March 2011
Theme: Imagination KidzEra is a FREE by kids, for kids magazine and website designed for classrooms, and created by students worldwide!
Editorial Calendar April
May
Theme: Earth Day & the Environment
Theme: Summer!
Participate!
Send in your students’ writing and artwork submissions to give them a chance to be published!
Suggested Content:
Suggested Content:
English • ChangeOlogy articles and Challenge participation • SOS Green Edition—advice for the environment
English • Summer fun & vacation stories—real or summer dream vacations! Comics • Summer comics • Illustrated funny stories
Science • Challenge students to learn about the science behind environmental issues or create their own green-themed science experiments! Art • Earth-themed art
Click-a-Pic • Click pics of your amazing summer fun—bonus for underwater pics!
Important Dates: Submissions Deadline - March 16 Magazines Arrive - April 4-8
Important Dates: Submissions Deadline - April 13 Magazines Arrive - May 2-6
Published Classrooms
Bandung, Indonesia
Kobe, Japan
© 2011 Youth Intermedia. All Rights Reserved.
Dhaka, Bangladesh
Include the submission form on page three of KidzEra magazine with all student submissions.
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Cover artist: Ms. Thompson’s 7th Grade Class, Bandung Alliance International School, Bandung, West Java, Indonesia • Runner-up cover artist: Mr. Booth’s 5th Grade Class, Canadian Academy, Kobe, Japan • Runner-up cover artist: 8th Grade Class, Immaculate Heart of Mary School, Los Angeles, CA • Runner-up cover artist: Ms. Delgado’s 4th Grade Class, Carver Elementary School, Newport News, VA • Mr. Cruz’s 5th Grade Class, Annunciation School, New York, NY • Mr. Mhamed’s 5th Grade Class, International School of Dhaka, Dhaka, Bangladesh • Mr. Rinehart’s 6th Grade Class, Walt Disney Magnet School, Chicago, IL • Mr. Urdiales’ 3rd Grade Class, Macario Garcia Elementary School, Houston, TX • Ms. Finkle’s 4th Grade Class, Oster Elementary School, San Jose, CA • Ms. Fontaine’s 3rd-5th Grade Classes, Panther Run Elementary School, Lake Worth, FL • Ms. Hayson’s 7th Grade Class, Aurora Quest K-8, Aurora, CO • Ms. Helbig’s 4th Grade Class, Centennial Academy, Littleton, CO • Ms. Heyward’s 6th Grade Class, Soundview Academy, Bronx, NY • Ms. Isaac’s 5th Grade Class, Canadian Academy, Kobe, Japan • Ms. Jackson’s 5th Grade Class, Charleston Upper Elementary School, Charleston, MS • Ms. Lillie’s 7th Grade Class, Westchester Lutheran School, Los Angeles, CA • Ms. Lund’s 6th Grade Class, Idaho Arts Charter School, Nampa, ID • Ms. McDonough’s 5th Grade Class, Robert E. Bell Middle School, Chappaqua, NY • Ms. O’Connell’s 3rd Grade Class, Immanuel Lutheran School, Philadelphia, PA • Ms. Penalosa-Kirby’s 7th Grade Class, Arvida Middle School, Miami, FL • Ms. Stratton’s 8th Grade Class, Century Middle School, Thornton, CO • Ms. Szoke’s 6th Grade Class, Della Lamb Charter Elementary School, Kansas City, MO • 12th Grade Class, Fairview High School, Boulder, CO • Ms. Ellis’ 5th Grade Class, Como Montessori School, Fort Worth, TX • Ms. Sickles’ 8th Grade Class, JHS 118 William W. Niles-Pace Academy, Bronx, NY • Ms. Pryluck’s 5th Grade Class, Berkshire School, West Palm Beach, FL • Ms. Del Castillo’s 5th Grade Class, Highpoint Academy, Miami, FL • Ms. Rodell’s 6th Grade Class, Pueblo School for the Arts and Sciences, Pueblo, CO • Ms. McMullen’s 6th Grade Class, St. Therese School, Denver, CO • Ms. Howard’s 3rd Grade Class, Israel Loring Elementary School, Sudbury, MA • Mr. Cook’s 6th Grade Class, Apex Middle School, Apex, NC • Ms. Heckathorne’s 7th Grade Class, San Francisco, CA • Mr. Galleguillos’ 5th Grade Class, St. Jarlath School, Oakland, CA • Ms. Culp’s 4th Grade Class, Panther Run Elementary School, Lake Worth, FL • Ms. Lau’s 5th Grade Class, Alice Fong Yu Alternative School, San Francisco, CA • Ms. Colasonti’s 6th Grade Class, Aurora Quest K-8, Aurora, CO • Ms. Whiston’s 5th Grade Class, Tenderloin Community School, San Francisco, CA • Mr. Towle’s 6th Grade Class, Cleveland Middle School, Garner, NC • Ms. Boucher’s 6th Grade Class, St. Brigid School, San Francisco, CA • Ms. Wilson’s 6th Grade Class, Valley View Elementary School, Duarte, CA • Ms. Curtis’ 5th Grade Class, Edwards-Knox School, Edwards, NY • Ms. Harris’ 3rd Grade Class, Panther Run Elementary School, Lake Worth, FL
Curriculum Connections NAS Science standards, NCTE/IRA English Language Arts standards, CNAEA Arts standards, NGS Geography standards and ISTE Technology standards
Essential Questions
ChangeOlogy
Recall one of Einstein’s famous quotes:
Page 6-7
“Imagination is more important than knowledge.”
The ChangeOlogy Project is an interdisciplinary approach to the science of change. Change often involves controversy, and studies have shown that students who debate controversial issues in school are more likely to be informed, active citizens. The ChangeOlogy Project brings creativity, change and science together in an empowering way—have your students become ChangeOlogists today!
What do you think he meant by that? How can you use your imagination to change the world for the better?
Activity • Discuss the Essential Questions. • Have students respond to the ChangeOlogy Challenge of the Month: Einstein invented world-changing theories and technologies.
• Have students read the story Monkey Attack: Zoo Invasion by Gabe H., on page 12 of the magazine.
• Discuss the Essential Question. • To warm up the class’ wild imaginations, read the poem Alphabet Alliteration by Becca D. (download on KidzEra.com/Teachers). • Divide the class into groups and have each group take a section of the alphabet to alliterate. • Vote on who’s section has the wackiest alliterations. • Combine all the sections together to create one giant, silly poem!
Curriculum Connections CNAEA Arts standards, NCTE/IRA English Language Arts standards and ISTE Technology standards
Essential Questions Who is your favorite artist? What is the role of the artist in the world? Why is art important?
Top Artist
Activity
Page 16
• Discuss the Essential Questions.
From open thinking to visual learning, to connecting both sides of the brain, art has tremendous value as an applied educational tool, and simply as its own subject. KidzEra believes in the power of art, and highlights exceptional artists in the Top Artist Project.
★★ Send all ChangeOlogy Challenge responses, stories, newspaper articles, art and videos to KidzEra for possible publication! Include the submission form on page three of the magazine with student submissions.
NCTE/IRA English Language Arts standards
Activity #1
Writing is a place of fact and of fiction, sometimes simultaneously. Project InkSlinger is a place for kids to inspire each other to become better writers and to tell their story, or any story, successfully. Project InkSlinger contains the true stories of kids’ real lives, as well as works of collaborative fiction that reach new heights of literary imagination.
• Further thinking: Have students create a solution that doesn’t exist yet for a problem they want to solve. Have them use their imaginations and try traveling roads of thought they haven’t travelled before.
Activity #2
Why is it important to have a wild imagination?
Page 12-13
• Reflecting on the fact that Einstein’s ideas and inventions were radical at the time, and people were often skeptical of what he was doing, encourage students to respectfully stand up for their radical inventions and ideas.
Curriculum Connections Essential Question
InkSlinger
What invention would you like to create for the world and why? What would your invention do? What would it change?
• As a class, brainstorm wild story concepts and write them all on the board. • Vote on the top five wildest concepts and erase the rest. • Tell students to put their inner editors away and write crazy stories incorporating ALL of the top five elements they selected. ★★ Submit wild and creative stories and alliteration poems to KidzEra for possible publication! Be sure to include the submission form on page three of the magazine with student submissions.
• Have students swap artist’s statements and talk about each other’s statements. • Hold an art show and invite other classes to the ‘opening’ — serve snacks! • Critique the art show. Discuss the elements of the work, and practice giving and receiving constructive feedback. See the critique guide at KidzEra.com/Teachers for tips on having constructive conversations about art.
• Have students create works of art in any medium they wish.
• If students are uncomfortable talking, have them compose their feedback in writing. Reminder: it’s OK to like or not like something, but you have to be able to write about why!
• Next, have students write an artist’s statement that tells about their drives and motivations for making what they did. See the KidzEra guide for how to write an artist’s statement at KidzEra.com/Teachers!
★★ Submit students’ pictures and artist’s statements to KidzEra for possible publication. Please include the submission form on page three of the magazine with student submissions.