HISPANIC HERITAGE  September marks the beginning of Hispanic Heritage Month, and the Education World Web site has assembled several useful tools to help teachers and students mark the occasion. Visit www.education-world.com, type "Hispanic Heritage Month" into the search field, and you'll find a number of interdisciplinary activities tied to Hispanic Heritage--from understanding word origins of commonly used Spanish vocabulary to graphing U.S. Census data on the country of origin for U.S. Hispanic households. Also popular is the annual Hispanic Heritage Month poster from Scholastic News. Subscribers receive a complimentary poster, but Scholastic also has available a limited number of free posters for nonsubscribers. To order, write Hispanic Heritage Month Poster, Scholastic, 557 Broadway, Office 4056, New York, NY 10012.

USE YOUR HEAD  A recent study shows that 63 percent of children ages 8-12 don't think they could suffer serious brain injury from bicycle accidents. In reality, nearly half the kids hospitalized for bike injuries suffer brain trauma, reports the National Safe Kids Campaign, which offers free downloadable materials to encourage kids to use helmets while biking. Visit www.safekids.org for PDF files that drive home the helmet safety message for both kids and their parents.

AFTER JIM CROW  "The Rise and Fall of Jim Crow" is a new series premiering Oct. 1 on PBS affiliates nationwide. The series examines segregation in the United States and the history of the civil rights movement. The program bridges the gap between two other landmark PBS series, "The Civil War" and "Eyes on the Prize," both of which chronicle the history of U.S. race relations. The four-part series was produced by Thirteen/WNET New York and is supported by an educational Web site and discussion guide for teachers and parents. Thirteen/WNET also is developing a national outreach effort to spark discussions between adults who experienced the Jim Crow era and young people who lack firsthand knowledge. For details and materials, visit www.thirteen.org.

SAFETY TOOLS  Product safety recalls only work when people know about them. That's why Arkansas attorney general Scott Pryor's office launched www.childproductsafety.com, which lists all products that have been recalled by the Consumer Product Safety Commission since 1970. The site is a valuable tool for parents and educators to sift through unsafe products from home and school. Items are arranged in easy-to-use categories, such as "gym sets, swings and playground equipment," or you can search by manufacturer. Also featured are useful safety links and tips for "child proofing" homes.

LIGHTS OUT GE  Lighting has developed a new interactive, online light and energy learning unit, designed to work as a stand-alone guide or as a supplement to existing middle school energy curricula. After students complete the learning module, they can conduct their own lighting audit, either as a class project in their school or in their own homes, by using the new online GE Lighting Auditor (GELA). Both are free at www.gelighting.com/na/home/gela/gelaform.html.

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