Teaching argumentation skills addressing real-world environmental issues in today’s classroom isn’t easy. Between sorting fact from opinion, getting caught up in conflicting information (or battling disinformation and misinformation), and getting students to back up their claims with actual evidence (not just “I saw it on TikTok”), it can feel like an uphill climb.

That’s where Expedition: Learn! comes in. Our science lessons and hands-on activities guide students to critically analyze data, collaborate with their peers, and construct strong arguments based on evidence and scientific reasoning—helping them understand not just what is happening to our planet but why it matters and what we can do about it.

Take a look at how our experts use the featured lesson, Human Impacts on Earth Systems, to explore content and craft effective arguments rooted in scientific best practices—just in time for Earth Day and beyond.

Download the Content Spotlight

Help Students Understand Why It Matters

Earth Day, celebrated every April 22, reminds us of our responsibility to protect the planet. With a world population of more than 8 billion people, caring for Earth can’t be just a one-day event. It must be an ongoing effort that requires understanding our environment, recognizing human impact, and taking action to minimize harm.

Earth’s systems interact. Human activities such as deforestation and pollution disrupt these systems and their interactions, leading to consequences such as habitat loss, extreme weather, and water shortages—all symptoms of climate change. By researching how our actions affect the planet, we can make informed choices to create change.

In an age of information overload, it’s difficult to decipher what’s accurate and what’s not. Equipping students with the skills needed to think critically and make arguments based on research and evidence is crucial. These skills, of course, lead to academic success. But more importantly, they help shape well-informed members of society who can advocate effectively for our planet.

Construct an Argument in 3 Easy Steps

Engaging in evidence-based arguments is a foundational skill in science—one that builds critical thinking and deep understanding. With Expedition: Learn!,you can walk students through the process of creating an effective claim from start to end. The result? A well-supported scientific argument not only masters the standards but also helps students feel empowered to advocate for change. 

Check out these three easy steps that help your students construct a convincing argument rooted in scientific evidence:

Expedition: Learn! is grounded in decades of research and evidence-based practice. Lessons can be used for whole-class instruction, small-group reteaching, or independent practice. Expedition: Learn! is perfect for standards mastery because each lesson is built to provide teachers with opportunities for three-dimensional standard assessment and give students the tools to master them. Help make Earth Day tangible for your students! Book a demo of Expedition: Learn!

Expedition: Learn! in the Classroom

Check out other ways to use the featured lesson, Human Impacts on Earth Systems, using our full Content Spotlight that features engaging activities, thoughtful discussion questions, graphic organizers, and more!  

The post Earth Day with Expedition: Learn! appeared first on Britannica.

Testing season has begun, and now is the perfect time to review standards and topics likely to be covered in standardized assessments.

From US history to civics and government, Britannica Expedition: Learn!’s standards-aligned library of more than 300+ lessons has got you covered!

Whether students need a refresher (or they slept through the lesson the first time) or need some practice with assessment items, Expedition: Learn! has everything students need to master the content and equip them with strategies and tools that they need to succeed.

Check out how our experts use the Women of the American Revolutionary Era lesson to review content and practice how to analyze high-complexity standardized-style assessment questions.

Download the Content Spotlight

Help Students Understand Why It Matters

On April 19, 1775, the first shots of the American Revolution were fired. The fight for independence inspired many men and women alike. Women, constrained by societal norms and legal regulations, found avenues to express the injustices of British rule, both on and off the battlefield.

Phyllis Wheatley, kidnapped and enslaved as a child, stands out as an incredible story of resilience. She used poetry to draw parallels between enslaved people’s fight for freedom and colonists’ fight for liberty. Black people had been enslaved in the colonies for more than 150 years before the Revolution began. Yet they were essential to the cause of independence, fighting on and off the battlefield. Wheatley’s words challenged colonial America to live up to its ideals by recognizing all individuals’ humanity and morality.

In today’s polarizing political climate, we can draw inspiration from individuals who took risks to unite our people for a cause bigger than oneself. Wheatley’s legacy is a reminder of the enduring power of political speech and the importance of holding nations accountable to their founding principles.

Annotating High-Complexity Assessment Items

Every Expedition: Learn! lesson has high-cognitive level assessment items designed by experts to reflect what students will see on standardized tests. One strategy that can help students succeed is annotating assessment items. 

Teaching learners to annotate assessment items helps them actively engage with the text and strategically focus on key points. This strategy can help students:

We’ve designed a handy Expedition: Learn!  Assessment Annotations Key that you can print and cut so that every student can have a copy to use during test prep.

See how our experts use the key to break down a question from the featured lesson!

Expedition: Learn! is grounded in decades of research and evidence-based practice, and lessons can be used for whole-class instruction, small group reteaching, or independent practice. Expedition: Learn! is perfect for test prep because each standards-aligned lesson is designed to build disciplinary literacy skills while fostering content mastery, critical-thinking skills, and real-world application. Help your students prep for testing season! Book a demo of Expedition: Learn!

Expedition: Learn! in the Classroom

Check out other ways to use Women in the American Revolutionary Era with a lesson guide that features engaging activities, thoughtful discussion questions, graphic organizers, and more!

The post Prepping for Testing Season with Expedition: Learn!  appeared first on Britannica.

Say you’re teaching a math, science, or history class, and a student asks the age-old question: “Why do we have to learn this?!” Your gut reaction might be a simple, “You’ll need it one day!” or to dive into the details. Instead, why not turn to the experts in the field?

We had the privilege of talking to some incredibly talented individuals, and we’re excited to share their insights with you to help bridge the gap between classroom learning and real-world careers! 

Meet a Volcanologist

Meet a Glaciologist

Meet a Museum Director

Meet an Architect

Meet a Volcanologist: Understanding Earth’s Fiery Wonders

Ever thought studying rocks was all there was to geology? Well, think again! Our chat with a volcanologist opened our eyes to a whole new world.

A volcanologist’s impact: Volcanologists’ research and applications are crucial for both science and safety. They not only deepen our understanding of how Earth functions, but they also help us prepare for and mitigate the impact of volcanic eruptions. Put simply, their research keeps communities safe and helps protect the environment.

Becoming a volcanologist: Volcanology combines geology, chemistry, physics, and earth sciences and even touches on sociology when looking at how people and volcanoes interact. This makes the role both challenging and incredibly rewarding, requiring a wide range of skills and knowledge. This fascinating career takes a real love for science, requiring at least a bachelor’s degree in geology, geophysics, or earth science. Most often, a master’s or Ph.D. is recommended as well.¹

Meet a Glaciologist: Ice, Climate, and Our Role in the Environment

Climate change is a hot topic, and who better to discuss it than a glaciologist? Learn how the study of glaciers helps us understand climate patterns and what you can do to make a difference with this fun career feature.

A glaciologist’s impact: Glaciologists investigate the relationship between glaciers and our world — and even other worlds! Their in-demand work provides much-needed information on climate change, rising sea levels, and conservation.

Becoming a glaciologist : Like volcanologists, glaciologists are passionate experts about Earth and other sciences, including climatology, environmental science, geography, and physics. A minimum of a bachelor’s degree is required, though most glaciologists have advanced degrees and specializations.² 

Meet an Architect: Making Masterpieces

An impressive blend of art and science, not to mention millennia of awe-inspiring work worldwide, makes our next career feature truly stand out. From ancient greats like Egypt’s pyramids, the Greek Parthenon, and the Great Wall of China to modern-day marvels like Dubai’s Burj Khalifa and the Sydney Opera House, architects flaunt their impressive skills all across the globe.

An architect’s impact: Even if their building is not the next addition to the New York City skyline or a must-see world wonder, an architect’s job is critical at any level. Not only do architects ensure a structure’s functionality and safety, but they also add social value by creating aesthetically pleasing, innovative, and sustainable works. 

Becoming an architect: Careers in architecture combine a range of subject areas that students explore during primary and secondary education, including mathematics, physics, and geometry. It requires a formal degree that encompasses topics like engineering, history, theory, and building design at a bachelor’s or even a master’s level. 

Meet a Museum Director: From Curation to Inspiration

Even with adventurous movie depictions, it’s easy to think running a museum is just about displaying old stuff. If you’ve noticed a theme here, then you already know there’s so much more to it! Our conversation with a museum director revealed a multi-faceted role that goes far beyond simple collection and curation. 

A museum director’s impact: The work of a museum director is essential for both cultural enrichment and societal growth. They not only deepen our understanding of various subjects, such as art, history, or science, but they also create platforms for dialogue, learning, and community building. These valuable experts turn museums into dynamic spaces that enrich our lives and broaden our perspectives.

Becoming a Museum Director: The journey to becoming a museum director often starts with a strong academic background in art history, archaeology, history, or a related field. Many directors hold advanced degrees, such as a master’s or even a Ph.D., which equips them with the specialized knowledge needed to curate collections and design educational programs.

Recap it!

Ask students to consider their newfound knowledge about these careers. The “Learn It! Use It!” exit ticket activity in Teach Britannica is one quick way for students to reinforce how they can relate to what they learn in school. 

Or, next time students ask “Why do we have to learn this?” you can always respond, “To understand the world and why other people do what they do!”

The majority of the information in this blog was sourced from Britannica School: Middle and High School levels. Not a subscriber? Contact us to learn more.

Additional References

1. https://www.environmentalscience.org/career/volcanologist
2. https://www.forbes.com/home-improvement/contractor/what-is-an-architect/

The post Meet 4 Experts for Real-World Career Inspiration appeared first on Britannica.

Nationwide, school districts are experiencing a tremendous shift in the number of students learning English. The English learner population has reached a new record high in the past two years, with approximately 5.3 million students in US public schools. Educational programs today are challenged to pave a road that truly addresses the needs of this growing population. The following guide is designed to help you tackle some challenges no matter your stage in the process. I would like to invite school leaders, educators, and staff to explore these 10 critical considerations filled with lots of ideas to support your newcomer program. 

Explore the 10 I’s 

Introduce

Introduce new protocols to be implemented at any time of the school year that not only welcome but also ignite a sense of belonging to all students. It is important to support newcomer students by providing them opportunities to share their journeys, hopes, and concerns about their new school experience.  

Integrate

Identify

Identify and recognize student growth; it is easier to build on a student’s strengths than to focus on what they have yet to learn. Think about the many valuable skills and knowledge that newcomer students exhibit. Consider resources, such as the Funds of Knowledge Toolkit, to inform your instruction and support academic success. Identifying the unique challenges and strengths that all newcomer students bring can become data sets that help establish measurable goals for growth.

Include

Include a welcoming environment beyond the classroom that extends to all areas of school life.  Newcomer students’ participation in school activities and organizations is a reflection of an inclusive environment where students’ cultures, languages, and experiences are acknowledged and celebrated by the entire school community. 

Intent

It’s important to establish school norms and goals with the intent of fostering strong relationships rooted in respect and character values. Such new or proposed regulations can guide students, their families, and the school community to form successful and caring newcomer programs.

Ready to learn more?

Download our 10 “I’s” e-book and get practical strategies from experts to make a difference today!

GET YOUR E-BOOK

Innovate

Innovation is the best way to make learning more engaging and accessible for newcomer students. New technological tools are just as important as revamping instructional practices using revolutionary ideas. It’s essential to promote innovative classroom technology and teaching methodologies that encourage collaborative learning, where students from different backgrounds can work together to promote language and social skills in assignments and projects. 

Increase

Increasing English proficiency should be at the center of all newcomer programs. Most theories about language learning approve the use of a monitoring system that defines different levels of proficiency and/or includes specific “Can Do” statements that help move students from one level to the next. When we establish a foundational understanding of language learning vs. language acquisition, it becomes a school-wide effort that promotes professional learning, coaching, and language-rich practices among school leaders, faculty, and staff. 

Individualize

An individualized plan is mainly a tool to help find the optimal differentiation path to instruct newcomer students. This flexible plan can be adjusted regularly through teacher, counselor, and family input based on students’ progress and needs. Scheduling regular check-ins with teachers, counselors, and families brings plenty of opportunities to adjust individualized plans as needed.

Inform

Inform everyone involved in the school community! Transparency and open communication channels are essential to adapting and improving the support systems that are in place. Think about the importance of consistently and continually informing teachers, staff, parents, and stakeholders about progress or even roadblocks.

Instruct

Instructing newcomer students involves effective practices that help teachers to better distinguish the fine line between language proficiency challenges and real learning disabilities. When teachers are equipped to identify language acquisition struggles vs. special education needs, they can help reduce the over- and underrepresentation of multilingual learners in special education programs. Language development can be supported by incorporating lots of comprehensible input/output in daily instruction. This type of instruction exposes students to understandable language while encouraging them to speak and communicate with clarity. 

Britannica Professional Learning for Language Support

Britannica Education has products and services specifically for multilingualism and language support, designed to meet schools and districts where they are. 

Britannica Professional Learning provides access to interactive sessions and coaching to support school leaders and teachers serving the needs of multilingual learners. Our professional learning experts can support teachers and leaders to do the following and more:

• Investigate and understand how language acquisition happens for diverse language learners through a methodology and analysis of the typical student population in the 21st-century classroom.
• Explore the key components that support accessing and internalizing content area objectives while incorporating critical language learning goals.
• Delve into the three stages of program design that support effective outcomes when working with diverse learners.

Britannica Solutions for Multilingual Learners 

Teachers and students need instructional resources that support academic achievement. Multilingual learners benefit from resources that address various stages of language development and target learning in a variety of proficiency levels. Britannica Education has a suite of reliable products for pre-K-12 multilingual learners.

Hello Britannica

Supplement students’ English learning practice in a self-paced, gamified way. This engaging platform encourages students with corrective feedback, which helps them spot their errors immediately and grow more confident. 

Teach Britannica

Access educator support tools anytime, anywhere with an all-in-one resource hub crafted by educators who truly understand classroom challenges. Explore time-saving lesson minis, graphic organizers, exit tickets, and comprehensive instructional strategies, including resources for multilingual learners.

Britannica School: Early Elementary 

Offer engaging read-aloud articles with age-appropriate vocabulary, vibrant images, and videos to keep young learners engaged. Emergent bilingual students can autonomously switch between English text and Spanish text by utilizing the English/Spanish toggle feature, allowing classroom teachers to use the tools in class to strengthen both languages during whole- and small-group instructional time.

Britannica Escolar and Moderna

Cater to diverse learning needs with trusted Spanish-language research content and resources, helping both native Spanish speakers and foreign language learners to excel and broaden their global perspectives.

Britannica Expedition: Learn!

Support science and social studies by using this instructional platform with standards-aligned, interdisciplinary lessons that build content knowledge and enhance reading comprehension, vocabulary, and critical-thinking skills. Promote inclusivity with embedded tools for reading text aloud and translating text into more than 200 languages.

Britannica School

Provide access to curated, curriculum-aligned content tailored for varied student ages and abilities. Filled with thousands of rich, engaging resources, teachers can scaffold content and provide language support to meet the needs of multilingual learners, with the opportunity to easily translate content into more than 100 languages. 

Create a Welcoming Environment for Newcomers 

Supporting newcomer students doesn’t have to be overwhelming—small, thoughtful steps can make a big impact. Implementing the 10 “I’s” will build a foundation for students to feel welcomed, supported, and empowered to thrive academically and socially.

Whether you’re getting started or looking to strengthen your current approach, Britannica Education is here to help. From professional learning to multilingual resources, we provide the tools you need to guide newcomers to success.

The post 10 Ways to Guide Newcomers to Success appeared first on Britannica.

In this post, we’ll explore the history of Arbor Day, the importance of trees, and some educational activities that can help us appreciate these natural wonders even more. So, whether you’re a seasoned arborist or simply someone who loves the outdoors, join us as we delve into the fascinating world of trees.

The History of Arbor Day

Arbor Day is a holiday that has a rich history dating back to the 19th century. J. Sterling Morton, an American journalist, and public official passionate about trees, first introduced the concept. In 1872, Morton proposed a tree-planting holiday in Nebraska, and the first Arbor Day was celebrated on April 10 of that year. Over one million trees were planted on that day alone. In the years that followed, Arbor Day became a national holiday in the United States, and it is now celebrated in many countries around the world. Today, Arbor Day continues to promote the importance of trees and the benefits they provide to our environment and communities.

Note: National Arbor Day always falls on the last Friday in April, but many states observe Arbor Day on different dates throughout the year based on their best tree-planting times. That varies widely. Find your state’s date here.

The Importance of Trees

While trees are undoubtedly beautiful, their practical value goes far beyond aesthetics. For centuries, seafaring peoples have relied on trees to construct their ships, while modern society continues to rely on trees for fuel, lumber, furniture, tools, and many other products. Trees are also important in producing commercially grown fruits and nearly all nuts, as well as some of our most beloved flavors and ingredients, such as chocolate, coffee, maple sugar, nutmeg, and cinnamon. In addition to their practical uses, trees also play a crucial role in preserving the land and supporting plant and animal life. They are a valuable source of medicine, cork, dyes, rubber, turpentine, gums, and resins, making them an essential part of our daily lives.

Ready to Integrate Some Tree-Related Activities Into Your Classroom?

Try out some of these Arbor Day educational activity suggestions with your students!

Can You Identify These Trees?

Sourced from Britannica School "Tree" article and "Related Articles" tab.

By celebrating Arbor Day, we can instill in our students a love and appreciation for trees and the environment. Together, we can work towards a more sustainable future by planting and caring for trees in our communities. Happy Arbor Day!

Originally published April 2023. Last updated March 2025.

The post Arbor Day: How Well Do You Really Know Your Trees? appeared first on Britannica.

English is a global gateway, with approximately 1.5 billion people actively learning the language worldwide. In U.S. public schools alone, 5.3 million students speak English as a second language, requiring tailored instruction and social support to thrive academically and personally.

Many schools and districts are working to overcome resource gaps, a lack of tools for diverse languages, a need for differentiated support across language levels, limited access to professional development resources, and insufficient preparation to meet the social needs of a growing population. To empower schools and districts working with multilingual learners (MLLs), Britannica Education’s international language learning experts created Hello Britannica. This innovative new English language learning tool builds confidence and cultural awareness through interactive practice and self-paced activities. 

Hello Britannica’s authentic, real-world applications provide learners with meaningful practice in real-life contexts and provide teachers with real-time data to support language acquisition. Hello Britannica seamlessly complements any curriculum with engaging activities, enabling teachers to enhance English language learning with: 

Why Hello Britannica Works for Students

Engage students with English language practice that includes games, challenges, and activities they can access on the web or on the app. 

Full Framework Alignment Across the Four Skills of Language Learning
Ensure students receive a comprehensive understanding of how to use English to navigate the English-speaking world. Guide students to enhance proficiency, build connections, and reinforce key competencies through safe, encouraging, language learning practice that supports reading, writing, speaking, and listening.

A Wealth of Activities and Questions
With more than 40,000 questions and a variety of activity types—including vocabulary matching, grammar exercises, natural language conversations, and more—students experience consistent and varied practice to reinforce their skills.

How Hello Britannica Supports Educators 

Teachers can use Hello Britannica to extend learning outside the classroom and use intuitive teacher dashboards and real-time assessments to evaluate student progress. 

Teacher Reports and Dashboards
Teachers need actionable insights to provide targeted and specific support for their students. Hello Britannica’s reports and dashboards allow teachers to see their students’ progress and engagement in real time. They can use this information to tailor their in-class instruction to support struggling students and provide enrichment activities to excelling students.

Professional Development Opportunities with Britannica Professional Learning
Pair Hello Britannica with Britannica’s Professional Learning programs to access interactive sessions and coaching built to support Britannica’s digital learning solutions or your everyday classroom strategies. Britannica Professional Learning offers many sessions to help schools and districts support the needs of multilingual learners. 

Real-Time Student Data
View student data holistically or at the skill level to target support for individual students with reports on skills progress, engagement, and more. Build community and keep families informed with reports on performance, skill mastery, and pass/fail feedback that teachers can download and print.  

The Hello Britannica Difference 

Hello Britannica empowers educators to create significant and engaging English language learning experiences by combining real-world applications, interactive tools, and data-driven insights. The platform nurtures student confidence, critical skills, and a love for learning.

With Hello Britannica, teachers can meet the challenges of today’s multilingual classrooms and ensure students are prepared for success in their academic and personal journeys.

The post Redefine English Language Learning with Hello Britannica appeared first on Britannica.

Need some ideas for celebrating our nation’s Commanders-in-Chief in the classroom? Each president has had a very unique experience in office—from his personality and background to what global events happened during his time in D.C. There are so many ways to unpack them and have fun with it! And, with Britannica School’s extensive database of presidential content, you can create engaging lessons that bring these stories to life.

Milestone Matchup

Here’s a teachable moment: When students shrug at presidential history, that’s your cue to get creative! Turn their “meh” into “wow” by shaking up the traditional approach. Those skeptical faces in your classroom? They’re actually your secret superpower for innovation. What do your students like? Music, sports, Victorian-inspired dresses, technology, hiking . . . anything can be put into historical context, and a lot of history has happened since the United States became a country.

Using Britannica School’s timeline features, you can easily create a matching or trivia game—or have students create their own—to teach about global interests as well as provide context for American history. 

Challenge your students to discover who was in the Oval Office when these historic events happened:

• The iPhone was invented (2007, George W. Bush)
• Neil Armstrong first walked on the Moon (1969, Richard Nixon)
• Queen Victoria died (1901, William McKinley)
• Woodstock Music and Art Fair happened (1969, also Nixon)
• Japanese Edo period ended (1868, Andrew Johnson)
• Boeing 727 was first built (1962, John F. Kennedy)
• American football was established (1869, Ulysses S. Grant)
• Your home state became a state
• Your favorite national park was designated

Encourage critical thinking by asking your students: Do any of those facts change the way you think about that president? What do you think he felt about the event? Is there evidence for how he reacted to it? There are tons of ways to connect American history to topics that students are already interested in! What are other events or topics you could match to our presidents?

Treasure the Timeline

Log in to Britannica School and explore the “US Presidents at a Glance” interactives. We have one for each president! Click around to discover fast facts about all 45 presidents’ time in office, including their political party, notable dates, and links to articles for more context. You’ll also find detailed info about every presidential election they participated in—even tallies for electoral vote vs. popular vote!

These ready-to-use interactive timelines are a jumping off point for presidential research projects or can be inspiration for students to make their own timelines. What events have happened in school so far this year? What’s your school’s debate, sports, or robotics team’s win-loss record? What other fast facts would your students like to remember after this semester ends?

Executive Excursions

Of course one part of every president’s history is that they are from the United States! You can visit their hometowns, and sometimes even their homes, which are spread all across the country.

Several presidents wanted their personal and official documents preserved, given their importance to the nation and its history. So, in 1955, Congress passed the Presidential Libraries Act, which established a series of federal libraries and encouraged presidents to donate their artifacts to them. 

Now, every president since Herbert Hoover, who served as president 1929–1933, has a dedicated Presidential Library, Presidential Museum, or both. You can explore them in person or virtually, and they support field trips! Many of them have replicas of the Oval Office, the way it was when that president served, as well as photos, footage, historical artifacts or replicas, and interactive exhibits. 

The Obama Presidential Center is set to open in 2026, and libraries for Trump and Biden will likely follow!

Other Oval Office Opportunities

Move beyond traditional assignments with these engaging classroom ideas, all supported by Britannica School resources:

• Host a “Presidential Press Conference” where students research and role-play different presidents responding to current events.
• Create a “Presidential Podcast” series where students tell lesser-known stories about presidential hobbies, pets, or childhood after researching in Britannica.
• Organize a “Presidential Innovation Fair” showcasing inventions and technology from each era.
• Launch a “First Kids Club” investigating what it was like to grow up in the White House.

These creative approaches help students connect personally with presidential history while building crucial research and presentation skills. Find all the supporting materials you need in your Britannica School subscription!

How else will you celebrate Washington’s Birthday? Let us be a part of the celebration using your Britannica School or Library subscription. Not a subscriber yet? Contact us!

The post Commanders-in-Teach: Learning about the Presidents of the United States  appeared first on Britannica.

Let’s recap the new products that were introduced this year—many are a result of the great feedback we’ve gotten from you, our users! 

Britannica School: Early Elementary

We successfully released a new level for Britannica School, geared specifically toward the youngest of learners. Tailored for PreK-2 students, this platform safely enchants and educates with comprehensive, classroom-friendly content for all subjects. Plus, new Early Elementary articles are still consistently being added, with all articles translated into native Spanish.

Britannica School:
Elementary and Middle School

We also introduced a redesign of the user experience for the mid-levels of Britannica School and Britannica Library. The enhanced visual design, new interactives, and in-article navigation tools and accessibility features truly upped the engagement possibilities. 

Teach Britannica

Our all-new resource hub built for educators by educators, launched with a splash! This open-access platform contains materials for all Britannica Education products, including toolkits, graphic organizers, lesson plans, and printables galore. We vow to continue adding content in the new year.

Britannica ImageQuest

This year, we added a total of 48,500+ new images and 25 new videos to our visual-learning, rights-cleared media platform! In addition to this content, we added email sharing capabilities, audio description support for videos, and more behind-the-scenes functionality for administrators.

Britannica ImageQuest Jr.

If that wasn’t enough, we unleashed this new, younger version of ImageQuest as well. This product creates a safe space for elementary children to explore hand-selected, age-appropriate media. Between the content, curation tools, LMS integrations, and more, ImageQuest Jr. has proven to fill an educational need.

Britannica Expedition: Learn!

Let’s keep the new releases rolling, shall we? This new instructional platform for Grades 3-8 contains supplementary science and social studies lessons, all standards-aligned and topically relevant! Throughout the year we revamped Expedition: Learn’s teacher materials with answer keys and remediation strategies, and we launched hands-on STEM activity options for NGSS-based lessons. 

All that mumbo jumbo is to say—we’ve been busy! And, we’re not done.

The Road Ahead for High School

The road ahead is bright for our high school users too! Within the next few months, we’ll be releasing a new design for this level of Britannica School and the Britannica Library Reference Center, aimed at enhancing the user experience while maintaining the same trusted, high-quality content Britannica is known for.

Here’s what’s coming:

Redesigned Homepage
A more engaging and visually appealing interface for easier navigation.

Revamped Article Layouts
Enhanced visuals, intuitive buttons, and new bulleted lists interspersed with fun facts will all contribute to improved digestibility. Plus, an OpenDyslexic font option will be available for accessibility.

Enhanced Navigator Tool
Based on customer feedback, the new navigator design will consolidate all tools and features into a single panel. This streamlined design will launch at the high school level and will soon after be updated across the elementary and middle school levels too.

Keep an eye on our webinars page and register for our mid-January walkthrough, where our Professional Learning team will explore these updates and their benefits in-depth.

Goodbye 2024, Hello Britannica!

And finally, 2025 brings news of Hello Britannica, our all-new platform for English language practice. Already populated with more than 40,000 questions and thousands of games, we know it will build confidence and cultural awareness for students around the world. 

There is plenty more to come! We are so grateful to you, our readers, users, and partners, for helping to shape Britannica Education’s resources to better serve students and educators. We’re excited about these changes and the value they’ll bring to classrooms and communities in 2025.

The post So long 2024, hello new product updates! appeared first on Britannica.

Did you know marshmallows were once used as a medicinal syrup? That’s right! Winter isn’t just cozy nights by the fireplace or snowball fights. It’s a season filled with fascinating facts, age-old traditions, and mysteries waiting to be unraveled. Today, I invite your classroom to join me on a journey through a winter wonderland of trivia.

So, educators, grab your cocoa, encourage your students to put on their thinking caps (make sure they’re warm ones!), and let’s dive into some cool winter wisdom bound to surprise and educate them.

Winter’s Mysteries Unveiled:
A 20-Question Adventure

Defrost your students’ curiosity and test knowledge with these 20 questions spanning history, science, and culture. Ready for the challenge? Let’s begin!

1. What was the original purpose of marshmallows before they became a popular candy?

• a) a sweetener in desserts
• b) medicinal syrup and ointment
• c) building material for igloos
• d) an ingredient in soups and stews

The correct answer is b) medicinal syrup and ointment. Originally, marshmallows were made from the root sap of the marsh mallow plant (Althaea officinalis), combined with sugar and egg white. This concoction served as a medicinal syrup and ointment, known for its soothing properties to treat ailments like sore throats, coughs, and skin irritations. Over the years, the use of marshmallows transitioned from medicinal to culinary, evolving into the sweet treat we know today.

© Whiskybottle/Dreamstime.com

3. How many times does the winter solstice happen each year?

• a) 2
• b) 3
• c) 12
• d) 1

The correct answer is a) 2. The winter solstice occurs twice annually: once in the Northern Hemisphere around December 21 or 22, when the Sun's path is farthest south, and once in the Southern Hemisphere around June 20 or 21, when the Sun's path is farthest north. This event marks the shortest day and the longest night of the year in each respective hemisphere. The winter solstice also signifies the beginning of the winter season.

Score: 0

5. What is the name of the northern lights, a natural light display in Earth's sky, predominantly seen in the polar regions?

• a) Stellar Lights
• b) Cosmic Glow
• c) Aurora Borealis
• d) Celestial Sparkles

The correct answer is c) Aurora Borealis. Also known as the northern lights, the Aurora Borealis illuminates Earth's upper atmosphere in the Northern Hemisphere's high latitudes. This display results from solar wind particles interacting with atmospheric atoms, producing radiant curtains, arcs, and bands in colors like greenish-blue and red. The phenomenon stems from charged particles colliding with oxygen and nitrogen atoms, emitting distinctive radiation.

© Anton Petrus—Moment/Getty Images

8. Which winter holiday is celebrated sometime between January 21 and February 20?

• a) Christmas
• b) Hanukkah
• c) Kwanzaa
• d) Lunar New Year

The correct answer is d) Lunar New Year. Celebrated in many Asian countries, this holiday marks the beginning of the lunar calendar year. Its date varies but falls between January 21 and February 20. Predominantly known as the Spring Festival in China (see Chinese New Year), traditions include house cleaning, family reunions, special foods, and giving red envelopes. The celebrations culminate with the Lantern Festival. The holiday has ancient origins, with legends like the beast "Nian" warded off with red decorations and loud noises.

© Toa55—iStock/Getty Images Plus

11. Which game is similar to ice hockey and is played almost exclusively in the Scandinavian countries, the Baltic states, and Mongolia?

• a) curling
• b) bandy
• c) jai alai
• d) lacrosse

The correct answer is b) bandy. Bandy resembles ice hockey and is popular in Scandinavian countries, the Baltic states, and Mongolia. Teams have 8 to 11 players on skates who use curved sticks to hit a ball on a large rink. The game started in 18th-century England, and many consider it the forerunner of modern ice hockey.

Scissorhill

14. Who dominated dog sled racing in the 1980s and early 1990s, winning the Iditarod four times?

• a) Libby Riddles
• b) Susan Butcher
• c) DeeDee Jonrowe
• d) Martin Buser

The correct answer is b) Susan Butcher. A trailblazer in sled-dog racing, Susan Butcher's dedication to the sport was evident from a young age, training dogs by the age of 16. Her prowess led her to win the grueling Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race in Alaska four times during the 1980s and early 1990s, marking her as one of the sport's legends.

©Troy/AdobeStock

16. During the Harbin Ice Festival in China, people visit immense ice structures that are lit up with:

• a) fireworks
• b) neon lights
• c) candles
• d) glow-in-the-dark paint

The correct answer is b) neon lights. During the Harbin Ice Festival in China, visitors can explore massive ice structures and sculptures beautifully illuminated with colorful neon lights, creating a stunning and magical winter wonderland.

© analysis121980/AdobeStock

17. Which animals are considered true hibernators, undergoing significantly reduced metabolic activity during winter?

• a) bears and raccoons
• b) hedgehogs and bats
• c) amphibians and reptiles
• d) desert animals escaping the summer heat

The correct answer is b) hedgehogs and bats. True hibernators, such as hedgehogs, bats, and certain rodents, enter a state during winter where their body temperature drops close to 0° C (32° F), respiration slows down to a few breaths per minute, and the heartbeat becomes barely perceptible. This state allows them to conserve energy and survive the harsh winter conditions.

© kichigin19/stock.adobe.com

19. What is the name of the sledding sport that requires riders to travel headfirst with their faces just inches above the icy course?

• a) skeleton sledding
• b) lugeing
• c) bobsledding
• d) dogsled racing

The correct answer is a) skeleton sledding. In the winter sport of skeleton sledding, athletes sled headfirst and prone, often on tracks shared with bobsled events. This exhilarating and risky sport sees competitors racing with their faces mere inches from the ice, reaching speeds of over 129 km (80 miles) per hour.

© VIAR PRO studio/AdobeStock

Final Score: 0

We sourced all winter trivia questions and answers from Britannica School and Britannica Library. Not a subscriber? Contact us to learn more about our comprehensive resources.

How did your classroom fare in our winter trivia challenge? We're eager to find out! Share your scores, intriguing winter facts, or snapshots of your students diving into the quiz on social media. Remember to tag us @britannica_edu and use the hashtag #WinterTriviaChallenge. If there's a winter topic sparking your curiosity or one you'd like us to delve into in upcoming posts, don't hesitate to reach out!

Stay warm, stay curious, and embark on more adventures through the winter wonderland.

The post New Year Winter Trivia: A Student Challenge appeared first on Britannica.