceanservice.noaa.gov

2. NASA Climate Kids: What is more exciting than teaching and learning about the weather?  I say, not much!  Climate Kids is the perfect resource for all things weather.  There are articles and learning activities on weather and climate, the atmosphere, water, energy, and plants and animals.  They provide interactive tools for educators, information on NASA's studies of the Earth and the satellites they use.  Students will love the games and interactive activities.  https://climatekids.nasa.gov

3. DK Learning:  A wonderful resource for a variety of subjects.  They offer science lesson plans, curriculum, articles, books, videos, case studies, downloads, that can be searched by subject, grade level, and/or topic.  Check it out!  https://www.dkfindout.com

4. Weather Wiz Kids: Another must for all things weather is Weather Wiz Kids.  The website is designed and ran by a meteorologist and there are so many great topics for kids to learn about the weather.  From lightening to windstorms and weather instruments and forecasting, it is an extraordinary educational resource. There are some great experiment ideas and instructions and kids will love the kids' zone that is full of fun facts, weather jokes, flashcards, and games.  This website should definitely be saved to your favorites bar! https://www.weatherwizkids.com

5. Britannica Kids: A useful tool for a variety of topics, but I love it for science resources.  There are articles, learning platforms, media galleries, videos, activities, and my favorite feature is the three age-appropriate reading levels for most of their articles.  The perfect interactive tool for all parents, learners, and teachers. https://kids.britannica.com

6. National Geographic Education: Anyone that knows me as an educator, has seen some of my curriculum, and/or, has read my past blog posts, knows that I absolutely LOVE LOVE LOVE, The National Geographic website.  I use it as a resource tool in my science, social studies, and geography lesson plans.  I can rave for hours, especially about their geography tools, but I won't, not here!  What I will say is the blog posts are impressive, and their explorer classroom is a one-of-a-kind immersive experience for students to "explore" the world with a real explorer.  How exciting! https://education.nationalgeographic.org

7. Discovery Education Blog: Discovery Education is a good blog for science educators to have on deck for resources, innovative teaching ideas, classroom voices, and educational trends.  There are some interesting articles and ideas for every type of teacher. https://blog.discoveryeducation.com

8. PhET Interactive Simulations: I love this site!  They have a ton of fun, interactive simulations for math and science classes.  Explore how magnets work in physics, build a molecule in chemistry, or learn about natural selection in biology.  This website doesn't just offer simulations, although they are awesome all on their own, they also have activities, and ways to contribute to activities, and virtual workshops.  Both students and teachers will love working the simulations, and they are the perfect resource for science labs and journaling. https://phet.colorado.edu

9. Science Buddies: If you haven't utilized Science Buddies you are missing out!  They have a plethora of science experiment ideas that you can sort by grade, topic, and/or goal, they also have experiment kits.  The resources they offer for teachers are unique and include, engineering challenges, video lessons, lesson plans, career tools, science fair resources, STEM kits, and more!  This one should be on every educators favorites bar for sure.  https://www.sciencebuddies.org

10. Froguts: Last, but certainly not least, is Froguts, which is an amazing interactive, virtual dissection tool!  That's right, you can virtually dissect a bullfrog, cow's eye, a starfish, a fetal pig, and an owl pellet.  You can also observe a fruit fly colony, and a Mendelian Pea experiment.  Every dissection is equipped with assessment tools to quiz students.  Student's will use virtual dissection tools to preform and detailed dissection that is life-like and ordered correctly.  To download is free for both windows and mac systems.  This is an essential resource for older students in the virtual classroom setting, but it is absolutely useful in any classroom setting.  https://thesciencebank.org/pages/froguts

Well folks that rounds out our most loved website resources for science educators and students.  There of course are so may resources and tools available virtually, and we would love for you to comment with your favorite websites!  Follow or blog and email club for exclusive deals on educational resources, newsletters, and so much more!  Just sent us an email to curriculumlab365@gmail.com or FOLLOW on the blogs website.  We can't wait to start a conversation.  

A Chilling Mystery with Some Missed Opportunities- A 3 Star Review of Gregg Olsen's Snow Creek

.post-body img { max-width:600px; max-height:auto; }

Rating ⭐⭐⭐

Snow Creek by Gregg Olsen is a gripping psychological thriller set in the eerie and isolated town of Snow Creek, Washington.  The novel follows Detective Megan Carpenter as she investigates a series of disturbing events that unfold in this seemingly quaint little town.  While the book offers a compelling plot and some intriguing characters, it falls short in a few key areas, resulting in a mixed reading experience.

Plot Overview:

Snow Creek kicks off with Detective Megan Carpenter being called upon to investigate a mysterious disappearance. As she delves deeper into the case, she unravels a web of secrets and lies that lead to a chilling and quite unexpected climax.  The book excels in creating a tense atmosphere, keeping readers on edge with a well-paced narrative and unexpected twists. 

What I like:

1. Atmosphere/Setting: Olsen does an excellent job setting the scene in the snowy, isolated, and somewhat creepy town of Snow Creek.  I tend to love a thriller, or horror, story set in a snowy, mountainous area, and Washington is the perfect state to achieve this.  The cold, desolate landscape, adds to the overall sense of foreboding in the plot.  

2. Strong Protagonist: Detective Megan Carpenter is a well-developed, and intriguing character.  Her personal struggles and determination make her relatable and engaging.

3. Suspenseful Plot: The story maintains a good level of suspense throughout, with just enough twists and turns to keep the reader guessing until the very end.

What Could be Improved:

1. Character Depth: While the protagonist is well-crafted, this is not a standalone story, though its main plot gives the reader the option to just read it, or to read other Megan Carpenter books by Gregg Olsen, in order to learn more about her alluring background, you will have to pick up another Gregg Olsen novel featuring Megan Carpenter.  Snow Creek gives just a few subtle peeks into Carpenter's past, leaving readers without closure on her secrets.  Also, some of the supporting characters feel a bit one-dimensional, although they may also develop further in subsequent novels.  

2. Pacing Issues: At times the pacing of the story feels uneven.  There are moments in the story that drag, impacting the overall flow and engagement.

3. Predictability: Despite the suspense, some of the plot twists were somewhat predictable. A few more surprises would have increased the thrill factor.

Conclusion:

Overall, Snow Creek is an entertaining read for fans of psychological thrillers and detective fiction.  While it has its strengths in atmosphere and a strong female lead, it misses the mark in fully fleshing out its support cast and maintaining consistent pacing.  It may also disappoint those hoping to find out the secrets the protagonist is keeping, the few hints may lead the reader to seek out more of Gregg Olsen's novels featuring the compelling main character, or it may just be a tease that leaves the reader unsatisfied.  For my first Gregg Olsen read it was not a standout, but I will check out some of his other psychological thrillers, for their ratings and surmises are compelling.  

Have you read Snow Creek by Gregg Olsen?  Or any of his other novels?  Leave a comment with your thoughts, we would love to hear from you!  Follow our blog for more amazing book reviews, writing prompts, and educational tools.  Join our email club for exclusive resources and newsletters by contacting us at curriculumlab365@gmail.com!

My Nightmare Before Christmas

.post-body img { max-width:600px; max-height:auto; }

This Week's Writing Prompts: My Nightmare Before Christmas:

It's almost here, that time of year!  I don't know about you, but sometimes Christmas is downright scary for me! This week's writing prompts reflect how the holiday season can sometimes bring nightmare's instead of dreams come true.  Whether it is chaos at family dinners, your child's expensive gift list, or hectic holiday shopping trips, write about YOUR Nightmare Before Christmas🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄

1. The Dinner Guest: Write about a holiday dinner where a mysterious guest arrives.  Nobody knows who invited them or who they even are, but they stir up a holiday nightmare.

2. The Blizzard: It is Christmas Eve and there is a torrential snowstorm outside.  You are trapped inside a cabin with a mysterious group.

3. The Gift: Your main character opens the door on Christmas Eve to find a beautiful, wrapped gift, but not all gifts are given with good intentions.

4. The Party:  Your story takes place during a holiday reunion party, but things take a dark turn when the organizer of the event has sinister intentions.

5. Secret Santa:  Imagine your main character is peer pressured into participating in this year's secret Santa at work.  Every day for the 10 days leading up to Christmas day, you are supposed to leave a secret gift for whoever's name you have drawn.  On day 1 the gift your main character receives is a clue that the person that has drawn their name knows a very dark secret that your main character would rather not have get out.

6. The Christmas Bones: Long ago there was a witch that died on Christmas Eve.  Set your story in the town where she was burned at the stake.  It is 100 years later, and on each day of the 12 days of Christmas one of her bones appears somewhere in town.  Once each of her 12 bones are found she will be able to return to wreak Christmas Havoc on the ancestors of those that persecuted her.  

7. Start Your Story:  Start your story with the phrase:  My Nightmare Before Christmas.

8. The Christmas Doll: Your main character finds a beautiful antique Christmas doll to give her young niece this year.  Soon it is discovered that an evil demon inhabits the doll and has until Christmas Day to find a body.  Will it take over the little girl?  Or will it be trapped inside the doll for good?

9. Easy Street: Your main character has always had life easy and plenty of money has been spent on them every year for Christmas, and they have also spent plenty of money on their own family during the holidays.  This year however, instead of living on easy street, they wake up destitute.  What can they do to fix it and land back on easy street? 

10. No More Christmas: Set your story in a time where there is no such thing as a holiday season.  

We would love to read your short stories!  You could even win a PRIZE for the best short story each week.  Submit them to curriculumlab365@gmail.com.  Join our blog community and receive our newsletter and unique educational resources!  

Do you have a question, comment, or idea?  Comment on this post, we can't wait to start a conversation!  And as always, we hope you ENJOY this week's writing prompts.  

Goodreads Giveaways!

.post-body img { max-width:600px; max-height:auto; }

Goodreads Giveaways!

If you are an avid reader like me, chances are you have a Goodreads account.  Have you ever entered one of their giveaways?  I have made it a habit of entering ALOT of them!

And... I WON SOMETHING!

Well yesterday I received my very first book in the mail from WINNING a Goodreads giveaway!  It took about a week after I received the email stating that I won for it to come in the mail.  It is a beautiful hard cover copy of Buried Lies by Steven Tingle.  

What is Buried Lies by Steven Tingle's synopsis?

Former police officer turned private detective Davis Reed is taking refuge in the mountains of Cruso, North Carolina, after a run-in with a biker gang dealt him an unfavorable hand. When respected real estate agent Prentiss Wells is killed by an errant golf ball, Davis has no reason to suspect it wasn't an accident.  But then a wealthy couple hires him to prove the death was murder and catch the killer.  In desperate need of cash, Davis takes the job.

    When Davis investigates who had the motive to kill Prentiss, Elizabeth Harper, an accountant who stirs butterflies in Davis's stomach, uncovers a tangled mess of shady real estate deals linked to Prentiss's firm.  As the case garners media attention, Davis must carefully navigate a minefield of secrets and lies.

    With the help of his friend Dale Johnson, a local deputy whose mood changes with the wind, and Dale's cousin Floppy, a mad-genius, motor-mouthed mechanic, Davis sets out to uncover a mystery that runs much deeper than he thinks.  ~ From the jacket of Buried Lies by Steven Tingle

The Feel I Get from This Novel Summary?

It sounds liked Buried Lies by Steven Tingle is going to be a romp of a story, that blends a quirky mystery, a heap of comedy, and maybe a touch of ironic romance.  I can't wait to read and review this gift from the author himself, Steven Tingle.  It will have to wait just a short time because I am currently in the middle of another wild suspense novel, this one called Snow Creek by Gregg Olsen.  I should be completing it in just a couple of days, and then I will be posting my review of that book.  I will start reading Buried Lies as soon as I have reviewed Snow Creek, so look out for both reviews coming very soon!

More About the Giveaway:

Goodreads has a TON of really amazing giveaways on their website, both kindle copies and hard copies of featured novels, from every genre.  Buried Lies by Steven Tingle came complete with a lovely Thank You note, and it was autographed by the author, addressing me by name.

Recommending Goodreads:

If you love books as much as I do and you do not have a Goodreads account, then I highly recommend that you sign up for one.  You can keep track of the books you have read, want to read, and are currently reading.  You can create different bookshelves by genre or whatever you want.  I have even submitted my first book review on Goodreads and there are thousands of other reviews on all of the novels you are looking forward to reading.  You can follow other readers, (like me 😁), as well as your favorite authors.  Goodreads also has an app so you can keep up with all of their great features right on your phone, kindle, or tablet.

Conclusion:

Not only will I be reviewing books, but I will also feature my favorite reading and writing apps and tools!  Follow this blog for all of my favorite resources and share with your education and writing community.

Have a comment or suggestion?

Have you won a book on Goodreads Giveaways?  If so, leave a comment and tell us about your experience!  We can't wait to open up a discussion.  Feel free to comment on ANY of our blog posts and tell us what you think.  

This Week's Writing Prompts: A Mixed Batch

.post-body img { max-width:600px; max-height:auto; }

This Week's Writing Prompts: A Mixed Batch:

This week's theme is called a mixed batch because there will be a mixed theme for each writing prompt.  I decided to get a little more diverse with the style of the prompts this week since I usually gravitate towards thrillers, horror, and suspense. I hope you enjoyed this week's "Mixed Batch"!

1. A Twist on a Classic Tale: Rewrite a well-known fairy tale or classic from a different perspective such as the Villan's or sidekicks.  

2. An Unexpected Journey: Describe an ordinary day that takes you on a surprise journey.

3. Futuristic World: Imagine a world 100 years in the future and describe a day in the life of a person or group of people in this future world.

4. Lesson's Learned: Write a story about a valuable lesson learned.  This can be fiction or nonfiction. It can be personal or from the point of view of a main character. 

5. Current Events: Choose a current event topic and create a story out of it.

6. True Crime: Choose a true crime that fascinates you and write a short story about it.

7. Heros: Write a story where there is a hero as the main topic or main character.

8. The Debate: Imagine a controversial topic and write about a debate between two people.  Does it turn into an ugly argument?  Are they able to understands each other's points in the end or does it ruin their friendship?

9. For the Love Of: Create a story that starts with For the Love of...

10. An Act of Kindness: Take a random act of kindness and create a suspenseful tale about how it went all wrong. 

Please submit your stories for our blog and to win a prize to curriculumlab365@gmail.com.  Do you have a comment, request, or idea for our writing prompt posts?  Feel free to comment!  Share our post with your writer community!  As always ENJOY! 

Understanding the New Generation NCLEX (NGN) Unfolding Questions

Understanding the New Generation NCLEX (NGN) Unfolding Questions:

The New Generation NCLEX (NGN) is revolutionizing the way nursing competency is assessed.  One of the standout features of the NGN is the introduction of unfolding questions, which are designed to evaluate a candidate's clinical judgement and decision-making skills in a more dynamic and realistic manner. 

What are Unfolding Questions?

Unfolding questions present a clinical scenario that unfolds in multiple parts, requiring the test-taker to make decisions at each stage based on the evolving information. These questions are intended to mimic real-world nursing situations more closely, providing a comprehensive assessment of a candidate's ability to deliver safe and effective care. 

Why are They Important?

Unfolding questions are crucial because they:

• Assess Clinical Judgement: They evaluate how well candidates can apply their knowledge in practical, real-life situations.
• Reflect Real-World Practice: They provide a more accurate representation of the challenges nurses face in their daily work.
• Enhance Critical Thinking: They encourage test-takers to think critically and make informed decisions as new information is presented. 

The Image Below Represents the Formula for Unfolding Questions:

.post-body img { max-width:600px; max-height:auto; }

How to Prepare for NGN Unfolding Questions:

1. Practice with Sample Questions: Familiarize yourself with the format and style of NGN Unfolding Questions by practicing with sample questions available on various educational platforms.
2. Study Clinical Scenarios: Focus on understanding clinical scenarios and how to apply nursing principals in different contexts. 
3. Develop Critical Thinking Skills: Work on enhancing your critical thinking and decision-making skills through practice and study.  
4. Use Study Resources: Utilize study guides, practice exams, and other resources specifically designed for the NGN.
5. Study Groups:  Facilitate or attend study groups with your nursing school peers.  Working out Unfolding Questions and Nursing Case Studies with a group will provide different perspectives to the questions helping you to see the information in different angles, they will also provide clarification for things you may be confused about.  Plus, sharing resources is always a great idea during a study session!
6. NCLEX Review Courses: I know a lot of the NCLEX review courses out there can be expensive, but most undergraduate programs offer a comprehensive review course for their nursing students approaching graduation.  Take advantage of these reviews, they provide resources, clarification, practice, study plans, and accountability.  

Conclusion:

The NGN Unfolding Questions are a significant step forward in nursing licensure exams, aiming to better prepare future nurses for the complexities of patient care.  By understanding and practicing these questions, candidates can improve their chances of success on the NCLEX and beyond.  

Are you a nursing student preparing for the NGN?  Or an instructor looking for resources to better prepare your students for the new generation of NCLEX questions?  Contact Curriculum Lab365 for an abundance of NCLEX review resources, case studies, and unfolding question samples~ curriculumlab365@gmail.com FREE ESTIMATE FOR YOUR CUSTOM PACKAGE!

This Week's Writing Prompt Theme -Nightmares and Dreamscapes!

.post-body img { max-width:600px; max-height:auto; }

This Week's Writing Prompt Theme is Nightmares and Dreamscapes!  

This theme comes from the work I am doing on my own novel.  I am more than halfway through with my first fiction novel!  I don't want to give away too many spoilers, but one of my main characters is having vivid dreams about her daughter that she is trying to decipher as important visions or just her dreams.

So, I am dedicating this week's writing theme for my community of writers to the extensive world of Nightmares and Dreamscapes!  This theme can take your readers just about anywhere.  I hope you decide to share your stories with us this week and as always enjoy!

1. The Dream Collector:   Your main character is haunted in their dreams by this mythical character called The Dream Collector. What happens when this demon starts collecting their nightmares?

2. Inception Gone Wrong: A group of friend's start experimenting with lucid dreaming, but one of them starts manipulating the dreams in terrifying ways.

3. Dreams Reincarnated: The main character starts to have vividly detailed dreams about a past life and the horrors that took place in that life. How will they solve the mystery of who they used to be and stop the terrifying dreams for good?

4. Portal to Horror: During their research on dreams for a college thesis your main character stumbles upon a dream portal that can transport you to other people's dreams. What happens when they accidently start to interfere with the dreams of others?  It has some extreme effects in the dream world and the real world. 

5. The Dream Eater:  A creature that feeds on children's dreams appears in your young characters dreams. Each encounter with the creature makes their waking life more dangerous.

6. Dreams of Christmas Past: Your character goes to sleep only to wake up over and over again on Christmas Eve, but each time they awake they are living a different version of their lives.  Will they end up living in the right version that is really meant for them?

7. The Town: Every night your character dreams about the same creepy town and each time they are stuck in it longer and longer finding out more about the town with every dream.  Will they ever discover where this town is and why they visit it every single night?

8. They are Out There: You awake from a nightmare where someone close to you that has died visits you and says just one thing: "They are out there."  What are they trying to tell you and who is out there?

9. The Psychic Dreamer: Imagine you are someone that can see the future in your dreams.  You are afraid nobody will believe you, so you don't talk about your dream visions.  One night you see something horrible happen that will destroy the whole community you live in.  Do you try to warn people?  If so, how do you get them to believe you?  If not, how do you live with the consequences?

10. Your Dream Life: Imagine that each night you dream of different extraordinary lives you could be living, and you think they are only dreams, but during one of them you are joined by a dream fairy.  The dream fairy informs you that you can choose any of the dream lives that you dream about by saying "This is My Dream Life" but once you say it you are bound to live that life for all of eternity.  Which life do you choose?  Is your choice the right one, or did you make a terrible mistake?

Please share your thoughts in the comments or send us an email at curriculumlab365@gmail.com we would love to start a writing prompt contest where each week the best short story will win a PRIZE.  Email us your entry with the subject line PRIZE.  Please submit just ONE short story for the PRIZE each week, but feel free to send us ALL of your short stories to share on our blog.  

DO YOU HAVE ANY GREAT WRITING PROMPT THEME IDEAS THAT YOU WOULD LOVE TO SEE FEATURED ON OUR BLOG?  JUST COMMENT WITH YOUR IDEAS AND WE WILL FEATURE THEM ON OUR NEXT WEEKS WRITING PROMPT POST!