Tara Blair 
A sudden clap of thunder, rain hammering the windows, a gust of wind that makes the whole building creak. This kind of spectacle, equal parts thrilling and unsettling, captures students’ attention instantly. Teachers can leverage that fascination as an opening to explain what’s happening and why, using age-appropriate content that celebrates curiosity without increasing concern. … Read more
| By Gale Staff | Most students already have a favorite song. They might not know what genre it falls into—or even who the artist is, especially in lower elementary—but they know how it makes them feel. Elementary educators can help young learners build on that connection during International Music Day on October 1, prompting … Read more
Each year on November 1, churches around the world observe All Saints’ Day—a feast honoring a vast and varied group of people whom the Catholic Church recognizes for leading lives of extraordinary faith and virtue. The observance grew out of early Christian practices of honoring martyrs who died for their religious beliefs, later expanding to … Read more
For thousands of years, the turning of the seasons has prompted communities around the world to ponder their mortality. In ancient Ireland, Celts lit towering bonfires for Samhain, believing the flames would guide ancestral spirits home and keep harmful ones away. In China and parts of East Asia, the Hungry Ghost Festival calls for burning … Read more
October’s second Monday marks the shared observance of Columbus Day and Indigenous Peoples’ Day, providing elementary students an opportunity to examine both the spirit of exploration and the cultures that long predated it. Teaching these histories side by side gives students an early framework for understanding how the same moment in time can mean different … Read more
Each year, nearly one in three US students between the ages of 12 and 17 reports being bullied. Of those, rates are significantly higher for girls (38.3%), students with a developmental disability (44.4%), and LGBTQ+ students (47.1%). National Bullying Prevention Month in October encourages educators, caregivers, and parents to take a closer look at how … Read more
Across the United States, an estimated 15.5 million adults and 7 million children live with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). This condition causes differences in how the brain is wired to respond to time, tasks, and rewards. Symptoms often resemble behavioral or motivational issues, such as daydreaming, forgetfulness, restlessness, impulsivity, and difficulty completing tasks. To the outside … Read more
World Animal Day on October 4 offers an irresistible excuse to fill your classroom with the sounds, sights, and science of the animal kingdom. But with an estimated 8.7 million species across land and sea, narrowing down which ones to feature—and doing so in a way that’s developmentally appropriate and pedagogically meaningful—can be a challenge. … Read more
| By Gale Staff | Through the Gale ecosystem, students have access to more than 100 databases, putting an extraordinary range of compelling research at their fingertips across a multitude of disciplines. To take full advantage of those resources, students need to understand how to use the tools at their disposal. Often, this means turning … Read more
A breast cancer diagnosis can leave even the most grounded person feeling overwhelmed. There’s medical terminology to decipher, treatment options to consider, and further testing to schedule—often before there’s time to fully process the diagnosis. Doctors and care teams lead the way in treatment decisions, but public libraries can help patrons make sense of new … Read more