bigchalk Travels to Belize to Study Manatees Exclusive Interactive Curriculum Resources Bring Real Scientific Research Directly Into the Classroom

bigchalk, the digital learning source for education, today announced the release of its latest free Virtual Expedition which will focus on a scientific study of the manatees in Belize. Through interactive content, bigchalk will help students learn about these protected species and their habitat, while interacting with a team of scientific researchers and students in the field.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:
Nan Halperin, bigchalk
800-860-9228, ext. 2038
nan_halperin@bigchalk.com

bigchalk Travels to Belize to Study Manatees

Exclusive Interactive Curriculum Resources Bring Real Scientific
Research Directly Into the Classroom

BERWYN, PA -- August 23, 2002 -- bigchalk, the digital learning source for education, today announced the release of its latest free Virtual Expedition which will focus on a scientific study of the manatees in Belize. Through interactive content, bigchalk will help students learn about these protected species and their habitat, while interacting with a team of scientific researchers and students in the field.

bigchalk has partnered with the Virtual Explorers, a non-profit organization, whose mission is to promote and support science investigation through a project-based learning environment for students delivered worldwide via the Internet. Participation can help students to develop their own understanding and appreciation of biodiversity and conservation. Based at a solar-powered research station on a mangrove island off the coast of Belize City, the Virtual Explorers team -- led by two marine scientists Katie LaCommare and Caryn Self Sullivan, will spend 21 days studying the habitats and behaviors of Antillean manatees. Katie and Caryn's research project will help Belize's government determine how to keep manatees alive and thriving in Belizes coastal waters.

The Manatees of Belize Virtual Expedition offers students a rare and compelling multidisciplinary learning experience," said Jake Schlumpf, Senior VP of Classroom Products, bigchalk. Through communication with the team and use of interactive supplementary curriculum material, were able to help students and teachers participate in active field research without leaving the classroom."

The launch of a new Virtual Expedition reflects bigchalks continued commitment to bring high-quality, user-friendly, free educational content to its diverse education community," added Jennifer Lytle, Executive Producer of bigchalks Web site, www.bigchalk.com.

An Online Academic Adventure on Biology, Ecology, and Geography

Available now at www.bigchalk.com/bc/manatee, bigchalk will post updates from the field through mid-September. The researchers will answer questions by satellite email on a regular basis. Curriculum materials include grade-specific lesson plans and bigchalks scholar-selected collections on Ecology, Aquatic Plants, Central American Countries, Extinction, Marine Mammals and Conservation. Also included are facts and photographs about the Manatees. The Expedition features an interactive map of the
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area being studied. Of value to teachers and students, the site also provides information about how people
can participate in ecological conservation, wildlife conservation, and other related projects in their local communities.

About bigchalk
bigchalk, the digital learning source for education, harnesses the power of online content to create engaging learning environments that promote student achievement. The company offers up-to-date online reference databases, standards-based digital curriculum, and easy-to-use tools for preparing lessons. Librarians, students, and teachers in more than 43,000 schools across the country receive the resources they need from bigchalk.

bigchalks online reference databases, such as bigchalk Library, facilitate student inquiry and learning. The companys easy-to-use tools for preparing lessons, such as bigchalk Integrated Classroom, help teachers motivate and inspire their students. Its online curriculum resources, delivered through products such as ClassMate, provide educators with standards-based content for classroom instruction.

Its award-winning Web site - recipient of both the Software & Information Industry Associations (SIIA) coveted Codie Award in the category of Best Educational Web Site for Kids and Gold Award 2001 by Curriculum Administrator magazine - offers a host of educational resources including study activities for students, informational resources for parents, and online lesson plans for teachers.

About Virtual Explorers
Virtual Explorers is a group of educators who use technology to explore and discover the natural world in order to share their adventures with students and teachers everywhere. They have many years of experience helping both children and educators use technology to enhance learning and teaching. Virtual Explorers is dedicated to promoting and supporting wildlife researchers who are working to protect endangered animals and their habitats worldwide, and to letting kids know that individuals can and do make a difference. To learn more about them, visit their Web site at www.virtualexplorers.org.

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