TeachersFirst - Featured Sites: Week of Mar 13, 2016
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
eLearning Infographics - e-Learning Industry LLC
Grades
K to 12
This site includes advertising.
tag(s): digital storytelling (141), infographics (55), professional development (392)
In the Classroom
Take advantage of the infographics on this site for both classroom use and professional development. Introduce a topic by sharing the Infographic and allowing time for students (or peers) to identify various items that they notice about the chart. Allow time to think-pair-share and list questions for further understanding. Choose a new infographic each week and use links for each image to embed on your website or share via social media. Make curriculum content more real with infographics that students can relate to. Consider creating Infographics of material students are learning in class for better understanding and connection with other topics and the world around them. You and students can create a simple infographic sharing information and/or findings using Snappa, reviewed here.You must be registered and logged in to add items to your favorites.
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The Election Collection - PBS Learning Media
Grades
3 to 12tag(s): debate (37), elections (80), electoral college (22), presidents (121), speech (66)
In the Classroom
Include The Election Collection as part of any election unit. Have students research candidate information and compare and contrast points of view. Use an online tool such as the Interactive Two Circle Venn Diagram, reviewed here, or the Interactive Three Circle Venn Diagram, reviewed here. Pose a controversial question about an election issue and have students answer as one of the candidates. Use a tool such as Dotstorming, reviewed here, for that exercise. Or, challenge students to use Fakebook, reviewed here, to create a "fake" page similar in style to Facebook about a candidate's journey through the election process. Or, using Fakebook, have two candidates debate an issue. Be sure to take advantage of the free lesson plans offered on this site correlated to National History Standards.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Fun Science Demos - Dr. George Mehler & Jared Hottenstein
Grades
K to 8tag(s): earth (185), electricity (60), energy (130), engineering (119), heat (15), human body (93), life cycles (21), magnetism (36), matter (47), minerals (14), moon (70), recycling (46), rocks (36), solar system (108), sound (74), space (213), STEM (260), sun (69), video (256), water (101)
In the Classroom
Flip your classroom and use a video as homework. Have students take notes on the material and write down questions they still have and topics that confuse them. Or, use a tool like playposit,reviewed here, for students to pause videos and ask or answer questions right on the video. These activities can uncover misconceptions. Show the video to the class, and then discuss the concept at length. To share a single video from this site without all the YouTube clutter, View Pure, reviewed here, and create a shortcut to the View Pure page directly on the desktop. For more advanced classes, provide time for students to choose a video to view and research the underlying concept.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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The Vocabulary Trainer - LanguageCourse S.L.
Grades
3 to 12tag(s): arabic (13), chinese (44), french (73), german (48), greek (33), hebrew (16), italian (28), japanese (47), multilingual (64), spanish (105)
In the Classroom
This site would be very handy in world language classes and when working with ENL/ESL students. Use this site as a learning station or center. Include this site as a resource when students are preparing a project about another culture. If you have students in world language, world cultures, or even language arts classes who need enrichment - send them to this site to learn the basics of a new language or to look for roots that show in English. Self-motivated advanced students or those planning a semester abroad can learn language basics on their own here. Be sure to include this site for "Children of the World Day" or family heritage day activities.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Plants Map - Bill Blevins
Grades
4 to 12tag(s): communities (36), maps (208), plants (144)
In the Classroom
Share Plants Map on your interactive whiteboard or projector to locate and discover different kinds of plants. Click the map to find species near you. If you are lucky enough to have a school garden, Plants Map is the perfect site for planning, documenting, and sharing your garden with your students and community.Edge Features:
Parent permission advised before posting student work created using this tool
Includes Interaction w general public/ public galleries with unmoderated content
Requires registration/log-in (WITH email)
Products can be shared by URL
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Spiral - The Social Learning Network
Grades
K to 12tag(s): assessment (147), Formative Assessment (70), gamification (74), microblogging (18)
In the Classroom
Spiral is a terrific set of tools to use whether you are just starting to incorporate tech with students or if you are a long time user of tech with students. After creating an account, start out simply with Quickfire. Students must create an account (no email required) and select their school. Teachers must approve students to join a class. You can also download Spiral's spreadsheet, fill it out, and upload it. You could also use Quickfire for back-channel discussions which encourages timid students to participate.Edge Features:
Includes an education-only area for teachers and students
Parent permission advised before posting student work created using this tool
Requires registration/log-in (WITH email)
Multiple users can collaborate on the same project
Includes teacher tools for registering and/or monitoring students
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Girls Garage (Project H) - Project H Design - Emily Pilloton
Grades
3 to 12tag(s): architecture (64), creativity (92), design (83), gifted (65), STEM (260)
In the Classroom
Share Project H with students as a resource for group projects or enrichment. The ideas on Project H are perfect when considering ideas for math, science, or art Fairs. Create a link on your class website for students to use at home. After completing a project, have students take a photo. Then, show them how to embed media transforming their work by uploading it to Thinglink, reviewed here. Students can then annotate the photo with text boxes, related links, and video to explain the process of how they created their product.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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