Kentucky Academy of Technology Education

Christmas Around the World

Core Connections

December is a busy month for teachers and students with Christmas break, Christmas parties, Christmas plays and concerts. While Christmas thoughts are consuming your students' minds, this is the perfect time to teach them about Christmas customs and traditions of other countries.  Christmas is celebrated all over the world with many similarities to the United States but also many differences.  December is a great time to explore some of these customs and traditions.

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Fishing for "Bias"

Core Connections

By, Jarrod Martin, Calloway County High School

Ever tried to help someone solve a problem they don't realize they have? If you ask most people (adults or students) whether they have a prejudice, you'll get the politically correct answer, "No." And why not? We all know that prejudice can be destructive and debilitating. Just look at the discussion that came out of the debacle of Don Imus. Where does prejudice end and where does it begin? I know it's intimidating, but real change only takes place when we must fish the depths of the human heart.

Prejudice isn't just about race anymore. It's en vogue to hold biases against those who are obese, those who smoke, or those who have a "hick" accent. To excel in today's world students need to be aware of the deep-seated biases and prejudices they hold. This lesson seeks to expose students (and teachers too!) to several activities that will help them think and question their own hidden biases.

 

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Technology and Inquiry

Instructional Illuminations

By:  Andrew Clinton, Fulton County Middle School 

What do students need to achieve at high levels in the state of Kentucky? Students need units of study that implement useful technology and that have access to a variety of learning activities and assessments. Children today know technology. They watch television, use computers, play video games, and have cell phones. In fact, a good percentage of children know more about technology than their parents. So it is essential that educators use this effective tool in their arsenal. In addition, students today do not learn the same way children did twenty years ago; or even ten years ago. It is important that teachers allow the students to access content in many different ways to ensure student understanding. Gone are the days of teachers standing in front of the students regurgitating memorized information. Today's teachers must not only provide valuable, interesting, and meaningful instruction to guarantee student success, but use instructional technology to foster student motivation, engagement and excitement.

 

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