Educational materials developed at the elementary school level to help children learn the MyPyramid food guidance system are available. Lesson plans for teachers are available in three levels: Level 1 (grades 1-2); Level 2 (grades 3-4); and Level 3 (grades 5-6). Classroom materials include the following:

·Teacher's Guide including lesson plans with reproducible worksheets. Also includes: A Close Look at MyPyramid for Kids, a step-by-step explanation of the key concepts of the MyPyramid for Kids symbol

·CD with the MyPyramid Blast Off Game

·MyPyramid for Kids poster

·Tips for Families

·Fruit and Vegetable Challenge poster packet (Level 1 only)

CD including the lesson plans, reproducible worksheets, A Close Look at MyPyramid for Kids, and Tips for Families. Power Panther songs, MyPyramid for Kids illustrations, and Go Fish game cards are also included.

Go to: http://teamnutrition.usda.gov/resources/mypyramidclassroom.html

Single copies are shipped free of charge to elementary school teachers.

Those interested in classroom presentations on MyPyramid may contact Amy or Darlene at the Knox County office to schedule one at 342-5108.

This is the year for the periodical cicada to appear in Northern Illinois.

To prepare for this, a new website has been created – Cicadas in Illinois. The site discusses the cicada's lifecycle, next emergence, and control issues.

You can visit the site at: web.extension.uiuc.edu/cicadas/

Claude is a smart little clod of soil (or dirt as some call it).
As the game's narrator and tour guide, Claude answers all those
questions you've had about soil and he offers new information
about dirt that you probably never knew.

What's the 'secret recipe' for making soil? What critters live IN the soil? How is soil made? Who really needs soil? What everyday things come from the soil? What happens to soil if you don't take care of it? Soil erosion – what it is and why stop it? What do farmers and cities do to stop soil erosion? What can YOU can do to save our soil?

Also included are a number of soil facts, photos, fact sheets, lesson plans, PowerPoint shows and school activities that teachers or parents can use to further explore real world facts about this amazing natural resource. These activities are "teacher tested and kid approved," and are guaranteed to be fun and educational. These are available as PDF files or in html format.

Download the game from www.urbanext.uiuc.edu/soil/

The activities listed on our Character Education web site will challenge students' minds, empower their senses of well-being, and rekindle their hearts with a commitment to values and beliefs essential to becoming and being whole individuals.

The activities are divided into primary, intermediate, and upper-grade levels, each with appropriate developmental strategies. The purpose of each activity is to address the holistic approach to teaching. The focus concentrates on blending the affective, conative, and cognitive domains in an integrative and cohesive manner.

www.urbanext.uiuc.edu/ce/

Activities are excerpted from Beyond Rhetoric and Rainbows: A Journey to the Place Where Learning Lives, 1996, University of Illinois Extension.

Thanks to Alberta LaFollette, Williamsfield High School Family and Consumer Science teacher for having her Parenting class (seniors) teach all elementary students our Polite is Right curriculum. The teens as teachers technique is proving to be an effective way for youth to learn about manners by teaching the lessons. For more information on Polite is Right, please contact our office for a copy of the curriculum.

A Walk in the Woods (www.urbanext.uiuc.edu/woods ) provides a virtual tour of the woods plus all the things a child should watch for, such as plants and animals, along with tips for making the experience more enjoyable. It is illustrated with color photographs and includes links to more sites dealing with the animal and plant worlds.

The development and history of rivers is covered in The All-Star River Explorers website (www.urbanext.uiuc.edu/rivers). It shares information in an entertaining manner and at a level easily grasped by youngsters.

Let's Talk About Insects (www.urbanext.uiuc.edu/insects ) provides learning opportunities about the creatures that account for half of all life on the earth.

The Dr. Arbor site (www.urbanext.uiuc.edu/trees3/01.html ) covers the basics of trees, including parts and fun tour of Dr. Arbor's laboratory.

Geospatial

Grades 4-12

Exploring Spaces, Going Places explores the world of geospatial science. Accessed entirely on CD, the resources are valuable to anyone interested in geospatial technology, geographic education, Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and Global Positioning Systems (GPS).

Exploring 4-H Robotics

Grades 4-8

This robotic curriculum using the LEGO Mindstorms product is an ideal way to introduce science, math, engineering and technology skills while teaching life skills. By using the activity guides and the Robotics and You CD youth learn to build and program a robot to perform increasingly difficult tasks. When completed, youth will be ready to join the FIRST LEGO league annual competition.

Two Adults Wanted

Adults are needed to lead a FIRST LEGO robotics team of youth to the annual competition in Peoria, January 2008. Caterpillar, Inc. has agreed to sponsor our team of 6 to 10 youth. Meet with youth at least once a week during the Fall 2007 term. For more information, contact Cheryl Geitner at 342-5108.

Que Rico! LaCultura

Grades K –8

Youth discover the Latino culture as they develop an understanding of the Latino people and their traditional art forms through instrument making, jewelry making, weaving, muraling and mask making. Youth experience the celebrations that surround the holidays in the Latino culture and sample the flavors of the Latino people through the activities of storytelling, mosaics and yarn art. Activities are drawn from all over the Latin American world. Life skills emphasized are accepting differences, contributing to a group effort and communication.

In addition, an abundance of Spanish resources exist on our En Espanol website:

www.urbanext.uiuc.edu/espanol/index.html

Tens years of research clearly shows that social and emotional learning (SEL) is foundational to children's success in school, work, and life. A new meta-analysis reveals that SEL can improve academic performance by at least 10 percent.

The five core competencies that have been integrated into the Illinois State Learning Standards include: self-awareness, self-management, social-awareness, interpersonal skills, and responsible decision-making skills.

The five core competencies are expressed in three goals and ten learning standards. Details about the standards can be found at www.isbe.net/ils/social_emotional/standards.htm.

When SEL is integrated into the total school experience, evaluations show improvement in attitudes (greater attachment and engagement to school), behaviors (better study habits and less risky behaviors), and performance (improved subject matter mastery and achievement test scores).

On May 10, eighth graders from Knox County will travel to Monmouth College to participate in the Welcome to the Real World program, sponsored by U of I Extension.

Youth will have chosen a career to determine their monthly salary prior to the event and have learned to write checks, make deposits and balance their check book. They will make monthly payments with their checks or a debit card for loans, transportation, insurance, food, clothing, housing, entertainment and chance. Hopefully they make wise choices about their finances, if not, they visit the financial counselor to rethink them. It's assumed they are 25 years of age without dependents and living alone.

This provides youth a safe way to investigate a career of their interest, learn decision making and financial management skills as they proceed through the 'real world'.

A special thanks goes to local banks and lending institutions for sponsoring the checks and check registers youth will use the day of the event.

Following the event youth say they now understand how more education can help with finances.