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The Apple Learning Interchange spotlights the new year and the
new millennium with a variety of specially selected features.
Inspired by Arthur C. Clarke's 2001: A Space Odyssey, we
present a variety of curriculum material related to science fiction
and thinking about the future. The resource guides collected here
include literature, math, science, and more on topics ranging
from utopian literature to the mathematics of hyperspace to arts
and crafts for the New Year holiday. Featured units of practice
explore teaching genre fiction, predicting future trends, and
space science for the youngest students. Stay with us all month
for a host of great resources, quotations and discussion starters--all
in the exciting spirit of the new millennium.
The
Science in Science Fiction
Can Scotty really "beam me up?" Could humans colonize
the moon? Are there really humanoid aliens with bumpy foreheads
roaming the galaxy? And what is hyperspace, anyway? The links
collected in this ALI resource guide will help students separate
science fact from science fiction.
Utopian
Literature
Mankind's fascination with the idea of creating a perfect society
has spawned literature of a particular focus--utopian literature.
This ALI resource guide attempts to investigate examples of utopian
literature through the ages--showing both positive and negative
views of future societies--giving us some of the most riveting
reading selections available.
Exploring
and Defining Science Fiction in the Secondary Language Arts Classroom
Speculating about alternative worlds gives writers limitless possibilities
for both settings and themes. This ALI resource guide provides
a starting place for you and your students to explore and enjoy
the genre known as science fiction.
Examples
and Analyses of "Math Fiction"
We have all heard of science fiction, but what about math fiction
Is there any fiction relying on mathematics and mathematical discoveries
the way that science fiction does on scientific discoveries? This
ALI resource guide brings together lists and reviews of such works,
as well as articles and course descriptions relating to math in
fiction. It also presents works of a few specially selected authors
whose "mathematical fiction" is either profound or underappreciated.
Navigating
in Hyperspace: Geometry and Visualization
Usually known as the conveyor of spacecraft in science fiction
stories, a hyperspace is actually any space or graphical region,
whether imaginary or not, that is spanned by four or more perpendicular
directions. Most people know that time is a fourth dimension,
but spacetime is not the only hyperspace that can be imagined.
Physicists hypothesize that there may be many extra dimensions.
One does not need to be a physicist, however, to imagine hyperspace.
This ALI resource guide links to images of four-dimensional objects,
Java applets that generate them, movies of curved space, glass
blowers who produce Klein bottles, and games played on warped
gameboards. These simulations can begin your training in the fine
art of hyperspace navigation.
New
Year's Ideas for Kids & Teachers
Around the world people celebrate their new year in different
ways and at different times. In this guide we at ALI have gathered
a number of resources that give ideas about celebrations of a
new year, calendars and time.
 Teaching
Literary Genres Through the Internet
This Unit of Practice involves students in reading different literary
genres. Some of the tasks students are asked to do include reading
sample quality books, connecting with authors' sites on the Internet
and e-mailing authors a class letter. There are also some great
ideas for students to create and publish their work as presentations.
Creative
Enterprise in Science and Technology
Students will create a new piece of technology as they see it
twenty years from now based on a current piece of technology.
They will compose a type-written proposal and a 10 frame storyboard
depicting either the development of their new product over time
or an advertisement for their new product.
Solar
System Travelers
Students become travelers through our solar system as they learn
about the sun, moon, Earth, planets, and other objects in the
solar system. Their final group project will be a multimedia travelogue
of the solar system based on factual information gained through
research in books, CD-ROMs and Internet sites. In addition, each
student will create his/her own book about the solar system.
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Space
Science Fiction
Use these resources to explore the universe as humans imagine
it might be. Topics include the search for extra-terrestrial intelligence,
spacecraft designs in science fiction, and scientific laws often
abused in science fiction. From the Franklin Institute's "Inquirer's
Guide to the Universe" series.
Auld
Lang Syne
Do you know what Auld Lang Syne means? Here's an interesting way
to expand your knowledge in the new year. This site presents lyrics
and music for this traditional Scottish song.
New
Year's in the United States
Information on the different ways New Year's Day and New Year's
Eve are celebrated in the United States can be found in this resource.
Your students will enjoy learning about the many customs in the
U.S.
"... Where No One Has Gone Before"
"It is useful to distinguish among four factors which give
importance, urgency, and inevitability to the advancement of space
technology. The first of these factors is the compelling urge
of man to explore and to discover, the thrust of curiosity that
leads men to try to go where no one has gone before."
Dr. James Killian, Science Advisor to President Eisenhower, March
26, 1958, proposal for a national space program. (This is the
origin of the famous lines at the beginning of Star Trek.)
Scientific Prophecy
"Science has not yet mastered prophecy. We predict too much
for the next year and yet far too little for the next ten."
Neil Armstrong, U.S. astronaut
Resolutions
"It is useless for the sheep to pass resolutions in favour
of vegetarianism, while the wolf remains of a different opinion."
William Ralph
Millennium
A millennium is a period of 1000 years. The new millennium in
our calendar will begin on January 1, 2001.
Resolution
If you resolve something, you make a decision. If you make a resolution,
like a New Year's resolution, you are deciding to do something.
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