“Current Event Connection” posts will connect educators with news stories and relevant discussion ideas featuring content from the NG Education website.
WORLD The kidnapping of nearly 300 schoolgirls in Nigeria has drawn global attention to the insurgent group Boko Haram, which President Barack Obama called “one of the worst regional or local terrorist organizations.” (National Geographic News) Use our resources to better understand the conflict in Nigeria. Discussion Ideas The great National Geographic News article explains Boko Haram, the group that claims to have kidnapped 276 … Continue reading What is Boko Haram?
SCIENCE Villagers in west Sri Lanka have said they have been surprised and delighted by an unusual rainfall of (edible) small fish. (BBC) When animals get swept up in clouds, look out below! Discussion Ideas Read our media spotlight “Strange Rains,” which nicely explains how so-called “animal rain” might happen. The spotlight describes two types of weather conditions leading to animal rain: waterspouts and updrafts. … Continue reading Fish Rain Down on Sri Lankan Village
SCIENCE Deep below the surface of Lake Huron, scuba-diving researchers have found an elaborate network of hunting blinds and animal-herding structures dating back roughly 9,000 years. (USA Today) Can you find the sunken treasure? Discussion Ideas The USA Today article reports that 9,000 years ago, water levels in Lake Huron were about 76 meters (250 feet) lower than they are today. The shallower lake exposed … Continue reading Ancient Hunting Camp Found Beneath Lake Huron
HEALTH A trio of scientific papers show that infusing elderly mice with the blood of young mice can reverse many of the mental and physical impairments of growing old. (National Geographic News) A certain Transylvanian count has known about this for more than 100 years . . . Discussion Ideas Read through the terrific Nat Geo News article, and then look at our “Scientific Method” chart … Continue reading Vampire Therapy?
UNITED STATES Half of Illinois residents would move to another state if they could—the highest percentage for any state, according to a poll released by Gallup this week. (Chicago Tribune) Would you move? Where? Discussion Ideas “It is sort of noisy data,” says a political scientist quoted in the Chicago Trib article about the recent poll. What does he mean by “noisy”? Statistical noise is … Continue reading Half the People in Illinois Would Rather Live Somewhere Else
