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Google Earth - Google
Grades
K to 12
1 Favorites
0 Comments
Bring the world into your classroom with Google Earth. This interactive view of the Earth (and more) is available on all web browsers. Find landforms, geographic locations features,...more
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Bring the world into your classroom with Google Earth. This interactive view of the Earth (and more) is available on all web browsers. Find landforms, geographic locations features, pictures, and more from around the world using this satellite-powered software. As you spin the globe, you can tilt to view locations at an angle to show elevation, click to play a "tour" or "fly" from one location to another, or simply open tours and placemarker files created by others. Once you are comfortable, try making tours and placemarkers of your own.
tag(s): climate (81), earth (184), landforms (37), landmarks (18), news (229), oceans (149)
In the Classroom
Use tutorials from this site to learn more, or try some Google Earth files from TeachersFirst's Globetracker's Mission to get a taste of what the program can do. Get started by exploring the different LAYERS available in the left side and searching a location you know. Locate and try the tools to drag, tilt, zoom, and even measure distance. Extensive user forums are available through the help menus.Placemarker files created by you "live" on the computer where you make or save them and are not shared on the web. Note that your computer will ask whether you wish to save your "temporary places" (any places you have marked during a session) each time you close Google Earth. If many students use that computer, you may find you have a disorganized mess of saved places. Be sure to direct students to either name their saved places logically and file them into folders or NOT to save them to My Places! Students and teachers can create placemarker (.kmz or .kml) files and share them as email attachments, files on a USB "stick," or any other means you would use to share a file, just like a Word document.
Another practical tip: if students are using Google Earth on several machines at the same time, you may put a heavy load on your school network. Plan accordingly, perhaps having groups alternate their Google Earth time if it becomes sluggish.
Use Google Earth to teach geography or simply give location context to class readings or current events, especially on an interactive whiteboard or projector. Ex. you can tilt to show the peaks scaled by Lewis and Clark or volcanoes that rise in the Aleutians. Have students show the locations of historic events or literary settings and create placemarkers with links to learn more. Placemarker text is editable by going to the placemarker's "properties" or "info," so students can enter the text description, place title, and any inks they want to include, such as a link to a certain passage of text, an image of a character, or news image/article for a current events map. Students who know html code can get even more sophisticated in what they include in placemarkers. Have students/groups create and play a "tour" of critical locations for global warming, a comparison of volcanoes, or a family history of immigration. Navigate the important locations in a work of literature using Google Lit Trips or search the web for placemarker files connected to civil war battles, natural resources, and more. Turn layers on and off to look at population centers and transportation systems. Teach the concept of scale/proportion using a tactile experience on an interactive whiteboard and the scale and measurement tools. See more ideas at the teacher-created Google Earth 101 wiki reviewed here. Even if you do not venture into creating your own placemarker files, there are many already made and available for use by teachers and students. TeachersFirst's Globetracker's Mission includes a weekly file to follow the Mission.
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Dan's Math - Dan Bach
Grades
5 to 12
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This math website is a resource for basic information on math concepts. Although it is rather "plain vanilla" in design, it provides some valuable information. Concepts include: Basic...more
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This math website is a resource for basic information on math concepts. Although it is rather "plain vanilla" in design, it provides some valuable information. Concepts include: Basic Math Skills, Pre-calculus, Calculus, Beyond Calculus, and Other Stuff. Dan also provides links to neat math extras like paradoxes and riddles.
tag(s): decimals (84), exponents (35), fractions (159), numbers (119), operations (71), order of operations (28), percent (58), prime numbers (26), square roots (15)
In the Classroom
The basic information on the concepts of math could easily be used in online teaching as an option to a formal textbook. The reading is easy to understand, and to-the-point. The problem of the week section of the site could be used as a challenge activity for students once a week in different math classes. Provide this link on your class website for help to struggling students or for your math lovers to explore on their own.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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A Book and A Hug - Barb Langridge
Grades
K to 12
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This well-designed website has books for 8 levels of readers from picture books to adult-level subjects in 17 general categories. Search using the advanced search function or browse...more
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This well-designed website has books for 8 levels of readers from picture books to adult-level subjects in 17 general categories. Search using the advanced search function or browse through the favorites. Look for fiction or non-fiction, parts of series, and best of all books for reluctant readers. All books feature a summary and also an illustration taken from the book. The descriptions of the books are very enticing and often include quotes from the text.
tag(s): literature (218)
In the Classroom
This is a great source for finding and showing students how to find independent reading. Introduce this site on your interactive whiteboard or projector. Since students often ask for books like Harry Potter, for example, put this link on your class web page. Show students how to click on the keywords once they find a category they like. When students ask for another book in the same series, this is a great place to start looking. Allowing reluctant readers to search and find their own book is a way to build investment in their reading future. Encourage students to write their own reviews of favorite books not found here. Use the site for a lesson in citing sources and punctuating quotations.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Bad Science - Alistair B. Fraser
Grades
8 to 12
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"Be very, very careful what you put into that head, because you will never, ever get it out" warns the quote at the start of this page. Bad Science is ...more
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"Be very, very careful what you put into that head, because you will never, ever get it out" warns the quote at the start of this page. Bad Science is the site that debunks the "myths and legends" that are sadly distributed by the misinformed. It is a great site for checking understanding and pinpointing student misconceptions. Many popular ones are addressed in the links offered on this site. Learn about Bad Astronomy, Bad Chemistry, Mad Meteorology (including clouds, rain, greenhouses, and others), and the Pathetic Fallacy. The drawback to the site is that it can seem a little condescending but it may be a byproduct of the author's disgust with bad science.
tag(s): weather (164)
In the Classroom
Students could be assigned different false science statements to research and design their own science news articles comparing fact and fiction. Why not make this a multimedia project and have students complete a podcast, online poster, or narrated photo! For podcasts, try podOmatic, reviewed here. To create an online poster use a site such as Padlet, reviewed here. Challenge cooperative learning groups to find a photo related to their topic (legally permitted to be reproduced), and then label the photo by adding voice bubbles to explain what they learned using a tool such as Phrase.it, reviewed here. To find Creative Commons images for student projects (with credit, of course), try Vesteezy, reviewed here. A class could also be assigned a specific false science fact to research and participate in a class blog or message board discussion via the class web page or wiki site. Students could also use the fiction as the basis for their own "Myth busters" episodes. Reading teachers looking for passages to use in reading comprehension practice, such as finding main idea and supporting details will find these non-fiction passages informative and interesting for their students. Make a temporary copy of one of the explanations to display in your interactive whiteboard software as students highlight key ideas and separate out supporting details using the whiteboard tools. Your science teachers will LOVE you for it!Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Dummies.com - John Wiley & Sons
Grades
6 to 12
4 Favorites
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Everyone knows the "for Dummies" books, but did you know there is an entire web site? This site, created by the same publisher, has text-based and video "How To" information ...more
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Everyone knows the "for Dummies" books, but did you know there is an entire web site? This site, created by the same publisher, has text-based and video "How To" information on thousands of topics, organized into general categories. It is also searchable. The education/languages area has both obvious and more obscure topics than you might expect, from To Write a Sonnet to How to Build a Bill (in the U.S. Congress). These text- based articles are great for those who follow verbal information well and often include simple diagrams. The more consumer-oriented areas of the site include videos from setting up your wireless network to carving a turkey. Click on "all videos" under the Featured video to see the video categories.
tag(s): sequencing (17), writing (317)
In the Classroom
Be sure to tell your students that they are NOT the "dummies" referred to in this site! Then go beyond the obvious use of this site as a reference to use it to teach informational writing, reading comprehension, or any curriculum content. Share text-based articles on a projector or interactive whiteboard and have students analyze the keywords and structure of sequential direction-writing or informational writing before they try it on their own. Use the pens and highlighters to note transitions and other ways of organizing directions, including formatting. Use articles to teach basic comprehension skills by copy/pasting sections and having students drag them into the correct sequence on the whiteboard to form logical directions. In science or social studies classes,enhance learning by having students view models on this site, then work in groups to write their own how-to wiki on curriculum topics such as "How to tell a fungus from a bacterium," "How to solve simultaneous equations," or "How to form a government." Use FlexClip, reviewed here. If you have access to video equipment, have students write scripts and produce video versions of their how-to instructions and post them on a site such as TeacherTube reviewed here.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Short Stories of Science and Invention - Today in Science History (Stories are from Charles Kettering)
Grades
6 to 12
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This site is an index of stories that have been spoken on radio shows by Charles Kettering. Kettering was head of research for General Motors and held over 140 ...more
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This site is an index of stories that have been spoken on radio shows by Charles Kettering. Kettering was head of research for General Motors and held over 140 patents. One of his standout accomplishments was the development of Freon as a refrigerant.
There are a number of short stories from all areas of science taken from Kettering's Radio talk shows. The general topics include "Introduction to Science and Invention," "Science and Invention in Transportation," "Science and Invention in War." Specific topics vary from Energy from the Sun to The Wright Way to Unraveling the Atom and many others.
There are a number of short stories from all areas of science taken from Kettering's Radio talk shows. The general topics include "Introduction to Science and Invention," "Science and Invention in Transportation," "Science and Invention in War." Specific topics vary from Energy from the Sun to The Wright Way to Unraveling the Atom and many others.
tag(s): aviation (38), history day (40), inventors and inventions (71), scientists (63), sun (70), transportation (32)
In the Classroom
This site would be a helpful alternative text in the science classroom. Use this site for research projects or explaining some famous inventions. Extend reading into an online journaling project or even a classroom blog or wiki. Not comfortable with wikis? Have no wiki worries - check out the TeachersFirst's Wiki Walk-Through. The opportunity for collaboration, reflection, and eventually creating their own stories of their projects is wonderful. Have cooperative learning groups create multimedia presentations. To show what they have learned from this site, challenge students to create an online graphic to share using Lucidpress, reviewed here. Have groups create news reports using Adobe Express Video Maker, reviewed here, and share them using a tool such as SchoolTube, reviewed here.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Audio Pal - Oddcast
Grades
1 to 12
13 Favorites
0 Comments
Use this free site to create audio files easily for use in or out of the class. Record your own voice using phone or microphone, upload an audio file, or ...more
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Use this free site to create audio files easily for use in or out of the class. Record your own voice using phone or microphone, upload an audio file, or create audio from text to speech. Choose different voices, use the playback options, and update audio at anytime. Use your email to receive a link to your new audio file.
tag(s): communication (133), speech (66), text to speech (19)
In the Classroom
If using a phone, understanding calling plans and additional charges is needed. You must know how to use embed codes to place audio files within your blog, wiki, or website. No login is required! Simply click the "Get Yours It's Free" button. Choose the method to create the audio and preview and edit the file. Enter your email address to receive a link to your file. Click on the link to grab widgets. Copy the code and place in your blog or website.The tool does not show which work is attributable to which student. You may want to require that students mark their contributions in order to get credit. Consider using a class email account set up for this purpose. Be sure students understand the appropriate use of this email account.
Classroom use: Use this service to record audio of passages used in class, homework assignments, and other written material. Young students can practice reading aloud at this site (and listen to themselves), showing improvement in fluency as the year goes on. Have students use this site in place of a traditional book report. Have cooperative learning groups create a news broadcast and share it using this site. Use this site with ESL/ELL students just learning the English language. Use this site in world language classes for students to hear and learn the pronunciations. Place the embed code in a site that students can access outside of class for review, identifying directions, and listening to text. Speech and language teachers can use this tool to record student articulation and demonstrate progress through the year.
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Swine Flu - Made Simple - Stuffmadesimple.com
Grades
K to 8
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This site offers a short (5-minute) video explaining the Swine Flu. Learn about the symptoms, causes, how to avoid spreading the flu, and more. This site does include some advertising....more
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This site offers a short (5-minute) video explaining the Swine Flu. Learn about the symptoms, causes, how to avoid spreading the flu, and more. This site does include some advertising. To avoid advertising, click on the full screen box (bottom right).
In the Classroom
Share this site on your interactive whiteboard or projector. Have cooperative learning groups create multimedia presentations (focusing on causes, the flu itself, how it spreads, how to better protect themselves, etc.). Have groups create commercials about their topic, and complete additional research. Video the commercials and share them on a site such as Teachers.TV reviewed here. Provide this link on your class website for students to share with their parents. See also this full listing of TeachersFirst Editors' Choice listings on the H1N1 flu.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Bookshare: Books without Barriers - Bookshare
Grades
2 to 12
1 Favorites
0 Comments
This site allows FREE access to a number of books, newspapers, and magazines, all using adaptive technology. After a free registration (available to participants with documented limited...more
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This site allows FREE access to a number of books, newspapers, and magazines, all using adaptive technology. After a free registration (available to participants with documented limited vision), members can download books, textbooks, and newspapers in a compressed, encrypted file. They then read the material using adaptive technology, typically software that reads the book aloud (text-to-speech) and/or displays the text of the book on a computer screen, or Braille access devices, such as refreshable Braille displays. The advantage to this site is that it offers newer books and other written materials than many other online digital libraries. Besides written items, a number of videos are available which assist or focus on typical Bookshare users, many featuring them as success stories. A special page of information for teachers with limited vision students includes information such as other resources, reading lists, and handouts.
tag(s): digital reading (16), disabilities (29), vision (45)
In the Classroom
If you have students with limited vision or certain specific qualifying learning disabilities in your class, be sure to save this useful resource in your favorites. List this link on your class website or wiki or email it to parents of these children. If possible, share this site with those teachers working with students with limited vision and qualifying disabilities.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Gateway to the Classics - Baldwin Online Children's Project
Grades
2 to 12
4 Favorites
0 Comments
This site has an amazing collection of digitized stories and books (over 10,000 stories) arranged by title and author. Not only are the texts of the stories found here; other ...more
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This site has an amazing collection of digitized stories and books (over 10,000 stories) arranged by title and author. Not only are the texts of the stories found here; other relevant parts of the work including maps and graphics appear as well. The stories are arranged in alphabetical order and all on one page, but it is easy to them quickly. The books are arranged by author.
tag(s): authors (105)
In the Classroom
If you are looking for favorite classic stories to use in your classroom, try here. Make a list of those you would like for students to read online with the URLs here. Include this site on your flyer that goes home promoting summer reading. Or list the link on your class website or wiki. ENL/ESL students will appreciate having a ready source for extra reading. Rather than the "same old" book reports, have students create multimedia presentations! How about comparing two pivotal literature characters using on interactive Venn Diagram, reviewed here.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Find a Book - lexile.com
Grades
1 to 12
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This site allows teachers and students to go through four simple steps to find a book that has a lexile rating. The steps include entering a lexile range (if unknown: ...more
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This site allows teachers and students to go through four simple steps to find a book that has a lexile rating. The steps include entering a lexile range (if unknown: enter grade level and ease of reading), interests (similar to a keyword search), search of all items that come up, and list-making.
One disadvantage of the site is that you can only enter a keyword when you get to the third step. After a book list based on interests appears, then you can search by keyword to make the search zero in on specifics. When teachers or students select books for a reading list, they can then click to see the complete list of books they have selected. Clicking on a book title leads to another screen, but it does not contain a book summary; instead, it has a list of other keywords for the book along with other book data.
One disadvantage of the site is that you can only enter a keyword when you get to the third step. After a book list based on interests appears, then you can search by keyword to make the search zero in on specifics. When teachers or students select books for a reading list, they can then click to see the complete list of books they have selected. Clicking on a book title leads to another screen, but it does not contain a book summary; instead, it has a list of other keywords for the book along with other book data.
tag(s): book lists (162), independent reading (86), reading lists (79)
In the Classroom
This site is great for teachers searching for books at specific lexile levels. Learning support and ESL/ELL teachers can find books to accompany units in content area classes but on the correct lexile level. Students can also use the site by entering their grade levels and what kind of readers they are. Use this site to differentiate the learning experience for all levels of students. Rather than having students complete traditional book reports, why not have them complete a multimedia project? Provide some choices such as a podcast, using PodoMatic (reviewed here), interactive venn diagram comparing characters (reviewed here), or online book using Bookemon (reviewed here).Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Festisite - IntenCT
Grades
4 to 12
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This site contains a plethora of user-generated poems, tools for making poetry writing simple, opportunities to make comments on the poetry of others and also to submit one's own poetry....more
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This site contains a plethora of user-generated poems, tools for making poetry writing simple, opportunities to make comments on the poetry of others and also to submit one's own poetry. Students and teachers can search for poems by looking at those that have come in most recently, or by searching by categories, called "Tags." To search using this option, you must click on the "poems" tab at the top of the site. Be sure to know your school's policy on having students submit their work before allowing your students to share their poetry. Avid poetry lovers can also subscribe to poetry feeds using this site.
In the Classroom
Use this site to show your students that anyone can become a poet when they balk at reading poetry. Share some of the poetry on your projector or interactive whiteboard. Read some of your required poems and then look at the "Tags" and ask your students to decide where poetry written by others should be placed. Go on to ask them if they can think of other Tags to add. Since many of the poems here have holiday themes, use this as a quick activity before a holiday or to encourage students to reflect on family holiday traditions. ESL/ELL students will not have to worry so much about their grammar when embarking on poetry writing! They'll love to be thought creative. If you are permitted to "publish" your students' poetry, why not go one step further and have them narrate a picture using the words from their poem at a site such as ThingLink reviewed here. Or have students share their poems using a podcasting site such as PodOmatic (reviewed here).Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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News for You Online - New Readers Press
Grades
4 to 10
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This online version of the traditionally used ESL/ELL newspaper, "News for You," has a few up to date stories available for free and an archive of stories from the past ...more
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This online version of the traditionally used ESL/ELL newspaper, "News for You," has a few up to date stories available for free and an archive of stories from the past few months as well. Besides reading the stories, students can also hear them. The accompanying teacher's guide in pdf format has comprehension and discussion questions, vocabulary help, and a loosely related grammar activity. A separate classroom ideas section has something appropriate for nearly all classrooms.
To read/listen to the articles, you must put in an email address. Tip: rather than using your personal or work email, create a free Gmail account to use for memberships. If you plan to have students register individually, you may want to create your own Gmail account with up to 20 subaccounts for each group of students (by code name or number) within your classes. Here is a blog post that tells how to set up GMail subaccounts to use for any online membership service.
To read/listen to the articles, you must put in an email address. Tip: rather than using your personal or work email, create a free Gmail account to use for memberships. If you plan to have students register individually, you may want to create your own Gmail account with up to 20 subaccounts for each group of students (by code name or number) within your classes. Here is a blog post that tells how to set up GMail subaccounts to use for any online membership service.
tag(s): news (229)
In the Classroom
Have students make a vocabulary list of new words they see/hear from the stories each week. Include a story from NFY every week to present a slightly different take on the television news or paper news headlines. Have your students create their own "headline" news and video the projects! Share the videos using a tool such as TeacherTube reviewed here.
This resource requires PDF reader software like Adobe Acrobat.
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Read Print - Read Print Publishing
Grades
5 to 12
5 Favorites
0 Comments
This online library includes books and literary works in the public domain from a large variety of authors: Victor Hugo, Samuel Johnson, Karl Marx, Edgar Allan Poe, Frederick Douglass,...more
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This online library includes books and literary works in the public domain from a large variety of authors: Victor Hugo, Samuel Johnson, Karl Marx, Edgar Allan Poe, Frederick Douglass, and countless others. The genres include essays, fiction, non-fiction, plays, poetry, single quotations, and short stories. To find desired works, you can search by author or by specific title.
tag(s): authors (105), literature (218), poetry (190)
In the Classroom
Display favorite literary passages to compare writing styles, vocabulary level, and to do identification quizzes! Use for teaching reading skills such as main idea, looking for transitional and clue words, using context to figure out word meanings, etc. Teach grammar, parts of speech, and use of quotation marks by viewing actual literature using the interactive whiteboard or projector. Read the classics without spending a penny!Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Crimes Seen and Investigated - Why Files: University of Wisconsin
Grades
5 to 12
3 Favorites
1 Comments
This site delves into forensic science and offers students a chance to solve a crime. Students begin to understand an underworld science by collecting clues of things left behind, namely...more
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This site delves into forensic science and offers students a chance to solve a crime. Students begin to understand an underworld science by collecting clues of things left behind, namely bugs, maggots, and other disgusting creatures! The lesson plan includes readings, steps to solving the crime including collecting evidence, creating a DNA profile, evaluating the evidence, and listening to an expert. Standards are provided.
Be aware: at the time of this review, the link to the video mentioned in this lesson plan was not working properly. Our editors found it, so you can access it directly from here: http://www.nhm.ac.uk/nature-online/science-of-natural-history/forensic-sleuth/forensic-entomology/. This site does include some appropriate advertisements for the museum. The site requires Adobe Acrobat and Flash. Get both from the TeachersFirst Toolbox page.
Be aware: at the time of this review, the link to the video mentioned in this lesson plan was not working properly. Our editors found it, so you can access it directly from here: http://www.nhm.ac.uk/nature-online/science-of-natural-history/forensic-sleuth/forensic-entomology/. This site does include some appropriate advertisements for the museum. The site requires Adobe Acrobat and Flash. Get both from the TeachersFirst Toolbox page.
In the Classroom
Combine ideas from this site and the TeachersFirst "Who Did It" unit for a crime-solving extravaganza of science. Project this site on your classroom projector or interactive whiteboard to provide stimulation for the students about to embark on the crime solving. Divide your class into teams to collect, analyze and assess the clues left behind. Challenge students to create their own CSI investigation story or scene. Have students create an online book (story) about their mystery using a tool such as Bookemon reviewed here. Or have the groups create a video of their "forensic file" case using a sharing tool such as Teachers.TV reviewed here.
This resource requires PDF reader software like Adobe Acrobat.
Comments
Science that can be used in an ELA mystery unitShirley, CA, Grades: 6 - 12
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The Biology of Plants - Missouri Botanical Garden
Grades
1 to 4
2 Favorites
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This simple site, generously illustrated with videos, explains the basics of plant life to elementary students, including information on how seeds germinate, plant parts, photosynthesis,...more
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This simple site, generously illustrated with videos, explains the basics of plant life to elementary students, including information on how seeds germinate, plant parts, photosynthesis, pollination, seed dispersal, and plant adaptations. Terms are defined in clear sidebars, and text is well-illustrated in the silent video clips. Watch a seed germinate in time lapse or seeds blow into the wind. The videos require Quicktime. Get it from the TeachersFirst Toolbox page.
tag(s): earth (184), earth day (60), photosynthesis (20), plants (147)
In the Classroom
The reading level for the simple text on this site is mid-elementary, so many students will be able to navigate it on their own or with a reading buddy. Introduce the site on your projector or interactive whiteboard. If your projector can zoom into the videos, you can share them in large groups. You can also have students explore the site as a science center or for review/reinforcement of plant terminology. Have students or small groups make their own illustrated plant life cycles on paper, PowerPoint slides, or in an interactive book using a tool such as Bookemon, reviewed here.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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ArtBabble (beta) - Indianapolis Museum of Art
Grades
8 to 12
2 Favorites
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Make art -- and videos about art -- a social experience at ArtBabble. The site's slogan is "Art Out Loud." Listed under different "series," "channels," and "artists," the high-quality...more
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Make art -- and videos about art -- a social experience at ArtBabble. The site's slogan is "Art Out Loud." Listed under different "series," "channels," and "artists," the high-quality videos feature art from ancient to contemporary. The site creators (Indianapolis Museum of Art and partners) have added "notes" adjacent to every video, attached to specific places in the video, providing connections to related web sites, related videos, images for comparison, books, and more. Suddenly art is a participatory, multimedia experience. As the site says, "ArtBabble was created so others will join in spreading the world of art through video." Art video topics vary widely, ex. from ancient Greek art to a "robot parade" of artistic creations in Indianapolis. Those who join the site can also add comments to videos. Registration does require an email address. This site requires Flash. You can get it from the TeachersFirst Toolbox page.
tag(s): greece (27)
In the Classroom
The collection of videos is ever-expanding, and comments can be left by any member of the public who chooses to join. While our editors found no inappropriate content, teachers would be wise to preview in case some "clever" folks decide to throw inappropriate comments onto one of these outstanding videos. If you join the site (for free), you can collect Favorite videos for quick access to show in class as well as add class comments to videos. We recommend a whole-class account for most uses, at least initially. Assign groups to take turns posting comments to your collected videos, adding their initials so you know who did them. Have art or art history students watch an assigned video or study an artist in small groups and explore the connections available in Notes. Then have them share a concept map about that particular work, historical period, or artist, including the "notes" they would add from their own connections, reactions, and related research. Use a tool such as bubbl.us (reviewed here) to create and share the concept maps.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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It's Fun To Read - Poetry - Starfall Education
Grades
K to 2
2 Favorites
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Beginning readers will be delighted to read these four adorable poems entitled "If I Could Touch the Sky," "My Hiding Place," "My Shadow," and "Who Has Seen the Wind?" Every ...more
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Beginning readers will be delighted to read these four adorable poems entitled "If I Could Touch the Sky," "My Hiding Place," "My Shadow," and "Who Has Seen the Wind?" Every student will find something to relate to within these poems. Students can differentiate the activity by either reading the poem independently or clicking on the sound icon (ear) to have the poem read to them. Each poem provides a list of high frequency words or "unique" words at the bottom of the web page as well as a writing extension page.
tag(s): poetry (190)
In the Classroom
Share the poetry on your projector or interactive whiteboard. If individual computers are available, even better! Just be sure to remember the headsets! Maybe consider creating a "Poetry Station" using this site on a computer cluster.Review corresponding high frequency words with students prior to reading the poems. Have students search for those words throughout the poem. Incorporate some of the words onto the classroom word wall or point out existing words on the wall as a connection activity to the literature. Students can complete the extension print out activity as a center assignment and proceed to publish it with illustrations.
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The Manuals
Grades
K to 12
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Need a manual? 'The Manuals' website is just that, in a nutshell. Simply type in the name of the manual you need. Press Search, and Google will find the manual ...more
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Need a manual? 'The Manuals' website is just that, in a nutshell. Simply type in the name of the manual you need. Press Search, and Google will find the manual for you. Over five million manuals are available from this site. This site requires Adobe Acrobat. You can get it from the TeachersFirst Toolbox page.
In the Classroom
Perhaps you have technology in your classroom that needs a manual--this site is for you. Need functional or authentic text? Many state tests assess functional text. From this site, you can easily find 'real' reading passages. All you need are to develop the questions. Share the manuals on your interactive whiteboard or projector to practice with functional text OR to teach about informational writing!
This resource requires PDF reader software like Adobe Acrobat.
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Newspaper Clipping Generator - fodey.com
Grades
2 to 12
9 Favorites
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Create a fictional portion of a web page easily by entering a fictional Newspaper, Title of article, Date, and body of article. The final image will be downloaded and not ...more
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Create a fictional portion of a web page easily by entering a fictional Newspaper, Title of article, Date, and body of article. The final image will be downloaded and not retained on any website except the ones that you publish to. Note: Model ethical behavior: Do not plagiarize or use real names of newspapers or people.
There are also links at the top of the page to create: a newspaper, ninja text, wizard text, talking flowers, talking tomatoes, talking owls, a wanted poster, talking cats, talking squirrels, and a clapper board. Be aware: this site does include some minor advertisements.
This site includes advertising.
There are also links at the top of the page to create: a newspaper, ninja text, wizard text, talking flowers, talking tomatoes, talking owls, a wanted poster, talking cats, talking squirrels, and a clapper board. Be aware: this site does include some minor advertisements.
This site includes advertising.
tag(s): back to school (63), digital storytelling (144), firstday (22), news (229), posters (42)
In the Classroom
Basic ability to enter text into fields, download and find the finished file. For file to be shared, understanding how to upload the file onto another site or blog. The "clippings" you make do NOT remain on the site for access later by URL.As files are downloaded to the desktop, you may want to create a Favorites folder, or other "collection" of students projects in one place for easy work at grading time. Another idea: use a class wiki with all projects.
Create a fictional account of a happening or description to identify the errors or determine the item being described. Create an account of a class celebration or a fantastic project that should be shared. Students can use this site to create a fantastic account of a vacation or experience. Have students develop a newsworthy article on an event from the novel they are reading. Use this site as a "first week" activity for students to write articles introducing themselves to the class. Have them use pseudonyms in their "articles" and share them on your class wiki or web page. A week later, have a matching contest where classmates must identify the mystery students! You could do a similar "famous Americans" or "important scientists" activity where students learn and share.
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