Website Review: Rebuilding Haiti

REBUILDING HAITI is an interactive experience exploring the process of earthquake recovery.

This fascinating nonlinear experience asks users to make choices and learn more about the process of rebuilding Haiti after its devastating earthquake.

Divided into six sections, this informative website would be useful for informational reading activities across the curriculum. Woven into the narrative are photographs and sidebars containing additional information. Along the way, users must make decisions that have consequences.

Librarians will find this resource to provide a good starting point for discussions about the impact of natural disasters and the implications for planning.

To visit the website, go to http://apps.rue89.com/haiti/en/.

Technology Review: Disaster Detector

DISASTER DETECTOR from the Smithsonian is a learning game focusing on natural disasters.

Available in both web-based and app formats, players become citizens of Smithsonville. Using online tools, users learn to analyze and interpret data on natural hazards to forecast future disasters. They also learn to mitigate the effects of catastrophic events.

The interactive game includes tornadoes, volcanoes, earthquakes, hurricanes, and more. Scientific tools include Doppler radar, anemometers, barometers, and seismometers.

Librarians will find this interactive learning experience to be popular with middle school Earth Science students and teachers. Use this tool to promote data literacy skills across the curriculum.

To play the game or download the apps, go to https://ssec.si.edu/disaster-detector.

App Review: Is that an Earthquake?

IS THAT AN EARTHQUAKE? is an engaging electronic picture book app for young children.

Part of the Ready to Read series from the New Zealand Ministry of Education, this appealing story helps young readers learn about what it’s like to experience an earthquake. The realistic illustrations and large, easy-to-read font is effective for beginning readers.

The book contains limited audio features including background music, narration that can be adjusted on/off and by speed, and the ability to record narration. Users can also enter paint mode to add color to each page.

Librarians will want to add this title to their collection of e-books for young readers. Place this electronic picture book in a display featuring both fiction and nonfiction books about earthquakes and safety.

To download the app, go to https://itunes.apple.com/…/is-that-earthquake-r…/id892584539.

Book Review: That's Deadly

Part of National Geographic Kids THAT’S series, THAT’S DEADLY by Crispin Boyer features “fatal facts that will test your fearless factor”.

A grim reaper named “Tim” introduces the deadly topic pointing out features of the book, defining key vocabulary, and introducing a creepy rating system that goes from risky business to sudden death.

While some chapters focus on deadly critters likes sharks, crocodiles, and snakes, others explore natural disasters, dangerous places, and extreme environments. A variety of visual presentation styles will keep youth interested. Pages include infographics, fact lists, diagrams, and photographs.

Designed for the middle grades, this engaging work of nonfiction is more lengthy that many of the other National Geographic Kids titles making it a great option for middle school youth. However the small type and dense text may be off-putting for some readers.

Published by National Geographic Kids on September 8, 2015.

Website Review: Students Abroad

Whether heading out on Spring Break or prepping for a foreign exchange program, teens need to learn to be wise travelers. The STUDENTS ABROAD website from the U.S. Department of State provides essential information for smart travelers.

This comprehensive tool helps youth and their parents plan for both short and long trips abroad. The site is divided into useful sections.

The Travel Docs area of the website reviews important documents necessary for travel outside the United States.

The Health section explores information about specific countries as well as general tips about a healthy trip.

The Emergencies section features guidelines for a wide range of problems from health and crime concerns to evacuations and natural disaster preparation.

THE STEP (Smart Traveler Enrollment Program) is a free service that connects travelers with the U.S. Embassy near their travel location. There’s also an Embassies section of the website where users can easily locate embassies around the world.

The Smart Travel section provides ideas to make travel a snap. From reviewing local laws to packing bags, it’s full of useful tips.

Because so many students travel on Spring Break, an entire section is dedicated to planning for this type of travel.

The “To Go” section provides access to travel guides and useful, printable travel tools.

Finally, the website highlights travel warnings and alerts related to short and long-term events that may impact travel abroad.

The Student Abroad website provides a wealth of materials that can be use by librarians on bulletin boards and other types of library displays. Create a display featuring travel books along with key documents from the website.

You’ll find the STUDENTS ABROAD website at http://travel.state.gov/content/studentsabroad/en.html.