The Rise and Fall of African Civilizations Word Search Puzzle

A C H R I S T I A N I T Y N A S G
R P S J T L L S S O N G H A I O S
B O Z I K E M L S A D T H E B V U
U Q C O R N S A T A E O U A L N P
H O O K W O R M M F N E T N N U P
A R W E I I P A A R T P K N O A L
C L R E T H S L L I U S U R T U Y
G S I E D K N I A C R Q B M R M A
O I E E F A J Q R A E A M N A E N
L T S D O X C U I R D R I J D L D
D N Y L S U O O A T S N T T E S D
E U A W E M F I R O E K U I R K E
D E A N C L F V T B R O N Z E S M
A Y R E V A L S U E V I L O O J A
E S X R B U E G U M A R A B I C N
A K O R I E S R T W N L F A H N D
U V O A Z I Y E X A T G E S A L T
F R W M A N S A M U S A E S C T H
M E R C A N T I L I S M E D N I L





Terms:

AFRICA
AKORIES
AXUM
BENIN
BROCADE
BRONZE
CHRISTIANITY
COFFLES
COWRIES
DAMASK
GHANA
GOLD
GUM ARABIC
HOOK WORM
INDENTURED SERVANTS
ISLAM
MALARIA
MALI
MANSA MUSA
MERCANTILISM
OBAS
SALT
SLAVERY
SONGHAI
SUPPLY AND DEMAND
TIMBUKTU
TRADE
YAWS


Click here for a free printable (.pdf) version of this puzzle (and the answer key).

Most Popular Baby Names of 2009: Word Search Puzzle

The Social Security Administration has released its official list of the most popular names for girl and boy babies in 2009. For future students and expectant parents (puzzles are great games at baby showers), we have created a word search puzzle using the top ten names for each sex.



J A C O B R A S B A V A T C L
N A E D R E S A T F L G N H I
J R Y S K T M E I L E I N A D
C L N D L M E M S R N A S O T
E L P N E E Q A A R H A O N S
C D E W I N O U B T U V R W S
I E T M I C H A E L Z T Y L X
L R N A E L A B L E C I D L E
I D F O G U L O L I V I A R S
A L T H L I N I A E A J E K I
O I O U M V N R A N T H O N Y
E M I L Y A C U E M L W T I S
R P U Q M O H A M M E D X O S
S S R T T N L A I L A L M Y A
P A U L E A O N Z E A A J E M
A U B O I C E E I F D B E E U
Y I Z H V D L W G I S I S R E
J X P T X U W R S Q T G S I L
O O M H N Y K O O U P A I C J
S L Z K J J N I V H S I C A U
H L B M C N D O E P F L A G L
U A M A R I A N N E Z Q Y R I
A K T M I A J U I V H W G X A
S D M E R F Q B E N J A M I N
A N B O C P R E D N A X E L A


GIRLS

1. Isabella
2. Emma
3. Olivia
4. Sophia
5. Ava
6. Emily
7. Madison
8. Abigail
9. Chloe
10. Mia


BOYS

1. Jacob
2. Ethan
3. Michael
4. Alexander
5. William
6. Joshua
7. Daniel
8. Jayden
9. Noah
10. Anthony



For a printable version (PDF file) of this puzzle, click here.

For a printable version (PDF file) of this puzzle's answer key, click here.

For a page of word search puzzles featuring the most popular baby names by year (back to the 1800s), click here.

Civic Literacy Report

The Intercollegiate Studies Institute has a free Civic Literacy Exam online. Click here to take the test.


This is a fun, interactive way for students (and teachers) to test their civics knowledge.

Scholastic Printables

The Scholastic company has great printables that teachers can use for free.

Regents Review Live

The New York Network, a service of the State University of New York, has released Regents Review 2.0 online. The free review programs in English, Integrated Algebra, Geometry, Algebra 2/Trigonometry, Earth Science, Living Environment, Chemistry, Physics, and Global History are available here.

You needn't be from New York State to enjoy these proficiency test prep tools!

Using Electronic Resources and Searching on the Internet

Here is a great video on how students might conduct internet searches for research purposes.

India-to-the-U.S.: Finding Teaching Jobs in the United States

Many Indians (as well as Filipinos and others) are eager to find teaching positions in the United States. For the most part, applicants are well-spoken, qualified educators with years of experience. However, a great many are unfamiliar with the requirements for obtaining teaching credentials in the United States.

In many countries outside of the United States, a person with a degree in Mathematics can be hired to teach Mathematics in a high school. While this does occur to a limited degree in the United States, it is not the norm. Most teachers in the United States (particularly at public schools) must possess a degree in Education. Additionally, teachers must often pass state-conducted or other standardized tests (such as the Praxis). Foreign teachers can get teaching jobs in the United States, but they must first complete the requirements for teaching certification for the state (such as Michigan, New York, or California) in which they plan to teach.

Teaching certification requirements are different in each state because, according to the United States Constitution, the administration of education is left to individual states. A teacher certified to teach in Ohio cannot automatically teach in a public school in Texas. Click here for a list of teaching certification requirements (and teacher job postings) by individual states.

If you are unable or unwilling to complete the requirements for state certification, it is still possible for you to find a teaching job in the private sector. This could be in a religious (e.g., Catholic, Jewish, Muslim) school or in a private secular school.

Catholic schools are organized by diocese. There are hundreds upon hundreds of dioceses in the United States. Typically, a single office conducts teacher hiring for an entire diocese. The diocese will have a standardized application. You must apply for a teaching job directly with the diocese. For example, imagine that you want to teach Science in a high school in Toledo, Ohio. You would visit the website for the Diocese of Toledo and complete the application process. For another diocese or school, try doing a Google search (such as "diocese New York" or "Islamic school Detroit" or "Hebrew school New Jersey").

Note: Some religious schools require that teachers practice the faith of the school, but this is not always a requirement. For example, many non-Catholics teach in Catholic schools.

Even if you do not pursue a degree in Education from an American university, you should familiarize yourself with common American educational practices and beliefs. You will be asked questions about these practices during interviews. You should understand the U.S. attitudes toward inquiry- and student-based learning.

Good luck on your journey!