For Educators and Parents
Are you a parent or educator looking to get your kids excited about reading? Double Vision was written for reluctant readers—those students in your living room and classroom who might need a little nudge to get excited about reading, and any other curriculum. Linc Baker, the main character in the book, is just this sort of kid.
How Double Vision Ties Into Curriculum
- Math: Linc cracks codes and ciphers; use the links to the CIA and NSA to delve into the cool world of codebreaking.
- History: Did you know there are tunnels under the city of Paris that date back to the 12th century? These catacombs are still open to the public today (Linc ends up in the tunnels several times in the book); read more in this great National Geographic article.
- Art: Leonardo da Vinci is one of the most famous artists today, but your students might be interested to know he wasn't always this great, important artist; in fact, he only finished a handful of paintings. Find more ways to talk about da Vinci in the classroom at the links below.
- Geography: Linc races all over Paris to find a dangerous artifact, visiting the Eiffel Tower, the Arc de Triomphe, the Louvre, Montmartre and the Sacre Coeur, as well as the catacombs under the city.
Below are some great educator resources to use at home or in the classroom.
F.T. Bradley also does school and library visits. She has a (very interactive) program on codes and ciphers, and how they helped George Washington during the Revolutionary War. Contact F.T. to find out how to set up an author visit, either in person or via Skype.
Online resources on spies, codes, and history
International Spy Museum:
Great for school visits if you are in the Washington D.C. area. Online resources include very extensive curriculum guides on how to integrate spy history into math, science, history, etc.—a great first stop to find ways to bring more excitement and interactivity to your classroom.
The NSA page for kids:
Information on what the NSA does, plus several codebreaking games and activities to do in the classroom.
The CIA Educators Page.
This page has a wealth of educator resources, from information on internet safety to lesson plans on the CIA, intelligence during war, and codes and codebreaking. Lesson plans go from upper elementary to middle and high school, depending on the topic.
The FBI Kids Page.
Split into K-5 and middle-school sections. Kids can learn about the FBI's history, how they investigate, safety tips and play games.
Online resources on Leonardo da Vinci
Exploring Leonardo (the Museum of Science, Boston)
This site breaks down Leonardo da Vinci’s life and works to a grade 4-8 level. There are classroom activities on da Vinci’s life and inventions—great to integrate into science, art, and history curriculum.
The Louvre online exhibits
A virtual tour of the Louvre, for those of us who can’t go to Paris. Not specifically for kids, so preview for content before classroom use.
