Common Core State Standards Initiative

·http://www.corestandards.org

The Common Core establishes nationwide benchmarks for reading and math, and has so far been adopted by 43 states, the District of Columbia, four territories, and the Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA). As the official site of the Common Core State Standards Initiative, there is much to offer here for K-12 educators, parents, and the generally curious. Sections of the site cover topics such as What Parents Should Know and Frequently Asked Questions. The Standards in Your State section is an easy way to explore which states have adopted the standards, complete with links to state and territory department of education websites. Perhaps best of all, PDFs of the English Language Arts/Literacy Standards and the Mathematics Standards are available right on the site. 

Your Brain on Books, Killer Digital Libraries and Archives (see below)

·http://carnegie.ru/eurasiaoutlook/

Geographically, Europe and Asia form a single, giant, populous landmass. While the bi-continental designation remains a political and cultural artifact, many commentators find it useful to look at "Eurasia" as a gestalt. The Carnegie Moscow Center's Eurasia Outlook blog features articles and insights from scholars, politicians, and commentators on the interpenetrating economies and politics of this unique region, with a special focus on Russia as a powerful, and sometimes destabilizing force. Readers may scout the site by Issues (Domestic Politics, Humanitarian Issues, Energy and Climate, and others), by Regions (Caucasus, Central Asia, Russia, and others), as well as by Contributors and Archives. 

·http://www.iss-casis.org/

The Center for the Advancement of Science in Space (CASIS) is a non-profit organization that was founded in 2011 to manage the International Space Station. In addition to making access to the station faster and easier, connecting funders to scientists, and making research accessible to the public, CASIS hosts an excellent website packed with information about the space station. Readers may view the short videos on the homepage for more information on the projects CASIS sponsors, or peruse articles under the News & Events tab. Perhaps the most interesting part of the site, however, are the three tabs set aside for researchers, businesses, and educators. In fact, the For Educators tab is especially helpful, as it features Lesson Plans on topics such as "The Laws of Newton" and "Tracking Satellites," a Q&A section, and Additional Resources for teachers. 

·https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCRuCgmzhczsm89jzPtN2Wuw

Nearly 13,000 viewers have subscribed to the National Science Foundation's YouTube channel. It's not a secret why. These well-produced and often poignant presentations have managed to pack so much into such a small space. Nearly all the videos clock in at less than four minutes. Many of the clips are just two or three minutes long so readers can easily learn about the birth of planets, the details of the tropospheric ozone, and the wonders of biomedical engineering — all within the timespan of a quick coffee break. The hundreds of available videos are broken into categories such as Computer Science, Brain Research, and Education, among others. Whether you are looking for an interesting tidbit to add to your lecture on Geoscience or you are simply curious about conservation efforts in Central Africa, there is much to enjoy here. 

·http://www.cato.org/policy-report

The Cato Institute is a think tank that promotes "principles of individual liberty, limited government, free markets and peace." For those looking for a libertarian perspective on a wide range of issues, the Cato Policy Report, published six times a year, will not disappoint. Recent cover stories have included an examination of "Science, Reason, and Moral Progress," by Michael Shermer, the renowned science writer and founder of the Skeptics Society; a treatise on "Why Government Fails and Why Ideas Matter," by libertarian economist Donald J. Boudreaux; and questions an article by counterterrorism expert Christopher A. Preble entitled, "The Most Dangerous World Ever?" In addition to the current issue, readers will enjoy the plentiful archive of issues to browse, all available online and as a PDF.

http://oedb.org/ilibrarian/250-plus-killer-digital-libraries-and-archives/

The title of this website says it all. A feature of the iLibrarian blog from the Open Education Database (OEDb), readers will find here a list of over 250 excellent digital libraries and archives. The list is categorized by state; within each state, resources are alphabetized. For instance, the state of Arkansas is home to the Arkansas History Commission Archives, the Arkansas State Library, and the University of Arkansas Libraries Digital Collection. Each link is accompanied by a short annotation describing the resource — the Main State Archives boasts collections of "trademarks, Civil War 'Yarns,' and more." Readers will also find a list of Recent Posts and the Most Popular Posts from the iLibrarian blog, which often focuses its attention on free educational resources, such as open webinars, university courses, and informal learning sources. [CNH]