“Current Event Connection” posts will connect educators with news stories and relevant discussion ideas featuring content from the NG Education website.
WORLD Russia has started to impose restrictions on Global Positioning System (GPS) base stations in Russia, as retribution for the refusal of the United States to allow similar base stations on American territory that would improve the accuracy of Russia’s navigation system, GLONASS. (New York Times) Use our resources to better understand GPS. Discussion Ideas Read through the NY Times article. Why are American and … Continue reading Russia Restricts GPS
ENVIRONMENT According to a new study, current extinction rates are up to a thousand times higher than they would be if people weren’t in the picture. (National Geographic News) Use our resources to learn more about extinction and endangerment. Discussion Ideas Jonathan Trouern-Trend, the Army veteran described at the beginning of the Nat Geo News article, made an amazing discovery . . . in a … Continue reading Going, Going, Gone, Gone, Gone
SCIENCE Meet the teenage (and 7-ear-old!) scientists who exhibited at the 2014 White House Science Fair, which focused on women in STEM fields. (White House blog) Use our resources to help STEM take root. Discussion Ideas After reading a story in National Geographic about the global shortage of metals and elements used in magnets—called “rare earths”—and how important magnets are to objects like motors and … Continue reading Obama Meets the Next Generation of Scientists
UNITED STATES The Common Core State Standards have vaulted into the national consciousness lately thanks to some high-profile dissenters, like Louis C.K. (“Kids teachers parents are vocally suffering.”) and Stephen Colbert (“Common Core testing is preparing students for what they’ll face as adults—pointless stress and confusion.”) NPR wades through the confusion by answering questions about the standards. (NPR) Love them or loathe them, we can … Continue reading Common Core FAQ
WORLD Thailand’s junta leader warned citizens not to cause trouble, not to criticize, not to protest—or else face a return to the “old days” of street violence. (Associated Press) Use our resources to learn more about protests. Discussion Ideas What is a junta? (Use our glossary to get an idea.) The United States has not had a military junta, but many nations have. What are … Continue reading Thai Leader: ‘It’s No Use’ to Protest
