Verizon Thinkfinity.org Adds 154 New Free Online Educational Resources to Assist Teachers as They Return to School

Just in time for the new school year, Verizon Thinkfinity.org has added 154 educational resources to its already robust collection for teachers, parents, students and after-school programs.

Verizon Thinkfinity.org contains thousands of free educational resources including interactive games, videos and activities that make learning fun. Lesson plans, in-class activities and homework help can be found quickly and searched by grade level, keyword, or subject.

The added resources, which are now available under the new resources section, include:

• If a Body Texts a Body: Texting in the Catcher in the Rye - This lesson from the National Council of Teachers of English and the International Reading Association's Readwritethink.org serves as a review of the novel, exploring Holden Caulfield's character and narrative voice, and offering a study of text messaging. Students compare several forms of communication, then select moments in the novel in which Holden might have used text messaging if it had been available. For students in grades 9-12. http://www.readwritethink.org/lessons/lesson_view.asp?id=1170%20

• A Letter to Abraham Lincoln - In this "OurStory" module from the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History, children read "Mr. Lincoln's Whiskers," which tells the story of Grace Bedell and the letter she sent to Lincoln in 1860. This resource includes links to hands-on activities and a list of recommended readings for further exploration. For students in grades K-4. http://americanhistory.si.edu/ourstory/activities/lincoln/
• Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn: Jazz Composers - This online exhibition from the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History examines two jazz standards - Ellington's "Caravan" and Strayhorn's "Take the 'A' Train" - through the use of primary source documents, media clips and biographies of the composers. For students in grades 4-12. http://americanhistory.si.edu/documentsgallery/exhibitions/ellington_strayhorn_1.html

In addition to providing standards-based resources from the nation's leading educational organizations, Verizon Thinkfinity also offers a comprehensive professional-development program that allows teachers to sign up for free online or face-to-face training to learn how to make the most of the free tools and resources.

Verizon Thinkfinity offers free webinars for teachers and parents on six different topics. The 30-to-60-minute sessions include: "Think Back to School," "History in a Hurry: Using Smithsonian's History Explorer Web Site," "Reaching 21st Century Students with Verizon Thinkfinity," and "OurStory: Teaching K-4 Social Studies With Historical Fiction." A complete list of webinars can be found at http://www.thinkfinity.org/pd/national_training.aspx.

"Each new school year is a time of excitement, growth and opportunity, said Verizon Foundation President Patrick Gaston. "Verizon Thinkfinity provides teachers with immediate access to a continually expanding list of educational resources to engage their students and prepare them to succeed in the classroom and 21st century workplace."

Content for Verizon Thinkfinity is provided through a partnership between the Verizon Foundation and 11 of the nation's leading organizations in the fields of education and literacy: the American Association for the Advancement of Science, Council for Economic Education, International Reading Association, The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, National Center for Family Literacy, National Endowment for the Humanities, National Council of Teachers of English, National Council of Teachers of Mathematics, National Geographic Society, ProLiteracy and the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History.

The Verizon Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Verizon Communications, supports the advancement of literacy and K-12 education and fosters awareness and prevention of domestic violence.  In 2008, the Verizon Foundation awarded more than $68 million in grants to nonprofit agencies in the U.S. and abroad.  It also matched the charitable donations of Verizon employees and retirees, resulting in an additional $26 million in combined contributions to nonprofits.  Through Verizon Volunteers, one of the nation's largest employee volunteer programs, Verizon employees and retirees have volunteered more than 3 million hours of community service since 2000. For more information on the foundation, visit www.verizonfoundation.org.

Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE:VZ), headquartered in New York, is a global leader in delivering broadband and other wireless and wireline communications services to mass market, business, government and wholesale customers.  Verizon Wireless operates America's most reliable wireless network, serving more than 87 million customers nationwide.  Verizon's Wireline operations provide converged communications, information and entertainment services over the nation's most advanced fiber-optic network.  Wireline also includes Verizon Business, which delivers innovative and seamless business solutions to customers around the world.  A Dow 30 company, Verizon employs a diverse workforce of more than 235,000 and last year generated consolidated operating revenues of more than $97 billion.  For more information, visit www.verizon.com.

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