Of Apples and the Autumnal Equinox

September 15th–October 15th is Hispanic Heritage Month. This comprehensive resource provides a long list of biographies and other information about Hispanic culture derived from Gale textbooks, as well as well-selected links to more on Hispanic culture and history. Created by: Thompson Gale Publishers, Farmington Hills, MI. Don’t Miss: The excellent timeline on the long history of Hispanic culture in the Americas. Detour: For more learning resources related to Hispanic culture, visit www.educationworld.com /a_lesson/lesson/lesson203.shtml.

All kids love a birthday party, so why not celebrate the birth of Noah Webster this October. The father of the American dictionary was born on October 16, 1758, in Hartford, CT. This site, created by Education World, Wallingford, CT, contains related links and other resources, including a fun game, Fake Out!, which challenges students in grades K–8 to guess the definition of various words, from grub to surcingle.

Fall also means apple picking (and eating) and teaching kids about Johnny Appleseed, whose birthday also just happens to be in September. This great site assembles many of the best links to lesson plans and activities that center on both the fruit and its famous namesake. Created by: Jerrie Cheek, Educational Tech. Center, Kennesaw State Univ., Kennesaw, GA. Detour: For more apple-related lessons and activities, be sure to visit www.education-world.com/a_curr/curr091.shtml.

Why do leaves change color in the fall? Find the answer on this site, geared for elementary and middle school students, along with related links and fall-themed activities. Close-up views of different leaves in the “Foliage Trees” section will help kids identify the ones they’ve gathered. Created by: Univ. of Illinois Extension, Urbana, IL. Don’t Miss: Find instructions on how to make leaf mosaics (for primary kids), as well as online games like “Leaf Invaders” (for older kids) in the “Fall Fun” section.

In mid-September, the autumnal equinox marks the official beginning of the season. And what exactly is the autumnal equinox? This nifty site will help you explain this fascinating science phenomenon to elementary, middle, and high school students. Created by: Univ. Corp. for Atmospheric Research, Univ. of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI. Detour: High school science teachers will love “Shadowchasers,” an engaging class project in which students measure the autumnal equinox. It’s at www.geocities.com /SoHo/Coffeehouse/1290/shadowchasers.html.