📚 What Word Defines 2024?

Lesson Plan #14

December 09, 2024

In partnership with

Happy Monday, educators! The Oxford Dictionary has just revealed the word of the year. Cue the dramatic drumroll… 🥁

“Brain Rot”

It’s the term for that foggy, mashed-potato feeling you get after scrolling endlessly through negative social media—its usage has shot up by 230%, thanks largely to TikTok.

The term isn’t new. The phrase “brain rot” dates back to 1854 when Henry David Thoreau wrote, “While England endeavors to cure the potato rot, will not any endeavor to cure the brain rot—which prevails so much more widely and fatally?” Here’s the truth: every generation faces the same question—How can we focus on what really matters, without letting negative distractions take over?

That’s exactly why the Goodable app exists. You can uncover daily doses of positivity, heartwarming stories and inspiring audio from coaches and mentors—all designed to help you live a happier and healthier life. Plus, it’s free! With Goodable, The word of the year is something much different: Hope. 🙂

If you haven’t yet, check it out here. 🎉

📖 STORIES OF THE WEEK

ENVIRONMENT: “Sea-feed” Could Protect the Planet From Cow Burps (Grades 1 to 5)

Can cows save the planet with a menu makeover? 🐄💨 Scientists say they’ve figured out how red seaweed is reducing methane on farms, one burp and toot at a time!

SCIENCE: How Middle Schoolers Found a Cancer-Fighting Compound in Goose Poop (Grades 6 to 8)

You achieve incredible things every day—but how often does it involve goose poop in a local park? 🦆💩 For a group of Chicago middle schoolers, that’s exactly how they became “bonafide biomedical scientists!”

MENTAL HEALTH: When to Be Kind and When It’s OK to Set Boundaries (Grades 9 to 12)

Scrolling through social media, you’ve likely seen vibrant infographics on setting boundaries and handling feedback. The "You Don’t Owe Anyone Anything" trend is redefining self-care. Here’s how it can spark a deeper conversation about balancing boundaries with compassion.

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