TeachersFirst - Featured Sites: Week of Jan 6, 2013
Here are this week's features. Clicking the tags in the description area of each listing will present a list of other resources with this topic. | Click here to return to the Featured Sites Archive
Murder at the Met: An American Art Mystery - The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Grades
5 to 12tag(s): mysteries (40), interactive stories (57), critical thinking (185), thinking skills (27), art history (128), artists (134),
In the Classroom
Whether teaching art history or a unit on mysteries and deductive reasoning, students will learn from using this program. Though there is a place for students to keep notes, they should also keep their own notes about the clues, especially why they chose the ones they mark "highly suspicious." Replace paper and pencil by using a tool like Memo Notepad, reviewed here, for digital note taking. If you and your students liked this site you might also enjoy "Mysterious Places: Ancient Civilizations Modern Mysteries," reviewed here, with its lovely photographs to go along with the mysteries. A natural follow up would be to have your students write their own mysteries. Expository Escapades - Detective's Handbook, reviewed here, is just the place to give you some ideas! Challenge gifted students to create similar mysteries using subject matter in any science or social studies class.You must be registered and logged in to add items to your favorites.
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Chemreference: Periodic Table - Nathan Bookout
Grades
6 to 12This site includes advertising.
tag(s): atoms (68), periodic table (71), elements (54),
In the Classroom
Use this site to gather information to learn about the elements. Compare the different elements to determine how the properties change down the columns of the periodic table or across in the rows. Use this activity before studying periodicity. Knowing the elements is more powerful when they are studying the trends in the periodic table. Report group findings to the class to understand how the periodic table is arranged and what elements have in common with one another. Create a mindmap using a tool such as scribblar (reviewed here) or a poster using PicLits (reviewed here) of the trends of the periodic table for quick reference.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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TV411 - Science - Adult Literacy Media Alliance
Grades
1 to 10tag(s): charts and graphs (296), water (201), nutrition (234), plants (244), bacteria (39),
In the Classroom
Share this site on your interactive whiteboard or projector to introduce or review of Science topics. These topics are appropriate to Family and Consumer Science classes as well. Learning support teachers and those who work with concrete learners will appreciate the way these lessons connect to experience in the real world. Share this site with parents through your classroom website or blog to provide review materials at home. Challenge students to create their own science videos about a topic that your class is currently studying. Share the videos using a tool such as SchoolTube reviewed here.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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ReadWorks - ReadWorks.org
Grades
K to 12Teachers can create classes to assign reading and track assessments (which are automatically graded). After signing up with email, click on Admin from the top menu and create a class. Students join the class by using a code and their Google account. No Google account? No problem. Create a roster and provide the class code to students. Easily create assignments for the whole class, or individuals as a way to differentiate. This is a perfect tool to use for remote (or distance) teaching and learning!
tag(s): Teacher Utilities (201), parts of speech (98), characterization (26), themes (18), sequencing (40), point of view (14), plot (18), main idea (12), figurative language (24), vocabulary (467), context clues (8), guided reading (63), reading comprehension (223), reading strategies (139),
In the Classroom
Show students how to sign up and log in to ReadWorks using a projector or interactive whiteboard. Complete a sample assignment together. Use ReadWorks in blended learning or flipped classrooms leaving class time for asking questions and clarifying. Post the link on your website and consider assigning the Article-A-Day for at home reading. Rotate the subjects weekly and discuss the topic the next day in class. Consider using a back channel tool such as GoSoapBox, reviewed here, for the discussion, so even your quiet and shy students feel comfortable participating, and you can get analytics after the discussion. Teachers of all subjects, but especially science and social studies, can find topics for students to read for their subject. Then challenge students to research the topic further. Redefine learning by having students submit their findings to a special class magazine using Underline, reviewed here, created for the topic. Differentiation can be accomplished easily by assigning to individual students, or you can create multiple classes, which would actually be small groups, who read at the same level or have the same topic interest.Once the students are familiar with the site use Symbaloo Learning Paths, reviewed here, to assign reading to groups at the same reading level. Older students, once they know their reading level, can their select reading and create their own Symbaloo Learning Paths. Check these to make sure students include all types of reading, and that they are challenging themselves. After several selections, ask older students to choose the topic they were most interested in, find resources to learn more about the topic, then extend their learning by presenting their findings using a multimedia tool such as (click on the tool name to access the review): Canva Infographic Maker, Marq (Lucidpress), Powtoon, or Adobe Express Video Maker.
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Map Interactivos - Enrique Alonso
Grades
3 to 12tag(s): asia (93), canada (37), capitals (30), landforms (56), oceans (243), rivers (32), states (202), countries (116), continents (66), map skills (110), maps (415),
In the Classroom
Demonstrate how to access maps on your interactive whiteboard or projector. Allow students to explore and play on their own. Use this site for student practice or for world cultures and world language classes. Share a link to the site via your class website or blog for students to play at home.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Symbolab - Michal Avny
Grades
8 to 12tag(s): calculators (63), scientific method (84), equations (224), symbols (26),
In the Classroom
Use as a search engine for mathematics students. Sort results to find explanations of how to solve an equation, what an equation is used for, as well as videos and examples of an equation in use. IN chemistry class, search for examples of chemical equations and places where they are used.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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The CAT in the HAT Knows a Lot About That - PBS Kids
Grades
K to 2tag(s): measurement (240), alphabet (121), numbers (259), geometric shapes (230), colors (114), preK (423), dr seuss (23),
In the Classroom
Share this site (video or activity) on your interactive whiteboard or projector. Use at a center to provide self-directed explorations. Offer on your class website as a resource for home use. Assign different areas to students based on their strengths and weaknesses. Some games even allow students to create their own version. Provide this website as a guide to parents to practice necessary skills for young students.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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BiblioNasium - Marjan Ghara
Grades
1 to 7This site includes advertising.
tag(s): descriptive writing (76), writing (569), social networking (179), independent reading (155), classroom management (238),
In the Classroom
Use BiblioNasium to manage an independent reading program from reading logs to tailored reading lists. Stack your virtual bookshelves with recommended or required reads: set reading goals, create challenges, and keep track of student reading by using BiblioNasium in your classroom. Your students can easily see what they have read, what they like, and what they plan to read. Be sure to have them evaluate the books they read using BiblioNasium to help others find their next book. Find books by Lexile reading levels with BiblioNasium's Search Field. BiblioNasium is partners with MetaMetrics'''''''''A®, developer of the Lexile'''''''''A® Framework for Reading. Knowing the reading levels of your students, you can set up leveled small groups for literature circles or nonfiction reading.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Storyboard That - Aaron Sherman and Clever Prototypes, LLC
Grades
4 to 12This site includes advertising.
tag(s): charts and graphs (296), writing (569), digital storytelling (300), creative writing (243),
In the Classroom
Enhance learning and demonstrate how to create a storyboard using Storyboard That on your interactive whiteboard or projector. As you and your students create a class story, show them the different selections of characters, settings, dialogue boxes and more. Show them how easy it is to edit anything in the frame. Have your students use "Storyboard That" for anything from brainstorming for a video story they want to create to a final copy of a story, report, comic, or poem. This is a highly engaging way to teach your students about story elements, dialogue, character development, etc. Challenge students to create a storyboard of a book or short story recently finished in class as a review of characters and story plot and extending their learning. World language students can create storyboards and label the images, or tell the story in the language they are learning. "Storyboard That" has a growing collection of lesson plans and you can also contribute yours. Math teachers can use the interesting storyboard characters to explain word problems and capture reluctant student's interest. Have your students complete biographies for famous people. Tell the story of different famous events in history or explain their understanding of cell division using this easy program that produces entertaining results. Autistic or emotional support teachers can have students storyboard interpersonal behavior skills.Comments
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Thou shalt not commit logical fallacies - Jesse Richardson, Andy Smith, Sam Meadon
Grades
6 to 12This site includes advertising.
tag(s): debate (66), persuasive writing (96), critical thinking (185), logic (326), thinking skills (27), reading comprehension (223),
In the Classroom
Most academic writing presents a premise to be proved (an argument). When you first start to have your students try to understand logical fallacies, show them the online poster for logical fallacies and get them started trying to find these fallacies in their everyday lives. You could assign a fallacy a week and have students write in a journal, or a little tablet when they come across one. Or collect them on a class wiki with a page for each fallacy type. You could even have them make up their own logical fallacies. Have students create online posters on paper or do it together as a class using a tool such as Web Poster Wizard (reviewed here) or PicLits (reviewed here. After introducing logical fallacies, have students peer edit papers to make sure the writer is not trying to support one of these fallacies. Of course, any speech and debate, or media strategies class would benefit from a review this site. During political seasons, be sure to share this site for evaluating politicians' positions.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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