Kentucky Academy of Technology Education

A New Twist on an Old Lesson

Instructional Illuminations

In classrooms across the country teachers are assigning students to read a biography or autobiography of a famous person and write a report. Would you like a new twist on this old assignment? Allowing students to create digital biographies, autobiographies and memoirs can engage students in a whole new way.

Students can select a historical figure, research their life and write a biography just as they might normally do. But the creation of a digital product takes the lesson to a new level. Students can create a multimedia scrapbook with photos, maps, stories, facts, quotations and sound clips of a historical person or event in their life. The types of projects are varied; they could include a documentary, a character story, a memorial story, a discovery of a physical journey or an inner struggle.

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Martin Luther King, Jr. Day: A Celebration

Core Connections

Martin Luther King, Jr. was an American clergyman and civil rights leader that played a significantly influential role in America's history.  Martin Luther King Jr. Day is a federal holiday honoring this man and his pursuits for civil equality and freedom.  It is observed on the third Monday of January each year. 

Martin Luther King, Jr. faught for the equality and freedom of all people.  His "I Have a Dream..." speech is one of the most famous speeches that Luther delivered on the steps of the Washington, D.C., Lincoln Memorial.  This speech will surely inspire your students to learn more about this important historical figure.

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Winter Weather

Core Connections

Winter has wistfully come to Kentucky once again. Warm breezes, bare feet, and flowers have been replaced with frosty nights, wool overcoats, and the occasional snow shower. With winter comes the threat of heavy snow, freezing rain, and high winds that can wreck havoc on areas causing power outages, fallen telephone lines, and travel delays. Winter reminds us how powerful Mother Nature is and how vulnerable the world is to her fury. As different weather patterns begin to unfold, there is no better time to introduce your students to one of nature's most extraordinary weather spectacles--winter storms.

The study of winter weather need not be limited to the science classroom. Observe and discover the uniqueness of snowflakes and even capture and preserve them. Explore how each snowflake is different but perfectly symmetrical. Take a look at a winter storm timeline detailing the major storms in the United States from 1717 to the present. Get ready for winter weather by preparing a winter weather emergency kit for the home or car.