FreeRice

Apologies for not posting for two weeks. I was on a self-imposed media blackout over April vacation. It was an extremely relaxing and rejuvenating week. Now, it's posting time!

The news this past week (okay, I wasn't on a complete media blackout!) reported on global rising food prices (CNN reports, Food price rise 'global crisis,' says U.N. chief – 4/25/08). Rice prices specifically are at an all-time high.

This seems like an appropriate time to introduce (or reintroduce) you to a web-based vocabulary game that is doing its part to help end hunger. FreeRice.com launched on October 7, 2007 with two goals: "(1) to provide English vocabulary to everyone for free; and (2) to help end work hunger by providing rice to hungry people for free." The site presents visitors with a word and four definition choices. For each correct answer, 20 grains of rice are donated for the hungry through the UN World Food Program. As of April 26, 2008, a total of 29,600,638,050 grains of rice have been donated.

CBS News did a follow up story on FreeRice.com on the evening news on Friday, April 25, 2008. This video illustrates how through FreeRice.com students in Bloomington, Indiana are building their vocabulary while helping to feed students in Uganda.



So, check out FreeRice.com and build a better vocabulary and a better world.