TeachersFirst - Featured Sites: Week of May 10, 2020
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
Reading Treks: Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet - TeachersFirst
Grades
9 to 12
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TeachersFirst Reading Treks create a virtual field trip of resources about a piece of literature or text using the My Maps feature of Google Maps. This Reading Trek provides inspiration...more
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TeachersFirst Reading Treks create a virtual field trip of resources about a piece of literature or text using the My Maps feature of Google Maps. This Reading Trek provides inspiration and suggestions for using the trade book Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet. Learn through two different timelines (the 1940s and 1980s) the story about the friendship of a Chinese American 12-year-old boy and a Japanese American girl. It is set in the city of Seattle and its cultural, musical, political, and social conflicts at the height of the WWII. The plot focuses on the painful separation of friends during the confining of Japanese Americans to internment camps. Use our robust Instructional Guide with students in grades 9-12. Content correlates to Common Core Standards and ISTE Student Standards. Find the entire selection of Reading Treks here.
tag(s): 1940s (14), 1980s (7), cross cultural understanding (157), virtual field trips (80), world war 2 (149)
In the Classroom
Take advantage of the many suggested classroom uses for this resource found on the Instructional Guide (PDF). Consider using the historical information and primary sources from the book to have students create timelines of the important events both during the 1940s and the 1980s. Find a variety of free online timeline creation tools located here. Using the map and locales, trace and then calculate distances for some of Henry's travels from Seattle to New York City. Use Google My Maps, reviewed here, to create and share custom maps.
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Reading Treks: Around the World Right Now - TeachersFirst
Grades
K to 5
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TeachersFirst Reading Treks create a virtual field trip of resources about a piece of literature or text using the My Maps feature of Google Maps. This Reading Trek provides inspiration...more
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TeachersFirst Reading Treks create a virtual field trip of resources about a piece of literature or text using the My Maps feature of Google Maps. This Reading Trek provides inspiration and suggestions for using the trade book, Around the World Right Now. Travel through each of the 24 time zones and experience the people, places, and things that exist there. Introduce geography and time-telling as well as the richness and diversity of life on Earth. Use our robust Instructional Guide with students in grades K-5. Content correlates to Common Core Standards, ISTE Student Standards, Next Generation Science Standards, National Core Arts Standards for Visual Arts, National Association for Music Education, and National Curriculum Standards for Social Studies. Find the entire selection of Reading Treks here.
tag(s): landmarks (18), time (92), time zones (7), virtual field trips (80)
In the Classroom
Discover the many suggested classroom uses for this resource found on the Instructional Guide (PDF). Take pictures of students' shadows at different times throughout the day, then create collages using PhotoCollage, reviewed here, to share their observations. Enhance learning by doing this same activity at different times during the school year to explore if the length of shadows changes with the seasons. After finding the hidden clocks on each page, challenge students to create their own hidden clock images then create a class book using Book Creator, reviewed here, for students and family to view online.
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Virtual Field Trip Resources - TeachersFirst
Grades
K to 12
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This collection of reviewed resources includes our best virtual field trips. Peruse the list of websites and many suggestions for ways to use them in teaching almost any subject or...more
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This collection of reviewed resources includes our best virtual field trips. Peruse the list of websites and many suggestions for ways to use them in teaching almost any subject or grade. Be sure to read the "In the Classroom" suggestions for examples of ways to use virtual field trips as part of a lesson or unit.
tag(s): virtual field trips (80)
In the Classroom
This collection includes virtual field trips for all grades. Each review includes several classroom use ideas. Get out your projector (or interactive whiteboard) and take your students on an adventure. Have students go on a "field trip" with a partner or independently on laptops or other devices. Explore the activities suggested.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Exploring by the Seat of Your Pants - Joe Grabowski
Grades
6 to 12
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Bring science, exploration, and conservation into your classroom through virtual field trips with scientists and leading experts around the globe sponsored on this site. Choose from...more
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Bring science, exploration, and conservation into your classroom through virtual field trips with scientists and leading experts around the globe sponsored on this site. Choose from their many monthly options shared via satellite. Find events by scrolling through offerings on the home page, select from map locations, or use the calendar view to browse by specific dates. Most sessions are about 45 minutes long; however, additional options offer full day and week-long events. Watch events virtually or sign up for a camera spot to interact with the session presenters. Don't worry if you are unable to attend a session, view any previous activities on the site's YouTube channel.
tag(s): animal homes (56), animals (280), conservation (83), ecology (100), explorers (64), oceans (146), space (213), STEM (262), virtual field trips (80), water (101)
In the Classroom
Take advantage of these free sessions to bring real-word conservation and science lessons to your students. There are three ways for your class to enjoy the sessions. The first one is to "Tune in live! Any number of classrooms can watch the events live on YouTube and even send in some questions using the chat sidebar." The second one is "Grab a camera spot so your class can appear on the screen and interact with the speaker. We generally have 5-7 classrooms joining in this way each hangout." The third viewing choice is "Every hangout is recorded directly to YouTube, we have a growing library of past events that can be viewed by classrooms anytime on our channel." See more explanations to the viewing options by clicking the wavy red lines in the upper left corner and then click For Teachers. Begin by watching virtual field trips (viewing option 3), then expand your activities in additional sessions by signing up to participate and interact with the presenters. Prepare for student questioning by brainstorming ideas. Engage students by sharing ideas using an online bulletin board tool like Pinside, reviewed here. Save and share ideas on your class website. As students research information for your upcoming topic, enhance learning by using a collaborative bookmarking tool like Raindrop.io, reviewed here, for all students to share websites with their peers and add comments. Prepare your students further for interactions with researchers by watching videos from previous broadcasts using playposit, reviewed here, to add questions for students into the YouTube videos and encourage students to add comments discussing each issue. Most of the online tools suggested above will help students document their learning during remote or distance learning sessions.
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Encyclopedia Virginia - Virginia Humanities
Grades
4 to 12
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Encyclopedia Virginia is your ultimate resource for learning about the history and culture of the state of Virginia. The content on this site provides information in many different...more
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Encyclopedia Virginia is your ultimate resource for learning about the history and culture of the state of Virginia. The content on this site provides information in many different ways. Use the included links to find information within an A-Z index, maps, podcasts, virtual tours, and more. To find specific content, use the keyword search then narrow down results using the provided filters for type of material, source, or category. Be sure also to check out the section for educators with links to content matching Virginia SOL standards. Register on the site to bookmark and save information for easy access at any time.
tag(s): african american (109), american revolution (81), black history (123), civil rights (194), civil war (134), colonial america (95), colonization (20), constitution (87), politics (112), primary sources (115), slavery (75), virginia (14), virtual field trips (80), washington (25), world war 1 (72), world war 2 (149)
In the Classroom
Bookmark this site to use for lesson planning and student research if you teach Social Studies in any state. Take advantage of the virtual tours on the site to provide a real look at historic sites that go beyond the pages of textbooks. Instead of reading stories found in textbooks, ask students to browse the site to find interesting events during the period being studied. Use these ideas as the basis for student research projects. Encourage students to imagine themselves as a participant in events in history. Ask students to extend learning by using this Headline Generator, reviewed here, as a story starter to retell and analyze moments in history. Share the site's podcasts in listening centers or as an option for flipped learning. Use the podcasts as models for students to create their own podcasts for retelling events in history through the perspective of someone alive during that time. Podcast Generator, reviewed here, will enhance learning and provides free tools for creating and sharing podcasts.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Instant Street View - Nick Nicholaou
Grades
4 to 12
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If you use Google Maps you know they offer a street view for locations; Instant Street View saves a step and takes you directly there. Type in any address to ...more
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If you use Google Maps you know they offer a street view for locations; Instant Street View saves a step and takes you directly there. Type in any address to browse any location. Some locations don't offer street view, in that instance Instant Street View shares the Google Map view.
This site includes advertising.
This site includes advertising.
tag(s): maps (209), virtual field trips (80)
In the Classroom
Bookmark this site on computers for quick use at any time. During current events discussions, share a street view of locations with students to provide context for the area. When discussing famous buildings, or locations, share a street view to provide students with a 360-degree view of the actual area. Find an interesting location and use street view as a starter for a creative writing project. Extend student learning by having students share their stories using a website creator like Hashify, reviewed here. Hashify is a simple website creator that offers options for adding links and images to the site.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Describing Egypt - DescribingEgypt.com
Grades
6 to 12
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Walk through the three major kingdoms of ancient Egypt using Describing Egypt, a beautiful, virtual reality, immersive tour. Each view is described with detailed information about the...more
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Walk through the three major kingdoms of ancient Egypt using Describing Egypt, a beautiful, virtual reality, immersive tour. Each view is described with detailed information about the location as if you are physically there. Learn the stories from these locations--stories of their owners and their life and death--and follow the progression of art, culture, and architecture across Egypt's long and diverse history.
tag(s): africa (137), egypt (45), pyramids (16), virtual field trips (80)
In the Classroom
Take advantage of this beautiful site to engage and interest your students in Ancient Egyptian history. Consider sharing it on your interactive whiteboard to view together as you introduce your unit on Ancient Egypt, then allow students time to explore on their own. Be sure to point out the text with detailed information on each location. If you have struggling readers or ENL/ELL students, share Text to Speech Reader, reviewed here, with them. Just copy and paste any text in the reader to hear it back in English or your choice of several other languages. Replace handing students a list of vocabulary words for your unit, by using WordSift, reviewed here, to review vocabulary. Copy and paste any text into WordSift to view a personalized word cloud, visualization, related images, and contextual sentences. Offer students the option to demonstrate an understanding of Ancient Egypt and modify their technology skills by creating a virtual field trip using Google My Maps, reviewed here. Whether teaching and learning in your classroom or remotely you may want to use one of the following tools for students to report their learning. Use Google My Maps to include important places in Egypt along with images, video, and text explanations of events. When studying Ancient Egypt within a broader timeframe, ask students to use StoryMap JS, reviewed here, to create an animated timeline of any era in history or show a progression of events until modern times. eStory offers tools to create an animated timeline to share historical scenarios and bring history to life using maps, images, and primary source materials.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Inspark Teaching Network - Center for Education Through Exploration at Arizona State Univ.
Grades
8 to 12
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The Inspark Teaching Network is a collaboration of global science educators creating and sharing next-generation science courses. Join the network through sign up as an educator or...more
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The Inspark Teaching Network is a collaboration of global science educators creating and sharing next-generation science courses. Join the network through sign up as an educator or student. Learn and teach science using the options for smart courses and virtual field trips. Lessons include three options for teaching - open and use the course in its current form, enroll students to gather data and monitor progress, or customize the experience to your needs.
tag(s): cells (80), habitats (87), human body (93), organisms (16), planets (111), rock cycle (12), rocks (36), solar system (108), stars (65), Teacher Utilities (146), virtual field trips (80)
In the Classroom
Take advantage of the free lessons and virtual experiences to enhance your current science lessons. These activities are also perfect for differentiating instruction for gifted learners or for correlating to varying student interests. Instead of using written journals, consider replacing them by asking students to use an online portfolio tool such as Pathbrite, reviewed here, to showcase their learning. Use Pathbrite to set up a digital exhibit demonstrating the science concept learned using multimedia features included in Pathbrite like videos, images and supporting articles. Ask students to modify technology use and demonstrate learning by creating an explainer video using Kizoa, reviewed here, or another video creation tool. For the musically inclined student, ask them to create a rap song or poem sharing their learning and produce a video to share on SchoolTube, reviewed here.
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Pompeii Virtual Tour - Google Maps
Grades
6 to 12
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Can't take a field trip to Pompeii? Use this virtual field trip that includes photos and 360-degree views of this ancient Roman City. Click on slides at the bottom of ...more
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Can't take a field trip to Pompeii? Use this virtual field trip that includes photos and 360-degree views of this ancient Roman City. Click on slides at the bottom of the page to see different areas of the ruins such as the Temple of Isis and street views of the entire archeological area.
tag(s): romans (33), virtual field trips (80), volcanoes (55)
In the Classroom
In the age of shrinking opportunities for field trips, jump right in! This site is perfect for use on an interactive whiteboard as you explore this well-preserved example of ancient Roman life. Enhance learning by having students use Fakebook, reviewed here to create a "fake" page similar in style to Facebook about a day in the life of an inhabitant of Pompeii. As an alternative, enhance learning by having students create blogs using a tool like edublog, reviewed here to reflect what they have learned about ancient Pompeii and Roman life.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Machu Picchu Virtual Tour - CUSCO
Grades
8 to 12
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Experience Machu Picchu with this 360 degree virtual tour. Begin by clicking yhe "i" icon on the left menu, and read a short introduction to the history of Machu ...more
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Experience Machu Picchu with this 360 degree virtual tour. Begin by clicking yhe "i" icon on the left menu, and read a short introduction to the history of Machu Picchu. Tour the 32 different vantage points (interactive 360 degree images) to enjoy your tour. Explore incredible panoramic views from different angles such as the subterranean path all the way up to the highest point of the Citadel. Control the screen on your own to move images up, down, and in different directions. Click to allow the view to rotate on its own. You will feel like you are really there! There is a VR tour available for headmounted devices. This review is for the 360 degree virtual tour only.
tag(s): architecture (64), explorers (64), peru (6), south america (36), virtual field trips (80)
In the Classroom
Include this Machu Picchu Virtual Tour with your study of South America, Incas, or early explorers. Take a virtual field trip to this historic site from the comfort of your classroom. Replace paper journals by asking students to write blog entries about the questions and impressions as they view the tour. Use a blogging tool such as Telegra.ph, reviewed here. With Telegra.ph you just click on an icon to upload images from your computer, add a YouTube or Vimeo, or Twitter links. This blog creator requires no registration. Enhance learning by having students use Fakebook, reviewed here, to create a "fake" page similar in style to Facebook about one of the earlier settlers of Machu Picchu.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Statue of Liberty Virtual Tour - National Park Service
Grades
K to 12
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Can't take a field trip to NYC? Visit the Statue of Liberty virtually! View the virtual tour and photo gallery for Lady Liberty. See the site for specific instructions on ...more
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Can't take a field trip to NYC? Visit the Statue of Liberty virtually! View the virtual tour and photo gallery for Lady Liberty. See the site for specific instructions on how to use this interactive.
tag(s): american revolution (81), art history (86), landmarks (18), virtual field trips (80)
In the Classroom
In the age of shrinking opportunities for field trips, jump right in! Find out about the partnership between the United States and France and how they collaborated together. Explore partnerships between countries. Add this amazing piece of art into a unit about American Revolution and determine its significance.
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