U.C. Berkley has some interesting web based curriculi that focuses on Southeast Asia. The design is a little dated, but the section on the Ramayana was of particular interest to me as I was preparing for this fall's puppet unit. The are some great source images of scenes from the Ramayama from different cultures as well as a script of the Ramayana that was adapted by Middle School students for use with a shadow puppet play.
As a busy teacher, it is hard to find time to look over new comic books, especially ones that I am not interested in to read for myself. Here are a few sites that give good reviews of kid friendly comics and graphic novels that I turn to when I am wondering whether to make additions to my classroom library:
Girls Love Comics - lots of information about Shojo Manga (manga aimed at female readers).
Great Comics for Kids - a part of the School Library Journal website. A very active blog with new content nearly every day.
History of Animation - self described as an alternative "to the history taught by the big studios, this blog is about independent animation, fine arts animation, international animation, and experimental animation history."
Around the U.S. most students are returning to school. Champaign-Urbana Schools Foundation has graciously renewed funding for the piloting of these projects in my local classroom. In this year's proposal I pledged to post lesson plans and resources more regularly on this site in addition to the student examples that are already found here.
The upper elementary curriculum now includes a 3rd grade Puppetry module and a 4th grade Immigration module that incorporates Shaun Tan's The Arrival at its centerpiece.
I have added a store to the site where you will be able to purchase most of the resources listed for use in your classroom. (I still need to make it more visually appealing, but it is functional.)
The podcasts are currently on hold, since my wife had twin girls this summer and the time I had to produce them is now taken up with caring for two infants.
Here are some of the new resources that have arrived in my room for the Fall that I am excited about showcasing here:
I realize that I announced that there would be weekly podcasts and on the third week, I've missed one.
I had about 90% of the episode done on Wednesday, but I also was working on a DIY Textbook to post here and also teaching a comic class and art survey class in the afternoon.
We'll pick up where we left off next Wednesday with Episode Three, which will be about framing images and will introduce a new host, Sienna the Art Superhero! (Pictured above)
. They have archived all the entries 
at its centerpiece.
