In the 1980s, a new branch of science emerged that seemed to be straight out of the pages of a science fiction novel. While the new science didn’t initially garner much attention from the general press or population, scientists and ethicists were all abuzz about nanotechnology. Despite some news items that occasionally crop up in the mainstream media, nanotechnology has quietly continued to evolve and impact our everyday lives. Unbeknownst to most people, the technology is used in many everyday objects, such as sunscreens, cosmetics, fabrics, eyeglass lenses, LCD screens, scratch-resistant car finishes, and much more.

The topic of religion in public schools has a long and highly controversial history in the United States, and remains the cause of much conflict. Religion is certainly a “hot button” subject in many regions, and many schools understandably decide to distance themselves from the topic as much as possible. There are fears of possible indoctrination, the belief that any mention of religion in public school is unconstitutional, and the concern that introducing discussion about religion in the classroom could provoke clashes between students of different faiths. Some schools, however, have decided to tackle the subject head-on by incorporating lessons about world religions into the curriculum.

Younger students don’t spend much time thinking about laws, or how they are created. They understand laws as “rules” that are meant be followed, and that the appearance of police officers and general unpleasantness may occur if the rules (laws) aren’t obeyed. It’s not until upper elementary and middle school that students really start to grasp the notion that laws don’t just arbitrarily happen, but are in fact the result of a lengthy process that often takes unexpected twists and turns.

Overexposure to ultraviolet radiation, or UV rays, is associated with the development of cataracts, premature aging of the skin, suppression of the immune system, and the development of skin cancer. Experts state that the best protection against developing any of these conditions is to practice basic sun safety – wear sunscreen, avoid intense sunlight between the peak hours of 10am and 4pm, wear appropriate clothing such as sunglasses, hats, and long-sleeved clothing, and avoid sunburns. Australia instituted a public health campaign several decades ago entitled “Slip, Slop, Slap” to encourage residents to slip on a shirt, slop on sunblock, and slap on a hat. The campaign has been very successful, and has been adopted by New Zealand and some Canadian provinces.

Dyslexia is a learning disability where the brain does not properly recognize or process visual images into understandable language. The arrangement of letters, words, and numbers is often confusing, and it can inhibit a student’s ability to read, spell, write, and sometimes even speak. Dyslexia is most widely associated with reading difficulties, but it can manifest itself in many other ways as well. Dyslexic students often have difficulty with sequencing activities, such as putting the days of the week in the correct order, remembering telephone numbers, or arranging alphabet letters. Directions can be problematic, whether it’s reading a map or distinguishing left from right. Telling time on a clock, particularly in increments of less than 5 minutes, is frustrating for many students with dyslexia, and they often demonstrate poor handwriting and organizational skills as well. Dyslexia can be an enormously frustrating experience for students, and the cause of much embarrassment. Affected students are still sometimes viewed as “slow” or intellectually limited because of their struggles with reading and writing, but research reveals that the vast majority of dyslexic kids are of average or above-average intelligence. It’s estimated that between 5-10% of the global population has dyslexia, and people such as Steve Jobs, Thomas Jefferson, Michael Jordan, and mystery writer Agatha Christie all have (or had) it.