University of Missouri
eThemes
Your source for content-rich, kid-safe online resources.
Literature: "Dragonwings" by Laurence Yep
These sites are about the novel “Dragonwings” by Laurence Yep.
They include lesson plans, activities, am author interview, and
information regarding Chinese immigrants in the early 1900s, early
airplanes, kite making, and earthquakes. There are links to
eTheme Resources on Aviation: Wright Brothers, Transportation:
Aircraft, Country: China, Ancient Civilizations: China, Immigration:
Angel Island, Immigration: Immigrants and Problems Encountered,
Natural Disasters: Earthquakes, Writing: Essays, and Writing:
Research Papers.
Grades
• 6, 7, 8, 9
Links
• "Dragonwings"
This website includes links to background
information covered in "Dragonwings" by Laurence Yep.
Includes links to information on: 1906 Earthquake, Abacus,
Angel Island, Buddhism, Buffalo Bill (William Cody), Calligraphy
- Chinese, Chinatown, Chinese Cooking, Chinese Dynasties,
Chinese Exclusion Act, Chinese Folktales/Myths and Legends,
Chinese Festivals/Celebrations, Chinese Kite making, Chinese
Immigration, Chinese New Year, Chinese Zodiack,
Confucius/Confucianism, Dragons, Early Flying Machines,
Electric Lights, and more. translate link
http://www.shmoop.com/dragonwings/ Novel chapters, quizzes,
activities
• A Video Interview with Laurence Yep
Watch the author of
"Dragonwings" talk about his love for writing and his work.(Total
Running Time: 1:15) translate link
• "Dragonwings" Novel Guide
This novel guide for
"Dragonwings" by Laurence Yep includes a novel summary,
theme openers, crosscurricular activities, and research
assignments. translate link
• "Dragonwings" Study Guide
This study guide for the novel
"Dragonwings" by Laurence Yep includes reading questions, a
character chart, information about the author, essay topics,
Chinese poetry, and vocabulary. translate link
• Teach Research Skills and How to Cite Sources
This online
articles explores how to teach middle school students to write
effective research papers; including: using direct quotes in
research papers, using paraphrases in research papers, and
using summaries in research papers. NOTE: This site includes
ads. NOTE: This site includes a discussion board (message
board, forum, etc). translate link
• The Great 1906 San Francisco Earthquake
Learn all about the
San Francisco earthquake of 1906; includes: the size, account
of casualities and damage, photographs, eyewitness accounts,
and more about earthquakes. translate link
• The San Francisco Earthquake, 1906
Discover more about the
San Francisco earthquake of 1906, including information
about:destruction in the city, panic among the survivors, and a
narrow escape. NOTE: This site includes ads. translate link
• Chinese Americans
Learn about Chinese immigrants to
America. Include information on: 1800s; 1900-1920s; 1940s,
and 1950s-1970s. translate link
• Chinese Immigrants Video
This video is a tribute to Chinese
immigrants from the late 1800s to the early 1900s. (Total
running time: 2:26) NOTE: This site includes a discussion board
(message board, forum, etc). translate link
• Make Your OWn Kite
This site includes step-by-step
instructions for making your own kite. translate link
• How to Make and Fly Kites
This website includes a history of
kites, an overview of kites to make, how to fly kites, and more.
NOTE: This site includes ads. translate link
• The Early History of Airplanes
Learn more about the early
history of airplanes, dating back to the 18th century. translate
link
• Airplane Timeline
Discover the major milestones in aviation
with this airplane timeline. translate link
• A Trip Down Market Street: San Francisco in 1906 Video
Experience San Francisco's Market Street in 1906. (Total
Running Time: 12:15) NOTE: This site includes a discussion
board (message board, forum, etc). translate link
• 1906 San Francisco Earthquake Video
See footage of San
Francisco after the great earthquake of 1906. (Total Running
Time: 3:49) NOTE: This site includes a discussion board
(message board, forum, etc). translate link
• eThemes Resource: Aviation: Wright Brothers
These sites are
about the Wright Brothers and their early airplanes. Includes
biographies on Wilbur and Orville that tell about their family and
careers. Discover what inspired them to build planes. Contains
historical photographs, movies, diaries, interviews, and
simulations. There are links to eThemes Resources on
Transportation: Aircraft, Aviation: Military Aircraft, and Aviation:
Activities for Junior and High School Students. translate link
• eThemes Resource: Transportation: Aircraft
These sites are
about the history of aviation. Includes photographs of different
types of aircraft, principles and concepts of flight and plane
construction, women in aviation, and how to construct paper
airplanes. An eThemes Resource on the Wright Brothers is
linked. translate link
• eThemes Resource: Country: China
Learn about China’s
geography, language, culture, food, and history. Take a virtual
tour of the Great Wall or view numerous photographs of
Chinese people and places. Try writing Chinese characters or
listen to audio files of Chinese word pronunciations. Includes
many craft and classroom activities, plus interactive quizzes.
There are sites for students of all ages. Includes eThemes
resources on ancient civilizations of China and panda bears.
translate link
• eThemes Resource: Ancient Civilizations: China
Learn about
ancient China. On these sites, you can read about the daily life,
history, dynasties, inventions, and celebrations of the oldest
continuous civilization on earth. See Chinese art, view the
Great Wall, visit the terracotta army of Emperor Qin, or read
about Confucius and Chinese women as warriors. translate link
• eThemes Resource: Immigration: Angel Island
These sites are
about Angel Island, a former immigration station in San
Francisco Bay. Includes information on the experience of early
Asian immigrants who came through this station. There are
photos and videos of early immigration. Also includes lesson
plans and suggested activities for students on the cultures of
Asian immigrants. Linked are eThemes Resources on Ellis
Island and immigrants in Missouri. translate link
• eThemes Resource: Immigration: Immigrants and Problems
Encountered
These sites discuss obstacles that immigrants
encounter in the United States. Topics like exploitation,
employment differences, housing problems, cultural obstacles,
language barriers, and equity issues are covered. translate link
• eThemes Resource: Kites
Learn how kites overcome gravity to
fly. There are several lesson plans that use kites to introduce
math and science concepts. Includes many instructions for
making your own kite out of everyday materials. There is
information about the history of kites and pictures of kites from
different countries. Also learn why April is National Kite Month.
Includes links to eThemes Resources on hot air balloons and
basic weather concepts. translate link
• eThemes Resource: Natural Disasters: Earthquakes
These
sites are about earthquakes and how they are measured.
Topics include plate tectonics, the Richter scale, epicenters,
earthquake survival instructions, and more. Read about some
of the largest earthquakes in history. There are quizzes, videos,
and simulations. Included are links to eThemes Resources on
the New Madrid Fault and Tsunamis. translate link
• eThemes Resource: Writing: Essays
These sites focus on
writing descriptive essays for Junior High and High School
students. There are lesson plan and activity ideas, possible
essay topics, advice for improving writing skills, tips for avoiding
clich?s, and many examples of descriptive writing. Includes
links to eThemes resources on research papers, persuasive
writing, and 6+1 writing traits. translate link
• eThemes Resource: Writing: Research Papers
These sites
focus on the steps involved in writing a research paper. Learn
how to brainstorm a topic, organize information, use transition
words, and write bibliographies. There are tips and handouts on
how to evaluate online sources, plus links to child-safe search
engines. Includes links to eThemes Resources on online
resources and graphic organizers. translate link
Education Standards