MORE FRENCH ONLINE RESOURCES FOR STUDENTS
The September 2011 Web Watch listed online resources in the French language which would be useful for French immersion students, and this month’s Web Watch offers links to more such online resources in the areas of science and Canadian history.  We hope that they will be useful!

Don't forget to join the Stratford Chapter of Canadian Parents for French on Facebook for details on meetings, events, and various resources.

Canada in the Making

Canada in the Making uses narrative text linked to primary source materials from the Early Canadian Online collection, images and maps to present Canada’s history. Pioneers, immigrants, aboriginal treaties and relations, and our constitutional history are featured.

Chronological History of Quebec

The Chronological History of Quebec spans the years from Jacques Cartier’s discovery of Quebec to the Plains of Abraham, to the World War 2 Conscription issue, to the Meech Lake Accord, and on.

Fur Trade in Canada & the North West Company

The Fur Trade in Canada and the North West Company.  It was the fur trade which led to the European exploration of most of Canada and the interaction with Canada’s aboriginal peoples, and drove Canada’s early economy. This website covers the fur trade and the history of the North West Company.

1837-8 Rebellion in Lower Canada

The 1837-8 Rebellion in Lower Canada includes biographies of key personalities involved (click on the image of each person for more info), chronology, events, links.  The website includes a link to the Upper Canada Rebellion (presented in English).

Tip:  Be sure to visit the library’s databases (http://www.stratford.library.on.ca/databases.htm), which include “Encyclopedie Decouverte” (“World Book”) and “Sante en Francais” (a health resource).  Some of our other databases offer a French-language option or a translation option eg. “Our Ontario”, “The Canadian Encyclopedia”, “Canada’s Information and Resource Centre”, and “E-Stat” (Statistics Canada).  Of interest to parents are various entries in the “Encyclopedia of Languages and Literacy Development” – for example: “Language Development in French” and “Reading Acquisition in French Immersion”.

More Science

Some key science topics are addressed in the following resources from the Canadian Museum of Science and Technology:
Magnetism
Electricity
Simple & Basic Machines
Energy

Tech Tip

Save yourself time by learning keyboard shortcuts. There are dozens of them available. My favourites include CTRL + C (copy), CTRL + V (paste), CTRL + F (find in), CTRL + P (print). For a full listing of Windows shortcuts click here. For MAC shortcuts, click here.

Nine Planets

A fascinating website, Nine Planets offers information and photos of the nine planets (including Pluto), the sun and our solar system, other systems, space vehicles, and more. Mythology associated with the planets is included

History of Volcanoes

The History of Volcanoes website takes users to some of the world’s volcanoes in photos and text, with lots of information about volcanoes in general.  Students can visit http://gsc.nrcan.gc.ca/volcanoes/index_f.php to learn about Canada’s volcanoes.  (Natural Resources Canada also offers information about earthquakes in Canada, at http://seismescanada.rncan.gc.ca/zones/index-fra.php.)

Nature Canada & The Canadian Wildlife Federation

The Nature Canada and The Canadian Wildlife Federation websites offer information about Canada’s native plants and wildlife, invasive species, endangered species, climate change and ecology, fisheries, Canada’s boreal forest – and more. For younger students, Canada’s Hinterland Who’s Who (in French) about Canada’s birds and other wildlife, Canadian Species at Risk, how climate change and pollution affects birds and other wildlife, our boreal forest, biodiversity, invasive alien species in Canada, and more.  

Exotic Animal Database

With the Exotic Animals Database, students can learn all about the many fascinating species of lizards, snakes and birds.

Ontario Library Serivce

The Ontario Library Service offers selected French-language websites for students, which includes links to resources in the areas of the sciences, sports, history, heroes and heroines, geography and other homework resources.

Upcoming Events

City Hall Auditorium | Wednesday, October 19, 2011 | 7-9pm | Open to All | More details

How to Haunt Your Home for Hallowe'en

A spirited demonstration of Hallowe'en techniques and decorating ideas so that your house can be ghoulishly gorgeous!

October 13, 4-5:30pm | Library Auditorium | $2pp (tickets at library)

Good Book Group

Interested in reading a good book and getting together to talk about it? Join the Good Book Group. For September, read Best Laid Plans by Terry Fallis [Fiction].
Tuesday October 25 7pm | FREE | Library Auditorium

Waterloo Lecturese

Stratford Public Library has partnered with Waterloo Stratford Campus to bring leading scholars, forward thinkers, and experts from the University of Waterloo to the City of Stratford to address an eclectic range of topics.
October 12, 7-9pm
Steve Spencer: A Chilly Climate for Women in STEM: How it Develops and How It Can Be Overcome (STEM: Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) 

Whale of a Tale

A FREE evening drop-in Family Story Time for preschoolers on Monday evenings from 6:30 - 7:15pm.  Bring your young ones in their pjs!
Mondays 6:30-7:15pm | FREE | Library Auditorium

Donation Day

The Library is happy to accept donations of gently used books, books on cd, compact discs and dvds. Sorry, we cannot accept encyclopedia sets, text books, magazines or books which have been water damaged. For further information, contact the Library at 519-271-0220 ext. 34 or visit our donation page.
SPECIAL DATE FOR OCTOBER! OCTOBER 21, 12NOON - 5PM AT FACTORY 163, 163 KING STREET

Financial Planning 101: Get More Out of Life

Presenters: Carien Jutting CFP, Betty Prospero CFP
Thursday October 20, 2011 | 1:30-3:00pm and 7:00 - 8:30pm | Library Auditorium
This is the first of three financial planning seminars happening at the Library.
Financial Planning 101 is the Winner of the Financial Planning Week Challenge!
Space is limited, register at fiscalwellness[at]pcin.on.ca
Part of Financial Planning Week with the Financial Planning Standards Council.

Thursday Theatre

Come to the Optimist Hall on Thursdays at 1:30 to watch a feature film! (doors open at 1pm) Thursday Theatre is a program held in partnership with Community Living Stratford and Area.
Thursdays 1:30-3:30pm (approx) | $2pp (includes snack) | 72 Water Street, Stratford [map]

Poetry Stratford Presents... Open Mike All Stars

Past winners of Open Mikes, Mark Hertzberger, Ted Baxter and Jeffrey Garland will read their poems  
Thursday, October 13, 7 pm | FREE | Library Auditorium

Poetry Stratford Presents... James Reaney Memorial Lecture

Composer Peter Denny and colleagues will tell us what it was like to work with Stratford poet James Reaney.  A presentation of an unproduced opera by Reaney called Terrible Swift Sword will be featured.  
Sunday, October 16, 2:30 pm | FREE | Library Auditorium

Food 4 Fines

Pay up to $20 off your fines with non perishable food items. Each item will take $2.00 off your fines. For more details ask at the library.
Monday October 17 - Friday October 21

The Friends of the Library Used Book Sale

Saturday October 22 | 9am - 3pm | Factory 163, 163 King Street, Stratford
Friends of the Library have early access from 8am - 9am. [details]

Thursday Noon Hour Club

The Thursday Noon Hour Club has been meeting regularly at the Stratford Public Library for over thirty years.  The presenters may be writers, performers, musicians, historians or people in business.  Most are local residents who generously volunteer their time to the "Noon Hour Club".  Admission is $1.00.  Coffee is available and feel free to bring your lunch.  Sessions are on Thursdays and begin at 12:00 noon. 

October 6	Joseph Hisey	Baroque Period and the Building of Rome : Architecture
October 13	Joseph Hisey	Baroque Period and the Building of Rome : Sculpture
October 20	Joseph Hisey	Baroque Period and the Building of Rome : Painting
October 27	Mark Wales	Canada's National Food Strategy

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