TeachersFirst - Featured Sites: Week of Jun 21, 2015

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

 

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Twchat ( X formerly Twitter) - TwChat

Grades
9 to 12
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Create a real-time chat room based on an X (formerly Twitter) hashtag. Invite users to TwChat to participate in an online presentation without additional programs. Assign others to...more
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Create a real-time chat room based on an X (formerly Twitter) hashtag. Invite users to TwChat to participate in an online presentation without additional programs. Assign others to assist you with moderation. View a list of the Latest Chats and Upcoming Chats. Click "Create own room" to begin. Sign in with X (formerly Twitter) to participate, and then create your first room. Enter the time and schedule for the chat. X (formerly Tweets) appear in the room from all participants. Your X (formerly tweets) appear in the mentor column. Use this tool to follow new X (formerly Twitter) users or block participants.

tag(s): chat (42), communication (136), microblogging (18), PLN (6), social networking (68), twitter (19)

In the Classroom

Do you use X (formerly Twitter) in the classroom? Use TwChat to create a chat room using a hashtag as invitation. See all tweets related to the hashtag in one place. Consider using a X (formerly Twitter) chat as a collaborative activity to find and share resources about a topic, translate material into/from another language, or understand the meaning behind literary works. Not interested in starting your own chat? Explore the site to discover X (formerly Twitter) chats to match your interests and needs. Find chats that are related to your expertise to learn about issues in the field or to bring a new perspective of that subject area to share with your classes. Find new people with similar interest to follow and build your PLN. Need more information about X (formerly Twitter)? Read more about X (formerly Twitter) at TeachersFirst's Twitter for Teachers page.

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InstaNerd - InstaNerd

Grades
8 to 12
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InstaNerd offers an endless stream of facts, providing you with smart, scientific and (a little nerdy) general knowledge. Click "Start" to begin. Continue clicking the next button (or...more
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InstaNerd offers an endless stream of facts, providing you with smart, scientific and (a little nerdy) general knowledge. Click "Start" to begin. Continue clicking the next button (or even easier, use the arrow on your computer keyboard) to view new and nerdy facts. Sign up to get new facts in your email box once a week. Although content appears to be appropriate, be sure to preview facts before sharing with students.
This site includes advertising.

tag(s): trivia (18)

In the Classroom

Bookmark and save InstaNerd as a resource for thought-provoking trivia throughout the year. Share one item on your interactive whiteboard (or projector) at the beginning of each class for class discussion. Although content appears to be appropriate, be sure to preview facts before sharing on your interactive whiteboard or projector.

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Watch 1000 Years of European Borders Change in 3 Minutes - Nick Morenenko

Grades
7 to 12
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View the ever-changing borders of European countries through this time-lapse video. Beginning in 1141 with the domination of the Holy Roman and Byzantine Empires, watch borders change...more
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View the ever-changing borders of European countries through this time-lapse video. Beginning in 1141 with the domination of the Holy Roman and Byzantine Empires, watch borders change year by year until reaching Europe of 2012. This video provides an exciting, dynamic look at changes in Europe throughout the years.
This site includes advertising.

tag(s): england (50), europe (75), france (37), germany (25), italy (16), maps (208), russia (33), spain (11), video (256)

In the Classroom

This video is perfect for use on an interactive whiteboard or projector to provide an overview of the changes in European borders over many years. Pause the video as you watch to view and discuss changes. Use the embed or link code provided to share this site on your class web page. Have students create maps using MapHub, reviewed here, to demonstrate changes in borders. Students can add icons, URLs, text, images, and location stops! Divide students into groups to explore different periods of time, then challenge students to create a presentation using Prezi, reviewed here. Use during current events lessons to help students understand that current European conflicts relate back to changes taking place over many hundreds of years.

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That's Not Cool - Futures Without Violence

Grades
6 to 12
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Find tools to help you establish your digital line about what is or is not okay in your relationships at That's Not Cool. The site provides digital examples of controlling, ...more
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Find tools to help you establish your digital line about what is or is not okay in your relationships at That's Not Cool. The site provides digital examples of controlling, pressuring, and threatening behavior to raise awareness about and prevent teen dating abuse. Choose from different site resources such as videos, callout cards, and games to learn how to protect yourself online. Some of the topics shared are not appropriate for younger students. Be sure to preview!

tag(s): cyberbullying (40), digital citizenship (83), internet safety (112)

In the Classroom

Share a link to That's Not Cool on your class website for students to access from home. Be sure to share this site with parents so they can have a conversation about the topics found here with their students. Discuss topics on this site as part of your Internet safety lessons. Share this site with school counselors as a resource for teens facing online safety issues.

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Philadelphia Museum of Art Teacher Resources - Philadelphia Museum of Art

Grades
K to 12
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This tool is a great lesson plan resource for correlating art with other curricular areas! First, scroll down to Featured Resources, Resources by Subject Matter, or Resources by Grade...more
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This tool is a great lesson plan resource for correlating art with other curricular areas! First, scroll down to Featured Resources, Resources by Subject Matter, or Resources by Grade Level. Curricular Areas include Language Arts, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, STEAM, Social Justice, Critical Thinking, and several others. Click the resulting lessons to view a PDF that includes links to artwork images at the Philadelphia Museum of Art, Common Core standards, and a detailed lesson plan.

tag(s): art history (85), artists (77)

In the Classroom

Bookmark and save this site as a resource for art projects throughout the year, especially if budget cuts have taken away your art teacher! Use this site as a way to get students interested in art and its relationship with other subject areas and its relevance in our life.
 This resource requires PDF reader software like Adobe Acrobat.

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Digital Citizenship - NSW Department of Education and Communities

Grades
K to 12
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Digital Citizenship offers a large number of resources for teaching digital citizenship for students of all ages, teachers, and parents. Choose from from the top menu Teachers, Students,...more
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Digital Citizenship offers a large number of resources for teaching digital citizenship for students of all ages, teachers, and parents. Choose from from the top menu Teachers, Students, or Parents to begin. Each section includes articles and resources for learning responsible digital citizenship. The site was created in Australia. American English speakers may notice some slight differences in spellings and pronunciations. The videos reside on sites other than Digital Citizenship. Some are on YouTube. If your district blocks YouTube, the videos may not be viewable.

tag(s): cyberbullying (40), digital citizenship (83), internet safety (112)

In the Classroom

Bookmark Digital Citizenship for use in any Internet safety lesson or unit. Create a link to individual activities on classroom computers. Be sure to share a link to this site with parents for use at home.

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The Crisis of Credit Visualized - Jonathan Jarvis

Grades
8 to 12
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This video provides a short and simple explanation of the very complicated story of the credit crisis. The narrator provides the background of institutional banking and financing and...more
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This video provides a short and simple explanation of the very complicated story of the credit crisis. The narrator provides the background of institutional banking and financing and takes viewers up to the events leading to the mortgage crisis. If your district blocks YouTube, the video may not be viewable.

tag(s): financial literacy (91)

In the Classroom

Use this site as an anticipatory set or "activator" to introduce a unit or lesson on finances on a projector or interactive whiteboard. Have small groups or pairs of students explore different groups mentioned in the video such as homeowners, banks, or Wall Street financiers. Have students create a simple infographic sharing their findings using Venngage, reviewed here. Post a link to this video on your class web page for students and parents to view at home.

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Shape Collage - ShapeCollage, Inc.

Grades
K to 12
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Make a collage of your images into a variety of shapes. Download the free program for Mac OS, Windows, Linux, iPhone, and iPad. Drag images into the window and choose ...more
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Make a collage of your images into a variety of shapes. Download the free program for Mac OS, Windows, Linux, iPhone, and iPad. Drag images into the window and choose the collage shape (heart, characters, animals, and more) or create and customize your own shape. Collages do not show the company watermark, and you can export them to Photoshop. Click Help from the top menu bar and follow the demo video for tips and tricks.

tag(s): collages (20), images (270), themes (11)

In the Classroom

Use Shape Collage to take a variety of images to make a collage. Use this tool to create pages of class memories for the end of the year and create yearbook type effects easily. Since you can create and customize the shapes, this would be a great tool to represent a theme for any story, novel, or unit of study.

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NationStates - Max Barry

Grades
6 to 12
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There are plenty of simulation interactives for major life events such as pandemics, but what happens in everyday life? NationStates brings to life daily decisions. This multiplayer...more
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There are plenty of simulation interactives for major life events such as pandemics, but what happens in everyday life? NationStates brings to life daily decisions. This multiplayer online interactive features you as the head of your nation to create and shape how you see fit. To get started, create your nation by giving it a name. Customize various aspects, such as the flag, history, and national animal. Then get into the heart of your nation: political, social, and economic issues. These choices determine the initial status of your nation. As you play, these problems will change with your choices. Every day an issue is presented and the choices you make affect the outcome of your nation. Your choices become the national law in your nation. Warning: There is one problem a day, but you can change that to two in your account settings. As you play, various aspects of your nation change and the type of government shifts (maybe even including anarchy). Choose to stay an independent nation or join others to create a region. Participate in the World Assembly (the pretend U.N.). View debates in the forum that actually touch on current events in the game and in real life. One thing to note: If you are not attentive to the issues that come up each day, the game ends quickly. The good news is that it takes very little time to view the issue, act, and see the result. Note: This interactive is loosely based on the novel Jennifer Government by Max Barry.
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tag(s): foreign policy (12), money (119), politics (113), sociology (22)

In the Classroom

Students can use this interactive individually, making connections to their choice, results, and connections to actual world events, present and past. Additionally, students can join a region and see how their decisions affect other nations. A great lesson is to allow students to run their nation according to their political views and see the results as they unfold through play. Be sure to treat this seriously as the issues presented here are actual issues that governments must deal with daily. Even making a decision within your political viewpoint can lead to results that are not anticipated. Require students to discuss their viewpoint, why they believe they are right, the resulting consequence, and how it has changed what they believe. Following the play, give time for students to research an initiative or action a country made and the resulting consequences that have resulted. Present, discuss, or debate these with the class. Allow every student in class to have a voice by using a student response system such as Infuse Learning, reviewed here, or GoSoapBox, reviewed here.

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Quizzity - Dvid Peter

Grades
5 to 12
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Learn where in the world cities are with Quizzity. Click the start button and a city and country will appear at the top. Zoom in on an area by clicking ...more
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Learn where in the world cities are with Quizzity. Click the start button and a city and country will appear at the top. Zoom in on an area by clicking on the plus symbol. Once you have clicked on an area, two tabs will appear. The brown tab is where you placed the marker and the green one is where the city actually is located. Get six locations and see how well you know the cities of the world. No registration is required.

tag(s): cities (16), countries (69), map skills (56)

In the Classroom

Show students how to use Quizzity with an interactive whiteboard or projector. Put a link to Quizzity on a computer in your classroom used for learning centers or individual practice. Have class contests by dividing the students into groups and rotate around the room (or between two groups) keeping track of how many points each team gets. Post a link for this tool on your class webpage for use at home.

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