DIGITAL FOOTPRINTS Groundbreaking Web pages from the past will no longer be consigned to the dustbin of history, thanks to an innovative new resource from the nonprofit NetHistory site www.nethistory.info. The project offers several interesting resources and links to the Internet’s short-but-robust past. Of particular note in the site’s “Web History” section is a link to the World Wide Web Virtual Library. There, students and researchers can access the Wayback Machine, a service that allows people to visit archived Web sites. Visitors can type in a URL, select a date range and then begin surfing on an archived version of the Web.

HURRICANE HUNTERS 2004 will be a memorable year for the Aircraft Operations Center, part of the National Oceanic and Atmospherics Administration’s Marine and Aviation Office. The center coordinates scientific investigations into the eye of hurricanes and also conducts important studies of acid rain, soil erosion, marine animal populations and more. Students can learn about the important functions of this federal agency—and “get on board” a hurricane hunter mission—by visiting www.aoc.noaa.gov.

CABLE LEARNING AWARDS Cable’s Leaders in Learning Awards offer a chance to honor teachers who have promoted educational excellence in their communities. The competition is open to anyone working in U.S. schools or in their communities who have developed innovative practices or policies that have had a positive impact on K-12 education. Awards categories cover general school improvement, effective use of cable content and technology, and media literacy skills. Winners in each category will receive a $3,000 grant and a three-day, expenses-paid visit to Washington, D.C. for recognition ceremonies. The deadline for applications is Jan. 31, 2005. For contest details and more information on the awards program, visit www.leadersinlearningawards.org.

DO AND LEARN Billed as “the noncommercial site for people who like to roll up their sleeves and make fun, mysterious toys that entice scientific investigation,” the Science Toy Maker site offers a variety of interesting projects for students of all skill levels. Easy-to-follow instructions for making vortices, periscopes, “Cartesian divers” and much more are featured on the site, along with handy links to explanations of the scientific concepts at work and related links. The site was featured this summer as one of Exploratorium’s “Cool Links.” Visit it at www.sciencetoymaker.org.

SCHOOLS OF CHARACTER The National Schools of Character awards program recognizes K-12 schools and districts with outstanding character education programs that produce great results in student behavior, school climate and academic performance. Now in its eighth year, the program honors selected schools and districts with a cash award of $2,000 and national recognition in the Character Education Partnership’s “National Schools of Character” publication. Finalists for the 2004 competition also will be honored at CEP’s annual national forum in 2005. For details, guidelines and an application, visit www.character.org/eventsawards/nsoc.

READING HONORS The deadline is fast approaching to submit nominations for the International Reading Association Presidential Award for Reading and Technology. The competition is open to K-12 educators who are making an outstanding and innovative contribution to reading education through the use of technology. There will be one grand prize winner and seven U.S. regional winners. Prizes range from $500 to $1,000 plus expenses to attend the IRA annual convention in San Antonio. Deadline for entries is Nov. 15. Guidelines and application forms are available at the “Teachers’ Awards and Grants” section at www.reading.org or by calling 302/731-1600, ext. 221.

PARADE OF HISTORY For more than 75 years, the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade has many interesting intersections with American history and culture. It was “must-see” entertainment for more than a million New Yorkers who lined the streets at the depths of the Depression in 1934. The parade was interrupted in the 1940s during World War II because rubber and helium were so critical to the war effort that they couldn’t be wasted on the pageant’s celebrated balloons. The parade was one of the first big events to be carried on early television and, less than a week following the tragic assassination of President Kennedy in 1963, there was considerable debate about whether the parade should go on as planned (it did). Students can read more about the history of the parade at www.nyctourist.com/macys_history1.htm.

LIBRARY STUDIES The American Library Association and its affiliates provide more than $300,000 annually for study in a master’s degree in library and information studies from an ALA accredited program. Funds also may be used to support master’s degree studies in a school library media program that meets the ALA curriculum guidelines for a National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) accredited unit. The scholarship process is open annually from September to March. Applications are available online during that time period. For details and application forms, visit www.ala.org and click on the “Scholarships” tab.

EXPLORER SCHOOLS Schools nationwide are eligible to apply online for an opportunity to partner with NASA in a program designed to bring engaging mathematics, science and technology learning to students. Each spring, a three-year partnership is established between NASA and 50 new NASA Explorer School teams, consisting of teachers and education administrators from communities across the country. NASA invites the selected teams to work with education specialists from NASA Centers on science and mathematics instruction for students in grades 4 through 9. While partnered with NASA, Explorer School teams will acquire new teaching resources and technology tools using NASA’s unique content, experts and other resources. An online application is available at www.explorerschools.nasa.gov. The deadline for submission is Jan. 31.