TeachersFirst - Featured Sites: Week of Aug 2, 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
The American Civil War: Then and Now - The Guardian
Grades
6 to 12This site includes advertising.
tag(s): civil war (215), photography (233), battles (27),
In the Classroom
It is tempting to scroll through the photographs quickly, but each deserves time for study and reflection. What is pictured in the original photograph? What is being communicated to the viewer? Challenge students to predict what the modern photo will show (you will need to hold the slider button to keep the photograph from changing automatically). What would Civil War-era soldiers think if they could see the modern photograph? What responsibility do we have to preserve sites like these in their original condition?You must be registered and logged in to add items to your favorites.
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Make Toys From Everyday Items - David Williamson
Grades
5 to 12tag(s): STEM (353), area (96), measurement (240), motion (88),
In the Classroom
Bookmark this site for use with STEM projects. Create a link on your class website for students to create toys at home. Challenge cooperative learning groups to create videos and share them on a site such as TeacherTube, reviewed here. Share the link with your librarian or media center specialist to get a "maker" center started at your school. These projects would also be great for an after school club!Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Google Maps Book Mash-up - Lovereading
Grades
6 to 12tag(s): maps (415), book lists (219), literature (387),
In the Classroom
This site is perfect for finding reading material with settings from all over the world. Encourage students to choose a place that interests them, and then find books set in that location. Use this tool as an anticipatory set or "activator" to introduce a unit or lesson on a projector or interactive whiteboard about setting or geography. Be sure to share a link to this tool on your class website or blog for students to use at home. After reading a book, have students create an annotated image of the setting, including text boxes and related links using a tool such as Thinglink, reviewed here.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Plickers - Nolan Amy
Grades
1 to 12This site includes advertising.
tag(s): game based learning (255), quiz (131), assessment (239), questioning (51), qr codes (28), DAT device agnostic tool (247), gamification (122),
In the Classroom
Create greater student engagement and increased student interest in your classroom with Plickers. Students give their input anonymously. Print out Plickers' cards and hand out to students. Use an interactive whiteboard or projector to explain how the Plickers cards work. Create questions, with or without images, and add multiple choice answers. Project your questions and possible answers. Have students hold up their card in the position that reflects their answer. Use your mobile device and Plickers mobile app to scan the cards. You will see a bar graph with student responses on your mobile device. These can be saved to your Plickers account. Use Plickers to answer exit questions or to see what students remember from the previous day. Use for formative assessment to identify misconceptions that students may have at the start of a unit. There are cards with larger fonts for young students or the visually impaired. ENL/ESL teachers could use this for vocabulary or sentence structure practice. Unless your school or district has access to a matte-finish for laminating or matte-plastic pockets, you may want to collect the cards at the end of class.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Wimp - wimp.com
Grades
K to 12This site includes advertising.
tag(s): musical instruments (81), animals (498), video (456),
In the Classroom
Bookmark Wimp as a resource for finding videos for lessons and activities. Share the direct link to individual videos on your class website or blog. To remove the distracting advertisements on video sharing sites and more, use a tool such as Clipchamp, reviewed here, or Watchkin, reviewed here.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Enemy Aliens - Vancouver Holocaust Education Centre
Grades
6 to 12tag(s): canada (37), germany (47), hitler (16), world war 2 (244), holocaust (66), jews (34),
In the Classroom
Take advantage of the free lesson plans included on this site as part of any World War II unit. Divide students into cooperative learning groups to explore the site. Have each group become "experts" about different sections then teach their portion to their classmates. Have students create a simple infographic sharing their findings using Canva Infographic Maker, reviewed here, or Venngage, reviewed here. Have students collaborate and create maps using MapHub, reviewed here With MapHub students can add icons, text, images, and locations of different points of refuge for those fleeing the Holocaust.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Hott Notes - Joel Riley
Grades
1 to 12tag(s): note taking (65),
In the Classroom
A teacher's life is full of many things to remember. Keep sticky notes wherever you go on your computer desktop, in a folder, and on a USB mini-drive. Students love technology so encourage sticky note reminders. Use as a way to have students vote for choices. Allow students to add a sticky note to your computer after finishing an assignment. List all materials needed for lessons and labs on your sticky notes. Gather them from multiple places and still keep track. Use as a way to brainstorm with your class and later eliminate unneeded ideas. Keep weekly vocabulary or spelling words on Hott Notes for all of your student computers. Use as a method for tracking behavior.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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60 Minute Physics: The Course - Henry Reich
Grades
10 to 12tag(s): magnetism (56), solar energy (50), energy (274), light (77), temperature (54), gravity (75), forces (70), evolution (129), matter (80), space (320), video (456),
In the Classroom
Enroll in 60 Minute Physics to access the many videos and lessons available. These videos are perfect for use on an interactive whiteboard or projector. Use as a short introduction to lessons or to supplement current materials. Share 60 Minute Physics with students as an excellent resource for enrichment or differentiation.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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