TeachersFirst - Featured Sites: Week of Feb 11, 2018

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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KidzSearch - KidzSearch.com

Grades
K to 8
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KidzSearch is a safe, moderated search engine for kids. This site uses Google technology to provide search results; however, their algorithm pushes educationally suited websites further...more
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KidzSearch is a safe, moderated search engine for kids. This site uses Google technology to provide search results; however, their algorithm pushes educationally suited websites further up on the results. Use filters to view images, videos, facts, and more. In addition to the search feature, KidzSearch also includes KidzTube, games, and cool facts just for kids.
This site includes advertising.

tag(s): internet safety (112), search engines (49)

In the Classroom

Use KidzSearch as the default search engine on classroom computers. Share this site on an interactive whiteboard or with a projector to demonstrate how to search and use filters efficiently. Include a link to the site on your classroom webpage to share with parents. Bookmark sites found while using KidzSeach with a tool like Symbaloo, reviewed here, to easily locate them later. Combine information from KidzSearch with your other lesson content and use an interactive lesson tool like Vibby, reviewed here, to share content with embedded quizzes and videos.

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Room Escape Maker - doctorfou.com

Grades
8 to 12
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Room Escape Maker takes the popular room escape adventures online. The only way to escape is to solve a series of puzzles using hints and strategies as you find your ...more
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Room Escape Maker takes the popular room escape adventures online. The only way to escape is to solve a series of puzzles using hints and strategies as you find your way out of the locked room. Browse through the selection of games created by others to find ideas on how to use this site. When ready, choose "Create Game" to start. Begin with your chosen canvas or background and follow prompts to add items and clues to your escape room.
This site includes advertising.

tag(s): game based learning (171), gamification (74), makerspace (41)

In the Classroom

Increase student engagement in any subject through this form of gameplay! Create games to introduce main concepts within the escape room. Ask students to create a game using the information they have learned to share with fellow students. Before creating a game, have students map out information and strategies they will include in a blog format using a tool like edublog, reviewed here. Ask fellow students to share comments describing their problem-solving process as they try to escape the room.

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Moonshot Learning - Moonshot Learning

Grades
9 to 12
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Moonshot Learning provides free resources to explore the real-life applications of emergent technologies, many of the resources correlate to Common Core Standards. Choose the Online...more
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Moonshot Learning provides free resources to explore the real-life applications of emergent technologies, many of the resources correlate to Common Core Standards. Choose the Online Resources link to view all material offered, check out the Resource Categories on the left to sort the list by lessons, learning tools and more. Registration isn't required; however, it allows you to access all materials including teacher's guides. Lessons include videos, articles, and guiding questions.

tag(s): commoncore (75), computers (105), ethics (23), financial literacy (91), genetics (76)

In the Classroom

Use Moonshot Learning activities across the curriculum and to differentiate instruction based on student interest. Many of these activities are perfect for extension activities and for use with Gifted students. After completing activities found on this site have students create a multimedia presentation using Genial.ly, reviewed here. Genial.ly allows you to add polls, audio, videos, embeds, web links, PowerPoint, PDfs, and more.

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Stockio - stockio.com

Grades
K to 12
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Stockio provides thousands of free images, vector files, icons, fonts, and videos for personal and commercial use without attribution. Use the search bar and the drop-down box to search...more
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Stockio provides thousands of free images, vector files, icons, fonts, and videos for personal and commercial use without attribution. Use the search bar and the drop-down box to search by name and type of file. Registration isn't required; however, it allows you to save favorites and track downloaded files. As with all image sites, use caution when using with younger students. It is always suggested to preview your search results.
This site includes advertising.

tag(s): creative commons (29), images (270), photography (131)

In the Classroom

Before using, share this site with students on an interactive whiteboard or with a projector and demonstrate how to save files. Ads by images can be deceiving and lead to other download sites, not to the download of your requested file.

Use Stockio in the classroom any time images are needed for projects, even if the project is not put on a website for others to see. Even though the site says "no attribution required," it is a good idea to have students acknowledge, or as the site says "appreciate," the origin of the image; this will help to get them into the habit of citing their sources. Student groups can use Stockio to find the best image to use for a project collectively. Challenge students to create personalized images (with text) using PicFont, reviewed here. Teachers can collect images for use on their interactive whiteboard for sorting activities (monocots and dicots, producers and consumers, etc.). Use images as a writing prompt or in poetry collections. Art teachers can find images for students to use as references or in photo-montages (with attribution or "appreciation" as they say on the site). For an easy online photo editor and montage maker, try using Pixlr, reviewed here. Elementary teachers can use images from this site as part of student-run interactive whiteboard activities, such as labeling parts of plants. Speech and language or ESL/ELL teachers can find images to use in vocabulary development activities. World language teachers can find cultural photos to use in oral exercises.

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TechTerms Computer Dictionary - Sharpened Productions

Grades
6 to 12
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Expert and newbie tech users will appreciate this dictionary providing definitions of Internet and computer terms in easy to understand language. Search for any phrase or word or browse...more
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Expert and newbie tech users will appreciate this dictionary providing definitions of Internet and computer terms in easy to understand language. Search for any phrase or word or browse through recent additions to the dictionary. In addition to the dictionary, this site includes monthly quizzes. Choose the quizzes link to access archives dating back to 2011.
This site includes advertising.

tag(s): computers (105), dictionaries (48), quizzes (90), STEM (259)

In the Classroom

Save this site on your computer and student computers to quickly look up any technology terms. Have students create online posters individually or together as a class sharing technology terms using a tool such as Web Poster Wizard, reviewed here, or PicLits, reviewed here. Consolidate information learned from the site to create an annotated image including text boxes and related links using a tool such as Image Annotator, reviewed here. Take your student's learning to a higher level and ask them to create commercials or short video discussions of technology using a tool such as Powtoon, reviewed here, then share them using a tool such as SchoolTube, reviewed here.

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Web Literacy for Student Fact-Checkers - Michael A. Caulfield

Grades
4 to 12
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Web Literacy for Student Fact-Checkers is a timely ebook containing strategies for determining the truth of online statements. Each chapter discusses specific information on how to...more
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Web Literacy for Student Fact-Checkers is a timely ebook containing strategies for determining the truth of online statements. Each chapter discusses specific information on how to find deleted pages, who paid for a website, and using context clues to determine truthfulness in statements.

tag(s): ebooks (38), internet safety (112)

In the Classroom

Include this ebook with your resources when teaching online safety to students. Share a link on your class website or newsletter for parents. The short chapters work well with providing a lesson of the week with different techniques for determining the validity of web content. Share portions of the book on your interactive whiteboard or projector during classroom discussion. Use your smart board tools to highlight important content as you take a look at online information together as a class. No smart board? No problem! Use your projector and eMargin, reviewed here, to highlight and annotate as a class. Use an online tool such as Interactive Two Circle Venn Diagram, reviewed here, to compare and contrast different versions of an online article. When finished, have students make a multimedia presentation using one of the many TeachersFirst Edge tools to share their research into online information. Some tool suggestions are (click on the tool name to access the review): Visme, Adobe Creative Cloud Express for Education, Kizoa, and Clipchamp.

As an ongoing activity have students create blogs sharing online safety tips using Telegra.ph, here. There is no registration with Telegra.ph, and you'll get a unique URL for sharing. With Telegra.ph you just click on an icon to upload images from your computer, add a YouTube or Vimeo, or Twitter links.

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Typing Trainer - Typing Master, Inc

Grades
K to 12
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Typing Trainer provides a variety of games and activities using a step-by-step approach to keyboarding and typing skills. Each lesson includes skills practice, a review including targeted...more
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Typing Trainer provides a variety of games and activities using a step-by-step approach to keyboarding and typing skills. Each lesson includes skills practice, a review including targeted practice, and a final skills test.
This site includes advertising.

tag(s): game based learning (171), keyboarding (28)

In the Classroom

This site includes many ads. Before having students use the tools on their own, share this site on an interactive whiteboard or with a projector and demonstrate how to avoid the advertisements. Once students understand how to use the site, share a link on classroom computers and your class website for individual practice. Challenge students to increase typing speed and create a spreadsheet to record progress. Convert spreadsheets into a more visual table format using Tableizer, reviewed here. Have cooperative learning groups create podcasts with a typing tip of the week to share with the class. Use a site such as podOmatic, reviewed here. Be sure they type their script ahead of time!

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Digital Citizenship Resources - TeachersFirst

Grades
K to 12
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This editor's choice curated list of reviewed resources focuses on digital citizenship. Explore topics such as: protecting your digital footprint, protecting your identity, "netiquette,"...more
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This editor's choice curated list of reviewed resources focuses on digital citizenship. Explore topics such as: protecting your digital footprint, protecting your identity, "netiquette," and much more. Find varying levels of information for different age groups and materials to help parents cooperate in educating their children about digital citizenship.

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

In the Classroom

Use this entire collection or simply select the best ones for YOUR students to continually model good digital citizenship. Share the links with parents and among your colleagues so you can promote positive action instead of fear about the Internet.

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Coding In the Classroom Resources - TeachersFirst

Grades
K to 12
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This collection of reviewed resources from TeachersFirst is selected to help teachers and students learn about coding, and for use as a guide for finding the appropriate tools for use...more
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This collection of reviewed resources from TeachersFirst is selected to help teachers and students learn about coding, and for use as a guide for finding the appropriate tools for use with all grade and skill levels. Nurture problem solving, logic, and creativity. Find resources for just one hour of code or for use as ongoing technology lessons.

tag(s): coding (87), computational thinking (41), computers (105), critical thinking (112), design (82), makerspace (41), problem solving (225), STEM (259)

In the Classroom

Explore these resources for use with after-school computer clubs or as an excellent tool when recruiting skilled parent volunteers. Turn the intimidating content of computer programming into an exciting learning adventure for all with these helpful sites!

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Digital Learning Day - Alliance for Excellent Education

Grades
K to 12
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Digital Learning Day is an annual February event spotlighting successful instructional practice and effective use of technology around the country. Choose the "About DLDay" option to...more
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Digital Learning Day is an annual February event spotlighting successful instructional practice and effective use of technology around the country. Choose the "About DLDay" option to find out more about the goals of Digital Learning Day, begin with a detailed description listing the characteristics of digital learning. View exemplary models, showcases, lesson portals, and more using links provided. Sign up as a participant for Digital Learning Day then plan your own classroom activity, provide a presentation to parents, or choose from other ideas offered on the site. Explore the Participate portion of the site to find digital tools, online resources, graphics, lesson plans and more. Sign up isn't required; however, it does allow you to receive emails with updates and learning ideas throughout the year. The digital learning content demonstrations are conducted in four areas: math, science, language arts, and civics/social studies; critical areas, such as working with ELL or special education students, will be woven into the lessons.

tag(s): digital citizenship (83), digital storytelling (142), modeling (8), preK (254)

In the Classroom

Celebrate Digital Learning Day in your school by sharing this site and ideas for digital learning both in and out of school. Suggest to your PTO/PTA that they host a family digital learning evening on or about the same date. Bookmark and save this site to find digital learning ideas throughout the year and to plan special events for a midwinter Digital Learning Day celebration. Share with colleagues as a resource.

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