TeachersFirst - Featured Sites: Week of Apr 9, 2023
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
KoiKiwi - Ecological Games For Smart Kids - KoiKiwi.com
Grades
K to 12
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This site from New Zealand provides many different games focused on the environment and ecology. Select from various titles such as Electric Vehicle Race and Catch the Rubbish. Each...more
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This site from New Zealand provides many different games focused on the environment and ecology. Select from various titles such as Electric Vehicle Race and Catch the Rubbish. Each activity includes a suggested age level and level of difficulty. Be sure to read the directions for how to play the games and earn points.
tag(s): earth day (63), ecology (97), forests (28), pollution (49), ponds (3), recycling (49)
In the Classroom
Select games from this site to include with Earth Day or environmental units. Include a link to games on classroom computers and your class website for students to access during learning centers or at home. Instead of using worksheets or short response quizzes, ask students to create an infographic sharing information learned during your science unit. Canva, reviewed here, offers easy to use templates for designing infographics. Collaborate with a classroom in a different state or country using Global Virtual Classroom, reviewed here, to compare and contrast environmental issues found in your different locations. Continue your collaboration using Flip, reviewed here, to create student video responses to essential questions raised during your ongoing discussions.You must be registered and logged in to add items to your favorites.
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Life of a Can - Novelis
Grades
3 to 6
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This engaging interactive and classroom program demonstrates the impact of recycling just one can. Students make eco-friendly choices within the interactive to explore Cantown and earn...more
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This engaging interactive and classroom program demonstrates the impact of recycling just one can. Students make eco-friendly choices within the interactive to explore Cantown and earn Green Points for helping to recycle a can. Resources for educators include standards-aligned lessons to download.
tag(s): conservation (82), earth day (63), recycling (49)
In the Classroom
Take advantage of the free lesson plans shared on this site for use with Earth Day activities, or recycling and conservation units. Share a link to the interactive on classroom computers or your class website. Ask students to create a concept/mind map to organize the information they are learning. This could be done conventionally or digiatally. Consider using a digital concept mapping tool to replace the paper/pencil version of a concept map with MindMup, reviewed here. Next ask students to create a simple infographic sharing information on recycling using Visme, reviewed here, or create an interactive poster using Adobe Creative Cloud Express for Education, reviewed here.
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Kid World Citizen - Becky Morales
Grades
K to 6
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Kid World Citizen offers a large variety of resources to encourage kids to become global learners and thinkers. Explore categories such as books, food, and art to find international...more
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Kid World Citizen offers a large variety of resources to encourage kids to become global learners and thinkers. Explore categories such as books, food, and art to find international learning activities. Look for topics on specific countries using the map search. Be sure to check out the For Fun area with links to movies, music, games, and toys.
This site includes advertising.
This site includes advertising.
tag(s): back to school (62), chinese new year (5), christmas (38), cross cultural understanding (149), earth day (63), hanukkah (12), hispanic (28), holidays (151), italy (15), Juneteenth (18), mexico (29), native americans (87), ramadan (9), thanksgiving (24)
In the Classroom
Bookmark this site for use throughout the year when teaching about countries, holidays, and for cross-cultural literature resources. Choose a country to explore each month using resources found on the site. Learn about your students' backgrounds to find countries and regions to explore using activities on the site. Use an online tool such as Interactive Two Circle Venn Diagram, reviewed here, to compare and contrast your culture with that of a different country.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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National Geographic Education - National Geographic
Grades
K to 12
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National Geographic offers a rich and extensive site for educators through its Education homepage. Scroll down the page to find resources, reference materials, maps, media, collections,...more
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National Geographic offers a rich and extensive site for educators through its Education homepage. Scroll down the page to find resources, reference materials, maps, media, collections, and much more. Scroll to the bottom of the page to find Explorer Classroom. For specific content searches use the search bar to find and filter results by grades, subjects, resource type, and audience.This site is frequently updated. Check back often!
tag(s): animals (271), climate change (84), commoncore (76), earth day (63), ecology (97), energy (129), food chains (16), map skills (55), maps (206), migration (45), multimedia (42), oceans (139), STEM (244), weather (159)
In the Classroom
Be sure to bookmark (or favorite) this site for use throughout the year to find real-world resources for classroom use. Don't forget to look for materials on National Geographic for use with Earth Day and Arbor Day activities! Differentiate easily using the multiple levels of materials found within National Geographic. Some text portions are challenging, so you should pair weaker readers with a partner as they research on this site. Have students create a simple infographic sharing their findings using Venngage, reviewed here. Have students create a word cloud of the important terms they learn from this site using a tool such as WordItOut, reviewed here. If you use Apple products in your classroom, be sure to download the interactive iBooks for use in classroom centers or independent reading.
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I want to be... - The Ad Council
Grades
4 to 12
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Learn about recycling and the vast array of products that are made out of recycled materials. Use the How to Recycle section to learn about the various types of materials ...more
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Learn about recycling and the vast array of products that are made out of recycled materials. Use the How to Recycle section to learn about the various types of materials that are recycled, how to recycle them, and the new items they become. In Recycling Journey, follow an item from curbside pickup to the new item it becomes. Visit Spread the Word and share information about recycling with others you know via social media. Put in your local zip code to find opportunities to recycle in your local area. After viewing the main areas of this site, engage your students by having them play the game.
tag(s): earth (180), earth day (63), natural resources (36), plastics (4), recycling (49), resources (84)
In the Classroom
First, after viewing the main areas of this site, engage your students by having them play the game "Super Sorter." For Earth Day or everyday, use this site to raise awareness about the energy that is used to create items and how energy can be saved by using recycled materials. Students can research statistics about the various items used in the United States and abroad. Discover why recycling is an important endeavor to combat pollution and energy use. Create a public service announcement for your school or community to learn more about the benefits of recycling. Initiate a recycling campaign and create a center for recycling many items from the school including paper. Classes can tally the pounds of materials saved for recycling. Have students create informational commercials using a multimedia tool such as Genially, reviewed here. With Genially you can insert maps, surveys, video, audio and more.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Recyclebank - Recyclebank, subsidiary of Recycle Rewards, Inc.
Grades
4 to 12
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Recyclebank offers current information to help live "greener." Their goal is to realize a world without waste, one person or community at a time. Recycling information is easy to ...more
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Recyclebank offers current information to help live "greener." Their goal is to realize a world without waste, one person or community at a time. Recycling information is easy to understand and engaging. Register to become a member and earn points by taking quizzes on environmentally friendly topics, by reading articles and learning more about recycling, and by recycling (if your center or borough participates in the Recyclebank program). Earned points lead to rewards of grocery or entertainment coupons and some gift cards. No registration is required to read resources posted on the website.
This site includes advertising.
This site includes advertising.
tag(s): earth (180), earth day (63), environment (232), recycling (49), sustainability (42)
In the Classroom
With the Common Core State Standards push for nonfiction reading, this site is a natural for any time of the year. Recyclebank will appeal to students who are environmentally conscious, but its intrinsic value is in teaching all students to think about how they can recycle in their everyday life. The advertising comes along with the prizes, so be sure to discuss where to click (or not). If your students have access to email, have them register with the website and start a class competition to see how many points students can earn individually or as a class. Conclude the competition by having students discuss (no matter who won the competition) how acting in greener ways allows everyone to win. There will be future "Green Schools" program competitions. This is a yearly competition where school groups design a green plan for their school that wins up to $2500.00. Posted on the website are the accepted projects where members from all over the country can award points to your school. For every 250 points donated to your school initiative, you earn $1.00. Promote Recyclebank to get as many people involved as possible. Ask them to donate their points to your school. Use this as an opportunity to teach students about grassroots movements and the difference that one bright idea and a few motivated people can make in the world. Why not plan an Earth Day project using this site?Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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UN Water - United Nations Development Programme
Grades
4 to 12
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Water is a basic human need and also a human right. Water and Sanitation is Sustainable Development Goal (SD) 6. Read about this goal and the UN's progress towards ...more
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Water is a basic human need and also a human right. Water and Sanitation is Sustainable Development Goal (SD) 6. Read about this goal and the UN's progress towards it. Explore the statistics, controversies, and issues concerning water use around the globe. Click the "Water Facts" tab to learn important information about Water Ecosystems, Human Rights, Drinking Water and Sanitation, Climate Change, Quality and Waste Water, Scarcity, and more.
tag(s): climate change (84), conservation (82), earth (180), earth day (63), pollution (49), resources (84), sustainability (42), water (101)
In the Classroom
Identify similarities and differences in water issues around the globe. Have cooperative learning groups create online Venn Diagrams comparing two distinct areas and their water issues. Use an online tool such as Interactive Two Circle Venn Diagram, reviewed here.Students can choose an area or topic of interest either individually or as a group. Look at water issues that many students may not be aware of including water quality and distribution. Create a campaign to increase water awareness that may or may not coincide with world water week (or day.) Have students create a video or podcast sharing their campaigns. For podcasts, use a site such as podOmatic, reviewed here. If creating videos, use a tool like FlexClip, reviewed here, where you can add music and the computer microphone to make comments, explain, etc. Share them on a site such as TeacherTube, reviewed here.
Use these resources to determine how to help other countries in their need for clean water and how everyone can conserve.
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The Story of Stuff - Annie Leonard and Free Range Studios
Grades
6 to 12
2 Favorites
0 Comments
Watch the story of stuff movie, a 20-minute video about where our stuff comes from and the effects of consumption on our society. Play the video from the site or ...more
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Watch the story of stuff movie, a 20-minute video about where our stuff comes from and the effects of consumption on our society. Play the video from the site or download it to your computer. Other downloads include podcasts and related items. Subscribe to the blog and receive updates and new information. If your district blocks YouTube, the video may not be viewable.
tag(s): earth (180), earth day (63), environment (232), resources (84)
In the Classroom
The most difficult aspect in learning about the environment is understanding how the "stuff we use" impacts more than students can imagine. Use this thought-provoking movie to stimulate class discussions, get students thinking, and create awareness. Students can take aspects of the video and do group research of additional information needed to understand. Students can also create awareness campaigns, poll friends and families, blog, or create other multimedia articles. Looking for some creative multimedia options? How about having students create public service message podcasts ("Stop! Where do you think that ___ came from?") using a tool such as podOmatic, reviewed here. Or create videos and share them using SchoolTube, reviewed here.Students can research the origins of many popular items in their lives, tracing the materials used and the resources needed to create and transport the materials and the product. Students can create a Google My Maps, reviewed here, showing the movement of materials throughout the world from resource to send product to consumer.
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Planet Forward - The George Washington University
Grades
7 to 12
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Use Planet Forward for first-rate and up-to-date news and information about the environment. View the vast amount of resources on this site, including: "Climate," "Energy," "Food,"...more
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Use Planet Forward for first-rate and up-to-date news and information about the environment. View the vast amount of resources on this site, including: "Climate," "Energy," "Food," "Justice," among others. Use the search box to find quizzes and video about specific environmental issues. Use the search box and type in "Classroom Resources" for great ideas, discussion starters, and guides.
tag(s): earth (180), earth day (63), environment (232), oil (24), oil spill (14), water (101)
In the Classroom
Where do you start? There is so much information on this site that is continually updated and interesting! Create student groups in major environmental categories such as Sustainability, Energy, Transportation, and others to mine the site for information. Create blog posts about issues, and create students' own surveys to identify local misconceptions to compare to those discussed on the site. Encourage students to apply their findings and information locally by writing for a local or school newspaper or to be interviewed about student work. Students can create videos, wiki pages, or other multimedia products to produce content, dispel or challenge myths, and create understanding of issues. Conventional products such as display boards, posters, and other announcements can also be created. Have students create online posters using a tool such as Genially, reviewed here. Make every day Earth Day by tying class topics into ecology issues.
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Kids for Saving Earth - Kids for Saving Earth
Grades
K to 8
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Use this inspirational site to encourage helping to save the Earth. Kids for Saving Earth was created by a student, Clinton Hill, who died from cancer at the age of ...more
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Use this inspirational site to encourage helping to save the Earth. Kids for Saving Earth was created by a student, Clinton Hill, who died from cancer at the age of eleven. The friendly interface contains many suggestions for different activities, worksheets, music, or videos sprinkled throughout the website. Membership is not required to access materials though memberships with additional materials are available for groups and families. Sign up for free emails with new information through e-pals newsletters. Use the search bar find "Defenders of the Earth" and click "Learn More" to view Defenders of the Planet schools all over using activities to make a difference in their area.
tag(s): conservation (82), earth (180), earth day (63), environment (232)
In the Classroom
Use many of these wonderful resources to understand environmental problems and find small ways students can make a difference. Share the video clip and other parts of this site on an interactive whiteboard or projector. Create action days at your school with students working to teach other schoolmates, families, and their community about environmental problems. Create posters, news reports, or other materials to make a difference where you live. Or have students create their own multimedia presentations: wiki, blog, video, PowerPoint, etc..
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Freecycle - The Freecycle Network
Grades
K to 12
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Need a bookcase or rug for your classroom or home office area? Perhaps you have extra, personally-purchased classroom supplies that you no longer use. There is a solution to both ...more
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Need a bookcase or rug for your classroom or home office area? Perhaps you have extra, personally-purchased classroom supplies that you no longer use. There is a solution to both dilemmas--Freecycle! Check this site to see if there is a local Freecycle group in your area. With 5,354 towns and growing, there's a good chance one is in your neighborhood. This grassroots, non-profit network's aim is to get unused 'stuff' into the hands of someone who can use it, and most importantly, they want to keep it out of our clogged landfills. Teachers are the most resourceful people on earth, and Freecycle is here to help fuel that creditable reputation. Membership is free -check it out!
tag(s): earth (180), earth day (63), environment (232)
In the Classroom
Share this site with your class as an idea for Earth Day or being "green." Encourage your school service club or student council to consider launching a Freecycle project. Be sure to list the link on your class website, so parents can freecycle too.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Earth Day - Myvocabulary.com
Grades
4 to 10
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As part of their extensive site for vocabulary, roots, and more, MyVocabulary.com has added a themed area for Earth Day. Find interactive vocabulary activities using Earth Day vocabulary...more
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As part of their extensive site for vocabulary, roots, and more, MyVocabulary.com has added a themed area for Earth Day. Find interactive vocabulary activities using Earth Day vocabulary words. You will also find printable crosswords, fill in the blanks and more, all using the same theme words. This and other "themes" available on the site will make vocabulary development fun.
tag(s): earth (180), earth day (63), vocabulary (231)
In the Classroom
Share the puzzles on your interactive whiteboard or projector or make them available as links on your teacher public page. Have students (or groups) create their own illustrated dictionaries of terms using a tool such as Bookemon, reviewed here. As you add more vocabulary lists during the year, have them select their favorite 6-10 terms from each list to add to their "book."Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Earth Day - EPA (Environmental Protection Agency)
Grades
4 to 7
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This environmental education site, a cooperative effort across the entire U.S. government, is filled with creative ways to make learning about the environment fun! Scroll down the page...more
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This environmental education site, a cooperative effort across the entire U.S. government, is filled with creative ways to make learning about the environment fun! Scroll down the page a bit and click on the "Lesson ideas and resources for teachers" link (under Teach, Learn and Share) to learn more about specific topics. Take a virtual trip to "Recycle City," reviewed here. Also from the Teach, Learn and Share tab you will find the "Homework Help and Activities for students" page which provides an annotated collection of kid-friendly environmental Web sites filled with clever and interactive activities. Learn about the history of Earth Day, ways to celebrate in your classroom or at home, and more. There is quite a bit to explore!
tag(s): earth (180), earth day (63), ecology (97), environment (232), recycling (49)
In the Classroom
Share this site on your interactive whiteboard or projector. Read the history of Earth Day together. Have cooperative learning groups explore different ways to "take action" and then challege them to enhance their learning and create a multimedia presentation to share with the class. Try using Adobe Creative Cloud Express for Education, reviewed here, or Sway, reviewed here. Why not ask students to extend their learning using one of these video tools (click tool name to see review): MoocNote, Animatron, Powtoon, or Kizoa. Then, have students share it with the class using a site such as TeacherTube, explained here.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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