Literacy, Languages, and the Arts
October 2-October 9, 2013

Find the latest literacy, languages, and arts resources from Iowa Public Television.

Family History and Genealogical Research
Grade Range: 4-13+

History Detectives' collection of resources illustrating research methodology for investigating genealogy and family history.

No Bigger Than a Minute

Grade Range: 9-12

For forty years, four-foot-tall filmmaker Steven Delano has lived his life as a reluctant celebrity, disavowing his dwarf deviance and avoiding both the benefits and potential traumas of real self-discovery. In making this film Steven uses his license-of-stature and a healthy dose of irreverent humor to show first-hand how a genetic mutation marks a person for life. This resource group includes three clips associated with the film, as well as a related activity.

Up the Yangtze
Grade Range: 6-12

Nearing completion, China's massive Three Gorges Dam is altering the landscape and the lives of people living along the fabled Yangtze River. Countless ancient villages and historic locales will be submerged, and 2 million people will lose their homes and livelihoods. The Yu family desperately seeks a reprieve by sending their 16-year-old daughter to work in the cruise ship industry that has sprung up to give tourists a last glimpse of the legendary river valley. With cinematic sweep, Up the Yangtze explores lives transformed by the biggest hydroelectric dam in history, a hotly contested symbol of the Chinese economic miracle.

Rosemary Wells
Grade Range: 2-7

Rosemary Wells is the author and illustrator of delightful books for youngsters. In this interview, Wells talks about creating books for children and their adult readers that will stand up to being read over and over again. Watch the interview, view the interview transcript, read a short biography on Rosemary Wells, or see a selected list of her children's books.

New Muslim Cool: Interpreting Diverse Images of Muslim Life in the United States
Grade Range: 6-12

Help increase students' understanding of Muslim culture in the United States with this lesson plan, which incorporates clips from the POV film New Muslim Cool.

Tiktaalik: A Fish Out of Water
Grade Range: 5-8

In this blended lesson supporting literacy skills, students learn that transitional fossils provide scientists with evidence to establish how major animal groups are related to one another in evolutionary terms. Students develop their literacy skills as they explore a science focus on a recently discovered fossil named Tiktaalik. During this process, they read informational text, learn and practice vocabulary words, and explore content through a video and interactive activities.

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