TeachersFirst - Featured Sites: Week of May 20, 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 go to the Featured Sites Archive
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Monster Sciences - MonsterSciences. com
Grades
K to 8
This site includes advertising.
tag(s): air (148), classroom management (160), critical thinking (121), electricity (92), energy (208), engineering (132), forces (48), handwriting (17), light (52), multiplication (212), narrative (21), place value (55), printables (39), sound (105), weather (203)
In the Classroom
Take advantage of the many lesson ideas and experiments found on the site, all designed by a teacher and explained from a teacher's point of view. Videotape students performing experiments then use a video tool like EdPuzzle, reviewed here to extend student learning. Use EdPuzzle to add questions to your video assessing students' understanding of the experiment's concepts. At the end of your unit, ask students to create animated video explanations of experiments using Biteable, reviewed here. Biteable is a simple to use animated video creation tool that features a variety of templates for different recording needs.You must be registered and logged in to add items to your favorites.
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Imagine Forest - Imagine Forest
Grades
K to 6tag(s): creative writing (166), digital storytelling (156), writing (367), writing prompts (94)
In the Classroom
Imagine Forest is a must-have resource for elementary teachers of writing. Even your most reluctant writers will enjoy activities included on the site. Share how to use the site on your interactive whiteboard or with a projector then allow students to explore on their own. Challenge students to set daily goals using activities found in challenges. Publish and share student work to create your own classroom library of student-created books. Ask students to create books for any content area studied during class, be sure to upload and include images taken during activities for students to use in their books. Create a classroom chart for students to share accomplishments like badges and points earned while using the site.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Explore Your World - Lawrence Hall of Science
Grades
2 to 8tag(s): animals (323), bridges (13), measurement (177), money (186), oceans (165), oil spill (19), olympics (52), plants (175), STEM (183)
In the Classroom
Take advantage of the many hands-on activities available on this site to use as part of science and STEM lessons. After participating in the activities, ask students to choose their favorite using Dotstorming, reviewed here, to vote and add comments discussing their choice. During activities, have students videotape their work. Ask them to include their video as part of an ongoing reflection of the lessons learned. Use a simple webpage creator like WebNode, reviewed here, to share student response and reflection including images and videos.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Ecosystems: 11 StudyJams! Interactive Science Activities - Scholastic
Grades
3 to 8tag(s): biomes (139), ecosystems (93), food chains (25), population (67), water (133), water cycle (32)
In the Classroom
View these interactives as a class to introduce different components of ecosystems and biomes. Share a link on class computers for students to view on their own as a science learning station. As students learn more about biomes, ask them to use ThingLink, reviewed here, to annotate an image. After uploading an image, ThingLink provides you with tools to add links to text, videos, and images to provide details explaining the original image. As a final project, have students create books sharing information about biomes. Have younger students use a tool like WriteReader, reviewed here. WriteReader includes options for including original spelling along with "correct" spelling underneath. For older students, create books using Book Creator, reviewed here. Book Creator includes many options to create online books including videos, audio, and images.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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kidcyber - Shirley Sydenham and Ron Thomas
Grades
K to 6tag(s): aircraft (25), animals (323), australia (37), dictionaries (59), earth (226), inventors and inventions (91), nutrition (158), planets (129), space (226), sports (99), stars (67)
In the Classroom
Include this resource with other content when teaching science concepts. Include a link to specific sections of the site for use as non-fiction reading content. Instead of having students draw a poster to share information about animals or plants, ask them to annotate an image using ThingLink, reviewed here. ThingLink allows you to add links including text, video, and more to images. Broaden your students' knowledge by setting up a Skype chat, reviewed here, with a classroom in a different part of the world to compare and contrast your environments.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Math Resources for Numbers & Operations - Grades K-2 - TeachersFirst
Grades
K to 2tag(s): addition (227), counting (113), division (161), multiplication (212), numbers (197), operations (123), preK (289), subtraction (187)
In the Classroom
Share these tools during math learning centers or on your interactive whiteboard. List a few of these tools on your class website for students to use for additional practice outside of your classroom.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Toppsta - Georgina Atwell
Grades
K to 6tag(s): book lists (131), independent reading (129), preK (289), reading lists (81)
In the Classroom
Share this site with students as a resource for finding books for independent reading. Include a link on your class website or blog for access at home. Present a new book each week to students on your interactive whiteboard or share your wishlist with your school's media center to include with book orders. After reading reviews, have students write or videotape their own book reviews. Have students or groups share their own book suggestions using Dotstorming, reviewed here. Dotstorming creates free online bulletin boards.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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PBS Summer Adventures - PBS Kids
Grades
K to 3tag(s): calendars (47), literacy (107), preK (289), reading lists (81), summer (11)
In the Classroom
Take advantage of the many free activities on this site; be sure to share with parents for ideas on learning at home. Consider having a "summer" day in the middle of winter as you enjoy summer activities in the warmth of the indoors. Share with parents at the end of the school year as a great resource for learning during the summer months.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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StoryBots - JibJab Bros Studio
Grades
K to 2tag(s): commoncore (102), preK (289)
In the Classroom
Create your class account, share your class code with parents, and ask them to register their child for your class. Assign lessons and activities to individual students or groups to differentiate instruction. Include a link on classroom computers for center use. Take advantage of the opportunity to upload your own lessons to supplement the learning materials available at StoryBots.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Zearn - zearn.org
Grades
K to 5tag(s): addition (227), classroom management (160), data (161), decimals (125), differentiation (53), division (161), fractions (229), geometric shapes (173), measurement (177), multiplication (212), numbers (197), operations (123), subtraction (187)
In the Classroom
Use Zearn on a projector or an interactive whiteboard to demonstrate specific concepts or use as weekly math centers for student practice. Zearn provides data to target instruction to specific students or concepts needing additional reinforcement. Since Zearn is a complete math program, with individualized lessons for students to work on, teachers can conduct small group instruction while others work independently. Zearn is perfect to use for gifted or advanced students, allowing them to work at their own pace. Be sure to put a link to Zearn on your class web page for students to use at home. Zearn does not support Android devices but will work on all other devices with a browser and Internet access.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)
Includes teacher tools for registering and/or monitoring students
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Gynzy - Erik Goossens and Jean-Pierre Decker
Grades
K to 6tag(s): addition (227), alphabet (86), alphabetical order (19), antonyms (26), base ten (11), colors (78), counting (113), decimals (125), fractions (229), geometric shapes (173), human body (133), maps (298), money (186), multiplication (212), percent (81), phonics (70), sentences (50), synonyms (36), time (141), vowels (12), word study (78)
In the Classroom
Demonstrate how to use widgets using a projector or interactive whiteboard with your students. Use these activities for center time, indoor recess, or as rewards for students. Add widgets to your class website or wiki throughout the year. Get help with embedding almost anything into your website from this informative blog, reviewed here. Challenge students to complete activities then journal and share their experience. Have students use Ourboox, reviewed here, to create a beautiful, page-flipping digital book in minutes, and they can embed the book alongside the games on a class wiki.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Freckle Education (was Front Row) - Sidharth Kakkar
Grades
K to 8This site includes advertising.
tag(s): differentiation (53), independent reading (129), reading comprehension (127), writing (367)
In the Classroom
After creating your classroom account and adding rosters, introduce this site on your interactive whiteboard or projector. If you are lucky enough to have a class set of mobile devices, allow students to use Freckle while you work directly with individuals or small groups of students. Freckle is a great way to supplement instruction for both gifted and special needs students. Visit the FAQ section for ideas for implementing Freckle in your math, ELA, social studies, or science classroom. Be sure to share login information with parents for student practice at home.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)
Premium version (not free) includes additional features or storage
Includes teacher tools for registering and/or monitoring students
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DOGOnews - Meera Dolasia
Grades
2 to 12tag(s): news (261), reading comprehension (127), sports (99)
In the Classroom
Non-fiction reading and background knowledge have found a new emphasis with The Common Core State Standards. It is more important now than ever to help connect students with quality, non-fiction reading and viewing material. Find great news resources and videos of the week to create assignments for your class at DOGOnews. You may want to create a class page and load several news articles. Have students choose from the articles, and email it to themselves. Have students print out the article and complete a "close reading" of the article by annotating it. Then have students who chose the same article get together in groups to discuss their reactions about the article, create a summary together, and create four or five open-ended questions about the article. Lastly, create groups of four, with each student having a different article, and have them present their article to the others in the group and ask them their open-ended questions to trigger a discussion. Create a class magazine from the articles. Or better yet, have students create a multimedia presentation using UtellStory, reviewed here. This site allows you to narrate a picture. Challenge students to find a photo (legally permitted to be reproduced), and then narrate the photo as if it is a news report. Strengthen reading comprehension by having an 'article du jour' on your interactive whiteboard or projector as students arrive. Link this site on your homepage.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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