CREDIT PRIMER The Federal Trade Commission has put out several new materials to help teens and young adults understand and protect their credit. Visit www.ftc.gov/gettingcredit for valuable primers on credit scores, identity theft, the true cost of borrowing and different types of plastic (credit, charge and debit cards). Also available is a quick description of credit-rating services and information on how to monitor and correct errors on consumer credit reports.

SPACE ACADEMY Honeywell is now accepting scholarship applications from middle school science and math teachers for its 2007 Space Academy program, held June 18-29 at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center in Huntsville, Ala. Scholarship recipients learn new approaches for space science and exploration instruction and also participate in real-life astronaut training. Teachers can apply online at www.honeywell.com/hhs for scholarships that include tuition, transportation, meals, accommodations and materials. The deadline for applications is Jan. 3.

DISCOVER EDUCATION has teamed up with the Internet search engine Google to offer a series of lesson plans for teachers tied to the popular Google Earth collection of satellite images. The jointly created materials debuted in conjunction with Google’s new “Google for Educators” Web site (www.google.com/educators), which was introduced in October. Among the offerings: a “virtual field trip” that mirrors the voyages of history’s greatest explorers and sites of the American Revolution as they were then and are today. Lesson plans are for elementary, middle and high school students; the focus is on topics covering social studies, language arts, math and geography.

EARLY READING Families can take part in encouraging reading growth for their children by visiting the Get Ready to Read! Web site at www.getreadytoread.org. The site offers a number of skill-building activities for free as well as a selection of downloadable materials. New on the site is a “Transitioning to Kindergarten” tool kit to help early childhood professionals and parents plan activities and collect observations throughout the year leading up to kindergarten.

SAFE GIVING December marks the start of the holiday giving season, and the Consumer Product Safety Commission offers a free primer for parents and guardians looking for safe toy purchases. Visit www.cpsc.gov for guidelines on age-appropriate toys and gifts, along with important reminders about small parts, sharp edges, electric toys and more. The site also offers important safety recalls that can help keep the season safe.

FRISBEE'S 50th What do gyroscopes and flying discs have in common? It’s a question worth asking on Jan. 13, which marks the 50th anniversary of the popular Frisbee toy. Information about the history of the Frisbee (originally named the Pluto Platter) has been compiled at the about.com search site, along with information from the University of California-Davis on Frisbee aerodynamics, including gyroscopic-like angular momentum for stability. Visit www.about.com, type Frisbee in the search field and select the History of Frisbee entry under the inventions page.

OCEAN VIEW The Office of Ocean Exploration at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has developed more than 250 inquiry-based lesson plans correlated to national science education standards. The lessons are designed to help educators engage students in science through the world of ocean exploration, introducing them to the people who do this work, and inviting them to experience their expeditions of discovery. Also featured at the NOAA online resource center are “Expedition Education Modules” for multidisciplinary expeditions to unknown or little-known regions of the world’s oceans, and multimedia learning objects on key topics in ocean exploration. The site also offers professional development for teachers in partnerships with aquariums and science centers. For details, visit www.oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/edu/welcome.html.

LEARNING APPROACHES Information on the “Recognition & Response” system for educating students with disabilities is available through a new site launched by the National Center for Learning Disabilities. Visit www.recognitionandresponse.org for information on how this system aims to help parents and teachers respond as early as possible to young children who may be at risk for learning difficulties. Also included are connections to readings and resources tied to the Recognition & Response system, and descriptions of how it is being used in classrooms.

PODCAST LEARNING National Geographic audio and video podcasts make it possible for students and teachers to experience an African safari, catch the top science and nature news of the week, and hear interviews with world music stars. The podcasts are available to download for free at www.nationalgeographic.com/podcasts and will offer both new and existing content from National Geographic examining some of the most pressing global environmental issues.

KING'S LABOR LEGACY As the nation observes Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday on Jan. 15, be sure to check out AFT Online (www.aft.org) for several features that focus on the strong ties between the civil rights pioneer and the labor movement. Enter “Martin Luther King” in the search feature, and you’ll find King’s views about the significance of organized labor to the struggle for equality and justice in America. Also available are the text of King’s famous “I have a dream” speech and details of his last struggle—the fight, along with labor, for striking sanitation workers in Memphis, Tenn.